Brother Rong of Red Mansion

Chapter 83

Coincidentally.

The day when Jia Rong returned home was the Mid-Autumn Festival on August 15th.

The autumn wind on the canal is bleak, and the willow trees on both sides of the river are withered and yellow. Jia Rong wears a plain white Ma Zhongjing crown, a straight body in a bright red gauze tiger and leopard patch, and black cloud soap leather boots. She stands on the deck with her hands behind her hands, overlooking the river view.

Hundreds of boats competed on the river, and ships of all sizes were shuttled back and forth.

The most common one is a three-masted sailing ship, also called a merchant ship. It has four floors in total, has large storage capacity and is fast. It is a common cargo ship used by merchants to transport goods.

Then came the horse boats, also called horse clippers, which were originally large-scale fast water warfare and transportation ships used by the navy of the Great Zhou Dynasty. Now the yellow flag is flying, the canal is flowing unimpeded and fast, and it is used to provide official items for the court and the palace. For example: "Transporting incense and silk fabrics to suburban temples, offerings, military supplies, etc."

There are also canal boats, which are loaded with canal soldiers to intercept merchant ships and civilian ships on the canal and collect taxes.

The Grand Canal is a grain transportation pipeline that runs from north to south. It is also the backbone of the Zhou Dynasty, supporting the huge body of the Zhou Dynasty. About 3/4 of the country's cargo transportation comes from this Grand Canal. The major commercial centers across the country were also located along the Grand Canal, handling huge amounts of tax revenue for the Zhou Dynasty every day.

The garrison system is also an "alternative" in the garrison system.

Its uniqueness cannot even be compared with that of the Forbidden Army.

For example, in the military and political examinations for military positions, all armies across the country are basically required to participate. The only exception is Cao Bing, who is not included among them, and can be described as a true "hereditary replacement".

In addition, there are also youth boats, labor boats, rice boats, swing boats, spring water boats, fish selling boats, vegetarian boats, treading boats, reading boats, etc.

Although the ship Jia Rong boarded had three masts and a large sail, it was more exquisite than a merchant ship. It had six floors in total, clean and tidy warehouses, and could accommodate hundreds of people. It was called a "loud ship". There is a mother-daughter wall and a cannon bed on it, and the flag of Ningguo Mansion is planted on it, so it is also called "official ship".

This is a "strong ship" that can only be purchased by the rich and powerful of the Zhou Dynasty. It sails out from Mijin Ferry and travels smoothly all the way. No matter whether merchant ships, civilian ships or official ships with "flags" on various roads, they dare not approach.

Even when the canoe soldiers saw it from a distance, they quickly waved their flags to let the Ningguo Mansion ship go south without daring to intercept it.

Didn’t you see that there were white curtains and lanterns with the word "Die" hanging on the boat? It was a "Die boat" to support the souls returning to their hometown. Who dared to stop it? Don't die.

******

"Brother, it's windy here. It's better to go back to your room and rest. Don't be exposed to the wind again." Just as Jia Rong was leaning on the railing and looking into the distance, Jia Qiang came over to persuade her.

"it is good."

Jia Rong nodded with a smile, and immediately returned to the main hall and warehouse, took off her shoes and got on the brocade couch, picked up a copy of "Ningwu Strategy" and began to study it carefully.

The cabin is divided into two small halls, inside and outside. It is simple and elegant, with music, chess, calligraphy and paintings on display. It is no worse than at home, but the space is slightly smaller.

At this moment, the plum fragrance was scented with agarwood, covering up the moisture in the main hall. He also served tea to Jia Rong. Seeing him lowering his head and reading seriously, he walked over quietly and gently kneaded his shoulders to loosen his muscles.

Yes.

This time, Jia Rong went south to the south of the Yangtze River and took Mei Xiang with him so that he could serve him on the way.

Not just him.

Jia Qiang also brought a girl with her.

This time we were returning home, and we couldn't dock halfway. The brothers stayed on the ship for dozens of days. How could they do it without a girl by their side to help them?

Not to mention that my buddies are all used to being waited on, and they can't live without people around them.

The journey on the road is so long, what should I do if my brother comes to show his interest? It's better to take a girl with you than to go to a brothel to have fun.

Of course, not to mention using the servants to relieve the fire, sticking sesame seed cakes or walking on the dry road and other such nonsense.

******

During this period of time, Jia Rong has been obsessed with studying "Ningwu Strategy". Every time he reads it, he has new cognitions and feelings, and his theoretical knowledge of army marching and warfare has made great progress.

I was studying in the main hall and pavilion, and before I knew it, the sky became dark.

"Sir, it's getting late. Second Master Qiang invites you to go up to the attic to enjoy the moon." At this moment, Mei Xiang reported softly, waking him up from his meditation.

"Oh?" Jia Rong suddenly realized, looking out the window at the night, she found a full moon rising, making the cabin as bright as frost.

"Let's go." Jia Rong smiled and nodded, put down the book, put on her boots, and led Mei Xiang out of the main hall and pavilion. When she came to the deck, she saw Jia Qiang, dressed in blue gauze, leading the girl to wait for him.

"Big brother, wish you a happy Mid-Autumn Festival!"

Seeing Jia Rong coming out of the main hall, Jia Qiang led the girl to pick Wei, and immediately saluted and said hello.

This morning, when we met at Tiekan Temple, we had already said hello. But it wasn't until night fell and the full moon rose that the atmosphere of the Mid-Autumn Festival became stronger.

"Mid-Autumn Festival and good health."

Jia Rong smiled and replied.

As the saying goes: During the festive season, miss your loved ones even more.

