The romance of the famous handsome in the early Tang Dynasty Li Tao biography

Profile of the protagonist

李勣 (jì) (594-669) was surnamed Xu, known as Shixun, and was known as Mao Gong. Because of his outstanding military achievements, he was given the surname Li by Li Yuan to the royal family, and his name was Li Shiyun. After Tang Gaozong ascended the throne, he used his name to commit the name of Taizong Li Shimin, so he removed the word "world" and called him Li Tao.

Li Tao lived in the three dynasties of Tang Gaozu, Tang Taizong, and Tang Gaozong in his life, and won the trust and responsibility of the imperial court. With Tang Taizong Li Shimin pacified the Quartet, attacked Xue Yantuo twice, and pacified the north of the moraine. Later, he broke Goguryeo and became one of the three famous marshals of the early Tang Dynasty {the other two were: Li Jing (571-649) and Tang Taizong Li Shimin (598-649)}.

Chapter 1 Do not fall Maitreya Buddha

In the early autumn of the second year of the great cause of the Sui Dynasty (606 AD), the scorching sun was in the sky at noon, the dazzling sunlight shone directly on the earth, the ground shone with white light, the air was stuffy and hot, Caozhou was away from the East Street of Hu County, a master and a servant and two horses came slowly, passing by the Fuyuan Inn.

The owner pointed to the Fuyuan Inn with his left hand and said, "Sun Wu, half a year ago, I lived in this Fuyuan Inn . ”

The servant Sun Wu smiled and said: "Master, the sedan chair man who sent you home said that the high-rise compound of the Fuyuan Inn, which is half a mile forward, is Xu Gaiyuan's foreign house." ”

The master and servant and the second horse slowed down for half a mile, and there was indeed a high-rise compound next to the street, the two dismounted, Sun Wu walked a few steps quickly, buckled the door knocker, the courtyard door was ajar, and there was an old servant standing next to the door, looking Sun Wu up and down and asking, "Who are you looking for?" ”

Sun Wu hurriedly said: "Dare to ask if this is Xu Gaiyuan's foreign family?" ”

The old servant replied, "Exactly." ”

Sun Wu bowed slightly, looked back at the master, and Sun Wu smiled: "Please brother, I will pay tribute, Sun Anfu came to visit." ”

The old servant replied, "Wait a minute, I'll go to the court." After saying that, he closed the courtyard door.

In an instant, the courtyard door opened, and a man who was nearly forty years old walked out and said, "Brother Anfuxian, are all your injuries healed?" ”

Sun Anfu said with a smile: "Brother Lao Xu is concerned, it's all right, and I'm here to visit today." ”

Xu Gai stepped forward, took Sun Anfu's hand and said with a smile: "Please drink tea and chat in the house of Brother Anfuxian." ”

Everyone entered the house, the old servant brought tea, Sun Anfu took a sip of tea, put down the teacup, and said with a smile: "Half a year ago, I was robbed by robbers in the woods five miles northwest of Lihu County, robbed of all my money, and was injured. It happened that Brother Xu passed by, helped me to get on the horse, placed me in the guest house, asked Lang Zhong to treat my injuries, and hired a sedan chair to take me home. Now that the injuries are all healed, I am here to thank you. ”

Sun Wu untied the blue cloth bag and handed it to Sun Anfu, Sun Anfu took the blue cloth bag, and sent it to Xu Gai with both hands, Xu Gai took the blue cloth bag and put it on the table, and opened it to see that it was ten silver ingots.

Sun Anfu untied the red cloth bag he was carrying, held it in front of Xu Gai with both hands, and said with a smile: "This is a birthday gift made by the abbot of Yicheng Temple for his younger brother when he was ten years old----- Don't pour Maitreya Buddha, transfer it to Ling Lang, don't dislike it. ”

Xu Gai took the red cloth bag with both hands and put it on the table, opened it to see that it was a delicate wooden box, Xu Gai gently opened the lid of the wooden box, and the rich and gentle fragrance floated out, Xu Gai blurted out and asked: "Is it carved with sandalwood?" ”

Sun Anfu replied: "Exactly, the abbot of Yicheng Temple said that the fragrance of sandalwood smells like it has a Zen sense that is enough to cleanse the heart, which makes people feel relaxed and stable, refreshing and refreshing, and is most suitable for Buddha carving." ”

Sun Anfu replied, while walking to Xu Gai's side, Xu Gai carefully took out the Maitreya Buddha from the wooden box, and gently placed it on the table, it is a dark brown Maitreya Buddha carved Buddha statue, the posture is sitting, the eyebrows are smiling, the mouth is laughing, the ears are lobes and shoulders, the chest and abdomen are exposed, the smile is lovely, the whole Buddha statue is six inches high, the upper half is thin, the lower half is thick, the width of the nose is less than two inches, the widest belly of the whole body, the width is more than three and a half inches, the bottom is made of a semicircular base, a lifelike carved Buddha statue. Sun Anfu stretched out a finger and gently pushed the head of the carved Buddha statue, pushed it to the position of lying down, took his fingers away, and the carved Buddha statue quickly returned to an upright state.

