Compete for the Song Dynasty

Originally, Wang Pang did not believe that there really was a unicorn. It is said that the unicorn, together with the phoenix, tortoise, and dragon, are called the "Four Spirits", and they are the mounts of gods. Whether there are gods in this world is a question. Where did the mounts come from?In the vast world, there are different regions and different species. Maybe it is a wild animal that grows in Jiaozhi, and it was sent to the Song Dynasty as a unicorn. It is normal for the soil and water to die.

"Since Brother Shen has seen it, why don't you tell me what that thing looks like?" Although I have never seen a real unicorn, but I have been watching the animal world since I was a child, and I have been to the zoo often, maybe I can really tell the name of that thing.

Shen Kuo thought for a while, and said while gesticulating: "They look like buffaloes, but their bodies are covered with fleshy scales; they have a single horn at the end of their noses, and they eat grass, melons and fruits; they must be hit with a stick before they will agree Eat."

This seems to be a rhinoceros, but the rough skin and thick flesh on the rhinoceros' body are not scales. Wang Pang couldn't help asking curiously, "What does the scales look like?"

Shen Kuo stretched out his hand and gestured: "That strange beast has long hair on its neck and scales on its body as big as the palm of your hand. If this is not Tianlu, what is it? It's just that the official position was humble at that time, who listened to me?! This horn The strange beast is called Tianlu, and if it has two horns, it is called exorcising evil spirits.”[

Just after denying a unicorn, Shen Kuo came up with a Tianlu. Wang Pang knew that 75 species become extinct every day in the world, and 3 species become extinct every hour.It may not be surprising that ancient species can’t name it, but when you think of the name Tianlu, why does it sound so familiar? Isn’t Tianlu the thing that is also called Pixiu in modern times?Wang Pang remembers that he did special research to invite a Pixiu back then. That is to say, in ancient times, this kind of auspicious beast had one horn and two horns.Now Wang Pangdao is really interested in having intercourse. He may not believe what others say, but it comes from Shen Kuo.

Wang Pang, who didn't take it seriously just now, jumped up. This is a legendary fortune-telling fetish that only eats but doesn't eat: "It can't be the person who is in charge of raising this strange beast. He doesn't know how to raise this strange beast, right? Otherwise, how could he get it? They are only willing to eat by beating them with wooden sticks, and the animals must either starve to death or be beaten to death."

"Oh, I don't bother to beat them at all. Sima Guang was ordered to go to the Chongzheng Hall. These beasts are absolutely useless to govern the country. It is a waste; it is better to use the cost of serving them to do something useful for the country. He also wrote the "Advancement of the "Ode to Jiaozhi Presenting Strange Beasts"", and said that the envoys should be summoned, and gold silk and imperial edicts should be given to reward their kindness, but the "Kirin" should be returned to them and let them be transported back to the mainland ..."

This Sima Guang is really pedantic, how much money will be spent on two strange beasts that only eat grass, and this Sima Guang doesn't seem to understand diplomacy.If our Chinese giant panda is given to which country, the other party will not only welcome Gao Ying, but also suffer some losses. If there is any disrespect to the national treasure, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will have to protest, not to mention the legendary beast.

"It seems that Jiaozhi is not happy about this matter, and it is also Dr. Sima's credit." Wang Pang couldn't help sighing.

"Well, why don't you ask me?" Shen Kuo muttered dissatisfied.Looking at it like that, Shen Kuo is more regretful than Wang Pang, who has never seen a strange beast.

"You don't have to be awkward, don't worry, you can say a lot of things in the future, not only will the Holy Majesty listen to it, but it will also be passed down through the ages." Seeing Shen Kuo like that, Wang Pang comforted him with a smile.

"How do you know? You know how to make my brother happy!"

"Don't you like to keep a diary? Write it well. Many future generations will read your diary to understand the Song Dynasty."

When Shen Kuo heard it, he was surprised at first and then panicked: "You kid, you are talking nonsense. If you let others hear your words, don't they suspect that you are going to change the dynasty?"

