Late Tang

Beside the Bianqu Canal, several racing boats are already on the table.These racing boats are all made of single wood, which is not only for strength but also to reduce the resistance when traveling.

Li Jing, Zhang Rui and others went to the bank of the river to watch, "Be prepared as a light envoy, with a dragon head built in front, a dragon tail erected in the back, and dragon scales engraved and painted on both sides of the boat, which is called a dragon boat." Zhang Rui smiled and said to Li Jing introduce.As the shipbuilding place of Bianchuan, Songzhou has dozens of shipyards.Songzhou has criss-crossing rivers and a well-developed shipbuilding industry. Therefore, the annual Dragon Boat Festival is even more lively.

Moreover, not only local dragon boat races are popular, but the royal family also holds large-scale dragon boat races every year, and even spends a lot of money every year.

Emperor Muzong of the Tang Dynasty once "gathered happily in the Fish and Algae Palace and watched the race".Tang Jingzong also ordered Wang Bo, the salt and iron transfer envoy, to build [-] large-scale racing ferry boats for entry, "the time counts its merits as half a year's transfer fee."

Songzhou has to pay tribute to the royal family every year to compete for ferry boats, and every year, every shipyard in Songzhou has to compete for this matter.Therefore, the annual dragon boat race in Songzhou is also a trip for various shipyards to show their strength.Those who win the competition in the first year will be able to get a dragon boat order from the Songzhou government to pay tribute to the royal family.In addition to the competition of dozens of boats, all levels of government, major commercial firms, and the major families, clans, and wealthy people in Songzhou will each send a boat to join the Dragon Boat Festival.

Zhang Rui, governor of Songzhou, has a rich family and is the governor of this state, so Zhang's family also has a ferry boat to participate in this race.

Zhang Rui specially introduced the Zhang family's dragon boat and crew to Li Jing. The Zhang family's dragon boat was more than four feet long.It is over two feet wide and is made of a whole piece of golden nanmu, which is very precious.And in order to make the boat light and easy to sail, Zhang Rui specially asked craftsmen to paint the entire bottom of the dragon boat with expensive paint.He also oiled Qiluo's clothes and put them on the boats driving the boats.Such clothes will not get wet even if they enter the water, and can make the speed faster.

There are more than 1000 boats participating this time, which shocked Li Jing.He has never seen such a lively folk game. Compared with the polo game, the dragon boat race is more lively.On both sides of the Bian River, which is more than ten miles long, there are people with surnames everywhere.

According to Zhang Rui's introduction.This is just the Dragon Boat Festival in Songcheng City, and the county villages below will also hold Dragon Boat Races. Every year, the government will give colorful satins, and the winners will also be given silver bowls, which is called marking.

As for the competition in Song City, the dragon boat that wins the championship will be rewarded more generously.

Looking at this lively scene.Li Jing had to admit that this was indeed a good event.Especially with the incident of grass bandits attacking just now, holding such a lively event will undoubtedly turn the current atmosphere around a lot.And for Songzhou's shipbuilding industry, this is also a good opportunity for them to demonstrate Songzhou's shipbuilding strength.

The Dragon Boat Festival in Songcheng has a long history, and already has a complete set of procedures.

After all the fleets arrive, the first thing to do is to sacrifice to the god of water, Hebo.Set up the altar and offer offerings.Then there will be a large Nuo dance.

After Li Jing and the surnames enjoy the Nuo dance, the oarsmen of the fleet will take their oars and find a young woman on the scene to tie her cloak to the oars.This event can be said to be the most exciting thing for the boatmen.On the day of the Dragon Boat Festival, girls who are rarely seen will come to watch the race.Not only the girls from commoner families, but even the noble ladies and daughters of official and rich families will come with their maids and servants.

In the traditional Dragon Boat Festival races, there are often many young men and women sparking sparks in the end, and it is best to form a good thing.

When Zhang Rui announced that the boats could go to find a girl to bless them.Standing on the bank of the river, Zhu Wen kept his eyes on the gauze curtain in the middle of the high stand.In this race, the town government also sent a dragon boat to participate.Li Jing sent a special order to send Song Zhoudi's forward selection army.In the end, the Zhu and Wen brothers volunteered and finally won a place in the fleet.

Holding the wooden pulp, Zhu Wen's heart beat endlessly.His eyes were fixed on the gauze curtain in the middle.He had already found out clearly that it was the gauze tent where Zhang Rui's family, the governor of Songzhou, lived.As soon as he remembered that the woman he had been dreaming of was among them, he felt so excited that he couldn't help it.This is a good opportunity, he can use this opportunity to find it and ask Zhang Xiaoniang to tie a cloak on his body.It is not rude for him to seek such an opportunity today.Except for this opportunity, he has no contact with Zhang Xiaoniang at all.

"Brother, why are you so dazed, go to any girl you see." Zhu Zhen laughed loudly, and amidst the cheers of countless onlookers, she carried the boat and rushed towards the girls who were watching.

