Hu Yuan returned to Panlong Mountain, accompanied by Kuai En to protect him, and then went to Mengjin Pass to join the army.
Originally, Yang Anxuan planned to take Kuai En to Jiankang, but he changed his mind after seeing Kuai En fighting with Yang Shang at school.
The newly forged steel spear weighed forty-two kilograms, and it was so powerful in Kuai En's hands that even a dozen strong men in the army could not get close to him despite the encirclement.
Such a warrior should have made great achievements on the battlefield, how can he be allowed to waste his fighting spirit in drunkenness and wealth?
Since mid-December, the four gates of Jiyang City have been offering porridge. This year, fewer people have come to receive the porridge. Only ten stones of corn can last a day.
There were mountains of corn in the warehouse, and Yang Quanqi no longer had to worry about cooking without rice.
Thanks to Yang Jiali, the farmers harvested a few more kilo of grain, and the remaining grain they had was exchanged for some cloth, meat, cakes and the like for the New Year.
There are lights and colorful decorations everywhere in the city, the shops are doing brisk business, and the people passing by have smiles on their faces.
Yang Qiu held Yang Anxuan in one hand and grabbed the sugar cake in the other, chasing the Nuo opera troupe. He watched the young men in soap clothes holding big claws and acting as monsters shaking their heads, and exclaimed from time to time.
At home, Mrs. Yuan led the women to clean the door and courtyard, remove the old and install the new, sweeping away the bad and unsatisfactory things of the year, so that the next year will become smooth and prosperous.
Dong took Yang Li to prepare pepper and cypress wine, peach soup, Tusu wine, glutinous rice cakes, and five spicy dishes (1), which are the things to be eaten on the official day.
The kitchen was in full swing, chickens were being killed and sheep were being cooked, and the rich aroma wafted from the back house to the front office, making the officials on duty unable to help but salivate.
This year, Yang Anshen is on duty in Xiangyang and Yang Anyuan is guarding Mengjinguan. The two brothers cannot return home to celebrate the New Year, so the task of changing the peach charms falls on Yang Anxuan. Invite the two gods "Shen Tu" and "Yu Lei" to the door to pray for blessings, eliminate disasters, suppress evil and expel ghosts.
Yang Qiu watched the servants stack bamboo joints in the courtyard and asked curiously why the "firecrackers" went off.
On New Year's Eve, a banquet is held in the house, and the family gathers together to drink and watch the New Year. Compared with last year, there were two less people, and some wine was not enough.
With her son not around, Mrs. Dong felt a little sad and sighed: "I don't know what happened to Yuan'er at Mengjinguan. I don't know if I have received the clothes sent by Beidi Tianhan."
Yang Qiu curled his lips and said, "The eldest brother and the second brother won't play with me when I'm at home. The third brother is the best."
With that said, he picked up a chicken leg and handed it to Yang Anxuan with a smile, saying: "Third brother, eat the chicken leg."
Mrs. Dong felt unhappy, but she said with a smile on her face: "Miss Qiu, An Xuan may not be at home next year."
Yang Qiu was stunned, looked at Yang Quanqi with wide eyes, and asked, "Dad, is what Aunt Dong said true?"
Yang Quanqi smiled and said, "Aunt Dong is just joking."
Yang Qiu looked at his mother again and saw Yuan's head lowered and silent. When he understood, he cried "Wow" and said, "I won't let Third Brother go."
Yang Quanqi glared at Mr. Dong and scolded: "It's Chinese New Year, why did you make Qiu'er cry so much?"
Yang Anxuan sat next to Yang Qiu, put down his chopsticks and stroked Yang Qiu's head and said: "Third brother, I'm not going anywhere. If you go somewhere else, take Qiu'er with you. Stop crying. If you continue to cry, I won't take you out tomorrow." "
Yang Qiu burst into laughter, and Yang Li glanced at her enviously. The third brother was so kind to Qiu'er. The second brother is not at home, so I can only stay in the house with my mother. The gongs and drums have been ringing in the street for several days. I really want to go and see it.
The adults were drinking and chatting. Yang Qiu and Yang Li took the jigsaw puzzle and put it together. They were talking and laughing. Yang Quanqi stroked his beard and felt happy, but the two women beside him had complicated expressions, and they seemed to be at odds with each other.
