In life, we need enemies; enemies can help us grow.
We need partners even more; one thing can never be accomplished by one person alone.
Zhao Huan had many enemies, but also many partners.
For example, Zhuopu Ba, who is right in front of us, is Zhao Huan's partner.
As things stand, no one is more suitable to govern Tibet than him.
Highly respected Buddhist monks, due to the suppression of Buddhism, needed to seek external assistance.
"Is the Dalai Lama settling in comfortably in Tokyo?"
While personally brewing tea, Zhao Huan asked in a gentle tone.
"Having lived in remote and impoverished areas for so long, I am indeed somewhat unaccustomed to my new surroundings in Tokyo. However, what I find unaccustomed to is the prosperity and comfort of Tokyo," Zhuo Puba said in somewhat broken Song Dynasty Mandarin.
His words had the air of flattering Zhao Huan. By saying that Tokyo was prosperous and comfortable, he was implying that the city was so under the emperor's wise rule.
“Dalai Lama, since Tokyo is comfortable, you can stay a few more days. Elder Zhiqing of Daxiangguo Temple has been wanting to meet you.”
Zhuopuba said, "I would rather obey than be respectful."
"You'll have to work hard from now on. The Tibetan people need a peaceful life, and I'm willing to give Tibet peace."
"May Buddha be merciful, and Your Majesty be virtuous and benevolent. This old minister is willing to do his utmost."
"Come, have a taste of my tea first."
Zhuopuba was deeply moved. The emperor personally poured him tea, and he felt he was being valued like never before.
On the way here, he was still thinking about what the emperor's true intentions were towards Tibet.
It now seems that the emperor truly wanted peace for Tibet.
He suddenly felt very guilty. He had previously thought of the Song emperor as so despicable, which was completely different from the person in front of him.
"Excellent tea! Could this be Longjing tea from West Lake?"
Zhao Huan raised an eyebrow and smiled, "Has the Dalai Lama drunk West Lake Longjing tea?"
“In recent years, the quantity and variety of tea sold to Tibet have increased. I have tasted it once.”
"I have prepared a lot for you. I will send someone to deliver it to you separately when the time comes."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
"If you encounter any difficulties in the future, just tell me."
"yes!"
Zhuopuba had thought that his conversation with the emperor would be a theoretical discussion, but he was surprised by the emperor's simple and direct manner, which made him feel much more relaxed.
They also assumed that the emperor would make some demands, such as what to do next or what must be done.
But the emperor said nothing and asked nothing.
This gave Zhuo Puba the feeling that he was not being ignored, but rather that he was being trusted.
This sense of trust made Zhuopuba very happy.
The two chatted for a while longer, until it was already broad daylight.
The snow outside has stopped.
Zhuopuba tactfully stood up and said, "This old minister takes his leave."
"Shao Chengzhang, see the Dalai Lama off."
After Zhuo Pu Ba left, Zhao Huan began to change his clothes, as the grand court assembly was about to begin.
During the grand court assembly, the entire city of Tokyo was under heavy guard, with the Imperial Guards protecting every corner of the city.
The Imperial City Guard monitors everything.
It must be said that the people of Tokyo are serious about pursuing a better life.
Even on the streets, you can see soldiers in armor everywhere; the management is very strict.
But these people still wanted to wander around outside.
The shops on both sides remained open as usual, with vendors calling out their wares one after another.
It seems that no one can stop the people of Tokyo from pursuing a better and happier life.
As the Lunar New Year approaches, people are buying New Year's goods in unprecedented numbers.
The people writing Spring Festival couplets on the street were so engrossed in their work that their hands were trembling.
The clothes in the clothing store were all snapped up.
On this day, Li Guang, who had just finished attending the grand court assembly, rode his horse alone down the street.
As a key minister to the emperor, Li Guang transformed Youzhou from a dilapidated city into a prosperous one, proving his abilities.
After attending the grand court assembly, he will head to the Kingdom of Gaochang.
He wandered around the new town for quite a while.
To be honest, this wasn't his first time in Tokyo, nor was it his thirtieth.
For ten years, he came four times a year.
He would come once in each of the four seasons of the year.
Springtime isn't for cherry blossoms, and summer isn't for lilies either.
He came to investigate and learn.
Youzhou is said to be a model for the imperial court in the north, but in fact, Youzhou's current model has drawn a lot from the development model of Dongjing (Kaifeng).
Fortunately, the development is progressing smoothly. The towns and cities in the Yanyun area have fully embraced the Youzhou model and are now seeing more success and bearing more fruit.
Li Guang walked to the new city.
Suddenly, he saw a large crowd gathered at the street corner, seemingly watching something.
He walked over out of curiosity and discovered that these people were actually queuing up.
A new store called Tokyo Supermarket has opened on Chunxi Road in Dongcheng New District.
From the outside, the shop doesn't seem particularly special.
But for some reason, there were so many people queuing outside, and the inside was even more crowded.
Upon asking, Li Guang learned that this Tokyo supermarket was a comprehensive store where one could buy all kinds of daily necessities.
For example, you can buy soap, shampoo, toilet paper, cooking spices, and bath tubs there.
"Just how big is this place to hold so many things?" Li Guang wondered to himself.
There was a row of beautiful women at the entrance, dressed in their finest attire.
An unsuspecting person might mistake this place for a brothel.
Ye Chong, the owner of Huaxing Trading Company, smiled wryly to himself, thinking: "Zhao Guanren's thought process is really peculiar. He said that when he opens his business, he should put some beautiful women at the entrance to help attract attention. Isn't that what brothels do?"
Even Zhao Huan himself overlooked one point: in ancient times, the practice of hiring beautiful women to help with the opening of new stores would indeed be mistaken for a brothel.
Fortunately, the signs in Tokyo are still quite large.
Li Guang walked over and said, "Boss Ye, it's been a long time."
Ye Chong quickly returned the greeting, saying, "It is Lord Li. This humble subject pays his respects to Lord Li!"
"Mr. Ye, there's no need for such formalities. You helped me last time, and I haven't had a chance to thank you yet."
"It's alright, it's all for the benefit of the local people."
Li Guang laughed: "Boss Ye has a broad mind, which is admirable."
He then asked, "By the way, where is this place?"
"This is a supermarket in Tokyo."
Why Tokyo supermarkets?
Ye Chong wanted to say that he didn't know either, he was just doing what Master Zhao wanted to do.
But that official Zhao was too mysterious, and wouldn't let me reveal a single thing to him in front of others.
"It means bringing together all the common items, so that people no longer have to buy them here and there as they used to."
Upon hearing this, Li Guang's eyes lit up immediately: "Boss Ye is a genius!"
Ye Chong smiled sheepishly, then said, "Master Li, why don't you go in and take a look?"
Li Guangzheng had this intention. He had a very important mission when he went to Gaochang: to learn about all the good things in the folk of Dongjing (Kaifeng), or at least to know a little about them.
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