Red Tang

The weather in Guanzhong is gradually getting hotter, and the people in Chang'an City have already gone to wear layers of robes to keep out the cold, and put on refreshing waistcoats and shorts.Although it is just June, the scorching sun is mercilessly scorching the earth, and the wine spilled on the bluestone slab is steamed into a wisp of water mist in a short while, with a mellow fragrance in the mist.The hawker selling sour plum soup on the side of the road is ridiculously blooming. A copper coin and a bowl of ice drink are the most refreshing and thirst quenching. Whether you are the young master of a rich family or a hard worker in the street, who can’t afford a copper coin?According to the people in the industry, this is called Shengjin (gold) to make money, and it is an auspicious saying.The gentlemen of rich families naturally did not want to go to the street to suffer the crime of idleness. They sat on the wicker chairs in the backyard and drank the iced sour plum soup served by the servants, refreshing their muscles and bones.As for the Holy Son of Heaven in the Daming Palace, he moved early with his concubine to the cool Xingqing Palace to enjoy the cool and summer heat, enjoying the lychees transported thousands of miles from the south of the Lingnan, surrounded by beauties and talented men.This taste is the bliss on earth.

Li Kuo has gradually stepped out of the shadow of "being married by order", with Zhou Wuzui as a new friend, his life has suddenly become much more colorful.Over the past few days, with the help of this little fat man, I have gradually understood what it takes to be a hermit.A tenacious will, a low-key and cautious character, and an attitude of absolute obedience.After Master returned from his travels, under the recommendation of this junior brother, Li Kuo paid a visit to this Hongru.To the boy's surprise, the master was so satisfied with him that he directly let him enter the assessment stage.Of course, as Wu Gui said, everything in life is business as usual.Read books that should be read, horse races that should be raced, poems that should be composed, and tea that should be tasted.As for whether to obtain fame or to enlist in the army, it is entirely up to one's own will.

Since he had promised Pei Xingchen to participate in the polo match, Li Kuo would take time out of the city to practice with his classmates every afternoon.Although Zhou Wuzui is fat, he also likes the national football of the Tang Dynasty, so he naturally entered and exited with Li Kuo after some coercion and lure.Unfortunately, a disaster happened at the home of a famous Gongsheng, and the grandpa who was far away in the middle of Sichuan died suddenly. In a panic, he rushed back to Jiannan for the funeral. As a result, the team lost one player.Although Wuzui desperately wanted to come on as a substitute, he had no choice but to give up indignantly because he was not a Gongsheng.Li Kuo naturally thought of his close friend Zhang Yanji, and after some invitations, the young gentleman of the Zhang family patted his chest and promised that he would live up to the expectations of everyone, so that Jiedu's tooth soldiers couldn't even eat ashes.Zhang Yanji's horsemanship is well-known in Chang'an City, so Li Kuo was naturally very happy.For a while, the estrangement between the two was completely eliminated, and they returned to the previous state of intimacy.

Sitting idle in the manor on the outskirts of the city, Zhang Yanji narrowed his eyes, casually put a bunch of purple and attractive Gaochang grapes into his mouth, and stretched comfortably.It coincided with the ten-day holiday, Zhang Yanji would not miss the opportunity to relax, and came to his manor early to enjoy the happiness in the name of polo training.Although his grandfather imposed a self-confinement on him for a period of time after being in danger in the suburbs, Zhang Yanji also promised that he would never cause trouble in the future.But after time passed, Mr. Zhang Xiaolang returned to his cynical look, and ran to the outskirts of the city looking for opportunities.Although Zhang Shilang was sullen in his heart, firstly he was busy with business, and secondly, he also knew his boy's wild nature, so he turned a blind eye and closed his eyes and let him come.

Under the influence of the intoxicating sunlight, Zhang Yanji gradually became sleepy, and when he closed his eyes, he heard the annoying voice of Xiao'e, the servant girl of his manor.

"Young master, young master, a friend of yours has come to see you. I asked him to wait in the front hall."

A nap was interrupted, Zhang Yanji replied angrily: "What are you shouting about, this kind of thing bothers me. With such a loud voice, who would dare to marry you in the future? Didn't you see that I am taking a nap, young master? Just say that I am not here !"

"Oh." After being reprimanded for no reason, Xiao'e frowned, turned around and wanted to leave.

But Zhang Yanji seemed to remember something, sat up suddenly, patted his forehead and asked anxiously: "Is his name Li Kuo, please tell him to come in quickly!"

As soon as he finished speaking, he saw a handsome young man in casual uniform, with a face like a jade crown, and starry eyes, pacing into the backyard.He casually tied up his hair with a hairpin, and tied a lake-blue sweat towel around his waist, which just set off his well-proportioned and tall figure. It was indeed Li Kuo who came.

Zhang Yanji pulled out the arm that was pressed behind his back, scratched his head and said, "Brother Kuo'er, why did you come so early? Didn't you just go to the palace to be executed in the afternoon?"

Li Kuo shook his head helplessly, jokingly said: "Just now I was still betting with Wugui that Young Master Zhang must have gone out of the city to enjoy the blessings in his own village, and he has long since forgotten about the polo game. Wugui is not Believe me, how can someone not cherish such a good opportunity. It seems that he still doesn't understand our young master Zhang, how can we guess what such a rich man thinks."

