Chapter 44 9. Teng Yuan told today’s students studying in Japan the story of the ancient envoys sent to the Tang Dynasty
Teng Yuan placed Yang Du in the best guest room at home, and in the evening, specially ordered a table of sumptuous food and drink for him in a Chinese restaurant called Hailong Restaurant.After dinner, Teng Yuan invited Yang Du into a small room on the second floor.
This is a rather delicately furnished reception room, all furnished in Western style.The floor is covered with thick velvet blankets, and there are four large and soft leather sofas.The four walls are covered with wallpaper, and three well-decorated Western oil paintings hang on the walls.Under the oil painting of a large forest to the north is an open fireplace.There was no fire in the fireplace because of the warm weather.A footman came in and served two cups of coffee.
"Mr. Yang, please drink coffee." Teng Yuan changed into a light gray suit and a bright red tie, looking younger.At first glance, he was hardly sixty years old.Pointing to the red tie, he said, "Today is a big day for our Tengyuan family. I specially tied it to celebrate."
Yang Du picked up the coffee cup and said with a smile: "Today is also the happiest day since I came to Japan, and I will congratulate it with you."
"Speaking of the pair of male and female knives, there is also a moving story embodying the friendly exchanges between Japan and China."
"Really? Please tell me." Yang Du put down his coffee cup and looked at Teng Yuan intently.
"This is something that happened in the early eighth century AD." Holding a small coffee cup in both hands, with a serious expression, Teng Yuan slowly narrated the ancient stories passed down from generation to generation by the Teng Yuan family.
The second year of Dabao in Japan was the time when Wu Zetian was in power in the Tang Dynasty of China.At that time, China attracted countries all over the world with its highly developed economy and culture. Emperor Wenmu of Japan sent the first batch of envoys to China. In addition to the national envoys, there were also a group of young students studying abroad. They accompanied the envoys to Chang'an, and then Stay in Chang'an and concentrate on learning the culture of the Tang Empire.One of this group of international students is Kazuo Tengyuan, the ancestor of Shinyu Tengyuan.
Kazuo Tengyuan was just twenty years old that year, unmarried, and a bright and handsome student.Kazuo Tengyuan mastered Chinese one year after he came to Chang'an, he was able to converse with Chinese fluently in Chinese, and he could also understand the documents and notices issued by the Tang court at that time.Yifu felt that the "Dabao Law" formulated in the first year of Dabao was not perfect, so he devoted himself to studying various criminal laws of the Tang Dynasty.After more than two years of hard study, he has mastered most of the laws and regulations of the Tang Empire.
This generation of Japanese emperors was not interested in the capital Tengwara-kyo, and decided to build another capital in Nara, so he ordered the Japanese students studying in Chang'an to draw an architectural map of Chang'an within half a year.Kazuo was elected as the chief draftsman with his outstanding intelligence.Half a year later, Kazuo returned to Tokyo with a complete set of Chang'an architectural drawings, and immediately participated in the construction of Nara Heijo-kyo.The contract is three years, and the Pingcheng capital will be completed.It is completely in the shape of Chang'an, with thirty-two towns in the east and west and thirty-six towns in the north and south. Regardless of whether it is east, west, north or south, every four towns are connected by roads, forming a neat chessboard street.In the middle of the north, an imperial palace covering an area of eight towns was built.Of course, Pingcheng capital is far less big than Chang'an, it is only a quarter of Chang'an, but it is much more magnificent than Tengyuan capital.
The emperor was very satisfied, so he led all the officials and nobles to move here. Since then, the Nara era with splendid culture that the Japanese people are proud of has been created.The emperor rewarded a husband.Also in the winter of this year, he married Miss Qiao Zi, who was born in a famous family, and the emperor gave them a gift, which became a sensational story in the capital for a while.After marriage, the husband and wife are very affectionate and live a sweet life.Three years later, Qiao Zi gave birth to two sons for her husband.Yifu remembered that his studies in Chang'an were not over yet, so he discussed with Qiao Zi that he would return to Chang'an to continue the study of Chinese law.
