Guide to traveling through the Northern Song Dynasty

The autumn breeze brings coolness and the bright moon hangs high.

Zhu Ming walked into the courtyard and saw Zhong Miaoyun standing in the corridor, with a maid holding paper and pen next to him.

"We sang martial arts last night, and we're singing literary opera tonight?" Ju Ming found it very interesting.

Zhong Miaoyun bowed and saluted, and said with a smile: "Sister Zhe said that my husband shot down his spear with his mace, so he could enter the house through the corridor. Why not write a poem tonight, so that it will appear that my husband is both civilized and military, and maybe he can leave a good story for the ages."

Ju Ming has already studied the rhyme book. If he were asked to write poems and lyrics, he would be able to compose one even without copying.

Of course, if you can copy it, you still have to copy it. It doesn’t take a lot of thought.

Zhong Miaoyun pointed to the moon in the sky: "Tomorrow is the Mid-Autumn Festival. My husband might as well write a song called "Zhegui Ling", and the lyrics must be related to the Mid-Autumn Festival or the bright moon."

Before Ju Ming could speak, the maid came over with pen and paper, and another maid held a lantern for lighting.

Zhu Ming picked up his pen and skimmed the ink: "Who can grind a flying mirror? It shines through the universe and seals the mountains and rivers. The jade dew is cold and clear, washing the autumn sky without any ripples. There is more light than the clear light in the night, and it does not hinder the whirling of the osmanthus shadow."

Seeing this, Zhong Miaoyun already showed a happy expression, waiting to see what was written next.

The first few sentences are all about describing the scenery, and then it’s time to describe the emotions, just like drawing the dragon’s shape and adding the finishing touches to the dragon’s eyes.

"I sing a song to ask Chang'e. It's a good night, how about not getting drunk?"

Zhong Miaoyun smiled at this, because the phrase "Laozi" was not Laozi, the founder of Taoism, but the self-proclaimed Laozi in the common saying.

It's vulgar and worldly enough, but it also seems wild and uninhibited.

I'm singing under the moonlight, and I just want to ask Chang'e, if you're in a bad mood on the Mid-Autumn Festival night, what else can you do except drink?

"Is this Xianggong's old work?" Zhong Miaoyun asked curiously.

Ju Ming joked: "I wrote it before I started the army. I was quite depressed during the Mid-Autumn Festival that year. I figured it out after a drink."

Zhong Miaoyun asked: "Have you figured out how to raise troops to start an uprising?"

"That's right," Ju Ming was still smearing himself, "During the Mid-Autumn Festival, I lived in Guizhou and couldn't control everything, so I was depressed and agitated. After having a drink with Chang'e, I figured out everything. Since the king is unkind, I will take her place. .”

In the past, such things as rebellion would have been extremely objectionable to Zhong Miaoyun.

But the person in front of her was already her husband, and he was quite good-looking. Now that he had a good poem, she could instantly understand Ju Ming's depression and difficulties.

Zhong Miaoyun said: "It's really a good poem, but the meter is a little wrong."

"Since we want to recreate the world, why not change the rules?" Ju Ming lied more and more smoothly.

Of course the meter has changed. Zhong Miaoyun asked him to write the lyrics, but Ju Ming copied Yuan music.

"Zhegui Ling" has evolved from Ci Pai to Qu Pai, and there have been many changes. This is just one of them, and the number of words has been increased by two. Among Yuan operas, there is even a hundred-character winning order that adds dozens of characters.

Zhong Miaoyun said: "It's a pity that I can't compose music, otherwise I would have to compose a new song for this purpose."

"There is no need to compose a new one, just make a few changes," Zhu Ming said. "Bring it to Master Li tomorrow and she will definitely be able to change it into a suitable song."

"I respectfully obey your husband's orders," Zhong Miaoyun suddenly became formal and bowed and said, "My husband has passed the test, please go inside and rest."

This girl was much more interesting. She prepared fine wine and some snacks to go with the wine in the house.

She asked Ju Ming to sit down, held his sleeves and poured wine, saying, "My husband doesn't have to drink with Chang'e tonight. I can drink as much as I want with my slave."

