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Gu Junen thought that the emperor would rest for a few days after returning to Xijing, but he never expected that the emperor would summon him at noon the next day.
Among all the civil and military officials of the former Dashun Dynasty who defected to the Qin State, the one most valued by the current emperor was none other than Gu Jun'en. In addition to his true talent and strategy, his loyal personality and low-key style of doing things enabled him to truly step into the core of power of the Qin State.
Whenever Qin Mu went on a campaign, he was almost always among the ministers accompanying him.
He also handled the relationship with the generals who had defected from the former Dashun Dynasty quite well. He did not deliberately distance himself from them, nor did he continue to form cliques. This was also why the emperor appreciated him.
Gu Junen felt it was a little unusual that the emperor summoned him alone this time. There was no further military report from the front, and the emperor, who had just returned to Xijing, had no reason to summon him alone at this time.
On the way to the imperial study room following the young eunuch in the palace, Gu Junen thought carefully and vaguely guessed something in his heart, which made his heart tighten suddenly.
If it was really as he guessed, and it was about the prince's move to the palace, the emperor did not summon the two cabinet ministers who accompanied him, but summoned himself, the assistant minister of the Ministry of War. There were too many intriguing things in this.
On the surface, this was the emperor's respect for him. However, he was very likely to be pushed to the forefront and become the target of public criticism.
Thinking of the unpredictable variables and risks involved, Gu Junen's heart suddenly became heavy, as if he was on the edge of an abyss or treading on thin ice.
After entering the Imperial Library, he first glanced at the emperor. The emperor's face seemed very calm, which made him feel slightly relieved.
"Your Majesty, I, Gu Junen, pay my respects to you." He made a deep bow and waited with his head bent. He stood up only when the emperor told him to excuse himself.
"Gu Qing, please sit down."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
After the eunuch brought the tea, Qin Mu said, "Mr. Gu, the prince is four years old this year. As a father, I have not been able to discipline him properly. If it were a child from an ordinary family, it would be fine, but as a ruler of a country, it is not okay not to educate him properly. Mr. Gu, do you have any suggestions on educating the prince?"
When Gu Jun'en heard this, he secretly groaned in his heart. He replied carefully: "Your Majesty. Scholar Fu and Scholar Gu are both well-read and well-read. With them teaching Your Majesty, I think Your Majesty does not need to worry about the Prince's studies."
The people who are now responsible for teaching Qin Ye are Fu Qingzhu and Gu Yanwu. Not only does he learn literature, but he also has to learn martial arts with Fu Qingzhu, practicing both literature and martial arts.
These two prince teachers were selected by Qin Mu himself, and Gu Junen felt that he should not be wrong to say this.
Of course he knew that. This was not what Qin Mu really wanted to ask.
The matter of moving the palace alone could cause a huge upheaval if not handled properly, overturning the future of countless people and even causing a bloodbath. If the emperor did not ask directly about such matters, he would definitely avoid them if he could.
Seeing his attitude, Qin Shou was somewhat dissatisfied. He asked directly, "Gu Qing, Nanjing reported that the Imperial Censor Li Jiqing submitted a petition urging the Crown Prince to move to the East Palace and appoint officials. What do you think of this matter?"
A while ago, Hetao fell and Lanzhou was lost. The entire northwest war situation changed drastically, the military morale was in turmoil, and the people were in an uproar. The emperor was forced to lead 6,000 soldiers and horses to face the arrows and stones. At this time, the imperial official Li Jiqing submitted a petition to recommend that the prince move to the East Palace and appoint subordinate officials.
Li Jiqing submitted such a memorial at such a sensitive time. In addition, he and his father-in-law Yang Tinglin were teacher and student. It is easy for people to make associations. The prince is only four years old. Why move to another palace? What officials should be appointed? What is the intention of submitting such a memorial? Is it really for the purpose of stabilizing the country
This incident obviously made the emperor feel very uncomfortable. As the saying goes, when the emperor is angry, millions of people will die. This is not only true for the outside world, but also for the inside world. How many people did Zhu Hongwu kill
This matter was of great importance, and Gu Jun'en had no choice but to express his opinion immediately: "Your Majesty, I think Li Jiqing is just talking nonsense. Your Majesty, please issue an order to reprimand him, demote him or remove him from his position. There is no need to take his nonsense seriously."
Qin Mu picked up the tea silently, took a sip, and savored the fragrance of the tea with his eyelids lowered.
His reaction made Gu Junen's heart tighten rapidly and his palms were full of sweat.
In fact, Qin Mu knew clearly that most of the ministers were like Gu Jun'en, hoping to keep things peaceful.
After a long while, Qin Mu raised his eyelids and said, "I am going to Da Ci'en Temple to listen to Master Faqing's lecture on Zen. Since Gu Qing is here, please come with me to Da Ci'en Temple to listen."
Although Gu Junen was extremely nervous, he couldn't help showing a look of surprise when he heard the emperor say that he wanted to meditate.
