Chapter 420: Emperor Taizong presents fine wine, one jar lasts a hundred years
Facing Li Shimin's expectant gaze, Li Daoxuan was moved.
To be honest, he thought that Li Shimin would try to win him over, but he didn't expect it to be such a big deal. As the leader of the Hibernating Dragons, he was in charge of all matters concerning ghosts and gods in the world. He had such great power that everyone from the royal family to the local county magistrate had to cooperate unconditionally.
The most important thing is that the power of the Tang Dynasty will be used to help him practice. Any cultivator would be tempted by this promise.
Although practicing Taoism seeks freedom and detachment, it also pays attention to Dharma, wealth, companions and place. The wealth here refers to the funds needed for practice. As the saying goes, the poor are good at literature but rich at martial arts, and this is even more true for practicing Taoism, which may even cost more money than practicing martial arts.
For example, the fasting pills needed for spiritual practice contain many precious medicinal materials, which are more expensive than gold. At that time, Li Daoxuan took over the business of the Huang family master because he was short of money, and met the Mirror Ghost.
Later, when he was no longer short of money, he discovered that many rare treasures were out of stock. For example, medicinal herbs that were over a hundred years old were rarely circulated in the market and were often supplied in special quantities.
This is also the reason why Li Daoxuan, although he has many demon inner elixirs, is unable to refine the Dragon and Tiger Golden Elixir. He simply cannot gather so many precious auxiliary medicines.
But these problems will disappear with just one word from Li Shimin.
As long as he agrees, from now on, natural treasures will be inexhaustible, and he can refine elixirs to his heart's content to increase his cultivation and help him break through, and he will enter the Yang Shen realm in the shortest time possible.
This is definitely a huge temptation!
But Li Daoxuan didn't speak for a long time.
Li Shimin looked expectantly and said, "Taichong, I know your ambition is to become an immortal, but this does not conflict with my great cause. In fact, it coincides with my great cause. The stronger the Tang Dynasty becomes in the future, the more I can help you!"
"Being the leader doesn't mean you have to travel all the time. There are bad guys guarding each state. If they can't deal with it, they will report it to Zhelong. If Zhelong can't solve it, then you, the leader, will take action. Your freedom will not be restricted in any way. Just don't leave the territory of the Tang Dynasty often."
Li Daoxuan sighed lightly. The emperor was sincere enough. If word of such kindness were to spread, no one would dare to believe it.
In fact, this was also a gamble by Li Shimin. If Li Daoxuan had the intention of treason, he would fall into a very unfavorable situation, which would be equivalent to creating a terrible opponent for himself.
But Li Shimin still made this decision and resolutely placed all his hopes on Li Daoxuan, which shows his courage.
"Taichong, are you worried about Longhu Mountain?"
Li Daoxuan shook his head and said, "Your Majesty, although the Grand Master did not say it explicitly, his intention in sending me to participate in the Longmen Immortal Meeting is very clear. Longhu Mountain is willing to support Your Majesty."
The old Taoist priest had repeatedly rejected Li Shimin's invitation to come out of seclusion because he had experienced the rise and fall of the Sui Dynasty and witnessed the sudden collapse of a peak dynasty. As a result, he became much more cautious and had been watching.
Facts have proved that this wait-and-see approach is correct.
During the Xuanwu Gate Incident, some Taoist sects sided with Crown Prince Li Jiancheng. However, not long after Li Shimin ascended the throne, those sects that had once supported Li Jiancheng quietly disappeared.
After the Xuanwu Gate Incident, the old Taoist priest had been quietly observing the young emperor, and finally made a decision to send Li Daoxuan to participate in the Longmen Immortal Meeting.
This is a very important signal.
As an emperor, Li Shimin had naturally seen this a long time ago. He asked in confusion: "If that's the case, Taichong, why are you hesitating?"
Li Daoxuan stared at the long scroll, as if he saw the vast and magnificent rivers and mountains, and he suddenly asked a question.
"Your Majesty, this Zhou Tian Xing Dou Great Array sounds wonderful, but if the dragon energy is spread throughout the world, the dragon energy in Chang'an will become weak. This is where the emperor lives. If there is no dragon energy to protect it, wouldn't it be dangerous?"
