Chapter 75: Peace Under Heaven

  Zhao Qi year 4, autumn.

  The city of Chang'an has regained its vitality, and at first glance, it is bustling with activity, with people coming and going, and a lively atmosphere.

  On the top of Wangjiang Building, several Jianghu heroes drank wine loudly and called for the waiter to bring up a few more jars of good wine.

  One of them, a Taoist priest, advised: "Now that the prohibition has been lifted, there is not much wine stored among the people. What they call good wine is nothing but ordinary rice wine, and excessive drinking will harm your body."

  The man who had just loudly called for the waiter to bring more wine suddenly became displeased, furrowing his brow and saying: "In the past we all drank from large bowls, but after being deprived of it for so many years, I'm starving! Now that the ban has finally been lifted, you're speaking like this - it's really a mood killer! You should be penalized with a cup!"

  Bu Yi and Shang rolled his eyes, saying: "Brewing wine wastes a lot of grain, the previous emperor banned it for the sake of the people's livelihood. Now that the six agricultural strategies are starting to take effect, Your Majesty is benevolent and has lifted the ban on wine, but you can't drink recklessly - being greedy with cups will lead to mistakes!"

  This tall man let out a few "hmmphs", slammed the table and angrily said: "Peng He Shang! We agreed to come out for a few drinks, I finally managed to avoid listening to that old Liu's nagging, how did you start again?! What could possibly be going on now?! Look outside, everything is peaceful! Out of 365 days in a year, I'm busy for 330 days, can't even take it easy for one month?! If anyone causes trouble, Zhou Dian won't say another word, just slap them to death!"

  Bu Yi and Shang cried and laughed at the same time, then thought for a moment and also picked up his wine cup to take a few sips.

  Ever since then, he had indeed gone for many years without rest.

  It turned out that the man in the blue robe was Peng Yingyu, one of the Five Wanderers of the Ming Cult. He is now the Minister of Revenue. The burly man with a big name, Zhou Dian, is also one of the Five Wanderers and was conferred the title "General who Conquered the Barbarians" after the founding of the country. With no wars to fight, he has been idle at home. Now that the ban on wine has been lifted, Zhou Dian can no longer resist the call of the wine bug and has dragged his old friend out to drink.

  Peng Yingyu is not like Zhou Dian, who has nothing to do with a light body. Now that the world is settled, it's a busy time for him, and he can't even get a day off. Because three other people in Wudang are not in Chang'an at this moment, based on their past friendship, he didn't let Zhou Dian go out alone, fearing that he would make mistakes when drunk. However, Zhou Dian was often annoyed by those officials, and he hated to resign and return to his hometown. The "Liu old head" he complained about was Liu Bowen, the prime minister. Liu Bowen has always been strict with himself, meticulous in governance, and cannot tolerate idleness, bribery, or corruption. He also received the entrustment of the previous emperor, so he had more instructions for the former Mingjiao people, which made some martial artists headache, and they would rather avoid him when seeing Liu Bowen.

  At the beginning of the founding of the country, Emperor Yang Yao Guang issued a "Prohibition on Wine" due to the people's suffering, prohibiting private brewing in the countryside. He also formulated the "Six Strategies for Farming" to encourage agriculture and sericulture, reduced taxes and labor services, imposed heavy taxes on industries with exorbitant profits such as spices and jewelry, revised laws, re-established official schools, opened imperial examinations, and restored the people's livelihoods.

  In the second year of Zhao Qi, Yang Yao Guang passed away and was posthumously titled "High Ancestor". At that time, the whole country was in mourning attire, and the nation mourned.

  In the past, some people compiled myths such as "Tianzi Dengan" after Zhenwu Xiansheng went out of Wudang. Some said that the previous emperor was a heavenly girl who came down to save the world. Many people built temples in the name of "Xuezhutongren", and later generations of Taoist disciples often regarded "Xuezhutongren" as a immortal of Wudang, ranking after Sanfeng Zhenren.

  Because the high ancestor had no marriage, no children, the court was in turmoil. The prime minister Liu Bowen, the censor-in-chief Yang Xiao, the marshal Xu Da, and the general Chang Yuchun jointly supported the high ancestor's adopted son Zhang Wuji as emperor. Zhang Wuji then changed his surname to Yang to inherit the throne of the previous emperor. After ascending to the throne, he did not change the year number, continuing to use "Zhao Qi". He also reissued the "Encouragement to Study Order" to encourage villagers to enter school. Under the assistance of civil and military officials, the new dynasty stabilized without incident, and the world gradually recovered and became prosperous.

  In the fourth year of Zhao Xian's reign, the country was at peace. Yang Wuji issued a decree to lift the ban on wine and re-established taxes.

  Yang Wu stood on the city wall, gazing out at Chang'an City, feeling that Chang'an was becoming increasingly prosperous and beautiful. He turned to the person beside him and said, "Mr. Bo Wen, if Master were still here, she would certainly be very happy too. Now that the world is at peace, it's in line with her idea of retreating from the world back then..."

