Summer evenings in Chang'an are still very comfortable, less hot but not dry. It's best to sleep with your body open, except for those annoying mosquitoes.
There is still a curfew in Chang'an City, and most of the people have gone to bed long ago. Only the gambling houses and brothels, which are only for the entertainment of the dignitaries, are still bustling with people. They seem not to be affected by the rebels. Those who gamble on cockfights and look for flowers to sell gold are no more than Less on weekdays. As for the Royal Palace, the most eye-catching place in the city, it was naturally brightly lit, and those oil lamps seemed to be lit for free. In the central Daming Palace, the monarchs and ministers are still having a feast, the song of colorful clothes and feathers is still being played, the emperor is still aloof, the officials are still arrogant, the singers and musicians are also performing their performances with passion, and the whole palace is naturally as brilliant as usual. .
It's just that the expressions on the faces of the eunuchs and maids who were busy walking were not at all as calm as usual. Their faces were solemn and their steps were flying, which was much faster than the usual hesitation when dealing with errands. They all followed the secret orders of their respective masters and tacitly began to tidy up the valuables in their respective palaces. The source of the undercurrent of the entire Chang'an City is this sacred and majestic heart of the Tang Dynasty!
The storm is coming!
The emperor was much more calm and steady. He was still listening to Gao Shi's story leisurely. His whole body and mind were devoted to the bet between the lame man and the green-robed monks in the story. He seemed to be also interested in the strange man. The lame man became very interested. Gao Shi did not dare to whet the emperor's appetite. He continued to consider his words and reported what happened next.
The perspective returns to Li Bai, Du Fu and the others.
It is said that the green-robed monk couldn't help but feel happy when he saw the beggar and lame man agreeing to take the pearl as a bet. Although the five pearls in his arms can be considered genuine pearls, he has looked at them carefully and honestly speaking, their quality is not that good. Before leaving, the abbot specifically asked him to keep these five pearls, and ordered him to hand the pearls and a jade talisman to the master's hands after arriving at the Balcony Palace. Let’s say that the five pearls are dim in color, ranging from black to gray to dark yellow. Not to mention dazzling, they are not even the most basic white. Judging from their appearance, they are much better than the few he has collected privately over the years. It’s a jewel, it’s really not a pity to throw it away! He didn’t know how the abbot could get such a shabby gift. He didn’t believe that there were no better pearls in the Huguo Temple. Every year, those pearls given by the emperor were hard to buy. They were as white as jade and as attractive as the abbot. Stingy, giving away these defective products is really a disgrace to the Buddha. If the lame man really asked him to open the bag and take a look at it, he would see this piece of junk. Not to mention worth four or five taels, even a tael of gold might not be happy. Fortunately, the lame country bumpkin didn't know the ropes and would believe it after being fooled. Got it!
"This benefactor, although you and I have reached this gentleman's agreement, there is now one important thing missing. The people of Chu are asking for swords when they carve a boat, but the poor monk does not wear a sword. I don't know if you are here. Which of the donors has a sword? Can you lend me one?"
After the great monk said this, he frowned and looked at everyone with a look of regret. He stopped specifically when he came to Li Bai, looked down at the sword at Li Bai's waist, and closed his mouth meaningfully.
The onlookers didn't want this huge gamble to end just like that. Although they were intimidated by the magnanimity of Li Bai and others, they did not dare to speak directly, so they could only point and whisper in private. This great monk is really narrow-minded and hateful. His words and behavior were obviously to drag Li Bai into the game. He was angry that Li Bai had ridiculed and teased him several times. Now he just took this opportunity to use the situation to force Li Bai to borrow the sword. Everyone knew that the sword was thrown from the turbulent flow of the river. , it is definitely impossible to find it back. It just so happens that Li Bai is the only one carrying a sword on this boat. You have to borrow it, or you can borrow it. He can't wait to see Li Bai's expression of pain after losing his sword! This bet is really good. First, he can show off his wisdom and earn face. Second, Li Bai loses his sword and loses his fortune. Most importantly, he can win a large amount of money. Kill three birds with one stone. How wonderful! How wonderful!
