Elegy of Tang Dynasty

Chapter 19

If Fang Zhongyong wants to brew a large amount of Red Lotus Spring, high-quality water is a must. River water with high sediment content will definitely not work, nor can the well water in the city be used.To make good wine, it is necessary to introduce a large number of mountain springs. It is absolutely impossible to pick them by manpower. We can only use bamboo to make "water pipes" and connect them to lead water from the top of the mountain to the city.

Whether making tea or wine, mountain spring is the first choice.

The people in the city volunteered. Some went to the bamboo forest outside the city to cut moso bamboo, and some went to the mountains to survey the terrain and choose a suitable water diversion route. They all actively participated in it.

On this day, in the bamboo forest north of Kuizhou Fucheng, many woodcutters in the city were chopping bamboos with joy. Each bamboo was as thick as an adult's arm.After these people cut off the bamboo, they opened the center of the bamboo and placed it aside.This bamboo forest has turned into a huge construction site. Since the mountain spring on the top of the mountain is quite far away from the city, the amount of bamboo required is also quite staggering.

Zheng Shuqing took Fang Chongyong and Fang Laique to the bamboo forest to check the progress of the project, and they were all very satisfied with it.

"You don't need to go to war to make wine, just relying on manpower to carry water. Why do you propose to overhaul the spring water pipes and bring mountain springs into the city? This is all money from the government."

Zheng Shuqing asked in bewilderment, the "little money" for repairing pipelines has not been seen by the governor. After all, he has seen "big scenes" like hundreds of thousands of money, but he just thinks there is no need to be blind Just toss.

To be honest, his ending next year will be either to enter Chang'an and serve as a branch officer in the central branch, or he will be dismissed from office and return to his hometown in Xingyang. It is impossible to continue to stay in Kuizhou as a salted fish in peace and stability.

Zheng Shuqing's days in Kuizhou Prefecture have entered the countdown.

Adhering to the principle that more things are worse than less things, Zheng Shuqing actually didn't want to build any water pipelines.It's troublesome, there are many things, and it will not be recorded in the official assessment.Doing things for the local area, only "prosperity of culture and education" will be recorded in the assessment, no matter how much other things are done, it will be useless.

It's like you can't write a composition after the topic in a math test. No matter how well you write, you can't score!
Although the Tang Dynasty clearly required every prefecture to open new schools and recommend the imperial examinations for scholars, in fact, the implementation has completely changed its tune and reduced to a certain degree of formalism.

Take the imperial examination, if you don't rent a house around Chang'an, that's tofu with hemp rope: don't mention it.

Everyone knows that the imperial examinations in the Tang Dynasty were not anonymous. They were "catfish" created by meat-eaters in order to motivate the children of the family.Why does the imperial examination have to live near Chang'an? I can only say that everyone understands it, and there is no need to explain it so clearly!

Since they are all show-offs, who is this acting for?Who would really know that a road will not work and go to death?

Therefore, in many places outside Guanzhong, people who have the financial and material resources to take the imperial examination do not care much about taking the imperial examination route.Not everyone in the Tang Dynasty aspired to the imperial examination. This trend was also related to the narrow way out.

For example, Kuizhou.

Kuizhou is far away from the political center, so the level of culture and education is not very high, and there are no decent scholars in the local area.

The local people disdain the imperial examination and focus on the square hole in the middle of the money!If working and doing business can lead to a future, then why should I take the imperial examination to become a Jinshi?
Du Fu has a poem describing the local folk customs of Kuizhou:

In the gorge, the husband will die lightly, less in the public house and more in the water.

The rich drive the big boats with money, and the poor take them to the boats.

The children's knowledge stopped at the Analects of Confucius, and the older children stopped traveling with businessmen.

In the eyes of the imperial court, Kuizhou is "a troublesome man born out of poor mountains and evil waters", and everything is money except money!Zheng Shuqing also has such worries, and doesn't want to waste his energy on useless things.

He only reluctantly agreed after Fang Chongyong's hard persuasion, which does not mean how highly motivated he is.

"My lord, it doesn't matter if you are in Kuizhou, but it will pose a huge problem for the next governor of Kuizhou."

Fang Chongyong couldn't help but tease Zheng Shuqing. He picked up the half-cut moso bamboo from the ground and found that this kind of bamboo was indeed stronger.If there are no animals on the mountain (such as tigers) to damage it, this pipeline should last for a long time.

"Why did I give the next governor a problem?"

Zheng Shuqing was puzzled by this question.

"Because Mr. Shijun seized hundreds of thousands of guan for the sage when he was in office. Although it was a bit accidental, the sage would definitely think that Kuizhou is rich and prosperous, because he underestimated this place before, and he must intensify the search in the future! Don't say it Let's fish in Linze, at least you have to cast the net a few more times and open the fishing.

