Synopsis and Starting Chapter Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41: Chpater 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44: Chpater 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
Chapter 49
Chapter 50
Chapter 51
Chapter 52
Chapter 53
Chapter 54
Chapter 55
Chapter 56
Chapter 57
Chapter 58
Chapter 59
Chapter 60
Chapter 61
Chapter 62
Chapter 63
Chapter 64
Chapter 65
Chapter 66
Chapter 67
Chapter 68
Chapter 69
Chapter 70
Chapter 71
Chapter 72
Chapter 73
Chapter 74
Chapter 75
Chapter 76
Chapter 77
Chapter 78
Chapter 79
Chapter 80
Chapter 81
Chapter 82
Chapter 83
Chapter 84
Chapter 85
Chapter 86
Chapter 87
Chapter 88
Chapter 89
Chapter 90
Chapter 91
Chapter 92
Chapter 93
Chapter 94
Chapter 95
Chapter 96
Chapter 97
Chapter 98
Chapter 99
Chapter 100
Chapter 101
Chapter 102
Chapter 103
Chapter 104
Chapter 105
Chapter 106
Chapter 107
Chapter 108
Chapter 109
Chapter 110
Chapter 111
Chapter 112
Chapter 113
Chapter 114
Chapter 115
Chapter 116
Chapter 117
Chapter 118
Chapter 119: 第119章
Chapter 120
Chapter 121
Chapter 122
Chapter 123
Chapter 124
Chapter 125
Chapter 126
Chapter 127
Chapter 128
Chapter 129
Chapter 130
Chapter 131
Chapter 132
Chapter 133
Chapter 134
Chapter 135
Chapter 136
Chapter 137
Chapter 138
Chapter 139
Chapter 140
Chapter 141
Chapter 142
Chapter 143
Chapter 144
Chapter 145
Chapter 146
Chapter 147
Chapter 148
Chapter 149
Chapter 150
Chapter 151
Chapter 152
Chapter 153
Chapter 154
Chapter 155
Chapter 156
Chapter 157
Chapter 158
Chapter 159
Chapter 160
Chapter 161
Chapter 162
Chapter 163
Chapter 164
Chapter 165
Chapter 166
Chapter 167
Chapter 168
Chapter 169
Chapter 170
Chapter 171
Chapter 172
Chapter 173
Chapter 174
Chapter 175
Chapter 176
Chapter 177
Chapter 178
Chapter 179
Chapter 180
Chapter 181
Chapter 182
Chapter 183
Chapter 184
Chapter 185
Chapter 186
Chapter 187
Chapter 188
Chapter 189
Chapter 190
Chapter 191
Chapter 192
Chapter 193
Chapter 194
Chapter 195
Chapter 196
Chapter 197
Chapter 198
Chapter 199
Chapter 200
Chapter 201
Chapter 202
Chapter 203
Chapter 204
Chapter 205
Chapter 206
Chapter 207
Chapter 208
Chapter 209
Chapter 210
Chapter 211
Chapter 212
Chapter 213
Chapter 214
Chapter 215
Chapter 216
Chapter 217
Chapter 218
Chapter 219
Chapter 220
Chapter 221
Chapter 222
Chapter 223
Chapter 224
Chapter 225
Chapter 226
Chapter 227
Chapter 228
Chapter 229
Chapter 230
Chapter 231
Chapter 232
Chapter 233
Chapter 234
Chapter 235
Chapter 236
Chapter 237
Chapter 238
Chapter 239
Chapter 240
Chapter 241
Chapter 242
Chapter 243
Chapter 244
Chapter 245
Chapter 246
Chapter 247
Chapter 248
Chapter 249
Chapter 250
Chapter 251
Chapter 252
Chapter 253
Chapter 254
Chapter 255
Chapter 256
Chapter 257
Chapter 258
Chapter 259
Chapter 260
Chapter 261
Chapter 262
Chapter 263
Chapter 264
Chapter 265
Chapter 266
Chapter 267
Chapter 268
Chapter 269
Chapter 270
Chapter 271
Chapter 272
Chapter 273
Chapter 274
Chapter 275
Chapter 276
Chapter 277
Chapter 278
Chapter 279
Chapter 280
Chapter 281
Chapter 282
Chapter 283
Chapter 284
Chapter 285
Chapter 286
Chapter 287
Chapter 288
Chapter 289
Chapter 290
Chapter 291
Chapter 292
Chapter 293
Chapter 294
Chapter 295
Chapter 296
Chapter 297
Chapter 298
Chapter 299
Chapter 300
Chapter 301
Chapter 302
Chapter 303
Chapter 304
Chapter 305
Chapter 306
Chapter 307 - 307 Chapter 307
Chapter 308 - 308 Chapter 308
Categories Genre: All, Drama, Historical, Josei, Ongoing, Romance Status: Ongoing Alternative names: 凰权, 天盛长歌, ______
Total Chapters in book: 308
Estimated words: 438270 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 2191(@200wpm)___ 1753(@250wpm)___ 1461(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 438270 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 2191(@200wpm)___ 1753(@250wpm)___ 1461(@300wpm)
______
LIST OF LAST 10 CHAPTERS:
Page No. 308 Page No. 307 Page No. 306 Page No. 305 Page No. 304 Page No. 303 Page No. 302 Page No. 301 Page No. 300 Page No. 299 Page No. 298 Chapter 64
Chapter 64
Translator: Aristophaneso
Silence filled the room and everyone fell into deep thought. The Tian Sheng Dynasty had learnt a serious lesson from Da Cheng’s failure, and in the late Dynasty’s last years, many powerful figures had severally raised rebellion, almost simultaneously, bringing chaos to the land. All this time since, the Tian Sheng Dynasty had been trying to isolate Da Yue, and guard against any outside influence entering and intermixing with Tian Sheng. Feng Zhiwei’s suggestion today challenged the fundamental foreign policy of the Tian Sheng Emperor and the current dynasty! This Wei Zhi dared to think, and dared to speak!
