Chapter 199: Li Chunfeng, Li Jing, Wu Daozi, Jianzhen

Li Chunfeng was born in Yong, Qizhou in the second year of Renshou in Sui Dynasty. He was intelligent and studious since childhood, and read widely, especially astronomy, calendar, mathematics, etc.

Li Chunfeng, who was hailed as a "child prodigy" since childhood, was influenced by his father and read widely, especially in astronomy, geography, Taoism, and the study of yin and yang.

In the seventh year of Sui Dynasty, when he was nine years old, Li Chunfeng traveled to Jingyun Temple in Nantuo Mountain to worship Taoist Zhiyuan as his teacher.

Later, he emerged as a talent. In the 14th year of Sui Dynasty, Li Yuan proclaimed himself emperor and named Li Shimin the King of Qin. In the second year of Tang Gaozu Wude, Li Chunfeng, then 17 years old, returned to his hometown and became a military officer in the Qin Palace after being recommended by Li Shimin's good friend Liu Wenjing.

In the first year of Emperor Taizong's Zhenguan reign, 25-year-old Li Chunfeng wrote a letter to the emperor, offering 7 opinions on the "Wuyin Yuanli" written by Taoist Fu Renjun, which attracted the attention of people at that time. Emperor Taizong adopted of his opinions, appointed him as a general official, and appointed him to work in the Imperial History Bureau. In the Imperial History Bureau, which was responsible for astronomy, geography, calendar making, and history, he fully demonstrated his talents and devoted himself to it for forty years.

Li Chunfeng studied and researched astronomy, calendar, mathematics and astronomical instruments in the Taishi Bureau, and gained a lot. Soon he submitted a memorial to Emperor Taizong of Tang, suggesting to reform the armillary sphere, and Emperor Taizong readily agreed. In the seventh year of Zhenguan, a new armillary sphere was finally made, namely the bronze armillary ecliptic sphere. The ancient double-layer armillary sphere was changed to a triple-layer one, with the outermost being the Liuhe instrument, the middle being the Sanchen instrument, and the innermost being the Siyou instrument. This instrument can measure the ecliptic longitude and latitude, the equatorial longitude and latitude, and the horizontal longitude and latitude. Emperor Taizong awarded Li Chunfeng the title of Chengwulang for his merits and ordered him to place the armillary sphere in Ninghui Pavilion. In the process of developing the armillary sphere, he studied the development and characteristics of the ancient armillary sphere, and wrote seven volumes of "Faxiangzhi", commenting on the gains and losses of the armillary spheres of previous generations.

In the 15th year of Zhenguan, Li Chunfeng was promoted to the position of Doctor of the Ministry of Rites, and in the 18th year, he was promoted to the position of Grand Historian. When he wrote the Book of Jin, he wrote three chapters, namely, Astronomy, Calendar, and Five Elements, which summarized the research results of his predecessors and were particularly meticulous.

In the 22nd year of Zhenguan, Li Chunfeng was appointed as Grand Historian.

Li Chunfeng was the first person in the world to categorize wind. His famous book Yi Si Zhan is the earliest monograph in the history of world meteorology. He and Yuan Tiangang are also said to be the authors of Tui Bei Tu.

Li Ye was very shocked. It was indeed this person. In this case, it was normal that he knew his background so well.

"Haha, Master Li, I'm afraid you came here just to persuade me to come out and help you."

When Li Ye heard Li Guangxiao's words, he couldn't help but raise his eyebrows. This old Taoist priest was worthy of having Li Chunfeng as his guardian spirit. He knew everything.

"Senior, you are indeed very powerful. I will not hide it. The purpose of my coming here is to ask you to come out and help me." "Hey, Master Li's grandfather and I and the old monk have known each other for many years. Master Li has also been blessed by God. Since Master Li has come to ask for help in person, the old monk and I naturally cannot refuse. However, the old monk and I have not fought with anyone for many years. Even if I come out to help, I can only look after the door for the young master."

The old Taoist priest Li Guangxiao still had a kind face and smiled at Li Ye. He happily and decisively agreed to Li Ye's request.

Li Ye was very surprised. He hadn't said anything yet, but he agreed directly?
At this time, the middle-aged man came out with a beautiful middle-aged woman in red, and an old monk also arrived outside the small courtyard.

Among these four, the middle-aged man is named Li Yunlong, the guardian spirit, the immortal martial spirit, and the military god Li Jing.

Li Jing, courtesy name Yaoshi, was born in Didao, Longxi. He was an outstanding military strategist from the late Sui Dynasty to the early Tang Dynasty.

