Chapter Twenty-One: Meeting Eighty-Two Wives

Gao Buyi shut himself away in the imperial study for four or five days, not stepping outside even once. He ate and slept within its confines, accompanied only by Shangguan Peihui. Both Lady Yang and Lady Wang—formerly known as Lady Mei, Wang Shuping—sent messengers to inquire after him, hoping for an audience, but Gao Buyi sent them all away.

On the sixth day, after countless revisions, Gao Buyi finally completed the first five-year plan for the Great Tang.

“Hahaha! It’s done! At last, my efforts haven’t been in vain. Come, Hui’er, read it aloud for me, let’s see if anything still needs amending.”

“Yes! Congratulations, Your Majesty!”

“Haha! Hui’er’s voice is still so pleasant. Go on, read!”

“Yes! The first five-year plan for the Great Tang consists of four major points. First: pacifying the refugees. Refugees have existed since the founding of the state, and the methods of previous dynasties only dealt with the symptoms, not the root cause. After returning home, the refugees soon become displaced again. Currently, there are no less than four hundred thousand refugees throughout Tang territory, leading to rampant banditry in many regions. The root cause is their lack of farming skill and the scarcity of land. Therefore, new fertile lands suitable for agriculture must be sought to be reclaimed and cultivated.”

“Well, Hui’er, what do you think? Share your opinion.”

“Your Majesty, refugees have existed in every dynasty, never truly eradicated. Scarcity of land is just one reason; the main issue is their lack of farming skill. Even when the court grants them land, they can’t sustain themselves and their families, so they end up selling their land and becoming refugees again.”

“You’re quite right, but it’s also that good farmland in Guanzhong is too scarce. I know of a wild region with fertile soil. If we manage to reclaim it, one acre there could yield as much as two acres in Guanzhong.”

“Is there really such a place in the world? Where is it?” Why are there always people starving to death in every dynasty? It’s because farmers’ taxes are too high and the yields are limited. The current Tang is relatively prosperous; the people barely manage to get by, busy in times of plenty and idle in times of scarcity. At the end of the year, there might be a little surplus, which is already considered good fortune.

In a feudal society, the people’s longing for land rivals the poets’ pursuit of beauty.

Thus, when Shangguan Peihui heard of such fertile land, she couldn’t help but lose composure.

“Haha! If I say it exists, it does. Don’t worry, you’ll find out in time. Go on, read the rest.”

“Yes! Second: restoring the people's livelihood, reclaiming farmland, adapting to local conditions, promoting new grains, so every household can have three meals a day and surplus grain every year. Your Majesty, even immortals couldn’t achieve this.”

“Hahaha! What immortals can’t do, this man before you can.”

Watching the self-assured Gao Buyi, Shangguan Peihui instantly became a devoted admirer, believing him wholeheartedly and nodding excitedly.

“Continue!”

“Third: appeasing the scholars, opening special exams, establishing academies, promoting new learning, so knowledge can be put to use. Fourth: expanding and reorganizing the army, strengthening border defenses.” Shangguan Peihui finished reading in one breath, and Gao Buyi nodded with satisfaction.

“Hui’er, later, have Du Fu copy this out and have it mounted and hung in the imperial study. I want to look at it every day, to see if I can accomplish these things in five years—you’ll oversee me.”

“I dare not!”

“Haha! I’m hungry. Let’s be extravagant today—four dishes and a soup.” Normally, Gao Buyi had only one dish and rice.

When Gao Buyi announced he wanted to eat, Shangguan Peihui immediately ordered someone to fetch food from the imperial kitchen.

Gao Buyi’s writing was soon mounted and brought in. He personally directed Shangguan Peihui to hang it right in front of the imperial desk, so he could see it at a glance.

“Your Majesty, the two noble consorts have sent messengers several times, saying they wish to pay their respects to you,” Shangguan Peihui reported quietly, taking advantage of Gao Buyi’s good mood.

“What need is there for that? I’m fine,” Gao Buyi replied offhandedly, but thought it wasn’t right to keep avoiding them forever, so he said, “Hui’er, accompany me to the harem.”

