novelSusiti Chapter 72 Empress Fu summons the Tianzhang Pavilion
Chapter 72 Empress Fu summons the Tianzhang Pavilion
After watching a grand fireworks display at the Li family manor, Empress Fu led her entourage back to the palace. With her here, the Li family would be hesitant to act, which would only delay their land clearing progress.
Fortunately, having witnessed the Li family's "planned" development capabilities, Empress Fu gained an understanding of how to assess the development potential of estates and could now go back and consider how to find talent skilled in the diversified management of estates. The Li family was small and could only rely on its clansmen and adopted sons and daughters.
When the Empress recruits talent, it can lead to official positions.
Although it's just a nominal civil or military official title, it's still an official position. There's no need to charge into battle or sit in the office. The pool of candidates isn't limited to military men and scholars; it can be expanded to include ordinary landlords and merchants. There are countless people in the world who want to rise above their station and change their social standing; if the Empress intervenes, countless followers will surely follow.
They left the city in the morning and returned to Bianliang in the afternoon. As soon as the entourage approached the imperial city, Empress Fu ordered Wang Qian, the Privy Councilor, Tao De, the Chancellor of the Secretariat, and Lu Yuanyi, the Academician of the Tianzhang Pavilion, to wait for her at the Tianzhang Pavilion.
When Wang Qian and Tao De heard that the Empress wanted to summon them to the Tianzhang Pavilion, they understood that the matter had been resolved.
Not daring to be negligent, the two emerged from the offices of the Privy Council and the Secretariat. The two offices faced each other, symbolizing a system of checks and balances. Therefore, Wang Qian and Tao De saw each other emerge almost simultaneously, exchanged a brief greeting, and without further ado, lifted their robes and hurried towards the Tianzhang Pavilion.
When Wang Qian and Tao De arrived at Tianzhang Pavilion, Lu Yuanyi, a scholar of Tianzhang Pavilion, stood outside with two officials in charge of managing the Tianzhang Pavilion's collection, waiting respectfully.
Wang Qian stopped to catch his breath and calm himself down. He frowned and said, "Scholar Lu, Prime Minister Tao and I have come here on the Empress's orders. There is no need for you to specially greet us outside. What kind of talk is this?"
Tao De also criticized, "Scholar Lu, you are a refined gentleman. The court is in such a good mood now, how can you be so tactless?"
Lu Yuanyi smiled wryly and said, "My two gentlemen have misunderstood me. Her Majesty the Empress has already entered the Tianzhang Pavilion and wishes to take a look inside. In order not to spoil the Empress's enjoyment and to avoid suspicion, we can only wait outside for Her Majesty's summons."
Wang Qian and Tao De suddenly realized what was happening and quickly bowed to Lu Yuanyi in apology.
Lu Yuanyi was merely a scholar who looked after books, while Wang Qian and Tao De, as prime ministers, naturally received different treatment.
Therefore, when the eunuch guarding the gate saw Wang Qian and Tao De running over, he hurriedly went inside to report.
After the three men outside had explained the situation and apologized, Empress Fu's summons was brought out: "Her Majesty the Empress commands: Privy Councilor Wang Qian, Right Chancellor Tao De, and Academician of the Tianzhang Pavilion Lu Yuanyi to enter the palace for an audience."
The three men whose names were called immediately became serious. Wang Qian was in the first place, Tao De in the second, and Lu Yuanyi in the last, and they solemnly entered Tianzhang Pavilion in turn.
With a series of thumping sounds on the wooden stairs, the three officials ascended to the second floor of Tianzhang Pavilion.
The second floor is densely packed with countless bookshelves, each labeled with a different category of books. However, only one corner actually contains books. The vast majority of the bookshelves are empty, and the most important task for the officials managing Tianzhang Pavilion is to clean these shelves to prevent dust accumulation.
The Empress was strolling among these bookshelves, looking at the empty Tianzhang Pavilion, without saying a word.
Wang Qian and the others bowed and stepped forward, stopping a few steps in front of the Empress under the guidance of the eunuchs.
