Chapter 415: An Emperor’s Dream

Chapter 415: Chapter 415: An Emperor’s Dream

After finishing lunch, Wang Chenning and his group took a car to the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum.

On the way to the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum, the crowds had already swelled, and several stretches of road were jammed with traffic.

Fortunately, the relevant authorities had already implemented an emergency plan. They restricted private vehicles from accessing the two scenic areas, increased public transportation services, and added more shuttle buses. They also dispatched several times the usual number of traffic officers to the streets to maintain order.

The number of staff maintaining order within the scenic area was also several times higher than usual.

To prevent any incidents, Yang Xiaofei, Luo Yuqing, Li Fuzhen, and Li Yanxian had all called their bodyguards to their sides.

Wang Chenning wasn’t particularly worried about an incident occurring during their tour. ’Anyone who’d try to make a move on us in a place like this would have to be an idiot.’

However, he was also concerned that someone might use the opportunity to frame others and stir up trouble, so he remained as cautious as possible.

Many of the people visiting the two scenic spots had come on a whim, drawn by Wang Chenning’s presence.

As soon as Wang Chenning entered the scenic area with his companions, he was immediately recognized.

Seeing a crowd of people rushing toward them, with staff desperately trying to hold them back, Wang Chenning signaled to an employee. He wanted to use the park’s broadcast system to address the tourists. The staff member immediately patched him into the internal PA system.

Over the broadcast, Wang Chenning addressed the fans who had come to the park hoping to meet him or get a photo. He urged everyone to respect the park’s rules, follow the staff’s instructions, and be graceful and well-mannered tourists. He said he hoped his fans were people with both patriotic enthusiasm and good character. He explained that he and his companions would be in public view all day. Because of the sheer number of people, it would be impossible to fulfill requests for photos together. However, if tourists wanted to take pictures or videos of them, they would do their best to cooperate.

After Wang Chenning’s appeal over the broadcast, the crowd immediately became more orderly. Everyone was saying that they couldn’t embarrass Wang Chenning.

Wang Chenning had brought great honor to the country and its netizens, so they had to bring honor to him in return, not disgrace him.

Wang Chenning, Luo Yuqing, Zhao Xiao’an, Yang Xiaofei, Li Fuzhen, and Li Yanxian spent nearly an hour at the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum. Throughout that time, the number of tourists remained high, but the crowd was as orderly as on a normal day, with no pushing, shoving, or stampedes.

A few lucky fans even got to shake his hand or snap a quick photo with him as his group passed by.

Although the handshakes and photos were rushed, and getting an autograph was out of the question, the fans who received this special honor were still thrilled and satisfied.

Afterwards, Wang Chenning’s group went to the Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum.

Zhu Yuanzhang’s Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum doesn’t usually attract large numbers of tourists. Inside the vast grounds, it’s rare to see any significant crowding.

But today, the number of visitors was several times greater than even its busiest days. The Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum was free to enter, but the Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum charged admission. On this day alone, ticket revenue for the Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum surpassed several million yuan, whereas a typical day only brought in a few hundred thousand.

The vast Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum was filled with people, most of whom were young adults who normally wouldn’t be interested in such a place.

Thanks to Wang Chenning’s earlier plea, the order within the Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum was also quite good. No one scrambled to get a photo or autograph with him and his companions. While their tour was certainly disrupted, it didn’t dampen their spirits.

As they walked deeper into the park, Zhao Xiao’an asked Wang Chenning, "Of all the emperors in history, who do you admire the most?"

"Not Zhu Yuanzhang!" Wang Chenning replied with a smile. "I’d have to say Li Shimin. The emperors who could be called ’one for the ages’ are few and far between, and I believe Li Shimin is definitely one of them. Not only was his military genius outstanding—he hardly ever lost a battle his entire life—but his talent for governance was also unparalleled. Just a few years into his reign, society was so prosperous and honest that it was said ’no one pockets things found on the street, and no one bolts their doors at night.’ Prices were low, and the common people lived in peace and prosperity."

"Furthermore, during his reign, the Great Tang Empire’s territory expanded dramatically, bringing the Western Regions back under Huaxia’s control. In the Ninth Year of Wude, right after he ascended the throne, the Turkic people advanced to the very walls of Chang’an City, forcing him to sign a humiliating treaty. But just three years later, the Great Tang army, led by Li Jing, annihilated the once-invincible Eastern Turkic Khaganate. Their khan was taken captive and forced to come to Chang’an to dance for Li Shimin."

