Listening to the familiar local accent and the familiar hawking sounds, Master Wuwang smiled like an old monk in meditation.
After twenty years away from Beijing, I never expected that the suburbs of Beijing would become so lively.
"Master, after passing this toll booth and walking a few dozen miles, you will reach the foot of the capital."
The little monk who had been serving me all the way opened half of the car window obediently.
Master Wu Wang glanced out the car window, looking at the bustling street scene, with the corners of his mouth slightly raised.
"I heard that this toll station closest to the capital is always jammed with traffic. I'm settling in today. Will His Majesty summon you tomorrow?"
Master Hopeless remained silent.
It was thousands of miles from Xiliang to the capital of the Great Zhou Dynasty, and he was silent most of the way.
He was already old, and after decades of traveling, he had developed many illnesses. Taoist Xuanqing treated him and prescribed medicine, but it only made his aging less obvious.
He knew his own body well, and he was ready to die of old age in Xiliang.
However, he did not expect that the emperor would issue an imperial edict to summon him back to the capital.
After twenty years away from Beijing, I returned to the place I had been dreaming of, feeling hopeless and calm.
There was just a hint of smile on the corner of his mouth.
We passed the toll station smoothly and drove slowly on the spacious official road.
"This section of the official road was expanded last year, adding four carriage lanes and a pedestrian lane. The road is really smooth."
"The road has been widened to twice its original width, but the carriages are still so slow. I can't imagine how crowded it must have been before the road was widened."
"There used to be many shacks and thatched houses on both sides of the road, home to many local villagers. When the road was expanded, they were all demolished and rebuilt into two- and three-story buildings... Look, Master, there's a four-story inn up ahead, with glazed windows. It's really grand."
"I heard that the colored glaze produced in the south is getting better and better. The colored glaze produced in the past was not transparent and contained all kinds of impurities. In the past one or two years, the colored glaze produced has become less and less impure. I heard that the wealthy families in Beijing have all installed colored glaze windows. If a family does not have one or two transparent colored glaze windows, they would be embarrassed to host a banquet."
"With more and more glazed windows, business at the cloth shop has also picked up. Many families have added curtains of all kinds. Master, look at the curtains in the inn. They're the most popular style in the capital this year, called 'Lady Gazing at the Moon.'"
"An inn with glazed windows and ladies gazing at the moon, it's truly luxurious. The owner behind it must be quite influential."
Master Wuwang smiled as he listened to the little monk talking non-stop.
He didn't need to ask, he already knew enough information.
The little monk was obviously a chatterbox.
With this kind of personality, I'm afraid he can't sit still. Being a monk in charge of reception is a good use of his talents.
If you don't want to become a monk, you can return to secular life and marry.
The carriage entered the capital before dark.
During the Jingming Dynasty, commerce flourished, trade routes were unobstructed, and with the assistance of Sanhe Express, goods flowed quickly. The closing time of the capital city gates was delayed by half an hour from the time set by our ancestors.
Don't underestimate half an hour.
If the city gates were closed half an hour later, small vendors would have an extra half hour of business.
Big merchants also had more opportunities, and the night markets in the capital took advantage of the opportunity to flourish.
People now have one more place to go at night, which means they have one more place to spend money.
The number of stalls in the night market has continued to increase, but it still cannot stop the enthusiasm of the merchants.
In the past, we could only do business during the day and make money during the day.
The city gates are closed half an hour later, so you can make money even at night.
This is a carnival for businessmen.
It is also the source of inspiration for scholars and writers. As the saying goes, the more you look at a beauty under the lamp, the more beautiful it becomes.
The atmosphere in the capital is becoming more and more open and inclusive, and is showing a tendency to catch up with that in the south of the Yangtze River.
Girls can now go out of the house openly, unlike in the past when they could not leave the house.
My biggest feeling is that there are many more foreign visitors on the streets of Beijing.
Qinlou and Chuguan also launched the Huji dancer project to attract customers.
Foreign visitors are very cautious when they act in the capital.
Once a person commits a crime and is caught by the Embroidered Uniform Guard, he will be fined varying amounts of gold and silver for minor offenses, and expelled from the country and put on the blacklist at major checkpoints for serious offenses.
Once you are on the blacklist, you will never be able to enter the territory of Da Zhou again in your life.
Most of the foreign visitors in the past came from the Western Regions.
Now there are more Siamese, Sindhu people, and indigenous savages.
These native savages were all slaves.
Although the imperial court did not openly oppose good people selling themselves into slavery.
However, judging from the attitude of the imperial court in the past two or three years, whenever there was a case of forcing innocent people into slavery, the government would impose extremely severe sentences.
Even if the local authorities made a light sentence, the inspecting censors would overturn it.
Once the Ministry of Justice intervenes in such cases, heavy sentences are imposed without exception.
There is no shortage of smart people in the world.
The Ministry of Justice, the Inspectors, the heavy sentences, one set after another, it was clearly a combination of punches, all of which were the routine of the court.
The message revealed is intriguing.
So, smart people responded quickly and started engaging in overseas human trafficking early on.
The reason why smart people are smart is often because they are three or five steps faster than others.
Don't underestimate these three or five steps, the wealth accumulated is terrifying.
Many people have become wealthy businessmen by relying on these three or five steps.
The imperial court cracked down on forced slavery of good people, but did not restrict the trafficking of people from abroad.
When these people were brought to Da Zhou and passed through customs, the customs' attitude was clearly to turn a blind eye and they simply levied double the tax.
The attitude of the customs has already revealed the attitude of the court.