"That's great. Chang'e is mute and won't talk to me when she lives in the Toad Palace." Ju Ming said something funny.

Zhong Miaoyun didn't know whether he was smiling in a low tone or deliberately trying to please her, but he was so amused that he covered his mouth and snickered.

When Ju Ming raised his glass, she quickly picked up the wine cup and clinked glasses with her husband to take a sip.

While chatting, the two of them drank again, and finally said: "I have listened to Mr. Yuzhang's lectures for a few days. He argued with the Confucian scholars in Luoyang and defended my husband's knowledge. The Confucian scholars in Luoyang could not distinguish him. Later, someone Report to the official, arrest him and put him in jail, he is the one who was released under the order of the envoy from Beijing North Road."

Mr. Yuzhang is Chen Yuan's junior brother Luo Congyan, Zhu Xi's father and teacher.

In the development of Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucianism, Luo Congyan was a connecting figure.

His academic thoughts were very aggressive in the early days, and he thought based on reality. He not only scolded Wang Anshi for his reforms that brought disaster to the world, but also insinuated Song Huizong for being fatuous and immoral. Later, he experienced the national humiliation of Jingkang and was disgusted by Zhao Gou. In his later years, his thoughts became isolated from the people, introspective and self-cultivation, and extremely indifferent.

To put it more bluntly, when I was young, I felt that the country could still be saved. I thought about practical problems and wanted to revitalize the country. In his later years, his interest has waned, and he has broken everything. He does not seek to change the world, but only wants to stick to his own heart and morality.

Ju Ming asked: "Why did Mr. Yuzhang go to Luoyang?"

Zhong Miaoyun said: "More than ten years ago, he sold his land and went to Luoyang to study. In the first two years, he learned a lot and returned to Luoyang to pay homage to Mr. Yichuan's descendants. At that time, my husband was in charge of Guizhou, and Mr. Yuzhang heard someone scolding him. Because of his knowledge, he started to debate with each other in public, even with the descendants of Mr. Yichuan. In the first debate, everyone was unconvinced, so they made a date for another debate. Mr. Yu Zhang alone debated dozens of Confucian scholars. He fell down, and then he was arrested by the officials."

"Hahahaha," Ju Ming felt very amused, "If there is a chance in the future, I would like to meet Mr. Yuzhang in person."

Damn it! When Luo Congyan heard that Ju Ming had rebelled, his attitude immediately changed 180 degrees. Now he denounces Ju Ming as a rebellious minister and traitor every day.

Zhong Miaoyun couldn't help but ask: "Does Xianggong really want to rule the world? I know it's a stupid question, but why didn't you learn from King Shu's reforms in the first place? My grandfather said that with Xianggong's talents, he will be able to rule the world one day. . If the rebellion succeeds, you can do whatever you want, but if it fails, everything will stop."

"The Song Dynasty has accumulated many disadvantages and it is difficult to recover, and Guan Zhong's resurrection cannot save it." Zhu Ming said.

Zhong Miaoyun is quite worried. Although she has read history books, she still feels that her husband's territory is too small and it is difficult to win the final victory compared with the entire Song Dynasty.

However, if you marry and follow your husband, you must hope that Ju Ming will succeed.

Zhong Miaoyun was so drunk that his face was flushed. He accidentally glanced at the bed and instantly blushed to the base of his ears. He reminded her, "It's getting late. Husband, please rest."

Zhu Ming asked the maid to step aside and took Zhong Miaoyun to sleep.

But Zhong Miaoyun whispered: "My husband picked up Sister Zhe and threw her on the bed. I want to try it too."

Zhu Ming was stunned and didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He really didn't realize that this girl was still a slut.

Seeing her timid look, Ju Ming picked her up at the waist and said viciously: "I am a bandit now, and you are the wife of the village I captured!"

Zhong Miaoyun immediately begged for mercy in fear: "No, I want to go home. Please let me go home..."

Has he become a drama queen?

The response was a bit too fast.

"It's too late. Even if your grandfather leads troops to attack the cottage, I will never let you go back!" Ju Ming bared his teeth, his performance was too heavy, and he was obviously not a good actor.

