Chang'an.
Qu Zhixiu prostrated himself and kowtowed, but the emperor did not grant him permission to rise. He could only kneel and listen to the emperor's reprimand: "The other day, I sent Li Daoyu to reprimand Wen Tai. He was arrogant and rude to the envoys from the Celestial Empire, completely disregarding me. He even said: 'Eagles fly in the sky, pheasants scurry in the weeds, cats roam in the hall, and mice are at peace in their holes. Each has its own place, so how can they not live?' There are actually such people in the world who willingly compare themselves to pheasants and mice. One can see the extent of their magnanimity."
Qu Zhixiu said, “Compared to the Great Tang, Gaochang is like a pheasant, and having long lived outside the realm of civilization, they are uneducated and their villagers are somewhat impolite. I beg Your Majesty not to take offense.” The Emperor said, “I have heard that the people of Gaochang everywhere proclaim themselves as ‘remnants of the Han and Wei dynasties,’ reading the Book of Songs, discussing the Analects, and reciting the Classic of Filial Piety. Wen Tai even has a painting hanging in his room depicting Duke Ai of Lu consulting Confucius on governance. They admire the ways of the sages, yet they do not know how to conduct themselves as subjects! For several years, their tribute has been neglected, and they have no respect for vassal states. The official titles they have established in the country are all modeled after the Tang system, presumptuously overstepping the established calendar and becoming subjects of others. How can this be allowed!”
Qu Zhixiu's forehead was covered in cold sweat. "Your Majesty's words are quite true, but I sincerely beg you to consider that Gaochang is wholeheartedly trying to emulate the Central Plains' system, and only wants to drive the people of the Western Regions on behalf of the Celestial Dynasty." The Emperor coldly replied, "Gaochang is driving them on my behalf, so why can't I drive them away? This year is the beginning of the year, and all nations come to pay tribute, yet Wen Tai dares not come." Qu Zhixiu still bowed his head and said, "Your Majesty is seriously ill and bedridden, truly failing to live up to Your Majesty's grace."
The emperor changed his tone with a smile: "They attacked Yanqi, a vassal state of the Tang Dynasty, and sent an envoy to the Xueyantuo saying: 'Since you have declared yourself Khan and are an enemy of the Han emperor, why do you need to pay homage to their envoy?' They are running around in all directions, causing chaos and confusion. What kind of illness is this? I have no idea."
Qu Zhixiu was about to raise his head when the emperor's stern words pressed down like a mountain: "No need for further explanation. Go back and report to Qu Wentai. I have listed your crimes: During the chaos of the Sui Dynasty's Daye era, many Chinese people fled to the Turks. After Jieli's defeat, I cherished my people and spared no expense in redeeming them with riches. Yet some fled to Gaochang. I summoned you to escort them, but you concealed them, causing all the Chinese refugees to suffer unjust and heavy labor. This is your first crime. Those from the Western Rong countries who came to pay tribute all passed through Gaochang, but you detained them all, blocking their travels and obstructing China. This is your second crime. You allied with the Western Turkic Yabghu and planned to attack Yiwu. Because of your fickleness, I sent a letter of reprimand and summoned the Minister, General Ashina Ju, to court, but you refused to send him."
Qu Zhixiu's legs went numb from kneeling, but he struggled to stay upright and said in a humble voice, "Gaochang is under the control of the Western Turks, and Ashina Ju is the Khan who keeps watch over it. How dare my lord make a move? Moreover, Chief Secretary Qu Yong has already come to apologize, and I am filled with fear. Our small country is between two great powers, and we cannot be safe without being subordinate to both. I humbly beg Your Majesty's wisdom."
The emperor gave an "oh": "Disobeying the imperial edict, you have quite the audacity, and your eloquence is certainly impressive. Raise your head." Qu Zhixiu slowly raised his stiff neck, looked up, and was stunned.