Sun Anfu said with a smile: "The abbot of Yicheng Temple said that this is a very suitable toy for children, which can make children understand a lot of truths. ”

Xu Gai said with a smile: "Sandalwood is a rare and expensive wood, and the abbot of Yicheng Temple spent so much time carving it into a Buddha statue with his own hands, this gift is too valuable, and the foolish brother can't accept it." ”

Sun Anfu said with a smile: "Brother Xu saved his little brother from danger, how can money measure it?" The younger brother really wants to make a friend of Brother Xu, give some meager gifts, and ask Brother Xu to smile. ”

Xu Gai rewrapped the blue cloth bag, held it in front of Sun Anfu with both hands, and said with a smile: "Brother Xian said that this Buddha statue carved by Maitreya Buddha can make children understand a lot of truths, Brother Fool accepts it, and the silver ingot is asked to take it back." ”

Sun Anfu smiled: "Okay, just listen to the eldest brother." Sun Anfu said as he took the blue cloth bag with both hands and handed it back to Sun Wu.

At this time, the housekeeper Xu Quan came to Xu Gai's side and said with a smile: "Master, the wine and food are ready." ”

Xu Gai patted Sun Anfu's shoulder and said with a smile: "Brother Xian, after such a long journey, you must be hungry too, let's talk while drinking." ”

Sun Anfu said with a smile: "I just care about talking to my eldest brother, forget that I am hungry, and listen to my eldest brother talking while drinking." ”

In an instant, there were six dishes on the table: a plate of steamed dried mackerel, a plate of beef in sauce, a plate of braised pork, a plate of salted peanuts, a plate of salted edamame, a plate of dried tofu, and a jar of red sorghum in the corner of the table.

Xu Gai pulled Sun Anfu to sit at the dinner table, Xu Gai beckoned to Sun Wu again, and said with a smile: "Little brother, let's eat together." ”

Sun Wu smiled: "I'm hungry too." As he spoke, he sat next to Sun Anfu. The housekeeper Xu Quan poured everyone full of wine, Xu Gai persuaded Sun Anfu to drink three glasses, and said: "Time is in a hurry, only these simple dishes are drunk, the virtuous brother is not strange, the foolish brother personally cooks a few famous dishes for dinner, please taste the virtuous brother." ”

Sun Anfu said with a smile: "Little brother, I have a good day today." ”

Xu Gai said: "I heard the virtuous brother just say that this Buddha statue carved by Maitreya Buddha is made by the abbot of Yicheng Temple himself. ”

Sun Anfu said with a smile: "Brother Xu doesn't know, our house and the abbot of Yicheng Temple have a lot of origins, more than 40 years ago, when Yicheng Temple was built, my grandfather gave some money, from grandfather, father to younger brother, every year to Yicheng Temple to give some money, is the benefactor of Yicheng Temple Tan Yue. ”

Xu Gai asked, "What is the origin of the abbot of Yicheng Temple?" ”

Sun Anfu replied: "Yicheng Temple five or six hundred monks, both ability and political integrity outstanding people can be the abbot, listen to my father said: 'Yicheng Temple abbot Huitong master, born in a family of military generals, familiar with the art of war since childhood, proficient in martial arts, eighteen or nine years old on the great military exploits, due to the involvement in the internal disputes of the Northern Qi royal family at that time, the royal family he supported lost power, he escaped, incognito in the Yicheng Temple as a monk. 'Master Huitong has a very high level of understanding, and he understands Buddhism.

More than 10 years ago, the first abbot monk was old and frail, and had reached the level of merit consummation and abdicated, after the election of the monks, Master Huitong became the second abbot of Yicheng Temple. ”

The housekeeper Xu Quan poured wine for everyone again, and Xu Gai said: "Xu Quan, I will personally cook a few famous dishes for Brother Sun Xian to taste for dinner, you go and prepare more ingredients, and let the servants clean up the two guest rooms." ”

"Yes, sir, the little ones will do it." Xu Quan answered, turned around and left.