Qiu'er, who wanted to stay up late, became a sleepyhead before the sun came up. Yuan was afraid that she would get cold, so he held her in his arms and wrapped her in fur.
Yang Li had no playmate, and soon her head felt like pecks of rice. Mrs. Dong asked someone to spread brocade fur and let her lie down in her clothes.
At Zizheng, dense firecrackers (2) sounded, and Yang Quanqi brought Yang Anxuan to the door.
There was a fire basin burning in the courtyard. Yang Anxuan threw the bamboo joints on the ground into the basin. After a while, the bamboo joints exploded in the fire, adding to the explosions in the city.
The twentieth year of Taiyuan (395) came quietly amidst the sound of firecrackers, and Yang Anxuan turned seventeen.
After getting dressed, Yang Anxuan bowed down to Yang Quanqi, who was standing with his hands behind his back in the corridor, and congratulated him: "Father, have a prosperous New Year and eternal peace."
Yang Quanqi stroked his beard and said with a smile: "Okay. Xuan'er's New Year's wishes will come true and he will make great achievements."
Yang Anxuan went inside to pay New Year's greetings to his mother and Mrs. Dong. Mrs. Yuan and Mrs. Dong each took their daughters back to their rooms to rest. Father and son sat across from each other and continued drinking.
Yang Quanqi said: "Years ago, I received a letter from Prince Zuowei and Xu Miao. It is confirmed that the emperor has ordered you to enter Guozixue. There will be an official document issued by the Ministry of Civil Affairs in February and March. You must prepare early."
Yang Anxuan had no objection to going to Jiankang, but he just couldn't let go of An Xuan's army. An Xuanjun spent a lot of his energy and financial resources on it, and Yang Anxuan regarded it as capital for future hegemony in the world.
After thinking for a moment, Yang Anxuan said: "Father, what worries me the most is An Xuan Army. An Xuan Army is strengthening training according to my plan. I would like to ask father not to dismantle An Xuan Army and let it grow. If An Xuan Army The army can become a mighty army, and my father can train in this way when he recruits new armies."
Yang Quanqi nodded and said: "Xuan'er, you are going to Jiankang to study Guoxue. If nothing unexpected happens, you will have to go to the imperial court after the weak crown to be awarded an official. My father promises you to keep An Xuan's army intact before you are awarded an official, so let me Zhao Tian is in charge of An Xuan Army for you. As a father, I also want to see what kind of great army An Xuan Army will become in the future."
Yang Anxuan raised his glass and said, "Thank you very much, father. I'd like to propose a toast to you."
Speaking of which, father and son had never drank together alone, and they were both a bit tipsy until the end of the drink.
Yang Quanqi patted Yang Anxuan on the shoulder and said with a hint of drunkenness: "Xuan'er, my father is very satisfied with you. The Yang family depends on you to light up the front door. You have to treat your two brothers well. Although Anyuan is the same as you, Half-father, but he is brave and good at fighting, and will be your right-hand man in the future. Remember, if everything is prosperous when the family is harmonious, brothers must not fight against each other."
Yang Anxuan said politely: "My father is at his peak in the Spring and Autumn Period, and the northern border is not peaceful. This is the opportunity to make contributions. The three children will follow their father to quell the border troubles. Father and son will work together to restore the glory of our Yang family."
Yang Quanqi laughed loudly and said, "That's good. Come, let's have a drink with you for my father's sake."
…………
At the beginning of the morning, Yuan and Dong brought their daughters to Yang Quanqi to pay New Year's greetings. Then Yang Anxuan, Yang Li and Yang Qiu paid New Year greetings to Yang Quanqi, Yuan and Dong in order of age, and received the Yan (yin) Sheng money prepared in advance.
On the front of the money are the words "Long Live the Qianqiu" and "Fu Lu, Shou Xi" and other words, and on the back are the patterns of Pisces and fighting swords, strung with red rope, which is very exquisite.
Yang Qiu rolled his eyes and came to Yang Anxuan, knelt down and kowtowed: "Third brother, have a happy new year and everything goes well. Give Yan Sheng some money."
Yang Anxuan prepared in advance and took out two coins from his arms. He specially exchanged them from the gold market. Each coin weighed half a tael and was bright and eye-catching.
Yang Qiu smiled happily when he took the money and said, "This money is so beautiful. I like third brother the most."
