Elegy of Tang Dynasty

Chapter 38 Will you die if you have too much fun?
"when!"

"when!"

"when!"

Fang Laique held the gong and beat it hard.He didn't know the seriousness of this matter. He just felt that it was very beautiful to be watched by a large number of melon-eating people in Chang'an City.

Both sides of the 120-meter-wide Chunmingmen Street were full of people, watching them pass by.

The corpses of the "Three Kings" were given to death, but some people dared to violate the prohibition and drag them away for burial.

Most of the onlookers expressed their admiration for the courage of Fang Chongyong and his party. At the same time, they were worried that they would be settled by Li Longji or even "settled on the spot". In the end, they did not dare to express support with them.

So I can only watch the show from the sidelines.

The most embarrassing thing is the Jinwu Guards who usually maintain order in Chang'an City.

If they blocked the way of Fang Chongyong and his party, they would not only be despised and condemned by the current mainstream public opinion, but also very likely to be angered by Li Longji who had recovered.

The imperial edict was very brief and did not say how outsiders would deal with the three corpses when they were buried. The main reason was that when Li Longji originally gave the order, he did not expect that there were such "bastards" in the world.

If the members of the Jinwu Guard walked with Fang Chongyong and his party, it would appear as if they were guarding these "troublemakers", which would be equivalent to directly slapping Li Longji in the face.

Fang Chongyong and the others are outsiders, and they will be considered to do these things out of "justice"; while the Jinwu Guards are forbidden troops, and if they reveal the slightest sign of something wrong, they will be immediately punished by Li Longji!

You are the cronies of the ex-prince, so you "see him off"?
Or is it that you are the cronies of other princes, so you follow suit?

Or maybe you are dissatisfied with the saints, so you demonstrate with those people and slap your face?
This situation is very similar to a little fairy falsely accusing the middle-aged greasy man next to her in a crowded subway.

You raised your hands to touch me.

You lowered your hands to sneak up on me.

You're putting your hands on your neck and you're fucking me in a nasty gesture.

It's all your fault anyway, the greasy man is really a shrimp!

Although the greasy man is greasy, he is not a pervert. It is just because some "unnecessary" rules are broken, which leads to some absurd situations.

In the same way, under the unspoken rule of the imperial power of "killing the wrongdoer without mercy", these Jinwu guardsmen who usually show off their power and glory in Chang'an City are like hiding from the god of plague, and they dare not follow behind the bullock cart. near.

At least [-] meters apart.

It's impossible not to follow. If you don't follow, Li Longji will think that he is "deliberately indulging thieves and humiliating the royal family", and he will be punished as well.

At this moment, a young man in the distance wearing a gray round-collared linen robe and a green turban ran to Fang Chongyong and whispered to him: "The monk in Changshoufang, the coffin and Mingjing in Huaiyuanfang, Feng Chongyong." The paper money and Taoist priests in Yifang are all ready. Just go to Taixianfang to clean the body and put it in the coffin, and then go to bury it outside the city.

You've played really well this time, and you've already become famous in Chang'an. "

He ran to the four squares near Yanping Gate in one breath, and gathered all the one-stop services needed for civilian funerals, but he was exhausted.

This person is Li Kui who was able to climb up the relationship with Fang Chongyong after a few years of twists and turns!

As for why we invite monks and Taoist priests to perform rituals?

Li Kui didn't understand. Anyway, that's what Fang Chongyong told him. The burial fee for a corpse was [-] guan, and he couldn't bargain.

These unscrupulous merchants are all looking for excuses to raise prices. Anyway, if I don't do business that offends the emperor, no one will do it!
Fang Zhongyong was able to take out half of the money in the small treasury in one go, which can be said to be bold.

"If you get on this boat, you won't be able to get off until you reach the end. Now you are in a miserable situation. The emperor is furious. I think you are going to finish your imperial examination."

Fang Chongyong couldn't help teasing Li Kui and said that if possible, he didn't want to drag Li Kui into the water.

The reason for dragging Li Kui into the water was just to serve as a witness to prove that he had made great efforts to bring Wang Zhongsi back to Chang'an and was even entrusted with the important task of rushing to the frontier. He even risked his life to "open up channels." ".

By the way, let Wang Zhongsi's wife, Mrs. Li, who is my mother-in-law's side, and the people in Li's aunt's house in Longxi understand: you have also been dragged into the water, and when something happens, don't just stand by and watch. You have to do your best to rescue me. OK!
"I heard that Mr. Zhang might be dismissed as prime minister, so I followed Mr. Zhang's path. Even if I don't come, the imperial examination will probably be hopeless. It's better to take a gamble."

Li Kui approached Fang Chongyong and whispered in Fang Chongyong's ear: "This kind of scenery, even if it is killed immediately, it will still be famous in history. Why not bet on it?"