Empress Fu turned to the three women and said, "You've arrived. I'm usually busy in the inner palace, so this is my first time visiting Tianzhang Pavilion. I didn't know until I came here that it was so empty and desolate. It chills me to the bone. The nation's repository of books, a place of brilliant culture, is actually like this."
Lu Yuanyi immediately knelt down and begged for forgiveness, saying, "Your subject, Lu Yuanyi, a scholar of the Tianzhang Pavilion, has failed in his task of collecting books and has not been able to ensure that the Tianzhang Pavilion's collection meets the expectations of the nation. I request to be punished."
Wang Qian and Tao De knew that Lu Yuanyi was not to blame for this, and they also knew that Empress Fu would not really hold it against them.
Therefore, Wang Qian stepped forward to plead for mercy, saying, "Your Majesty, please calm your anger. The country has been in turmoil for many years, and everything is in need of rebuilding. Tianzhang Pavilion originally had no books, not even these bookshelves, and was even infested with rats. The current state of Tianzhang Pavilion is the result of Scholar Lu's best efforts to rectify the situation."
Todd then pleaded, saying:
"What Minister Wang said is correct. When the Khitans marched south, they captured Bianliang, burned down the palaces and pavilions, and looted all the books and ritual objects. The country was rebuilt from ruins, and then suffered many wars. By the time the late emperor founded the Great Zhou, Tianzhang Pavilion was already in ruins."
It was all thanks to Scholar Lu's tireless efforts in starting from scratch. He completely disregarded the dignity of court officials, personally visiting and pleading for any news of his book collection.
There are even tales of people who, despite being harassed by monks, remained steadfast in their resolve, sitting daily in the Buddha hall without food or drink, making a solemn vow before the Buddha to succeed. Moved by their sincerity, the monks donated their entire collection of books. Without Scholar Lu's years of hard work, there would have been no achievement of a thousand volumes.
When Empress Fu first heard of Lu Yuanyi's deeds, even though Lu Yuanyi's official rank was not high and Empress Fu's status was noble, the hierarchy in the world was not simply a matter of superior and subordinate. How could Lu Yuanyi's heroic act of collecting books for the country and preserving culture in a chaotic world not be precious?
"No need for formalities. I am not here today to interrogate you." Empress Fu gestured for them not to be nervous or misunderstand. She said to Lu Yuanyi, "Scholar Lu, you have been loyal to your duties and disregarded your own honor and safety for the sake of the country and its people. You are truly a national hero. It is fortunate that our country has such a minister. Please accept my bow."
Wang Qian and Tao De quickly separated and stood to the left and right, not daring to accept the Empress's courtesy.
Lu Yuanyi's head was buzzing. Seeing that the Empress was about to kneel down, he quickly knelt down and thanked her, saying, "Your Majesty, your humble virtue is not even a fraction of what the sages of the past have accomplished. Your Majesty, you must not perform such a grand ceremony."
Empress Fu's solemn bow was unstoppable, and she performed the rituals flawlessly. She said, "History will judge your merits and demerits. Tianzhang Pavilion is just a remote and unpopular government office; you could have lived a quiet life there without anyone saying anything. If your heart were not as sincere as the sun and moon, how could you have achieved this? I understand your hard work and contributions, and although I am the Empress, I dare not fail the testament of history."
Wang Qian and Tao De could no longer stand. The three men, deeply moved, bowed and thanked him, saying, "Your Majesty is virtuous!"
Empress Fu had no choice but to give the order again:
"No need for formalities. There's no need for all this bowing. Our dynasty is building on the past and ushering in a new era. If we want to unify the world, we must revive our culture and win over the hearts of the people. We can gain the world on horseback, but we cannot govern it on horseback."
The Emperor has long been concerned about the extinction of the literary tradition. However, with the court currently on a southern campaign, there is no time to spare for a major cultural undertaking. Therefore, I do not blame anyone; the process of creating something from nothing is inevitable.
However, even with the court lacking the resources, Scholar Lu was able to accomplish so much on his own, collecting thousands of volumes. We, on the other hand, have more power and higher rank than Scholar Lu; it wouldn't be right for us to do nothing simply because the court is too busy.
