Daningwei, now part of Chifeng City, Inner Mongolia, is an important military town on the northern border of the Ming Dynasty.
Because it is located at the junction of Liaodong, Mongolia and Hebei, in the center of the Liaodong-Jizhou-Xuanfu arch, it has become the defense outpost of Liaodong and Hebei. In the 13th year of Hongwu, it was recaptured from the hands of the Yuan Dynasty. In the 20th year of Hongwu, the Ming Dynasty established Daning Guard here, which governed the east north of the Great Wall line in present-day Hebei, the southern end of Inner Mongolia and the western part of Liaoning.
In the twenty-sixth year of Hongwu, Zhu Yuanzhang named his seventeenth son Zhu Quan here as King Ning. Together with King Zhu Di of Yan, he controlled the troops along the border. The main purpose was to resist the Mongols who were still in the Yuan Dynasty.
It’s midsummer in July and it’s extremely hot and muggy. All the trees, including poplars, firs and oaks, lowered their heads and put away their leaves. Cicadas were chirping feebly on the trees. The continuous chirping added to the heat and made people irritated.
In the west wing of Prince Ning's Mansion, Lian Hua was alone in the room, quietly copying scriptures and did not move from morning to afternoon. Ma Sanbao was a little worried, so he quietly walked into the yard and stretched his head to look around.
There was no sound for a while, then Ma Sanbao coughed and shouted: "Princess!"
The two windows were pushed open, and Lotus stood in front of the window and leaned forward and asked, "Sambo! Is there any news?" His eyes were unblinking and full of expectation.
Ma Sanbao couldn't bear to shake his head, but he couldn't nod, so he had to stiffen his neck and say, "Not yet."
Lianhua's face was full of disappointment and she sat down.
Ma Sanbao entered the room. There were stacks of papers full of words on the desk. He glanced at them and saw that they should all be scriptures copied by Lianhua. The Diamond Sutra was the most numerous. The glazed tower stands in the middle. Lianhua sat in front of the case, looking at the pagoda with her hands on her hands, quite depressed, and the bright smile of Ma Sanbao seemed to be missing.
"Don't worry, maybe it will be available tomorrow." Ma Sanbao comforted.
"Tomorrow, tomorrow, you've already said it a lot." Lianhua didn't even raise her head, looking listless.
"It's too hot, so I walk slowly on the road most of the time. Maybe the King of Joseon is too slow to write a reply. I have to let people think about it." Ma Sanbao continued to persuade, but he also murmured in his heart.
Wang Jinghong set off back to Daning Prefecture on the day King Yan set out for Ulianghatu City. When he arrived, he handed Suolin Timur to General Lu for detention, and reported six hundred miles of urgent battle reports to the Ministry of War. At the same time, two royal soldiers were sent to deliver Lianhua's letter to Seoul. Calculating, it took almost a month to go back and forth, but now it’s been a month and a half.
King Yan's army returned to Cheche'er Mountain victoriously from Wulianghatu City, and then returned to Daning Prefecture together. I thought I would see a reply soon, but it has been over ten days and there is still no news.
"Let's go, I'll go out with the princess to see the scenery of Daning Mansion."
"I don't want to move" Lianhua couldn't stand it.
"Ha! Where are you going to play? Take me with you!" A lively voice flew in, and people followed.
Wearing a brocade robe, a golden crown with hair tied on his head, and white python arrow sleeves, he is the 19-year-old Ning Wang Zhu Quan, who is handsome and handsome.
He calls himself Zhenxian, Hanxunzi, or Mr. Danqiu. Regardless of the number, he is actually a big kid, having the most fun. Hearing from afar that Ma Sanbao and Lianhua were about to go out, they quickly flew over. After entering the door, he casually sat down on the lotus table, his long legs dangling. Then he picked up the Glazed Pagoda on the table and said, "Is this the Glazed Pagoda? Is this what you saw in the desert?"
Ma Sanbao replied: "Yes, it is exactly the same."
"It's amazing." Zhu Quan put it back on the case and asked, "Where are you going to play?"
"You are the landowner, it is your turn to take us to play. Tell me, what is there to do in Daning Mansion?" Lianhua breathed a sigh of relief when he saw him put down the Glazed Pagoda. When King Yan returned to Mount Checher after his victory in Wulianghatu City, he returned the Glazed Pagoda. He looked at it every day and it was indispensable.