Xu Gai took a sip of wine, sighed, and said: "Brother Xian, I am ashamed to say it, my Xu family has been an official for generations, my great-grandfather served as a member of the Zhige in Southern Qi, my great-grandfather was an official in Jingzhou, and my grandfather was a doctor in Wei Dazhong, who was appointed as the county guard of Puyang, and my father was the county guard of the county in Northern Qi. Foolish brother, I am not literate or martial, I can only rely on the ancestral industry to be a rich man. Most of the six emperors of the Northern Qi Dynasty were mediocre and incompetent, shameless, traitorous ministers, loyal ministers and good generals, and were repeatedly killed, and my father was discouraged and lazy, and he didn't plan to let me be an official. Foolish brother, I don't work hard when I'm young, and now I'm nearly forty years old, and I still haven't achieved anything. ”

Sun Anfu said: "The younger brother also heard that the Northern Qi Dynasty enjoyed the country for 28 years, after six emperors, only Emperor Xiaozhao Gao Yan can be called both ability and political integrity, but unfortunately he died in the second year of his reign due to a horse fall accident, and he reigned for only two years. ”

Xu Gai continued: "Brother Xian, Brother Yu wants to meet Master Huitong, please ask Brother Xian to introduce him, and after that, Brother Yu will give some money to Yicheng Temple every year, and he will also be the benefactor of Yicheng Temple. When it is convenient for Master Huitong, please ask Master Huitong to point out to his eldest son, Xu Maogong. ”

Sun Anfu smiled: "It's easy to say." ”

Xu Gai said: "The Great Sui Dynasty ended nearly 300 years of division and became a unified dynasty, and now the people's livelihood is rich, the people live and work in peace and contentment, and political stability. ”

Sun Anfu said with a smile: "This matter is on the younger brother, the eldest brother will set off with me tomorrow morning, and he will be able to come to my house before noon, and he will be able to see Master Huitong in the afternoon." ”

Xu Gai said: "Foolish brother, thank you for your success." ”

Sun Anfu asked, "How old is Ling Lang Xu Maogong?" ”

Xu Gai replied: "I am twelve years old this year, I went to a private school, and I will come back in the evening." ”

Sun Anfu tilted his neck and drank the wine in the wine glass, put down the wine glass, and said, "I am full of wine and food, thank you for my big brother's hospitality." At this time, Sun Wu smiled and said: "I have already been full of wine and food, and I am listening to the two masters." ”

The servants removed the wine glasses, plates, chopsticks, and wine jars, and laid out the teacups and teapots. Xu Gai poured tea for Sun Anfu's teacup and said, "This is the newly obtained Lushan tea of Brother Yu, please taste it." ”

Sun Anfu picked up the teacup, gently lifted the lid of the teacup, raised his hand three or four inches, the teacup was closer to his nose, smelled the lingering fragrance in the teacup, opened his mouth and blew into the teacup, and slowly drank three sips. Gently put down the teacup and said: "This tea has a fresh and long-lasting aroma, mellow and sweet taste, and it is the best Lushan tea." At this time, the housekeeper Xu Quan came to Xu Gai's side and said with a smile: "Master, the ingredients are ready." ”

Xu Gai said with a smile: "Brother Xian, drink tea slowly, Brother Yu will cook a few famous dishes for Brother Xian to taste." ”

Xu Gai said to the housekeeper Xu Quan again: "Xu Quan, you are here to drink tea with Brother Sun Xian, and I will go to the kitchen to cook." With that, he turned and left.

Sun Anfu drank tea slowly, and the housekeeper Xu Quan accompanied him, gossiping, and after more than an hour, Xu Gai walked in with a smile, patted Sun Anfu's shoulder, and said with a smile: "Brother Xian, Brother Fool makes three famous dishes for Brother Xian to taste." ”

In an instant, there were six dishes on the table, Xu Gai pointed to the big disc in the middle and said: "This dish is called Hanmen for the benefit of the family, according to legend, once on the birthday of Emperor Tuoba Tao of the Northern Wei Dynasty, someone offered this dish, Tuoba Tao liked it very much, and announced the edict in court, so that he would be promoted to the third level and stay in Beijing." The imperial physician believes that this dish has a good nourishing and nourishing effect, and has become a famous dish and has been handed down. ”

Xu Gai pointed to the large plate on the left and said: "This dish is called roasted oxtail, according to legend, once Qin Shi Huang toured in the Guanzhong area, tasted this dish in a small shop, Longyan Dayue, the accompanying imperial doctor thought that the roasted oxtail has the effect of anti-aging and prolonging life, and included this dish in the imperial food recipe and passed it down." ”

Xu Gai pointed to the big plate on the right and said: "This dish is called the meat, according to legend, Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei are the three people who eat a dish when they worship the "handle". Later, a famous chef in Caozhou, named Yi Yuanchao, perfected the practice of the year, and this dish was learned by the foolish brother from Yi Yuanchao's master. "Around these three main dishes, a plate of salted peanuts, a plate of spiced edamame, and a plate of dried tofu are placed.

Xu Gai said with a smile: "Time is in a hurry, I only made three famous dishes for the virtuous brother to taste, please sit." He sat down at the dinner table as he spoke.

Sun Anfu said with a smile: "The dishes made by Brother Xu are beautiful, smell and fragrant, and the little brother is worth the trip." After speaking, he sat next to Xu Gai. Xu Gai beckoned to Sun Wu again, and Sun Wu sat next to Sun Anfu.