Tang Dynasty, my wife Wu Zetian

Chapter 525 I can finally lie down.
Jin Chunqiu had never been to the Tang Dynasty in his life, but upon seeing the vastness of this land, he knew that he had set foot on Tang territory.

He was imprisoned in a carriage and driven westward, through an endless continent. After traveling for almost a month, he still could not see the end.

This once again made him marvel at the vastness and abundance of the Central Plains, filling him with both envy and jealousy.

If his ancestors had left him such a vast land, he, as the King of Silla, wouldn't have had such a difficult time.

Before long, he was escorted to a magnificent and enormous city. Upon entering the city, he was greeted by a scene unlike anything he had ever seen before, as if he were in a dream.

Majestic neighborhoods, wide streets, bustling shops, and noisy crowds.

He knew in his heart that this was Chang'an!

Jin Chunqiu thought he would soon meet the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty, and his heart was filled with nervousness.

However, the soldiers escorting him took him to a quiet street and, at the entrance of an alley, made him dismount from the carriage.

"This will be your living quarters from now on. The fourth room on the left is your room. Go in now, and don't even think about running away, or you won't have such a comfortable place to live!"

The leading soldier gave a warning and then left with his men.

Jin Chunqiu stared blankly at the narrow alley for a while before finally walking into it.

Counting to the fourth room from the left, push open the door and enter. The room is empty, with only some basic furniture, making it seem rather desolate.

There is a bookshelf on the west side, filled with many books, and a row of flowerpots under the window on the east side, planted with some strange plants, all of which have withered.

Inside the room, there was only a bed and a table, on which were a few books.

And so, Jin Chunqiu settled down here.

Meals were delivered every day, and the food was quite delicious, with plenty of meat. Only the highest-ranking nobles in Silla could afford such meals.

As the days went by, the weather grew colder and colder, and it seemed like winter had arrived. However, the blankets in the house were very thin, and it was a bit cold to sleep at night.

According to Jin Chunqiu's observation, there were still a few people living in the alley, but they never went out, and he didn't know who they were.

However, one thing is certain: he is definitely not an ordinary person.

For example, the person living next door to him would shout and scream every night, as if he had lost his mind. He wasn't speaking Tang language, and it was unclear what other language he was speaking.

On this day, a commotion arose outside.

Jin Chunqiu went to the window, pushed it open slightly, and looked around at the outside.

Several men carrying black bags came to a house and knocked on the door.

The door opened quickly, and a tall, thin man in his forties or fifties, dressed in a robe, stood there with a pale face.

A man said, "This is coal that Her Highness ordered us to deliver. The weather is getting colder and colder, and Her Highness is reminding you to keep warm."

The tall, thin man said, "Your Highness is very kind. Please tell her that I am doing well here."

The man agreed and left with his men.

Jin Chunqiu was secretly surprised. The princess they were talking about must be a princess of the Tang Dynasty. Who was this tall and thin man? Why was the princess giving him coal?
Just as he was frowning in thought, he suddenly heard a soft "pop" sound, and the door of a house diagonally opposite opened, and a child walked out.

No, it wasn't a child, but a very short young man.

The short young man crept up to the tall, thin man's house, squatted down, and seemed to be picking something up.

Jin Chunqiu stared at it for a while before he could see clearly that some of the coal had spilled onto the ground when the people were delivering it.

The short young man was picking up the coal.

Jin Chunqiu thought to himself, "This person must be a Japanese. I heard from the third brother that there was a Japanese prince named Da Hai Ren who was imprisoned in Chang'an by the Tang Dynasty. Could it be him?"

The thought of his son, Jin Renwen, filled him with regret.

Jin Renwen had been trying to persuade him to befriend the Tang Dynasty, but unfortunately, he couldn't see the situation clearly at the time and always scolded his son, which led to his current predicament.

Jin Chunqiu felt a wave of sorrow. He went to lie down on the bed, thinking that he might spend the rest of his life here.

In a daze, there was a knock on the door.

Jin Chunqiu suddenly woke up, sat up, stared at the door for a while, and went to open it.

Upon seeing the person outside the door, Jin Chunqiu's eyes blurred with tears, for the person who came was none other than Jin Renwen.

"Third brother, I was just thinking that you should be in Chang'an, and I wondered if you would come to see me. You finally came."

Jin Renwen was carrying a lot of things. When he saw Jin Chunqiu's haggard appearance, he couldn't help but sigh.

"Father, I have brought you some food, clothing and other necessities."