  Liu Bowen clasped his hands and said: "The former emperor looked far ahead, opening up a peaceful era for all eternity. He accomplished his work and retired, truly a Daoist immortal."

  Yang Wuji let out a long sigh, "To establish the heart for heaven and earth, to establish life for the people, to inherit the lost teachings of the past sages, to open up great peace for all eternity... Master's unparalleled learning crowns this generation, high mountains stop at his feet, I only fear that I may not be able to live up to his expectations, I'm afraid that the good rivers and mountains will be ruined in my hands, fortunately there is Mr. Bo Wen here. Can Mr. Bo Wen still remember, when Master took me to visit him in the past..."

  Liu Bowen couldn't help but smile and said: "Your humble servant has never forgotten."

  How can I forget?

  At that time, Liu Bowen, who was in seclusion in Suzhou, had seen the emperor's star appear in the world, but he had never thought that it would be a female emperor. Therefore, when Yao Guang brought his apprentice Zhang Wuji to visit him, Liu Bowen, who was well-versed in ancient and modern knowledge, proficient in astronomy and geography, and skilled in divination and fortune-telling, was completely stunned.

  At that time, Yāo Guāng was not yet twenty years old, and Zhāng Wú Jì was only thirteen. Because Yāo Guāng practiced Taoist inner alchemy which had the effect of preserving her youthful appearance, at first glance, she seemed to be only sixteen or seventeen years old.

  Liu Bowen repeatedly confirmed, still somewhat dazed.

  That young girl dressed as a Taoist nun bowed her hands in greeting, with an elegant and refined demeanor, her slender figure seemed to be naturally endowed with a hint of sharpness and sorrow hidden beneath her firm and tenacious expression, her bright eyes shone with a soft and lustrous light.

  "Hearing that this is where Mr. Liu Bowen resides in seclusion, Yao Guang brings his disciples to pay their respects."

  Every time he thought of that moment, Yang Wuji would feel a kind of indescribable emotion and melancholy.

  It was the first time his master, Yao Guang, had brought him into the affairs of the Ming Cult, and also the first time he had met another person he would bow to as a teacher. He didn't know if Master had already thought out the path ahead and given him direction, but he was still muddled and only followed in her footsteps, until she suddenly left, and he realized that he needed to blaze his own trail, so that later generations could follow safely, just like what Master had done before.

  There was no smooth road in the world, and he had never felt the difficulties along the way because someone had already trampled down the thorns and filled up the rugged gullies ahead of him. When he followed as a follower, he only saw his master being calm and composed, and heard others praising her wisdom, but didn't quite understand what those praises meant. Only when he stood in the same position, high and lonely, shouldering the burden of the people, with no room for retreat, did he realize - a wise ruler doesn't have to do anything earth-shaking, choosing the smoothest path among countless roads is a sign of extraordinary vision and talent. The ordinary place reveals the extraordinary, as it is said "a good warrior has no brilliant achievements", she wants peace in the world, the happiness of the people, not personal fame. However, because of this, all the officials and generals were willing to be under a woman's command, vowing to die for her loyalty.

  Yang Wuji couldn't help but smile, and said in a low voice: "I still remember that Mr. Bo Wen was very surprised at the time, saying that he did not expect the leader of the Ming Cult to be a woman."

  Liu Bowen also smiled and said: "At that time, the previous emperor said, 'Mr. Bowen was born as a man, I was born as a woman, this is heaven's will, what's so strange about it?'"

  Yang Wujin said: "Mr. Bo Wen also said that the noble guest has come from afar and does not know what he is doing."

  Liu Bowen said: "The former emperor replied, I came for the sake of all living things under heaven."

  At this point, Liu Bowen felt as if past events were vividly before his eyes.

  He was already wavering, wanting to drive the guest away, but when the young woman spoke up, his righteous indignation filled him, and he couldn't bring himself to utter the words to send the guest off.

  Liu Bowen was well-versed in the classics and had a broad knowledge of yin and yang. He had always had the heart to benefit the world and bring peace to the people, but having not yet met a wise ruler, he could only temporarily retreat and wait for an opportunity. When the emperor's star first appeared, he already had a premonition. If the person who came to find him at this moment was a man, perhaps he would not have had such doubts.

  Liu Bowen said: "The world has its own people, why bother a woman in the boudoir?"

  "My master replied, 'If the world has a wise ruler, I would also like to retreat to the mountains and forests, and focus on cultivating my Tao. Since ancient times, whenever the world is in great chaos, there must be a Daoist appearing in the world; whenever the world is in great prosperity, it must be a Confucian flourishing. Now that the world is in turmoil and the people are suffering, it is exactly the time to wield one's sword and sweep away the dust of the universe. If no one else will do it, I will take the first step myself. I know Mr. Bo Wen is a great talent, and I want to ask him to help me pacify the world and bring peace to the people.'"

