The Prince of Travelers

First Lesson

“Welcome, Prince. It's great to see you here after a long time without meeting,” welcome Grandpa Ma who was surprised when he found Li An did not come alone. He also welcomed two others who had come with the Eighth Prince.

“Grandfather, have the books I asked for come?” ask Li An then. Before returning to the palace, he asked Grandpa Ma to search the archives regarding foreigners from the Arab lands. Despite having already met and interacted with them in person, Li An felt that he still had to find out about them further.

“I've found it, Prince. However, it was a trade document dating back hundreds of years. Are you sure you want to read that parchment?” asked Grandpa Ma to confirm Li An's choice. There was a hint of regret clearly visible on his face.

“What is no other data about them? As their culture or beliefs may be?” Li An made clear his request. Yun Jili watched the little prince closely. He did not expect that his little master was more interested in foreign cultures than the philosophy commonly studied by the imperial family.

“Oh, it's fitting that the emperor told me to focus on teaching him to ride and protect myself. It turned out that the Eighth Prince had unique tastes,” whispered Wang Hongli who was then reciprocated with a small nod by Yun Jili.

“The emperor wants us to accompany the Eighth Prince to travel,” Yun Jili said from behind the fan he carried. This time, it was Wang Hongli who nodded. The strong-bodied young man also smiled happily. He began to imagine an exciting adventure that he might be going through in a few years.

“Honey once, I did not find such an archive. Just an old trading history that is closely related to foreigners from the Arab land,” Grandpa Ma also expressed his regret, “I've put the parchment in the reading room you used to wear. Again, I'm sorry.”

“Did Uncle Fengying not have it?” Li An recalled the scroll that Li Fengying had read while still in Guangzhou. He firmly believed that the scroll was not a trading document.

“Prince Zhizhe? Ah, maybe he has. This old man had absolutely no memory of the Minister of Foreign Affairs. Whereas, we were close together,” Grandpa Ma scratched the back of his grayed head. His futouya hat became tilted because of that. He also promised, “I will try to copy it if Prince Zhizhe allows. Please Prince be patient.”

“Thank you, Grandpa Ma,” Li An went to his favorite reading room. Yun Jili and Wang Hongli followed behind. They paid attention to the interior of the Small Archive Pagoda which displayed an ancient impression. There are many intricate artistic carvings that decorate it.

“What Prince is interested in trading?” yun Jili asked as soon as she saw Li An begin to open the parchment that Grandpa Ma had prepared.He already had a shadow regarding the exact lesson for Li An. So, the rest stayed to link the little prince's talent with his interest.

“Hm? Trading?” Li An turned his head, “Okay, I just want to read it a little.”

“It was a heavy book. The young scholar did not necessarily understand it either,” Wang Hongli commented. Although not as smart as Yun Jili, he was still a young man born from a large family. He has the merit to be referred to as a baccalaureate in addition to his degree as a swordsman.

“Well, it is difficult,” Li An agrees with that opinion. Yun Jili also advised, “I see you are interested in the culture of foreigners. How about we start the lesson on the Trade Path? This material will be very important for you in the future.”

“Trading Line?” Li An was trying to understand the intent of the Silver Fox Scholar.

Yun Jili nodded. He also borrowed a bit of parchment that Li An opened. Before starting the explanation, he flipped through the documents. His forehead shriveled after a while. He sighed and closed it with a disappointed face, “Ah, sorry. I guess there's a map in this volume document.”

“Peta?” Li An got up from her seat and left the shelves inside the reading room. It didn't take long to find the archive he was looking for. He also pulled a thick book whose papers were somewhat sticking out, asking for a new thread of volume. “You mean something like this?”

Yun Jili received a sheet of skin that looked very old. The skin is a map of the Three Ages of the Nation that is now irrelevant, but enough just for basic knowledge. The Silver Fox Scholar did not expect to find such a very important thing in this small pagoda.

Wang Hongli silently watched. To be honest, the young swordsman did not like his name studying. However, he could not turn his gaze to the Eighth Prince on the first day of work. He is still trying to read the character of the boy who became his master.