“Yes!”

Gao Buyi stepped out of the Hall of Announcements, and at the door unexpectedly encountered Du Fu.

He laughed immediately, “Director Du, you’re here to see me about something? Come in, please!”

“Your Majesty is busy every day; mine is but a trivial matter, I can wait.”

“Alright, what is it? Speak,” seeing that Du Fu wouldn’t move, Gao Buyi urged him to talk.

“On the night of the fifteenth day of the first month, Your Majesty said you would summon Li Bai—” Du Fu had been urged by Li Bai, and sympathized with his friend’s anxiety, so he took the opportunity of delivering Gao Buyi’s writing to the Hall of Announcements, determined to remind him.

Waiting for the emperor’s summons, Li Bai had abstained from drink and hardly ate or slept these days.

“Oh! Damn, I got too busy and forgot,” Gao Buyi slapped his forehead and cursed, then quickly asked, “Is he still in Chang’an?”

“He is!”

“Good, go tell him that in three days, I’ll receive him at the Hall of Announcements.”

“Yes! Thank you, Your Majesty! I take my leave!” Hearing that the emperor was simply too busy and not avoiding Li Bai, Du Fu finally relaxed. His friend’s opportunity had finally arrived.

Arriving at the harem, the concubines, already informed, had gathered in the Phoenix Song Hall to await him. This was also at Gao Buyi’s request—meeting so many one by one would take forever, so it was best to see them all together. More lively, too.

Lady Wang was unconcerned and busied herself caring for the other concubines present. Lady Yang was somewhat displeased—after so many days seeking an audience, she finally had the chance, hoping to bring up the matter of An Lushan. Her cousin had asked several times and sent plenty of gifts; it seemed today’s plans would come to nothing once again.

Looking at the crowd of beautiful women before him, Gao Buyi felt a bit uneasy. The women of Tang were bold in dress—even in snowy weather, wearing fur robes yet half-exposing their chests, standing outside shivering just to greet him.

Gao Buyi hurriedly said, “It’s freezing, hurry inside.” With that, he strode quickly into the Phoenix Song Hall.

“We’re all one family; there’s no need for such formality in the future. Don’t catch cold again.”

Hearing the emperor’s concern, the concubines quickly thanked him, voices as lively as songbirds. Surrounded by elegantly dressed women of exquisite beauty, Gao Buyi felt anxious—eighty-two wives, how could he care for them all?

Seeing Gao Buyi silent, the beautiful women stared at him, also not speaking. Scanning the group, Gao Buyi suddenly noticed a few girls on the outer edge of the line, a bit shorter than the others. He squeezed over and asked, “How old are you this year?”

“Your Majesty, I am fourteen.”

Gao Buyi nearly fainted upon hearing this. What misfortune was this? He then asked the others who seemed about the same age—none were older than sixteen, yet all were his wives. What a predicament.

“You girls—one, two, three... sixteen in total—do you all know how to read?”

“Yes, Your Majesty! We can read.”

“We can read!”

Most girls chosen for the palace were daughters of nobility and scholarly families, so of course they could read. Otherwise, how could they serve the emperor?

“Good, good! Since you can read, starting tomorrow, you’ll study at the separate hall by Taiye Pool. When the Tang Academy is established, you’ll be its first batch of instructors—though that depends on whether you’re capable enough to teach.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty!”

“Your Majesty, I wish to join in the study as well.”

“What I teach is quite dull.”

“I do not mind.”

“Alright, you’re included. What’s your name?”

“Wang Shuping.”

“Hmm!—A fine name.”

Is that all? Wang Shuping was a bit puzzled by the emperor’s behavior.

Gao Buyi’s mind was full of how to care for his legion of wives. Now he addressed everyone, “Anyone else who wishes to learn can join them. When you have free time, read more books, do some needlework, practice music, chess, calligraphy, and painting if you know them. Don’t spend all your days before the mirror. After a while, anyone would grow depressed—it’s not good for your health.”