As far as he knew, the emperor had never had any contact with Buddhism since he ascended the throne, and his management of Buddhism and Taoism was stricter than that of previous dynasties.
Although the emperor did not object to the empress and concubines in the palace worshiping Buddha, he himself had never been there, and he did not even follow the custom of past dynasties to establish royal temples.
Gu Junen believed that the emperor's sudden decision to go to Da Ci'en Temple to meditate at this time was definitely not that simple. However, he could not understand the emperor's intention for a moment and couldn't help feeling that it was unfathomable.
"I obey your command." Gu Jun'en was full of doubts. He stood up and bowed respectfully.
Qin Mu then left the palace with Gu Junen by car. The only people accompanying them to protect the emperor were Li Shi, Niu Wanshan and a hundred other imperial guards. They had all changed into casual clothes and there was no clearing of the way.
Since Chang'an was designated as the Western Capital, it has become much more prosperous than before. The transportation of supplies needed for the war in the northwest and the influx of caravans have further promoted the prosperity of Chang'an City.
Even on a snowy day like this, the streets are still bustling with people and cars, hawkers' cries and the flow of people and goods.
Qin Mu lifted the curtain a little and looked at the scenery on both sides of the street.
Suddenly, his eyes were attracted by a cart of green vegetables passing by on the street.
In this era, when the cold winter came in the north, green vegetables were a rare commodity. The only vegetables people could eat were cabbages stored in kilns. Nowadays, it is better, with the addition of potatoes.
And now, a large cart of green vegetables appeared in the streets of Chang'an, which surprised Qin Mu.
Obviously, in this snowy season, there is absolutely no other way to grow fresh vegetables except in greenhouses. The fresh vegetables consumed daily in the palace are grown in greenhouses.
The vegetable greenhouse cultivation technology has nothing to do with Qin Mu, and it is not a technology he brought from later generations.
It is recorded in "Rixia Jiuwen Kao" that there were similar greenhouses in the Western Han Dynasty, where vegetables such as onions and leeks were grown. Stoves were used to heat the house day and night, and "all the vegetables grew."
By the Tang Dynasty, the royal family all enjoyed the fruits of greenhouses. There is a poem that goes: "The inner garden was given warm water, and melons were harvested in mid-February."
Greenhouses in the Tang Dynasty were used not only to grow vegetables, but also flowers. The story in Flowers in the Mirror that Wu Zetian roasted peonies with charcoal to force all flowers to bloom is not groundless. Even today, people still call these greenhouse-grown flowers "Tang flowers."
"Tang flowers" are flowers that are given to relatives and friends during the Chinese New Year. There are many kinds of flowers, such as peony and kumquat. In the winter, "the whole room is filled with fragrance, the warm aroma is fragrant, and the beauty of the three springs is all in one room", so "Tang flowers" are sometimes written as "Tang flowers".
Winter greenhouse cultivation technology and the flower and fruit grafting technology that appeared in the Song Dynasty have never been popularized. In addition to the fact that the government has not paid attention to promotion, the key reason is that the cost is too high.
Therefore, these were winter treats only for the nobility, and ordinary people did not have such precious food to eat in winter. The scene of such a large cart of green vegetables appearing in the market would never happen.
Out of curiosity, Qin Mu asked Li Shi to send someone to find out what was going on.
When Qin Mu's carriage arrived at the Quchi in the south of the city, the guards who went to inquire came back and reported that there was a wealthy man named Huang Meng in the city who invested a huge amount of money of 100,000 yuan and cooperated with the Sinong Temple to build a 200-acre greenhouse outside the city, which was dedicated to growing vegetables and flowers. The vegetables and flowers produced were very popular among the citizens and were famous far and wide.
If it weren't for the prior appointment with the abbot of Da Ci'en Temple and the other purpose of this trip, Qin Mu really wanted to go and see Huang Meng's vegetable greenhouse right away.
Da Ci'en Temple is located beside Quchi. The tall Big Wild Goose Pagoda in the temple can be seen from afar. The temple was originally built by Li Zhi for his biological mother, Empress Wende. Because the famous monk Xuanzang once presided over the temple affairs here, it became the birthplace of the Faxiang School. It is also famous for enshrining the Buddha's real relics and has been prosperous for more than a thousand years.
When Qin Mu's carriage arrived, the white-bearded abbot of Da Ci'en Temple, Zen Master Faqing, was already waiting at the temple gate with his companions.
Seeing that the emperor came in plain clothes, Zen Master Faqing was a little disappointed, but Gu Junen, who followed behind the emperor, became more and more confused.
If Qin Mu really wanted to come here to meditate in disguise, he shouldn't have made such a big fuss at the Da Ci'en Temple. Wouldn't everyone in the city know about it
The emperor's trip was not only sudden, but also unusual in every way, and Gu Junen was unable to understand it for a while.
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.(To be continued..)
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