Jin Renwen was alone, and he didn't bring many things, but they were quite varied: a blanket, a stove, a bag of coal, a can of tea, and a leg of lamb.

Jin Chunqiu pulled his son into the house and sat him down. He took a deep breath and asked, "Third son, what's the situation outside? Tell me quickly."

"What do you want to know?"

Jin Chunqiu stammered, "Third brother... Silla... how is the situation?"

“Father, Silla is gone.” Kim In-wen turned his head away.

Jin Chunqiu smiled wryly and said, "I actually already guessed it. Then tell me what happened after Jin Yuxin surrendered to the Tang Dynasty."

Jin Renwen nodded and explained the changes in the situation in Liaodong and Yingzhou Island over the past few months.

Upon learning the outcome of the Battle of the Yalu River, the 100,000 Mohe troops on Yingzhou Island were thrown into chaos.

Zuo Rong originally wanted to establish himself as the new chieftain, but the people of the other six tribes did not accept him.

Some tribes were preparing to attack the Tang army on Yingzhou Island, while others were preparing to escape back to the Mohe by boat.

As a result, the tribe that fled back by boat was attacked by the Tang navy, and the remaining troops, after returning to Mohe, were attacked by Xue Rengui's troops and were completely wiped out.

Another group of Mohe people went to attack the Tang army on the west side of the island, which was like throwing an egg against a rock.

Pei Xingjian personally led the Tang army of the Protectorate General to defeat the invading Mohe army, and then marched eastward.

Of the seven Mohe tribes, the last remaining force consisted of the Sumo tribe and the Baishan tribe, totaling more than 30,000 troops.

Knowing he was no match for the Tang army, Zuo Rong led the remaining troops to flee to Kuyi Island in the north, presumably intending to seize the settlement of the Ainu people.

Tangren didn't pay much attention to who won or lost between the two families, so Jin Renwen didn't know either.

Upon hearing this, Kim Chun-chu asked, "Has our Silla homeland been completely occupied by the Tang army?" Kim In replied, "Kim Won-seol led the Tang army, and the Tang army easily captured Kimseong. Later, General Kim Yu-sin also surrendered to the Tang Dynasty and offered you to the Tang. All parts of Silla then submitted to the Tang Dynasty."

Jin Chunqiu gritted his teeth and asked, "What official position did the Tang Dynasty bestow upon this traitor, Jin Yuanshu?"

Jin Renwen smiled slightly and said, "Father, there's no need to be angry. He was killed by Liu Rengui."

"what?"

Jin Ren asked, "Originally, the Tang emperor appointed him as a Langjiang (a military officer). When Jin Yuanshu went to Yingzhou to receive the appointment, Liu Rengui executed him and even submitted a memorial to the emperor, saying that a person like Jin Yuanshu, who betrayed his master for personal gain, should not be in the court."

Jin Chunqiu exclaimed in surprise, "This is acting first and reporting later! Has the Emperor of Tang punished Liu Rengui?"

Jin Renwen shook his head and said, "His Majesty has always valued Liu Rengui. How could he punish his beloved minister because of Jin Yuanshu?"

Jin Chunqiu laughed loudly: "Good, this traitor died a good death!" As he laughed, his voice grew more and more desolate, and then he started to cry.

Jin Renwen sighed and said, "Father, please accept my condolences."

Jin Chunqiu cried for a while, then finally stopped and asked, "What official position was Jin Yuxin awarded by the Emperor of Tang?"

“The Right Guard General. He presented His Majesty with all the valuables his father had taken to Yingzhou Island. His Majesty was very pleased and thus gave him a high-ranking official position.”

Jin Chunqiu knew that he had also been granted an official position when he heard him address him as "Your Majesty".

"What about you?"

Jin Renwen lowered his head and said, "Your Majesty has reinstated me to my original position as General of the Left Guard."

Jin Chunqiu then asked, "Where is your elder brother?"

Jin Ren asked, "My elder brother has been exiled to Kunming and Tibet."

Jin Chunqiu breathed a sigh of relief when he heard that Jin Famin was still alive.

The father and son chatted for a while longer.

Jin Chunqiu learned from his son that the place where he was imprisoned was called Huwang Street, where all the kings of various countries that had been destroyed by the Tang Dynasty were imprisoned.

For example, the tall, thin man we just saw was Murong Zhonglie, the king of Tuyuhun, and the princess who delivered the gifts to him was his wife, Princess Honghua.

In addition, Qiqi Zhongxiang was imprisoned in Huwang Street earlier than him, and lived next door to him. He was the one who shouted every night.