This face shape, these eyebrows and eyes, especially that angry yet smiling expression, are seven parts similar to Li Weiying out of ten. She also has the same surname, Li, and speaks and knows so much. Could it be...? Qu Zhixiu felt a sharp pain in his head.
"Envoy of Gaochang." Seeing his surprised and uncertain gaze, the Emperor said, "Why are you looking at me like that?" Qu Zhixiu forced himself to calm his inner turmoil: "Your Majesty's countenance has deeply surprised me." The Emperor said, "Oh? Have I acquired some strange appearance?" Qu Zhixiu respectfully replied, "I only thought that the Emperor of the Great Tang, revered by all, must have a majestic appearance that inspires awe. But today, seeing Your Majesty's countenance, your appearance is actually quite amiable, which is rather..."
The Emperor laughed: "You have a woman's face. Speak freely. I resemble the late Empress Dowager, the most famous beauty of the Sui Dynasty. When I was young, I often complained about not having the imposing appearance of the late Emperor. However, after I ascended the throne, the ministers dared not speak freely during the morning court sessions. I privately asked Wei Zheng, and he said that the ministers were all intimidated by me. Haha, I joined the army at sixteen, led troops at eighteen, and assisted the late Emperor in pacifying the world at twenty-four. The ministers' impression of me is only that of a commander on the battlefield, decisive in battle. I only tried to be more amiable after hearing what Minister Wei said." Qu Zhixiu said: "I have never had the opportunity to witness Your Majesty's majestic presence. Judging you by your appearance is offensive."
The Emperor nodded slightly: "Then I will also judge by appearance. Are you the son of the Gaochang ruler and the Turkic princess?" Qu Zhixiu bowed again and said: "Your Majesty is wise." The Emperor said: "Qu Wentai has indeed fathered a good son." His expression changed slightly, and he continued: "But this father wanted to attack Yiwu, instigated the Xueyantuo, colluded with the Turks, and also invaded Yanqi, burning the city and capturing the people. This is an open rebellion against Tang, this is the third crime. He cut off tribute, showed contempt for Tang envoys, mocked the emperor, and overstepped the calendar, which constitutes treason, this is the fourth crime."
As Qu Zhixiu listened to the stern rebuke, listing each serious crime, his hands, which had been supporting him on the ground for a long time, trembled uncontrollably. Finally, he gave way and fell forward with a thud, collapsing to the ground. He tried to get up but couldn't muster the strength.
The Emperor asked, "Have you injured your shoulder or arm?" Qu Zhixiu was gritting his teeth in pain and couldn't speak. The Emperor turned to the eunuchs, and his attendants quickly summoned the imperial physician. Qu Zhixiu was helped up and treated. After drinking some water, he struggled to say, "Your Majesty, I know that my sovereign's words and actions have been perverse and unforgivable. However, my sovereign has already realized his mistake, which is why he sent me to see Your Majesty. I beg Your Majesty's leniency."
The emperor pondered for a moment and said, "Report this to Qu Wentai. I will send troops to punish him next year and teach him to fortify the city and build deep moats, and wait patiently for battle."
Qu Zhixiu knelt down again with a thud: "Your Majesty, please have mercy on Gaochang." The emperor said: "If you are willing, then take good care of your injuries. In the future, you can go to war in place of your father. However, I do not wish to see someone like you on the battlefield." He then turned and returned to the palace.
After the emperor departed, the Minister of the Court of State Ceremonies approached Qu Zhixiu to rise. Qu Zhixiu, looking down at his feet, followed him out like a walking corpse, then suddenly asked, "My lord, do you know a lady named Wei Ying?" The Minister of the Court of State Ceremonies was taken aback: "I do not know her. Where is she from, my lord?" Qu Zhixiu, emboldened, said, "When I entered the palace, I saw a young lady, beautiful and youthful, who bore a striking resemblance to His Majesty. I heard others call her Wei Ying. I was instantly captivated and have kept her in my heart ever since. May I ask for your guidance, my lord?" The Minister of the Court of State Ceremonies replied, "Since you met her within the palace, forgive me for speaking ill of you, but the names of imperial concubines should not be lightly revealed to outsiders. I truly do not know her."
