The Tang Dynasty: Wu Zetian made me her imperial tutor

Chapter 2 A Brief Account of the Geography of the Tang Dynasty

The sun is rising higher.

Many scholars had beads of sweat dripping from their foreheads onto the rattan paper, causing the ink to smudge and adding to the tension.

Despite the difficulty of writing, most of the candidates prepared several drafts and had to put them together to complete the task.

At that time, the government office in charge of the imperial examinations was the Ministry of Personnel, and the person in charge was the Assistant Minister of Personnel, an extremely important and enviable position for scholars.

The person in charge was named Shen Quanqi.

I'm exhausted, like a dog.

The Tang Dynasty's imperial examinations had their own rules, and the number of candidates for both regular and special examinations was less than a thousand each year, but this time it exceeded ten thousand!

He had to run around making arrangements, presiding over the process, maintaining order, and handling emergencies.

More importantly, it was necessary to find excellent works in advance and report them to the Empress Dowager who was waiting nearby.

Two hours into the exam, he had skimmed through over a thousand papers, finding nothing but the same old clichés:

"To win a hundred battles is not the highest form of skill; to subdue the enemy without fighting is the highest form of skill..."

"The outcome of an army's victory or defeat hinges on governance; therefore, governance must be improved in the imperial court and effective in resolving conflicts a thousand miles away..."

"Those who strive for vast lands will find their land barren; those who strive for widespread virtue will become powerful. Though those who discuss military matters are actually discussing the policies of a benevolent king..."

"If the country is not at peace, the army should not be sent out; if the army is not at peace, the army should not be sent out into battle. Only then can one understand the importance of securing the foundation..."

Shen Quanqi was from the Shen family of Wuxing. He was thirty-five years old, with a fair complexion and long beard. He was so angry that he wanted to kick someone on the spot.

Especially the last one.

What does it mean to be "discordant with the country"?

Is this a veiled criticism of the discord between the Empress Dowager and the Emperor?

If you don't want to live, you might as well drown yourself in your hometown. Why come all the way to the capital to die?

Even if you haven't seen those cruel officials' methods with your own eyes, you must have heard about them, right?

Nonsense!

Most of the answers were empty and meaningless; those that offered concrete suggestions were few and far between; and those that, upon closer examination, had some merit were even fewer. It was truly difficult for them to reach the Emperor's ears.

Shen Quanqi shook his head repeatedly, walking from the center of the imperial city all the way to the open space in the west, where he suddenly stopped.

He saw a young boy writing furiously.

His pen produced a long article.

A single sheet of rattan paper can hold five thousand words, and he had already written more than half of it. He didn't need to add any more words; he finished it in one stroke, with an impressive momentum.

"He seems to be very well prepared. Considering his young age, it's rare to see someone so diligent."

Shen Quanqi guessed that the young man had a good memory and was copying the manuscript, so it was not surprising that he wrote so quickly.

Read the text more carefully...

"I have heard that war is a matter of great importance to the state. One must first assess the overall situation, understand the circumstances, and examine the terrain before a strategy can be determined."

Yes, like other articles, it's very extensive.

However, starting with a broad stroke is also a common practice.

The next few dozen words are the key...

"It has three essentials: first, the imperial court's plans; second, the military system; and third, national policies."

The outline of the entire article is given directly, and the writing style is very skillful and concise.

Let's see what brilliant ideas he has.

"The so-called strategic planning requires a thorough understanding of the advantages and disadvantages of all matters, knowing that pulling a single hair can move the head, and plucking a single hair can change the body; it is not about being preoccupied with a small area or achieving results overnight."

"Some say: He who does not plan for the long term is not fit to plan for the short term; he who does not plan for the whole is not fit to plan for a part."

hiss--

Shen Quanqi quietly took a deep breath.

This should be the general outline of the "Temple Advisors" chapter...

"Pull a hair and the head moves; pluck a feather and the body changes"—very vivid and well-written!

"He who does not plan for the long term is not fit to plan for the short term; he who does not plan for the whole is not fit to plan for a part"—another wise saying!

Moreover, it directly echoed the Empress Dowager's question, "For the sake of ten thousand generations," which was clever!

This writing style is not the parallel prose of the Six Dynasties.

It faintly possesses the style and spirit of Western Han Dynasty literature!

Shen Quanqi passed the imperial examination at a young age and was appointed as the Assistant Director of Music at the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. There were two Assistant Directors: one was responsible for composing music and the other for writing lyrics. He belonged to the latter, relying on his outstanding literary talent. By this time, his poetry and prose had already made him famous in both capitals.

