Spoiler History: Starting from the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 758: No Partiality
The conversation between the Honglu Temple and the Persian monk went much more smoothly than expected.

After Datang showed a very strong attitude and Ma Zhou used intelligence to create an unpredictable appearance, the pace of the talks between the two sides was significantly accelerated.

That was why, when Ma Zhou finally heard the Persian monk politely decline the small banquet at the Honglu Temple, the regret on his face was genuine.

However, with the Persian monk leaving, Li Chengqian could no longer hold back and quickly stopped Ma Zhou and Du Ruhui, who seemed to be in a good mood.

So Ma Zhou also laughed and bowed, saying:

"Your Highness, I am fortunate not to be humiliated..."

Before Ma Zhou could finish, Li Chengqian poured out what he had been holding back in his heart:

"How can Mr. Ma's actions today not be using the strength of our Tang to bully the weak?"

Then Li Chengqian turned to Du Ruhui and took the initiative to bow and said:
"My father once said that Minister Du is an elder and should behave like a gentleman..."

"Your Highness!"

Before Li Chengqian could finish his words, Du Ruhui took a half step forward and interrupted Li Chengqian.

The shout was somewhat impolite, and scared Li Zhi so much that he hid behind Li Chengqian. Li Tai was also a little afraid and also took a half step back.

His brothers' moods were directly reflected in their bodies. Feeling his two brothers' hands gripping him tighter, Li Chengqian took the initiative to comfort them. Then, when he looked up, he saw Ma Zhou's aggrieved expression and Du Ruhui's slightly stern face.

"Your Highness, what do you think we should do today?"

This statement was somewhat correct, so Li Chengqian also became more serious:

"That's right..."

But when he said this he was suddenly speechless. After all, he actually had no experience in dealing with such matters.

These aggressive remarks were only because the palace education he received made him feel a little uncomfortable about this, but it was really difficult to come up with a specific solution for the time being.

Li Chengqian was speechless, and Du Ruhui said bluntly:

"Your Highness, do you think that we should leave the Persian monks alone and allow them to spread the teachings of Nestorianism so that the people will only know their gods but not the emperor?"

This was an obvious remark, and Li Chengqian felt somewhat uncomfortable, but Du Ruhui did not give him a chance to speak, but instead bowed his hands again and said:

"I am sorry for my words, but I would like to ask Your Highness, have Persian monks done any good for our Tang?"

The Great Tang Crown Prince was already somewhat at a loss as to what to do. He hurriedly supported Du Ruhui's bow and said:

"It is of no use at the moment."

Du Ruhui took a half step back and spoke in a slower tone:
"Your Highness, you may not know that this Persian country is called Sassanid Persia. It has just suffered a defeat at the hands of Rome and is having trouble dealing with the Arabs. The country is already in a difficult situation both internally and externally."

"And this Nestorian Church is a branch of the Roman Catholic Church, which was disliked by the Roman Catholic Church and went eastward to seek prosperity."

"Persia is unstable, and the Western Regions are ignorant of etiquette. Only our Tang Dynasty, with its vast territory and a safe country, has tens of millions of people who all know etiquette."

Li Chengqian seemed to be thinking about something. Based on what Du Ruhui said, he had already vaguely understood why the Persian monk agreed to all his requests. But even so, the Tang Dynasty was a superior country, so this was somewhat...

The young Li Chengqian had all his emotions written on his face, and seeing that Du Ruhui had already kept silent, Ma Zhou simply stepped forward and said:

"I also have a question for Your Highness."

Prince Tang, who was not very confident, nodded:

"Master Ma, please tell me everything."

Ma Zhou also took a half step forward:
"May I ask Your Highness, have the people of Tang ever done anything good for Tang?"

Aye's teachings instantly rang in my ears, and I didn't need to think about this question:
"Of course there are." "Then Your Highness, may I ask if the people of Tang have anything to ask of them?"

This is not necessarily true. The people naturally hope that the country will be stable and the government will be clean, but Li Chengqian thinks that this is also something that the Tang Dynasty should do. So after thinking for a moment, he shook his head:
"Of course not."

Ma Zhou smiled, cupped his hands and said loudly:

"Persian monks have no merit but ask for something, while the people of our Tang have merit but ask for nothing."

"How can we respect the barbarians and despise the common people?"

Li Chengqian's face suddenly turned red, and he felt embarrassed as if his thoughts had been seen through. But what made him even more embarrassed was that Ma Zhou had pointed out so clearly the impropriety of such an idea.

Ma Zhou stepped back, and Du Ruhui spoke again with a serious tone:
"Your Majesty often says that the barbarians fear power but not virtue. I deeply agree with you."

"When Your Highness travels around the world and goes to the Western Regions, you will be able to understand the meaning of this firsthand."

Li Chengqian felt his mind was in a mess, but he still remembered to bow and accept instruction.

Du Ruhui was originally planning to turn around and leave, but seeing the two princes looking at their eldest brother with some concern, and the crown prince standing there with a complicated expression, he stopped temporarily and turned around to say:

"Your Highness, if the barbarians do this, you must not do this to the common people."

"The people value virtue and are not afraid of power. Your Highness must remember to educate them with virtue and not be hasty."

At night, Li Chengqian returned to Taiji Hall somewhat depressed.

At this time, Li Shimin had someone set up a target, and he changed into a set of tight clothes and was carefully adjusting the long bow in his hand.

Seeing that his father didn't look surprised, Li Chengqian took the initiative to ask:
"Aye let my son go to see Du Shangshu talking with the Persian monk, but was that expected?"

After testing the bow, Li Shimin took the animal tendon and began to twist the string. This laborious task seemed very easy in his hands, and he even had enough energy to chat and joke with his son:
"There is always a discrepancy between what is written in the book and what is actually seen."

"If we can rule the world simply by following what is written in the book, then you and I, father and son, should still be citizens of Zhou."

Although his son's words were vague, Li Shimin knew what he meant and explained it with ease:

"Reading and broadening your horizons should not be neglected."

“If you only read books, you will take the views of the saints as your own, and what you know will be like castles in the air.”

"If you only see what you have seen, you will be easily blinded by a leaf and lose your ability to see far, and what you have seen will be like a mirage."

Li Chengqian listened silently, and when he saw his father tighten the bowstring, he took the initiative to dismiss the eunuchs, went to get an arrow and handed it to his father.

The Emperor of the Tang Dynasty showed even more satisfaction on his face. He skillfully drew the bow and arrow, and the huge bow instantly opened like a full moon. However, he did not shoot at the target. Instead, he chatted with his son as if he was strolling in the garden:

"Cheng Qian, do you know what is power and what is virtue?"

Li Chengqian had already lost his pride and shook his head honestly:

"I don't know, please enlighten me."

Li Shimin slightly turned his face and let go of the arrow, which hit the bull's eye like a gust of wind and lightning, and continued to move forward, nailing it to the wall.

Taking a deep breath, Li Shimin pointed at the arrow whose tail feathers were still trembling and said:
"Wherever this arrow reaches, it will intimidate. If it can intimidate, then we can talk about virtue."

Then he raised his finger slightly, pointed at the wall and said:
"This arrow cannot hit the outside of the wall, so talking about virtue outside the wall is nothing but a fool's dream."

Li Chengqian seemed to understand something.

(End of this chapter)