The Minister of the Court of State Ceremonies summoned his assistant to escort Qu Zhixiu back to the Court of State Ceremonies' guesthouse. Qu Zhixiu, still persistent, pulled out some gold from his sleeve and offered it, asking again. The assistant declined, saying, "My lord, I have only seen some of the palace ladies at ceremonies. If there is a young lady who resembles His Majesty, she is most likely a princess, but I have never heard of their names. The two characters you mentioned are completely unfamiliar to me. If you are fortunate enough to marry a princess, you will know." Qu Zhixiu thought this was indeed true, and the name "Li Weiying" might even be a lie. He immediately bowed and thanked him, saying, "In that case, I have been impolite."
Qu Zhixiu wanted to inquire further about whether any princesses were still living abroad, but the Court of State Ceremonial was under strict surveillance, and his attempts to bribe the emperor were unsuccessful. His requests to see the emperor also went unanswered. Knowing that all hope was lost, his arm injury flared up again, and the continuous winter rains made his return home impossible. He was truly trapped in a state of despair.
Such heavy rain! Gaochang has never seen such torrential rain before. Qu Zhixiu walked outside blankly. The icy rain made it hard for him to open his eyes, so he simply tilted his head back and let the rain wash over him. If he were to burst into tears now, no one would see it.
PS:
Emperor Taizong of Tang participated in the battle to relieve the siege of Yanmen Pass against Emperor Yang of Sui at the age of sixteen (although experts cannot confirm this). He himself stated that he raised an army at eighteen, pacified the country at twenty-four, and ascended the throne at twenty-nine (by the traditional Chinese age reckoning). This section describes events in the thirteenth year of the Zhenguan era, when he was only forty-two years old.
Historical records describe Emperor Gaozu of Tang, Li Yuan, as having a very dignified appearance (his principal wife, Lady Dou, was a renowned beauty and talented woman, which I will discuss later), and his portraits reflect this. Emperor Taizong of Tang, on the other hand, is said to have a feminine appearance, and a close examination of surviving portraits of him does indeed reveal softer features. Emperor Taizong often bestowed mirrors upon his subjects and used them as metaphors for human affairs. Therefore, I've seen many researchers say that Emperor Taizong was very satisfied with his appearance, which explains his fondness for mirrors. Heh, that makes sense.
The Court of State Ceremonial was responsible for diplomatic protocol. The term "temple" was an ancient government institution, such as the Court of Imperial Sacrifices and the Court of Judicial Review. The Buddhist term "temple" was adopted from this one later.
Chapter 22
22. [Lanruo]
He set off for Tang in the autumn, but only had one day to meet the emperor before falling ill for more than ten days. By the time he returned to Gaochang, it was already early the following year. This year was the fourteenth year of the Zhenguan era of the Tang Dynasty and the seventeenth year of the Yanshou era of Gaochang.
Upon arriving in the capital, Qu Zhixiu recounted his audience with the emperor in Chang'an to his father, but his father was unimpressed. After several repetitions, Qu Wentai simply refused to meet him. February 15th was the day of Shakyamuni's Nirvana, and the king led his harem and officials to Qu Temple to pay homage to the Buddha. Gaochang was a devout Buddhist, with numerous temples and monasteries throughout the country. People of all social classes were enthusiastic about Buddhism and spent vast sums of money building temples. The naming of the temples was also quite interesting, with names like Qu Temple, Ma Temple, Fujun Temple, Dulangzhong Temple, Dasima Temple, and Zhang Azhong Temple, which immediately revealed the status and position of the donors.
Qu Zhixiu had been rebellious since childhood, disregarded ghosts and gods, and never set foot in Buddhist temples, but today he dressed neatly and went along. Qu Wentai was slightly surprised to see him come along and praised him a few times. Qu Zhisheng and Qu Zhizhan also patted him warmly.
