I studied in modern times

Chapter 956: Xinglong Festival (2)

In the Purple Palace, another round of consecration activities came to an end amid the sound of drums and music.

After the two teams finished their Cuju performance, the eunuchs, led by officials from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, began to bow and retreat.

kindness……

Unlike modern times, the Cuju sport in the Song Dynasty was undoubtedly the best in the world.

It can even be said to be the best in the world!

kindness……

No competitors, no rivals!
Despite this, the atmosphere of Cuju in the Song Dynasty was quite hot.

It is an indispensable program in every annual palace activities and folk operas.

Its status is equivalent to that of juggling, juggling, and sumo.

It is an activity that is appreciated by both the elite and the masses, and is loved by both officials and the public.

But Zhao Xu seemed absent-minded, and only after the Cuju performance was over did he finally perk up.

"Sixth brother, don't like Cuju?" He asked the Queen Mother in a low voice behind the curtain behind Zhao Xu's throne.

Zhao Xu hummed, but his eyes were scanning the Yan Yuan brothers, Miao Lu, Liu Yun and other attendants standing beside his throne, and his voice was slightly raised: "Cuju is a leisurely activity, it may be a distraction, I really don't like it!"

Empress Dowager Xiang listened and said, "Since this is the case, I will order the officials not to arrange Cuju performances on future holy days!"

"Yeah!" Zhao Xu nodded.

With just a few simple words, the mother and son decided the fate of hundreds of people in the future Imperial City Office and the Ministry of Eunuchs who made a living by playing Cuju.

They are now unemployed!

It will even affect the imperial guards - the soldiers of the imperial guards in Beijing of the Song Dynasty can do everything except fighting.

Especially things related to gambling, he is particularly proficient.

Cuju, like cockfighting, dog fighting, and gambling, is a natural gambling tool.

From what Zhao Xu knew in his previous life - the bidding activity in Jinming Lake in March every year was an important casino for the soldiers of the Imperial Guards!

Those bastards bet on everything.

Therefore, it often happens that some people give up the victory they have already achieved and drag their own team down in the competition because they bet on others to win.

But this was not the bottom of the mountain for the imperial guards in Beijing.

Although the imperial guards in Beijing during the Shaosheng and Yuanfu eras were rotten, they at least looked like soldiers.

Even if the field battle is terrible, as long as the reward money is in place, there will be no problem in defending the city.

In modern times, Zhao Xu watched the performances of the imperial guards in Beijing during the Zhao Ji era - according to the records in Dongjing Menghualu.

During the reign of Emperor Zhao Ji, the imperial guards in Beijing stopped performing at all.

The annual Jinmingchi bidding competition has completely turned into a stage for acrobatic performances.

It was almost as eye-catching as the modern military parade in Singapore. According to records, every time there was a competition, the opening scene would be: [Four colorful boats were lined up horizontally, with various military performances on them, such as large flags, lions and leopards, oars and swords, barbarian cards, gods and ghosts, and various plays. Two more boats were lined up, both of which were music clubs].

When bidding begins, it starts with music and drums, and during the bidding process, there are also fancy moves such as "spinning Luo", "sea eye" and "crossing heads".

If they were equipped with a motorcycle, it would be no exaggeration to say that even Hyundai Motor would be outdone.

How can this be called an army?

The opera troupe and theater company were probably stronger than the imperial guards in Beijing during the Zhao Ji era.

At least these guys have a work ethic.

Therefore, it is no wonder that Zhao Ji and his son suffered such an end during the Jing Kang period.

It has implicated innocent civilians and military personnel.

It's really hateful!
Thinking of this, Zhao Xu couldn't help but raise his voice a little: "Mother, I think that the so-called Cuju is a toy that will make you lose your ambition. It's fine if the people enjoy it!"

"But the palace, government and the army should not allow such things to happen!"

"This is what the ritual means: Therefore, the influence of teaching is subtle, and it stops evil before it takes shape!"

A very politically correct statement.

