The bad emperor of Tang Dynasty

Two or three days have passed since the discussion of politics in the lakeside pavilion. These days, Guo Nuan either spends time at home with Shengping and his daughter Guo Xiang, or invites Fatty Ah Fu to go to restaurants and teahouses on Anle Street in Chang'an for entertainment.

The day before yesterday, Guo Nuan passed by Jingzhao Mansion when he was free. The yamen where he worked in the past, except for the guards standing guard in front of the gate, who were unfamiliar faces, the rest of the facade was embellished and the golden lacquered signboard of "Jingzhao Mansion" written by himself on the top of the gate, Everything was still so familiar and friendly, which made him sigh a lot.

When he was standing in front of the steps of Jingzhao Mansion that day, he happened to meet Yan Ruoshui who came out from the mansion to patrol the office. It was a bit of a surprise to meet Guo Nuan, but with the flash of a smile on her usually cold face at that time, Guo Nuan could still see that she was very happy.

Guo Nuan and Yan Ruoshui talked for a while, and after learning about Luo Yuan and the recent situation of Jingzhao Mansion, everything was fine, and Guo Nuan didn't delay Yan Ruoshui's business time much, and the two agreed to visit each other when they had time.

Yan Ruoshui said that his father, Yan Zhenqing, had always admired Guo Nuan's thin gold calligraphy, and that his old man welcomed Guo Nuan to his house at any time. The two of them could exchange calligraphy and poetry by the way, and Guo Nuan readily agreed when saying goodbye.

After discussing the affairs of the world with Daizong that day, there was no news from the palace, as if there was silence and no response.Except on the afternoon of the sixth day, Daizong specially invited his son-in-law Guo Nuan to play a game of polo at the Golden Pavilion Lawn in the Imperial City.

The polo sport that came from Persia has always been very fashionable in Datang. Almost everyone, from the elderly in their 60s and [-]s, to the teenagers and girls in their [-]th and [-]th years, is more than happy to participate. Anyone who doesn’t play polo in Chang’an It is very outdated, and its popularity is the same as that of Central Plains Cuju.

It is said that playing polo is not only popular in Guanzhong, but also in Tubo, Tianzhu, Turkic, Silla, and Japan on the borders around the Tang Dynasty.Aristocrats of many national dynasties have upgraded polo to the top level of national noble sports.

Playing polo is also the sport of horse hockey. Fortunately, Guo Nuan had practiced equestrianism half a year ago, otherwise he would really be despised and outdated in the aristocratic circle.

The yellow pussy "Huang Xiaomian", who had been locked up in the stables of the Princess Mansion for half a year, was extremely brave and brave when he was released from the stables. In addition, the people and horses had a tacit understanding, and Guo Nuan mastered the tricks of playing polo in a long time. Polo is a little easier, and Daizong has always praised it, because it took three days for the cheap father-in-law who is proficient in riding to learn to play polo.

On the same day, he received an eunuch's order from the eunuch announcing that the emperor invited him to play horseback riding in the Golden Pavilion Grassland, so he hurried to the pasture on "Huang Xiaoyang". , and Yuan Zai's son Yuan Fang, the guard handed him a wooden club similar to a cane for hitting the ball, and then explained the rules a little bit.

Guo Nuan quickly understood that there are two wooden-framed goals on both sides of the pasture, which is similar to carrying footballs, except that the horses must be manipulated to play polo, and the polo is made of rattan tied into a ball and covered with cowhide. of.

Guo Nuan likes sports. Although he had heart disease in his previous life and was not suitable for strenuous exercise, he is very athletic. He is good at football and basketball. He usually doesn’t bother to run around the court when he catches the ball. He mainly controls the ball from a distance and is very accurate. This is why Guo Nuan, a heart patient, is often invited by friends to the stadium as a foreign aid.

Due to his excellent archery skills, good eyesight and wrist control, playing polo is very easy to learn, and the accuracy of hitting the ball makes everyone on the field stunned. Almost every shot hits one.Daizong sometimes really wondered if Guo Nuan was playing this polo for the first time.

