I am immortal in history

The next day.

Li Ping'an came to the Library Pavilion to order.

Daqian Library is located on the north side of the palace and is also the northernmost building in the capital. According to the fact that it faces south, the palace is backed by the Library.

It is rumored that Taizu specially selected the site, meaning that the collection of books would be relied upon by the country.

There were Imperial Guards on duty at the door. After checking Li Ping'an's edict, they immediately went in to report.

After a while.

A gray-haired old man came out, wearing a navy blue official robe. The cuffs were stained with black ink, and the hem of the clothes was washed white and looked very sloppy.

"Master Tang, I am Tong Chengzong, temporarily appointed as the bachelor of the Library Pavilion."

"I've met Mr. Tong."

Li Ping'an quickly bowed and saluted. The old man in front of him was his immediate boss, the chief official of the Library.

"No need to be polite."

Tong Chengzong led Li Ping'an through the door and said as he walked: "Our area is a nursing home. It's clear water, so we don't have to worry about red tape."

Li Ping'an nodded slightly and understood the meaning of the words.

The officials on duty in the Library Pavilion are all old men with no future. They have waited for years to receive a salary. Everyone is half buried in the ground waiting to die, so naturally there is no need to flatter them.

For example, all the officials in Tianlao greeted Li Ping'an, but only one official from the library came out, and the other officials didn't care.

The Library Pavilion is not a building, but a complex of buildings covering an area of ​​dozens of acres. Sixty attics for storing books were built according to mysterious laws, and they were named after the order of the heavenly stems and earthly branches.

The two passed through several moon gates and came to Wushen Tower.

When I entered the door, I saw two green-robed officials sitting on the imperial chair, writing in their left hands and tea in their right hands, reading a page and taking a sip. They were very leisurely and comfortable.

Tong Chengzong scolded: "Old Zhang and Old Li are slacking off again."

"We are editing books, not fishing."

Lao Zhang on the left raised his eyebrows, nodded to Li Ping'an, and explained: "In this volume of "Qing Wei Zi Jin Dan Da Yao", there is an extra "Zai" word than in the other volume. We are discussing who is right and who is wrong. Woolen cloth!"

When Tong Chengzong heard this, instead of being angry, he warned him.

"This is a serious matter and must be checked thoroughly."

"..."

Li Ping'an was speechless when he heard this. He had read this Taoist scripture before. It didn't matter whether it was more or less. After all, it was just a modal particle, and it turned out to be a colleague's work.

It can be seen from this incident that Cangshuge is really a nursing home!

Tong Chengzong introduced: "This is Tang Xuan, a new scholar who came to the library to repair books. He will be on duty here from now on."

Lao Zhang was surprised and said: "Are you the sixtieth Jinshi?"

Li Ping'an nodded and said, "I got it by luck."

"It's amazing."

Lao Zhang looked envious: "I heard your story. You studied in prison for eleven years and became a high school scholar. Such an unprecedented feat will definitely go down in history."

Lao Li's eyes lit up: "Master Tang is on duty with us, maybe you can leave your name along the way!"

"That makes sense."

Lao Zhang exclaimed and looked at Li Ping'an with much more eager eyes: "Master Tang, if there is anything you don't understand in the future, just ask Lao Zhang."

Li Ping'an said: "Just call me Old Tang, it seems close to me."

"Not bad, old Tang, come and taste this aged Tieguanyin..."

Under the eager invitation of Lao Li and Lao Zhang, they quickly became friendly with Li Ping'an and sat on the Grand Master's chair, sipping tea and reading.

Seeing this situation, Tong Chengzong saved himself a lot of trouble and left after informing him.

There are four tables and four chairs in the Wushen Building, two on the left and two on the left. They are fully equipped with four editorial officials. However, no one comes here unless necessary, and most of the buildings are not full.

Li Ping'an's office is on the lower right, Lao Zhang is on the right, and Lao Li is diagonally opposite.

While drinking tea, I flipped through the books on the table, "Tai Shang Dong Yuan's Soul-Nursing Mantra," "The Miao Jing of Ming Zhen, Destroy Illusion, and Connect Immortals," "Quotations of True Monarch Qingxu..."