Zhu Quan listened to her weak question and smiled: "Hey, niece-in-law! Shall we go hunting? Fishing? How about catching birds?"
Lianhua had a straight face: "I have told you so many times, but you still call me that and ignore you." After saying that, he stood up and was about to go out.
"Hey! I didn't let you call me uncle! Hey! Princess Yining! My eldest princess Yining!"
Zhu Quan yelled and chased after him. Seeing that Lianhua was not stopping, he jumped forward and opened his arms to stop Lianhua. But they saw Lianhua smiling and Ma Sanbao laughing beside them. The two of them could not bear the shaking of their shoulders. It was so hard.
"Ha, you're not angry anymore!" Zhu Quan also laughed as he said it, and the three of them went out laughing.
Although Daning Mansion is an important military town, it is located on the border and has been fighting for many years, so the population has always been sparse. Since the establishment of the guard, the imperial court has sent troops to station, and some family members and related merchants have accompanied the army, and this has gradually gained some popularity. In the past ten years or so, there has been no war, and people have gradually settled down here, doing business and trade, and finally there is a somewhat prosperous scene.
Lotus walked on the street, but she saw many shops with a dazzling array of goods. Although it was not as spacious and grand as Seoul, it was better than the variety of shops and different characters. Of course, Han people are the most numerous, but Mongolians, Hui people and even Tibetan Jurchens are also often seen. There are many things in the shop that she has never seen before, and Lianhua often doesn't know what they are used for. Ma Sanbao explains them in detail. Lianhua opens her eyes wide and listens with interest, and is full of admiration for the Celestial Dynasty.
From time to time, people saluted Zhu Quan on the street, including officers and soldiers as well as ordinary people. Lianhua was a little surprised when she saw Prince Ning greeting him pleasantly, and couldn't help but glance at Zhu Quan a few more times.
"Father taught you to love the people as your own children, right?" Zhu Quan saw what Lian Hua meant and explained angrily. Lotus couldn't help but purse her lips and smile.
At this time, I passed by a deep gated compound with high walls. Although the door was open, there were two sergeants standing at the door with guns. Lianhua saw the words "Da Ningwei of the Ming Dynasty" written on the gate. Ma Sanbao explained: "That is the Commander's Office. The prince is working there today. Do you want to go in and take a look?"
Before Lianhua could reply, Zhu Quan objected repeatedly: "No, no, no! What's interesting in the Yamen? It's either training soldiers or writing official documents. Let's go, let's go!" He dragged Lianhua far away.
Ma Sanbao hurriedly said to Lianhua, "Then I'll let Jinghong and Wangye know." Then he ran into the gate.
Prince Ning took Lianhua on the street and continued to look around. He asked Lianhua: "This teahouse is good. Do you want to go in and have a cup of tea?"
Lian Hua was waiting for a reply when suddenly there were clatter of footsteps behind her. The two stopped and turned around, only to see King Yan and Ma Sanbao running over together.
Lotus was happy in her heart and looked at King Yan with a smile.
King Yan had returned from the victory in Wuliang Hatu City, and he had led his army back to Daning from Cheche'er Mountain in a hurry. The military affairs were busy, and there were very few opportunities for the two of them to meet except when they were on the road. It is also rare to encounter this in Prince Ning's Mansion. The food cooked by Lian Hua is often eaten when it is cold. The two of them haven't had a good conversation until now. When Zhu Di saw Lianhua's smile, he felt apologetic in his heart.
"Fourth brother! It's great that you are here, come and hang out with us!" Zhu Quan was very happy.
King Ning came to Daning when he was fifteen years old. In the past four years, he had seen such a relative in this remote place. The two brothers had a very good relationship. Zhu Quan always called him "fourth brother", showing affection and dependence.
Zhu Di looked apologetic: "General Lu and I still have something to do. Seventeenth Brother, please go shopping with Lotus and fulfill your friendship as a landlord for me." Looking at the disappointment on their faces, he added: "I I’ll come find you when I’m done.”
"Okay, let's go first." Prince Ning agreed, pulled Lotus and continued walking, with Ma Sanbao following closely behind.
The three of them walked a few steps and looked back. Zhu Dishang stood on the road watching them. Lianhua smiled, waved her hand, mouthed and said silently: "Don't worry," and turned around with a smile. For no reason, I felt that my steps were much easier.
"Is there a temple here?" Lianhua asked King Ning.
