The third emperor of the Sui Dynasty

Chapter 983

"Chongyang" gets its name from "Yang Yao is Nine" in "Book of Changes".In the "Book of Changes", "six" is defined as a negative number, and "nine" is defined as a positive number, which is also "extreme number", referring to the height of the sky as "nine layers". "Nine" is the old yang, which is the pole number of yang. The two anode numbers are superimposed together, which means that ninety-nine returns to one, the beginning of one yuan, and the renewal of everything.Therefore, the ninth day of the ninth lunar month, when the sun and the moon are both nine, is "two nines are repeated", so it is called "double nine".

As early as the Warring States Period, Chongyang has been valued by people, but it is not widely spread. In the Wei and Jin Dynasties, Chongyang was considered to be a season when "clean air rises and dirty air sinks". "Enjoy the fresh air" has become a folk phenomenon. Since then, the festive atmosphere on Chongyang Day has become stronger, and the custom of appreciating chrysanthemums and drinking began to appear, which has been chanted by literati.

But no matter how lively the Double Ninth Festival was, it was still only a folk custom until the time of Emperor Wen of the Sui Dynasty. However, Yang Guang was different from his father Yang Jian. He had the ideal and romantic temperament of a literati in his bones. It was designated as an official holiday. From then on, the court and the people began to celebrate the Double Ninth Festival together. The ceremony of offering sacrifices to the Emperor and ancestors was held early in the morning to thank the Emperor and ancestors for their gifts.Then carry out activities such as climbing high and overlooking, viewing chrysanthemums, picking Chinese herbal medicines, planting dogwood, making wine for health, drinking chrysanthemum wine and so on.

And Yang Tong, a pseudo-literati, also attaches great importance to traditional festivals. He not only carried forward Yang Guang's foundation, but also let county schools and school palaces organize cultural activities such as meeting friends through literature, making the Double Ninth Festival and New Year's Eve, Qingming Festival, Zhongyuan Festival and so on. And it is the four major ancestor worship festivals.When he was in the imperial capital, he took the lead in worshiping the heaven, earth and ancestors, and thanked them for the good harvest. When he was away, Zong Zhengqing and Yang You used to do it for him, but now Yang You and the growing prince Yang Zheng are in charge together.

As for the Tang Dynasty, such celebrations would naturally be held, even more grand than the Sui Dynasty. The Sui Dynasty had a one-day holiday, and the Tang Dynasty had a three-day holiday.This is not because Li's father and son deliberately overwhelmed the Sui Dynasty in this regard, but because after Li and Tang established the country, the Sui Dynasty had been attacking Li and Tang very sharply in terms of public opinion, using various evidence to attack Li from all aspects. Tang's prestige, if they hadn't made a fuss about the four major ancestor worship festivals: New Year's Eve, Qingming Festival, Zhongyuan Festival, and Chongyang Festival, they would definitely have added unfilial piety to the array of crimes such as infidelity, injustice, and unkindness.Therefore, no matter how poor and difficult the situation was, the Tang Dynasty had to hold this kind of grand ceremony every year, so as not to inflict blame on others.Other festivals such as Shangyuan, Shangsi, Dragon Boat Festival, Qixi Festival, and Mid-Autumn Festival are no exception... After the royal families of the Sui and Tang dynasties did this, it is difficult to think of these traditional festivals as popular.

Yang Tong was still fighting in Shu County, so this year's Double Ninth Festival celebration was again organized by Zongzheng Temple in Luoyang, with Prince Yang Zheng taking the lead in offering sacrifices; while in the Tang Dynasty, Li Yuan had nothing to do, so naturally Li Shimin took the lead.

Prince vs. Prince, it was a draw today.

After worshiping the ancestors, Li Shimin held a family banquet in the Jiade Hall of the East Palace. This was the most grand family banquet held by the Li clan in recent years. Therefore, Li Shimin, the master, attached great importance to it. The columns and floors are beautifully decorated.

As soon as you enter the Jiade Gate, you feel as if you are in a sea of ​​flowers. You can see thousands of pots of chrysanthemums blooming proudly and competing for beauty and beauty all over the Jiade Square. Or like a peacock spreading its tail, or like a galaxy landing, or like a dragon exploring the sea... Under the sunshine, it is red like fire, white like snow, and pink like clouds. The big ones are like balls of balls, and the small ones are like delicate lanterns. .It's really fairy-like, full of wit and wit.

The nine-faced high platform in the center of the square is also huge and magnificent. Chrysanthemums of various colors are placed obliquely on the bamboo frame of the nine-faced platform wall. Looking down from the top, you will find that this is a Tai Chi picture made of chrysanthemums. The high platform is located between the two eyes of the yin-yang fish.

Although the state affairs were difficult, Li Shimin's clan relatives gave Li Shimin face. Except for a few princes and county kings who were sick or were leading troops outside, all the rest were present, and even some princess consorts and other relatives also came. Although there were a lot of people, the huge nine-sided platform was not crowded at all.