The lady in green raised her eyes silently and looked at Li Shimin.
This was actually the question she wanted to ask, but she asked it through Li Daoxuan.
Li Shimin was stunned. He thought Taichong had some concerns, but he didn't expect it to be this reason.
After a pause, he smiled and said, "In fact, I have thought about this question a long time ago. At that time, Yuan Tiangang and Li Chunfeng were also hesitant about it. Later, it was the Queen who woke me up. She said something."
"What?"
"If we can't protect the Tang Dynasty, what's the point of having Chang'an?"
Li Shimin sighed: "The Queen is just a woman, but she has such a broad mind. As an emperor, how can I worry about gains and losses?"
Li Daoxuan secretly sighed that Empress Changsun was worthy of being a famous and virtuous queen in history. She was not only kind, but also had a temperament and broad-mindedness that ordinary women could hardly achieve. She was really admirable.
Throughout history, there were many times when Li Shimin wanted to make mistakes, and it was Empress Zhangsun who insisted on persuading him. Her methods of persuasion were often clever and full of wisdom, and were recorded and praised by historians many times.
So some people also say that if Empress Changsun had not died so early, perhaps Li Shimin would not have become stupid and indulged in pleasure at the end of the Zhenguan period.
Li Shimin patted Li Daoxuan on the shoulder and said with a smile: "Taichong, don't worry about me. As you said before, the emperor guards the country's gates and the king dies for the country. If Chang'an can become a barrier to protect the people of the world, it deserves the name of the capital!"
Li Daoxuan let out a light breath, and a sense of pride arose in his heart.
In this case, let us work together to create an unprecedented prosperous Tang Dynasty!
When he ascends to heaven in the future and becomes an immortal through cultivation, he hopes to leave behind an incomparably glorious and prosperous era, a splendid dynasty that the Chinese nation will never forget!
Perhaps the Tang Dynasty will fall into decline in the future, perhaps there will still be the Anshi Rebellion and the Huang Chao Rebellion, perhaps hundreds of years later, today's efforts will still become a wisp of smoke in the change of dynasties, but Li Daoxuan did not want to think about so much at the moment.
However, he did not agree immediately, but instead asked a completely irrelevant question.
" Your Majesty, I love wine. I heard that there is a top-quality wine hidden in the imperial palace. I wonder if Your Majesty would be willing to give it up?"
Li Shimin was stunned for a moment, not knowing why Taichong suddenly said this.
But he immediately ordered Gao Quan to get it, and a moment later, Gao Quan came into the hall carrying a jar of fine wine.
Li Shimin handed the jar of wine to Li Daoxuan and said, "This wine is the best in the world. It is said that it was brewed by the god of wine Du Kang himself. It is rare in the world. One glass of it will make your bones numb and you will feel like you are floating in the air!"
Such a jar of wine is worth a fortune.
But Li Daoxuan shook his head and said, "It's too little, not enough for me to drink. I wonder if Your Majesty can give me a few more jars?"
Li Shimin was stunned for a moment, then waved his hand, signaling Gao Quan to continue getting it.
In fact, he was also a wine lover. There were only five jars of this fine wine in the entire palace. Although he was the emperor, he would only have a few drinks during grand festivals, for fear that the wine would be gone after he finished it.
Gao Quan brought two more jars.
Li Daoxuan continued to look at Li Shimin and asked, "Your Majesty, is there anything else?"
Li Shimin coughed and said, "It's too much. There isn't much wine left. Can you leave some for me?"
Li Daoxuan nodded and smiled: "Of course."
After a pause, he swept the three jars of fine wine with his sleeves, put them all into the gourd, and said with a smile: "In the past, King Wen asked Jiang Shang to pull the cart for 800 steps, and Zi Ya ensured the prosperity of the Zhou Dynasty for 800 years. Today, Your Majesty has given me three jars of wine. I am not talented, but I am willing to ensure the prosperity of the Tang Dynasty for 300 years to repay the emperor's kindness."