Therefore, he is extremely sensitive to beautiful sentences and pays great attention to the refinement of his writing.

Seeing this opening fills me with indescribable joy; it's as if a mighty river is rushing towards me, vast and unrestrained.

It's like hearing a set of chimes ringing out in unison; with just a few notes, a magnificent atmosphere is already faintly visible.

He had a feeling this was going to be a good article!

I can't wait to read on...

"Although the questions asked only concern the western barbarians and northern barbarians, without exploring the victories in all directions, there is no way to clarify the reasons for the imperial plans. Please allow me to speak on this."

"The land under heaven can be divided into four categories according to its importance: the first is the heartland, the second is the right limbs, the third is the bulwark, and the fourth is the foreign lands."

"The heartland is where ancestral temples reside, where the king's influence extends, and where taxes are levied."

"It encompasses the Guanzhong Plain, Henan, Hebei, Hedong, Lianghuai, Jingxiang, and the Jiangnan region."

"This is like the heart and viscera of a person; if they are lost, the limbs will not function properly, and the world will be in turmoil. The reason for this is self-evident."

Huh, why are we suddenly analyzing the importance of geography?

After a moment's thought, Shen Quanqi immediately understood that this was "planning the overall situation," laying the groundwork for the strategies to come.

This exam only has one policy question, so there's plenty of time. Explaining your arguments clearly is the right approach.

After all, when discussing military strategy, one must consider the terrain.

Although there are comprehensive geographical records since the pre-Qin period, such as the "Kuodi Zhi" by Li Tai, the King of Wei, they mainly focus on mountains and rivers, products, historical sites, customs, and anecdotes, rarely discussing strategy, and even less so discussing strategy using the map of the Tang Dynasty.

Lu Jun's writing is innovative, vivid in its metaphors, and expresses what no one has said before, which is really interesting!

Shen Quanqi watched with great interest...

"A place of vital importance, where education can reach, households can be registered, agriculture can flourish, taxes can be collected, and the direction of the royal army's banners and the reach of its bows and horses are all within reach."

"It includes Youyun, Hetao, Longyou, Anxi, Jiannan, Jingnan, Guiguang, northeastern Guizhou, and the south of Jiangdong."

"This is the cover of the heart and abdomen. If it is lost or damaged, the body will tremble and the abdomen will fall, and the heart will shake and the spirit will be in danger."

"Anxi is a separate matter."

"If Anxi is ill, then Hexi will tremble with fear; if Hexi trembles with fear, then Guanzhong will be filled with anxiety and unable to sleep soundly."

"Furthermore, examining its history, it was already under the jurisdiction of the Western Regions during the Han Dynasty. The Tang Dynasty then established the Anxi Protectorate, and the royal teachings flourished for hundreds of years."

"Its southern border controls the gateway to Tibet, its western border connects to the Nine Sogdian Clans, and its northern border controls the Ten Sogdian Clans, making it the key to the western frontier."

"Therefore, though far away, they are like one of my right arms and legs."

As Shen Quanqi read, he compared the information with what he already knew, and found it somewhat difficult to understand.

The places like Youyun and Longyou were alright, but Hetao and Anxi were also important, which was really beyond his expectations.

In particular, Anxi was not a place where Han people had lived for generations, and the Tang Dynasty only established a protectorate to govern it as a tributary state, which was completely different from Longyou.

Besides, it's so far away...

From Anxi to Guanzhong, there are still Hexi and Longyou separated by more than 7,000 li!

Shen Quanqi was skilled in poetry rules, but his knowledge of border affairs was limited, making it difficult for him to judge the correctness of the article for a while.

He secretly observed the young man and, seeing that he was tall, thin, handsome, and had a straight back, he immediately felt a sense of goodwill towards him.

I glanced at the document on the corner of the table—

Lu Jun, courtesy name Chuyu, was a student at the Imperial Academy.

Eighteen years old!

"Ah? He's just a mere student at the Imperial Academy, not even twenty yet, how come he's so familiar with the geography of the world? Hmm, it seems the Lu family of Wu County has a long tradition of scholarship, and he's read extensively..."

Shen Quanqi, who was originally going to continue his tour, was now reluctant to leave and wanted to watch the whole thing in one go.

"The vassal states were the territories inhabited by foreign tribes, which are now known as tributary states."