Chrysanthemum wine and all kinds of exquisite dishes were set on the table in front of everyone, but no one raised their glasses and moved their chopsticks. They all sat in their seats and waited silently.

From time to time, some people looked at the lifelike, empty dragon chair on the main seat.

"Mother and concubine, is the father still unwilling to come?" Li Shimin, who was sitting in the second seat, suddenly asked Concubine Wan Gui who was beside him.

It was no accident that Concubine Wan Gui sat next to Li Shimin. Although Li Yuan was greedy and lustful, he did not canonize the queen after he became emperor, but chased his late wife Dou as queen.Therefore, the biggest concubines in Li and Tang's harem are the four concubines, the noble concubine, Shu concubine, De concubine, and Xian concubine, but Shu concubine and Xian concubine are vacant like queens.Therefore, the harem is managed by Concubine Wan Gui and Concubine Yin De respectively.Concubine Wan Gui was in the same age group as Li Yuan, she was no longer in the limelight, she was no longer liked by Li Yuan, but she was modest, kind and kind, so Li Jiancheng, Li Shimin and Li Xiuning respected this concubine very much.

Concubine Wan Gui glanced at Dugu Mingxiu at the side, shook her head sadly, and sighed softly: "Mingxiu and I went to invite him this morning, but he refused to even meet us..."

Li Shimin was silent for a while, and comforted him: "It's okay, as long as you know that your father is in good health." Looking at the flagpole in the south, he said with a smile: "I'll go see my father when the banquet is over."

Concubine Wan Gui remained silent. The father and son were in the midst of a national crisis, and they should have held together to keep warm and discuss national policies, but because of the palace coup, there was no possibility of reconciliation in this lifetime.

Li Shimin didn't bother with this question anymore, he looked around and fixed his eyes on an empty seat: "Why is the King of Huai'an missing?"

The kings also searched everywhere, but there was no trace of Li Shentong. Even Li Yuanheng, the king of Feng, Li Yuanfang, the king of Zhou, and Li Yuanjia, the king of Han, who had worshiped their ancestors in the Taimiao before, disappeared, but they only called Li Yuan as the three kings. Going back, it's not good to ask a question.

"There's no need to wait for them." Li Shimin announced, "Let's open the table!"

"Here."

When the order is issued, teams of beautiful dancers come to the stage and dance lightly, and the red water chestnuts are flying all over the sky, which is pleasing to the eye.

Everyone enjoyed singing and dancing while drinking chrysanthemum wine.

After drinking for three rounds, the somewhat drunk Li family also forgot about state affairs, and their artistic cells began to be stimulated by the alcohol. Some stroked their beards to enjoy singing and dancing, and casually commented on the dance music; some co-wrote the music The beat, hitting the jade bowl with ivory chopsticks, is as crisp and melodious as beads falling on a jade plate;

At this point in the banquet, the female relatives all avoided it wisely, and under the leadership of Concubine Wan Gui and the Crown Princess, they bid farewell to the small banquet specially organized for them in the backyard.

After the female relatives and children left, the atmosphere on the Nine Faces Stage became even more lively.Some people snatched the musicians' instruments and played them, and some people drank to the point of joy, came to the stage singing and dancing, and fought and danced with the dancers.

Xiao Yu bowed to Li Shimin, and suggested with a smile: "Your Highness is proficient in all kinds of piano, chess, calligraphy and painting, such a magnificent scene, why don't you write a poem?"

"That's fine, I'll throw a brick to attract jade and write the first "Fu Chrysanthemum." Li Shimin laughed, and after thinking for a while, he impromptuly recited: "Jielan condenses dawn frost, shore chrysanthemum shines in the morning light. Lu Nongxi laughs at night, the wind Strong light residual fragrance. The thin leaves are withered and light green, and the round flowers are flying and breaking into yellow. They still maintain the color of the current age, and they will be fragrant in the next year when they recombine."

As soon as this poem came out, it immediately won applause from all the halls. Li Shimin was also elated, but in a second thought, he couldn't help comparing it with Yang Tong's "Fu Ju", but the result made him very sad and depressed.

Look at the imposing and domineering "'When autumn comes and September [-]th, I will kill all the flowers after they bloom. The fragrance of the sky penetrates Chang'an, and the city is full of golden armor'".

Looking back at what I wrote, what the hell are they?

Although it is also "Fu Ju", I have to say that some comparisons are too cruel.

But when he connected the two pieces together, he was surprised to find that the two pieces of "Fu Ju" were continuous without any gaps, because he seemed to be "killed" by Yang Tong no matter in terms of military affairs or poetry. "Broken yellow", and finally only "residual fragrance" remains.But can I and Datang still be able to "be married after the wedding" as said in the poem?

Li Shimin stared at the pale gold chrysanthemum wine, his deep eyes were reflected on the surface of the wine, the veins in the hand holding the wine glass bulged, and he drank it all of a sudden.

This cup of chrysanthemum wine brewed with the "Heroes of the Sui Dynasty" is stronger than the fire, and it is as biting as the snow in winter!

