Chinese New Year

Chapter 1395, Fifth Year of Zhenming
The fifth year of Zhenming (338) arrived quickly.

Snow covered the ground on both banks of the Bian River.

In the village, wisps of smoke rise from chimneys, and children frolic happily, sharing their food.

The farmers put on their new clothes, which they usually couldn't bear to wear, then looked at each other and burst into laughter, as if to say, "How did you end up looking so respectable?" After the laughter subsided, there was a sense of satisfaction in them.

Who would willingly live a precarious existence? Who would willingly be destitute? Who would willingly wander through ravines and gullies?

Kings and generals are remembered in history, while ordinary people like us only ask for family reunions and a comfortable life.

Looking back, there doesn't seem to be anything particularly memorable this year, but that's actually a good thing. It means they weren't taxed, weren't forced into labor, and weren't driven to conquer cities and territories.

Nothing major happened, and the year passed peacefully. Just before the New Year, I discovered there was still plenty of rice in the jar, a few pieces of dried meat hanging under the eaves, and piles of straw outside the courtyard wall. A few sheep in the pen looked at me with innocent eyes…

This is the taste of a peaceful and prosperous era.

The land rent was actually very low, and the household tax was not high either. Fifteen days of corvée labor could be paid off with silk. The only problem was that there was no conscription or corvée labor. This was unbearable.

I only hope that in the new year, Emperor Shao, who once brought order to everyone, will stop conquering all directions and instead enjoy playing with the empress and concubines in the harem.
The manor not far from the village also exuded the atmosphere of the Lunar New Year.

The old manor owner, holding land deeds from the Taikang era, had no need to survey his land and stubbornly continued to live in Chenliu. However, a cold wind before the New Year caused him to pass away. After the funeral, his descendants gathered to discuss seeking refuge with their in-laws, the Ouyang family (a branch of the Ouyang Jian clan), in Changsha.

But even though we're leaving, we still have to celebrate the New Year, and we have to celebrate it big.

They invited many relatives and friends to gather together in a lively atmosphere, both to celebrate and to say goodbye.

This estate is probably no longer needed, because no one wants to buy it, just like the castle walls that have been buried in weeds for many years.

Their only wish was that once they arrived in Changsha, the imperial court would keep its word and stop chasing them to survey the land.

They can help the court stabilize the situation in the south, and can even monitor barbarian leaders or local tribes with rebellious intentions, as long as the court doesn't take away the land they have painstakingly cultivated.

On the military fortress in the southeast, the military flags were frozen and rolled up.

The soldiers and officers of the garrison came and went, visiting each other's homes for several days in a row.

They share both prosperity and adversity, and have long understood this principle. Countless families have formed intermarriages with each other, and when the children go out, they must greet their elders.

The elders would often give them a small gift with a smile, encouraging them to hone their skills so that they could fight and plunder together in the future.

Every household was slaughtering pigs and sheep, and jars of fine wine were being opened one by one. The boisterous laughter of men could be heard everywhere, demonstrating the extraordinary nature of this group.

The drunken soldiers, slurring their words, recounted their "glorious deeds" in attacking the Murong Xianbei last year.

Who stole something, who killed a few people, who secretly pinned down a young woman, and even which Sima was too rigid, which subordinate was obsequious to his superiors and bullied his subordinates, etc. Things that were inconvenient to say before, are now brought out all at once under the influence of alcohol, often eliciting a lot of agreement.

However, after sobering up, I regretted it a bit, then laughed at myself, "What's there to be afraid of!"
I hope the Emperor will take them out to plunder again this year, preferably to some wealthy place.

Unlike the countryside, Bianliang city presented a completely different picture.

Merchants gathered together, beaming with joy, marveling at the great peace and prosperity of the land and the ever-flourishing trade. Moreover, many previously unseen commodities began to appear in large quantities, greatly enriching the market and providing them with even more opportunities to make money.

Jeweled rings, brought by merchants from the Western Regions, were rare items and were quickly sold when displayed in the mansions.

The lacquerware imported from Jingzhou is increasing in quantity and variety. You don't even need to say anything; discerning customers will buy it all.

The appearance of sugarcane from Jiaozhou in various places dealt a heavy blow to merchants who had stockpiled large quantities of grassland honey. Fortunately, the sugarcane was not plentiful, and honey could be stored for a long time, so they could eventually sell it all.

