As noon approaches, the heat is getting stronger.
The conservative ministers of the Zhao Kingdom knelt on the ground in the school grounds and begged their king to change his mind.
The leader was Zhao Yan, who was in his seventies. The old man was lying on the ground, with big beads of sweat dripping down. He held himself up and maintained his unwarranted dignity.
As Zong Zheng of the Zhao family, he did not think that he was wrong. He felt that everything he did was for the country of Zhao and the Zhao family. On the contrary, the young king in front of him seems to have been blinded by lard since he succeeded to the throne. He has learned everything from the barbarians. How can he easily wear barbarian clothes?
Zhao Yong stood under the shade of the umbrella, staring at the farce-like scene in front of him with indifferent eyes. At this time, a vicious idea popped into his mind: just let all these rebellious ministers die in the sun.
Upon seeing this, Fei Yi whispered to Zhao Yong: "Your Majesty..."
The stubbornness of this group of conservatives exceeded Fei Yi's expectations, but he also knew that reform could not be done forcefully now.
Zhao Bao also shook his head helplessly. As the prime minister of Zhao State, he supported Zhao Yong on the matter of changing servers. He could see the potential behind this policy.
But he is also a member of the Zhao clan, so he cannot be alone like Fei Yi, nor can he be too inclined to that faction. There are too many forces and families involved in this. The Li family, the Lou family, the Wu family, and the Niu family are all the clans with real power in Zhao State. The most important thing is that several of the Zhao family's clan leaders are opposed. Among them Then there was Anpingjun Zhao Cheng.
To put it mildly, the matter of changing clothes did involve the thousand-year tradition of the Chinese people. He didn't know whether it was right or wrong.
Zhao Bao stepped forward and bowed: "Your Majesty, why don't we discuss it another day..."
Zhao Yong turned his head slightly and glanced at them. Then he rolled his sleeves angrily and said, "You don't know how to be a stranger!"
Zhao Yan said with a hoarse voice: "Your Majesty, think twice!"
"Your Majesty, think twice..."
Zhao Yong took a long breath and scolded: "Get up!"
Zhao Yong also knows that reform cannot be one-size-fits-all and must be implemented slowly. This time he cannot really expose them to death, but...
"Ou Yebo!" Zhao Yong shouted behind him.
Engineer Ou Yebo stepped forward and bowed: "I'm here!"
"I order you to cast thousands more saddles and harpoons before the Double Ninth Festival, and they will last a long time. No delay!"
"Here!"
"Fei Yi!"
"I'm here!"
"From now on, two thousand soldiers will be selected from the three standing battalions. They must be good at riding and shooting. Those who can hit the target within thirty steps will be given priority. Those who are selected will be given ten coins. Thousands of good horses will be herded now. A journey!”
"Here!"
Zhao Yan was shocked and turned pale, and hurriedly stepped forward and said: "Your Majesty..."
"Stop admonishing me!"
The momentum has been built, and when the time comes, they will no longer be able to control it.
*
*
Since Zhao Jinghou moved the capital to Dabeicheng (Guocheng) in Handan, the city has been expanded several times and the population has been relocated.
Nowadays, Dabeicheng is divided into two major areas, which are further divided into four cities and two lanes.
The four cities are the four gates in the north and south, and the two lanes are the east and west lanes. The west lane is where the common people are relocated, where they build military palaces, academies, and government offices, and where the nobles live. The east lane is where merchants are moved, workshops are set up, and women's houses are everywhere, which is the place for trade. land.
Baima Street is located on the central axis of Guocheng, running through the east and west lanes and connecting the north and south cities.
Walking westward for two miles along the broad avenue of Baima Street, an arch bridge with more than a hundred steps stands in front of people. This bridge is affectionately called Baixing Bridge by the people of Handan.
There is a strong contrast between the buildings on the west and east sides of the Baiming Bridge. Most of the buildings on the east side are short wooden houses and thatched houses, but on the west side are all Kuoda houses and blue-tiled pavilions. Just because you cross this arch bridge, the front is the residential area of Zhao Guogui.
A carriage entered from the east of the city, passed through Baima Street, crossed the People's Bridge, and slowly stopped in front of a tall mansion just outside the palace wall of King Zhao.
The waiters standing on both sides in front of the house saw this and hurriedly came over to greet him.
Pang Nuan got off the carriage, heard the guards greeting each other, and walked hurriedly towards the door.
The Pang family's mansion is built facing south and facing north. There is a large screen wall (Xiao Qiang) in front of the entrance gate. After bypassing the screen wall, you have to cross the first shadow door (the shadow door in the Warring States Period is usually three bays. In the middle is the open room, which is the gate, and the one on the left and right is a private school, where the guards live).
Inside the shadow gate is the outer courtyard (outer courtyard), where many black locusts and locust trees are planted, which is a symbol of status.
After passing through the outer courtyard and crossing the veranda and a boudoir door, you can truly enter the inner residence of the Pang family.
The inner residence is divided into three parts: hall, room and room, all built on high platforms.
This luxurious house was naturally not built by the Pang family. It was gifted to Pang Nuan's grandfather Pang Gong when Suhou, the first king of Zhao, was in power. With Pang's meager background in Zhao State, he couldn't afford to build such a luxurious mansion.
The hall is the outermost part of the inner residence, and it is also the place where the Pang family entertains guests, performs rituals and conducts activities.
As soon as Pang Nuan entered the inner court, two lovely maidservants came forward, bowed and saluted, and then helped him take off his armor.
Although Pang Nuan looks more mature, he is actually the same age as Zhao Yong, only seventeen years old. Therefore, he has not yet married a wife, nor has he separated into a separate family.
Pang Nuan asked the beautiful maid, "Can Zu be indoors?"
The little maid who looked about twelve or thirteen years old knelt down under Pang Nuan's body and took off his leather boots, and replied: "The Lord is in the living room..."
The little maid paused and said, "Sir is here too."
Pang Nuan nodded slightly, then stepped on the wooden shoes, walked through the inner corridor and walked indoors.
The room is at the back of the hall and is divided into two floors. The lower room is a room and the upper room is a room. It can also be regarded as an independent area where the owner lives, and there are connected households in between.
The wooden shoes made a "dong, dong" sound when stepping on the wooden boards in the corridor.
A pair of windows will be opened on both sides of the inner corridor every few steps. Sunlight shines into the house from the windows, so the corridor is closed but not dark at all.
Guests generally do not enter the host's room, so since this 'sir' was invited into the room, he must be an unusual person.
Pang Nuan walked to the door of the main room, and the maids standing on both sides gently knocked on the wooden door.
There was a response from inside the door, and when the maid opened the wooden door, Pang Nuan saw two white-haired old men who were playing chess.
A window was opened on the north side of the room, and the sunlight was shining on the two people sitting opposite each other.
The old man on the left is sitting on the table, his hair is meticulously combed, and he is wearing an Eguan. His expression is serious at this time, holding a white chess piece, and he dares not make a move.
The old man on the right is in sharp contrast with the opposite. He is wearing a white dark coat and a crown with pheasant feathers on his head. The old man is stroking his beard and smiling, holding a black zither in his hand, staring at the opposite side. An old friend who is indecisive.
Pang Nuan entered and bowed respectfully to the two of them: "Pang Nuan wishes my grandfather and sir my regards."
These two people were Pang Nuan's grandfather Pang Gong, and Pang Nuan's teacher He Guanzi.