Wang Qian and Tao De bowed and said, "Please give your instructions, Your Majesty the Empress."
Lu Yuanyi pleaded, "Your Majesty, may I be so bold as to ask if there was any gain today?"
Seeing the earnest looks in the three women's eyes, Empress Fu smiled and said, "That Lady Feng truly lives up to her reputation as a descendant of a prestigious family in Bohai. She has already agreed."
Wang Qian and the other two breathed a sigh of relief. Although Li Xuan and Feng Niaoniao had shallow foundations, they wouldn't have to worry about the court forcibly demanding the books. But books are different from other things. Why did the court want to rebuild civilization and continue the literary tradition? It was precisely to restore order to the world and establish a social atmosphere that values integrity, propriety, righteousness, and a sense of shame.
Demanding things by force—isn't that still banditry? No matter how lavishly packaged, the culture produced by bandits is still a bandit's den. Therefore, when collecting books, you can buy them, beg for them, even kneel before them, like Lu Yuanyi did, but you cannot steal them.
This is a timeless and elegant event, the cornerstone of future national laws. None of those present wanted the nation's honor to be dishonored, or their names to be tarnished by force or robbery after their deaths.
This was something none of the three—Wang Qian, Wang Qian, and Wang Qian—would be willing to do. Empress Fu was even less willing; the emperor was her husband, and the only prince was her son. The court's reputation was in question, and her family was directly responsible. They couldn't shirk their responsibility for being implicated in the blame for robbing cultural heritage.
Empress Fu took in their expressions and, feeling the time was right, began to explain her plans:
"Searching for ancient texts is a matter of national importance, but collecting some texts should not have troubled the two ministers. The court can simply send an envoy to invite them with proper courtesy."
As long as we give them enough face, I'm sure Commander Li won't refuse. The reason I invited you to Tianzhang Pavilion is because I have some other considerations. I'd like you two to help me figure things out.
When the monarch inquires about state affairs, the ministers cannot remain silent. Wang Qian and Tao De bowed simultaneously and said, "Please enlighten us, Your Majesty the Empress."
Empress Fu said:
"The Great Zhou Dynasty was established by military generals from Hedong, Hebei. I come from such a military family."
With the abilities of us military families, we might be capable of governing a small military town. However, we are far from sufficient to govern hundreds of prefectures and counties and establish a unified country.
The emperor once said that he should use the people of the world to govern the affairs of the world, and not just be the ruler of Hebei and Hedong.
The Emperor's southern campaign is at a critical juncture, and assistance is needed at this time. This can be seen from the Li family. The Southerners may seem weak, but they are actually full of talented people and heroes, and should not be underestimated.
The emperor's southern expedition is about winning on the battlefield, while the expansion and consolidation of the Great Zhou's territory is about winning hearts and minds. Today, all the literary spirit of the world resides in the south.
The Southerners regard us as barbarians and beasts. If we only resort to force and continue fighting across states and counties, how many of the 100,000 elite soldiers of Liang will be left?
Therefore, I hope that the Li family's donation of the book will be treated as a grand ceremony for our dynasty to acquire talent and resources. This will demonstrate to the world that our dynasty treats heroes from all walks of life fairly, openly, and inclusively.
Secondly, it makes the people of the South understand that we are a land of propriety and righteousness, and that we take pride in following the teachings of our ancestors. We are not barbarians, and that submitting to our country means submitting to China, not to some barbarian land.
These are all I can think of for now, and I'm not sure if they're feasible. Therefore, I ask you two gentlemen to discuss and plan them in this empty Tianzhang Pavilion.
Wang Qian and Tao De were pleasantly surprised that Empress Fu could offer such profound insights. Not to mention Lu Yuanyi behind them, the scholar of Tianzhang Pavilion, who was filled with a sense of happiness from being recognized and supported.
In the midst of chaos and endless warfare, he had long lost any ambition to revitalize the world. All that remained was the hope of preserving ancient texts and, in the future, restoring a golden age of propriety and prosperity. However, the Empress did not ask him anything, and he could only stand aside, trembling with joy.
