Chapter 512: Peace and Prosperity

On December 24, the twelfth year of Qingli in the Song Dynasty, envoys from neighboring countries have arrived in Kaifeng one after another since last month.

Although the weather is cold, it cannot stop the people of Bianliang from being enthusiastic about the celebrations.

Because the imperial court found the jade seal that had been lost for hundreds of years and everyone was celebrating, the celebrations originally scheduled for December 28 were held in advance.

After discussions in the court, the sacrificial activities will be held on December 24th, and then the New Year celebrations will begin on the 28th.

After that, the celebrations will continue until the Holy Festival, which is the third day of the first lunar month. From the third to the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, the court celebrations will end. Basically, it will be the folk celebrations from Tiansheng Festival to Shangyuan Festival.

After all, it would be very expensive for the court to hold large-scale events, which could basically only last a few days. More events had to be held spontaneously by the people. For example, in the past, the government was only responsible for maintaining order at the annual New Year and Lantern Festival events.

The reason why it was chosen on the 24th is that it happens to be the Kitchen God Festival on the 24th, also known as Xiaonian. This festival has been around since the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, and was especially grand during the Northern Song Dynasty.

According to "Tokyo Menghualu": ​​"On the 24th, when the new year comes, people in the city invite monks to read scriptures at night, prepare fruit wine to send gifts to the gods, and burn paper instead of money for the whole family. Post the stove horse on the stove and smear the stove door with wine dregs "It's called drunkenness. Lighting a lamp under the bed at night is called a waste of light."

In addition, in this month, gum gums, that is, kitchen candies, are also offered to stick to the mouth of the Kitchen God so that he cannot say bad things. After the Kitchen God is sent away in the Xiaonian, the Kitchen God must be "received" on the 30th day of the twelfth lunar month. It's late, and the New Year doesn't come until the first day of the Lunar New Year.

In the early morning of the 24th, all the cities and streets in Bianliang were decorated with lights and colorful decorations. Many people in Bianliang were shopping in the markets to buy new year's goods. There were also a large number of foreigners passing through, looking around curiously.

In the past few days, those foreign envoys needed to focus on business, discussing cooperation and trade with the Song Dynasty court. In addition to arms deals, many other trade contracts have also been discussed.

The combined orders for handmade and industrial products such as tea, silk, ironware, porcelain, clothing, books, pencils, paper, sugar, etc. are no less than arms.

Nowadays, the Song Dynasty is increasingly industrialized and upgraded. After entering the electrification era, the Ru Kiln, the first of the five official kilns in the Song Dynasty, now uses electricity to make the turntable rotate rapidly, making it easier for craftsmen to knead and carve.

In factories, some manufacturing assembly lines have also begun to transition from the steam engine era to the electrification era. Many screw-driving steel processing and textile factories have slowly introduced electricity.

Therefore, there are not many industries that still retain traditional hand-made manufacturing.

Either it is a product like tea whose output and production are difficult to industrialize, or it is an industry like silk and porcelain that can only use a small amount of industry, and most of the time still requires manual labor.

It’s no wonder that later Britain took the lead in completing the Industrial Revolution and sold its products all over the world, but it was always strangled by the Qing Dynasty on tea, silk and porcelain.

Tea growing, sericulture, porcelain kneading, tea frying, silk reeling, carving and other crafts cannot be easily completed by machines.

In the early morning of the 24th, the streets in Bianliang's outer city and inner city began to gradually become congested. There was an endless stream of workers going to work, vendors walking in the streets, and people buying New Year's goods on the streets.

"Candied haws on a stick, sweet and crisp candied haws on a stick, all made from the best white sugar."

"Steel pot, good pot, made by Wu'an Iron and Steel Factory."

"Towels, towels for wiping your face, and toothbrushes. Let's buy some toiletries for the new year."

The shouts of the vendors were endless.

There was little white sugar in Song Dynasty sugar, because there were many impurities and sediments in ancient sugar, so most of the sugar produced was brown sugar or brown sugar.

It was not until the Southern Song Dynasty that some sugar producers accidentally discovered the "yellow mud water decolorization method". This method was recorded in the "Sugar Frosting Manual" of the Southern Song Dynasty, and was eventually widely used in the Yuan and Ming Dynasties.

In recent years, the Song Dynasty planted a large amount of cane sugar in the Philippines, Vietnam, Hainan, Guangzhou and other places, and introduced sugar beets from Middle Eastern merchants. Through industrial extraction, coupled with the decolorization and impurity removal methods developed by the School of Chemistry, white sugar was widely produced.

In the past two years, the people of the Song Dynasty finally began to enjoy sweets without impurities.

Although the production capacity of sugar beets is not high, although sucrose has a certain production capacity, it is limited to being cultivated in subtropical and tropical regions and cannot be promoted nationwide. The price of sugar products is still slightly high, and it cannot benefit every household in the Song Dynasty.