At this point, Wang Pang did not expect that the ancients were so taboo about changing dynasties. What I said really meant what I said. Fortunately, Shen Kuo didn't care, and then asked: "However, how do you know that I have the habit of writing notes?" .”

"Well, every time I went to see you, you were experimenting with the compass, and you were writing and drawing while experimenting. I think you have this hobby, so why not call your book Bi Tan?" Wang said. Secretly wiping his sweat, if Shen Kuo asked about anything, he would definitely ask endlessly.

"By the way, brother Shen, when will you take office?"

"With my official position, I can't participate in the New Year's court meeting at all, but I must participate in the winter solstice sacrifice."

"Oh? Then congratulations, brother Shen!"

"What's so exciting about this?"

"Isn't it worthy of congratulations to participate in such a big royal event? Haha"

"Still laughing, you don't need to participate. I have seen it before. It looks lively, but there are so many problems here?"

Could it be that Shen Kuo and Wang Bang wanted to go together?Although being an official has to go through various etiquettes taught by the Ministry of Rites, when thinking of the sacrificial activities of the winter solstice, Wang Pang is the first to grow up.This is one of the most important festivals in the Song Dynasty.Moreover, Wang Pang also participated in sacrifices. Even in the Song Dynasty, this kind of ceremony where the emperor personally offered sacrifices to heaven was even more lively than the New Year's court meeting. [

Every day on this day, an altar for offering sacrifices to heaven will be set up in the southern suburbs. The altar for offering sacrifices to heaven is just outside Nanxun Gate. If the emperor wants to be in the suburbs, he will set up a memorial in Qingcheng.And to start training the car elephant two months ago.

Speaking of the sacrificial process, it is more complicated and there are many ceremonies. According to the records of "Tokyo Menghualu", the emperor went to the Daqing Hall before the sacrifice, and stayed in the Daqing Hall three days before the winter solstice. Each has its own products from the ceremonial ceremonial ceremonial ceremonial ceremonial ceremonial flags, dragon flags, Xiangfengniao, guide car, wooden cymbals, elephant cymbals, leather cymbals, gold cymbals, jade cymbals, etc., arranged inside and outside the gate of the palace and far and near the royal street.Tens of thousands of gold-clad iron cavalry surrounded the customs by the fifth watch of the next day. The chief ceremonial officer announced the warning, the holy driver set off, and the iron cavalry led Fan Gun.All kinds of ceremonial guards go successively, and there are also those who start at three o'clock, like an elephant, seven elephants, each covered with brocade, a gold lotus seat on its back, a golden bridle around its head, and a man in brocade clothes straddling its neck. High flags and big fans, painted halberds and spears, five-colored helmets, and men on horseback wearing various styles and colors of clothing.Some dozens of people chanted and passed by holding big banners, some with big axes, some with swords, some with sharp cards, some with stirrup sticks, some with leopard-tailed poles, and some with short pestles.The flag fans are all painted with dragons, tigers, clouds, or mountains and rivers.There is also a flag five feet high, which is called the second yellow dragon. If the saint rides to Taimiao or Qingcheng, the big flag will be erected in front of the Zhai Palace first, and there will be more than a hundred people guarding the flag.There are more than thousands of people like the four direct messengers, which cannot be described one by one.Thousands of rides out of Xuande Gate, from Jingling Palace to Taimiao.

The emperor lived behind the Taimiao, and in the middle of the night, he went out to the Nanxun gate with the gods. The emperor wore a red robe, a crown of heaven, and held Yuangui.

