The emperor's interview must of course be taken seriously. So after some daily morning exercises, I took a comfortable bath in a big wooden barrel. Instead of wearing the previous clothes, I changed into a new thick black and blue shirt, wrapped in a well-made brown and black bear skin jacket. , wearing warm and comfortable deerskin boots, with her hair raised up into a crown, and a jasper green hairpin worn through it, she was dressed very energetically.
Snow had fallen early this morning. In the room of the inn, the official set up a small red clay stove with a small clay pot for boiling water, which was steaming. Put a handful of fried tea leaves into a porcelain bowl, pour hot water into it to clean the dust on the tea, watch the tea leaves slowly unfold, pour out the water, and pour hot water again.
The tea we drink now is not brewed with pure water, but a lot of things are added, which is a very tedious process. It is loved by literati and scholars, and there is even a game of tea fighting. Wang Yan drank this way when he first came here, and then started making tea. They also created tureens that do not exist now, and other tea-related things, which is one of the industries.
However, habits cannot be changed in a short time, and tastes are not the same. The launch of his tea on the market did not cause as much shock as expected, but it was still slowly fermenting. Some people started to get in touch with it, and some people didn't agree with it. Gradually, the literati of the Song Dynasty formed two schools on how to drink tea. It was interesting to discuss the same thing.
The official picked up the tea bowl and took a sip, feeling the original flavor of the tea blooming and colliding in his mouth, savoring the fragrance. The world in the misty snow outside the window, passing through the original ancient buildings that have lasted for thousands of years, the sky and the earth are the same color, it is a good scene. The officials watched silently, and they were lost in thought for a moment...
At about ten o'clock in the morning, two eunuchs appeared outside the inn together with the sedan chairmen. Wang Yan went downstairs and saw the two eunuchs at the door. He bowed his hands and said, "Wang Yan has met these two noble men."
"Captain Wang, hurry up and invite me. Don't let me down. You won't be able to accept the courtesy of the captain, let alone be the noble person of the captain. We are all blessed by the captain." The leading eunuch quickly stepped forward and dragged him away. He held Wang Yan's arm and said with a smile: "I'm the head of the middle hall of the palace, Hu Xiang. The officials have sent us to take the captain into the palace. It will take some time on the way, so the captain will get on the sedan."
Looking at the two sedan bearers in front and behind him, Wang Yan shook his head and said, "There's no need to sit in the sedan. Wang Yan was born in a remote country. Not to mention the palace, this was my first time in Bianjing, so I walked with the two cabinet ministers. Please tell me, Mr. Hu, Diantou Hu, so that I can gain some insights. These two sedan bearers, please help me carry the gifts I want to present to the officials."
Hu Xiang nodded and did not refuse. Although the sedan chair was approved by the emperor, there was nothing wrong with just not doing it. So after seeing that the items to be sent were not sharp weapons, not food, and not dangerous, and resealed the box, Wang Yan put on a cowhide felt hat to protect himself from the snow, and followed the two eunuchs into the palace.
Along the way, Hu Xiang introduced each palace and pavilion in detail, talking about its uses and so on. Wang Yan listened and looked around at the scenery. Although compared with other dynasties, the imperial palace of the Song Dynasty was very small and did not form a building complex. However, it was the residence of the emperor after all, and the Song Dynasty was not poor. It was much better than the Forbidden City he took over during the Ming Dynasty, but it was just a lot smaller.
Because it was snowing, the whole experience was very good. It's a pity that you can't stand on a high place and overlook the entire palace. It should be a different feeling. It's a tourist attraction, so it's quite nice to see.
Although the Imperial City of the Song Dynasty was not big, that was relatively speaking. A few people walked by foot alone, and even though they were very diligent, it took them more than half an hour to reach Taiqing Tower. After Hu Xiang took the felt hat and helped pat the snow on the bearskin coat, he followed Yang Jian, who had been here for a long time, upstairs. He saw him standing in front of the large desk doing art, which had become more interesting because of the snow. generation of artists.
Wearing a purple robe, it looks like an improved Taoist style, very beautiful. The hair is somewhat scattered and coiled on the head, fixed by a white jade hairpin. He has thick eyebrows, big eyes, a high nose, thin lips, and an upturned beard. He is about 1.7 meters tall, slightly fat, round and white, and his face looks very kind. With this look, he must have been handsome and handsome when he was young. Even now, in modern terms, he looks like a handsome man.
