Inheriting a Taoist temple, the story begins with Wu Zetian offering incense.

Chapter 227 Li Qingzhao: Europeans eat catnip, which means Europe is from Henan! [Seeking monthly votes]

A bolt of lightning instantly terrified Wang Shang, and the Imperial Guards who had been his accomplices, seeing the half-human, charred body lying on the ground, were so frightened that they immediately dismounted, knelt down, and kowtowed repeatedly.

Chen Tangchong and his entourage waved their hands:

"Go and confiscate all their weapons and armor."

Just now, a thousand or so fully armed Imperial Guards charged over, startling these followers. There were only about two hundred people on this side, so it would be difficult for them to deal with a thousand cavalry.

Who knew that these thousand Imperial Guards were all incompetent fools, terrified by a single thunderclap.

The Han Dynasty's strongest cavalry had become a mere showpiece, leaving everyone feeling rather heavy-hearted.

Gan Yanshou sighed:
"I didn't want you to get involved, to avoid things getting too tense with Wang Feng. But now look what's happened. Before even entering Chang'an, you've already killed the Empress and the younger brother of the Imperial Guard Commandant. You've offended them quite badly."

Chen Tang put away the stainless steel token, took out a bottle of cola from his satchel, unscrewed it, and took a swig.
"So be it. At worst, we can uproot the Wang family. The decline of the Han Dynasty is directly related to this family. If we kill them all, the Immortal Master might even reward us."

Gan Yanshou greatly admired Chen Tang's optimistic spirit:
"Aren't you afraid that Wang Feng and Kuang Heng will join forces against us? If the court officials also get involved, how will we turn the tables?"

Chen Tang laughed heartily:
"Don't worry, at worst I'll just kill a few more people and give them a little shock on a divine level... I don't think even Commander Xiao can protect these women. Let's just take them directly to Chang'an. Those who have families can be sent home, and those who don't can be arranged for a group blind date and a group wedding. Anyway, there are a lot of bachelors in the army. This arrangement can also prevent them from being pointed at and gossiped about."

Gan Yanshou nodded in agreement:

“Okay, let’s leave it at that for now. My family has a manor outside the city. We’ll move in there first and then make further arrangements.”

The two men quickly arranged the women's accommodations. After the disarmament was complete, Chen Tang had the women ride on horseback, with the Imperial Guards leading the horses, and then they set off together towards Xiaoguan.

Meanwhile, in the Kaiyuan world of the Tang Dynasty, Hu Ziyang and Sima Chengzhen arrived at Yiningfang by carriage and paid their respects to the ruins of the Persian temple destroyed by lightning.

The two Taoist priests stood on the ruins, their faces filled with shock.

Hu Ziyang sighed deeply:
"The power of a single thunderbolt was enough to destroy a temple covering dozens of acres. It's a pity I didn't have the chance to witness it firsthand!"

Sima Chengzhen remained quite calm:
“If we stay in the capital for a long time, we will definitely be able to catch up. My friend Taibai said that the immortal master prepared three kinds of tokens: black iron, fine steel, and brass. The brass token is prepared for the emperors of the mortal world. If we can obtain the black iron token in our lifetime, our cultivation will be considered to have reached its peak. Strive on, Ziyang!”

Hu Ziyang's eyes were filled with anticipation and excitement:
"I will do my utmost to treat the people kindly and bring them good fortune, as required by Immortal Master Yiyuan!"

While the two were chatting, Guo Yuanzhen, the former Minister of War, was ordered to leave the capital and go to Liaodong to serve as the Grand Administrator of the Andong Protectorate... Guo Yuanzhen was good at handling border disputes, so it was a good opportunity to send him to suppress and balance the Khitans and Goguryeos.

As for the Minister of War, Li Longji appointed Zhang Yue to the position and began to reform the military system.

The military system was already on the verge of collapse and lacked a successor, so we had to find a way to replace it with another military system.

The conscription system was prone to creating regional warlords, so Li Longji wanted to try a different system, but he couldn't figure it out. So he changed into a Taoist robe, took a carriage to Yiyuan Temple, and planned to ask Gongsun Da Niang and Li Bai for advice during lunch.

When Hu Ziyang and Sima Chengzhen returned to Yiyuan Temple, they happened to run into Li Longji who came to freeload a meal. After they met, they were both taken aback.

Li Longji was surprised that the Imperial Preceptor had sneaked into Chang'an City without a word, while Sima Chengzhen exclaimed that even the current emperor was a devout follower of the Yiyuan Temple, which was truly astonishing.

After exchanging greetings, the two sides went into Yiyuan Temple together for lunch.

Today's lunch was minced meat noodles with soybean paste. The noodles were rolled out by Li Chengyi's cook and delivered, and then cooked by Aunt Gongsun using a solar cooker.

This novel way of cooking noodles amazed everyone.

Li Longji looked around the solar cooker like a child, examining it from all angles.
Is the heating principle of this device the same as that of a solar panel, relying on collecting energy from sunlight?

Grandma Gongsun found the solar cooker too glaring, so she put on sunglasses and said:
"It's the same. I can ask the immortal to wholesale some for the soldiers in the army."

After the noodles were cooked, they were rinsed with cold water, then topped with diced meat sauce, and then a chopstickful of cucumber shreds was added. After mixing well, Li Longji took a big bite and thought it was even more delicious than the imperial cuisine.

After finishing a bowl of noodles, Li Longji asked Gongsun Da Niang:
"Grandma, you and Uncle have been in Hunyuan Palace for so long. What are the Immortal Master's views on the military reform?"