Qiao Zi is reluctant to let her husband stay away, but she understands her husband's ambition very well, because her husband wants to learn all the laws and regulations of the powerful Tang Empire, so as to provide the best reference for formulating a complete Japanese law and regulations.The husband temporarily left her and the child for the prosperity of the country. Qiao Zi, who understands righteousness, agreed with her husband's long-distance travel plan with tears.
Out of deep love for her husband, and hoping that her husband would return from school soon and the husband and wife would be reunited, Qiao Zi spent a lot of money to hire a highly skilled blacksmith to make a pair of male and female waist knives.These two waist knives are exactly the same in appearance, they are divided into two and combined into one. The only difference is the color of the Big Dipper inlaid on the handle.The male sword is a black gem, and the female sword is a ruby.In order to express the desire of the husband and wife to be one forever, Qiao Zi put the two knives together, and personally carved the words "Tengyuan Kazuo" on the handle with the carving knife.The male and female knives are packed in a wooden box made of a piece of gloomy wood.
On the night before leaving Pingcheng, Qiao Zi took the male sword out of the wooden box, inserted it into a cowhide scabbard, and solemnly gave it to her husband. She said to her husband with tears, "Wear this male sword on your body, Seeing it every day, I remember every day that the female knife at home is looking forward to its return and reunion with it. This knife is extremely sharp, and it can also be used for self-defense in case of encountering bad people. Don’t lose it!”
A husband took over the waist knife from his wife, and at the same time kept his wife's affection in his heart.Early the next morning, he left his lovely wife and young son, crossed the sea again, and traveled westward.
When Yifu arrived in Chang'an, he plunged into the voluminous books.In order to understand the evolution of the laws and regulations of the Tang Dynasty, he also found and read the relevant documents of the previous dynasties before the Tang Dynasty.After studying, Yifu fell in love with Chinese poetry, and he could write very good Chinese poems. He became friends with famous poets in Chang'an at that time, such as Shen Quanqi, Zhang Jiuling, Wang Han, Wang Wan, etc., and sang with each other.However, no matter whether he is buried in the crowd or at the banquet of chanting, a husband cannot rule out the deep-seated miss for his wife and two sons.Often in the dead of night, facing the bright moon, he would caress the waist knife presented by his wife, as if he had flown across the mountains and seas to return to his home in Pingcheng, and he was caressing his wife's slender and slender hands.Zhang Jiuling could understand his homesickness very well, and specially sent him a banner with his well-known song "Watching the Moon and Huaiyuan" written on it:
Zhang Jiuling's poem is exactly the mood of a husband.He hung the banner on the wall, recited it every night, and missed it every night.In order to go home and reunite as soon as possible, he accelerated the research speed and sorted out the results of the research at the same time.
In the early spring of the first year of the Japanese pension, a research result of 80,000 to 90,000 words came out, and he excitedly titled this result, called "The Examination and Preservation of Criminal Laws and Laws of the Tang Dynasty".He gave this "Cun Yao" to Zhang Jiuling to read, and asked Zhang for comments.Zhang Zhen praised him, and at the same time pointed out a doubtful point to Yifu, and told Yifu that to solve this doubtful point, he could consult Shen Quanqi, but Shen was recuperating in Fengxiang Famen Temple these days, and he would not return to Chang'an until late spring when the weather was warmer.
There are still two months left until late spring, and the third batch of Tang envoys will sail back to China in early April.If Shen Quanqi returned to Chang'an in the late spring, and then went from Chang'an to Bohai Bay, he would not be able to catch up with the returning ships anyway.Mr. Teng Yuan was eager to go home, so he decided to go to Fengxiang Famen Temple to find Shen Quanqi.Zhang Jiuling said that now is the time when the mountains are covered by heavy snow, and there are many dangers along the way, so it is better not to go.Yifu declined his friend's advice and left Chang'an for Famen Temple alone.