Qu Wentai prayed before the Buddha: "Your humble disciple, King Qu Wentai of Gaochang, bows and takes refuge in the Three Jewels and all the great Bodhisattvas. With this auspicious prayer, may the times be peaceful and the years bountiful, the nation strong and the people at ease, the bandits subdued, and the plagues and calamities cease. May my ancestors, past lives, cross the river of desire and reach the shore of Nirvana. May all beings in the six realms and four forms of existence gather in this sacred place and attain eternal bliss together." Qu Wentai's concubines, Qu Zhisheng, and Qu Zhizhan also offered their prayers. When it was Qu Zhixiu's turn, he coughed a few times and said: "Your disciple repents of all his transgressions, upholds the Five Precepts of the Buddha, and diligently cultivates the Ten Virtues. I have climbed the heavenly silk for countless miles, hoping that my father will have a compassionate heart, humbly serve the Great Tang, and end the calamities of war. This merit surpasses all other virtues."
Qu Wentai roared, "Xiu'er, you're spouting nonsense again!" Qu Zhixiu knelt down, "Father, for the sake of the country and its people, I beg you to go to Chang'an immediately to apologize. Otherwise, if the Tang Dynasty raises an army, my 140-year-old Gaochang dynasty will be destroyed in an instant." Qu Wentai slapped him hard, "You begged me to go to Chang'an as an envoy, but it turns out you still want me to kneel and bow down to others. Where is your pride?" Qu Zhixiu neither dodged nor flinched, enduring the slap head-on, and straightened his back even more, saying loudly, "If Father doesn't bow down now, when the country is destroyed and the ancestral temples are overthrown, I fear I won't even have the chance to be a slave."
Enraged, Qu Wentai ordered his men, "Drag him out!" Qu Zhixiu grabbed a pillar in the Buddhist hall first, "Father, you are the ruler of a nation, are you afraid of honest advice?" Seeing his father's uncontrollable anger, Qu Zhizhan quickly said, "Axiu, we are here to worship Buddha today. We can speak our opinions after the ceremony." Qu Zhixiu coldly replied, "Stop pretending to be a good person, always making excuses. If you truly care about your father, why didn't you let me speak plainly?" Qu Zhizhan's face darkened, "You are truly hopeless." Qu Zhixiu retorted, "You only care about saving yourself, don't worry about me."
Qu Zhisheng also stepped forward to advise, "Father, A-Xiu has been stubborn since childhood. Why not reason with him in front of all the ministers? I'm sure many of you have doubts too." Turning to Qu Zhisheng, he said, "A-Xiu, although you are a prince, you are also a subject. How can you be so disrespectful to your lord? What kind of posture is that? Kneel down and speak."
Upon hearing this, Qu Zhixiu immediately released the pillar and knelt before Qu Wentai: "Father, please forgive my rudeness. It is said that scholars die for their principles and warriors die in battle. I do not wish to die, but only to live a few more days in good health, and I wish for Father's long life and the prosperity of the Gaochang Kingdom." Qu Wentai suppressed his anger and said: "Very well, since you are so stubborn, speak your mind, lest the ministers compare me to a tyrant."
Qu Zhixiu bowed and said, "Thank you, Father. When I went to Chang'an to see the Emperor of Tang, he rebuked Gaochang for its disloyalty, disrespect, rebellion, and usurpation." Qu Wentai said, "Xiu'er, don't you understand? Gaochang has been a kingdom for over 140 years, while Tang has only existed for a mere 20 years. Why should we submit to them?" Qu Zhixiu said, "But the territory of Tang is a thousand times larger than Gaochang's. If we only compare longevity, the turtles and tortoises kept in this temple are older than anyone else. No wonder so many pilgrims come to worship every day."
