Chapter 1 The White Jade Capital in Heaven
Chapter 1 The White Jade Capital in Heaven
"In the book there is a beauty like jade, in the book there are a thousand grains of millet, in the book there are three thousand worlds, in the book there are..."
Zhao Xingde leaned against the desk piled with books, stretched his waist, rubbed his temples, and stretched out his stiff fingers. Feeling a bit refreshed, he picked up the wolf hair pen and wrote on the manuscript that had been rushed overnight: "The 23rd Volume of Snow Hidden Footprints". He frowned and looked left and right, feeling that this handwriting, imitated from Liu Gongquan's style, was somewhat unsatisfactory, lacking a certain atmosphere.
He exhaled a mouthful of white air, and Zhao Xingde pushed open the carved pear wood window. A blast of icy wind poured in, making one's spirit lift involuntarily. Unbeknownst to him, last night had brought a heavy spring snowfall.
At this moment, the east is gradually whitening. Looking up and afar, I see a row of crystal clear icicles hanging under the eaves. The courtyard is filled with jade trees and crystal flowers. The pavilions, towers, study rooms, and bookstores of the Imperial Academy are all evenly covered with a thin layer of snow. The morning bell echoes from afar, and the Song Dynasty palace next to the Imperial Academy is shrouded in misty smoke, making it seem like an ethereal paradise.
Looking at this beautiful scenery, Zhao Xingde couldn't help but be dazed for a moment, deeply inhaling the pure air. "Now it's the third year of Song Dynasty's Xuanhe." He muttered to himself thoughtfully. This year, Emperor Zhao You of the Song Dynasty allowed the descendants of the Yuanyou Party, who had been banned, to enter the Imperial Academy to study. The imperial grace was vast and could not be refused, so Zhao Xingde, who had obtained the status of a holder of a government position, had to give up his plan to take the imperial examination and become an official, bid farewell to his hometown and distant relatives, and went to Bianjing Imperial Academy. This year was also the twentieth year since modern man Zhao Xingde was reborn in this different time and space.
He wore a white cotton robe distributed by the imperial court to students of the Imperial Academy, with a Confucian student's hat on his head, looking dignified and solemn. His wrists and fingers had thick calluses from years of holding a brush, and at this moment, Zhao Xingde looked no different from other students of the Imperial Academy. Sometimes he was even confused himself, wondering which one was the dream - those memories hidden deep within him or the real world today.
Suddenly, a push at the door was heard from behind, and Zhao Xingde turned his head to see Chen Dong, a fellow student of Huazhang Academy in Taixue, who glanced at the table with the corner of his eye. "Is the latest volume of 'Snow Hidden Footprints' finished? You're truly a great talent." He walked forward while laughing, "The teacher is looking forward to the continuation of this story every day."
Zhao Xingde hastily put the manuscript into his pocket and bowed to Chen Dong, saying: "This manuscript has been delayed for half a month. If it's not delivered to Fuhai Bookstore today, I'm afraid Huagui will come to Taixue himself." Zhao Xingde patted the manuscript in his pocket and sighed, bowing to Chen Dong again. The two were fellow students and good friends at the National Academy of Song Dynasty, and Chen Dong had a lover who was a courtesan, but she was also a fan of Xingde's writing.
Chen Dong saw that he was determined not to hand over the manuscript, but didn't dare to lose face, so he could only make a bow and say: "Good brother, Fu Hai Bookstore will cut your book into small segments and publish it in the daily newspaper, just like a sheep taking a dump, each time stopping at the critical moment. Not to mention your wife, even I am anxious and scratching my ears."
Zhao Xingde smiled and said, "Taking people's money and doing things for them, my brother, I'm not as wealthy as Shao Yang's family, but I still have to rely on this business to make ends meet." As he spoke, he put on a cyan cloud-patterned hat and tied the ribbon under his chin, looking like he was about to leave. If he didn't go, Chen Dong would probably keep pestering him.
"Wait, let's talk this out!" Chen Dong hastily blocked the doorway, but Zhao Xingde roughly pushed him aside. "If you can't wait for the next installment, there are people at Fuhai Tower who specialize in storytelling and will recite this part for just a few coins - you can even listen for free." Chen Dong cursed to himself: "How could Shifu's daughter, the top courtesan of Gonglou, possibly go to Fuhai Tower to listen to storytelling?" Chen Dong had no choice but to follow Zhao Xingde out, constantly begging him.
Zhao Xingde just shook his head and ignored him, and the two of them chattered on like this until they walked out of the Taixue Academy's Huazhang Building.