It is conceivable that the next governor of Kuizhou must have a lot of pressure on his shoulders.The sage asked him to make more money, and he must use all his strength to do so.In this way, is it hard to imagine whether the lives of the people in Kuizhou will be better or worse? "

Fang Chongyong stared at Zheng Shuqing's face with his round eyes and asked.

"This...is not something I can change."

Zheng Shuqing said quietly, not daring to look directly into Fang Chongyong's eyes.

"That's why it is reasonable for the envoy to bring such a great calamity to Kuizhou, to build a pipeline for the people of Fucheng to lead to mountain springs, so that the people can drink safe water, and do some good deeds for the local area. Is it what it should be?"

Fang Chongyong yelled loudly at Zheng Shuqing.

"Been taught a lesson."

Zheng Shuqing bowed to Fang Chongyong and saluted solemnly.

At this moment, someone in the crowd exclaimed: "Big bug! There's a big bug!"

Fang Chongyong was stunned. His first reaction was not to be afraid, but to recall what the big bug was.

The ancients called all animals "worms". Anything that flies in the sky, walks on the ground, crawls or swims in the water is called "worms".

Even people are called worms, for example, a particularly lazy person is called a "lazy worm", and a particularly lecherous person is called a "slutty worm".

Tigers are called big insects, snakes are called long insects, and fish are called scale insects.The "big" here means "boss, number one" and describes the tiger as very powerful.The ancestor of Li Tang was called Li Hu. Obviously, this word was taboo in the Tang Dynasty, so tiger could not be called tiger. In written language, it was generally called "beast" (there are also poems directly written about tiger).

Folk people generally call tigers "big bugs".

"Your Majesty, stand back, and this slave will stop the tiger!"

Fang Laique volunteered to step forward with an ax in hand, and stood in front of Fang Chongyong.

Zheng Shuqing, the governor of Kuizhou, was so frightened that the two groups fought, and wanted to leave first, but he couldn't move his whole body.

The woodcutters chopping moso bamboo ran while shouting, and they couldn't care less about Zheng Shuqing and the others.With a salary of 800 yuan a month, no one can afford to work hard.

After all, it was Zheng Shuqing and the others who had not been in Kuizhou for a long time, and they had lost their awe of the ferocity of nature all the time, not to mention Fang Chongyong, who hadn't even figured out the local road.

Tigers in many places are afraid of people, but Kuizhou is different.Kuizhou Tiger lived among the Liao people and even became direct neighbors.Outside the capital city of Kuizhou, tigers are accustomed to crowds of people, and there is no fear of them at all. It is common for tigers to sneak into rural houses in Kuizhou.

The local Han people were also imitators. They cut down trees as fences and surrounded the four courtyards as barriers to prevent tigers.

In Kuizhou, Fucheng and Jiangdi Ferry are one world, and the mountains outside Fucheng are another world.

Du Fu has a poem describing the suffering of local tigers in Kuizhou: the gorge is four thousand miles wide, and the water is hundreds of sources.Humans and tigers live halfway together, and each other hurts and ends up living together.

"Get out of the way and watch me give it a slide!"

Fang Chongyong snatched the bamboo-chopping ax from Fang Laique's hand, held it tightly with both hands, and looked straight at the colorful tiger in the distance that was dozens of steps away!The tiger stared at Fang Chongyong and his group, seeming to be calculating which one was more delicious.

After all, a tiger can only eat one person at a time!Eating others means that you are safe.

Zheng Shuqing regretted sending Yang Ruoxu to Yangzhou to deliver tax money. If Lao Yang was here, it would be difficult to be a tiger-fighting hero with the opponent's ability to shoot every arrow, but forcing the tiger back would not be a big problem.

At this moment, the sound of desolate rhinoceros horns sounded, accompanied by the loud beating of drums!

A dozen or so men wearing double-breasted vests and shorts were rushing towards the tiger!

That's right, it's not tigers attacking people, but people attacking tigers!

The tiger slapped a certain man down with one paw, but that man lost the force of the blow by rolling over.Taking advantage of the tiger's distraction, one of the people walking with him instantly shot the bow and arrow in his hand, hitting one of the tiger's eyes!
The tiger roared in pain and rolled on the ground frantically!

It was too late and then soon, several Liao people rushed up, one of them held down a part of the tiger, and pressed it firmly to the ground, and the rest rushed up, holding the rope three times, five times and two times, and then tied the tiger up. Be strict.

Let alone Fang Chongyong, even Zheng Shuqing was stunned by this tiger fighting skill. If he hadn't seen it with his own eyes, he would never have believed it was true.

Most people are terrified when they see a tiger, but these people treat the tiger like a stray dog.Fang Chongyong's "sliding shovel" was temporarily out of use, but he also saved his life, which was regarded as an escape from the tiger's mouth.

When the officials saw Fang Chongyong and his group, they naturally recognized Zheng Shuqing's official robes and warmly invited them to a nearby residence.

