The best idlers of the Tang Dynasty

To finish writing the tome of "Zi Zhi Tong Jian" is by no means a one-time effort. Although Du Rui can memorize most of Sima Guang's "Zi Zhi Tong Jian", if he copies it, Du Rui will not be able to write it. But he is not reconciled, not to mention those flaws that have caused widespread controversy in later generations, even some modified words in the text, Du Rui is not very satisfied. "Generally, I deliberate and argue word by word, trying to make this book as perfect as possible.

The first thing Du Rui had to do was to collect historical materials, and Du Pingyuan became his assistant. The originally neat study room became messy in just a few days, and the historical books and documents collected by Du Pingyuan were everywhere.

Now, apart from Du Rui, Du Pingyuan, and Baochai and Daiyu who are always waiting in this study room, even Li Chengqian is here, so he can't come in and out at will.

"Chengming! What kind of mystery is hidden in your study, why can't even Gu get in now!?"

The more Du Rui refused to let in, the more curious Li Chengqian became. He didn't know what Du Rui was up to. He endured it for a few days, but finally he couldn't help it and asked.

Du Rui made a fool of himself, and said with a smile: "You can't say it at this time, His Highness will know when the time comes!"

Seeing that he couldn't come out with the question, Li Chengqian was scratching his mind, but fortunately he knew Du Rui's temper, so he had no choice but to stop asking.Seeing this, Du Rui didn't say much, and began to teach.

After the lecture, it was time for storytelling. Du Yunlian and the others were already waiting outside. Seeing Du Rui greet them, they quickly took the small benches they had prepared and sat down in the front hall.

This time the book says that Master Sanzang was ordered by the emperor to go to the West to learn scriptures, but the necessary changes are naturally indispensable. Now it is the fourth year of Zhenguan in the Tang Dynasty. Monk Xuanzang has just set off and has not returned yet, and Xuanzang is still Those who smuggle out are not seen well, so naturally they can't be used in this era, so Du Rui changed a little bit, changing what happened in the Tang Dynasty to the Han Dynasty. Although it is far-fetched, "Journey to the West" itself is a mythical story. It makes sense.

Until Master Sanzang met a tiger in Liangjie Mountain, Du Rui stopped talking as soon as he woke up, and packed up his things as usual. I went away resentfully, waiting to come back tomorrow.

"Chengming! The Buddhist scriptures are so good, do you still have to travel thousands of miles to Tianzhu to seek them?" This question has been held in Li Chengqian's mind for a long time, and now he couldn't help but ask it.

Hearing this, Du Rui said with a smile: "In the pre-Qin period, there were hundreds of schools of thought in China, and a hundred schools of thought contended. Speaking of this Buddhist school, it can only be regarded as a foreign school. Although it originated in Tianzhu, it has been introduced to China since the Han Dynasty. The soil is very prosperous. The scriptures of Buddhism guide people to be good, which is good. However, Buddhism advocates cutting off the seven emotions and six desires. It’s all gone, can this country still be a country? Just like the current sage, if there is no desire and no desire, when will the Northern Expedition blood hatred be? So no matter what genre it is, it is only right to take its essence and discard its dross !"

Li Chengqian thought for a while, and said: "This is the same as what Cheng Ming said before, the difference between domineering and domineering. Only by choosing the right one is the right way!"

Du Rui nodded and said: "The "Journey to the West" that my younger brother told is just a story about ghosts. Your Highness must not take it seriously. Some places in this Buddhist school are good, but some places are really evil. Just like today, this Buddhist temple is not good. Paying taxes, not doing military service, but occupying a large piece of fertile land, if the tenure continues, this is not bad!"

Du Rui didn't want to teach Li Chengqian to be a Buddhist just because of a boring "Journey to the West", so he quickly explained the advantages and disadvantages of Buddhism one by one.

After Li Chengqian heard it, he thought deeply: "Since I said so, this Buddhist family has to control it well. After I return to the palace, I will give my father a memorial to strictly show the power of it!"

Du Rui laughed and said, "That's good! That's good!"

Li Chengqian also smiled, and continued: "Master Sanzang traveled thousands of miles to Tianzhu to seek the scriptures, but now a small country has come to our Tang Dynasty to learn the scriptures!"

Du Rui was taken aback when he heard the words, and said in surprise: "Which small state!?"

Li Chengqian replied: "It is the Wa country that faces Liaodong across the sea. In the previous dynasty, it also sent envoys to the Sui Dynasty. Now that the Tang Dynasty has established the world, I am here again to ask for advice!"

