txolops Chapter 18 Qiu Chuji Arrives
Chapter 18 Qiu Chuji Arrives
"Guo Wei? Who is this?"
Guo Liqing was taken aback and said, "Mother, don't you know who Guo Wei is?"
"I don't know!"
"Guo Wei was the founding emperor of the Later Zhou dynasty!" Guo Liqing explained, fearing Li Ping might not understand: "The Zhou dynasty preceded the Song dynasty. Emperor Taizu of Song, Zhao Kuangyin, seized power from my Guo family, thus establishing the Song dynasty we know today!"
Li Ping looked bewildered. "How did you learn that?"
How did you find out?
Of course, it was made up on the spot.
Guo Liqing couldn't tell the truth, so he could only make up a story: "It was Uncle Yang who told me. My father only told him back then, and even you don't know."
Now, I'm the only one in the world who knows about this!
My Guo family has an ancestral precept: if the Zhao family cannot protect this land, my Guo family descendants may rise up in rebellion, overthrow the Song Dynasty, and protect our land and people!
Li Ping stared wide-eyed at Guo Liqing for a long time before her emotions calmed down.
"It seems you've made up your mind!"
Guo Liqing said, "I've said so much today because I hope you won't feel burdened. Everything I've done is for the sake of the people!"
"I understand. So, what do you expect me to do?"
"You don't need to do anything! From now on, just live here peacefully. After I give birth to children, you can enjoy the company of your grandchildren, experience the joys of family life, and live out your old age in peace."
Li Ping nodded silently.
Guo Liqing took the dagger away, believing that after saying these words, Li Ping would not commit suicide for the sake of so-called integrity.
Guo Liqing stepped out of the tent and breathed a long sigh of relief.
As Chinese people, loyalty, filial piety, benevolence, and righteousness have always been our fundamental values.
Even if Li Ping wasn't Guo Liqing's mother, Guo Liqing still didn't want to see her die because of her decision.
This was an act of filial piety on behalf of Guo Jing, and also an act of benevolence on his part.
As for loyalty, Guo Liqing's statement that he was "loyal to the people rather than to the monarch" was not just a casual remark.
"Who?"
Guo Liqing sensed someone behind him, but there was no murderous intent.
Nahita walked over and said, "Don't worry, after the princess left, I've been guarding the camp. No one else knows about your conversation with your mother."
Did you hear that?
Nashita bowed and said, "Master, rest assured, I am not a Mongol, and I am only loyal to you. I deeply admire your ambition to save the world, and I will certainly not speak of it!"
"It's alright!"
Guo Liqing pulled Nashita close and said, "I still trust you. Why don't you stay with me tonight?"
"Yes!" Nahita's face suddenly flushed.
……
Guo Liqing rested in the desert for a few days and used the Nine Yin Manual to heal his injuries. He recovered quickly and his internal strength even increased.
That day, Guo Liqing woke up from his sleep. He had spent the night having a wild time with Hua Zheng, and it was already noon when he woke up.
Guo Liqing looked at Hua Zheng's shapely buttocks under the covers and couldn't help but slap them.
Unexpectedly, he woke her up.
Hua Zheng looked at Guo Liqing groggily and said, "Judging from the commotion you made last night, your injuries should be almost healed by now!"
Guo Liqing stroked Hua Zheng's face and said with a smile, "She's completely healed!"
Suddenly, a voice came from outside the tent, saying, "The Great Khan summons the Prince Consort, requesting his immediate departure!"
"Okay," Guo Liqing replied casually.
Hua Zheng suddenly felt a pang of anxiety and said, "I feel that Father Khan knows that I am with you."
"It's alright. Everyone knows I'm the Prince Consort. The only thing missing between us is a ceremony." Guo Liqing got up, dressed, and said, "I will muster my troops immediately, first destroying Western Xia, then Jin. Once we capture Bianliang, we will hold the ceremony there."
There's no need to rush.
"Just a few days ago, I was telling my mother that she wanted to have a grandson soon. How could I not be anxious!"
Hua Zheng exclaimed, "Give birth? Doesn't that mean having children every day?"