"Your Highness." A sharp voice that belonged exclusively to the eunuch pierced the Shengping singing and dancing on the nine-sided stage, "Your Highness, General Du Junchuo came to report that the King of Huai'an has rebelled! The King of Huai'an has rebelled, ah..." The eunuch All the unfinished words were replaced with a shrill scream.

Everyone on the stage looked down and saw a young eunuch standing stiffly in the passageway separated by a sea of ​​chrysanthemums.

A soldier in iron armor pierced his body fiercely with a spear from behind.

The dripping blood was slowly dripping from the tip of the spear.

The soldier smiled at the stage, and slowly pulled out the spear. The eunuch, who had lost all vitality and support, fell to the ground with a 'snap'.

"Chong"

"Chong"

"Chong"

"..."

The patrolling guards in the square unanimously pulled out the horizontal knives around their waists, and the blades gleaming coldly in the sun were aimed at the Jiumiantai, not the soldier who had killed the eunuch.

"You..." Everyone on the stage stood up in shock and anger, looking at these guards in disbelief.

"They want to rebel!" Li Shimin walked to the center and said coldly.

"Papa papa" rows of guards slowly approached, and pots of beautiful chrysanthemums "shattered yellow" and became "residual fragrance" at their feet.

Dou Lukuan looked at Li Shimin calmly, and sighed, "Your Highness, return the government to the Holy One."

There was an uproar on the stage, and everyone's expressions changed.

Li Shimin looked at Dou Lukuan, who looked tangled and helpless, and smiled calmly: "If I don't agree, what about Father?"

The expressions of everyone also gradually changed from shock to surprise-strangeness-bitterness-sadness-despair.They thought it was an all-pervasive Sui Dynasty spy who took the opportunity of everyone's gathering to venture to assassinate, but in the end, it turned out that Li Yuan actually launched a power struggle against Li Shimin. Help Li Yuan.But the Tang Dynasty has been defeated like this, is it necessary to take it back?What's the point of taking it back?Do you have to toss the Tang Dynasty to death by yourself to be reconciled?
"Your Majesty is well prepared, Your Highness, you can't win." Dou Lukuan sighed and said to Li Shimin: "If your Majesty is only a generation of emperors and the dignity of a father, he said he would not kill you..."

"Hey, that's true, Dolu Xiangguo, do you believe it?" Li Shimin shook his head and laughed, as long as his free and easy smile fell in the eyes of everyone, it was extremely bitter and disappointed.

"This!" Facing Li Shimin's teasing gaze, Dou Lukuan was speechless. After a long while, he evaded the seriousness and said lightly: "The Holy Majesty, the King of Huai'an, Ma Sanbao, and Qu Tushou are leading troops here, and Qu Tu will be Open the Jiafu Gate, Chongming Gate, and Jiade Gate one by one, you..."

"Shut up." Xiao Yu interrupted Dou Lukuan, and cursed angrily: "The Great Tang has fallen to this level, do you think the Great Tang is not falling fast enough?"

"Bold bandit Xiao, how dare you curse me, Datang, do you want to die?" Li Fengci drew his sword and pointed it at Xiao Yu.

Xiao Yu was unafraid: "You gang of chaotic officials and thieves will definitely not end well."

"Whether I will end well or not, you can no longer see." Li Fengci smiled ferociously, raised his knife and slashed at Xiao Yu. He preemptively cut at Li Fengci.

Li Fengci was idle, a prodigal son of a dandyism, his body was empty of wine and lust, and his reaction was not as fast as Li Daoli's. Li Daoli chopped off his head with a knife, and blood splashed all over Xiao Yu's body.

"The strong wind knows the strong grass, and the toughness knows the honest minister. The brave man knows righteousness, and the wise man must be kind." Li Shimin took a deep look at Xiao Yu, and gave him a poem with a feeling in his heart.

It's all this time, and you still write poetry?

Everyone was speechless.

"Hush..." At this moment, there was a loud sound of arrows piercing through the air, and a large number of guards on the square fell down. Arrows whizzed and sank into the bodies of these rebel guards, and the blood sprayed the square. The chrysanthemums were dyed into coquettish blood flowers.

In the sun, it is obviously particularly dazzling.

. . . . . .

"Open the gate." Li Yuan, who was dressed in golden armor, held the Juque sword, and personally led Yuan Cong's forbidden army who had gathered secretly, and killed them outside the Jiafu gate of the East Palace. He looked up at the tall tower and uttered a loud cry.The thick door covered with copper nails creaked and slowly opened from the inside.

A long palace road was revealed, and the Chongming Gate in front was also opened, and further away was the Jiade Gate, as long as it was opened, it would be the Jiade Square.

Li Yuan grasped the Juque sword in his hand, and glanced back, three thousand black Yuan Cong soldiers stood together, and a murderous aura filled the area.

Seeing that the old troops were ready to fight, Li Yuan seemed to have returned to the bloody years of the battlefield, and his momentum suddenly rose. He pointed his dark long sword forward and shouted: "Kill."

"Kill, kill, kill!"

Yuan Cong's forbidden army poured into the East Palace like a black torrent!
(End of this chapter)