Wang Qian and Tao De exchanged a glance, and Tao De gestured for them to proceed.
Wang Qian smiled gratefully, turned around, bowed to Empress Fu, and replied:
"Her Majesty the Empress is wise and far-sighted, and her intentions are extremely righteous. Upon hearing her gracious instructions, I am filled with mixed emotions. I have submitted a memorial stating: 'Zhonghua means China. Those who have received the Empress's teachings belong to China. Their attire, demeanor, customs, filial piety, and conduct are all in accordance with propriety and righteousness. Therefore, they are called Zhonghua.'"
Clothing, demeanor, customs, filial piety, and etiquette all originate from the teachings of sages and worthies, which are passed down from generation to generation without ever being forgotten. The so-called classics are records made by our ancestors for future generations to remember.
Our dynasty identifies itself as the Chinese nation, aspiring to rule the world and restore order. Therefore, we must take the flourishing of Chinese civilization as our divine mandate and our own responsibility. We absolutely cannot allow other countries to control Chinese culture and traditions, using them to claim legitimacy.
Your Majesty, I believe that when King Zhao of Yan bought horse bones with a thousand pieces of gold, he still built the Thousand Gold Terrace to show his solemnity. This time, the court has retrieved the collection of books from the Li family, and it should also be used for national ceremonies and sacrifices in the ancestral temple to show its solemnity.
Let the world know that our dynasty rose to power through military might and achieved glory through culture. The Mandate of Heaven rests on our shoulders; China belongs to us.
Both the Empress and Wang Qian expressed their desire for a grand celebration. Todd naturally agreed, and he had no reason to object.
Tao De said, "I also agree with Prime Minister Wang's proposal. Since ancient times, Huaxia has always been called China, and the name Huaxia means 'great.' It refers to the greatness of its rites and the splendor of its literature. China is the abode of wisdom and intelligence, the gathering place of all things and resources, the place where sages and saints teach, where benevolence and righteousness are practiced, and where poetry, books, rites, and music are used."
The nation holds a grand ceremony to welcome the collection of books, and the Li family contributes poems and books to enrich the national treasury. This is a sign that our dynasty has moved from chaos to order, from prosperity to flourishing. With this act, wise and intelligent people from all directions will surely be happy to reside in our country. Talented individuals will surely gather here in peace. All nations will know that our dynasty governs with poetry, books, rites, music, and laws. Who would dare not praise the legitimate rule of the Zhou dynasty?
"I dare to ask, however boldly, how does the Empress plan to hold the celebrations? I am ashamed to admit that I am on official business in the Secretariat, and every day money and provisions are sent to the front lines. If it is too costly, I fear it will be difficult."
The more he talked about it, the more trivial it seemed, and Todd himself felt it was a bad thing to say it. But he couldn't keep quiet about it, because a grand celebration is really expensive and would require the use of already planned corvée labor, especially since it was during the autumn harvest, and large-scale construction would be a waste of money.
Upon hearing this, Empress Fu was both amused and exasperated. Wang Qian stamped his foot and said, "Prime Minister Tao, a grand ceremony is about propriety, not extravagance; it's about people's hearts, not about mobilizing a large army. In ancient times, a country had only a few thousand people. Did wise rulers ever neglect their ceremonies? They still held them in the same way!"
Tao De thought to himself, "I'm just afraid that if the Empress gets excited, she'll insist on building a new palace or a new pavilion, just to make a big show of things. Ancient times are ancient times, but our current monarchs are the Emperor and the Empress."
Empress Fu reassured him, "Extravagant spending is unacceptable. The outer court is poor, and so is the inner court. If His Majesty knew that I had squandered the family fortune, he would not let it go. How about this, we will summon all civil and military officials to the Daqing Hall and invite the late Emperor's ancestral tablet."
As the daughter-in-law, I led the officials in offering sacrifices to the late emperor. We presented the grand ceremony to the emperor's spirit, then summoned the Li family to offer scrolls before the emperor's ancestral tablet. Afterwards, we read aloud the rewards and thanks given to the Li family. What do you think?
