Whether it is as small as a person, an individual, a nation or a country, respect never comes out of thin air, let alone by relying on charity and virtue.
The most obvious example is Silla, Baekje, and especially the Japanese state. They have always shown their respect only to strong countries, and have always treated the weak with barbaric acts of sticks, swords, and guns.
Among the virtues of the Chinese nation, it has always been about convincing people with virtue and treating them with courtesy. However, among the so-called virtues, our nation has added a shackle to this courtesy and virtue, that is, The kindness of a drop of water should be repaid by a spring of water for such a yoke.
Therefore, whether it is as small as one person or a nation, when we help a person or a nation, when we show our strong cultural advantages and etiquette and virtue, we always hope that the people we help can always Always be on the same side as yourself.
Even sometimes, when the person you help goes against your will on a certain matter and deviates from your established track, we will think that this person is an ungrateful person.
When we rise to the level of a nation, whether it is the Tang Dynasty or the powerful Han Dynasty, when we use force to drive away foreign invasions, when we help other nations with good public opinion, we often give away the four words of gratitude to others for free.
This kind of behavior that shackles the original meaning of the nation and only seeks rewards will never be a beneficial diplomatic method in itself, but it is a shackles imposed on culture by the Chinese ancestors, and our concepts are only placed within the scope of the Central Plains. But we treat the peoples we conquered as barbarians and aliens.
When foreigners of other races yearn for and even want to integrate into the large circle of the Chinese nation, they often need to carry the identity of a begging and sad savior on their heads, but we have forgotten that no matter which nation they are, they have their own The most basic dignity.
Whether it is Tubo or other herders, whether it is this life or the previous life, it is a difficult problem for Li Hong to solve.
Even in the last life, when a large number of preferential policies were offered, we became impatient, hoping that others would immediately sing our praises and immediately give us gratitude of equal value.
"So... Tubo needs old antiques like Dai Zhide to help them learn our culture, but they also need people like me to be villains so that they can give them a sense of security after they adapt to the free dedication of the Tang Dynasty to them. Deterrence and fear, so that they remember our past goodness, that is, the kindness of the imperial power? This is something that comes from the heart, not because the old antiques taught it to them, but they took the initiative after comparing it. Choice." Lin Shiling has always considered himself to be extremely smart and does not think there is anyone better at conspiracy than him in the world, but now faced with His Highness the Crown Prince's explanation, he feels that he has been being played with by His Highness. The ultimate purpose of why His Highness sent himself to Tubo has not yet been figured out.
"It can be said that it was just a step-by-step process. Back then, Qin Shihuang swept through the six kingdoms, and then used the same tracks, travels, and writings to create the great unification of the Central Plains. The lands of Chu, Han, Yan, Qi, Zhao, and Wei are still inhabited today. But after nearly a thousand years of integration, who still remembers that they are from the state of Qi? Why do they no longer think of themselves as people of the Tang Dynasty? The anti-imperialist government has restored the country? Those countries from thousands of years ago disappeared in the dust of history, but why did the vast tracts of land merge into one in the silent river of time?" Li Hong stood at the pavilion and looked into the distance. Erhai Lake, the calm lake surface looks comfortable and peaceful in the glittering golden light.
"We have the same roots and the same origin. We have a common culture and a connected bloodline. Even when the Five Husties were in chaos, even when the Sui Dynasty ruled the Central Plains, even when the Tang Dynasty was in its prosperous times, we can use Chinese culture under the premise of commonality. Gather the strength of the nation, so no one can tear us apart?" Lin Shiling felt as if he had figured out the right direction, and said with bright eyes.
"Yes, but has the Central Plains circle imprisoned our Confucian sages? Has it caused them to become unwilling to make progress, only to guard the fertile soil that allowed them to rise, clinging to the lap of imperial power, and resting on the merits of their ancestors? In the book, they enjoy the praise of the people, but they never know that they should continue to expand this Chinese circle with their collection of classics and history, so it is better to let me help them and rush them all to the wilderness, I think! Let's see if they were devoured by the barbarians or if the barbarians were integrated with them! If there are no bones left after they were devoured by the barbarians, then we, as the inheritance of the Chinese nation, might as well commit collective suicide. If the barbarians were integrated by them, why? Can't we continue to expand the scope and look for ethnic groups and bloodlines with the same roots?" Li Hong continued to look at Erhai with a smile, and his voice sounded like rolling thunder into Lin Shiling's mind.
Lin Shiling also looked at Erhai Lake. The golden water surface and the words of His Royal Highness seemed to have opened a picture of a prosperous age for Lin Shiling, making him involuntarily fall into the state of the Chinese ethnic circle and unable to extricate himself.