The price of pepper dropped much faster than that of sugar. I don't know if it's because pepper is easier to grow or what, but the price changes every month. At first, it was more expensive than gold, but now even soldiers can afford it.

The large quantity of furs transported back from Pingzhou severely impacted the market, causing significant losses for many. After the New Year, perhaps it's time to take the stockpiled furs to Jiangnan to see if they can fetch a good price.

While chatting, everyone sighed that in the future, when doing business, one should "take a long-term view" and not be confined to one prefecture or county, as this would be a loss, especially since places like Bianliang, which are convenient transportation hubs, have gathered too many foreign goods.

The gatherings of scholars were more refined and elegant.

In the year that Wang Yan passed away, the content of the philosophical discussions underwent a slight change.

Some shrewd individuals openly discuss the principles of Taoism, and extend the concept of "buoyancy" from Shen Shao's theory to the idea that air also has buoyancy, which has become a hot topic of discussion.

After destroying the "Taiye Golden Elixir," Wang Danhu, the Minister of the Imperial Household, also ruined the reputation of another well-known elixir: lead oxide (lead tetroxide).

Because someone who took this elixir suddenly experienced stiffness in their limbs and was unable to speak, she personally refined the elixir, obtaining a yellow elixir. Taking it caused incessant vomiting and was also poisonous.

She referred to red lead as "red lead" and the refined yellow lead as "yellow lead," recording these terms in the Tiangong Institute's compilations, which were quickly questioned by Ge Hong.

After the news spread, scholars discussed it extensively, because many people felt that lead oxide was "cool and non-toxic," and many doctors even used it to treat diseases. Are you trying to challenge all the doctors in the world?

……

This is the Great Liang Dynasty today, which has undergone considerable changes compared to many years ago, and these changes continue.

The rights and wrongs are difficult for people today to discern; perhaps only future generations can judge them.

******
After the Lantern Festival, the officials and nobles in Bianliang City were already making preparations for their relocation.

Looking at the familiar plants and trees in the Immortal Abode Palace, Shao Xun felt a pang of melancholy.

It's time to go; one must always look forward.

Life's journey is inherently like this. Many people accompanied him on his journey; some left halfway through, while others remained by his side. And wasn't he, too, a companion on the journey of others?

The coordinates that anchored his life are slowly disappearing; he now needs to anchor himself to new coordinates, perhaps this world.

With coordinates, he will not be lost, and he can continue to move forward until the end of his life.

Upon arriving at the shores of the desert, Shao Xun met Wang Feng, the Minister of State Ceremonies, Yuan Zhen, the nephew and uncle from Liangcheng County, as well as Liang Zhang, the grandson of Liang Fen.

Wang Feng went to the palace to visit his sister, while Liang Zhang accompanied his mother to visit the Empress.

Shao Xun and Wang Feng walked ahead.

Yuanzhen and Liangzhang, the two boys, lagged behind, whispering amongst themselves.

"Ke Nu, who gave you this nickname?" Yuan Zhen asked curiously.

"Grandfather named it." Liang Zhang was wearing a striking sealskin coat.

"Why did you choose this name?" Yuanzhen asked.

Wang Feng coughed lightly, reminding his nephew not to pry. Liang Zhang didn't seem to care much, and replied, "Grandfather said I'm a guest of the Liang family, hence the name 'Guest Slave'."

Yuanzhen couldn't help but laugh.

Shao Xun couldn't laugh.

Children speak without restraint! What do kids know?
"Your Excellency has been in Bianjing for some time now. How are you doing?" Shao Xun asked.

"The prosperity of Bianliang far surpasses that of Pingcheng, and I am very satisfied," Wang Feng said.

"Where are the people who went south with you?"

"Each had their own agenda. However, after receiving the mansions and money as rewards, they were generally satisfied."

Shao Xun nodded; this must be the truth.

He could hand over the tribe to his relatives and go south to become an official. What was there to complain about? Apart from the hot summers, everything about Bianliang was something that Tuoba Dai could not compare to.

Shao Xun also believed that Wang Feng was telling the truth. Without his support, he might not have survived until now. Did they really think the Xianbei nobles were incapable of wielding swords? Wang Feng had no choice.

"Besides the prosperity of Bianliang, what else was mentioned?" Shao Xun asked again.

“I am overjoyed that His Majesty has bestowed the surname ‘Sai’ upon them,” Wang Feng replied.