“This is enough,” Yun Jili smiled thinly, “I think it will be a long time if we explain the Three Ages of Nations first. We can discuss that history later. Let's review the material Trade Path.”

Since hundreds of years ago, trade relations between the East and the West are interconnected, both by land and sea. Both are connected by various routes and routes. This path not only has an impact on the aspect of trade alone, but also on politics, culture, religion, and other things that are closely related to human life in every route through it.

“For example,” Yun Jili reviews religions that are widely embraced by the people of the empire besides Taoism. The religion evolved from Hindustan in the Central Continent. Their panditas came with merchants, travelers, even official state envoys. “Emperor Tang builds a good relationship with them. So, naturally we find many Buddhist monks and temples in the Capital Chang’an and other Tang Empire territories.”

Yun Jili also alluded to the religions that came from the Western Continent. Especially the religion that developed in the two main empires there, Rum and Pars. He even discussed the envoys sent by the new Arab state, the Caliphate.

“Prince is very interested in them, isn't it?” Yun Jili confirmed his observation. He continued after Li An nodded, “I have read as a result of Prince Zhizhe's investigation of the Arabs. They are tribes living in the desert. Not many fertile places there. Before the Messenger came, they worshipped gods who were manifested in the form of statues. The Messenger of God can unite his tribe with a religion that is wise and sublime, that is, a religion that does not worship gods other than God Almighty.”

“I heard, for that reason they refused to bow down to the emperor,” Wang Hongli said. Yun Jili nodded, “Well, that's their reason. So the emperor decided not to bother him. If we kill and act arbitrarily at the delegations of other countries, then it is the same that we declare war on them. It was very bad to see how unfortunately the Pars Empire that had managed hundreds of years could be defeated by a newly born remote country.”

“Is it because the Arabs are too strong?” Li An was curious.

“Entai?” Yun Jili shrugged, “The Pars Empire itself is very strong. They had well-trained soldiers, full armaments, and many mighty elephants. Until now, I do not believe the empire has been conquered.”

“What's the impact on the Tang Empire?” in Li An's head sprung various questions. If you look at the experience of his interaction with foreigners from Arabia, they do not bring influence other than in economic and social aspects in the cities of trade.

“The influence of the Khilafah State is enormous. It would be great if we could see how vast the Pars Empire they conquered was. Too bad we can't see the Western World in this map,” Yun Jili twirled her snow-white haircut, then sighed, “Well, that kind of map is a valuable asset. We won't be able to carelessly access it.”

After that, Yun Jili explained the maritime trade route. His finger tapped on a few dots on the ancient map. All of them were the coordinates of the port and the trading center that the Tang Empire had.

“This is where we sell and receive rare and valuable commodities such as spices that come from the islands in the south,” Yun Jili said with a faint smile. Wang Hongli patted beside him a moment ago out of boredom, whereas Li An was still solemnly listening.

“Islands in the south? What kind of people are they?” li An asked curiously. During his lifetime, only foreigners from Arabia had ever seen. He firmly believed that the appearance of the southern islanders must also be different from the inhabitants of the Tang Empire.

“Hm, they have thousands of different tribes. Hard to describe it,” Yun Jili scratched her head with one finger, “I myself have also not met many of them.”

Time passed without feeling as long as Yun Jili and Li An were engrossed in discussion. When Wang Hongli woke up, it was already late afternoon. Coincidentally the first class of the Eighth Prince had already ended by then. They also began to prepare to return.

“Drug, Grandpa Ma,” parted Li An who replied with a smile of reverence by Grandpa Ma. Just as he left earlier, the boy was riding a horse with Wang Hongli. He sat in front trying to get used to the height of the horse.

When he arrived in front of Aixin Pavilion, Li An saw his older brother was already waiting. Apparently, Li Huanran had just intended to pick up the Eighth Prince because he had not come home. Out of annoyance, the princess pinched Li An's cheeks in a fit of anxiety.