There are more than a dozen books, both old and new, both thin and thick, all of which are Taoist secret scriptures on cultivating immortals, which is what Taoist Master Yan calls the Apocrypha.

After all, there is no way to cultivate immortality in the world. The so-called immortal scriptures are just conjectures of the ancestors. They were compiled into books and then circulated in the world. I don’t know how many future generations have been deceived.

Lao Zhang said: "These books were left by Lao Xu. He devoted himself to cultivating immortality and studying and refining elixirs every day. He has gone crazy."

"We old men have to think about it a little bit, otherwise it will be the same as death!"

Lao Li changed his voice and said: "Lao Xu's thoughts are too absurd and whimsical. We brothers are realistic. Leaving our names in the history books is much more reliable than cultivating immortals."

Li Ping'an listened to the two old men talking, and what he originally thought was a boring book revision turned out to be quite interesting.

"Old Zhang, what should I do on duty?"

"Nothing to do."

Lao Zhang said: "It has been 800 years since the Book Collection Pavilion was established. The books that should be revised have been completed long ago, so we will find faults. If yes, we will read, taste tea, play chess, drink wine and listen to music..."

Li Ping'an said in surprise: "Can you still drink wine and listen to music?"

"certainly."

Lao Zhang said confidently: "Drinking wine is compiling wine-making books, and listening to music is recording the music scores of the sages. It is not idle time."

Oops!

Li Ping'an exclaimed in amazement. In this way, everything in the world can be regarded as repairing books.

Then I asked a few more questions, and I began to understand more and more what a pension yamen is.

On duty, you just read and drink tea, and you can make up any excuse to recuperate. If you don't come for ten and a half months, no one will care. If you don't see your colleagues for a long time, there is a high probability that you will receive a funeral note.

"That's very good."

Li Ping'an nodded with satisfaction. It was really a good place and he would not delay going out to do errands.

"Old Li, where should I go to find books for compilation?"

"In the sixty libraries, anyone can enter at will, and no one can ask Old Tong for the key on duty."

Old Li asked curiously: "Old Tang wants to read... well, what kind of book does he want to study?"

Li Ping'an pretended to think for a moment and replied: "I am interested in strange gods, strange people and strange things, ancient and modern unofficial history, etc., so I will compile such classics."

"Tsk tsk, another old Liu!"

Old Li said: "Old Liu is on duty at Wuchen Tower. He likes these kinds of books the most. He keeps saying that there is historical truth in unofficial history."

Li Ping'an asked, "Is that really the case?"

"What the heck, the wild history Lao Liu studied is too wild."

Lao Li said: "Some time ago, I was told that through unofficial history, Taizu lived for a thousand years and is still alive!"

Lao Zhang laughed and mocked Lao Liu.

A strange color flashed in Li Ping'an's eyes. There are really immortal people in the world. According to what Taoist Master Yan said, there is more than one.

Daqian Taizu swept across the world, and he might have obtained the magical object of immortality. As for why there was news of his death and why he remained hidden from the world, maybe it was because organizations such as Butian Sect were chasing him.

After sipping tea and chatting for a while, it was noon.

Li Ping'an went to Wuchen Tower to visit Lao Liu and brought back a thick stack of books, "Shenyi Zhi," "Souqi Zhuan," "Youyang Miscellaneous Books," "Jiuzhou Guangji..."

According to what Lao Liu said, this is only a very small part of the classics on gods, monsters and strange things.

The Daqian Library was established eight hundred years ago. The collection of books is so vast. Even a certain category contains tens of thousands of volumes, which is difficult to read in a lifetime.

Noon.

Li Ping'an went to have dinner with Lao Zhang and Lao Li. There is a separate kitchen in the library, located in the middle of all the attics. It was originally the lobby of the government office, but now it has been converted into a banquet hall.

There are small tables for each person on the left and right. They eat here on weekdays and gather during holidays.

Since fireworks are prohibited in the library, all the food is brought from outside, including chicken, duck, fish, meat, wine and delicacies.