Your political consciousness is very high!
Fang Chongyong glanced at Li Kui in surprise, and nodded slightly in agreement.

Li Kui's political vision indeed far surpassed that of Zhang Xun and Xu Yuan.The two people participated in this matter purely out of justice, and Li Kui saw part of Fang Chongyong's plan.

Not everyone can see the crux of this wave of political investment that seems extremely risky, but is actually rock solid.

A person's emotional decision-making and his long-term rational analysis are often completely opposite.Now Li Longji is facing a similar situation.

The pleasure is temporary, but the pain is long-lasting and continuous.

The prince, even if it is the predecessor, who was abolished and given to death, even the princes of the royal family, are not the people of Chang'an Shengdou who can watch and ridicule!This is natural class suppression!

Fang Chongyong's previous life in which the guards of the corrupt state trampled on a little girl is a typical example of this.The royal family is born with their eyes higher than their head. This is the face that Li Longji must maintain.

Sooner or later, Li Longji would discover that the brutal act of killing three sons in one day not only failed to scare those with evil intentions, but instead set an extremely bad precedent for the brutal political struggle during the Tianbao years.

The tiger's poison will not eat its seeds, how can the sage call?

This is an explanation that Li Longji must give to the world, and it is also related to the foundation of his "legitimacy in power."

It would be even more cruel and unethical if he did not tell the story of killing his son, but also exposed his body in the inn for passers-by to observe.

Those gossips that ridicule Li Longji's cruelty and misconduct will definitely reach his ears.At that time, do I need to say more about how the only group of people who stood up to collect the corpse of the "Three Kings" should be treated?

I believe that as long as Li Longji can calm down, he will definitely guess this link.

Moreover, Fang Chongyong also considered another point, that is, their behavior of collecting and burying the bodies of the three princes who gave death to them was in line with the public order and good customs of the Tang Dynasty at this time.

It is the default unspoken rule in society that the crime of death will be eliminated, the coffin will be concluded, and it will be buried in peace.From the nobles in Tianhuang to the ordinary people in Shengdou, they all agree with this point.

Even if the enemy's family is wiped out, they usually can't do anything like humiliating the corpse, crushing the bones and scattering ashes.

The world will only worry about Fang Chongyong's future, and have general sympathy for the tragic revenge they may encounter, but will not think that Fang Chongyong is meddling in his own business, let alone that they are madly kneeling and licking Li Tang's family, bending The waist is powerful.

Fang Chongyong vaguely remembered that Li Heng, Emperor Suzong of the Tang Dynasty, seemed to have rehabilitated Li Ying and the others, and re-selected the cemetery for their burial.This aptly illustrates that it is people’s common and simple desire to let things that are in line with social order and good customs return to their original track.

At this time, Gao Lishi was already watching the ox cart pulling the corpse of the "Three Kings" towards Yanping Gate, but he did not step forward to stop it.

Gao Lishi is very reliable in his work, and going forward at this time is like a young man robbing a civilian girl in broad daylight, and it will make Li Longji's reputation three hundred miles away.

He guessed that Fang Chongyong and his party would definitely stop at the four squares near Yanping Gate to conduct funeral arrangements, and then leave Yanping Gate for burial in the cemetery outside the city.There is no rush to convey Li Longji's will now. After Fang Chongyong and his party bury the bodies of Li Ying and others, it will not be too late to come find them.

Yes, Gao Lishi also believed that Li Longji's incident had greatly damaged the face of the Li Tang clan and affected the centripetal force of the royal family. It was actually a very unnecessary move.

The former prince was also a prince!It is also the face of the royal family!How can it hang on the beams of a post station in the suburbs like a wild dog that died in the gutter?
Isn't this telling those who have evil intentions, even if they are clan children or even princes, as long as they have the opportunity, they can trample on them at will?
If you trample on the corpses of the clan members today, will you feel that you can sit in the emperor's position tomorrow?
"Oh, why is this?"

Gao Lishi sighed and moved quietly among the crowd of onlookers, and finally watched them enter Changshoufang near Yanpingmen.

……

If you want to break down the entire funeral process in the Tang Dynasty, there are 26 steps in total. Each step has clear and strict content regulations, and the overall process is very complicated.

But Fang Chongyong obviously doesn't have that much time to complete all of this.

The preliminary steps such as the beginning and end, calling the soul, announcing the funeral, guarding the funeral, attending the funeral, and placing the funeral seat are all omitted, and we start directly with the treatment of the coffin.

The funeral shops and temples and Taoist temples belonging to the four workshops have taken action together!Busy and nervous in Daixianfang!

Money can make the world go round, and fifteen hundred dollars can bury three people. This kind of business does not happen often.