As Li Chengqian said, he couldn't hide the pride on his face. The Great Tang subdued the barbarians, and only then did all nations come to court. As the heir of the Great Tang, Li Chengqian was also honored.

However, Du Rui was not in such a good mood as Li Chengqian. He knew that the small country Li Chengqian mentioned was Japan later, and those who came were the envoys sent to Tang Dynasty.

In the two and a half centuries from the beginning of the seventh century to the end of the ninth century, Japan sent more than a dozen missions to the Tang Dynasty in order to learn Chinese culture.Secondly, the large number, large scale, long time, and rich content can be described as an unprecedented event in the history of Sino-Japanese cultural exchanges.Some unscrupulous scholars in later generations will also send envoys to the Tang Dynasty, appraising that they have made great contributions to promoting the development of Japanese society and promoting friendly exchanges between China and Japan, and have produced fruitful results.

But in Du Rui's eyes, these people didn't have any good intentions, they were all robbers who came to steal the treasures of Chinese culture. Later facts proved that these Japanese people learned so much cultural essence from China, and then became When China encounters turmoil, it is always the first to run over to disturb.

During the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty, if it hadn’t been for supporting North Korea’s retreat from Japan twice and consuming a lot of national power, the Ming Dynasty might not have been wiped out by a group of Tungus savages who drank blood.

Du Rui carefully recalled the records about this period of history in the history books. After the Tang Dynasty and the Sui Dynasty, Japan followed the old system of sending envoys to the Sui Dynasty and sent envoys to the Tang Dynasty. In 630, which is the fourth year of Tang Zhenguan, he sent envoys for the first time, and the last time was in 838, which is the fifth year of Tang Kaicheng.

Later, in 894, the first year of Tang Qianning, he was ready to be dispatched again and had already been appointed. Due to Sugawara Michizane's remonstrance, he officially stopped sending Tang envoys.

From 630 to 894, during more than 260 years, except for three appointments but failed trips, the Japanese envoys who arrived in Chang'an sent Tang envoys back to China twice, once sent Tang envoys back to Japan, and officially sent Tang envoys twelve times.In addition to about half of the helmsman and sailors, the members of the mission also include the main god, divination department, onmyoji, doctor, painter, musician, translation teacher, historian, and shipbuilders, ship masters, shipwrights, carpenters, and casters. Blacksmiths, jade workers and other craftsmen.

Now the first batch of envoys to the Tang Dynasty came, and if Du Rui remembered correctly, the envoys were the two Japanese, Inugami Mita and Pharmacist Huiri.

Although at this time of year, Japan is still respectful to China and humbly asks for advice, but its country is small and the people are weak, and geographical issues and other issues are determined. These Japanese people will definitely not be willing to live forever under the wings of China. Will bite back.

Li Chengqian saw the expression on Du Rui's face, which was constantly changing from cloudy to sunny, and said, "Chengming! Why are you doing this?"

Du Rui said: "Your Highness! How does the Holy Majesty treat those Japanese people?"

Li Chengqian said: "It has been arranged to Honglu Temple, and we will summon it tomorrow!"

Du Rui nodded and said, "Then what does Your Highness think?"

Li Chengqian said: "Xiaobang admires the culture of the Celestial Dynasty, and it is good to learn it with an open mind, but I always feel that there is something wrong in my heart!"

Du Rui hurriedly said: "Your Highness! The Japanese came to learn my Huaxia etiquette culture. It's nothing. I'm afraid the ulterior motives are not drinking. If they want to learn my Tang Dynasty's city building, shipbuilding, smelting, pontoon bridge, papermaking , farming, medicine, such important things as this must never be taught!"

Li Chengqian was surprised: "Why is this!?"

Du Rui replied: "Your Highness, have you never heard a word called teaching apprentices and starving masters? If my Tang Dynasty wants to stand proudly in the world forever, the first thing we need to ensure is our technological superiority. If they are superior to other countries in the world, then they will always be able to crawl under the wings of our Great Tang, especially this metallurgy technique. Think about it, Your Highness. After learning it, you can create a good knife and sharp blade to kill my Tang soldiers, this is not an enemy, what is it?"

Li Chengqian couldn't help screaming when he heard the words, and said: "It's so dangerous! Those great Confucians in the court encouraged Father and Emperor one by one, saying that he would teach the world with benevolence, and since he came to learn, he should teach everything. If it is true To do as they said is to harm the country and the people, so I will go to the palace to see my father!"