Qu Wentai was so angry he almost fainted. Qu Zhisheng quickly supported his father, saying, "Axiu is sharp-tongued, Father, please don't be angry." Qu Zhixiu said, "Brother, I'm not sharp-tongued, I just can't understand why Father, who refuses to serve the Tang Dynasty, sent envoys to welcome the monk Xuanzang from the Tang Dynasty and personally offered incense to guide him. He not only became sworn brothers with him in front of the Empress Dowager, but also groveled before him, kneeling and using his knees as a stepping stone for him to ascend the Dharma seat, doing this every day. I am ignorant; even if Father went to the Tang Dynasty to meet the Emperor, he would only need to kowtow. How could that be worse than kneeling and being trampled by a bald monk?" Qu Wentai angrily said, "You ignorant brat, you never respect the Buddha and don't know how noble the Dharma Master is. If it weren't for this, why would the Tripitaka Master have stayed in Gaochang to propagate Buddhism?"
Qu Zhixiu said, "The Buddha said that all beings are equal. As long as one understands the Way in one's heart, one is equal to all the gods and Buddhas, let alone a mere monk."
The court official Qu Dejun smoothed things over, saying, "It is truly gratifying and commendable that the prince possesses such insight. His teachings have not been in vain. We follow His Majesty, wholeheartedly devoted to Buddhism, and the entire nation reveres the Bodhisattva, with temples and monasteries everywhere. It is only because of this that Gaochang has become so prosperous. Which minister here does not have a temple in his home, and who does not donate land? They all pray to the Buddha to bless our land, just like the prince."
Qu Zhixiu was unconvinced: "Who doesn't know that if you donate land and convert it into a temple, the land still belongs to you, the rent is still collected, but the taxes you pay are halved? Gaochang isn't prosperous, it's your pockets that are." Qu Dejun's face turned pale.
Qu Wentai shouted, "You neglect state affairs and only talk nonsense. Fine, let me ask you, you said you wanted me to apologize to the Tang Dynasty, but didn't the emperor say he was going to send troops to attack? Since he is unwilling to be lenient, why should we waste our time?" Qu Zhixiu said anxiously, "Father, this is precisely where the Tang emperor is lenient. He has sent envoys to inquire many times before, but Father's attitude was arrogant. However, he still left one last chance, saying that he was going to send troops. In fact, he hoped that Father would go to apologize in person, so that he would not have to resort to arms."
Qu Wentai laughed, "Xiu'er, you're young and inexperienced. Since ancient times, military strategy has valued secrecy. How can you announce it so early? The Tang emperor is merely bluffing; he has no intention of attacking and it's impossible for him to do so." Qu Wentai took a sip of tea and said leisurely, "I've said this many times before: the Tang dynasty is weak now. When I went to pay homage to the emperor, I saw that the cities north of Qin and Long were desolate, unlike the Sui dynasty. They simply cannot afford such a long expedition. You're tired of kneeling; get up and speak."
Qu Zhizhan pulled Qu Zhixiu's arm, but Qu Zhixiu shook it off and replied, "Second brother, there's no need to help me. Otherwise, Father will be angry and I'll cause trouble again." He looked up and said, "Father went to the Tang Dynasty ten years ago, but it's not what it used to be. What I saw last year was that the Tang Dynasty was prosperous and its army was strong. It was able to defeat the Eastern Turks and destroy the Tuyuhun. Its national strength is so great. Father, you must not underestimate it."
Qu Wentai looked displeased and ignored him. Qu Zhisheng hurriedly said, "Even so, he can't attack Gaochang." Qu Wentai said, "Sheng'er is wise. If he really attacks, is Gaochang powerless to fight? Don't forget, during the Yihe Coup, the late king fled with me and many ministers. Who led the army to help the late king recover the lost territories in one fell swoop?" The ministers all said, "Your Majesty's heroic spirit is remembered by the people to this day."
Qu Wentai smiled and said, "If the Tang Dynasty were to attack us now, sending too many troops would cause a shortage of supplies. If they send fewer than 30,000 troops, I can control them." Qu Zhixiu said, "Father, you have a good mind. But I am worried that the Gaochang people are less than 40,000, while the Tang Dynasty has a population of 19 million. How many troops should we send?"