Zhang Yanji was teased by Li Kuo, his face was already flushed, and he hurriedly begged for mercy: "Brother Kuo'er, it's my fault. But I will never drag everyone down. In front of the servant, you should save me some time." Isn't it face?"

Seeing his friend's distressed appearance, Li Kuo suppressed his smile and coughed lightly: "Well, then we will enter the city. We'd better arrive at Danfengmen before noon, so that we can meet up with innocent people. "

Zhang Yanji said yes again and again, and while instructing Xiao'e to prepare the horses, he changed into bunting uniforms.

For a month, Li Kuo was in a very good mood.After learning that he was going to participate in the polo match, Big Brother Nan generously presented him with a Turkic green horse.Because the horse's fur is blue and gray, and its expression is elegant and refined, Li Kuo gave it a very elegant name - Qingfeng.

Li Kuo untied the reins from above the wooden pole of the stable, and Qingfeng snorted and came to the master, licking the boy's left hand half-coquettishly, spitting foam.Li Kuo stroked Qingfeng's mane affectionately, and patted Qingfeng a few times as a reward. Qingfeng shook his mane in satisfaction and let out a long cry.

Zhang Yanji laughed and said: "It is said that a good horse is human. I see that Qingfeng has become one with your horse and horse. I am afraid that except you, no one will want to ride on it."

Qingfeng seemed to understand Zhang Yanji's words, and took a few small steps towards Zhang Yanji angrily, and sprayed a few wisps of white water mist from his nostrils, making a buzzing sound.

Zhang Yanji stepped back subconsciously and said, "Look, look. This bastard really understands human language."

Li Kuo spread his hands and said, "What's your rivalry with a pony? Hurry up and enter the city with me."

Zhang Yanji shrugged his shoulders and stopped talking. He pulled out the big black horse he loved from the stable, and jumped onto the horse's back with a light jump.

"Brother Kuo'er, do you think it's your breeze, or my thunder?"

"Don't Bibi know?"

Outside the Zhangjiatian Manor, one can see one green and one black two dots of moist color faintly disappearing in the dark blue sky, raising yellow sand billowing.

Juju, also known as batting and polo, is very popular in this dynasty. (Note 1) Due to the inheritance of the culture of the former Sui Dynasty, the folk customs in the heyday of the Tang Dynasty were open, and the whole country favored martial arts.Even scholars who recite classics and history know a little about riding.Against this cultural background, polo has undoubtedly become one of the three popular sports along with Douji and Buju.Douji is nothing more than noble and humble, and it is mostly a self-entertainment of the common people; Buju is a popular sport at the bottom of society.And polo is the only sport that is really accepted by the upper class.Just imagine, the prerequisite for good results in polo is to have a good horse, but where can the poor people who are struggling at the bottom of society find a good horse?

When Li Kuo and Zhang Yanji arrived at Shengyefang, it was almost noon, and they hurriedly handed over the horses to Xiaoer who came up to him to feed and take care of them, and they strode into the Anxing Inn.The polo match participated in this time adopts the eight-person double-door system, that is, each team has eight players, and the whole game lasts for 10 minutes. The player who scores more goals wins.Today, His Majesty the emperor is a master of martial arts, and the holy strategy is popular. He loves polo and takes it as one of the military training subjects.This time serving the imperial concubine's birthday, His Majesty the Emperor Longyan Dayue decided to hold a polo match to celebrate her birthday.Therefore, the tooth soldiers who followed the Hexi Jiedu Envoy Ge Shuhan back to Beijing to report on his duties met with the tribute students of the Imperial College in Xingqing Palace to present a polo match for His Majesty and Empress.

In addition to Li Kuo and Zhang Yanji, the Guozi team also has Pei Xingchen, Chen Runzhi and other aristocratic children.A group of people met at Shengyefang Anxing Inn for lunch, and then entered the palace together.Under Xiao Er's guidance, the two turned left and right, and finally saw the other six people at the corner of the second floor.After handing over their hands and apologizing, the two went to the banquet under the urging of everyone.Perhaps it was because of the excitement that these young masters, who usually talk about everything, were talking about tactics and strategies at this time, and there was almost no one caring about a table of delicacies.Seeing that everyone has arrived, Chen Runzhi pressed his hands down to signal for everyone to be quiet. When the noise gradually subsided, Chen Runzhi cleared his throat and said, "This time we are competing on behalf of the Imperial College and scholars. Although the opponent is Zonghengmo Hexi soldiers from the north, but we must not embarrass the scholars all over the world!" Seeing that no one objected, Chen Runzhi nodded in satisfaction and said, "Now I will confirm the position of the final personnel. Li Kuo, Pei Xingchen, you continue to serve Frontier generals. He Rui, Cao Yu, Yu Dongwei and I will serve as Zhonglang, while Zhang Yanji and Dai Jinjie will fight Hou Yawei. (Note 2) Do you have any comments?"

Zhang Yanji wanted to stand up and fight hard, but Li Kuo pressed his shoulders hard.Li Kuo bowed his hands to Chen Runzhi, and Li Kuo said with a smile: "But brother Runzhi is the master, we must work together in this game and use our strength to one place!"

.................................................. ..

Note 1: Jue: Polo.It was very popular in Tang Dynasty.I will describe it here.This polo match is related to Xiaoqi's future development.

Note 2: Well, this group of words is similar to the names of strikers, midfielders, and defenders that I created in imitation of modern football.I can't find it, don't blame it.