Guide to Traveling through the Northern Song Dynasty.

Chapter 120 0115 [The eunuch is coming]

There is a swing in the yard, Zheng Yuanyi stands on it with one foot, and gently kicks the other foot on the ground, swinging and watching Ju Ming dancing mace from a distance.

Li Xiuxiu came over to push her, and the aunt and sister-in-law began to whisper.

The sound of breaking through the air kept coming, and Zhu Ming danced more vigorously.

Take this thing to the battlefield, and when you see the enemy, you will swing it over, no matter how many layers of armor you wear, it will cause internal injuries to spurt blood.

Standing by the side, Zheng Hong looked dumbfounded. He had used this mace before, and it was difficult for him to swing it with both hands. Zhu Ming was able to play it with one hand for so long.

What a force!

Zhu Ming put down the iron mace, picked up the two-meter-long iron gun, and asked, "Isn't this pure iron?"

"There is a section of wood in the middle," Fatty Zheng explained, "The craftsman said that adding wood and wrapping it with bamboo slices will give it toughness and make it less heavy."

There are many records of iron spears in history books, such as Wang Jingluo in the Five Dynasties period, who was good at using iron spears weighing 19.8 jin.The conversion is [-] kg, which is heavier than the barbell in the gym, which is very suitable for the weight of irons of that length.

There are also real objects unearthed. Two Eastern Han iron spears were unearthed in Zixing, Hunan, and they were all made of wrought iron.

A traditional horse war gun shaft, with a wooden core inside, bamboo sheets on the outside, wrapped in silk thread and leather, and finally painted with a layer of lacquer.

So strong and tough, so is the Ma Chan pole.

But the composite gun barrel is relatively expensive, and ordinary soldiers can't afford it.

The iron gun barrel in Zhu Ming's hand was also painted with a layer of varnish.

There is a shaft more than one meter long in the middle, and there are circles of iron wires faintly visible. Iron wires are used instead of silk leather, and the hardwood core and bamboo chips are wound around for reinforcement.

(Note: The metal wire drawing technology existed in the Han Dynasty, and it was mainly used to pull gold wires. The iron wire drawing technology appeared in the Song Dynasty, but it could only be pulled one by one. In the Ming Dynasty, four or eight wires could be pulled at the same time. .)
The craftsmen were afraid that the whole iron would be too heavy, and they would not be able to lift thirty or forty catties, so they made it their own way to make half wood and half iron.

Zhu Ming held the middle of the iron gun horizontally, and the gun head slowly sank.

The center of gravity of this iron gun is not very forward, as long as it is strong enough, it will be easier to use than a wooden handle gun.

It's a pity that Ju Ming's spear skills are not perfect for the time being, and he only practiced simple stabbing in the cottage.

He picked it up and danced a few times, then stabbed out one after another, playing with it repeatedly, and couldn't put it down.

"Da Lang, what do you want these weapons for?" Zheng Hong couldn't help asking.

Zhu Ming said with a smile, "I'm going to be a general and become a prime minister. I may have to go into battle to kill the enemy in the future. If I develop my skills, I'm sure it will come in handy."

After speaking, he picked up the bow again.

The ordinary standard Zhe wood bow is a finished product bought from Xingyuan Mansion.

Zheng Hong explained: "To order a good bow, you have to wait a year or two, and you can only buy ready-made bows at bow and arrow shops."

"As long as it can be used." Ju Ming is not picky.

He carried the bow and arrow on his back, hung the iron mace on his waist, and then stood with the iron gun in his hand, a man's romance spontaneously arose.

If you wear armor and step on a horse, you will be able to do it all.

Zheng Yuanyi's sister-in-law and sister-in-law stood on the swing, their eyes gleaming. Such a man is too majestic!
Near noon, the servants came to treat me to dinner.

Zhu Ming put down his weapon and followed Fatty Zheng.

The female relatives and children did not come, because the Zheng family was too prosperous.Zheng Hong has an elder brother, two younger brothers, and several sisters. Most of them are married and have children. The whole family is too many.

Even Zheng Hong's two younger brothers didn't come, only he and his elder brother were present as companions.

"This is my eldest grandson, Zheng Yuan, who usually helps out in the store." Zheng Lan introduced.

Zheng Yuan cupped his hands and said, "I've met Zhu Xianggong, I've seen Zhu Dalang."

The father and son returned the gift one after another.

The dishes on the table are rich and mainly mutton.