“Not that I told you?” Li Huanran nagged, “Don't come home too late. I think there's nothing going on with you.”

“Why is Brother worried so?” li An protest after successfully freeing his cheek from the pinch of the brother, “Usually I did come home at this hour!”

“Ih .. Anyway don't go home too late. If there's anything how?” the Sewot Li Huanran. He turned to Yun Jili and Wang Hongli who were still standing, “Tuan Pendekar, Mr. Scholar, thank you for taking care of my sister. But next time don't go home too late. The Eighth Prince has other schedules besides studying and practicing.”

“What!?” Li An was about to refute, but Li Huanran had already silenced her first.

“Good, Princess. Sorry for our sassness,” replied Yun Jili representing. They were also allowed to leave. Before moving on, Wang Hongli reported that there would be his team standing guard around Aixin Pavilion from today on.

Li Huanran only nodded. He dragged his brother into Aixin Pavilion. Yun Jili and Wang Hongli looked at each other after seeing the incident. Just a moment ago, they were convinced that Li An was an adult child. But a child is still a child. Li An's attitude in front of the Third Princess had already explained everything.

...***...

“That's how it is, Sire,” Yun Jili said after reporting the results of his observations on the first day, “As per Librarian Ma said, the Eighth Prince has a high comprehension ability. As long as properly educated, he will be an important figure in the future even if he does not become emperor.”

“Sarjana Fox Perak also recognized the talent of my son. I'm glad to hear it,” Emperor Yung Wei smiled proudly. The middle-aged man asked the young scholar to immediately compile the best lessons for Li An while keeping a close eye on his growth. He promised to provide appropriate compensation in the future.

“Thank you, Sire. It is an honor for me to be a talented teacher of the Eighth Prince,” Yun Jili also resigned. The sky turned red as he walked out of the emperor's room. On the way home, he met a dark-robed old man.

“Sarjana Fox Silver, long time no see. I didn't expect you to be this big now,” said Minister Liu in pleasantries. Yun Jili simply replied back to her senses and smiled thinly as usual. He was lazy to deal long with a palace official. “Salam, Minister In.”

“How is the figure of the Eighth Prince in your opinion?” Minister Liu then asked his wishes after enough pleasantries. That's not something that should be kept secret. So, Yun Jili answered him without hesitation, “He's a smart boy. Didn't the Minister of the Interior already hear it? Moreover, the Eighth Prince had two unique sides. Sometimes he behaves like an adult, sometimes behaving like a child in general.”

“Only that?” Minister Liu felt a bit annoyed with Yun Jili's thin smile that looked cynical. However, there was nothing to blame from the young scholar's attitude. It might just be Minister Liu's exaggerated feelings.

“What kind of answer does Minister Liu expect?” yun Jili asked. He did not let go of his faint smile at all, “I have only been a day with the Eighth Prince. No important information you can get from me.”

“Hah .. so, huh? I was indeed too hasty,” Minister Liu slightly wasted face, thinking of various scenarios that might happen in the future. Before he left, Yun Jili said the words that caught his attention, “Ah? Could it be that you are curious about the possibility of the Eighth Prince becoming emperor?”

“What do you know?” Minister Liu did not deny Yun Jili's guess at all. The white-haired scholar replied confidently, “It is almost impossible for him to be emperor. However, I believe he can be a great support for his brother who wants to become emperor.”

“Why do you think so?” Minister Liu did not immediately believe. Well, anyway, it's just a guess. Yun Jili then revealed, “First, because the Eighth Prince himself expressed his reluctance. Second, he was more interested in foreign lands than the Tang Empire itself. Lastly, he has no strong supporters. I hope this answer is enough to satisfy you.”

“Of course. Anyway, this isn't something that matters. I paid first. Thank you for your explanation, Bachelor of the Silver Fox,” Minister Liu saluted accordingly. He left Yun Jili with new speculations, while Yun Jili left with simple little expectations. “Hopefully there are no troublesome things going forward.”