Zhu Cun also smiled and said, "Why, are you looking for Zhang Tailiu? On the right!" After speaking, he was also excited to find the girl he liked.

Zhu Wen looked to the left, and sure enough, he saw Zhang Tailiu standing in the crowd over there, waving excitedly at him.Zhu Wen turned his head, glanced at the stage again, finally gritted his teeth, and walked firmly towards the stands.

Today, there are thousands of boats participating in the race, and as many as tens of thousands of oarsmen. They went to the crowd of onlookers one after another, handed out their oars to the girls they liked, and then those excited and shy girls put their colorful oars on the boat. Tie up the cloak.

On this day, being able to get the oars from the rowers is something that makes the girls excited and proud.In the same way, a man who can be covered by girls is also proud.

However, when Zhu Wen went straight to the tall VIP stand, everyone who saw it was surprised.They never thought that there would be a boat coming to the stands.Although Zhu Wen always had a calm smile on his face, in fact his legs were shaking a little, he felt weak all over his body, his breathing was short of breath, and his heart was beating violently.He felt that he was not walking toward the woman he admired in his heart, but toward an army of thousands.When he finally reached Zhang's tent, he felt his heart beating up to his throat, and he was about to explode with excitement.

Zhu Wen handed over his boat, and hurriedly took out a fiery red rose from his arms and put it on the boat.

"Beautiful lady, you are the most beautiful rose in Songzhou today!" Zhu Wen said excitedly the words he had recited countless times in his heart. "Today's race, Zhu Wen hopes to get my little mother's blessing!"

At this time, Zhang Hui also saw that the guy who had been looking at her stupidly in front of the temple in the suburbs came here, and she knew that he had become an officer under his command.Although it was Zhu Wen who came instead of the him she was expecting, Zhang Hui still felt a burst of excitement at this moment.In front of so many people, it is an exciting and proud thing to be awarded a dragon boat boat.

Zhang Hui gently opened the gauze curtain, took the rose shyly and excitedly, and smiled at Zhu Wen.

It was this smile that made Zhu Wen lose his soul. It was the first time he accepted the woman he admired so much.I just think Zhang Hui is so beautiful and charming.Her surrounding hair is combed into a flying high bun, and her whole body is like a fiery pomegranate.Those eyes that were as fast as water almost melted his whole body. He took a deep breath of the orchid-like sweet breath, until Zhang Hui had tied the sapphire blue silk cloak around his arms to his boat, and he was still in a daze. Standing there in a daze, staring at her blankly.

It wasn't until a light cough sounded from behind that he came back to his senses, only to see a graceful and luxurious woman looking at him.She is graceful and luxurious, with a petite figure and a full head of emerald jewels. She is somewhat similar to Zhang Hui.Zhu Wen knew that this must be Zhang Hui's mother, so he bowed his head to her with some embarrassment, and turned away reluctantly.

Each rower received a blessing from a young girl, and excitedly held up the paddle tied with the girls' colorful cloaks.But today, Zhu Wen is undoubtedly the most eye-catching one on the field.This bold guy actually got the blessing of the governor's daughter.

After bursts of noise, the race will begin.

Due to the large number of entries this time, it was finally decided to divide into ten batches of competitions, one at a time, and after ten excellent fleets were determined, the ten fleets would finally compete for No.1.

On the open water of Bianqu, a red flag is rubbed at the starting point as a mark, and then a long pole is erected a thousand steps away, with brocade wrapped around the upper part, and the colors are bright and eye-catching. whoever wins.

Zhu Wen and others had dragged the dragon boat into the water, and a group of ten people were sitting on the boat, holding on to the oars.

The first batch of more than one participating dragon boats were on standby at the starting point. Today’s starter was Li Jing. Li Jing shouted to start, and a row of drummers below beat the drums. When the dragon comes out of the water, "the boats are galloping quickly, the oars and songs are singing chaotically, the water and land are noisy, and the viewers are like clouds."

At this time, the dragon boat rides the wind and waves like a sharp arrow amidst the cheers of the people, what an exciting scene.

According to the usual practice, those who win the championship at the finish line first will be supported by the audience, and even many brave girls will come to wear red flowers for them.

The town where Zhu Wen was located selected the forward troops, paddled desperately, shouted their horns loudly, and soon took the lead.The distance of a thousand steps is not long. Amidst the cheers of countless people on both sides of the strait, the forward team soon maintained its leading position. Zhu Zhen snatched the colorful satin from the long pole at the finish line and held it high in her hands.

When the dragon boat docked, countless girls rushed forward.A bright red silk flower hung on Zhu Wen's body. When Zhu Wen looked up, he saw a familiar face.For a moment, he almost thought that the smiling girl in front of him was Zhang Hui.But after taking a closer look, he finally recognized with disappointment that it was Zhang Tailiu, not Zhang Hui.Suddenly, the joy of victory diminished a lot.