There are cooked lamb ribs, fried lamb sausage, and soup made of lamb, haggis, and almonds.In addition, there are chickens, ducks and geese, and two vegetables.

Although there is Su Dongpo's image endorsement, pork is still not on the table, and big merchants like the Zheng family don't eat it.

Zheng Yuan, the son, took the initiative to pour wine for the father and son, and said in a frivolous tone: "You two came to Yangzhou, have you ever been to Ruyi Tower? The girls there are all beautiful and gentle, and I have an acquaintance..."

"Cough cough!"

Zheng Lan coughed repeatedly, interrupting the eldest grandson's speech: "I'll toast you two first."

"Don't dare to do it." Zhu Guoxiang greeted him with a toast, automatically ignoring Zheng Yuan's nonsense just now.

Fatty Zheng is already a dandy, but his eldest brother is even more out of touch, and Zhu Ming's evaluation of the Zheng family is even lower.

But I am also more at ease. When the army rebels in the future, such a family is easy to handle.

Push the cup to change the cup, drink three rounds.

Zheng Lan inadvertently said: "I heard that Da Lang is 16 years old this year, and he has never had a marriage contract. Such a talent, how can there be no good match, why don't I help find one. In the three counties of Yangzhou, Min, Wang, Zheng, and Li four The family is the most educated, and the girls are all gentle and virtuous, and they can always choose the best one for Da Lang."

Ju Ming politely declined: "The younger generation is determined to study, and has no plans for marriage for the time being. I have let down the good intentions of the old man."

"I have to take the imperial examination, so marriage can't be delayed." Zheng Lan said with a smile.

Zhu Ming said, "It won't be too late in a few years."

Zheng Lan could only shut up.

Late marriage in the Song Dynasty was still very common. Many famous officials and Confucian scholars married after the age of 20.

Even for women in the Song Dynasty, according to statistics from more than 400 epitaphs, some scholars found that the average age of marriage was around 19 years old.

This is of course inaccurate, and can only reflect the situation of the middle and upper classes, because the people at the bottom cannot leave information.

Zheng Lan said around the corner: "I have a nephew and son-in-law who are also studying at Yangzhou Academy. This autumn, he will take the exam. He has already passed the exam three times. He has excellent knowledge. Da Lang will definitely be able to chat."

Fatty Zheng added: "My uncle's name is Sun Tao. He only enrolls students in the academy under the guise of a name, and usually teaches in private schools. Mr. Chen gave a lecture that day, and my uncle also went."

"Well, I have a little impression." Ju Ming said nonsense.

Zheng Lan stroked his beard and said: "Although this old man is not very knowledgeable, he values ​​talented scholars very much. That Sun Tao was born in a poor family with only a few dozen acres of land. It was the first time he went to Beijing for the exam, and he couldn't even get the travel expenses together. Knowing this, he not only gave him money, but also assigned his niece to him."

Rare goods are available to live in, and it's just to attract outstanding scholars, as if you are noble.

During the Northern Song Dynasty, when people from Sichuan, Fujian, Guangdong and Guangxi rushed to take the exam, the government would issue post coupons and mouth coupons, which allowed them to take free rides on cars and boats at post stations and eat for free at post stations along the way.But I also have to prepare money, otherwise I will starve to death in the capital.

Ju Ming pretended not to understand, and exclaimed: "The old man loves talents and values ​​them. It is really a blessing for the poor scholars in Yangzhou. The younger generation respects the old man!"

"Please."

Zheng Lan toasted to each other, not sure what Zhu Ming was thinking.

It seems to be rejected, but it seems not to be rejected.

Zhu Ming's mind is actually very simple, just don't worry.He doesn't mind being the son-in-law of the Zheng family. The financial resources of the Zheng family will help him rebel.

However, he can't agree easily, otherwise he will be easily manipulated, and he has to take the initiative by himself.

Let's delay it slowly, and let's talk about it in a year or two. Anyway, it is popular for rich girls to marry late, not as early as in the Ming and Qing dynasties.

After eating and drinking enough and resting for a while, the father and son went up the mountain together.

Fatty Zheng didn't come with him anymore, he was tired of staying in the academy, wouldn't it be nice to stay at home with his wife?
With the river wind blowing, Ju Ming sobered up a bit.

He was fully armed, with three weapons on his body, and said as he walked, "Can we fry the best tea? Just like the best Tuancha."

"It's hard to say, I don't know how to start at all, and I have to explore slowly." Zhu Guoxiang shook his head.

The best tea leaves are not included in the first, second and third grades.

For example, the top-quality tuancha from the old Baiyuan's family can sell for at least four to five hundred yuan per catty, and the top-notch ones have to be calculated in terms of money.The quantity of this kind of tea is scarce, and it is definitely not going to the tea horse department, it is all secretly traded behind the government's back.

But how to make the best fried tea?

Zhu Guoxiang recalled the tea he had drunk, and said: "You must start with the appearance. For example, some tea leaves look good when they are suspended on the water after brewing. Some tea leaves have silver threads on the surface. There are also some tea leaves that are rolled up. It’s like snails. What we are frying now is just ordinary green tea, and we are still far away from developing the best tea.”

"How to make black tea?" Zhu Ming asked again.

"How do I know?" Zhu Guoxiang said, "It seems that it needs to be fermented, but I don't know exactly how to ferment it. It's useless to think about it blindly. It's still the same sentence, slowly groping and experimenting."

Stroll all the way up the mountain and return to the VIP dormitory of the academy.

Seeing those three weapons, Zhang Guangdao immediately exclaimed, "Good stuff!"

Zhu Ming threw the iron gun over: "Brother Zhang, try your hand."

Zhang Guangdao waved the iron gun in his hand, shook his head for a while and said, "It's a bit too heavy, and it's fine for normal practice. If you go to the battlefield, you will definitely tire yourself out, and it's not suitable for long-term combat."

Zhu Ming took out his bow and arrow again, and formally asked for advice on archery.

Zhang Guangdao is the archery method he has explored by himself, and even the bows and arrows are homemade clay bows.He first taught Ju Ming how to wind the bow correctly, and then how to maintain it in normal times, and then taught how to draw the bow and exert force.

In the next half month, Zhu Ming became completely busy.

In the morning, I was with my dad, tutoring Chen Yuan in mathematics, and at the same time borrowing books from the library.In the afternoon, practice bow and arrow first, and then practice iron spear and iron mace.

After the eighteen iron pots were finished, Zhu Guoxiang took Zhang Guangdao, took these iron pots and left by boat.

Only Ju Ming himself was left, occasionally chatting with the students, teaching Chen Yuan mathematics, and practicing martial arts the rest of the time.

Chen Yuan is not in a hurry to go down the mountain to spread new ideas, he is already fascinated by mathematics.

This gentleman has not taken the imperial examination for more than 20 years. Except for traveling in mountains and rivers, he spends the rest of his time studying.He can bear his temper, and he will not do other things until he studies mathematics thoroughly.

Zhu Ming was very troubled by this, worried that Chen Yuan would not go down the mountain for a whole year...

At this moment, an official ship went south from Baoxie Road and headed straight for Xingyuan Mansion (Hanzhong).

The leader was an eunuch, who was ordered by the emperor to conscript Zhu Chenggong, a scholar of the Eight Elements, and invited Zhu's great talent to come to Beijing...to write lyrics for the emperor.

The official ship docked, and the chickens flew like dogs.

Officials such as the transfer envoy, the inspector envoy, the Changping envoy, and the Tixue envoy rushed to greet them when they got the news.

Lu Tixue was quite puzzled by this. He recommended Zhu Ming to study at the Imperial College, not to be an official. Why did the eunuchs come here to spread the word?

Lu Tixue asked curiously: "Dare to ask the nobleman, are you really going to conquer Zhu Chenggong?"

The eunuch nodded and said with a smile: "Zhu Chenggong's poems are excellent, and the officials like them, so they want to send him into the Dasheng Mansion."

Lu Tixue was stunned for a moment, and then he was furious, and asked in a gentle tone as much as possible: "Zhu Chenggong has mastered the Three Classics at a young age, and if he will be a pillar in time, how can he be allowed to enter the Dasheng Mansion to write lyrics?"

"It's his good fortune that the officials value it. How could he say so much?" The eunuch was a little impatient, "Hurry up and bring the sedan chair, the rushing water has exhausted our family all the way."

Lu Tixue bowed his head and stepped aside, muttering, "Fun Lord!"

The Dasheng Mansion has been established for several years. If you enter it, you don't want to come out, and it has a particularly bad reputation.

Only one person was successfully released, that is, Zhou Bangyan was promoted by the first head of the Dasheng Mansion, and he was slandered and pushed out of Beijing by Cai Jing.

(End of this chapter)