"Yes, there is. It's not big. There is a small temple on the mountain not far from the city. It's called Guangji Temple." Zhu Quan said while looking up and down the lotus: "But Princess Yining, why do you believe in Buddhism? ? Look at you, you are so graceful and graceful, you are like the divine figure of Taihua. You are exactly the spirit of immortality in Taiqing Taoism! Not far from Guangji Temple is Taiqing Temple. Let’s go to Taiqing Temple. Bar!"
Lianhua was curious: "Tai Qing Temple? Why is there a Taoist temple here?"
"Yes! This was built by me. Of course it has not a long history. It is only the second year. Of course it is not grand and majestic. I don't have much money. But the mountain is not high, and there are immortals. With me, Immortal Zhen, here, this Taiqing Temple is quite powerful!" Zhu Quan rambled.
Lotus was infected by him and asked with a smile: "May I ask Immortal Zhen, what magical powers do you have?"
"The Taiqing Dynasty granted me the Penglai Jade Seal and the Golden Talisman of the Sun, which can guide the way of heaven, invigorate the mysterious wind, and hold the spiritual pivot to explain the transformation." Zhu Quan said something serious. He looked at the lotus and whispered, "Don't tell them. I asked Sanbao to get the Penglai Jade Seal and the Sun Golden Talisman for me in Peiping."
"Ha!" Lianhua couldn't help laughing. This big kid is stuck in a remote place here, with nothing to play with, and his brain is going to go crazy. Seeing Zhu Quan's serious look, he smiled quickly and replied: "Okay, I won't tell you when I see you later."
"Princess, shall we just walk there? It's hot." Ma Sanbao suppressed a smile and said, "Guangji Temple." He turned to look at Zhu Quan and quickly changed his words: "Taiqing Temple is not close."
Lian Hua looked at Prince Ning questioningly, and Zhu Quan said: "Let's go ahead like this. You can find a sergeant and ask the government to send our horses over. It's just one road, and it won't go astray. Wherever we meet, we can ride horses." "
Lianhua nodded in agreement, Ma Sanbao made hurried arrangements, and the three of them walked out of the city.
Zhu Quan then persuaded Lianhua: "Look, if you believe in my Taoism, you can break through the mundane and shabby in a small way, and you can stay in the spiritual realm to explore the Tao, and have a tacit understanding of Taixuan to taste the truth. It is people like you and me. What should be investigated is that you might as well change your worshiping and kowtowing to the Bodhisattva."
Lian Hua heard that something was wrong, and asked calmly: "Does King Ning think that believing in Buddhism means kowtow to Bodhisattva?"
Zhu Quan looked at her: "I know it's not as simple as kowtow to the Bodhisattva. What do you mean by 'the dependent origin of all dharmas', 'the absence of self-nature of all dharmas', 'the impermanence of all dharmas', 'karma and retribution', and the 'six paths of reincarnation'. But the Tao is not Tao. , Juexue Wuyou, I don’t believe in this. I feel stupid when I see so many people kowtow and burn incense in the temple.”
As he spoke, he looked up and down at the lotus: "It makes me hate to think that someone like you is in it."
Lianhua opened her mouth to speak, but how could she start to argue about such a big topic? He smiled for a while and said: "Common people go to kowtow and burn incense to pray for blessings and avoid disasters. It is a comfort, so why bother you? The Buddhist theory of cause and effect is not unique. There is a saying in the Book of Changes that 'people who accumulate good deeds will be blessed.' A house that does not do good things will surely be in trouble. Just like Buddhism, it encourages people to do good deeds and accumulate virtue. As a prince, it is only right for the people to live in peace and contentment and avoid evil, so they should be happy."
Zhu Quan muttered: "I am just a little Prince Ning, guarding a remote place like Daning Mansion. I will never be able to return to Jiangnan in this life. Why should I care about so many people?" He looked at the sky with his always lively face. It was full of melancholy.
Lianhua was curious: "Are you really going to never give me back? Don't you miss your parents?"
"You have to obey the imperial edict before you can go back, and you won't be able to stay for long. My father will forget about it. Of course my mother wants to." Zhu Quan said gloomily.
Lianhua didn't know how to comfort her for a moment and was hesitating when Zhu Quan started laughing: "Niece-in-law! When you get to the capital, help me remind them! Tell me to go back, okay?"
Seeing the sour smile on his childish face, Lianhua couldn't help but said softly: "Okay, I will remind you when I get the chance." The two looked at each other and smiled, and Ma Sanbao was also smiling behind him.