Chapter 99: "Eulogy for My Nephew", the best running script in the world
[So how much did Li Longji love Yang Yuhuan? ]

[When Yang Yuhuan said she wanted to eat lychees, Li Longji said casually that he would ask Sichuan to send some lychees.]

[Yang Yuhuan said that lychees are too delicate. They are fine within three to five days after being picked from the tree. After a while, their flavor will be gone.]

[It should be noted that Sichuan is more than 1000 miles away from Chang'an. Even if freshly picked lychees were sent over, they would probably rot.]

[But this was not a problem for Li Longji. As long as his beloved wanted it, he would find a way to pick one for Yang Yuhuan, even if it was a star in the sky.]

[This is getting off topic. Xingxing is impossible. Let’s be more realistic, Litchi.]

[But the distance was indeed a big problem. Seeing this, Yang Guozhong, who was standing by, knew that his chance to show off had come, so he told Li Longji that he could order a special envoy to ride a fast horse and travel day and night. There would be a post station every 50 miles along the way. The envoy would change horses and people at the post station, and he would definitely reach Chang'an in three days at the fastest and five days at the slowest.]

[Li Longji nodded his head repeatedly, but Yang Yuhuan was a little hesitant. After all, this method would cost a lot of money and labor, and it was really not worth it for a few lychees.]

[But Li Longji didn't think so. As long as he could make the imperial concubine smile, it was no big deal to him. He immediately ordered someone to do it.]

[Du Fu's famous poem "A horse gallops through the dusty world, and the concubine smiles. No one knows that the lychees are coming" comes from this. 】

[In the Tang Dynasty, couriers transported lychees from the south to Chang'an non-stop, traveling day and night, crossing mountains and ridges. They went through so much trouble just to get two baskets of lychees.]

[After the lychees were delivered, Li Longji asked people to pick out the largest and fullest ones to make the imperial concubine smile.]

[Later, Yang Yuhuan said that she was tired of watching singing and dancing and wanted to see something different. Li Longji even asked the great poet Li Bai to enter the palace to entertain her. All these things showed that Li Longji loved Yang Yuhuan.]

……

"Is this the Tang Xuanzong who ordered frugality?"

Zhang Fei widened his eyes.

"People will change." Liu Bei shook his head.

See Weizhi book.

Just for a few baskets of lychees, he actually sent someone to run so far to deliver them, without any regard for manpower and people's livelihood. Li Longji during this period was completely different from when he first ascended the throne.

Li Longji can truly be said to be a model of old age and dementia. Given his achievements in creating a prosperous era, if he had died a few years earlier, perhaps his reputation would have been different.

Pity.

……

"Humph, what do you mean the greatest emperor of all time? He is just a tyrant."

During the Hongwu period, Old Zhu sneered.

"Isn't it just the beginning of a prosperous era? What kind of great achievement is this?"

"That brat Lao Si was able to create a prosperous era for our Ming Dynasty. If it were Biao'er, he would definitely do better than Lao Si!"

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Zhu Biao lovingly and said, "If you ask me, our Biao will be no worse than Emperor Xuanzong of Tang if he becomes the emperor."

"If our Biaoer can become the emperor, he will definitely become the greatest emperor in history!"

Old Zhu's eyes were full of confidence.

In his mind, Zhu Biao was a completely qualified heir to the throne. Besides, even that bastard the fourth brother could create a prosperous era, and the eldest brother was even more capable than the fourth brother. So what was so difficult about creating a prosperous era?
Even if he is the greatest emperor of all time, he might be able to compete for it!
These words made Zhu Biao, who was standing by, feel a little embarrassed.

What I mean is, can you please not include me in your bragging?

……

【Let’s talk about the An-Shi Rebellion. 】

[The An Lushan Rebellion is famous because of its bloodiness. A total of 3800 million people died in the An Lushan Rebellion, which is half of the global death toll during World War II.]

[But the problem is that the total world population during World War II was 21 billion, while during the An Lushan Rebellion, there were only 2.1 million people in the world.]

……

3800!

Seeing this terrifying number, ancient people from all dynasties took a deep breath.

The Anshi Rebellion was so horrific that 3800 million people died. Doesn't that mean that half of the country's population died in this turmoil?
"Sinner! Sinner!"

Li Shimin was so heartbroken that he could hardly breathe.

……

[Next, we will present the complete story of the An-Shi Rebellion from the perspectives of three famous Tang generals. The first one to appear is Yan Zhenqing, the lone brave general of the Tang Dynasty.]

[Before the discovery of "Preface to the Lanting Poems", "Eulogy for My Nephew" was the best running script in the world, but in the eyes of most people, it was also the ugliest running script.

[Because the article was modified and smudged everywhere, it had no aesthetic appeal at all, and many people even thought it looked like a primary school student's manuscript.]

……

As Tianmu told the story, a seemingly sloppy and multi-corrected running script appeared before the ancients of all dynasties.

Judging from the video alone, this manuscript is indeed as Tianmu said, with no aesthetic appeal at all.

But those who truly understand running script can see the writer's master level from the lines.

……

[If you know the story behind this memorial, you will understand how each of the smears in it represents Yan Zhenqing's grief and indignation.]

[As mentioned earlier, after the An Lushan Rebellion broke out, the leaders of various armies surrendered, and almost all of Hebei fell. Facing An Lushan's 15 cavalry, the Tang soldiers who were used to living a peaceful life surrendered one after another, and had no intention of resisting at all.]

【Faced with the overwhelming trend, two people chose to go against these traitors. 】

[One was Yan Zhenqing, the then governor of Pingyuan County, and the other was the famous Yan Gaoqing of Changshan.]

……

"Yan Gaoqing from Changshan, is he from Changshan?"

Zhao Yun's eyes lit up.

Could it be that my hometown has produced another powerful general?

Zhao Yun was immediately attracted by this scene and became very interested.

……

[Yan Gaoqing was originally a subordinate of An Lushan. When he first entered the government, he served as a military officer under An Lushan. Later, he was promoted to the position of governor of Changshan.]

……

"So he is the local official of Changshan."

Zhao Yun felt a little disappointed.

However, when he thought that Yan Gaoqing was most likely a loyal and righteous man, he felt less regretful.

It is a good story that Changshan could be ruled by this man.

……

[After An Lushan launched his rebellion, Yan Gaoqing was awarded the third-rank purple robe, which symbolized power. However, this upright Shandong man stood firmly against his direct leader An Lushan's treasonous behavior.]

[An Lushan was furious. Yan Gaoqing, was I not good enough to you? You were originally a small military officer, and I promoted you to be a governor, but you actually betrayed me.]

[Yan Gaoqing said, "I still want to ask you something. You, An Lushan, were originally a shepherd slave. The emperor showed mercy and made you the governor of three towns. Isn't that good enough for you? You actually betrayed the Tang Dynasty."]

[My Yan family has been loyal to the country for generations. I have no regrets in death. The only regret is that I was not able to kill you with my own hands.]

【An Lushan was so angry that he broke down. According to historical records, he ordered people to tie Yan Gaoqing to the second pillar from the west at the south end of the middle bridge, and then cut off Yan Gaoqing's flesh piece by piece.】

[During the execution, Yan Gaoqing kept cursing An Lushan. An Lushan finally gave an order and ordered someone to hook Yan Gaoqing's tongue with a hook.]

(End of this chapter)