Da Cheng had dealt with barbarians for six hundred years, and every person in this room were recognized as the current dynasty’s most capable ministers. Naturally, everyone understood Feng Zhiwei’s advice: disseminating civilization, starting a war in order to command the peace, and using trade were the three main methods of suppressing and pacifying nomadic peoples, but each method had its limitation. The threat of the nomadic tribes constantly loomed over the central plains, and tough, warrior nomads were like weeds in the grass, impossible to root out with flame, returning again and again each year with the spring wind. After conquering and assimilating one nomadic tribe, another newer and tougher barbarian will appear. As one tribe falls, another rises, and permanent control is never achieved.
Once the soldiers start moving, what followed might be a long and attritious war, leaving the dynasty vulnerable to challenge from other powerful and aggressive political figures. When this happened, and the dynasty became entangled in conflict on multiple sides, resolution and return to peace would be a long and arduous affair. Once this happens once, which minister of the next generation would dare to propose such a solution?
Even now, to Tian Sheng’s southwest lay the flourishing Xi Liang Dynasty, secure in their link to the sea and famous for its salt production and commerce. Once war reached a stalemate, who could say whether Xi Liang would not take advantage of the fire to loot the burning house?
This responsibility was one that no one could carry, and even if the plan were good, no one dared support it.
“Have you not considered that once the nomadic people have embraced our central plain civilization, learned our technology, adopted our laws, and gained access to our national policy, they would become even more powerful?” After a long while, Hu Shengshan slowly replied.
“Intermarriage and trade relations can only ever be long term ambitions. Copying our central plain civilization is not something one can do in a morning and a night.” Feng Zhiwei smiled as she replied. “And other than Da Yue’s Hulun Steppes, there are also the Tie Le, Gu ā, and Duo Shu tribes. All these tribes have been growing restless, and once we have defeating Da Yue, we can give aid to the other tribes and use the nomads to limit one another. In the next decade, Da Yue will not be able to resolve these difficulties and leave the steppes.”
“Furthermore.” Feng Zhiwei smiled, her soft and gentle temperament vanishing and a witty, brilliance rising in its place. “This Minor Minister has two goods that are certain to bring Da Yue under our dynasty’s control, and turn the wolf into a dog!”
“Oh?” The Tian Sheng Emperor replied, mood uplifted. To the side, Ning Yi suddenly squinted his eyes.
Feng Zhiwei’s eyes turned and she walked over to Ning Yi, sketching a small bow.
“Your Highness, would you mind lending me something?”
Ning Yi looked up and into Feng Zhiwei’s face. He could not read the young, masked girls face, nor decipher anything from her naturally misty eyes.
Their eyes met and both of them turned away. Ning Yi’s eyes fell to his sleeves, and indifferently responded. “Okay.”
He did not ask what the thing was, as if he had already figured out the request.
Feng Zhiwei smiled coldly, biting her lips.
The others did not understand the riddle in which the two were speaking and watched impatiently. Feng Zhiwei pointed to Ning Yi’s wrist and smiled. “I need to borrow Your Highness’s Buddha Beads.”
Ning Yi wore a moon-white silk robe lined with gold, the voluminous sleeves embroidered tastefully with green, five petal plum blossoms. His clear and elegant bear was dazzling, and the Buddha Beads on his wrist were completely hidden from view. The Tian Sheng Emperor smiled as he spoke,” Old Six, I never knew you were a layman. When did you start believing in the Buddha?”
