Chapter 107: Willing to Serve as a Servant

The third day of the second month of the second year of the Jing Kang period.

It's an odd number, so he doesn't have to attend court in the palace. How wonderful! Even the emperor has to punch in every day. This is what a true worker with destiny looks like.

It happened to be a beautiful day with gentle breezes and bright spring sunshine, a perfect day for a spring outing.

Zhao Huan decided to take a good look around Bianliang City and take a look at this ancient capital of the Six Dynasties.

The city of Bianliang was originally the capital of the Wei State during the Warring States Period in history. Later, the Later Liang, Later Jin, Later Han, Later Zhou and Song dynasties of the Five Dynasties all established their capitals here, so Bianliang is also known as the ancient capital of the Six Dynasties.

In particular, the Song Dynasty lasted for 160 years since the first year of Jianlong (960 AD). Under the management of the Zhao family, it can be said to be a well-deserved cultural, political and economic center at that time, and its urbanization process was second to none.

If Zhao Huan wanted to build a new capital in Beijing, he had to refer to the current city of Bianliang.

Every profession has its own expertise. If you want to have a thorough understanding of Bianliang City, you must have a good tour guide. Oh, what tour guide? He must be a knowledgeable old master who has participated in the planning of Bianliang City.

This person is naturally Cai Jing. Cai Jing served as prime minister four times and experienced the dynasties of Song Shenzong, Song Zhezong, Song Huizong, and Zhao Huan. He participated in the design and construction of Genyue and Yanfu Palace, the renovation and expansion of Yujing Garden and Qianlong Garden, and served as the prefect of Kaifeng for more than a year. He is also a great calligrapher and painter with extremely high architectural aesthetics. He is really the best choice to accompany him.

Zhao Huan changed into light and comfortable casual clothes and a hat, holding his daughter Zhao Xi's hands on both sides, and holding a large enamel teacup in his right hand, which was filled with Zhou Chunfu's specially roasted tea - the best Jin Junmei.

Zhu Lian stood aside, holding his forehead with his hand and helplessly looked at Zhao Huan, who had no imperial dignity at all and was making "Slurp, Ha!" sounds from his mouth. He wanted to go up and snatch his big enamel teacup and throw it on the ground. It was so annoying.

Watching Cai Jing approaching with the gait of a dragon and a tiger, Zhao Huan had a feeling that Cai Jing could live at least another ten years. What's the point of dressing like this? A coat made of linen with two obviously inconsistent colors printed on it. Is this the kind of clothing you, a big landlord with thousands of servants at home and whose buns are made by standardized assembly line workers, should wear?

"Grand Master, why are you dressed like this? I'll have the palace send you a few sets of clothes later. If foreign envoys saw you dressed like this, they'd think I was withholding salaries from officials."

Cai Jing must have had a thousand thoughts running through his mind. Tell me, where is my money? You've taken it all away for various reasons. Am I, Cai Jing, someone who willingly donates to charity?

I am, Cai Jing's face instantly changed into a bright smile: "Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. I am going to share the joys and sorrows with the people. Wearing fancy clothes will not allow me to mingle with the common people, and naturally I will not be able to hear their true thoughts."

"These past few days, I've truly benefited a lot. I used to sit high up in the government, seeing only problems. Now, from afar, I stand on the same side as the common people at the bottom of society, and I've seen countless solutions. Beneath my tattered clothes, my soul is becoming increasingly clear and fulfilled, and I'm deeply satisfied."

His words were so sincere that everyone who heard them couldn't help but give him a thumbs up. Even Zhao Huan couldn't tell for a moment whether Cai Jing was acting or expressing his true feelings.

"Grand Master, you are truly a man of high character and integrity, devoting yourself to your work until your death." Since it didn't cost anything to say a few nice words, Zhao Huan encouraged Cai Jing: "Grand Master, you make me want to compose a poem for you."

Cai Jing quickly revealed an expression of anticipation: "I look forward to your Majesty's great work."

What more can you ask for when your luck reaches Huagai? You have already hit your head before you dare to turn over.

A tattered hat covers my face as I walk through the busy streets; a leaky boat loaded with wine floats in the middle of the river.

He faced the criticism of thousands of people with a cold brow and was willing to be a cow for the children.

Hide in the small building and be at peace, regardless of winter, summer, spring or autumn.

Emperor Taizong of Tang, Li Shimin, once said, "A ruler is a boat; people are water. Water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it."

I hope that in the days ahead, Grand Tutor, you will never surrender to your enemies, no matter whether it is the Jin Kingdom or the Western Xia; you will be willing to obey the people like an ox. History will make its own judgment, and the people will remember you.

Zhao Huan was so excited that he almost recited Zang Kejia's "Some People": Those who ride on the people's heads will be thrown down by the people; those who treat the people like oxen and horses will be remembered by the people forever!

"Okay, let's get back to the point. We invited the Grand Tutor here today. It has nothing to do with the emperor or his subjects; it's just a small private gathering between the in-laws. I've already sent someone to notify Fourth Sister and her husband, Cai Yu. So, just relax today. I've lived in the palace for a long time, but I'm not very familiar with Bianliang City. The Grand Tutor is knowledgeable and talented, so I'll give him a little introduction."

"I am grateful to Your Majesty for your high regard. There are many great scholars in this city who understand more than I do."

"So what? Not everyone is my in-law. This is just a small gathering. Speaking of which, it's been a while since the Grand Tutor has seen Cai Yu and Fujin."

Cai Jing sighed, "They are both indifferent to fame and fortune. They dislike the excessive materialism of their families and rarely come home. I haven't seen them for a long time. If it weren't for Your Majesty, I don't know when we'll meet again."

"I'd like to take this opportunity to introduce you to the Bianjing Palace. Although I grew up in the imperial city, I don't necessarily know more than you do."

He was polite on the surface, but in fact, damn it, he was so unlucky. Not only did he not have the necessary golden finger for time travel, but he couldn't even receive the memories and couldn't speak clearly. It was a hellish start. If it weren't for the Jin soldiers besieging the city, no one would pay much attention to these details, and a group of ministers were killed. If it were a peacetime era, Zhao Huan would have been scolded by the ministers to the point of becoming autistic.

"This palace city in Tokyo, also called the Great Palace or the Imperial City, is five miles in circumference. It was originally the seat of the governor of the Xuanwu Army in the Tang Dynasty. In the Liang Dynasty, it was the Jianchang Palace. In the Later Tang Dynasty, it was again the seat of the Xuanwu Army. In the Jin Dynasty, it was the Daning Palace."

"Five miles around? Is it that small?"

Cai Jing explained, "After all, it was just the residence of a military governor before. Even during the reign of Emperor Shizong of Zhou, despite several expansions, it still failed to reach the scale of an imperial palace. This is what the historical records mean when they say it's not yet up to the standards of a king."

"It wasn't until the third year of Emperor Taizu's Jianlong reign (962 AD) that he ordered officials to build the northeast corner of Guanghuang City, modeled after the Ziwei City of Luoyang, according to the blueprints. This is how the imperial residence began to become magnificent. It was subsequently continuously renovated by successive emperors until it reached its present appearance."

Before Emperor Huizong of Song, all the emperors of the Song Dynasty could be said to be relatively frugal people, including Zhao Huan who came after Emperor Huizong of Song. In history, none of them had done anything extravagant or licentious.

Only Emperor Huizong of Song was a freak. The Yanfu Palace, Genyue, and various Taihu stones were all built during his reign. He spent money like water...