Bathing, attacking corpses, rice, Ming Jing, Xiao Lian, Da Lian, and ready-to-wear are done in one go!A group of people are performing their duties alternately.

After everything was finished, the three people lying in the coffin had already put on their shrouds and put on makeup on their faces, as if they had gone to sleep peacefully, not as hideous as they first saw when they were in the east station. terror!
The funeral industry has been enduring since ancient times. It is not only caused by feudal superstition, but also includes people's thinking about life and death, and their care for the deceased.

Fang Chongyong watched the transformation of the three corpses from ferocious to serene, and gained many life insights that cannot be explained to outsiders.

This fifteen hundred dollars buys a few philosophies of life.Is it a profit or a loss?
Fang Chongyong had strange thoughts in his mind.

Of course he couldn't wake up Li Longji, who was pretending to be asleep.

But the fundamental purpose of this trip itself is not for this.

To operate Wang Zhongsi's affairs, channels are needed.On this point, Fang Chongyong also admitted that Li Shi was right.Fang Chongyong knew that he had no channel, or that the channel was provided by his father Fang Youde.

Therefore, he must rely on his own strength to open channels that can influence central decision-making.The matter of dethroning the prince is the only chance at present. Otherwise, he has to go to Li Linfu and be manipulated by him.

"Lang Jun, the steps of divination of house omens, divination of burial day, initiating funeral and paying homage to ancestors, displaying parking spaces for burials, displaying utensils, leading to burial, and displaying utensils..."

Li Kui came over and asked hesitantly. The implication was that either time did not allow for these steps or financial resources did not allow for these steps, so just save them if you can.

For example, "Chen Ming Qi" and the like need to be added as funerary objects.

It's easy to say that ordinary people were buried with other people, but these three people were not ordinary people.If the funeral objects are shabby and inconsistent with etiquette, they will be criticized by others, so it is better not to give them.If you are preparing a valuable weapon, Li Longji may have some ideas.

It is good to hold funerals for the three deposed princes, but to hold them in such a big way is not to ridicule Li Longji that he should not kill these three people?
If the strength is not well grasped, if you go too far, you will be courting death.

"All is saved, let the funeral procession set off and prepare for burial."

Fang Chongyong said decisively, without ambiguity at all.

"Uh, there is also the funeral Xisi who is willing to provide free elegy services, does Mr. Lang..."

Li Kui asked a little moved.The so-called "elegy" service is to send a group of people to sing elegy during the process of funeral and burial.

Chang'an is not only the center of politics, economy and culture, but also in many other aspects. Even the level of funerals is outstanding.

Among the many self-employed who specialize in this kind of business, there are two largest, which are in a monopoly position in the same industry.This kind of industry was called "fierce four" at that time, but it was actually a funeral management center.

One of the two evil houses is in the east and the other is in the west, so they are called Dongsi and Xisi.

Now it is Xisi who helps Fang Chongyong handle these funeral affairs, and the four surrounding workshops are all engaged in related supporting businesses.

"Uh, no need. The show is over, now is the time to keep a low profile."

Fang Chongyong whispered to Li Kui.

After a while, the funeral procession had already set off. Fang Laique, who was addicted to the limelight, came over and asked excitedly:
"Lang Jun, do you want to knock this gong again?"

"If you don't want to die, just shut up and put away the gongs and drums! Watch out for the saint to knock your dog's head off!"

Fang Chongyong scolded with a worried expression.

"Oh."

Fang Laique reluctantly put away the gong and other items.

Fang Chongyong just watched the funeral procession leave, and stood quietly in front of the Xisi gate, looking at the couplet written on both sides of the gate:
On the left is Renwu Qiantuishou.

On the right is where I live forever.

"This couplet is sincere. I don't know how the saint will feel when he sees it."

Fang Chongyong couldn't help but sigh.

"Sages also know that people don't have a thousand years of life, but you surprised me."

A slightly shrill voice came from behind Fang Chongyong. He turned around and found a middle-aged man in light yellow palace clothes looking at him with a smile.

"Who is the elder?"

Fang Chongyong asked belatedly, he had already guessed the identity of the other party.

"He's just a slave to the saint's family. How could you, Fang Quanzhong's son, do such a thing?"

The person speaking is none other than Gao Lishi!
"Since the elder knows, why bother to ask more questions."

Fang Chongyong sighed.

"I met you once back then. At that time, I just thought you were stupid and unteachable. When I saw you today, I was shocked."

After speaking, Gao Lishi waved his hand gently, and several Jinwu guards stepped forward to surround Fang Chongyong.

"Take him to Dali Temple to await trial. Don't neglect it."

After finishing speaking, Gao Lishi turned around and returned to Daming Palace, preparing to return to life with Li Longji.

(End of this chapter)