The Imperial Academy of the Song Dynasty was originally located in the outer city to the south, where merchants and traders gathered. Emperor Yingzong moved it to the inner city, close to the palace and the Yanfu Palace, so that students could focus on their studies without distractions. The academy occupied a large area of land, and since the reforms of Chancellor Wang Anshi, it was not only a place for lectures and talent cultivation but also an important channel for the court to select officials. Chancellor Wang expanded the academy, increasing the number of students to 3,600, setting up 120 dormitories. The students were considered reserve officials of the Song Dynasty, and among them, there were those who aspired to be pillars of the state, criticizing current events and discussing important courtiers; others ran between government offices, seeking personal gain; and some indulged in pleasure-seeking, frequenting brothels and taverns.
Just like the vicinity of a modern university, where many merchants gather, there are numerous inns and hotels near the National University of Song Dynasty. Among them, brothels and taverns are not uncommon, and there are also many traveling merchants and peddlers mixed among them. At this time, just after dawn, the area is already bustling with activity. Everywhere, merchants are doing business, and along both sides of the road, there are all sorts of food stalls catering to the common people, with stewed pig and sheep heads and roasted chicken and duck hanging from the counters. Large iron pots are set up at the entrances, simmering sticky wax for plucking chickens and ducks, emitting a strong smell of oil smoke mixed with sweat and dust.
The shop boy at the Fuhai Building saw that there were customers coming in, and immediately used a cloth to wipe the already clean table and chairs again. Only then did he invite Zhao and Chen to sit down. Chen Dong rewarded him with five copper coins, and only then did he take his seat. He could ask Zhao Xingde for the manuscript in private, but here he had to maintain his dignity and couldn't keep talking nonsense. His eyes kept glancing at Zhao Xingde's pocket from time to time.
Zhao Xingde saw that the main hall was still empty, with only a few tables of merchants who had rushed to enter the city early, slowly drinking their morning tea. He secretly regretted that he had arrived a bit too early today, so he ordered a bowl of hot lychee ball soup and ate it slowly while frowning. Chen Dong also ordered a bowl of pepper soup tea and asked for two plates of beef and mutton jerky, as well as four plates of fruit, including honey dates and golden oranges. As they ate, he said in a low voice: "I know that the Fuhai Building will definitely work hard to complete the engraving of the book manuscript, so why don't you discuss with them and first print out a few sets of collections for us to treasure?"
Ducheng Bianliang is the place where people from all over the world gather. Before an hour had passed since the city gate opened, the number of merchants sitting in Fuhai Building had gradually increased. As the crowd grew, the singer on duty at Fuhai Building sang a few songs with her pipa on the stage, and then the storyteller told a story.
Fuhai Bookstore and Fuhai Building were both opened by the same owner, and were managed by Hua Zhanggui. The bookstore was located right across from Fuhai Building, and every morning, Hua Zhanggui would also go to Fuhai Building to drink tea. This time, Zhao Xingde was drinking tea and listening to a story while waiting for the manager of the bookstore. Suddenly, the storyteller cleared his throat after tapping twice on the pear-wood clapper, and began to speak in a loud voice:
"The sweet things are unknown to the barbarians, and the five lakes and four seas bear grudges. Even if there is a heroic spirit that surpasses all others, it's likely that no one will continue the Spring and Autumn Annals in the future."
The singing girl next to him plucked a few strings on the pipa, and the storyteller tapped the pear wood board twice again, saying:
"I have inherited the majestic momentum of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, the Han and Tang dynasties' prosperity, with outstanding heroes emerging in the country. As long as we unite and work together, we can make those four barbarian tribes surrender. Unfortunately, it's a pity that there are always some people who forget their ancestors, willingly acknowledge the enemy as their father, and do things for the northern nomads, greatly damaging their moral integrity, not only bringing disaster to the Central Plains but also harming their descendants."
"This seven-character poem says that the Liao State's Han family, whose ancestor Han Zhi Gu was originally from Yutian, Ji Zhou, during the Five Dynasties period, when the Central Plains were in turmoil, the Khitan people invaded Youyan and Hebei, and at the age of six, Han Zhi Gu was captured by the Khitans and became a Han slave. Later, he was sent to the Khitan Emperor as an accompanying gift for his concubine. Han Zhi Gu's life was thus buried, but unexpectedly, his son Han Kuang Xi, due to circumstances, shamelessly became the favorite of Liao Taizu Yelü Abaoji and also served as the face of the Khitan Empress Dowager. The Khitans loved the Han people's houses and clothes, but did not understand the Central Plains' official system and etiquette, so they appointed the unknown Han Zhi Gu as the Jiedushi, in charge of Han affairs within the Khitan state. Later, he was promoted to Left Buzheng, then Zhongshu Ling, and when the Khitan Emperor passed away, Han Zhi Gu unexpectedly became one of the regent ministers."
