If you come to Zhouqiao in the dark of night, it is the best time to see Zhouqiao. At that time, the bridge is brightly lit and full of pedestrians. All kinds of stalls and hawkers will sell their goods along the street, from the first lanterns to midnight, no matter what time it is. Come, you have it all here.
After leaving Yu Street and walking eastward, they arrived at Donghua Gate. Everyone was attracted by a three-story building with five floors facing each other.
I saw that each of them has flying bridges and sills, connecting light and dark, bead curtains embroidered on the forehead, and candles shining brightly. Looking from a distance, it seems to be in a haze of light. This is the most famous restaurant among the 72 restaurants in Bianjing City - "Fan Tower".
The reason why Fanlou is the most famous restaurant is not only because of its magnificent and luxurious architecture and wonderful ideas, but also because of its wine, food and geisha.
Fan Lou has its own privileges. The reason why Fan Lou is so powerful is because Fan Lou has the right to brew wine licensed by the imperial court. This is something other restaurants dare not expect.
The wine, salt, tea, iron, etc. of the Song Dynasty were all monopolized by the imperial court. Others were not allowed to produce and sell them. Violators were guilty of serious crimes.
The government allocates 50,000 kilograms of koji to Fanlou every year. On average, it uses 137 kilograms of koji every day, which can make more than 5,500 kilograms of wine. Fanlou can produce and sell these wines by itself, or sell them to other restaurants in bulk. .
Let’s talk about the geishas in Fanlou. Fanlou not only provides wine, food and banquets, but also has many geishas, that is, shepherds. Most of them are prostitutes but not their bodies.
They have learned music, chess, calligraphy and painting since childhood. They are all good at observing people's words, familiar with interpersonal communication, good at dancing, singing and reciting, and understand the psychology of guests. Therefore, many people who come to Fanlou to entertain relatives and friends often ask several geishas to accompany them or play the piano. Play music or dance. Their presence can liven up the atmosphere of the banquet and make the guests and hosts enjoy themselves.
The geishas in Fanlou are also the best among the 72 restaurants in Bianjing. Among the four major oirans in Bianjing, two are in Fanlou. This is enough to show that the geishas in Fanlou are extraordinary.
It is said that it is because many dignitaries in the imperial court have their own interests in Fanlou, and even the royal family is involved. With these supports, there is the majestic and majestic building that everyone has just seen.
Just as a poet who had a banquet in Fanlou later wrote a poem praising: Liangyuan's singing and dancing are full of romance, and the wine is like a knife to relieve sorrow. I recall so many happy things in Taiping, going up to the Fan Tower late at night with the lights on.
Chen Zishan on the side opened his mouth and said: "It's true that if you don't come to Bianjing, you don't know how prosperous the world is, and if you don't come to Fanlou, you don't know how elegant Fanlou is." Everyone was also amazed and nodded frequently.
After everyone visited Bianjing City, it was already approaching dusk and they found an inn to rest.
Yang Hong has sent several servants from the palace to guard at various city gates. As soon as there is news about Yang Yanzhao, they will come immediately to report;
The important military place on the northern border of the Song Dynasty - Daizhou Prefecture.
In the north in April, the weather becomes slightly hotter, and the wind blowing from the north carries a hint of heat, which seems to indicate that summer has arrived early.
When Yang Yanzhao's family arrived at Yanmen Pass, it was already Shenshi. He said to his wife Yelu Jin'e: "Shi Baoji, the guard of Yanmen Pass, is an old friend of mine. You and the children will wait for me at the inn first, and I will go and report... ..
At the beginning of the lanterns, the lights of thousands of houses in Daizhou City slowly lit up, and the bright lights outlined the prosperity of this large border city.
In the Yamen of Daizhou Prefecture, Yang Yanzhao and Yanmen Gate Guard General Shi Baoji were sitting in the reception hall in the order of guest and host. Tonight, Shi Baoji hosted a banquet for Yang Yanzhao and his family to return home, and specially invited famous chefs from Daizhou Prefecture to cook in the mansion;
After Yang Yanzhao saw Shi Baoji and exchanged greetings for a while, he took out a letter from his clothes and handed it to Shi Baoji. He said: "Brother You, this letter is extremely urgent. Please send a fast horse to deliver it to the court quickly. The Liao army is about to invade the border again. Please ask the officials to send troops and generals to defend against the enemy."