When Du Fu and Gao Shi saw this situation, they immediately became nervous. They knew how important this sword was to Li Bai. Since ancient times, a gentleman has worn a sword to show his urgency, and a gentleman has worn a sword to show his virtue. What's more, Li Bai's sword has great origins. It was a gift from His Majesty the Emperor. Later, he used this sword to fight Pei Min, the sword master of the dynasty. Although it is not a heavy treasure, it also brings the favor of the Heavenly Family to his friends. Friendship, although he later got into trouble with the emperor, but the sword is a good sword, Li Bai really likes it, it has nothing to do with people, but it has nothing to do with things. If he doesn't learn from Guan Yunchang, he would be stupid if he doesn't want good things. So Du Fu Gao Shi was really worried. This thief and bald donkey was really abominable! Immediately, the two of them grabbed Li Bai's sleeves and whispered to dissuade him!
Naturally, Li Bai was not willing to make mistakes with his sword. This sword was freely wielded in his hand, cutting through thorns and thorns. In addition to killing beasts that hurt people, he also killed many people who deserved to be killed. How many times he encountered depression and difficulty, the only thing that helped him get through it was wine and this sword. This sword has become his confidant!
The cripple guessed the monk's sinister intentions and Li Bai's difficulties. He raised his voice, pointed at the farm tools on the cabin, and said to the monk:
"Master, what you said is wrong. The object you want to carve a boat may be a sword. It can be a hoe or a sickle. Why not just use this crutch in my hand? The principles come from the same principle, and the ways run parallel without contradicting each other! What do you think, Master?"
Li Dugao and the other three heard the lame man's words to defend himself. Among them, the sentence "the principles are the same and the paths run parallel without conflicting" shocked the three of them on the spot. They completely forgot about the bet of carving a boat and seeking a sword. They were physically and mentally exhausted. I am immersed in these two sentences. For three people, the truth in this sentence is too profound. The three of them were silent, thinking about this sentence over and over again in their hearts, and they couldn't extricate themselves for a long time!
The emperor who listened to the story was a little confused when he heard these two sentences. He interrupted Gao Shi's words and immediately ordered Gao Lishi to get a pen and paper and asked Gao Shi to write down these two sentences.
"The principles come from the same principle, and the Tao goes hand in hand without contradicting each other!"
The emperor looked at the twelve words written by Gao Shi, chewed on them for a long time, and said with emotion:
"This man is a great talent, and these words should be regarded as holy teachings! I'm afraid it's this man who sounded like an immortal to what Aiqing just said!"
Gao Shi quickly saluted and bowed, shouting that the emperor was wise.
"Your Majesty, it is this person!"
The emperor waved his hand, indicating to Gao Shi to continue speaking.
After reaching this situation, Li Dugao and the others no longer doubted that the man on crutches in front of them was definitely an expert hermit. How could anyone with such a broad mind and insight be an ordinary person? At that moment, Li Bai didn't hesitate any longer, and neatly took off the sword from his waist, saluted the man on crutches, and said in a respectful tone:
"Mr. Li's kindness is appreciated. Since this master insists on carving a boat according to the diagram to find a sword, this sword just happens to be destined. I hope that Mr. Li will not dislike it and just take it. Today, the students can benefit from Mr.'s teachings more than just a long sword. !”
There is no need to elaborate on Li Bai’s free and easy and uninhibited style!
The lame man was also infected by Li Bai. He laughed and gave Li Bai a meaningful look. Without any hesitation, he stretched out his hand to take the sword and said to the monk:
"Monk, is this sword feasible?"
When the monk saw this result, he realized that it was exactly what he wanted. While hypocritically thanking Li Bai for his generosity, he fanned the flames and encouraged everyone.
The common people are always ignorant. After being encouraged by a few monks, they immediately cheered and applauded Li Bai one after another. Li Bai was not ashamed, his face was as usual, and he returned the gift with his hand. The lame man was not polite. He showed the sword to everyone, made a mark on the hull of the boat, held the sword and rubbed it twice, and threw the sword into the river without hesitation.
The spectators on the boat cheered, and they all lay on the boat and looked into the water. They pointed at the water and talked about it. Some said they saw the sword sinking, while others said they saw the sword follow the boat. Everyone was talking red!
The rolling river water and rippling waves made it difficult to see clearly the fish or stones, let alone the sword. The great monk who was as stable as a mountain had already begun to figure out where to hide the few taels of gold he had won!
The river is surging and the waves are rolling, and the fog is curling up in the Wangwu Mountain.