At this moment, the two relatives on the ship, his brother, were very emotional when they saw each other, and their hearts were filled with emotions. They talked and laughed as they climbed up the spiral staircase to the second floor attic.

The attic space on the second floor is not large, the doorways are open, and the window panes are all hollowed out and decorated. There is a round table in the pavilion, with four plates of cold dishes and a bottle of scalding wine, waiting for Jia Rong and Jia Qiang. Take your seat. Especially, it was dark at this moment, the water of the canal was sparkling, accompanied by boats of all sizes, all hung with lanterns, and the sound of feasting could be heard.

In the sky, covered with night, a full moon hung in the sky, looking like a silver plate.

As soon as I saw this scene, my homesickness faded a bit, and I felt relaxed and happy instead. Jia Rong sat down first without ceremony, then asked Jia Qiang to sit across from him, and then ordered the meal to be served.

Mei Xiang and Cai Wei immediately opened the Xin Xin box and put out the hot meals.

There are roasted swan, white fried chicken, roasted pork, boiled pork, lychee pork, sauteed pork, shredded tripe lung, steamed mutton, peony head soup, mushroom lantern soup, silver cake soup, roasted carp, etc.

Although they were on the ship, Jia Rong and Jia Qiang's food quality was still the same as at home.

Four cold dishes were placed first, and then twelve hot dishes. Finally, the fish, shrimps and crabs caught in the canal today were cooked into several dishes respectively. The table was full, and the rice was fragrant.

"Brother, please." Jia Qiang stretched out her hand to signal, letting Jia Rong use the chopsticks first.

Jia Rong clenched her chopsticks and took a bite of the fish. She felt it was smooth and tender in the mouth, with no earthy smell at all. She nodded with a slight smile, and then saw Jia Qiang raising a glass to him.

"Drink together."

Jia Rong smiled and nodded, holding the wine glass and drinking down the hot 'Wanli Chun'.

The same is true for Jia Qiang.

Wanli Spring Wine, actually called "Bagui Wine", is a famous wine in Sichuan. Because the sweet-scented osmanthus blooms in August, its juice is used to make wine, hence the name "Baguijiu".

During the Xiaozong period of the Southern Song Dynasty, Prime Minister Fan Dacheng served as the envoy of Shu County. He also introduced the method of brewing Baguihua wine in his hometown of Shihu (the name of a place in the south of the Yangtze River) to the Shu capital and named it "Wanli Chun". This osmanthus wine has been passed down.

It has been passed down to this day and has become one of the famous wines in the world.

It is one of the medicinal wines often drunk in autumn and August in the houses of nobles and nobles.

Eating delicious delicacies, sipping famous Sichuan wines, admiring the full moon in mid-autumn, and climbing up to the attic to look far into the distance, overlooking the night view of the canal, and seeing the lanterns of ships of all sizes shining brightly, like sparks of fire.

"It's so beautiful." Jia Rong sighed, and immediately recited a seven-character poem by Bai Juyi of the Tang Dynasty, "On the Night of August 15th, Looking at the Moon in Huanting Pavilion."

“On the night of August 15th of the past year, I was at the apricot orchard beside Qujiang Pond.

"On the night of August 15th this year, in front of the Shatou Water Pavilion in Penpu.

"Looking to the northwest, where is my hometown? To the southeast, I can see how full the moon is.

“Yesterday when the wind blew, no one would notice, but tonight the light is as clear as in previous years.”

This is an ancient poem written by Bai Juyi when he was demoted to Jiangzhou Sima and lived in Xunyang. It expresses the loneliness and desolation of "the pleasures of the past, the bitter sighs of today, things have changed and people have changed".

What Jia Rong loves most is the last sentence: "Yesterday the wind blew and no one could hear it, but tonight the light is as bright as in previous years."

Every time I read this sentence, I will have a different feeling.

Tonight, August 15th, was the Reunion Festival, but he was going to help his soul to go to the south of the Yangtze River. The melancholy of leaving home filled his heart, and he couldn't get rid of it, so he sighed helplessly.

After hearing this, Jia Qiang toasted and said with a smile, "I originally promised not to talk about my family tonight, but to have a happy feast, but my eldest brother came to make me cry. I'm going to drink a glass of wine as a penalty."

Jia Rong shook his head and smiled brightly: "You are the only one who is single. I have just married a wife. I am a newlywed. How can you compare with me? If you get married tomorrow, you will know the melancholy of leaving home."

"Haha, I am willing to marry, but which lady will match me?" Jia Qiang said with a smile.

When it comes to his marriage, Jia Qiang, despite her young mind, can't help but look forward to it.

"Don't worry, after the master is buried, I will find a good woman to marry you." Jia Rong said with a smile.

"Thank you so much, big brother." Jia Qiang smiled and quickly toasted Jia Rong with a glass of wine.

The two were talking, laughing, eating and drinking, and the smell of alcohol gradually became apparent. What kind of drinker does Jia Rong have? I felt melancholy again tonight, so I had to drink a few more drinks. After finishing the pot of wine, he asked for another pot to boil it. Mei Xiang and Cai Wei tried to persuade them, but they failed to persuade them. Instead, they were persuaded by Jia Rong.

"Today is the Mid-Autumn Festival on August 15th, but we brothers have to stay here. Why not drink a few more drinks? Bring the wine quickly." Jia Rong decided to get drunk tonight.

As for Jia Qiang, after hearing Jia Rong's words, she felt melancholy in her heart, so she drank a few more drinks. Unknowingly, his eyes were blurred, his cheeks were flushed, and he breathed out a strong smell of alcohol, as if he was about to get drunk in the next second.

Suddenly, a high-pitched scream came from outside the window, and gongs sounded one after another.

"Dang Dang Dang——"

(End of this chapter)