Tome of Troubled Times-Chapter 738 (2): Changan, Changan

Zhao Changhe mused for a few moments before pulling out his disguise materials again. With a few casual strokes, he altered his face once more, then rode toward the city gates, obediently dismounting to present his travel permit.

He had plenty of forged permits on hand. In fact, even his identities as Zhao Wangtang and Zhao Shouyi were still intact. But now that he was in enemy territory, using Zhao as a surname was too risky. He rummaged through the pile and pulled out one under the name Qin Jiu; the surname Qin was a rather fitting reference to the region.[1]

“Qin Jiu from Jinnan, a merchant...” The gate guard glanced at him. “Traveling alone?”

Zhao Changhe sighed. “Times are tough. My family business collapsed. I came to Chang’an to try my luck.”

The guard did not probe further and simply waved him through. “Go on in.”

Zhao Changhe hesitated. “No entry fee?”

The guard shot him a glance. “Dying to pay one? You can give it to me if you want.”

“No, no.” Zhao Changhe quickly led his horse inside, but his mind was shaken.

The Li Clan truly does seem to be vying to become the largest force in the world. With this single policy alone, they’ll be doubling Chang’an’s prosperity and greatly boosting its reputation.

Truthfully, entry fees were something that could be waived. Even during the period of the Great Xia, they were not always in place. The reason they persisted now was that local officials used them as a source of extra income, or the government simply needed the funds in dire circumstances. Even the capital city under Xia Chichi hadn’t abolished them just yet.

Yet, Chang’an abolished them... Are they really that rich?

He rode slowly into the city, taking in the bustling streets and thriving commerce. He sighed inwardly.

This place is more prosperous than the capital.

It was reminiscent of what the world had been like before everything fell apart, like when he had first arrived in the capital years ago, before the chaos and devastation. But now, after years of war, after Lu Jianzhang’s catastrophic mismanagement, the capital had withered, its former splendor long gone. By contrast, Chang’an now resembled a true imperial capital.

So, back when they spoke of inviting the northern barbarians to raid the Central Plains, it seemed that Chang’an had never actually been the target.

The aristocracy within Guanlong were not fools. They would not let their own foundation be ravaged. It was far more likely that they were aiming to use the northern barbarians to destroy the cities that still remained loyal to the Great Xia.

The devastating wars of recent years had laid waste to Jiangnan and Jingxiang, laid waste to Huabei[2] and Qingxu, and laid waste to Bashu and Miaojiang. Despite all of that, Guanlong had remained largely untouched.

At this moment, Guanlong stood in stark contrast to Guandong[3], appearing like paradise on earth.

And then there was the Silk Road. According to Hongling, trade in the Western Regions has been thriving for a long time and still is, but most of the goods never reached Great Xia, just like they don’t reach Great Han now. Almost everything was intercepted by Guanlong, long before it could flow into the rest of the country.

With that being the case, it’s no wonder they are so wealthy.

If I hadn’t swiftly conquered the Cui Clan and pacified Langya, things might have dragged out into a prolonged conflict. And once that happened, if Guanzhong’s cavalry had come sweeping out, the situation could very well have mirrored the final days of the Sui dynasty.

Zhao Changhe walked forward, lost in thought, his steps unconsciously leading him toward the towering structure in the distance—the renowned Great Wild Goose Pagoda. Based on his modern knowledge, the pagoda seemed to have some connection to Tang Sanzang[4], though he was not entirely sure. However, in this world, such associations were irrelevant. The pagoda had existed long before the Buddhist purges, and even after the crackdown, the Li Clan continued to shelter Buddhist sects here, a clear indication of their underlying defiance and the fact that they were quietly amassing power in their own way.

Given such long-term arrangements, it seemed rather mismatched that the head of the Li Clan, Li Gongsi, remained merely on the Ranking of Earth. Would it not make more sense for him to have a higher ranking? Moreover, Guanlong was not solely under the Li Clan’s control. Other powerful families, such as the Wei Clan, which had ties to Yue Hongling, also held significant influence. Yet, even after Li Gongsi’s death, the Li Clan still firmly maintained its dominance over the factions of Guanlong. No matter how one looked at it, something seemed terribly off about the whole thing.

Could it be that the Li Clan has a hidden powerhouse? Perhaps an ancestor who hasn’t actually passed away? If that’s the case, yet he isn’t listed on the rankings, does that mean that even Blindie overlooked him?

Wait... Maybe she didn’t overlook him, yet he is there nevertheless....

A sudden chill ran down Zhao Changhe’s spine. What if the so-called ancestor hadn’t actually survived, but had risen from the grave?

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Clang!

The deep sound of a bell echoed from the vicinity of the Great Wild Goose Pagoda.

Zhao Changhe halted, standing at the roadside, watching as numerous monks hurried back to the temple, seemingly in the middle of their daily rituals.