When the storyteller got to this point, the door curtain was lifted and a dozen or so men wearing leather jackets and dogskin hats came in and sat down asking for wine and dishes. A merchant-like person was surrounded by his entourage in the middle, seemingly their leader. He heard that the storyteller was talking about the decline of the Han family of Liao State, his face changed slightly, he sipped tea on one side, and listened attentively on the other.
"The Han family has been devoted to the Liao state for generations, and their honor and prestige in the Liao court are unmatched. Although Han Kuangsi's rebellion was put down, his son Han Degin succeeded him. As a Han Chinese, he led the imperial guards and held the position of Grand Chancellor, concurrently serving as the head of the Northern and Southern Institutes of the Secretariat. He was also enfeoffed as Prince of Qi. Not only did he reach the pinnacle of power among officials, but even the Liao emperor, Emperor Taizong of Liao, treated him with great respect. The fortunes of the Liao state also rose to new heights under the support of the Han family."
At this time, the door curtain of the inn was lifted again, and it seemed that the person who entered still had to wait for his companions behind him. He kept lifting the curtain without letting it fall, and a cold wind poured in, blowing the people sitting in the middle of the hall to frown. Zhao Xingde and Chen Dong also looked towards the door with the crowd, as if they wanted to block the door with their eyes. However, they saw a dozen or so Confucian scholars standing at the door, wrapped in cold wind. The first one saw them, his face showed a happy expression, and he smiled: "I said I couldn't find you two, it turned out that you had already arrived here to wait."
The one who spoke was Zhang Bing, a monitor of the Taixue Huazhang Inn. He was an honest and kind-hearted man. Beside him were also monitors from the adjacent inns: Deng Su, He Fang, Zhu Sen, Li Xuan, and Wu Zilong. They were all good friends with Zhao Xingde and Chen Dong. Every three to five days, they would gather together to discuss current events and enjoy poetry and wine. Seeing that Zhao Xingde and Chen Dong had already taken their seats, Deng Su, Zhang Bing, and He Fang leaned against their table, while the others found nearby tables to sit down at. They ordered soup, tea, and fruit, and as they sipped their tea, they listened to the old man in the green robe tell his story.
"As the ancient saying goes, a gentleman's virtue can last for five generations. What about this family that has been humiliated by the enemy? By the time of Han Chang, son of Han Dejian, the Han family's power was like a blooming flower on brocade, or a fierce fire burning oil. The Han family not only controlled the various states of Nanjing and Youyun, but also conquered the barbarian tribes of Shengnu, Shiwei, and Wugu through military campaigns, selecting the strong to form an army and registering the weak as civilians, training powerful troops like the Linked Horse and Iron Floating Pavilion, with the intention of replacing the Hu ruler and invading the Central Plains."
"Who would have thought that the Khitan barbarians were not blind, watching as the Tang Emperor was overthrown, with the strong branches and weak trunk, the minister overpowering the ruler. They devised a clever plan, promising high offices and noble titles to the Han Chinese who defected from Nanjing, separating them from their loved ones. They also allowed the Jurchen and other northern barbarian tribes to establish their own kingdoms and declare themselves kings, cutting off their arms. Under these circumstances, Han Chang, who had been abandoned by his followers, still managed to muster the strength of a cornered beast, leading his troops in an attack on the capital, but was surrounded by 400,000 Khitan cavalry at Duanjixia Mountain. The battle was so fierce that the sky grew dark and the sun and moon lost their light, resulting in the complete defeat of Han Chang's army."
The storyteller got to this point, tapped the huanghuali wood board twice with his left hand, took a sip of tea from the cup in his right hand, and the songstress beside him strummed another segment of "Ambush on All Sides" on her pipa. The storyteller then cleared his throat, gathered his energy, and began to speak in a loud voice:
"This is indeed the case, Heaven's will is obscure and never leaks, only to contend for coming early or late! How often has the power of Liaodong been overturned, and the undefeated hero of a time, yet ended up with the downfall of his clan and death. Along with it, the Khitan also suffered a great loss of vitality."
"Originally, when a person dies, it's like a lamp going out, and all things come to an end. Who would have thought that Han Chang's death would stir up another huge wave? The Western Xia Emperor heard that his sworn brother was killed by the Khitan people, and he raised an army of 100,000 strong men, never ceasing to fight against the Khitan people. This actually benefited our dynasty, allowing us to enjoy decades of peace. To be continued."
The storyteller paused, slightly nodded to the tea guests, bowed in all directions, and ended. He was originally invited by Fuhai Teahouse to help with the excitement, and his monthly salary was given by the shopkeeper, so he didn't need to ask for money from the tea guests.