However, this is already a good start. Once sugar beets are promoted across the country and a large number of sugar factories are established, it will only be a matter of time before sugar products benefit the country.

As for various kitchen utensils and daily necessities, they are not actually produced by Wu'an Iron and Steel Factory or Bianliang Textile Factory. As the largest steel factory and textile factory in the Song Dynasty, these two mainly produce raw materials, namely steel and cloth.

Things like pots and pans, towels and clothes are made in processing factories. They purchase raw materials from two large factories and then perform secondary processing. This is also a good ecological development.

The streets and alleys were crowded with people, and many people were heading towards the square outside Xuandemen.

There was a flag-raising ceremony in the early morning. By the end of the morning, that is, at 8:30, there were already a large number of officials waiting in the square outside Xuandemen, wearing traditional court uniforms.

Nowadays, many officials have followed the example. After changing into Chinese tunic suits or youth uniforms in the Constitutional Yuan and various ministries, they rarely wear official uniforms for work.

However, on this important occasion, it is still necessary to wear the court clothes used for solemn sacrifices to show the importance of the sacrifices.

In addition to them, there were also envoys from various countries, standing alone on the right square.

In addition, there were descendants of the Zhao clan.

After all, this time was to worship the Taimiao, which was considered to be worshiping the ancestors, so many people came.

A little further away, there were more than a dozen middle-aged people wearing Confucian robes, glasses, or holding pencils and notebooks in their hands, who looked like some cultural elements at first glance.

Ouyang Xiu, one of the officials, seemed to be very familiar with them, and he went over to greet them before the event started.

The schedule of this event was also very simple.

On the 24th, the sacrifice was held in the Taimiao, on the 28th, the grand celebration was held, on the 29th, the military parade and the awarding of titles were held, and from the 30th to the first day of the new year, the New Year celebration was held.

The original location of the Taimiao was on Taimiao Street, east of the Secretariat in the southeast corner of the imperial city.

But later, the imperial city was expanded and Taimiao Street was also included. Zhao Zhen proposed to rebuild the Taimiao, so a magnificent building complex was built in the southeast corner of the imperial city, probably in the area of ​​the original Panlou in Bianliang.

The specific location is on the east side of the current Changqing Palace.

Soon, as the end of the Chenshi arrived, the gates of the three palaces of Xuande Gate opened, and Wang Shouzhong on the gate tower announced the decree: "Your Majesty has an edict to offer sacrifices to the Taimiao!"

"Let's go."

Zhao Jun, who was at the front of the official team, lifted up his wide purple official uniform of the first rank. There were no two wings on the crown of the court dress, which made him look more heroic.

In the cold wind of winter, all officials and members of the envoys did not feel cold.

The thick cotton clothes inside blocked the cold wind.

The officials lined up and slowly stepped into the palace gate under the leadership of many prime ministers of the Political System Institute.

At this moment, Zhao Zhen's motorcade was waiting for them in the palace.

After everyone arrived, Zhao Zhen and Queen Cao sat in the wide carriage pulled by eight horses. The carriage was larger than several beds, magnificent and full of dignity and splendor.

Amid the envious eyes of the kings of some neighboring countries, the carriage took everyone through Changqing Palace and arrived at the Taimiao in the southeast corner of the imperial city.

This is still a larger square.

The square is paved with marble, and a monument is erected in the center, which reads-in memory of the national heroes and warriors who shed blood and fought for the Chinese Han people.

Originally, it should have been written on it, but Zhao Jun firmly opposed it and finally changed it to the Monument to the Heroes of the Chinese Nation.

When they arrived in front of the monument, the team stopped.

Zhao Zhen got off the car, and the ceremonial guards on both sides immediately walked to the monument.

The Minister of Rites stood aside with flowers in his hands.

There were also sacrificial supplies such as grains, livestock, and incense burners in front of the monument.

Zhao Zhen walked to the monument, took the flowers, and followed by Zhao Jun and other prime ministers, and walked towards the monument step by step.

Then the band next to it began to play a grand song, and the surrounding civil and military officials and more than 60 kings and envoys from all over the world watched this scene.

When the middle-aged men in Confucian robes saw Zhao Zhen holding flowers and walking towards the monument, they took out their notebooks and began to write words on them with pencils:

"On December 24, the 12th year of the Qingli period, His Majesty the Emperor of the Song Dynasty presented flowers to the Monument to the Heroes of the Chinese Nation in the square in front of the Imperial Ancestral Temple."

"The monument tower is about five feet high and is divided into five parts: the base, the pedestal, the tower, the tower body, and the bronze statue."

"The bronze statue is 17 feet high and about eight feet wide. It consists of two statues, a young general holding a ring-headed sword in his hand and a war horse under his crotch. It represents an ancient general in battle. Some people once said that its prototype was the champion Hou Huo Qubing."