This is also what contemporary scholars advocate - the court, the country and the scholars must set an example and set an example for the people of the world.

Only in this way will the people believe in and follow the guidance of the scholars and officials and embark on the path of saints.

Therefore, the commentaries and treatises on classics by Confucian scholars of the Song Dynasty were all directed at the literati, the imperial court, and ministers.

Those etiquette requirements that seem very harsh in the eyes of modern people.

The target was also scholars and officials.

For example, Cheng Yi said: Starving to death is a small matter, but losing one's chastity is a big matter!

The targets have always been scholars and officials.

It has nothing to do with ordinary people!

In such a social context, Zhao Xu's words naturally stood on the moral high ground.

Therefore, as soon as the words fell, the number one supporting actor of Zhao Xu, the Grand Tutor, Minister of Military and State Affairs, Duke of Lu, who was sitting on the left side of the imperial throne and closest to the throne, Wen Yanbo, was the first to stand up and congratulate him, saying, "Your Majesty's gracious words are like the sweet rain and the gentle dew!"

"This old minister is terrified, and I beg the court to issue an edict, clearly proclaim the emperor's will, and announce it to the world, so that the state and county governments, officials, and military forces will respect and act accordingly!"

Immediately, Han Jiang, the Duke of Kangguo, who was sitting opposite Wen Yanbo, also reacted immediately, stood up and bowed, saying: "I have heard Dong Zhongshu say that the pursuit of benefits by the people is like water flowing down. If it is not prevented by education, it cannot be stopped... The ancient kings understood this clearly, so when they sat facing south and ruled the world, they all regarded education as a major task, established the Imperial College to teach the country, set up schools to educate the towns, gradually instilled benevolence in the people, rubbed the people with friendship, and restrained the people with courtesy. Therefore, the punishments were very light and the prohibitions were not violated. This is because education was carried out and the customs were beautiful..."

"How true!"

"I humbly believe that your majesty's virtuous words have already embodied the principles of the previous kings!"

"So I second the motion!"

As a result, Feng Jing, Zhang Fangping and Cai Que, who had just returned to Beijing, all agreed.

Soon, the left prime minister Lü Gongzhu, the right prime minister Pu Zongmeng and other ministers, after hearing the details of the incident, also came to the palace with ribbons to congratulate. This was normal.

Originally, the Emperor's Holy Day was the best time for ministers to flatter him - at this time, even the censors would not say anything about their flattery, let alone criticize them.

After all, who wouldn’t say a few nice words when celebrating a birthday?

What's more, what Zhao Xu said was completely in line with the demands of the literati.

As for whether it would hurt anyone if the performance of Cuju was banned in the palace, army and government offices from now on?

What does that have to do with them?
If the scholars and officials cannot even give up playing Cuju, then they should resign as soon as possible and go home!
As for the military’s thoughts?
The literati never care!
Empress Dowager Xiang listened to the ministers' compliments, exchanged glances with the Grand Empress Dowager, who was sitting behind the curtain and appeared in front of the ministers at the same time as her, and asked, "What do you think, Your Majesty?"

On an occasion like today, Empress Dowager Xiang was still willing to give the empress some face and respect.

The Empress Dowager was delighted and said, "I think what the emperor and the ministers said is very reasonable!"

"Back then, the Emperor Renzong banned sumo wrestling from entering the palace. Since then, the atmosphere in the palace has changed greatly. Villains have left, virtuous officials have been promoted, and the country has prospered!"

"Now that the government has retired Cuju, I think it will surely be like the Temple of Benevolence, and it will be a good atmosphere in the palace and the court!"

Zhao Xu listened and just smiled in his heart.

Did Renmiao take the initiative to ban sumo?

Wasn't it only after the censors spit on his face that they had to pretend to issue an imperial decree to ban it?

Later, Ren Miao thought about secretly hiring people to perform sumo in the palace.

He even ordered people to train female sumo wrestlers in the palace.

Unfortunately, the female sumo wrestler trained by the Ministry of Internal Affairs had a stroke and was bedridden before she had a chance to perform.

