Jia Yi returned to Chang'an from Zhao City, then hurried back to Zhao City with a great many people, gold and silver, pearls and jade, and rare treasures. Although Luo Ling had said he lacked none of these things, how could they truly bring nothing?
Even the Buddha, who delivered all living beings from suffering, required lamp-oil money before passing down the three baskets of Mahayana scriptures.
Could Duke Zhao's State, a semi-independent political, military, economic, and cultural entity, sustain its existence on nothing more than the simple words, "The Sage King above"?
Of course it needed to generate revenue from various sources.
Liu Heng and Luo Jing stood atop the lofty gate tower of the imperial palace, watching from afar as the enormous procession bound for Zhao City departed.
"Another thing accomplished so easily."
Liu Heng suddenly made this baffling remark.
Then he descended the palace gate tower and walked along the palace walls, which were so high they almost blotted out the sky and sun. He looked at several weathered patches near the foot of the walls, the marks of passing years.
He reached a flight of steps with some dust on them. Without caring in the least, he lifted his robe and sat straight down, leaning against the wall. The crown on his head sat somewhat askew as he stared straight at that expanse of azure sky, broad yet seemingly narrow.
Liu Heng suddenly said with feeling, "A Jing, ever since I began ruling in my own right, the events of these past few years have kept me pondering one question: what value does my existence actually have?
"I have always wanted to become a sage sovereign of my age, just as my uncle trained me to be.
"Things have gone very smoothly so far, but when