The pens moved on the paper and quickly wrote a draft. Some masters were even able to sketch on the spot, depicting the scene of Zhao Zhen holding flowers and presenting them to the monument.

Zhao Jun walked over curiously and took a glance, then walked back to his prime minister's square, and said to Fan Zhongyan beside him: "These newspaper people are really talented."

"You selected them all."

Fan Zhongyan smiled.

Zhao Jun also smiled and said nothing.

In order to control public opinion, the Song Dynasty court still controlled this aspect more strictly.

On the one hand, it is necessary to grasp the direction of public opinion and make public opinion a sharp arrow in the hands of the Song Dynasty, giving the people and intellectuals the correct direction.

On the other hand, it is also to prevent some people from inciting. It would be bad if domestic rebels used public opinion to deal with the court.

So over the years, these newspaper staff have also developed a set of skills and know what to write and what not to write when writing newspapers.

Soon, with the sound of two salutes, Zhao Zhen's flower-presenting ceremony ended, and a piece of music also came to an end.

Zhao Zhen returned to the car, and the carriage set off again to the Imperial Ancestral Temple.

The entire Imperial Ancestral Temple is divided into three parts: the Monument Square, the Imperial Ancestral Temple, and the Altar.

The morning sacrificial activities naturally started with the monument, then the Imperial Ancestral Temple, and finally the sacrifice to heaven and earth.

After about half a quarter of an hour, the group arrived in front of the Imperial Ancestral Temple.

Zhao Zhen got off the carriage again, and under the auspices of the Ministry of Rites, everyone filed in. However, no matter how big the Imperial Ancestral Temple was, it could not accommodate so many people, so only some people were allowed in.

Even among the Zhao clan, only some close relatives could enter.

There were about fifty or sixty people. Although Zhao Jun was a very distant clan a thousand years later, as the prime minister, he was naturally qualified to enter.

This was his first time to come to the Imperial Ancestral Temple after it was built. He saw that it was magnificent and tall, with shelves on the left and right sides, filled with incense and candles, and a huge tripod in the middle, filled with sandalwood.

And there is a statue in the center of the hall. It is the statue of Emperor Taizu of Song, Zhao Kuangyin. He is an old man with a rich face, a goatee on his chin, and his eyes are looking down like Buddha, full of sacredness.

After all, only 76 years have passed from Zhao Kuangyin to Zhao Zhen. Although most people who have seen Zhao Kuangyin in person are gone, the royal family still retains Zhao Kuangyin's portrait, so it is still easy to make such a sculpture.

But next to the statue of Zhao Kuangyin, there is another statue, also an old man with a rich face. If you look closely, it looks a bit like the statue of Zhao Kuangyin.

Zhao Jun curled his lips. It was the statue of Zhao Guangyi, the god of war of donkey carts, and below Zhao Guangyi was the statue of Zhao Heng, the emperor of Song Zhenzong.

This scene is eye-catching.

Zhao Jun didn't expect Zhao Zhen to carry private goods.

He put the statue of his grandfather next to Zhao Kuangyin.

If Zhao Kuangyin really appeared, wouldn't he kick his brother who robbed his son of the country down?

As a direct descendant of Zhao Kuangyin, he really couldn't bear to see such an eye-catching scene.

But now it's time to offer sacrifices, otherwise the statue of Zhao Guangyi would have to be pulled to the left and right.

Let alone, even if Zhao Guangyi didn't do those shameful things.

But in terms of rank, how could the subsequent emperors be qualified to stand with the founding emperor?

In the Taimiao of the Tang Dynasty, Li Shimin didn't even have the courage to be on the same level as Li Yuan's tablet.

"Burn incense!"

After the Minister of Rites finished the long and smelly sacrificial text, he lit the sacrificial text and placed it in the giant tripod.

Zhao Zhen then stepped forward to light the incense and insert it for the ancestors.

Then he recited the sacrificial text.

The whole sacrificial process was actually very boring, just reciting the sacrificial text, then lighting it and burning it for the ancestors, telling them how well they lived, which was similar to the Qingming incense burning process.

It's just that the time for reciting the sacrificial text was very long. Everyone was tossing around in the Taimiao for almost half an hour, and finally the ceremony ended.

After the sacrifices to heaven and earth, it was already noon.

After the morning activities were over, everyone could not leave yet, and a grand banquet was held in Changqing Palace.

This time was different from the last banquet for many envoys. This was a banquet to welcome the New Year, which was much more grand and grand than the last time. There were hundreds of banquet tables alone.

Then there were singing and dancing performances, and the music never stopped. From the small square outside Changqing Palace to the continuous palace complex, there were singing and dancing everywhere, bands everywhere, and officials eating and drinking everywhere.