Zhong Miaoyun had excellent acting skills, and even cried with tears in her eyes: "My family has money, can I use the money to redeem him?"

"I don't rob wealth, today I only rob sex!"

Ju Ming threw her on the bed, curling his hands and claws like a wild animal, and let out a squealing sound.

"It's so scary...Pfft!" Zhong Miaoyun was amused by the squealing sound and burst into laughter.

The next day during the Mid-Autumn Festival, moon cakes were distributed throughout the army.

Ju Ming originally wanted to give the soldiers some bean paste filling, but sugar was too expensive and he was still in a tight financial situation. Then just use some nuts to make the filling. There is not enough wheat in southern Sichuan, so you can barely make up the mooncakes with glutinous rice.

South of Jingmen, military camp.

The largest number of troops are stationed here, and the soldiers and their families work together to cultivate the land, and they also live together with many refugees.

As for the cities along the river, one thousand troops were stationed in each city, and five hundred men were rotated every three months.

"Everyone is here to receive the mooncakes!" As a general, Han Shizhong often joked with him when he was not fighting.

Moon cakes are made by each military chef themselves, and the methods are different. Some are steamed, some are baked, but they can be made into round shapes.

Some wealthy families in the Northern Song Dynasty already had the custom of eating cakes during the Mid-Autumn Festival, but it was still far from being spread to ordinary families. It was not until the Southern Song Dynasty that moon appreciation was associated with eating cakes.

Han Shizhong said to the soldiers who were queuing up to receive the moon cakes: "Generalissimo, let me tell you. These moon cakes are eaten during the Mid-Autumn Festival. The cakes are round and the family is reunited. In the past, only rich families ate this. You have never heard of it." We soldiers will eat cakes and admire the moon at the same time, and from now on we will work hard to fight so that people all over the world can be reunited!"

The soldiers were all very happy because each of them could receive four, which meant that the seasons were going well. Not only did they get a share, but they could also take them back and distribute them to their families.

The soldiers were not allowed to stay, they were all thinking about going home.

Anyway, all the military camps are very close to home. We can come back tomorrow and enjoy the moon together.

Han Shizhong said to his lieutenant general Zhong Yanchong: "Does the Zhong army distribute moon cakes?"

Zhong Yanchong said: "The Mid-Autumn Festival is just a holiday, how can there be so much food to distribute moon cakes?"

"We are going to give out food here, even if the food is in short supply," Han Shizhong didn't know what he was excited about. "You were born in a general, so you don't know what the soldiers are thinking. Even though it's just four pancakes per person, the soldiers are so happy. Very, I know that the Generalissimo is thinking of them. Maybe for a bite of moon cake, someone will remember the kindness and sacrifice their lives on the battlefield."

Zhong Yanchong expressed doubts: "It's not that evil, is it?"

Han Shizhong smiled and said: "So you generals and disciples don't understand where the military morale is at all. But the general knows that military morale is everywhere. As long as you treat the soldiers well, the soldiers will sacrifice their lives on the battlefield."

Zhong Yanchong watched the soldiers happily receive mooncakes, much happier than usual when receiving rations. He immediately stopped talking and started thinking thoughtfully.

“It’s time to eat mooncakes!”

The soldiers who lived near the military camp hurried home with the cakes in their arms. Before they even entered the door, they shouted: "Come out and eat moon cakes. These are only eaten by the rich. The generalissimo was thinking of us, so he specially asked the cook to make cakes for the soldiers. You can also enjoy it with the rich."

When the refugees next door heard this, they were extremely envious.

The mooncakes have not even spread among the upper class, and the homeless people at the bottom have never heard of it. But since it is eaten by wealthy households, it must be good food.

Some refugees who were fleeing famine with their children were even harassed by children to eat cakes, so they had no choice but to go to the soldiers' homes to see what moon cakes were.

Then I go home and use this year’s new beans to make bean cakes for my children.

Sichuan, Hanzhong, Xiangyang, Nanyang... Since then, the whole family has had the habit of eating moon cakes during the Mid-Autumn Festival. Even ordinary people have to bake some round cakes on this day.