In the inn, all the traveling merchants were people who had been to the south and north, and they couldn't help but feel that the will of heaven was unpredictable and fortune was hard to fathom. The Han family had produced officials for four generations in Liao and Song, and their prosperity and decline were well-known to everyone. When they were prosperous, their power reached the sky, and when they declined, not even a chicken or dog was left. It's truly as the saying goes: "When one is successful, one should enjoy oneself to the fullest, and not let the golden cup be empty in front of the moon." After the storyteller finished this section, several tables ordered more wine, fruit, and other dishes.
"This book's absurd theory of cause and effect, forcing people to understand, is really meaningless." Chen Dong saw Zhao Xingde listening intently, and couldn't help but laugh, saying: "The 'Left Turning' says, if it's not my kind, their heart must be different. As a Han person serving the Liao, it's like accompanying tigers and wolves, still having the worry of being killed at any moment. The Korean family doesn't know how to advance or retreat, they're satisfied with their achievements and look around with swords drawn. The outcome of achieving great merit but offending the ruler has always been the same. In the beginning, when the Hu chief granted great power to the Han family, this planted the cause for the entire family's destruction."
Zhao Xingde finally came to his senses, and he had just been deep in thought because in the history he remembered, Han Dejiang had no descendants, and was even given the name Yelü Longxu by the Liao royal family, with the Yelü clan's children being adopted into this household one after another, so that they were considered to be of the same blood as the Liao imperial family. The fate of the Han family was completely different from what the storyteller had said. Occupying Guanzhong and Xiyu, proclaiming himself emperor, and establishing a new dynasty called Xia, which coexisted with the Liao and Song dynasties, was something he had never heard of before. When Chen Dong couldn't help but discuss politics again, Zhao Xingde smiled and said: "Brother Chen's lofty words are just that most people who listen to storytellers are peddlers and travelers, and when you get to the bottom of it, the storyteller's fabrications are nothing more than extolling loyalty, filial piety, and righteousness, warning against those who betray their country for personal gain."
Deng Su shrugged, took a swig of wine and sighed: "In that case, loyalty, filial piety, integrity and righteousness are no different from goods in the market. When there's profit to be made, people flock to them like birds; when there's no profit to be made, they're left cold and deserted. In the end, it corrupts people's hearts."
He nodded and said in a low voice, "Mencius said that as a minister, one should serve his lord with profit in mind; as a son, one should serve his father with profit in mind; as a younger brother, one should serve his older brother with profit in mind. This is the end of benevolence and righteousness between ruler and minister, father and son, and brothers, who only think of profit when interacting with each other. However, it has never happened that they did not perish. The Khitan barbarians and the Han family are all people who pursue profit and neglect righteousness, with human faces but animal hearts. They are like two tigers in the same cage, fighting to the death, which is only a matter of time."
At this point, he heard a faint "hmm" from the person at the next table. Although it was originally inaudible, Zhao Xingde's keen hearing picked it up clearly. He couldn't help but turn his head slightly to look over, and saw that it was one of the ten or so men wearing dog skin hats who had arrived mid-performance. It was rumored that although the Han family had been destroyed, they still held great influence in the northern regions of Youyan, similar to An Lushan and Shi Siming in their time. But it was unclear whether He Fang's words about "human face, beastly heart" had struck a chord with someone.
Zhao Xingde hastily smiled and said, "You two are being too serious. In the world, there are few gentlemen but many petty people. They all rush about for personal gain. As it is said, 'A gentleman is persuaded by righteousness, a petty person is persuaded by personal gain.' If a gentleman does not speak of personal gain, how can he drive away the petty people?"
He furrowed his brow, feeling that Zhao Xingde's words were close to the heretical views of Han Fei and Yang Zhu. He was about to think of a way to refute them when he saw the door curtain open slightly, and Hua Zhangzi walked in slowly, stomping the ice and mud off his feet at the entrance while rubbing his hands and ears. Zhao Xingde couldn't help but smile slightly, knowing that this shopkeeper was from Jinling in the south, sent by the master to do business in Bianliang, but he was not accustomed to the cold winter weather of Bianliang, even wearing thicker cotton clothes than others, yet he was born stingy and didn't hire a sedan chair, always walking in the wind morning and night.
Hua Zhanggui was tidying up while glancing around, seeing that the tables in the main hall were about 70-80% full. A hint of a smile appeared on his face as he saw Zhao Xingde sitting in the middle, nodding at him. The original 20% smile increased to 70%, and the two exchanged a knowing glance without saying a word. After instructing the cashier for a few sentences, Hua Zhanggui walked into the accounting room.