Overseas, you can do whatever you want. No one will care about you.
But in the Great Zhou, you have to abide by the rules.
Anyone who dares to harm his own people should not blame the government for handling matters impartially.
Merchants are very sensible. We will never harm our own people. We only harm the barbarians.
Good people could not be forced into slavery, the size of the ya market was shrinking, and the government lacked working slaves.
what to do?
What businessmen do is to meet needs.
It’s easy to get a slave!
Barbarian slaves are priced fairly and can be used at will. You get what you pay for.
As a result, the Ya market expanded and the population sources diversified.
The government, customs, merchants, and wealthy families were all very happy.
…
Master Wuwang settled down in a small temple in the city, waiting for the emperor's summons.
When Xiangguo Temple learned that he had returned to Beijing, they had already cleaned up the quiet room in the back mountain and were ready to welcome him in at any time.
The young novice monk asked, "Master, are you going to Xiangguo Temple? The vegetarian food there is excellent."
Wuwang smiled and asked, "Do you like the vegetarian food at Xiangguo Temple?"
"I like it! The food in Xiliang is very different from that in the capital. I never ate well in Xiliang, and I kept thinking about the vegetarian food at Xiangguo Temple the whole way."
"Tomorrow, you can go to Xiangguo Temple to eat vegetarian food."
The young novice monk waved his hands repeatedly, "No. The master doesn't go to Xiangguo Temple. How can a little novice like me get the vegetarian food at Xiangguo Temple?"
Hopeless smiled without saying anything.
The young monk was a little panicked, worried that he had said something wrong.
But he was a carefree man, and after worrying for less than half an incense stick of time, he started talking nonstop again.
He was in no mood to listen to the little monk's words, as his mind had already drifted to the distant horizon.
On the third day after Wuwang arrived in Beijing, Emperor Liu Zhao summoned him.
The content of the conversation revolved around Xiliang.
Hopelessly reporting everything in detail.
He has been in Xiliang for twenty years and is well-deserved to be called an expert on the Western Regions.
After asking about the business, Liu Zhao explained the reason for summoning him back to the capital. "The Queen Mother is in poor health. I have heard that the Master has profound Buddhist teachings. I summoned you back to the capital to pray for the Queen Mother."
"After a lifetime of wandering, I am now old enough to return to my homeland. I am grateful for your kindness, Your Majesty."
"I'm glad you think so!"
Liu Zhao sent someone to the Weiyang Palace to ask Empress Dowager Pei if she wanted to meet Master Wuwang now.
The eunuch who asked the question returned quickly.
"Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager said today is not a convenient time. I would like to know where Master Wuwang is staying. The Empress Dowager would like to stay at the temple for a few days to discuss Buddhism with the master."
Queen Mother Pei wants to leave the palace?
Liu Zhao frowned slightly, then relaxed in the blink of an eye.
If Empress Dowager Pei wants to leave the palace, then let her do as she wishes.
When you get old, do whatever you want.
Ever since Empress Dowager Pei moved into the palace, she rarely had the opportunity to leave.
The palace looks very big, but to someone who has lived there for ten or twenty years, it is very small.
So small that it looks like a cage.
Being able to walk out of the palace and go to the temple to experience the profound Buddhist teachings is a way to relax.
"Master, have you decided where to place your order?"
"Amitabha!" Master Wuwang chanted the Buddha's name before saying, "I plan to go to Xiangguo Temple to stay."
"Very good! Lin Shuping, send someone to Xiangguo Temple to make preparations. In a few days, have Prince Duan accompany the Queen Mother to visit Xiangguo Temple."
"I obey your command!"
…
After leaving Xingqing Palace, Wuwang was led by a eunuch to Chang'an Palace.
"The Empress has instructed that Master must come to Chang'an Palace for tea. The spring water delivered from Yuxiu Mountain this morning is perfect for making tea."
Wuwang smiled and said, "I have been away from Beijing for twenty years. I have something to say to you, Madam."
When he arrived at Chang'an Palace, he was hopeless and was not invited into the tea room.
A low table, a small red clay stove, teapot, teacups, and various tea sets are all available.
"It's been a long time since I've had tea personally brewed by a master. I wonder if I'll have the honor today?"
Gu Jiu sat on the ground and invited Wuwang to sit down.
Wuwang stepped forward with a smile, "I still remember the last time I invited Her Majesty to have tea, it was in the teahouse in the backyard of Xianrenju."
"Master, you remember things from many years ago so clearly."
There was no hope in controlling the fire, and soon the mountain spring water began to bubble up.
He picked up the kettle and started brewing.
The movements are smooth and flowing.
Pour out the first brew, the second brew is the essence.
The white porcelain teacup is translucent and you can tell at a glance that it is priceless.
He held the teacup in his hands with slender fingers and placed it in front of Gu Jiu with graceful and charming movements.
Gu Jiu picked up the teacup, blew on it gently, and drank it all in one gulp.
“The same tea leaves, brewed by a master, are truly extraordinary.”
"Your Majesty, your compliment is too great! My tea-making skills are not as good as they used to be."
"In Xiliang, Master, are you running low on tea?"
"There's no shortage. It's just that I'm too busy, so most of the time I just have a quick drink. Opportunities like today, where we specially choose a teahouse to enjoy tea and chat, are rare."
"Master, you've worked hard over the years! Now that you're back in the capital, rest well."
"Thank you for your concern, Madam! I also plan to go into seclusion and meditate after I finish this busy period."
"Master, are you planning to go into seclusion?"
"Exactly!"
"Before you go into seclusion, please tell me about Xiliang."
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