Guo Liqing smiled and said, "Of course, that's why I'll come to see you whenever I have time!"
Hua Zheng covered half her face with the blanket and said, "How about I find you a concubine? They said they'll arrange one for you if you don't want one anymore!"
Guo Liqing bent down, pinched it again, and said with a smile, "Okay! But you have to find me one that looks exactly like you, I don't want any others!"
Hua Zheng blushed slightly.
After Guo Liqing finished dressing, he said to Hua Zheng, "I'm going to see the Khan first. You continue to rest!"
"good!"
Guo Liqing stepped out of the yurt, where a waiter was waiting.
Guo Liqing arrived at the royal tent and saw a group of Taoist priests sitting inside.
He first paid his respects to Genghis Khan, and then looked at the group of Taoist priests.
"Jing'er, how have you been lately?" The leading old Taoist priest looked at Guo Liqing with kind eyes.
Guo Liqing doesn't have Guo Jing's memories, so he has to guess who he's playing.
He thought of all the Taoist priests related to Guo Jing, and the only ones he could think of were Ma Yu and Qiu Chuji.
Since Ma Yu hasn't appeared at this point in time, the person in front of us must be Qiu Chuji.
"Master Daoist, it's been a long time! How have you been?" To be on the safe side, Guo Liqing simply addressed him as "Master Daoist," which was sure to be correct.
"Life is unpredictable. Thinking of Kang'er often makes me feel guilty! I recently received an invitation from the Great Khan, so I thought I'd come and see you!"
Guo Liqing said, "Yang Kang's fate is predetermined, so there is no need for you to blame yourself, Daoist."
After exchanging pleasantries with the other two, Genghis Khan said with a smile, "Jing'er, I was just talking with Daoist Qiu about his experiences. We were just getting to the point where Daoist Qiu was composing a poem. Why don't you sit down and listen?"
"yes!"
Upon hearing this, Guo Liqing knew that "Master Qiu" must be Qiu Chuji.
Qiu Chuji stroked his beard and began reciting his own poems.
"...My emperor sits on the riverbank, desiring to end the war and bring peace."
Upon hearing this, Guo Liqing immediately understood what Qiu Chuji was thinking.
Genghis Khan, however, failed to grasp the deeper meaning and simply said, "You have come to my desert, Daoist, and must have witnessed the might of my Mongol army. Do you have any poems to praise it?"
Qiu Chuji said, "Seeing the might of the Great Khan conquering cities and seizing territories along the way, I was moved and wrote two poems."
These two poems are certainly not praising the Mongol army's might, but rather trying to persuade Genghis Khan to stop the killing!
Genghis Khan was displeased after hearing the two poems. However, remembering the true purpose of inviting Qiu Chuji, he suppressed his displeasure and asked, "I have heard that there is a method for achieving immortality in the Central Plains. Please teach me, Daoist Master!"
Qiu Chuji said, "There is no way to achieve immortality in this world, but the Taoist practice of cultivating qi can prolong life."
How to prolong life?
"..."
Qiu Chuji came here only to take advantage of Genghis Khan's request for advice on the secrets of immortality, and in turn to persuade him to reduce military operations and killing fewer people.
The two men couldn't agree on anything, and in the end, Genghis Khan was quite displeased.
After listening from the side, Guo Liqing smiled and said, "What Master Qiu said may be a bit complicated. Let me explain!"
Genghis Khan looked at Guo Liqing and said, "You tell me!"
Guo Liqing said, "Taoism emphasizes non-action and a pure and desireless mind. Imagine, if you, Great Khan, were to become very angry, your blood and qi would surge, wouldn't that harm your health?"
Genghis Khan nodded. "That's true."
"Not only anger harms the body, but also extreme joy, sorrow, and worry. The Taoist philosophy aims to eliminate these emotions."
Simply put, it means not caring about anything. Less worry leads to more energy and better health.
However, as the monarch, the Great Khan could not simply ignore everything.
Therefore, the Great Khan would feel that the Taoist methods of health preservation were useless.