There were not many people playing polo that day, so it was a small game.Guo Nuan and the crown prince plus a captain of the crown prince's personal guards were against King Jun, Yuan Fang, and the private polo players they hired.Daizong cheerfully stood aside as the referee.

It is said that Guo Nuan and King Jun's son Xiaojun County King Li Jue and Yuan Fang had some festivities in the past, especially Li Jue was watching with his grandfather Daizong outside the court. After being reprimanded by Guo Nuan, this kid played polo When we met that day, he was much more honest, and he bowed his head and greeted Guo Nuan weakly. Obviously, this kid was a little afraid of his uncle.

As for Yuan Fang, Guo Nuan and his father, Yuan Zai, have always been at odds. In addition, this little guy has been perseveringly pursuing Princess Lingxian according to his father's orders for the past six months. I heard that Yuan Fang's pursuit of Lingxian is not going well at all. No matter how courteous Yuan Fang is to express his love, Lingxian is too lazy to talk to him.Last month was really annoying, Lingxian said to him directly in front of everyone: "I only like Guo Nuan, I don't like other people, Yuan Fang, you can give up." This has never been done in love. The veteran Huacong who returned home after being defeated was greatly humiliated, and a factor of incomparable resentment was buried in his heart from then on.

When meeting Guo Nuan now, Yuan Fang looked like an enemy who was extremely jealous. When he was playing polo, he glanced at Guo Nuan. Ignoring it made him shut the door.

What seems to be an ordinary polo match actually contains a very subtle atmosphere.First of all, the crown prince and King Jun are both the direct sons of the Daizong. It stands to reason that among the dozen or so princes, the ones with the greatest power to inherit the throne are the crown prince and King Jun who has been stationed in Youzhou from afar.

Now King Jun is like a fierce tiger transferred back to Chang'an, the crown prince can't figure out the intention of his father, Emperor Daizong's move, he is deeply worried about his status being shaken.

When the crown prince was first established among the princes, King Jun took the initiative to ask for a far-away transfer to the north after failing. Now the most threatening competitor has licked his wounds in the distance after failing and returned majestically. How could the crown prince Li Shiyong not Worrying, especially recently spies reported that King Jun had a close relationship with Prime Minister Yuan Zai and his party after he returned to the capital. It can be seen from the close relationship between King Jun and Yuan Fang since he was a child. Li Shi sighed, this is not good. Good sign.

It took more than an hour to finish a polo match without any pain. It seemed that everyone was polite and indifferent. In front of Daizong, the two sons seemed to be close brothers and sisters, but when they played on the court, the two sons But there are a lot of little tricks in the dark.

In the end, the polo match ended in a "friendly" draw of forty to forty.The prince is happy, this time with the help of his brother-in-law Guo Nuan, who is quick to learn, the two cooperated tacitly, and they evened out.If the prince had always been under pressure from King Jun’s team, this time it was a turnaround, at least the gap was shortened. At that time, brother-in-law Li Shi looked at Guo Nuan with bright eyes. This kid has great potential in polo.

Half a month later, the Tubo envoys are about to visit Chang'an. Persian polo was introduced to Tubo 20 years earlier than the Central Plains. It is said that there are so many polo players in Tubo, and polo diplomacy is very common. Son.

Guo Nuan remembered the assassination of the prince of the Tubo envoys visiting Chang'an half a year ago. He lamented that his resignation was related to his training in Lingnan. Regarding the normal diplomatic relations of the Tang Dynasty, Daizong felt a little sweat in his heart. Whether the borders of Gansu and Shuofang can be peaceful for a period of time depends on the visit of the Tubo envoy half a month later.

The diplomacy of big stick and radish, courtesy first and soldiers later, you can’t just give carrots to show Tang’s grace and magnanimity, such courtesy will make Tubo appear afraid, and it will inevitably mislead the Tubo king to give wrong signals to make Tang weak and deceitful, then Tubo will They invaded the western border of Datang even more unscrupulously.

Daizong put his big stick on the polo match. He heard that next month the Tubo envoys will lead the polo team with the strongest lineup. Preparing for polo cosmetic selection.That's why Guo Nuan was invited to Caochang.