Li Bai said:

"To professionalize the military, there must be a sound promotion system, strong logistical support, and a certain social status and welfare guarantee, so that they know that even if they die in battle, the court will treat their families well."

Gongsun Da Niang continued, "It would be best to establish a military academy, so that mid- to high-ranking officers have the opportunity to come to Chang'an to meet the Emperor for further study. We should also conduct courses on loyalty to the Emperor and patriotism in the army, increase the number of staff positions, and implement vertical management of staff at all levels... I don't remember the rest, but I'll print it out next time. You can decide what to do. Anyway, it was your grandmother who summarized it. If you think it's not good, you can bring it up. Sister Meiniang is very open to suggestions and will definitely not blame you."

These words immediately reminded Li Longji of the ten years he had been imprisoned in the villa, and he quickly said:
"Since it was written by Grandma herself, it must be excellent. I recently stumbled upon the national seal of Goguryeo. Next time, I would like to ask Fairy Pomegranate to help me send it over and present it to the immortal."

Hu Ziyang and Sima Chengzhen, who were eating noodles, were actually having a lot of internal turmoil... The Emperor actually called the Pomegranate Fairy "Auntie" and the young friend Taibai "Uncle". Wouldn't it be a huge advantage for us to be on equal footing with them?

Of course, the two were only shocked in their hearts and dared not show it. They only felt that the noodles today were full of melon flavor and were really delicious!
At the same time, inside the Hunyuan Palace, Zhou Yi Meiniang Li Qingzhao was also eating noodles.

Both dishes use stir-fried diced meat sauce and shredded cucumber, but the difference is that Hunyuan Palace's fried sauce noodles also include perilla leaves.

Li Qingzhao initially found the food a bit hard to get used to, but then she remembered that she was now from Kaifeng and needed to adapt to the tastes of Henan:
"Nepeta cataria is also known as basil, a common seasoning in Europe... Master, if that's the case, then isn't Europe an inseparable part of Henan?"

The Book of Changes: ? ? ? ? ? ? ?

Outsiders either look down on or mock Henan people for eating catnip, but this talented woman's association has elevated catnip to an unbelievable level!
Wu Zetian said with a smile:

"Once the Great Song's ocean-going fleet is assembled, we can use this as a pretext to recover the European countries and bring them back to the embrace of the Chinese orthodoxy as soon as possible."

Li Qingzhao nodded seriously:
"I will advise the Emperor."

After the joke, Wu Zetian mentioned Li Mingda's small vegetable garden:

"Several kinds of plants have started to bloom. Li Mingda heard that they need to be pollinated, so he had a lot of bees sent over. I wonder if the fruits of those plants will bring new merits."

That should be possible, but Zhou Yi doesn't care too much. He hopes that the planting of staple grains will go smoothly, rather than vegetables.

All the potato sprouts that were taken away were offered as sacrifices in front of the statue of Shennong, hoping that the emperor would help these plants grow strong and healthy, so that many people in the ancient world would not starve to death.

he asked:
"How are the potatoes growing?"

“Very good. Li Mingda also had someone bring in organic fertilizer, which was fermented and then applied to the soil. The potato leaves are noticeably greener and they are growing very vigorously.”

Hearing this, Zhou Yi felt relieved, but still decided to get Li Mingda a Shennong Emperor's peace amulet so that she could carry it with her, which would be better for the plants' growth.

Since we can't put much effort into scientific methods, we can only think of more metaphysical solutions.

After the meal, Wu Zetian took out her notebook and asked about the changes in the world during Emperor Zhezong's reign. Li Qingzhao answered in detail:

"His Majesty has greatly elevated the status of soldiers. They are no longer serving for life, and there is no more tattooing or piercing of the face. Those who join the army will be given ten acres of fertile land, and they will not be taxed during their service... In the past, none of these measures would have been approved. Why are there so few opponents after he announced them this time?"

Wu Zetian said:
"Because war has become the prevailing trend in the court, everyone has no choice but to follow suit... The Song Dynasty is now like a war chariot, and the officials either try to climb onto the chariot or become fuel to propel it forward. Zhao Xu has a very high political talent, and he has seized this opportunity."

With divine backing, Zhao Xu quickly reversed the atmosphere in the court, and his decrees became increasingly effective. Even if the ministers wanted to object, it was too late.

While the two were chatting, Xi Shi, sitting in a carriage, passed through several checkpoints and finally arrived at the foot of Gusu Mountain.

This mountain is not high, but it is the highest point outside Gusu City. Sun Tzu led the Wu army to train their mountain climbing skills in preparation for attacking the Qi and Lu states.

At the foot of the mountain, Xi Shi, holding binoculars, observed the mountain for a while and spotted Sun Wu leading troops in training. She thought for a moment, then took out a notebook from her bag, tore off a sheet of paper, and handed it to the officer on guard duty at the foot of the mountain, saying:

"Please give this to Sun Wu and tell him that the messenger of the immortals has arrived and ask him to come down the mountain to talk."

The army is currently training, so it's not advisable to rush up the mountain. Giving valuables might tempt the giver to be greedy. It would be better to just give them a piece of paper. Sun Tzu would surely be curious about this clean white paper, thus creating an opportunity for them to come into contact with it.

The officer, unaware of what was going on, was given another piece of candy by Xi Shi. This time, the officer became excited and ran up the mountain, afraid of neglecting his distinguished guest.

The pass general who brought Xi Shi asked:
"The king forbids us from having contact with outsiders. If the king punishes me, can the gods intercede on my behalf?"

Xi Shi used his binoculars to carefully observe the officer delivering the message up the mountain, and said calmly:

"I guarantee in the name of the gods that no one will punish you, so you can rest assured."

(End of this chapter)