The roofs of the carriages are all engraved with gold, large lotus leaves and clusters of four pillars, and the sills are engraved with jade plates, dragons and phoenixes.When the emperor went to the fasting palace in Qingcheng, there was a team of purple scarves and scarves, about a thousand or so, in the countryside.On the winter solstice, the emperor went to the suburban altar to salute at the third watch. First, he went to Daci to change his clothes. The priests had to change their sacrificial clothes, that is, the Pingtian crown, 24 旒, green dragon clothes, middle order, red shoes, jade pendants, supported by the second eunuch under the altar.The platform of the altar is three stories high, and the surface of the 72-level altar is about three feet in diameter. There are two yellow mattresses on the altar, the one facing south is the throne of Haotian God, and the one facing southeast is the throne of Song Taizu.In front of the altar are chime bells, jade chimes and various musical instruments. Some are long like a zither but bigger than a zither, cut bamboo like a flute with knots at both ends and blown horizontally, and burnt with soil to make a circle with holes, which are like a sheng and bigger than a zither. The sheng is big, some are like flutes but have more pipes than flutes, and some singers have clear and clear voices.When the music ended, the officials of ceremonies invited the emperor to go up to the altar, and the leading officials bowed and led them to the altar, offering wine to the sky amidst the sound of music, and the emperor led all the officials to kneel down to worship together.Hundreds of thousands of people inside and outside are awe-inspiring, only to hear the sound of the light wind ringing the rings. All the officials usually wear congratulatory clothes and give tea and wine, while Fajia, ceremonial guards, iron cavalry, and drums enter the Nanxunmen Royal Road for dozens of miles, and people kneel and worship the emperor.

Such a big ostentation is spectacular enough. After this set of activities, it looks lively, but the officials are enough to toss, and in Wang Pang's opinion, it is definitely a waste of people and money.

Thinking that Wang Pang had resigned now, it was inconvenient to say more about the affairs of the court. Seeing that it was getting late, the two of them made an appointment to see each other again in Yangzhou, so they left and returned home.After Shen Kuo left, Wang Pang thought of the strange beast of Jiaozhi, and this time he must go to Jiaozhi when he went south. Before, he only thought about looking for the lost scroll, how could he investigate carefully if he didn't go to Jiaozhi?That’s okay, I asked the prime minister to issue a customs clearance document for myself by using the reason of going to Jiaozhi. Of course, the reason can’t be written to go to Jiaozhi, the farther the better, so I have a reason to go to Dali, not only can I go to see Tianlong Babu The Duan family in Dali can also take a detour to Tubo, visit it in person, and naturally calculate the distance and footwork. This is also a budget for the Shu tea to open the ancient road.

With this idea in mind, Wang Pang knew what to do, and it was getting late, so Wang Pang returned to the inner house.Although the house is much bigger now, Tong Guan still shares the same house with himself, only accompanied by his servants, and no longer sleeps with Wang Pang.

Tong Guan's room was still lit, Wang Pang opened the door, Tong Guan waited and read the set of "Wu Jing Zong Yao", this kid is really going to be a general in the future.The servants in Tongguan's room saw that it was Wang who came in, and hurriedly responded: "My lord."

Wang Pang waved his hand at him, signaling not to interrupt Tong Guan, but Tong Guan had already seen Wang Pang coming, put down his book and came to greet him, and asked: "Daddy hasn't rested yet, I wonder when Daddy will leave? Secondary, don't you want to bring your Guan'er?"

Wang Pang thought, put this boy in the capital, if a ten-year-old child is playful, he can't stand it; it just so happens that Rou'er has not returned to the mansion for a while, although she is still just a nominal concubine , but after all Rou'er has been following his wife, it is better to take Tong Guan Rou'er to set off together.

On the second day, Wang Pang came to Zeng Xiangfu. This matter was entrusted by Prime Minister Zeng Gongliang, and he naturally had to handle the matter of passing the document.Once saw that Wang Pang was about to leave, although he felt a little sorry for Wang Pang in his heart, but he had to do extraordinary things in extraordinary times, so he readily agreed that Wang Pang would send someone to Wang Pang's mansion after finishing the document within three days.

Wang Pang is on a long trip again this time, but it is also interesting to go back to Jiangning to see Wang Anshi's hometown. What would his physical hometown look like in the Song Dynasty?What will happen in the middle, so that after Shenzong ascended the throne, Wang Anshi was appointed an official again, but he must carry out the Xining Reform?