"Yes, as long as we can do it, what's the problem even if the dynasties change? The blood of the Chinese nation has penetrated into the bones of the people. If we divide for a long time, we will unite, and if we unite for a long time, we will divide. No matter who comes to rule the country, no matter how many princes rise up. , but because we share the same blood, sooner or later we will be able to rule the six kingdoms like the First Emperor... I deserve death! Please punish me!" Lin Shiling, who was immersed in fantasy and suddenly woke up, looked at him with a smile. Looking at his prince, he instantly realized what he had just said, and instantly realized that his head fell to the ground for just an instant.
"Just keep these words in your heart. With the current situation in the world, it's still too early to destroy the Tang Dynasty. Let's wait for another two hundred years." Li Hong patted Lin Shiling's frightened shoulder, then turned around and prepared to go back. .
"Don't you want to build an empire that lasts for hundreds, thousands, or ten thousand years? If you follow your proposal..."
"Stop dreaming. It goes against the laws of history. In the long river of history, only time is eternal. There is no need to think too much about other things. It is enough to do the present well and be worthy of your nation. As for what happens next Son... Why do we worry so much when we are all dead? If others are willing to leave their names in Qingshi, then I will follow the example of my mother..." As he spoke, Li Hong shook his head and said nothing.
I was so filled with emotion that I almost said the wrong thing and almost spoiled the story of the last life of Long Ma, who set up a monument without words and left it to future generations to comment on.
But now, in Li Hong's view, Dragon Mother probably won't have that chance in this life, so it's better to leave it to herself.
The night gradually enveloped Diancang Mountain and Wuzhishan Mountain again. Even the Erhai Lake in the distance outside Taihe City now looked brown, like a pool of stagnant water. The occasional small boat with a little fishing fire rippled in it, which seemed a bit like Dots of stars fell onto the water, dotting and brightening the south of the colorful clouds.
Xinuluo and Lao Shelong were the first to come to their own palace. Compared with the past, when they walked to the gate of the palace again tonight, both Xinuluo and Lao Shelong could not help but become familiar with this palace. The palace that was no longer familiar to me actually gave birth to a slight sense of strangeness in my heart.
Those lanterns that I have never noticed, those maids that I have never taken a look at, those palaces that I spent a lot of manpower, material and financial resources to build, all reveal the slightest bit of coldness under the dim candlelight tonight. With strangers.
At the same time, they felt a sense of distance from the palace, and at the same time, they felt a trace of regret and reluctance towards the palace.
This night is destined to be a turning point in the fate of Liuzhao, whether it is Lao Shelong who is forced to abdicate, or Xinuluo, who is high-spirited but has vaguely felt that his son is powerful and begins to threaten his throne.
The two of them walked in the respectful attitude of the maids and servants, but they lost their sense of superiority in their hearts. Under the heavy emotions, they felt for the first time that this familiar palace looked like they were walking in Chang'an tonight. Just like the palace, there is no sense of security, only a sense of surrender and a sense of breathless suffocation.
The main hall of the palace should be the place they are most familiar with and where they spend the most time. Although there is no change in the scenery, it seems that it no longer belongs to them.
Yang Sijian, a courtier of the Tang Dynasty, stood at the door of the main hall, followed by the maid and several other courtiers of the Tang Dynasty, looking at the father and son with a smile.
"Your Majesty, Yang Sijian, has been invited by Shezhao and the King of Yunnan. His Highness has been waiting inside for a long time." Yang Sijian is gentle, elegant, comfortable and calm, and looks more like the owner of this palace.
On the contrary, Xinuluo and Lao Shelong were invited here more like guests.
"Thank you. I wonder if the other imperial eunuchs have arrived?" Lao Shelong asked Yang Sijian in return.
"No one has arrived before you two, please." Yang Sijian made an invitation gesture again and asked the two of them to enter the main hall immediately.
Xinuluo tried his best to put on a kind smile on his face, and nodded towards Yang Sijian: "Thank you so much, Mr. Yang, for waiting here."
After saying that, he looked at each other and smiled with Yang Sijian, and then he and Lao Shelong walked into the main hall under the leadership of the maid.
"Have you warned Sheng Luoyan? Don't let him do anything bad, but don't make any mistakes." Lao Shelong looked back and looked behind him with a smile, as if Yang Sijian was bathing in the spring breeze. said the voice.
Xinuluo paused at the door of the main hall with a sullen face, and then continued to follow Lao Shelong inside expressionlessly.
(End of chapter)