Empress Fu's idea was to use the Daqing Hall as a dedicated venue for major ceremonies, making the event there a sign of importance. All the officials were readily available; they could be summoned to help create a lively atmosphere. Then, the late emperor could be invited to make the ceremony legitimate.
This would look both solemn and grand, and wouldn't cost much. Actually, inviting the late emperor's ancestral tablet was a bit excessive. The empress should have led all the officials to the Imperial Ancestral Temple to report to the late emperor. But the Great Zhou Dynasty was poor, and there was no Imperial Ancestral Temple yet. The late emperor's spirit was still living in the Earth God Temple with the Earth God and his wife.
Based on Empress Fu's understanding of the late emperor, if she had known that moving the ancestral tablets could save the country a lot of money, the late emperor would definitely have thought they were too indecisive and blamed them for not doing it sooner.
They were even more concerned about whether they could contribute to further saving money, after all, the late emperor's favorite saying was "Even a hero can be brought down by a penny."
Wang Qian, Tao De, and Lu Yuanyi were overjoyed and knelt down together, saying, "Your Majesty the Empress is wise and virtuous; we will obey your decree."
These words came from the bottom of their hearts. They could have come up with the same idea as Empress Fu, but ministers like Wang Qian would not dare to suggest using the late emperor's ancestral tablet as a prop.
Empress Fu was the daughter-in-law, and the late emperor was the father-in-law. Whether he was happy to be a prop in heaven or not, he would not blame his daughter-in-law.
Empress Fu looked at these cunning ministers and felt a surge of amusement.
She didn't bother with the ministers' petty schemes and instead gave a direct order: "Todd, you are in charge of this matter. Quickly divine an auspicious day, formulate the ceremony procedures, and lead the officials in rehearsals. Saving money doesn't mean being careless. I hope that day will be filled with solemnity and joy, and that nothing unpleasant will happen."
This was the responsibility of the Secretariat, and Tao De quickly accepted the order, saying, "Your Majesty, please rest assured, the Secretariat will do its utmost and will never dare to neglect this grand national event. Even my personal feelings would not allow such a grand event to have any flaws."
Empress Fu smiled and said, "That's right. If the ceremony is not well done, I will inform the history bureau so that it will be clearly recorded in the national history that it was you, Tao De, who organized the ceremony."
Todd's face fell, and he bowed deeply, saying, "Your subject will certainly do his utmost."
Empress Fu then said to Lu Yuanyi, "Scholar Lu."
Lu Yuanyi stepped forward and replied, "Your subject is here, and requests Your Majesty's instructions."
Empress Fu said, "I have inquired, and the Li family did not bring many books from Bianliang. There are only fifty-four books, totaling one thousand one hundred and three volumes. Madam Feng of the Li family will set aside a room in Sweetwater Lane. Tomorrow, you should take people there to check them one by one. You should record anything that is not in Tianzhang Pavilion. I need to have a basis for rewarding the Li family."
Lu Yuanyi petitioned, "Your Majesty, in your wisdom, besides the books already in the Tianzhang Pavilion's catalogue, the collections of such aristocratic families often contain annotations, commentaries, and explanations by renowned scholars throughout history. The Tianzhang Pavilion not only has a scarce collection of classical texts, but even its existing volumes are lacking in annotations, commentaries, and explanations, urgently needing replenishment. Should we record and retrieve these as well?"
Empress Fu was genuinely unaware of such details, and she asked, "Are these annotations by famous scholars really that important?"
Lu Yuanyi replied, "The classic texts have been passed down for thousands of years, and their style and meaning are vastly different from today's. Correcting errors relies entirely on the annotations of wise men throughout history. I dare not deceive Your Majesty; this is of utmost importance."
Empress Fu pondered for a moment and said, "Then write it down. We won't skimp on this reward. By the way, the Li family is borrowing the book to copy, not to give it to the court. You must be careful with your words and not tarnish the court's reputation."
Lu Yuanyi immediately bowed down: "Your subject, Lu Yuanyi, Academician of the Tianzhang Pavilion, obeys the order."