Yang Anxuan glanced at Yang Li, who was standing next to Dong, raised his hand and said, "Fourth sister, won't you give Third Brother a New Year's greeting?"
Yang Li came to Yang Anxuan and bowed down in front of him, wishing: "Yang Li wishes third brother a happy new year and everything goes well for him."
Taking the two pieces of money from Yang Anxuan, Yang Li said softly: "Thank you, third brother."
A hint of gratitude also flashed in Dong's eyes.
After the New Year greetings, Yang Anxuan still had errands to put up, such as pasting a picture of a chicken on the door and hanging reed ropes on both sides of the peach charms, so that the two gods could catch all the ghosts.
The servants served pepper and cypress wine, peach soup and other things to suit the season. The drinking order is from the youngest to the oldest. Yang Qiu, the youngest, drinks first; then Yang Li, Yang Anxuan, then Dong, Yuan, and Yang Quanqi. It means that the young will become mature as they grow older; the older will grow older as they lose one year.
After putting on new clothes, Yang Quanqi went to the lobby to celebrate the beginning of the Three Yuan Dynasty with the officials in the mansion and pray for a good harvest.
Yang Anxuan took Yang Li and Yang Qiu out to pay New Year's greetings to the elders of the clan. The man is on the left and the woman is on the right, wearing a Chukimaru on her arm. Quegui pills are made of wax and realgar, which are used to drive away evil spirits and prevent evil spirits from getting into the body.
Everyone on the street put on new clothes, and they were all beaming with joy. They bowed their hands as gifts and said auspicious words when they met. Walking on the festive street, Yang Anxuan felt that he was deeply integrated into it.
…………
When people climbed high to compose poems, Yang Quanqi once again gathered the talents of the county at the Phoenix Tower. Last year, Yang Anxuan's three climbing poems in the building became an official event. This year, many people are looking forward to another masterpiece from him.
What disappointed everyone was that Yang Anxuan did not appear in Phoenix Mountain. The title of the poem was no longer important to him, so why bother to make people hate him first.
Sitting in the study, Yang Anxuan thought about how to act when going to Jiankang so that he could quickly stand out. Time waits for no one. If you act step by step, you will not be qualified to stand on the chessboard and compete for the world when the world changes.
The experience in his previous life broadened Yang Anxuan's horizons, and he quickly came up with several ideas, including connections, hype, and leverage.
His connections were nothing more than relatives, friends, teachers and neighbors. Yang Anxuan was a little scratched his head. He didn't know anyone else in Jiankang except the Yindun family. In the capital city where powerful people are everywhere, the Yin family is still not ranked high, so they may not be able to leverage on it.
His father Yang Quanqi's friend in the capital, Prince Zuo Wei, led Xu Miao. He was a gentleman and it was possible for him to come to study.
Yang Anxuan is very confident in his own ability, but walking a hundred steps by himself is not as good as having someone help him step by step. Sometimes someone can lend a helping hand and get twice the result with half the effort.
When it comes to noble people, of course the first one is Xi Hui. The Xi family was considered a prominent family in Beijing, and Xi Hui's wife was Xie Daocan, the daughter of Xie An's eldest brother Xie Yi.
If he can be introduced by Xi Hui, he can step into the door of Wang Xie's family. Yang Anxuan made up his mind to visit Xi Hui before going to Jiankang.
Yang Anxuan was very confident in quickly becoming famous in the capital. With the poems he had in his mind, it would not be difficult for him to become famous. What needs to be considered is how to hype it up and seek maximum benefits.
Celebrities in the Eastern Jin Dynasty claimed to be romantic. Xie An took his prostitute to Dongshan and was praised by people at the time. The Qinhuai River was windy and full of wine and singing. Why not leave some reputation for being romantic?
Buddhism flourished in Jiankang, and everyone from the emperor to the common people believed in Buddhism. With the help of the knowledge of Buddhism in later generations, we could also find ways to borrow the power of Buddhism.
Thinking of the master Huiyuan that Xi Hui told him, Yang Anxuan felt that he should go to Donglin Temple to meet the master and form a Buddhist relationship.
After thinking so much, he actually didn't know much about Guozixue. Yang Anxuan planned to go to the capital to meet Yin Dun before making any plans. If he could have a famous scholar as his teacher, he might be able to get twice the result with half the effort.