"Although the royal army has won the battle, the long garrison will be difficult; although officials have been appointed, their influence on the people has not been profound; and although tribute has been paid, the revenue is very small."

"Liaodong, Liaoxi, Mobei, Beiting, Bolu, Tuyuhun, Dangxiang, various Qiang, Wuman, Baiman, various Tibetan tribes in central Guizhou, various Liao tribes in Lingnan, and Liuqiu are all included."

"The gains and losses here are often related to the safety and well-being of key figures, so they must be carefully observed and not taken lightly."

"These are foreign lands, places where China's teachings and military power have not yet reached."

"Some are separated by vast distances, beyond the reach of military might; some stand alone beyond the mountains, like isolated islands; some are powerful and self-reliant, their strength comparable to that of the Central Plains."

"Silla, Fusang, Dashi, Tubo, Pyu, and other overseas states belong to it."

"Although Tibet is listed as a foreign country, it is actually quite different from other countries."

"Its territory borders the Celestial Empire extensively, and its customs are similar to ours, with a deep reverence for Buddhism. Over the years, it has gradually been influenced by Chinese culture."

"Moreover, given its strategic location and commanding position, it stands guard over the Western Regions, overlooking Qin and Long, and in the future, it can be gradually developed into a bulwark and even a vital pillar."

"However, given the current situation, we shall temporarily place them in a foreign land."

"Of these four, the court has its own appropriate methods of governance, and the choice of strategies also varies accordingly."

When discussing vassal states and foreign lands, the text begins to touch upon some frontier regions and foreign tribes that Shen Quanqi was unfamiliar with.

He became more and more engrossed in reading, memorizing the text carefully, and a sense of pride suddenly welled up in his heart.

It turns out that the Tang Dynasty's territory was so vast!

There are so many foreign tribes and ethnic groups neighboring us!

His martial arts prowess is unparalleled throughout the ages!

How magnificent was the Tang Dynasty!

How magnificent was the Tang Dynasty!

Shen Quanqi was born in the Central Plains, and his ancestors came from the gentle and scholarly Jiangnan region. He was fond of Southern Dynasties poetry and prose, especially the rules of prosody, but knew little about the frontier.

Reading Lu Jun's articles, he couldn't help but want to emulate Lu Zhaolin and Chen Zi'ang, and go beyond the Great Wall with the army to see the magnificent landscape!

"Your Excellency, the Empress Dowager has summoned you to the Yinyu Palace." A shrill voice rang out.

At that time, the Ministry of Personnel was called Wenchangtai, and the twenty-six officials, including the Langzhong and Yuanwailang, were collectively called Langguan, often referred to as Shangshulang.

Shen Quanqi was lost in thought when he heard the eunuch summon him. He quickly replied, "Your subject will go immediately."

He felt a ticklish sensation in his heart, like being scratched by a kitten, and longed to keep reading.

Since Lu Jun's article had just finished its prelude, the main text of "The Temple Plan" was about to begin, and the main course was about to be served.

Leaving now is like being caught in the act of intimacy with a courtesan right after the foreplay has ended, only to be discovered by a patrolling Imperial Guard officer...

It's hard to bear.

However, given the Empress Dowager's personality, any minister who intentionally delayed would be regarded as disrespectful, disloyal, and unwilling to live.

She has a whole range of ways to comfort and guide people.

For example, allowing officials to have heart-to-heart talks with cruel officials.

For example, sending officials to Lingnan for sightseeing.

Alternatively, they could be sent to serve the late emperor.

Shen Quanqi's career was going smoothly, and he had no desire to confide in cruel officials, nor did he have much to talk about with the late emperor. However, in order to report to the Empress Dowager, he had to take notes on several passages...

"I believe that, given the strength of our dynasty, the power of our vassal states, and the relative importance of our territory, there are five things we should plan for."

"Firstly, to defend the Hexi Corridor and Longxi region."

"Secondly, Anxi was re-established."

"Thirdly, the southern part of the Gobi Desert was pacified."

"Fourthly, we should pacify the northern deserts."

"Fifth, to manage and conquer Liaodong."

"Please explain the advantages and disadvantages of these five policies, as well as the methods of implementation, in order."

Shen Quanqi's pupils suddenly dilated.

Although he was unfamiliar with border affairs, he could tell that with the current strength of the Tang Dynasty, it would be good enough if it could control either Tibet or the Turks.

This young man actually attempted to launch a two-pronged attack to reclaim Anxi, southern Mongolia, and northern Mongolia.

That's incredibly arrogant!