Water Margin people

Chapter 1491 Spring Plowing

"Khan, we are just trying to help find a solution!"

Those people hurriedly explained.

"Humph, do you think that I, the Gaochang Uighurs, am not worthy of leading you?"

Bilege looked at those people and said coldly.

"Khan has misunderstood. Gaochang Uighurs are powerful, so small tribes like us are naturally willing to submit and ask for asylum. However, Qi's goal is the Western Regions, so Khan should also think of a way out."

"Khan, although Jurchen Khan was brave and even defeated the Seljuk Turks, he was defeated and fled from the Central Plains. It is still unclear whether he will succeed in his comeback."

Those people spoke to Bilege and said that it was the habit of the Uighurs to rely on the strong. When Yelu Dashi passed through Gaochang while migrating westward, Bilege was so afraid that he went out of the city to welcome him and held a three-day banquet. Before leaving, he also presented 600 horses, 100 camels and 3,000 sheep. Later, after Yelu Dashi established the Western Liao Dynasty and made Husiwoerduo its capital, the Gaochang Uighurs were the first to surrender, and Bilege even sent his descendants as hostages.

Bilege then calmed down and thought about this matter. He had always opposed the Gaochang Uighurs and the State of Qi, thinking that both sides were enemies. But didn't the ancestors of the Uighurs also submit to the Tang Dynasty?

When everyone saw that Bilege was silent, they were all happy. They were unwilling to go to war with Qi, or they did not dare to go to war with anyone. They were too weak, and their fate was to surrender no matter who they fought, so it was better to surrender directly.

"But will Qi be willing to accept us?"

Bilege asked hesitantly.

"Khan, it's nothing more than a Western Regions Protectorate. The Western Regions are so large, it's impossible for the Qi people to abandon the rich Central Plains and move to our place. In the end, the Western Regions are still ours. It's nothing more than paying tribute every year, and we can also get tea, silk, and porcelain from the Central Plains!"

Everyone said quickly.

"What about Western Liao? Juer Khan is now strong and powerful. If we turn to Qi, Juer Khan will not spare us. You should know his ruthless methods."

Bilege looked at everyone and said.

Everyone fell silent again. They were now sandwiched between two superpowers and could not afford to offend anyone.

"You can contact Qi State on your own. I will pretend I don't know anything about this!"

Bilege looked at everyone and said that he initially encouraged Yelu Dashi to march east because he did not want to be caught in the middle, and he did not want the entire Gaochang Uighur to become a battlefield.

Bilege already had an idea at this time. He cooperated with Yelu Dashi, and his men contacted the State of Qi. As for what choice to make in the future, it would depend on who could win. This was the way of survival for all ethnic groups in the Western Regions.

Liangshan.

Sun Lei brought all the civil and military officials to the outskirts of the city. Today was the day for spring ploughing.

An altar was prepared and a grand sacrifice was launched.

Sun Lei, dressed in a crown and robes, walked slowly onto the stage, and the master of ceremonies recited the steps of the sacrifice.

There were no animals on the altar, but various crops were placed instead. Sun Lei believed that offering these could better express his feelings.

The people had no objection. They couldn't eat the three sacrificial animals anyway, and they liked the crops more.

Sun Lei began the sacrifice according to the steps, burning the petitions, offering incense to the Heaven and Earth in turn to thank them for their nurturing, then offering sacrifices to the God of Wind and the God of Rain, praying for good weather, then offering sacrifices to Shennong, thanking him for tasting hundreds of herbs and identifying the five grains, and finally offering sacrifices to his ancestors.

After the ceremony, Sun Lei came to the front of the platform and looked at the people who were eagerly waiting below.

“Spring ploughing begins!”

Sun Lei said with a smile, feeling the warm breeze.

"Long live! Long live!"

The people held their hoes, shouted "Long live the country", and then ran to their fields.

Sun Lei looked at the people going away and finally breathed a sigh of relief. It was not that he did not want to give a long speech, but he really could not stand it anymore. The crown and robes were hard and thick and extremely uncomfortable to wear. He had been wearing them for a long time and had also performed a sacrificial ceremony. Now he just wanted to finish it quickly and take off the crown and robes.

"His Majesty!"

Deng Fei was very tactful and led his men to greet Sun Lei down from the altar. He took off his crown in the tent behind and changed into comfortable clothes. "This thing is really annoying. I would rather wear the heavy Mingguang armor."

Sun Lei complained.

"Your Majesty, this sacrifice must be performed in a crown and robes, and the people are used to it!"

Xiao Jiasui smiled and said that some things are difficult to change. If one wears casual clothes on stage, the people will think that he is not pious enough. If a natural disaster occurs, they will blame everything on the emperor.

"Let's go, start spring plowing!"

Sun Lei shook his head helplessly. Since it was a spring ploughing ceremony, the emperor and all civil and military officials had to participate in it.

A small tent was set up by the field, and Hua Chan and others were waiting inside with their children. The rest of the officials and common people were also waiting by their own fields with their families. The first hoe of spring plowing had to be wielded by the emperor.

When Sun Lei came to the small tent, the children were all excitedly holding small hoes and calling for their father.

"Let's go and farm!"

Sun Lei took the golden hoe that he had prepared long ago and took his family to the fields. The fields had already been plowed by someone else, so today he only needed to sow the seeds with his family.

As Sun Lei swung his hoe, civil and military officials and the common people also swung their hoes and began to farm.

Sun Lei had no interest in farming before, but now that has changed. It is actually very interesting to watch the seeds germinate, grow and then be harvested.

Hua Chan, Cheng Wan'er and Hu Sanniang were all farming with their children. Only Li Shishi pouted in dissatisfaction. She didn't like farming under the sun.

The family finished plowing a piece of land in an hour, and then returned to the shed to drink tea and eat cakes. The children enjoyed it very much and continued digging with their small hoes.

"Why do you have to come and farm on such a hot day!"

Li Shishi said dissatisfiedly while drinking her tea. She dared to speak only when there was no one around.

"Sister, this is the Spring Ploughing Ceremony. As members of the royal family, we should set an example for the world."

Hua Chan looked at Li Shishi and said.

"Yes, we should set an example for the world. Otherwise, why should we accept support from the world?"

Sun Lei nodded and said, the royal family enjoys wealth and glory, so they should do corresponding things.

"Isn't it the same to hire some people?"

Li Shishi still refused.

"What's the point of hiring someone? Aren't you afraid of people gossiping about you?"

Sun Lei shook his head. People's words are scary. Although he doesn't mind being a villain, he doesn't want to make his reputation so bad.

"Okay, we've finished planting, and we can go back later."

Sun Lei looked at the sky. The sacrificial ceremony ended at noon. Now more than an hour had passed, and the spring plowing ceremony would soon be over.

"Your Majesty, the latest military report!"

Zhu Wu walked over and whispered.

"what's the situation?"

Sun Lei frowned and looked at Zhu Wu. Today was the spring ploughing ceremony, and the military report delivered at this time should be very important.

"Xu Guanzhong has already taken over Dali. Now the royal family of the Duan family in Dali has surrendered. Only some rebels are still resisting in the mountains!"

Zhu Wu said.