In the middle of March, at the time when the first-year-old children were "happy with horseshoes in the spring breeze, and saw all the flowers in Chang'an in one day", Shen Quanqi came back from Fengxiang.Zhang Jiuling asked him if he had seen Kazuo Teng Yuan, and Shen said that he had never met him at all.Zhang was shocked, and sent people to investigate along the way, and they all said that he had never seen such a person.Since then, there has been no news of her husband.Zhang Jiuling and Shen Quanqi, who were completely desperate, took advantage of the time when another batch of Tang envoys were sent back to the country, and entrusted them with the copy of "The Examination and Preservation of Criminal Laws and Laws of the Tang Dynasty" for which their close friends sacrificed their lives.The Japanese imperial court regards this "Cun Yao" as a treasure, and the "Regulations for the Elderly Care" promulgated for three years is basically formulated according to this "Cun Yao".
In recognition of Kazuo Tengyuan's lofty patriotic spirit in seeking the law, the emperor posthumously appointed him as the right minister and gave his family a very magnificent residence.But Qiao Zi didn't believe that her husband had been buried in a foreign land. She opened the wooden box every day and stared at the red female knife for a long time. She firmly believed that her husband would come back and the male knife would be reunited with the female knife.However, Qiao Zi didn't look forward to this day until his hair turned gray...
When Teng Yuan Xinyu said this, his voice was already hoarse.He brought the coffee cup in his hand to his mouth and sipped it slowly.Yang Du was deeply moved by this story.He never imagined that the ancient Japanese waist knife presented by Ma Fuyi that year seemed ordinary, but it turned out to be so extraordinary.This knife can be said to be a symbol of love and patriotism, a symbol of noble pursuit, and a symbol of dedication to a great cause.I was really lucky to own it, and it is a great honor to send it back to the Tengyuan family by myself today.
He said to Teng Yuan Xinyu: "When a friend gave me this knife back then, my teacher and I thought it was the command knife of an ancient general. My teacher also wrote an article based on this idea. Gufeng. No Thinking that it came from the boudoir, it is a scholar's adornment, and I really admire the sentiments of the ancestors and the couple. I think that this knife returned to your hands today is not only a celebration for the Tengyuan family, but also It is a good story of friendly exchanges between China and Japan."
Speaking of this, he untied his waist knife again and said: "Mr. Teng Yuan, don't refuse, just accept it. It can also be used as a testimony of the friendship between the Chinese and the Japanese."
"Thank you, Mr. Yang, I will accept it." Teng Yuan took the waist knife in no hurry.He gestured with his hand, and Yang Du understood, so he put the waist knife on the coffee table.
Teng Yuan continued: "As you said just now, Mr. Yang, the return of the waist knife is not only a celebration for the Teng Yuan family, but also a good story about the friendship between Japan and China. Mr. Yang is willing to give up love generously. If we don't express it, it will appear that we Teng Yuan Is the family too selfish?"
"Mr. Teng Yuan, where are you talking about! There is an old saying in our country, that is, to show kindness to repay a man is not a gentleman, not to mention returning things to their original owners. There is no such thing as the word 'benevolence'. I don't need your expressions."
Yang Du's sincere sincerity moved Teng Yuan very much.He thought for a while and decided to double the original reward: "Mr. Yang, you have brought back the Xiongdao that has been lost for thousands of years for us. For the Tengyuan family, you have undoubtedly returned a priceless treasure. If you don't mind If it is less, I would like to give you two hundred thousand silver dollars back. I wonder if you can give me a face and accept it."
Two hundred thousand silver dollars!Yang Du was greatly taken aback.At that time, the fees provided by the Qing court for government-funded students studying in Japan ranged from 400 to 500 silver dollars per month depending on the school.This fee is not only enough for the various expenses of the foreign students themselves, but also can use the remaining money to hire a maid.So at that time, many government-subsidized foreign students hired maids, who not only did chores for them, but also entertained them.Wang Daiyi is one example.Two hundred thousand silver dollars means one year's expenses for thirty or forty Chinese students studying abroad.This amount is quite large.There are a large number of students studying abroad at their own expense. Their situation is very difficult and they have to use their spare time to work as domestic helpers.How important silver dollars are to them!There are also many reformers who want to run newspapers and magazines, promote their political views, and wake up the sleeping masses. They urgently need a lot of funds.There are also many revolutionary parties. They want to carry out the great cause of overthrowing the imperial court by force. They purchase guns and ammunition, organize death squads, travel from east to west, north and south, and contact the Shantanghui party. Every expenditure requires huge sums of money.In short, all the Chinese students studying in Japan, except those dudes with rich families and no political purpose, and those dutiful people who have official expenses but only want to seek knowledge, all urgently need silver dollars.