The people on the ferry were still talking about it. The big monks in green robes couldn't hide their joy. However, Li Bai, Du Fu and Gao Shi came to the lame man. The four of them had a brief chat, all of them were interested in the bet. About didn't care. The ferry went like this for about half an hour. Seeing that the ferry was approaching, the people on the boat became more and more excited.
Finally, the passenger ship was about to dock. The boatmen skillfully raised the bow of the boat against the flowing water, and using the deceleration effect of the reverse current, they slowly crossed to the dock, made a small circle, and docked the boat smoothly. The boatmen skillfully fixed the cables with boat bolts, and a few people quickly fixed the ferry.
After reaching the shore, those in a hurry quickly collected their luggage and went their separate ways. Those who were not in a hurry gathered around on the boat or on the shore, waiting to see the bet worth a few taels of gold. Many of them had malicious intentions. The other disciples, the boatman and the shopkeeper also wanted to see what was going on. While they were urging people to get on and off the boat quickly, they secretly looked at the great monk.
The monk planned everything secretly before the boat docked. As soon as the boat docked, he couldn't wait to speak:
"That donor, I don't know what to do next?"
At this moment, Gao Shi was arranging for the porters and servants to move their group's gifts off the ship and put them away. Li Bai and Du Fu accompanied the lame man to prepare to disembark. They had just had a brief discussion and realized that the lame man was also going to the foot of Wangwu Mountain, but not going up the mountain. The green-robed monk's voice was loud. Everyone had been waiting for this sentence. The lame man listened to the monk's inquiry and did not delay. He immediately asked the boatman to find a boatman with good water skills and follow the mark to go into the water to fish. Simply and neatly.
The spectators originally thought that although the lame man was not good-looking, he was generous with his money. He might have some tricks up his sleeve, and he could even cheat and refuse to admit his debt. At worst, he would have to pay shamelessly, and at least his money would not be damaged. Who knew this person who was traveling from north to south? Who! Those who secretly had evil intentions also had this idea in mind. This bet was definitely unwinnable. They expected that the lame man would cheat in the end. After all, who has a grudge against his own money? After the lame man cheated, they followed him secretly, stealing or robbing him. It was not easy to deal with a lame man.
Money and silk move people's hearts. This is true for secular people, and it is also true for practicing monks!
The green-robed monk was even more afraid that the lame man would cheat and refuse to admit his guilt. He had already privately ordered several disciples to lead people to keep an eye on the lame man to prevent him from escaping. I will definitely eat the four or five taels of gold today, even the Buddha will not be able to keep it, I said so! Li Bai and others had the same idea. Although they did not explicitly ask the lame man to escape from the bet, the three of them chatted with the lame man, changing the topic, and then tried to take advantage of the crowd of people getting on and off the boat to leave in a hurry, so as to put an end to the bet. As for his sword, let it go. So as soon as the boat docked, Li Bai and Du Fu hugged the lame man to the left and right and tried to get off the boat in the chaos, but they didn't expect that the monk's eyes had never left the lame man, how could he allow them to escape!
Li Bai and others listened to the lame man's crisp instructions. Firstly, they admired the lame man's uprightness and applauded him. Secondly, they felt sad for the lame man's loss, for letting the hateful monk take advantage of him. But the lame man's face remained normal. He guessed the intention of Li Bai and others, and was grateful. However, he already had this matter in mind. From the moment he saw what was in the green-robed monk's arms, it seemed that he was being arranged by the monk. Only he knew that everything he said and did in the future must be in accordance with his wishes!
Before the slender boatman jumped into the river, the crowd of onlookers had already formed a half circle around the ferry, and they were all talking and pointing. Before the onlookers could discuss for a long time, the boatman had already emerged from the water. The boatman seemed extremely excited and hurriedly took a breath. He didn't care about going ashore and raised his right hand while shouting.
"It's caught! It's caught!"
The hundred or so people watching the excitement at the ferry felt as if they had been struck by lightning at this moment. They were stunned and stared at the boatman, all their eyes focused on the sword held high in the man's right hand. The sword body is majestic and upright, with a python skin scabbard, an ebony handle, and a sword pattern decorated with stainless steel. The whole sword is as tall and straight as a mountain peak and as deep as a cold pool.
Isn’t this exactly Li Bai’s sword?
"What the hell?"
Except for the lame man, all the hundreds of people had this idea. Li Bai, Du Fu and Gao Shi saw the wet sword that had just been fished out. The three of them looked at each other and were speechless!
"This is impossible! Absolutely impossible!"
The first person to question was the young gray-robed monk. His face turned red, as if he had been boiled by boiling water. He pointed at the sword in the boatman's hand and shouted at the top of his lungs that it was impossible!
The boatman recognized Li Bai's sword. When the lame man threw it into the water, he held it up for everyone to see. He was not blind. Because the water at the ferry was generally shallow, he took a long breath, and the shopkeeper told him to fish more carefully when he entered the water. He originally thought that it would take at least half a cup of tea to get into the water, but he didn't expect that he plunged in suddenly, and it was more than a foot deep. , he saw the sword sinking quietly on the bottom of the water. The sword was not covered with sand. It was next to the hull of the ship, so it was not too obvious. The boatman grabbed the sword effortlessly, kicked off his legs, and darted towards the water like a fish. The whole process took less than five breaths!
At this moment, the boatman was still floating on the water. Hearing the doubtful words of the young monk in gray robe, he was filled with excitement and was shocked. He couldn't help but feel a little angry. He took a breath and swam quickly to the shore. He was annoyed with the monks, so he ignored the bald donkeys when he got ashore, and walked straight towards Li Bai. When he got there, he held the sword in both hands, looked at Li Bai and asked:
"Mr. Sir, I wonder if this sword is yours?"
Li Bai was still in shock at this moment. He took the sword numbly and lowered his head to take a look. How could he not recognize something that had been close to him for countless days and nights? The sword was right, but why was the sword here? Could it be that the boatman dived into the river and fished the sword out? This was impossible. The river where the sword was thrown was nearly two miles away. The boatman had only been in the water for a moment. How could he swim so fast? Moreover, the river is rippling, and the specific location of the lost sword is not known at all. Where can I follow it? What’s more, the depth of the river bottom is unknown, the undercurrent is surging, and there is no trace of a sword being dropped without being submerged!
Li Bai couldn't figure it out. Although he was usually unimaginable, what he saw and heard today really made him unable to guess. Li Bai had never encountered such a deviant phenomenon!
After hearing the story, His Majesty the Emperor already knew the reasons. If he guessed correctly, the lame man should be a great monk who could control objects with his energy. That kind of method may seem miraculous to ordinary people, but who is Li Longji? The Emperor of the Tang Dynasty, what kind of capable people have I never seen? There are four people in the Taishi Bureau who can use Qi to control objects. It's just that these people are the guardians of the Tang Empire. Except for the contemporary emperors, it is impossible for even the prince to see them. It was only after he became emperor for two years that he knew and came into contact with these people.
The Taishi Bureau was the original Imperial Heavenly Supervisor. The people who worked here usually tested astronomy, calibrated geography, drew up some calendars every year, and submitted them to the emperor for promulgation. They also wrote some memorial texts and arranged personal arrangements for sacrifices, weddings and other major ceremonies. Processes, etc., are all dizzying knowledge. In the past, when talking about those old doctors, Li Longji kept a respectful distance and would go as far as he could. After being the emperor for several years, he learned that these people also had a secret mission, which was to watch luck, practice Taoism, consolidate the fortune of the empire, and protect the emperor of the day. These old scholars usually study in the Taishi Bureau and report to the court every day on the sun, moon, stars, wind and clouds, climate, and auspicious events. They don't go to court very often. They look like old scholars who accept death and have an unattractive appearance. But then he was invited in After being in the Taishi Bureau once, when he came out again, he seemed to have been reborn and transformed to another level!
That time, Li Longji saw what it means to turn luck into a dragon, what it means to scatter beans into soldiers, and what it means to summon wind and rain! What does it mean to travel thousands of miles in an instant, what does it mean to turn rocks into gold, what does it mean to fly a thousand miles flying sword, what does it mean to move mountains and fill seas, what does it mean to escape from heaven and earth! What does it mean that there is a sky outside the sky! Those old men whose ages were unknown exuded energy as deep as the sea, and those weapons that had been tempered into steel were crushed like tofu by them. The tables, chairs and benches moved on their own as the words were spoken, and my soul was pulled out of the body, passing through the palace wall, flying in the wind, and a cup of tea flew all over Chang'an City!