As it grew later, Jin Renwen knew his visit was limited and had to say goodbye and leave.

Jin Chunqiu escorted his son to the alley entrance, watched him ride away on horseback, and then reluctantly returned to the alley.

As soon as Jin Renwen returned to his residence, a servant came to report that news had come from the palace that the emperor summoned him to the palace for an audience the next morning at 9:00 AM.

The next day, Jin Renwen arrived at the Zhuque Gate early in the morning, waiting to be received.

At approximately 3:45 AM, after passing through the Vermilion Bird Gate and arriving outside the Chengtian Gate, he found an eunuch waiting at the palace gate who led him to the Ganlu Hall.

Jin Renwen waited outside the palace for another half an hour before the emperor summoned him to the palace for an audience.

Upon entering the main hall, Kim In-moon performed a kowtow and said, "Your subject Kim In-moon greets Your Majesty."

Li Zhi raised his hand and said, "Get up."

After he stood up, Li Zhi stared at him for a while and slowly said, "Minister Jin, I met Jin Yuxin yesterday. He said that even after you learned that the Tang army had been defeated by the Mohe, you still proposed to befriend the Tang Dynasty. Why is that? Did you see through Pei Xingjian's scheme?"

Kim In-wen smiled bitterly and said, "How could I possibly see through Protector Pei's scheme? It's just that I don't want Silla to fight against the Tang Dynasty."

"Why are you unwilling?" Li Zhi pressed.

Kim In-wen remained silent for a long time before saying, "To be honest, Your Majesty, I have lived in Chang'an for a long time and am already accustomed to the way of life here. I hope that Silla can learn from the culture of the Tang Dynasty and become a country like the Tang Dynasty."

Li Zhi nodded. This was the power of cultural influence. Although the Tang Dynasty occupied many places at present, its culture had not actually penetrated them.

For long-term stability and security, the next step is to gradually assimilate these places through basic education and cultural customs, so as to form a united nation.

"Very good. I have already discussed with my ministers the matter and decided to establish the former territory of Silla as the Jinzhou Prefecture. I hope you will serve as its first governor and help Silla integrate into the Tang Dynasty as soon as possible."

Jin Renwen's face lit up with joy, and he was about to express his gratitude when a moment of hesitation flashed across his face.

Li Zhi asked, "Do you still have any doubts?"

Jin Renwen cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, I thank you for your trust. However, after I left Chang'an, I... I will no longer be able to visit my father." He then lowered his head.

Li Zhi smiled and said, "It's rare to see such filial piety from you. Here's what I'll do: I'll issue an edict pardoning your elder brother Jin Famin and allowing him to visit your father once a month to fulfill his filial duty on your behalf."

Jin Renwen knelt down and kowtowed, saying, "Your Majesty, I thank you for your great kindness!"

In the afternoon, the sky suddenly cleared up and the sun shone brightly. It was November, and the weather was cold; such good weather was a rare treat.

Li Zhi walked along the Jinshui River, gazing at the water surface that shimmered in the sunlight, and a strange feeling suddenly arose in his heart.

It was as if the water was slowly rotating, eventually forming a portal of light that sucked him in.

He has been thinking lately that all the hidden dangers of the Tang Dynasty have been eliminated. As long as he does not follow the example of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang in his later years, the Tang Dynasty will avoid the An Lushan Rebellion and take a different path.

If some unseen force brought him to the Tang Dynasty to change it, then his mission is complete, and perhaps it's time for him to return.

That's why he's been paranoid lately, worried that a portal might suddenly appear and swallow him up.

Returning to the present world and living as an ordinary person would probably be difficult for him to accept now.

The power in his hands, the continuation of the new policies, the alluring Empress Wu, the numerous concubines, princes and princesses—all these had become things he could not part with.

He is now not only worried about returning to the real world, but also has a greater fear of death.

The more one possesses, the harder it is to let go. He seemed to vaguely understand why emperors throughout history sought immortality and enlightenment.

Li Zhi gazed at the water, took a deep breath, and quickly put those thoughts aside.

Having lived two lives, he knew that seeking immortality and enlightenment was a pipe dream, and that fearing death was nothing more than a foolish act of self-destruction.

Everyone dies eventually, and emperors are no exception.

Now that you've done everything you could, lie down and enjoy the rest of your life. That way, you won't have wasted this extraordinary experience.

With this thought in mind, Li Zhi relaxed and ordered a reclining chair to be placed by the Jinshui River. He put his hands behind his head, enjoyed the warm sun, and drifted off to sleep.

(End of this chapter)