Although Yang Du is living at his own expense, firstly, Tian Zhong has promised to provide free board and lodging, secondly, Yang Jun is frugal, so he can often help his elder brother with some money, not to mention that he is determined to be a chivalrous gentleman, he only cares about friendship and does not ask for compensation. He was about to decline politely when he suddenly remembered something.
That was one night more than two months ago, Liu Daoyi, Liu Kuiyi's younger brother, came to Tanaka's apartment in a hurry and told him an amazing news: the disaster in Hunan was serious, and people's hearts were fluctuating. It was a good time to start an uprising. Liu Kuiyi has returned to China, and is secretly operating in the central Hunan area, preparing to start an incident someday.But now there are two difficulties.One is the shortage of funds and ammunition, and the other is that there is no reliable party leader to work with.Liu Daoyi asked Yang Du if he could do anything.
When Yang Du heard this, he thought for a long time.Although he was trying to save China through a constitutional monarchy, he was not opposed to the armed riots of Huang Xing, Liu Kuiyi and others, and sometimes he thought that this might be a way.To take the road of force, the most effective way is to use the power of the party.Where can I find it?He accidentally saw the waist knife hanging over the bed, and thought of Ma Fuyi and Monk Dakong who gave the knife.Dakong used to be the leader of the Gelaohui, and Ma Fuyi looked like a very ordinary person in every way, maybe a big leader.It is hard to find Da Kong who has left Miyin Temple, but Ma Fuyi can be found.Yang Du told Daoyi how to find Ma Fuyi.As for fundraising, there was nothing he could do.
Now, this wealthy businessman is willing to donate 200,000 yuan, why not take his money first to support Huang Xing and Liu Kuiyi?After thinking about it, this is a bit of a retribution after all, and a gentleman doesn't bother to do it.After a short pause, he had an idea that had the best of both worlds.
"Mr. Teng Yuan, I admire your generosity. I absolutely cannot accept a huge sum of 200,000 yuan, but right now I have a group of friends who are going to do a big event and are in urgent need of money. Please lend me 50,000 yuan first." , when they are done, they will definitely return it.”
"Okay!" Seeing Yang Du thinking for so long, Teng Yuan finally agreed to accept 50,000 yuan. He was very happy and said, "Don't say anything about borrowing or repaying. Fifty thousand silver dollars is considered a little bit of our Tengyuan family." It's a trifle."
With that said, he took out a stack of checks from his suit lining pocket, filled in the figure of 50,000 yuan, tore it off and handed it to Yang Du.Yang Du took it and said, "Please ask the servant to bring a pen and paper, and I will make a note."
Teng Yuan stood up, and laughed: "What kind of evidence is not written, you are too serious."
Yang Du said stubbornly: "Since I said it was a loan, of course there must be a written proof."
"Alright." Teng Yuan thought for a while, then pressed the electric bell, and the servant who delivered the coffee just now came in.Teng Yuan said to him: "You go and get a piece of high-quality rice paper and a brush and inkstone."
After a while, the servant came in with a pen and inkstone in his right hand and a rolled rice paper in his left hand, put it on the tea table, spread the paper out and walked out.
Yang Du saw that the rice paper was more than four feet long and two feet wide, and said with a smile, "Why do you need such a big rice paper for an IOU!"
"It's not an IOU." Teng Yuan said, "Mr. Yang just said that your teacher once wrote an ancient style for this male sword based on the concept of a general commanding sword. I think it must be very interesting. Bring the rice paper to invite You give me this ancient style as a gift."
"Wow!" Yang Du was happy to write for others, and he smoothed the paper as he said, "However, what is chanted in the poem does not match what the ancestor Ling did!"
Teng Yuan smiled and said: "It doesn't matter. It's better to let this great knife return to its hometown with such a legend."
Yang Du picked up the pen and concentrated for a moment, the scene of Wang Kaiyun appreciating this waist knife and chanting immediately appeared in front of his eyes.On the rice paper appeared Yang Du's bold and unrestrained handwriting: