Guide to Traveling through the Northern Song Dynasty.

Chapter 134 0129 [Lu Ming Feast and Boiled Corn]

If you win Juren, you will go to worship Confucius.

Professor Wei from Yangzhou State University also came to serve as the master of ceremonies for the ceremony.

After a series of procedures, Zhu Ming and seven other Juren were allowed to enter the main hall of the Confucius Temple to worship.

Although Ju Ming didn't have a negative impression of Wang Anshi, he always felt a little awkward when he saw the rankings in the hall, let alone the scholars at this time.

Confucius stands on the main seat, and all the supporting sacrifices are arranged in the east, followed by Yan Hui, Mencius and Wang Anshi.

There was nothing wrong with this, but since Wang Anshi became the king, he has forced out obsessive-compulsive disorder.Confucius and Wang Anshi are princes, and Yan Hui and Mencius are dukes. The seats are not neatly arranged!

Zhu Ming had a solution in his heart, that is, he succeeded in rebelling and revoked the titles of the Confucian Temple sages.

Confucius should stop being the king of Wenxuan, and be the most holy teacher.

In this way, wouldn't the confusion and awkwardness brought about by the title be eliminated at once?

Break Fit!
Zhu Ming felt that he was a genius who helped scholars all over the world solve a big problem.

After paying homage to Confucius, the people took a carriage and went to the state government office to attend the Luming Banquet.

The Luming Banquet in the Northern Song Dynasty was not yet popular, and remote areas were too lazy to spend money. It was not promoted to the whole country until the Southern Song Dynasty.

The Luming Banquet adopts a meal-sharing system in the old days, with the governor taking the main position, and the general judge and recorder joining the army as the deputy.Not only all Cao officials were present, but there were even senior officials of the state government, the county magistrate and master book of Xingdao County, as well as the elders of the village inside and outside Yangzhou City.

Wang Chang and another recommended scholar were additionally allowed to attend.

The eunuch extorted Yangzhou's public money away, and the expenses for the Luming Banquet today were sponsored by local gentry and merchants...

As soon as Zhu Ming and others arrived, the band started to play, and Zhizhou led the crowd to stand up to welcome them.

All the sages and elders in Yangzhou came to congratulate him one after another.

One of them, Yang Zhizhou personally supported him, not because of his noble status, but because the old man was already 96 years old, he walked tremblingly, and looked like he might fall down at any time.

Min Wenwei was also there, his face glowing red, more than half of the eight candidates this year were his students.

After everyone was seated again, Yang Zhizhou said: "Please Xie Yuan, on behalf of all the disciples, perform the ceremony of shooting in the countryside."

You can choose the shooting ceremony in the countryside. There are serious bows and arrows, and you can also use throwing pots instead.

Zhu Ming chose the bow and arrow, and there are big red flowers tied on the bow body, and there are also big red flowers on the distant target.

After trying to pull the bowstring, Zhu Ming felt that it was not easy for him. This is a three-double bow for beginners to practice.The target distance is also close, only five or six meters.

Pulling the bow easily, Zhu Ming aimed and shot.

With a whoosh, it hit the bullseye.

"it is good!"

"Zhu Jieyuan divine shot!"

"Worthy of being Zhengjun, both civil and military."

"..."

The house was full of applause and admiration.

Although it is a small broken bow and it is shot at close range, it is quite difficult for scholars. In previous years, they chose to throw pots instead.

The last time there was Jie Yuan archery, it had to be traced back a hundred years ago.

Zhu Ming put down his bow and arrow and sat down. Yang Zhizhou raised his glass and said, "Today, for the sake of the country, we are celebrating the village drinking ceremony. All the sages and sons of the village, please drink up this cup. Congratulations to the Song Dynasty and the officials!"

"Congratulations to the Great Song Dynasty, and congratulations to the official family!"

Everyone shouted in unison, and they all raised their glasses to drink, even the 96-year-old gentleman took a sip.

After drinking for three rounds, the magistrate and the state judge even started to send money.

This belongs to the personal funding of officials, not the preferential treatment of Juren by the imperial court.

Because Yangzhou produced gold and iron money was too heavy, the two chief officials actually gave money directly.It is said to be money, but it is actually a gold-copper alloy (with impurities). The texture of pure gold is too soft.

Yang Zhizhou gave each juren five rounds of funding, Li Tong awarded each person four rounds of funding, and the rest of the village sages gave one or two rounds of funding.

Zhu Ming received a total of more than 40 pennies. If the food and lodging were poor, it would be enough for him to stay in Tokyo until the end of the imperial examination.

For the sake of giving money, Zhu Ming decided that when he rebelled in the future, he could deal with these sages lightly.

What a thank you!
……

At Xingyuan Mansion, the Luming Banquet is also being held.

Eight candidates were selected from hundreds of candidates in Yangzhou, and the acceptance rate was less than 2%.

The admission rate of Xingyuan Mansion's water examination was as high as 30%, and Li Hanzhang was admitted to Juren with ease.

After the shooting salute, the transfer envoy raised his glass to toast.

After everyone drank a few cups, Lu Rong suddenly laughed and said, "Today, I want to recruit scholars for the country. I have something to add to the fun. Let me bring it up!"

More than a dozen handymen appeared with food plates in their hands, and a scent came from all the way.

Boiled corn is placed on the food plate, and chopsticks are inserted into the corn cob for the convenience of eating.

When two corns were placed in front of everyone, Lu Rong said quite complacently: "This overseas fairy food is also crystal clear like jade, and it is called corn. It is still fresh and tender, whether it is boiled or roasted, it is delicious. After a while, After it is fully ripe, it can also be ground into corn flour for consumption. Please taste it to all the officers, colleagues, juzi, and village sages!"

The transshipment envoy already knew that Lu Rong was planting new crops. Now that he smelled the aroma, he moved his index finger and grabbed the chopsticks pierced into the corn cob and asked, "Should I eat it directly? It would be unsightly."

Lu Rong said: "You can also peel and eat it."

The transfer envoy then peeled off more than a dozen kernels of corn and put them in his mouth regardless of the slight heat.

Although it is not "sweet corn", it is still sweet and delicious, with a glutinous taste, which can be said to be fragrant on the lips and tongue.

"This is true immortal food!" The transshipment envoy praised.

Peeling it was too strenuous, so the transfer envoy ate it for a while, so he simply put it in his mouth and started chewing.This feeling is different, much better than before.

All the people present tasted it one after another, and were overwhelmed by the taste of boiled corn.

A village sage asked: "Dare to ask the academic officer, what is the yield per mu of this thing?"

Lu Rong said: "According to Mr. Zhu from Xixiang County, if the net planting is in the fertile field, the yield of corn should be more than four stones per mu. But it is best to interplant beans and sweet potatoes, and the yield should be at least two or three stones per mu. And this It can be planted in barren mountainous land, yielding about one or two stones per mu."

The deputy envoy of transshipment exclaimed: "Such a high-yield product should be promoted in the world!"

Another sage from the village asked, "May I take the liberty to get some seeds?"

Lu Rong smiled and said: "Since it is a fairy thing, those with talents and virtues can plant it first. Today, at the Luming Banquet, I will not give gold or silver, but only three catties of corn and ten catties of sweet potatoes for each person. You can buy ten catties of corn and twenty catties of sweet potatoes. There is also an agricultural book written by Mr. Xixiang Zhu, which describes the method of planting corn and sweet potatoes, and you can copy it back home."

"Learn about benevolence and righteousness!" The villagers were overjoyed.

Lu Rong said again: "When the sweet potatoes were harvested, it was already winter, and it was still very early. You can copy the agricultural books first."

Everyone tasted the deliciousness of boiled tender corn, and thought it was a good thing, and guessed that it would be delicious when ground into corn flour.

It is estimated that after two or three years, when the freshness wears off, the rich will only eat tender corn and will not eat food made of corn flour.Too rough, bad taste.

