Rebirth of Wu Ba Spring and Autumn

Chapter 557 Dragon Boat Race
The time has entered the thirteenth year of Wu Wang Qingji, that is, 501 BC, the fifth month of the lunar calendar.

Qingji held a meeting on the banks of the Yue River (Pearl River) outside Panyu City.

This meeting, the people present are all the monarchs or tribal chiefs of the small countries in Baiyue in the south of the Lingnan.

Anyone with a discerning eye can see that Qingji's Chen Bing, with more than [-] soldiers in Nanhai County this time, really wants to completely quell the Lingnan Rebellion and truly establish Wu State's rule in the six Lingnan counties.

However, at this time, the Baiyue people's resistance was futile.

Therefore, the Baiyue people had to settle for the next best thing, and rushed to Yuejiang from all over the country to join the alliance.

What is "Baiyue"?
"Hundreds" is a general term, and "hundreds" refers to a majority, an approximate number, not an exact number.

Once upon a time, there were hundreds of large and small tribal countries in this vast land.

In ancient times, people in the Central Plains generally referred to the southern tribes in the four directions of the Central Plains as "Man", the eastern tribes as "Yi", the western tribes as "Rong", and the northern tribes as "Di".

"Barbarian Rongdi" is the appellation of the Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties for the tribes in the southeast, northwest, and north.

After the Qin and Han Dynasties, the tribes in the south were generally referred to as "Yue", while the nomadic tribes north of the Gobi Desert were called "Hu", so the north "Hu" and the south "Yue" were called together.

The tribes of Yuedi actually included the state of Wu.

There are many branches of Baiyue, including Wuyue, Yangyue, Dongou, Minyue, Nanyue, Xiou, Luoyue and many other branches of Yue nationality.

The so-called "Gou Wu" refers to the predecessor of Wu State.

This time at the Yuejiang meeting, the monarchs of the small countries of Baiyue and the tribal chiefs specially presented luxury goods such as ivory, tortoise shell, emerald fur, rhinoceros horn, osmanthus and fragrant wood in order to worship and celebrate the anniversary.

Qingji also reciprocated, giving back the silk and handmade products of the Central Plains.

"The ministers are waiting to see the king! The king is ten thousand years! The Wu kingdom is ten thousand years!"

In the huge meeting place, on the banks of the Guangdong River, the monarchs of Baiyue wearing all kinds of exotic clothes all turned to Qing Ji who was sitting on the square platform, and bowed their heads.

"No gift, flat!"

"Thank you king!"

With a wave of Qingji's big hand and a little support, all the Baiyue lords became kings, and then slowly stood up and stood there respectfully.

Qingji sat on the square platform and looked around. As far as he could see, there were hundreds of Baiyue lords and lords with different expressions.

The periphery of the meeting place was full of soldiers of the Wu state in strong and sharp clothes, and they formed a circle.

Banners block out the sun, spears and spears are like forests.

This powerful momentum frightened many Baiyue people present.

The crimson banner representing Wu's army fluttered in the wind.

The river is surging and surging.

Right in front of the Sifangtai, a tall altar has risen from the ground.

At the ferry not far away, there are still hundreds of "dragon boats" moored.

What is Qingji's intention?
Everyone expressed bewilderment.

"Everyone, I have been here for four or five months since I came to Lingnan!"

Qingji held the Longyuan sword at his waist in one hand, and said in a loud voice: "Of course, I will issue an edict ordering all the lords and chiefs of Baiyue who belong to them to meet in court, and there are those who are not ministers!"

"The subject belongs to my country of Wu, and the subject belongs to the Baiyue nation of the six counties in the south of the Lingnan. There are ninety-two kingdoms and seven hundred and sixty-one tribes."

"However, there are only sixty-five countries and five hundred and twenty-two clans present here today!"

After a pause, Qingji squinted his eyes again, waved his big hand and said, "The widow has already said something beforehand, anyone who fails to attend will be regarded as treason, and Master Wu will punish him!"

"The widow will do what he says!"

"..."

As soon as these words came out, all the princes and chiefs present were moved and trembled.

They are well aware of the strength of Wu State, and the strength of Wu State, so they can't generate much resistance at all.

In the face of powerful forces, any resistance is futile.

"I heard that there is a tradition of dragon boat races in the south of Lingnan. When the meeting happened, I organized a grand dragon boat race. Please watch it!"

As soon as the words fell, many young and strong men had already boarded the boat on the riverside.

"start!"

With Sun Wu's order, the dragon boat, which had been ready to go, moved forward at full speed towards the opposite shore.

Hundreds of dragon boats are pushing hard.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

While the colorful flags were flying, the man standing at the front of the dragon boat suddenly beat the drum, using a pair of drumsticks, to beat the big drum.

The men on both sides of the dragon boat were chanting chant and paddling their oars with all their strength to make the dragon boat move forward quickly.

Dragon boat racing is a traditional custom of the Dragon Boat Festival.

According to legend, it originated from the ancient Chu people who were reluctant to part with the virtuous minister Qu Yuan who threw himself into the river and died. Many people rowed boats to chase and save him.

They scrambled to be the first, but when they chased to Dongting Lake, there was no trace of him.

After that, people row dragon boats every May [-]th to commemorate it.Use the dragon boat to disperse the fish in the river, lest the fish eat Qu Yuan's body.

The practice of racing is prevalent in Wu, Yue, and Chu.

In fact, "Dragon Boat Race" existed long before Qu Yuan!

More than a thousand years before Qu Zi threw himself into the river, the custom of rowing dragon boats existed in Wuyue Water Township.

This is a festival where the Yue people hold totem sacrifices to pray for the safety of their lives.

The dragon boat race is an entertainment program in this sacrificial activity.

Hu people are more convenient for horses, and more people are more convenient for boats.

People in the southern water network area often use boats instead of walking, and use boats as a tool of production and transportation.

In the work of catching fish and shrimp, people compare the number of catches.

In leisure time, they meet for rowing and racing, combining entertainment with labor, production and leisure. This is the embryonic form of boat racing in ancient times.

"it is good!"

"color!"

When a dragon boat passed the ribbon and reached the finish line, everyone, including Qingji, stood up and applauded.

Afterwards, as agreed, Qingji took out five hundred gold as a reward for everyone on the winning dragon boat.

"The decree of the widow is that every year on this day, that is, the fifth day of the fifth month, the whole country will hold a dragon boat race, and it will be designated as the 'Dragon Boat Festival', which will be organized by the government or the people in various places!"

"Your Majesty Shengming!"

Everyone deeply agrees with Qingji's approach.

This move cannot be underestimated.

Because this can invisibly enhance the Baiyue people's sense of belonging to Wu.

Good for unity!
Just like a tug-of-war, how can we win if we are not united?
Likewise, dragon boat racing is not a one-person event.

"Come on, second and third sons, have a drink with the widow!"

"Please!"

"My lord please!"

After admiring a grand dragon boat race, Qingji sat down again and had a drink with the chiefs and kings sitting under the Sifangtai.

In addition to banquets, singing and dancing are naturally indispensable.

So a group of Yingying Yanyan, beautifully dressed dancers, stepped onto the stage one after another.

Accompanied by the melodious and beautiful music, the sound of silk and bamboo, they twisted their waists, frowns and smiles, and every move they made made the lords and lords present all overwhelmed by them.

(End of this chapter)