This is normal, after all, no one in the royal family looks alike. Even if the first generation is not good enough, he is the emperor, and the next generation will also be the emperor. The most basic thing about the queen we are looking for is appearance. She is the kind that is absolutely in line with the aesthetics of the times, and anyone who sees her will say she is beautiful. Over the generations, genes have improved, and they have become more handsome as time passes.
Tong Guan spoke in a moderate voice: "Guan family, Colonel Wang is here."
Zhao Ji, who was obsessed with artistic creation, looked up when he heard the sound and saw Wang Yan standing behind Yang Jian. He was not as thin as usual because he was wearing a bearskin, but he was noticeably taller and stronger.
"Haha, Ziyan, you are finally here."
"My humble minister, Wang Yan, pays homage to the official." As he spoke, Wang Yan bowed and gave an upright salute. There is no kneeling ceremony now, and there is not much to do when meeting the emperor. Moreover, he is also a seventh-grade Zhiguo Colonel. Although he is a military attaché, he is still an official. Of course, it is no problem to call him a minister.
"Get up." Zhao Ji waved his hands with a smile, walked out from behind the bed, looked at Wang Yan carefully, and nodded with satisfaction: "Okay, you are really young and promising. Over the past year or so, you have helped me. Very busy."
"The minor ministers are the people of the Song Dynasty, and the official family is the father of the emperor of the Song Dynasty. It is appropriate for the people to share the worries of the emperor and father. The minor ministers are not good at literature and martial arts. They are only somewhat successful in merchants and investigating things, so they can be officials. Sharing worries between families is actually the glory of Xiaochen’s family.”
Although what he said was flattering, Wang Daguan's face remained unchanged, he was upright, and his words were sonorous and powerful, as if they were true and he was just stating the facts.
"I know you are loyal." Zhao Ji looked at Wang Yan who was serious with a smile on his face, patted his shoulder vigorously, said something really strong, like the concern of an elder, and then asked: "This is my first time here. Bianjing, are you still getting used to it?"
"Thank you for your concern, but I didn't sleep well." After saying that, without waiting for Zhao Ji, whose eyes showed the intention of asking, to speak, he opened his mouth and licked: "I have little knowledge. When I was in Yanggu County, the people were already very wealthy. When I arrived in Bian the day before yesterday, Beijing, only then did I know what our Song Dynasty was like. I have also read history. The prosperity of our Song Dynasty is unparalleled in previous dynasties. This is all the merits of the officials. I have the merits of the three emperors and the virtues of Emperor Wu. I am truly a holy king. The only emperor through the ages is the steward.”
"Well, at such a young age, I'm really good at flattering you. I admit that I am a holy king. But I am not qualified to be the emperor of the ages. I am still far behind in civil and martial arts. Youyun Sixteen State…”
"The minister always tells the truth, and he also wants to correct the officials. The minister is really shooting, but what he shoots is also a dragon's fart. With the strength of my great Song Dynasty, it is just around the corner to regain the Sixteen Provinces of Youyun."
There is no one who does not want fame and wealth in life. No one wants to regain the Sixteenth Province of Youyun more than Zhao Ji. Once he succeeds, his achievements will be unmatched by anyone except Zhao Kuangyin, the founder of the country. This is a huge temptation and he can't help it.
"You..." Zhao Ji smiled happily and pointed at Wang Yan: "Let's go, I've been staying here in Taiqing Building for a long time, it's snowing outside, come with me to walk in the garden and talk."
"Hold on, officials. I have something to offer for this trip."
"Oh? Is there something new that makes money?" Seeing Wang Yan nodding, Zhao Ji still smiled that gently: "Take it up and take a look."
Wang Yan turned to look at Yang Jian beside him: "Excuse me, Mr. Yang."
The announcement was made from beginning to end. He had been watching Wang Yan flatter him and was sighing at his high skill at such a young age. When he heard Wang Yan's words, he turned back and looked at the little eunuch standing at the stairs: "Go and get Captain Wang." Bring up the boxes you brought."
The little eunuch accepted the order and went downstairs. Not long after, two eunuchs came up carrying the slender wooden box and dropped it lightly on the floor.
Wang Yan thanked the eunuch who carried it, squatted down and opened the box. He saw a rectangular object covered with silk cloth, and some wooden strips with openings. It seemed that they could be spliced together. He took out all the things, and under the watchful eyes of Zhao Ji and Yang Jian, he skillfully started assembling them quickly. After a while, a supporting frame took shape in my hands. He placed it on the ground, picked up the rectangle, and used the two wooden bars protruding from it to connect it to the chassis that had just been put together.