Unable to resist the hospitality, Zheng Shuqing sent an entourage back to report the news, and he led Fang Chongyong and Fang Laique to follow the group of officials to their residence.

It was a protruding flat land on the mountainside, with half of it hanging in the air!

The Liao people used many thick round wooden piles to support a huge "wooden courtyard". The space below is about half a person's height, and debris and firewood are piled up.

Although the courtyard is not big, it has all kinds of internal organs. Not only is there a huge wooden water tank with a terrifying size, which contains many white and slender silver fish, but there are also several cormorants with ropes around their necks.

To the Liao people, cormorants are like hunting dogs, specially trained for fishing.

After a while, these servants brought a ring-shaped cake.It looks like the twists made by Fang Chongyong in his previous life, with caramel made by himself on top.

This thing looks very difficult to make!Not to mention the Liao people, even the Han people come to play, and it is not often available.

"Jia Sixie's essential skills for improving the people include: steam and wrap the cupcakes in a seven-inch square, boil the rice, ginger, orange peel, parsley, garlic, salt, finely chop and boil the grits with black bean juice, and apply oil on the rugs , Wrap it with a cross, put grits on it, and then use grits to usurp it. This ring cake is the cabinet.

I have forgotten that today is a big day for the Liao people, and that tiger is used for sacrifice! "

Zheng Shuqing said suddenly.

The local Liao people in Kuizhou will hold a large-scale sacrifice on October [-] every year, which is called "Zichen" by the Liao people.On this day, no matter how much hatred there is, let go, and celebrate and sacrifice together.

After listening to Zheng Shuqing's talk about these local common things, Fang Chongyong suddenly realized: No wonder the Liao people came out to catch tigers during the festival today, and no wonder they were cordially invited to come here as guests. This is all the reason.

Liao people catch tigers not because tigers are easy to bully, but because they want to celebrate festivals.Such complex food is not made for the appetite, but for the celebration of the festival.Inviting Fang Chongyong and his group to come as guests, apart from Zheng Shuqing's face, one of the main reasons is for them to celebrate the big festival.

"There are no horses in the Liao people's mountains, so it's strange to use saddles as wall accessories."

Fang Chongyong couldn't help sighing and sighed, and took a bite of the cup.A strong "local flavor" filled his mouth, and he swallowed it with difficulty, refusing to touch it a second time.On the other hand, Fang Laique ate with great relish, as if any food was delicious in his mouth, and he couldn't refuse it.

The Liao people are based on a large family, which can barely be regarded as a tribe. A family has a dozen or so males, and there are more females than males.The patriarch came to salute Zheng Shuqing, and led the teenage boy who shot the tiger blind with an arrow to Zheng Shuqing, and asked Zheng Shuqing in jerky Chinese if he needed any followers.

Fang Chongyong and Zheng Shuqing looked at each other, and the sentimental gang was ambushing them here.If someone invites you to visit, they must have something to ask for, and it won't be without purpose.

Even if the Liao people have been self-sufficient in the mountains and forests for a long time, they will inevitably go in and out of Kuizhou's capital city from time to time. Otherwise, they would not recognize Zheng Shuqing as the governor of Kuizhou, let alone have the idea of ​​​​going out of the mountains.Many children of Liao people followed merchants passing through Kuizhou and served as guides or escorts. Information from the outside may be delayed, but it was never cut off.

"I'm going back to Chang'an, and I will be an official in the central yamen in the future, and I won't need guards."

Zheng Shuqing pondered for a moment and said.

The obvious face of the patriarch of the bureaucracy was much darker.

"But this one."

Zheng Shuqing pointed to Fang Chongyong and said: "His father is the supervisory censor of the imperial court. He is a very big official and needs someone around him. Let's see if this works..."

Having said that, he winked at Fang Zhongyong, signaling for the other party to agree.

Compared with ordinary Han people, Liaoren's entourage has many shortcomings, but it also has an advantage that no one else can compare: the interpersonal relationship is extremely simple!
Merchants here often hire bureaucrats as guards and guides, just because they are worried that they are not familiar with the place, and they will be murdered and stolen by evil-minded people!Even if the Liao people want to kill people and get more goods, they have no way to sell their stolen goods!The circle of Liao people also pays attention to this kind of thing, deliberately avoiding these conflicts.

Fang Chongyong pondered for a moment, and suddenly understood.He has no property now, and he is a half-grown child, so he can be controlled casually.Fang Laique is brave if he is brave, and there is no problem with being loyal, but he is really cute and stupid, and he is useless at critical moments.

As he was about to leave Kuizhou, he really needed someone with simple interpersonal relationships as his personal bodyguard.This young Liao man can be regarded as having a "life-saving grace", so it is better to take it for his own use.

Fang Chongyong nodded slightly and said, "Follow me from now on, what's your name?"

"Duan."

The young man with superb archery skills said in a deep voice.

(End of this chapter)