Qu Wentai paused slightly, then said, “The Tang Kingdom is seven thousand li away from here, with two thousand li of sandy desert. The land is barren of water and grass, the winter winds are freezing, and the summer winds are scorching. Wherever the wind blows, many travelers die. Even a hundred men cannot reach this place, let alone a large army. They have exhausted themselves launching a long-distance attack. By the time they reach Gaochang, they will have already suffered heavy losses. It would be difficult enough to leave behind thirty thousand men. If they were to camp in our city, their food would run out in twenty days, and they would naturally collapse. Then we could capture them. What is there to worry about? Moreover, the scholars of Gaochang are originally from Guanzhong and Hexi, and their families have been military leaders for generations. Their martial spirit has never been suppressed, and now everyone is capable of wielding a sword and spear. If we unite as one to resist our enemy, what is there to fear?”
Upon hearing this, all the ministers clapped and laughed, saying, "What Your Majesty says is absolutely right."
Qu Zhixiu rubbed his numb knees, stood up unsteadily, and walked to the Buddha statue, muttering to himself. Qu Wentai asked curiously, "Xiu'er, what are you doing?" He replied, "My memory is poor, and I'm afraid I won't remember all of Father's words. I'm telling them to the Buddha now. When the city falls and the country is destroyed in the future, I'll come and ask Shakyamuni why these words are no longer reliable?"
Qu Wentai could no longer contain himself and shouted, “Drag him away and beat him severely until he dies. You keep cursing my Gaochang Kingdom to perish, so I will grant your wish and make you perish first.” He then said to the ministers who wanted to stop him from ascending the throne, as well as Qu Zhisheng and Qu Zhizhan, “No need to say more. This rebellious son said he would die to remonstrate, so let us fulfill his vow before the Buddha today.”
Qu Zhixiu snorted and knelt down on the ground. "Enough with the nonsense. I don't need your help. The Dharma staff is in the Buddha Hall. Go and get it."
With each muffled thud, clothes tore, and blood splattered. Qu Zhixiu opened his eyes wide, speechless, and finally succumbed to unconsciousness.
Qu Zhizhan stopped the executioner and knelt before Qu Wentai. "Father, please spare Axiu today. If you hit him any further, he'll be dead." Qu Wentai, his eyes red, kicked Qu Zhizhan aside, grabbed his staff, and said, "I will do it myself. He is my son, and I gave him his life. I will take it back with my own hands." He swung the staff and struck Qu Zhixiu heavily on the back. The blow was so powerful that the staff snapped in two with a crack and flew far away.
Qu Zhixiu, who had already fainted, shuddered violently in pain and slightly opened his eyes to look at his furious father. Qu Wentai raised the half-broken staff to strike again, but seeing the bitter pain in Qu Zhixiu's eyes and the bloodied flesh on his back, the staff stopped in mid-air, unable to fall. Qu Zhisheng also knelt down, "Father, I have misbehaved in disciplining my younger brother. Please punish me. I request to be removed from my position as Prime Minister and will stay in the palace to accompany him in his repentance. Please, Father, spare Axiu." The officials around also tried to persuade him, but Qu Wentai gritted his teeth: "I said I would beat him to death. If I don't kill this rebellious son, he will surely harm Gaochang in the future."
Qu Zhizhan said, "Father, A-Xiu has already received this severe punishment and knows he was wrong." He touched Qu Zhixiu's pale and blood-drenched face and said, "A-Xiu lost his mother's protection at a young age, so it's natural that he's a bit willful. Besides, he's devoted to the country, and even if he said something wrong, he's already endured so many beatings and punishments. This sacred land of Lanruo is a place where even bandits and robbers can receive the Buddha's grace and Shakyamuni's compassion. Surely you wouldn't want to see Father kill his own flesh and blood."