The old men told him that such things are called Taoist magical powers. They are practitioners and guardians of the Tang Dynasty who abide by the laws of heaven. Their duty is to use these magical Taoist methods to ensure the prosperity of the Tang Dynasty and prevent others from using crooked ways to harm the country. Destroy, their existence is the top secret of the empire, not every emperor can know the specific details, such as Tang Zhongzong Li Xian and Tang Ruizong Li Dan. Although the two brothers heard that the royal family was protected by gods, they never saw them until their death. Pass this group of living gods in the Taishi Bureau. However, although these living gods have great skills, they generally do not interfere easily with the affairs of the empire. Whether it is an internal coup within the royal family or an invasion by foreigners, as long as the foundation of the empire is not shaken, they basically do not interfere. Sometimes even if a dynasty is really going to fall, they will They still won't take action. Unless someone on the same plane as them takes action, they will either die of old age or continue to pretend to be dead! In fact, they should not be called the guardians of the Tang Dynasty. To be precise, they should be called the guardians of the human race. As long as the human race is immortal, they will protect whoever becomes the emperor!
Li Longji was really shocked that time. The skills of these people were no longer the illusion acrobatics he had seen in daily life. They were real supernatural powers. It turned out that he himself was just a toad sitting in a well and looking at the sky! No wonder so many emperors throughout the ages have been obsessed with Taoist elixirs. It turns out there really are immortals. From then on, he went to the Taishi Bureau covertly and secretly, and even used the whole country's efforts to search for all kinds of heavenly materials and earthly treasures to give to those people. Those few got the emperor's care and benefits, accepted those high-ranking immortals, and followed The emperor deals with the delicate relationship between monarch and minister. After all, this person is the master now!
You don’t know the truth if you don’t get to its position!
For example, the "Nancy Dress and Feather Clothes" being played in the main hall at this moment was composed by me under the leadership of one of them.
I remember last year on this eve, I was drinking wine at the creek pavilion, and the moonlight clouds came and went. Thousands of miles of mountains and rivers were no longer a dream yesterday, but the autumn scenery is like this in the blink of an eye. The green bird comes to the west, Chang'e repays me, and the good times are approaching. A message to my husband and wife, don’t let Guanghan get drunk.
That day was the Mid-Autumn Festival in the early years of Kaiyuan. He called that experience "sleepwalking in Guanghan Palace". The person who took him on the tour was Ye Fashan, the heavenly protector of the country from the Taishi Bureau!
At that time, Li Longji had already secured his position as emperor, his father had been elevated to the position of Supreme Emperor, and his aunt Princess Taiping had also been sentenced to death. The government and the public were united, and the twenty-eight-year-old Emperor of the Tang Dynasty, in his prime, was celebrated by the whole world. During those days, shadow lanterns were displayed in the palace, courtyards were set up, and wax torches were set up from the forbidden door to the palace door. They were connected continuously and illuminated the palace, shining as bright as day. Mao Shun, the capital craftsman of Shangfang, was even more ingenious and well-structured. He built a twenty-bay lantern tower, one hundred and fifty feet high, hung with pearls, jade, gold and silver. Every time the breeze came, it made a sonorous rhyme, and the lanterns were still used as dragons and phoenixes. The leaping tiger and leopard look like human beings, but they are magnificent and beautiful.
The smug emperor looked at such an unprecedented display of power. He embraced his beauties and enjoyed singing and dancing, drinking wine and sunbathing in the moonlight, singing and drinking. When I was slightly drunk, I leaned on the white jade railing and looked up at the moon. I thought about it for a long time, but I didn't feel that my mind was broad, so I said:
"This moon shines in all directions, and it is so bright. There must be great benefits in it. It is said that Chang'e stole medicine and ran to the Moon Palace. Since there is a palace, you can definitely visit it. But how to get up there?"
Gao Lishi was waiting at the side. He knew the emperor's heart well. He immediately made his own decision and found a way to go to Shengzhen Temple in person, preparing to ask the country-protecting mage with great supernatural powers to take action. Ye Fashan responded to the call. When Xuanzong saw him coming, he was heartbroken. He was overjoyed and asked impatiently:
"What happens in the middle of the moon, how can it be predicted? I wonder if Ye Tianshi's Taoism can allow me to visit the Moon Palace?"
I wonder if Master Ye can take the emperor on a trip to heaven!