Li Ping'an sat down next to Lao Zhang and Lao Li, looked around and counted, there were about forty old men, and not more than sixty including those who took sick leave to rest.

No wonder some attics are locked. It is true that there are too few editing officials.

According to Lao Zhang, when the library was at its most prosperous, there were 300 editors and 5,000 readers, which was considered to be at its peak.

while eating.

Tong Chengzong briefly introduced Li Ping'an. Everyone had heard of Li Ping'an's name, and sincerely or pretended to welcome him, everyone returned to their respective areas to be on duty.

On the way back, Li Ping'an asked curiously.

"Does Hubu have no objection to the way we eat this way?"

Each department of the Daqian cadre has its own kitchen. For example, Tang Ying's punishment department usually eats at the official office at noon, and the money consumed is allocated by the household department.

The food standards were set by Taizu and left an edict that would never be changed, so they were very frugal and simple.

The meal we just had exceeded the quota a hundred times.

“The Ministry of Household Affairs dares not to allocate funds!”

Lao Zhang snorted coldly and glanced at the imperial city.

"I failed in the struggle and lost my ambition. I voluntarily came here to study and wait to die. Why can't I enjoy it? If I dare to be treated badly, then I will join forces and return to the court and fight to the death!"

Li Ping'an was stunned and inquired about Lao Zhang's background.

He became a Jinshi in the 40th year of Jianwu, and became the minister of the Ministry of Rites. In the 3rd year of Zhengtong, he failed in the political battle with Su Mingyuan. He knelt outside the imperial city for three days and three nights, and came to the library to repair books in frustration.

Li Ping'an smiled and said: "Old Zhang, you are actually a stubborn old party member..."

"..."

Lao Zhang was silent for a long time and sighed: "I was stupid when I was studying. I only thought that the ancestral system was immutable. In fact, there is no immutable method in the world!"

Lao Li agreed: "Although Mr. Su is dead, his name will last forever!"

Li Ping'an looked at the two old men in surprise. Who would have thought that the stubborn old party had now become a real new party.

There is nothing more mysterious about worldly affairs and human nature than this.

I spent half a day hanging out in the morning and worked hard in the afternoon.

Li Ping'an flipped through the books looking for strange stories about the resurrection. Every time he found something, he copied and recorded it. When he saved more, he screened the true and false one by one. When he encountered something that could not be proved, he went to the place where the incident occurred to investigate.

This is something that will take me a long time, so I can’t rush it.

Lao Zhang and Lao Li were still drinking tea. They discussed for a while whether they should "Zai" or not, and finally decided by drawing lots.

After completing today's book revision, the two of them thought hard as usual: How to leave a name in history?

"I dreamed of a good idea yesterday. Let's take advantage of the opportunity to repair the book and leave our names in the gaps so that future generations can remember them when they see it..."

"Old Li, you are confused. This method has been discussed. There are thousands of people with the same name. Who knows it is us two if it is passed down?"

"I have another plan, add a few words to the strange people and strangers with the same name and make them our sect!"

"A gentleman would not steal someone's reputation!"

"..."

Li Ping'an listened to the argument and shook his head secretly.

The two laughed at Lao Liu and Lao Xu's paranoia, but they didn't know that they were also the same. Their obsession with leaving their names in the annals of history was no different from cultivating immortality and being obsessed with unofficial history.

How can we not be obsessed with pushing others ahead of ourselves?

Read until nightfall.

Li Ping'an glanced at the window and saw that it was already the You hour.

The imperial officials were on duty in autumn and winter, and Lao Zhang and Lao Li had already bid farewell and went home, leaving Li Ping'an alone to study, with the cold wind whistling in his ears, adding to the loneliness.

"Read a few more volumes."

Until it was completely dark, and candles were forbidden to be lit in the building, Li Pingan tidied his desk, got up and went to the small room next to the library.

When the Cangshuge was prosperous, there were thousands of officials, and they built small rooms for offices. Now they have been transformed into official residences for officials to rest and take a nap when they are tired.