"After that, he conquered the Tuyuhun, incorporating Qinghai into Huaxia’s domain. Then he conquered Gao Chang, establishing the Four Garrisons of Anxi and the Anxi Protectorate. He went on to crush the Xue Yantuo and nearly conquered Goryeo."

"Most importantly, even with the frequent warfare of the early Tang Dynasty, the Great Tang only grew wealthier, leading to what later generations would celebrate as the Reign of Zhenguan. Contrast that with Emperor Wu of Han. Although he achieved a decisive victory in his wars against the Xiongnu, the national treasury was completely depleted in the process."

"Also, during Li Shimin’s time, he never executed his meritorious officials, with the exception of a few who plotted rebellion, like Hou Junji and Zhang Liang. Li Shimin’s own military genius and countless victories were so great that every single one of his generals admired him. He didn’t need to resort to executions; his personal prestige was enough to command their loyalty."

"What’s more, the Great Tang didn’t repair the Great Wall. Li Shimin said the Great Wall wasn’t the border between Huaxia and the ’barbarians,’ and that the Great Tang had no need for a wall to defend itself. And he proved it. The iron cavalry of the Great Tang roamed east and west of Tianshan Mountain and across the northern and southern Great Desert. Aside from the first few years of the dynasty, the northern tribes truly never had a chance to cross the Great Wall into the Central Plains."

"He was a nearly perfect emperor. The only stain on his record is the Xuanwu Gate Incident. But such things are sometimes unavoidable in the pursuit of an imperial destiny. In reality, the Xuanwu Gate Incident didn’t really affect the common people; very few were implicated and killed as a result."

As Wang Chenning recounted this history, the others fell silent, listening intently.

Yang Xiaokang and the other attendants, including their tour guide, also stopped speaking to listen to Wang Chenning’s historical account.

"The prosperity of the Tang Dynasty led to the ’Tang people’ becoming another name for the people of Huaxia, much like the ’Han people’ before them. As a result, Chinese culture influenced half the world. Envoys from Shilla and Japan once even quarreled over their seating arrangements. Countless emissaries, drawn by its fame, flocked to Chang’an. Back then, nearly all foreign peoples were proud just to be recognized by the Tang Empire. The global influence of Tang-era culture is unrivaled by any other dynasty."

"When I’m in Chang’an, I often visit the Zhao Mausoleum to pay my respects to Li Er. If you guys ever visit while I’m there, I’ll show you around. I’ll take you to climb Jiuzong Mountain!"

The moment Wang Chenning finished speaking, everyone started talking at once, excitedly saying they wanted to visit Chang’an and have him be their tour guide.

"But if you’re asking about the emperor who *amazes* me the most, then it has to be the man in this mausoleum, Zhu Chongba!" After discussing Li Shimin, Wang Chenning moved on to Zhu Yuanzhang. "He started with nothing but a begging bowl. He was a cowherd, a monk, and a beggar who ultimately staged an incredible comeback to become emperor, driving the Mongol Yuan dynasty back to the Great Desert. Sun Yat-sen’s call to ’expel the Tartars’ wasn’t entirely successful, but Zhu Chongba’s was. He created the last golden age for the Han people. Plus, he had a great son. Crown Prince Zhu Biao was the gold standard for all crown princes in history. It’s a shame Zhu Biao died young. Otherwise, the glory of the Great Ming might have surpassed any other era!"

After he finished his imperial history lesson, Zhao Xiao’an smiled at Wang Chenning and said, "I just posted what you said on my Weibo. Hope it gets me some more followers!"

Yang Xiaofei hmphed, then added, "You talk so much about it. Aren’t you just jealous of the emperor’s life? You’re just dreaming of being one yourself!"

Wang Chenning didn’t deny it, replying with a grin, "To wield power over the world by day, and rest on a beauty’s lap by night—aren’t those the only two dreams a man needs in his life?"

The others laughed along with him. Yang Xiaokang and his companions took Wang Chenning’s words as a joke.

But the other women in the group seemed to sense something more to his words.