Living a life of drunkenness and dreaming, it was like a feast of bliss.

The banquet was not over until the end of the afternoon, but it was just an end. The highlight of the day's activities was in the evening.

Not long after the civil and military officials, the envoys, the royal family and the reporters returned home, they took a bath again, changed their clothes, and fumigated with fragrant sachets. At the beginning of the evening, they entered the palace again.

At this moment, the area around Xuande Gate Square was really bustling. Street lights were turned on, lanterns were hung high, and people were surging like a tide.

By the end of the evening, the entire area outside Xuande Gate was already a sea, with people cheering and singing.

"Long live, long live, long live!"

"May the emperor bless us, and may the Song Dynasty prosper!"

"May the country be peaceful and the people be safe, and enjoy peace forever!"

The people outside shouted, raising their hands high and waving them.

Zhao Zhen on Xuande Gate saw that the time had come, so he walked to the microphone and said loudly: "I am Zhao Zhen."

"The emperor, it is the emperor who is speaking!"

"In the past, during the New Year celebrations, at most I could see the emperor standing on the city wall from a distance, but today I actually heard the emperor's voice."

"Long live the emperor!"

The people were excited again at this moment.

Strictly speaking, the Song Dynasty celebration is held once a year, on the 30th day of the year and the first day of the new year.

During these two days, the emperor of the Song Dynasty would stand on the Xuande Gate or Donghua Gate to hold celebrations and have fun with the people.

But the imperial city was a forbidden place, and the distance was far away. The people could only see countless figures from afar, and could not tell who was the emperor and who was the minister.

However, at this moment, although they were still far away, they could clearly hear Zhao Zhen's voice, which was shocking.

Zhao Zhen held the manuscript in his hand and continued: "The New Year is approaching, I wish my people in the Song Dynasty peace and prosperity, and all the happiness will be with me!"

"Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh!"

The loud cheers were higher and higher.

"In the new year, I hope that everyone in the Song Dynasty can live and work in peace and happiness, and the people can live a rich and healthy life."

"Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh!"

"I have a dream, I wish my Song Dynasty eternal peace, I wish my Chinese Han people to be self-reliant, and I wish my country to be prosperous!"

"Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh!"

Almost every time Zhao Zhen said a word, there was a warm cheer from below.

Zhao Zhen finally said loudly: "Now I declare that the New Year celebration of the 13th year of the Qingli period has officially begun!"

"Swish, swish, swish, swish"

The sound of something flying into the sky came from the direction of the palace.

Hundreds of fireworks shot straight into the sky and bloomed in the night sky. The gorgeous fireworks ignited the climax of the entire celebration at this moment.

"Boom, boom, boom!"

The sound of gongs and drums was deafening.

The city gate below opened, and many Kabuki girls walked to the square outside. The music sounded and they danced gracefully.

Then various dragon dances, lion dances, acrobatics and other activities outside also took place and performed for the people.

For a while.

In the distance, outside the Xuande Gate, the cheers of the crowds of people on the Imperial Street also reached their peak, and the people's voices were like a tsunami.

Zhao Zhen finished his speech on the tower above, and the applause was thunderous.

Only Zhao Zhen wiped the sweat from his forehead, walked to Zhao Jun, and whispered: "Grandson, how is it, I spoke well, right?"

"Okay, but the voice is a little trembling."

Zhao Jun applauded while staring at the bottom.

Outside, fireworks continued, singing and dancing were prosperous, and the people of the whole city were celebrating.

Even for those poor families, Kaifeng Prefecture would send warmth and help every year to help them get rid of poverty and become rich.

In this era, Zhao Jun is already doing his best to do better.

Zhao Zhen smiled bitterly and said: "After all, this is the first time I have spoken in front of hundreds of thousands of people, and I am a little nervous."

"It's already very good, I have to get used to it slowly in the future."

Zhao Jun smiled.

"Grandson."

Zhao Zhen listened to his words, stood on the tower, and overlooked the distance.

"Hmm?"

"I'm actually very touched."

"Why?"

Zhao Jun looked at him in surprise, and suddenly found tears in the corners of Zhao Zhen's eyes.

Zhao Zhen wiped his eyes with the wide corner of his clothes, crying and laughing, saying: "If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have seen this scene in my life."

"That's right, but don't forget your own contributions. If it were another emperor, even if I were there, I wouldn't have seen it in my life."

"Hahahahahaha."

The grandfather and grandson looked at each other, smiled knowingly, and their faces were already bright sunshine.

When Zhao Jun came, the Song Dynasty was riddled with holes and fragmented.

More than ten years have passed, not only the mountains and rivers are safe, but also the country is peaceful and the people are safe, and the world is peaceful and prosperous.

If it weren't for Zhao Zhen's wholehearted trust, there would be no Song Dynasty like today.