The surname "Sai" is the former surname "Lu". Because the names of the Hu and Lu were too distinct, it was changed to "Sai", which means the surname of the border region.

The first criticisms targeted surnames such as Tuoba, Pugu, Dou, Lan, Feng, Lou, Han, Yuan, and Dai, all of which were the result of a reshuffling of the Tuoba Xianbei territory over the past ten years.

The once prominent surnames Helan, Dugu, and Changsun still exist, but they have not been ranked in terms of social standing. Whether they can turn their fortunes around in the future is hard to say.

Overall, Shao Xun was a very broad-minded person.

Some members of Helan Aitou's clan who had fled to distant lands have secretly returned in recent years and have all been pardoned. If they can perform meritorious service in the future, it is not impossible for their families to rise in social status.

Many people in the Central Plains despise the concept of social class, but the Hu people truly love it, as if they are born to determine superiority and inferiority, and fight to the death for it.

If you like it, then you can have it. Don't regret it later.

"The Imperial Academy and the National Academy will admit a batch of Tuoba Xianbei students. How many do you think they can admit?" Shao Xun asked.

“There are more than ten people from Pingcheng, and only a handful from Shengle,” Madam Wang’s clear voice rang out from behind.

"Not bad," Shao Xun said with a smile. "Li Zhi, please draft a list and submit it as soon as possible."

"Yes." Wang Feng was very happy; this was a gift from the emperor.

Places at the Imperial Academy and the National Academy became increasingly valuable because they truly led to official positions. All the students from various departments who were recommended by him for admission would owe him a debt of gratitude in the future.

Shao Xun waved his hand, signaling Wang Feng to step back, then turned around and looked at the two children.

The two continued chatting.

"How many years have you been practicing martial arts, Guest Slave?" Yuan Zhen asked in a low voice.

"Three years."

"You're not going to study anymore?"

“Read it every day.” Liang Zhang looked at Yuan Zhen strangely.

“I saw you riding a fruit-shaped horse yesterday. Don’t ride it anymore. I’ll give you a big horse,” Yuanzhen said.

"I didn't want to ride it anymore, but my mother insisted that I ride it. I felt ashamed." Liang Zhang said this, seemingly feeling a little embarrassed, and lowered his head in embarrassment.

Shao Xun and Wang Shi exchanged a smile.

"So many chieftains came to pay their respects on New Year's Day, and you still don't trust me? Why do you have to ask indirectly?" Wang Yinling asked softly, linking arms with Shao Xun.

She had just given birth more than eight months ago, and her breasts were swollen and she was pulling very hard, so much so that Shao Xun suspected that she was doing it on purpose.

He subtly withdrew his arm and instead put his arm around the woman's waist, saying, "This is no small matter. Yuan Zhen is going back to Liangcheng after the New Year, so I have to find out the details."

When are you leaving?

"March, I suppose," Shao Xun said. "After autumn arrives, according to custom, there should be a grand review of the troops, right?"

"Yes." Madam Wang knew this very well.

They set off in March, arrived in April, experienced frost in May, and reached the crisp autumn air in August. The chieftain of the grasslands would typically hold a grand review of his troops and then go hunting in the mountains.

"After arranging everything in September, I'll return to Luoyang to be with you and me," Shao Xun said.

Wang Yinling hummed in response, then stopped acting strangely as before and quietly nestled beside Shao Xun.

The children had fallen a bit far away, and their voices could be faintly heard.

"Guest, practice your martial arts well. In the future, I will charge into battle with a spear, and you will draw your bow to kill the enemy. We will go and seize the women of the Yuwen family."

"It's better to steal a horse. Are women really that good? I'm annoyed by them."

"Maybe what you steal is different; Grandpa just likes to steal..."

Shao Xun's face darkened.

Wang Yinling threw herself into his arms, laughing nonstop.

“What you steal is definitely different,” Shao Xun said with a soft laugh, holding the woman in his arms.

"In the next life, you won't have to fight me; I'll come to you willingly, okay?" Wang Yinling said.

"Okay, it's a deal," Shao Xun said with a smile.

On the twentieth day of the first lunar month, Shao Xun issued an edict to move the capital, returning to Luoyang at the end of the month. Five years later, Luoyang welcomed back its master.

At the same time, a series of arrangements for this year have officially begun.

(End of this chapter)