  Liu Bowen said: "A hen crowing at dawn is ultimately a misnomer."

  Yang Wuji couldn't help but laugh and continued, "Master asks in return, are you a rooster?"

  Liu Bowen was speechless for a moment, then said: "Since ancient times, has there ever been a female emperor in charge?"

  "The Master replied, 'Li Tang Wu Zhou, then Tian Da Di.'"

  Liu Bowen smiled but did not speak.

  He was shocked by a sentence at that time and did not expect that the other party would really implement the post-war plan.

  Yang Wuji smiled and said, "Later, Master asked me, if I were to become the Emperor of Heaven, would you be willing to be Di Renjie and assist me in governing the world, or would you rather have me find Zhou Xing and Lai Junmin first and execute all of you who are good at manipulating words, before governing the world?"

  Liu Bowen smiled slightly and said: "I have an unspoken grievance, and I haven't answered yet."

  Yang Wujin smiled and said, "Master, please continue. I am seeking Mr. Bo Wen to help me govern the world, not to help me become emperor. If Mr. Bo Wen's knowledge is not used for the benefit of the world, but instead becomes muddled with ordinary people, wouldn't that be a waste of his saintly virtues? I wish to establish a mind for heaven and earth, to establish a destiny for the people, to continue the interrupted learning of the ancient sages, and to bring great peace to the world. If Mr. Bo Wen is unwilling to help me, it will only add to the difficulties, but the people of the world will all share in them."

  Liu Bowen smiled and said: "Then I was deeply moved and sincerely submitted, paying respects to the former emperor."

  Yang Wuji let out a long sigh.

  "Yes... At that time, I still didn't understand what Master and Mr. Bo Wen were talking about in riddles. Later, Mr. Bo Wen said, 'The world is in great chaos, it's not difficult to overthrow the Yuan dynasty, but it's hard to gain the world.' Master replied, 'There must be great chaos before great order, people's minds are anxious in a peaceful world and at ease in a chaotic world, so if we use light laws and emphasize etiquette and education, things will be half done with twice the effort.' Then, Master and Mr. Bo Wen drafted the Six Strategies for Agriculture in the hut. I listened on the side and gained a lot from it."

  Liu Bowen said: "The former emperor was gifted with heavenly talent, broad-minded and open to advice, not biased or lazy, without extravagance or indulgence, and did not exhaust the army. I wanted to follow the example of Wei Xuan, but had no way to present my ten-thought memorial. Your Majesty is the direct disciple of the former emperor, a renowned teacher with an excellent student, there's no need for excessive humility. The former emperor was wise and sage, Your Majesty is virtuous and enlightened, which is a blessing for all the people."

  Yang Wuji smiled and said after a long time: "I only hope that one day, I can live up to my master's teachings with all his heart, and face my master loudly saying, 'The disciple has become what the master wishes, and the world is at peace.'"

  Liu Bowen clasped his hands and said: "Just let Your Majesty remember today's words, there will certainly be this day."

  The monarch and his minister exchanged a smile.

  In Chang'an City, another day passes in a flurry of activity, all sorts of splendor hidden under the cover of night, the long bell tolls spreading with the wind.

  No regrets, what I desire is peace in the world, not the world itself. I hope you can remember this point too.

  Master, Wuji will always remember, always remembering.

  The author has something to say: Establish a mind for heaven and earth, establish a life for the people, inherit the legacy of the ancient sages, and open up a peaceful world for all eternity.

  I think this is really a great idea.

  Although I'm not capable of doing so, it doesn't stop me from admiring those who have this as their goal. I think the difference between ordinary people and great men lies here. For example, I read books because my family wants me to, while some people "read for the rise of China". So now I'm just a small doctor and online writer, but that person is Premier Zhou Enlai, one of the founding fathers of our country.

  Tribute to all known and unknown people who have shed blood and sacrificed for the country.

  。

  I've always been speechless about many gender-discriminatory idioms. For example, "when a hen crows at dawn" is used to describe a woman ruling the country, but isn't it just a biological instinct for roosters to crow in the morning? Humans aren't chickens, and governing a country isn't about making noise. Is this analogy suitable? And what's even more speechless is the "tea pot and tea cup" idiom. I'd say that a tea pot can be paired with many tea cups, right? This kind of originally biased analogy can't be used as evidence at all.

  。

  This chapter is roughly about describing Yao Guang's actions before and after ascending to the throne. To put it simply, she does what she can do, gets others to do what she can't, and then supervises everyone to work hard, so the world becomes peaceful. (......)

  。

  Routine tyrant ticket thank you.

  Embracing the sea and throwing a landmine Thank you for the landmine! New face here.

  Jing Huan threw a landmine Thank you for the landmine mo mo da!

  The ghosts and monsters have thrown a landmine! Thanks for the landmine, meow!

  Wing threw a grenade My only Moe Lord! Another grenade, I'm so honored and surprised!