He stood up, shook the erected object, and after confirming that it was stable, he turned to look at Zhao Ji: "Guan, please take a look." As he spoke, he pulled off the silk cloth and let Zhao Ji Take a closer look.
"Mirror?"
Zhao Ji, who was standing behind, asked a question, walked around Yang Jian and stepped forward. He stood in front of the mirror in surprise, looking at the clear appearance of every detail in it. He happily stood in front of the big mirror and turned around to look at himself, and asked the little eunuch. After putting on clothes, I looked at myself in the mirror and felt happy.
The clarity of the bronze mirror is actually quite good now. After polishing, the illumination is also very clear. It's just that compared to glass mirrors, copper mirrors are not good enough. Not only are they clearer, but also the fakeness of copper is too high. After all, copper is the raw material of money. The size of the mirror is how much it costs. If you really want to get such a big full-length mirror, how can ordinary people afford it?
In fact, this glass mirror is not unusual. There were already glass mirrors in Europe during the Middle Ages, but not in the Song Dynasty. If you can afford a bronze mirror, you can certainly afford a glass mirror. In the past, those who could not afford bronze mirrors could not afford glass mirrors either. Although the cost is very cheap, of course it cannot be sold cheaply, and it always has to be reduced slowly.
"Okay, okay. This mirror is clearer and more comfortable to look at than a bronze mirror." Zhao Ji praised without concealment. He was so kind and patient to Wang Yan. It was for this reason that new things were constantly appearing, and the new things brought A lot of money came.
Wang Yan's status in his heart was also quite high, no worse than Cai Jing, Tong Guan and others. He is not a fool, he knows the situation in Yanggu County clearly. The changes there were all brought about by Wang Yan alone. It's not like Cai Jing and others, who made the place a mess, made more money, and made judgments.
Now that he saw another source of wealth appearing, of course he was happy.
Wang Yan has always known that Zhao Ji is not brainless, he is faint, but he still has political skills. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to be the emperor for so many years. He must be aware of the suffering of the people, he just pretends not to see it. Of course, what he knows is the pain on paper, but he cannot see the real pain. When he came to the throne, he had always had good food and clothing, but he could not imagine how miserable the people were. He knew how miserable they were, but he didn't know how miserable they were. Of course, even if he knew how miserable it was, it wouldn't be in his eyes. There was nothing anyone could do about it.
He took out another small piece of transparent glass and said, "This is the main thing that makes money for officials."
"Oh?" The handsome Zhao Ji turned his head when he heard the sound, took the thing in his hand, and then touched the mirror in front of him: "These two are one thing? What is the name of this thing?"
"The good eyesight of officials is exactly the same thing. This is glass. The mirror is just a special material coated on one side of the glass."
Siluke
"In addition to being a mirror, can this thing be used for anything else?"
Wang Yan pointed to the paper-covered window facing the lake: "Guan family, if this thing replaces the lake window paper, the sunlight can penetrate directly into the room, and the outside scenery can be clearly seen indoors without opening the window. It's like today when it's snowing. Wouldn’t it be fun to drink tea, read, write and paint in front of the window?”
As an artist, Zhao Ji certainly has no shortage of imagination. Looking at the clean and transparent glass in his hand, a flash of joy in that scene flashed through his mind. He looked at Wang Yan with a smile: "But we already have enough glass. , can you replace all my palace?"
Wang Yan shook his head slightly awkwardly: "I apologize to the officials, because they have just given birth and the time is still short, and it is not easy to achieve such clear light transmission. Therefore, the glass brought by the minister can only be given to the officials. Let’s change the palace first.”
"Nothing, I don't blame you, just take your time." Zhao Ji said with a smile: "If it's a palace, let's replace the Taiqing Building first. I have more time here. Yang Jian, this matter is up to you. manage."
"Old slave obeys the order."
"Let's go out and enjoy the snow." After saying that, Zhao Ji walked downstairs leisurely with his hands behind his back.
Wang Yan and Yang Jian, one on the left and the other on the right, were a small step behind, following Zhao Ji as they wandered through the imperial garden. A path has been swept out in the garden, but the snow is heavy. Even if a bunch of little eunuchs are sweeping it now, another layer will soon fall, and it still squeaks when you step on it.
"The auspicious snow brings good harvest, this year is another good one."
Hearing his master's emotion, Yang Jian gave him a flattery at the right time: "The Song Dynasty has the protection of the saint king, and the weather will naturally be smooth."