He casually seated himself at a small roadside stall outside the temple, ordering a bowl of paomo[5] and eating leisurely. Offhandedly, he asked the stall owner, “The Buddhist sects in Chang’an seem to be thriving. It’s quite different from Jinnan.”

“Are you from Jinnan, sir?” asked the owner with a smile. “The Buddhist community in Chang’an has always been strong, and it’s always been supported by many influential figures. It’s been a bit quieter recently, though. In the past, during this hour, many high-ranking officials would come to pay their respects. Now, not so much.”

Zhao Changhe raised an eyebrow. “Why is that?”

“Not sure. Master Yuan Cheng has been absent for a long time. He’s supposedly traveling elsewhere to spread the teachings... But then, a few days ago, Daoist Yuxu emerged from seclusion and publicly debated with the Buddhist monks. With Master Yuan Cheng absent, the others couldn’t match Yuxu’s arguments and were utterly silenced. Now, many monks have shut their doors, reflecting upon their ways.”

“With their foundation being so strong, are they really just going to accept defeat? Why don’t they just summon Master Yuan Cheng back to face off against Daoist Yuxu?”

The stall owner sighed. “It’s hard to say. I just hope Master Yuan Cheng returns soon. His Buddhist knowledge is profound. Even if he can’t best Yuxu in combat, he surely won’t lose in a debate.”

“You sound like you want the Buddhist sects to win.”

“Of course! My whole family are Buddhists.”

“Amitabha.” Zhao Changhe formed a hand seal and chanted in a low voice, “The Buddha is compassionate. He would not sit idly by as his teachings decline. Even during the most brutal purges of Buddhism, the faith endured. How could it fall to mere words?”

The stall owner’s eyes lit up. “Sir, are you a Buddhist too?”

“Naturally. Doesn’t my hand seal look authentic? Would you like me to recite the Pure Bli—ah, I mean the Diamond Sutra? I’ve memorized that sutra quite well.”

The stall owner, clearly pleased, leaned in and whispered conspiratorially, “Actually, we might not need Master Yuan Cheng to return. It’s said that the temple now has a new Buddha whose knowledge is boundless. Not only would he hold his own in debate, he might not even lose in battle.”

Zhao Changhe’s eyes narrowed. “Such a significant matter... and common folks like you are aware of it?”

The stall owner chuckled. “The monks aren’t exactly keeping it a secret. They need to boost morale, after all.” He suddenly gasped in excitement, pointing toward the temple entrance. “Look, look! Important figures are arriving!”

Zhao Changhe raised his head and took a look at where the stall owner was pointing. A middle-aged man in crimson and purple robes, accompanied by a younger man, entered the temple with a group of attendants. The welcoming monks greeted them with folded hands, then immediately led them inside without much in terms of greetings, as if they were already well acquainted.

That young man looked familiar, but Zhao Changhe could not quite place him, so he asked, “Who is that?”

“That’s Second Master Dai, from the Dai Clan of Jingzhao... Well, it’s no longer called Jingzhao, but they still prefer calling it that.”

You all seem to take great pride in your former prestige. Understandable. If it were me, I’d probably do the same.

Zhao Changhe watched as Second Master Dai disappeared into the temple, musing that Chang’an indeed possessed royal qi.

But it was not just royal qi at play here. The situation seemed far more intricate. There were numerous factions intertwining, converging into a storm. Guanlong’s internal power struggles, the resurgence of Buddhism, the involvement of the Daoist sects... Everything was tangled together like an inextricable web.

The Dai Clan... They aren’t one of those families falsely claiming ancient divine ancestry. They’re a household of the current era, probably on par with the Tang Clan. They aren’t particularly illustrious, but they’re still influential in the region.

As for that young man...

Zhao Changhe now knew where he’d seen him. He was one of those on the Ranking of Hidden Dragons, and they’d met at the gathering of hidden dragons back at Langya. Back when Zhao Changhe first arrived in the capital, it was precisely this young fool who recognized him at the city gate, loudly exposing his identity and setting off a storm upon his entrance.

Although that guy’s a bit of a playboy and pretty naive, he isn’t truly evil at heart. Maybe it would be worth making contact with him?

1. The Qin being mentioned here is 秦, which is one of Shaanxi’s two abbreviations, with the other being Shaan (陝). As for the Jiu in Qin Jiu, it’s simply the number 9. ☜

2. This is North China. ☜

3. This is the region east of Guanlong. ☜

4. Tang Sanzang, also known as the Longevity Monk, is a Buddhist monk and pilgrim who is a central character in Journey to the West by Wu Cheng’en. He is based on the historical Tang dynasty monk Xuanzang ☜

5. Paomo is a specialty of Shaanxi cuisine and is a typical food eaten in the city of Xi’an and other cities of Guanzhong. It is a hot stew of chopped-up steamed leavened flat bread cooked in lamb broth and served with lamb meat, sometimes substituted with beef. ☜