There was a long row of blue bricks and gray tiles in the official residence. Li Pingan found a room at random and pushed the door in. The interior decoration was extremely simple.

One couch, one table, and one chair, quite empty.

There are janitors cleaning the place on weekdays, but it is always clean and tidy.

Li Ping'an sat cross-legged on the bed, running the Hunyuan Gong. His eyes suddenly turned red, the dark lines between his eyebrows were like an extra eye, and his pale hair was faintly glowing with red.

The terrifying murderous intention surged into his heart, constantly attacking his soul's will.

"If you take shortcuts, you have to pay the price!"

Li Ping'an tried his best to stabilize his mind and practiced the Tianqigong method for two weeks. His energy increased slightly, and then he closed the doors, windows and clothes and lay down.

Outside the window, there is a strong wind and snow. In my dream, I am happy with my wife.

The next morning.

Li Ping'an opened his eyes and saw the rafters on the roof. He was stunned for a long time before waking up from his dream. He was sure that the pain and sadness were the truth. He got up and opened the window, and saw a vast white area that was really clean.

"Auspicious snow heralds a good harvest, and I don't know how many people will freeze to death..."

At midnight, I went back to Wushen Building to continue reading. Since I was reading with a purpose, I flipped through the pages very quickly. At noon, I finished reading the pile of books that I had brought yesterday.

Li Pingan came to the kitchen and found that not only Lao Zhang and Lao Li were not on duty, but most of his colleagues were not there.

"Old Tang, didn't you go back yesterday?"

Seeing Li Ping'an's doubts, Tong Chengzong immediately explained: "No matter how declining the Library Pavilion is, there are still countless precious collections, guarded by masters from the Forbidden Army and Dongchang."

Li Ping'an said: "I read too late yesterday and it snowed again, so I slept in the official residence for the night."

"Don't be too tired in the future. Your Majesty asked Eunuch Yun to pass the message, and you must take good care of Old Tang."

Tong Chengzong's implication was that if Xiang Rui died midway, it would be a slap in His Majesty's face, so Li Ping'an must live a good life, and the older he lives, the better.

"I thank you for your kindness!"

Li Pingan burst into tears of gratitude and bowed to the imperial city, looking like a loyal minister.

I stayed in an official residence for the night last night, and a guard immediately reported it to Tong Chengzong. It was obvious that the library was loose on the outside and tight on the inside, not as loose and slack as it seemed.

In the afternoon and even the next day, Lao Zhang and Lao Li were still not on duty.

It wasn't until the snow melted and the ground dried up that the two of them recovered from their illnesses and came back to continue studying how to leave their names in history.

One month has passed in the blink of an eye.

Li Pingan has integrated into the library, or there is nothing to integrate into. The old man here is taciturn and plunges into the vast sea of ​​books to pursue the true, false, false and absurd obsession.

This day.

Tang Ying came outside the Library Pavilion. As Lu Shangshu's confidant, he was one of the most popular young men in the imperial court, but no official went out to greet him.

The old men may be noble, or they may be resentful, and they are somewhat contemptuous and repulsive towards external officials.

The guard on duty announced that Li Ping'an went out and saw his son wearing a green robe.

Tang Ying said in a deep voice: "Father, the Criminal Department has received a major case, which may be related to the Heart-Eating Old Demon."

"Tell me carefully."

Li Ping'an's voice was calm and calm, but the cold wind suddenly became fierce and violent, causing Tang Ying's face to be as painful as a knife, and the majestic murderous intention was terrifying and terrifying.

"A month ago, a refugee went to the capital to report that his son was missing..."

Cases of missing children are very common in Beijing. It is most likely that they were abducted, or they may have fallen into the water or been picked up by wild dogs. After the government officials visited and investigated, no trace was found.

There are dozens of similar cases every year, and the mere refugees are not worthy of a big fight. As a rule, the cases are unsolved.

"Until a few days ago, several subordinate officials from the Ministry of Justice were drinking in Rongfeng Tower and found amputated finger bones in the meat. The witnesses present recognized them as human bones..."