Zhao Ji had heard too much flattery and was very tired. This time it was obviously of no use. He glanced at the reckless boy who was following him and looked around with a smile: "Zi Yan, I heard that you passed the age of fifteen. If it weren't for the impact of the death of my parents in the government examination, I would still have hope after passing the national examination. I'm really talented. I wonder if I've been studying the books of saints and sages in the past few years?"
That's the point... The senior official shook his head and said: "The junior minister dare not deceive the official. I really read the book again. It's just that I am busy with business on weekdays and haven't gone deep into it. It has been abandoned for a long time. But the official wants to test the junior minister?"
"Haha, I didn't have such an idea at first, but as soon as you said it, I got it. Just use what you have learned, pick up the snow today, and compose a poem. It doesn't matter whether it's good or bad, just do it. Think about it slowly, don't be in a hurry. "
You have to be a good leader and do whatever you want. If I want to play with you, I can play with you, and I have to thank others.
After walking for a while, the senior official pretended to respond to Zhao Ji's questions and was distracted by his thoughts. Guessing that the time was almost up, he cupped his hands and said, "To report to the official family, I have thought of a limerick."
"As I said before, it doesn't matter whether it's good or bad, just do it and say it."
"One piece, two pieces, three or four pieces, five pieces, six pieces, seven or eight pieces, nine pieces, ten pieces, countless pieces..." In Zhao Ji's confused eyes, the official cleared his throat and slowly said: "Flying into the plum blossoms Never see you again!”
Sure enough, time travel without rewriting poems is not an easy time travel.
Zhao Ji was stunned for a moment, then repeated the last half of the sentence. Looking at the plum blossoms blooming not far away, he clapped his hands and applauded: "Not bad, not bad. Although it is a limerick, it has its own artistic conception, which is just right for this scene. Okay, okay, With this sentence, the plum blossoms will never disappear, and you will have to drink an extra glass of wine for lunch. Tell me, what reward do you want?"
"If the officials don't blame me, it's a blessing for me. I don't dare ask for rewards from the officials."
Yang Jian opened his mouth and said: "Captain Wang is so ignorant. The official is a sage who keeps his word, so why are you so pretentious?"
Looking at Zhao Ji carefully, Wang Yan said: "Did the minister say that?"
"Say it."
"I also want to ask for a piece of calligraphy and painting from the official family. The calligraphy treasure given by the official family last year shows the authentic work of the crane style created by the official family. I love it so much that I copy it every day. A year has passed, and I want to see it. The official family has made more progress, and now I want to ask the official family to give me another one so that I can teach my subordinates to study it carefully."
Zhao Ji laughed and found it very useful: "I will write a picture tonight and send it to you."
"Thank you for the official reward."
After wandering around for a while, Zhao Ji asked aimlessly about various aspects, and finally asked about martial arts. He said, "Ziyan, I just remembered that you are not only good at studying, but also good at martial arts. You have been working as a nurse at home since you were a child. I have been practicing hard to build my strength. Last year, I even heard that I defeated the one who was known as the best in the world..."
Seeing that his eldest brother had forgotten his name, Yang Jian answered in time: "The official is Lu Junyi, who once served with the Northern Army."
"Yes, it's Lu Junyi. With such a big name, he is definitely not an incompetent person. If you can defeat him, you must be a strong martial artist. We are going to have lunch soon. Ziyan might as well compete with others and stretch his muscles. It's time to I feel good about eating more."
Wang Yan smiled bitterly and said, "The officials intend to test the ministers today."
Yang Jian continued to follow him dutifully: "It's the officials who want to use you. Others who want to be officials have no chance to take the exam. You don't know how lucky you are."
"Thank you for your love and care. If this is the case, then I will show my shame. I wonder which master the officials want me to compete with?"
Zhao Ji waved his hand without looking back. A tall soldier with a sword from behind came forward. He first bowed to Zhao Ji and asked for instructions. After seeing Zhao Ji nod, he turned around and bowed his hands to Wang Yan: "Bring your imperial weapons, Zhou Hong. I’ve met Captain Wang.”
－－－－－－Digression－－－－－
Thanks to brother (Ling Liuer) for the 500-coin reward.
Thanks to the two elder brothers (Silent Sky Blue) and (No1 Infinite Heavenly Lord) for the reward of 100 coins for continued support.
Thanks to brother (Jin Lin) for the 100-coin reward.
I would like to express my daily gratitude to the good brothers who vote monthly for their support.
Thank you to all the brothers who recommended me for your support,
Thanks to the big brothers who read silently for their support.