Li Jing was born in Danyang Branch of Li Clan in Longxi. He first served in Sui Dynasty and was appointed as the prefect of Mayi County. Later, he served in Tang Dynasty and followed Li Shimin, the Prince of Qin, to attack Wang Shichong. In the third year of Wude, he assisted Li Xiaogong, the Prince of Zhao, in pacifying Xiao Xian and Fu Gongju in the south, and pacified the tribes in Lingnan. From the eighth year of Wude, he resisted the invasion of DTZ in the northern border. In the third year of Zhenguan, he served as the general manager of Dingxiang Road and led the generals to the north. He attacked Dingxiang at night with 3,000 elite cavalry, which frightened and defeated the tribe of Jie Li Khan. He also rushed to Yinshan and destroyed DTZ in one fell swoop, making the territory of Tang Dynasty extend from the north of Yinshan to the desert. He was appointed as Shangshu You Pushe for his merits and was granted the title of Daiguogong. In the ninth year of Zhenguan, he resigned due to foot disease. In the same year, he was reappointed and led the army to defeat Tuyuhun in the west. Later, he was granted the title of Weiguogong, and was known as "Li Weigong". In his later years, he was sick and kept to himself, not participating in political affairs. In the seventeenth year of Zhenguan, he was listed as "Twenty-four Meritorious Officials in Lingyan Pavilion". In the 23rd year of Zhenguan, Li Jing died of illness at the age of 79. He was granted the title of Si Tu and the governor of Bingzhou, and was posthumously named "Jingwu". He was buried in Zhaoling Mausoleum. During the reign of Emperor Suzong of Tang, he was enshrined in the Temple of King Wucheng and was listed among the Ten Sages. After the late Tang Dynasty, he was gradually deified. In the Later Jin Dynasty, he was posthumously named "King Lingxian". In the Southern Song Dynasty, he was successively named "King Fushi Lingyou Zhonglie".

Li Jing fought for decades in his life and made great contributions to the establishment and development of the Tang Dynasty. Historians praised: "In modern times, the two famous generals, Ying and Wei, are the best in the Chengyan Pavilion." His experience in military management and combat further enriched the ancient Chinese military thought and military theory. He wrote many military books such as "Six Military Mirrors" and "Wei Gong Bing Fa", most of which have been lost. It is said that his discussion with Emperor Taizong of Tang on military affairs, "Questions and Answers between Emperor Taizong of Tang and Li Wei Gong", is a thorough analysis, especially the analysis of Sun Wu's military thought, which has a great influence on later generations.

The beautiful middle-aged woman is named Wu Suqin. She is Li Yunlong's wife and Li Qingmu's mother. She is also the guardian spirit, immortal martial spirit, and painting saint Wu Daozi.

Wu Daozi, also known as Daoxuan, was a famous painter in the Tang Dynasty. He was honored as the Saint of Painting by the history of painting. He was of Han nationality and was from Yangdi. He was born in the first year of Yonglong and died around the first year of Qianyuan. He was orphaned and poor when he was young, but he was famous for his paintings when he was young. He once served as the county lieutenant of Xiaqiu, Yanzhou (now Ziyang, Shandong), but resigned soon after. Later, he drifted to Luoyang and engaged in mural painting. During the Kaiyuan period, he was summoned to the court for his good painting skills and served as a tribute, a doctor of internal teaching, and a friend of King Ning. He once learned calligraphy from Zhang Xu and He Zhizhang, and learned the art of using a brush by watching Gongsun Da Niang's sword dance. He was good at Buddhism, Taoism, gods and ghosts, figures, landscapes, birds and beasts, plants and trees, and pavilions, especially Buddhism, Taoism, figures, and mural painting.

The old monk’s name is Chunyu Xuan, also an old friend of Grandpa Li Ye, the guardian spirit, the immortal spirit, the great monk Jianzhen.

According to the "Song Gaoseng Zhuan" and other records, his surname was Chunyu. He was from Jiangyang, Guangling. He became a monk at a young age and traveled to Luoyang, Chang'an and other places to study Buddhist Tripitaka. Later, he returned to Daming Temple in Yangzhou to preach the Vinaya. In the first year of Tianbao, he was invited by the Japanese monks Rong Rui and Pu Zhao to go to Japan to spread the Vinaya. However, he failed to cross the sea five times due to being blocked by the government or encountering hurricanes. During this period, he lost his eyesight and Rong Rui died. In the twelfth year of Tianbao, Fujiwara Kiyokawa and other Japanese envoys to the Tang Dynasty came to Yangzhou to pay tribute to him and invited him to "spread the precepts to Japan", so he decided to cross the sea for the sixth time. At the end of the fifth year of Tenpyo Shoho in Japan, he landed in Akizumayaura, Satsuma, Japan with the monks Fajin, Tanjing, Ni Zhishou, Upasaka Pansentong and others. The following year, he was welcomed into the capital Nara Todaiji Temple. Soon, he gave Bodhisattva precepts to the Japanese emperor, empress, and crown prince, and gave precepts to more than 440 people including the novice monk Zhengxiu, and gave new precepts to more than 80 monks. From then on, Japan began to have a formal inheritance of Vinaya.

(End of this chapter)