Another village sage asked curiously: "It is rumored that Mr. Zhu got immortal food from overseas, but has he really met an immortal?"

Lu Rong smiled and replied, "I don't know either."

Li Hanzhang said: "The younger generation has friendship with Zhu's father and son. Mr. Zhu is a scholar of heaven and man, and understands all the principles of all things. The gentleman's tea comes from Mr. Zhu. Even Mr. Chen, a famous scholar in the south of the Yangtze River, and Xue Zhenren, a master of Taoism , were all impressed by Mr. Zhu's knowledge and character. Now the two of them stay in the mountains and ask Mr. Zhu for advice day and night."

"It really is a master in the world!" The transshipment envoy couldn't help but admire, "Chen Zhimo (Chen Yuan) is from my hometown. A hundred years ago, the Chen family had a father and son who had been admitted to the school ten times. He is willing to stay in the mountains and ask that Mr. Zhu for advice, which shows how broad and lofty Mr. Zhu's talents are. I wish I could ask him face to face!"

A Cao official said: "Such high-ranking scholars should be recommended by Cao envoys."

The transshipment envoy waved his hand and said: "Don't disturb the master's practice and study. His son Zhu Chenggong has already resigned. Will Mr. Zhu accept the expropriation? In his eyes, the prosperity and wealth of such a master are just passing away."

Lu Rong said: "That's right. When I was in contact with Mr. Zhu, he kept silent about the scriptures, and even his poems were clumsy. Obviously he didn't want to be an official. But Mr. Zhu is not hiding from the world. He pays attention to people's livelihood in what he says and does. Not only did he seek immortal food from overseas, but he was also good at agriculture. I heard that the paddy fields he managed for rural landlords increased the yield per mu by [-] to [-] percent, and this method was also included in agricultural books."

The local sages present were overjoyed when they heard the words, and couldn't wait to copy the agricultural books.

Anyway, Lu Rong was bragging about it vigorously. The more famous Zhu Guoxiang was, the smoother the promotion of corn and sweet potatoes would be.

After the Lu Ming Banquet, the transport envoy visited Lu Rong alone: ​​"The corn and sweet potatoes, can you share some with me?"

Lu Rong smiled and said: "Cao Shi is a virtuous person, and he can cultivate immortal food."

The transshipment envoy said: "One hundred catties of corn and one hundred catties of sweet potatoes. I will let my servants take them back to my hometown (Fujian)."

"After the sweet potatoes are harvested, they will be sent to the Cao envoy." Lu Rong was overjoyed that the new crop could be spread to the south.

The envoy's interest in the Zhu family's father and son increased greatly. After returning to Caoya, he recruited Li Hanzhang and asked, "Is Chen Zhimo really in the Xixiang Mountains?"

Li Hanzhang replied: "I have lived here for several months, and I study with Mr. Zhu every day."

The transshipment envoy asked curiously: "Chen Zhimo is already a famous Confucianist, what can Mr. Zhu teach him? Is he also teaching agriculture?"

"No," Li Hanzhang said, "Mr. Chen was ordered by Zhu's father and son, and he realized it a few months ago. He wants to start a school and promote Confucianism."

"Create a sect?" The transshipment envoy was horrified.

Li Hanzhang said: "This school is inherited from the "Book of Changes", and the daily use of the people is the Tao. It is necessary to seek benevolence and use the Tao to benefit the people of the world and benefit the country. There is also the theory of 'self-origin', which takes me as the principle, Take the family, the country and the world as the party. My party is also the family, the country and the world. This I am not a small self, and all the people are me. If all the people are party, the family and the country must be party, then the country will be prosperous and the people will be safe."

The transshipment envoy realized it carefully, and began to ask for details. Li Hanzhang tried his best to answer, but there were some things he couldn't say.

The transshipment envoy harbored countless doubts in his heart, so he simply wrote a letter in his own hand and sent it to Daming Village, Xixiang County.

He is a member of Cai Jing, at least on the surface, while following others, taking money and breaking the law, he also has some academic pursuits.

Corrupt officials are not allowed to advance?

(End of this chapter)