Shi Baoji, also known as Youzhi, was the second son of Shi Shouxin, the founding general of the Song Dynasty. He was handsome and capable, and he entered officialdom with his family shadow. Married to Princess Yanqing, the second daughter of Emperor Taizu of the Song Dynasty, and paid homage to the Prince Consort, the Commander-in-Chief, and the military and horse deployment;
Shi Baoji and Yang Yanzhao were quite familiar with each other. The two had fought side by side against the Liao army in Shuozhou and established a deep friendship with each other;
Yesterday, when he received the news and saw that Yang Yanzhao was not killed in battle and came back alive, he was so excited that he ran over and hugged Yang Yanzhao regardless of his image as a commander;
After a while of greetings, Shi Baoji, like a child, punched Yang Yanzhao on the chest a few times and cursed: "Silang, you haven't heard from you for so many years. I thought you were dead, hahahaha." Both of them held hands and laughed wildly. .
Shi Baoji asked his son to become brothers with Yang Yanzhao's son; if his son had not already been engaged, Shi Baoji would have wanted his son to get married to Yang Yanzhao's daughter;
Yang Yanzhao was moved and said to Shi Baoji: "Brother You is so kind to me. I am very grateful. If I serve you in any way in the future, I will be ashamed of myself."
Shi Baoji patted Yang Yanzhao on the shoulder and said with a smile: "Silang, we both have a life-changing friendship on the battlefield, so there is no need to say this."
On the morning of the next day, Yang Yanzhao and his family got on the carriage donated by Shi Baoji. After bidding farewell to Shi Baoji, they set foot on the road to the capital;
Shi Baoji originally wanted to stay with Yang Yanzhao for a few more days to express friendship, but Yang Yanzhao missed his mother so much that Shi Baoji was inconvenient to stay longer. After ordering his men to prepare a carriage, food and water, he said goodbye to Yang Yanzhao;
The carriage traveled all the way and arrived in the west of Bianjing Mansion a few days later. When passing by a high slope, Yang Yanzhao stopped the carriage, got off the carriage with his family, and stood on the high slope overlooking the majesty and prosperity of Bianjing City;
After leaving the Liao territory, Yelu Jin'e changed into Han clothes, wearing a simple black belt, and her hair was tied into a woman's bun. Her eyes were big, her nose was straight, and her exotic face was accompanied by a Han suit. fanfengyun;
The two children beside her, the eldest is a son, named Wu'er, who is eleven years old this year; the second is a daughter, named Li'er, who is eight years old this year, with a pair of big bright eyes flickering at the huge prosperity in front of her. city, full of curiosity;
Yang Yanzhao looked at Bianjing City with infinite sadness in his heart. It had been almost twenty years since he left, and he finally came back today;
I still remember that the last time I left Bianjing City, I went on an expedition with my father, eldest brother, second brother, and third brother. I still remember that I was still very young at that time, high-spirited and scolding Fang Qiu;
But now he is the only one who is back; his father and brothers have died in the enemy's territory, but he has not even been able to bring their bones back. He doesn't know how to explain to his mother after seeing her;
"When I left home when I was young, my boss returned, my local pronunciation has not changed, my hair on my temples has faded," Yang Yanzhao murmured, with tears in his eyes. He has not shed tears for almost twenty years. The last time he shed tears was when his father and brothers died in battle.
Yang Yanzhao raised his head to stop his tears and sighed. Seeing her husband like this, Yelu Jin'e next to her took a step forward and took her husband's arm, and gently nestled her head on his chest. She wanted to comfort her husband's melancholy with tenderness. Mood.
Yang Yanzhao hugged his wife, sighed, turned back to the carriage and continued to move forward;
The carriage moved forward and when it was about to arrive at the Wansheng Gate of the Western Outer City of Bianjing, Yang Yanzhao saw a group of people standing not far away. One of them was very familiar, Yang Hong, an official of the Yang Mansion, and there were several people around him. But he did not know him; and whipping his whip, he hurried to the city gate;
The carriages pulled by the majestic horses also attracted the attention of many passers-by. The Song Dynasty was very short of horses these days. Even the court officials basically used donkey carts to travel when they went out, and the horses were given to the frontline troops;
The horses that Shi Baoji equipped Yang Yanzhao's carriage with were Hetao war horses from the army. This configuration naturally made passersby speechless.
"Silang, is it you? You are finally back," Yang Hong saw Yang Yanzhao getting off the carriage, his withered face already filled with tears;
Looking at Yang Yanzhao's face, Yang Hong remembered the scene when the old prince went on an expedition more than ten years ago. Without waiting to wipe away his tears, he hurried forward and said.
Yang Yanzhao looked at the old housekeeper who had been away for nearly twenty years with mixed feelings in his heart. Yang Hong had grown up watching his brothers, and the Yang family had always treated Yang Hong as family.