After that, he became a long-term patient due to diabetes and high blood pressure.

Not to mention watching sumo, even the slightest emotional fluctuation could cause a blood vessel to burst.

Under such circumstances, sumo wrestling naturally disappeared in the palace.

But it doesn’t matter, Zhao Xu’s goal has been achieved.

Banning Cuju performances in the palace and government offices was just a cover.

His real purpose was to cut off the erosion of gambling on the army - although Zhao Xu knew that this was impossible.

Zhao Xu knew the Song army too well - if Emperor Zhao gave out rewards, those bastards would naturally shout "Long live the Song Dynasty" and obey his orders for food and supplies.

But if Emperor Zhao told them not to gamble anymore.

I'm sorry - who are you?

Not to mention the provincial and county troops and the imperial guards stationed there who are far away from the emperor.

Even among the imperial guards in Beijing, no one would listen to him.

It’s time to gamble, and it’s time to spend.

Unless Zhao Xu could immediately summon Yue Fei and his Yue Family Army, and then use this as a basis to rebuild the entire Song Dynasty army.

Otherwise, it would be impossible to eradicate the gambling trend in the Song Dynasty’s army.

Therefore, Zhao Xu’s purpose was not to ban gambling in the army.

Instead, gambling should be banned among officers above the rank of junior envoys, as well as the Dragon Master’s first general.

This is easy to understand.

Emperor Zhao could not manage the soldiers whose monthly salary ranged from 500 wen to more than 1 guan.

Is it impossible to deal with those senior officers and generals who eat his salary and receive his rewards and have annual salaries of hundreds or thousands of strings of cash?
The same applies to the First General of the Dragon Control System - the soldiers under the First General of the Dragon Control System receive a monthly salary starting from five strings of cash, and are also given rice, flour, charcoal, clothing, salt, vinegar and other items on a monthly basis.

The seasonal rewards and festival gifts were all given according to the treatment given to the elite soldiers of the Upper Western Army.

With such high military pay and treatment, they still breed a group of gamblers.

Zhao Xu was not afraid of them causing trouble.

Because this year Song Yongchen was ordered to go to Liangzhe.

More than 3,000 hard-working, tall and strong miners were recruited from the mountainous areas and mines in Liangzhe.

These people have now been incorporated into the First Dragon Commander and started military training.

Therefore, if anyone breaks the rules, he will be expelled from the Dragon Master Rank.

No matter what, Zhao Xu, the number one general of the Dragon Tamer, would not watch them decay and degenerate in Bian Jing.

……

After this episode, the consecration activities for the Xinglong Festival continued.

The Ministry of Rites began to lead groups of civil and military officials in Beijing to come to the emperor to pay their respects and celebrate his birthday.

It was said to be an audience with the emperor, but in fact he was just led to the palace, bowed four times, and said: It is the festival of Xinglong, and we are deeply celebrated. We wish you a long and healthy life!

Zhao Xu replied: Let’s celebrate with you all. Now that we’re done, let’s quickly switch to the next shift.

Because he was in a hurry - there were at least a thousand civil and military officials, meritorious officials, relatives of the royal family in Beijing who were qualified to celebrate his birthday today.

Each class has fifty civil and military officers, and they take turns more than twenty times.

During this process, there will be a halftime break every hour.

There were performances of singing and dancing, acrobatics, opera, and small singing. The performances usually lasted for a quarter of an hour to give Zhao Xu time to rest.

In this way, at noon, the consecration ceremony for the civil and military officials, meritorious officials, relatives and royal family members in Beijing finally ended.

Zhao Xu issued an edict to grant a banquet to all the ministers in the Purple Palace.

Of course, only civil officials above the rank of Taizhi, military officials above the rank of Yaojun, and officials from the Taijian, Ministry of Revenue, and Kaifeng Prefecture were qualified to enter the palace and drink with the emperor and empress.

Everyone else had their meals in the halls, corridors, and even the passageways outside the palace.

(End of this chapter)