“A couple days ago, Seventh Brother invite me and some of the other brothers to his mansion for a feast.” Ning Yi smiled as he replied. “At the feast, he gave everyone a string of Buddha Beads, telling us that these beads were part of the tribute from Xun Luo. If it is worn in the summer, it will protect the heart and clear the eyes, and prevent your body from sweating. This Minister Son wore it because I dislike the hot weather, not because I am a layman.”
As he spoke, he pulled back his sleeve, revealing the string of black Buddha Beads on his wrist. The color looked old and elegant and carried a faint fragrance. Just from a casual inspection, the bracelet was not a simple ornamentation, and hanging on Ning Yi’s jade wrist, even the solemn Buddhist adornment seemed to carry a beautiful allure.
He extended his hand forward, not moving to take the Buddha Beads off, smiling up at Feng Zhiwei, his eyes dancing with color beneath his thick, long eyelashes.
Feng Zhiwei watched him.
He stared back at her.
His wrist hung in the air, and he refused to take it back.
Feng Zhiwei silently grit her teeth, and conscious of the growing embarrassment from the stalemate, she carefully reached out, pinching with her fingers while avoiding touching his skin. As the ministers watched the exchange, Hu Shengshan suddenly laughed. “Mister Wei’s orchid fingers really have the flavor of a fine woman’s hand.”
Everyone laughed, and Feng Zhiwei could only awkwardly laugh along. “This subordinate is the first son in my family. My older brothers all died in their youth, and my parents were worried that I would not live to maturity, so they brought me up as a girl. I have let the great ones see something laughable.”
While she spoke, she moved quickly, her fingers brushing Ning Yi’s palm and pinching the string of beads when Ning Yi suddenly curling his fingers, gently touching her palm.
The touch was as soft as the touch of a floating feather, but it shocked Feng Zhiwei, and she subconsciously withdrew her hand, almost dropping the Buddha Beads in the process. Face burning, Feng Zhiwei’s eyes reddened as she comforted herself, assuring herself that the mask covered her blush.
Ning Yi laughed. “Mister Wei really is a detailed person, this careful even when taking off a string of Buddha Beads.”
The room laughed again, but this laughter was different, and while some of the ministers in the room still laughed amusedly, others chuckled with a gleam in their eyes.
A poor boy from a peasant family should not have such mannerism...
Feng Zhiwei looked into Ning Yi’s cold, smiling eyes and responded frankly. “Wei Zhi is from a humble family. Today I was fortunate enough to meet with Heaven’s Face and am being specially regarded by Prince Chu and the other mighty ministers. I cannot help but feel joy and trepidation, if I have acted frivolously, please forgive me, Prince Chu.”
“It is nothing.” Ning Yi smiled gently. “When I saw you here, I was also very happy, and my happiness also had some nervousness.”
The ministers began laughing and joking, but the Tian Sheng Emperor’s thoughts remained fixed on Feng Zhiwei’s wolf-taming idea, so though the exchange just now piqued his curiosity, he did not think any deeper.
“Your Imperial Majesty.” Feng Zhiwei quickly changed topic and stepped forward to present the Buddha Beads.” The two wolf-taming strategies lie in this.”
The Tian Sheng Emperor took the Buddha Beads into his hand and examined the strange, complex patterns inscribed into the beads and suddenly understand. “Geluk Lamaism?”
“Exactly.” Feng Zhiwei did not want to tarry a minute longer than necessary so she quickly explained. “Da Yue is rooted in the nomadic tradition, and their founding Khan Hu La is said to have believed in Lamaism, and even though Lamaism has declined and been suppressed by Shamanism, most of the royal families of Da Yue believe in Lamaism. This Minor Minister thought that we could use various methods to popularize Geluk Lamaism in Da Yue.”
“Then what?”
“There are three advantages. Firstly, Geluk Lamaism has “Two Forbidden Commandments,” with monks forbidden from marriage and child-bearing. Secondly, monks are not allowed to take part in agriculture. When many strong, young men shave their heads and join Lamaism, the population and military might of Da Yue will fall. Even if the monks return to secular life in war time, their time living the Buddha life will grind away their killing edge. Secondly, Lamaism believes in the Six Great Divisions of the Wheel of Karma, and command an ascetic practice in this life in preparation for the next, so they wish for their followers to retreat from public life and set down their worries about the present. Thirdly, Lamaism is preserved in the temple, and is not like Shamanism that can hold worship anywhere, and building temples will pull the nomads from their horses and ground them in place.”
Total Chapters in book: 308
Estimated words: 438270 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 2191(@200wpm)___ 1753(@250wpm)___ 1461(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 438270 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 2191(@200wpm)___ 1753(@250wpm)___ 1461(@300wpm)
______