Yisi, the tenth day of the second month of the first year of Yuanyou.
Zhao Xu got up early in the morning and put on the crimson gauze robe that the Queen Mother had knitted for him. Under the service of the female officials, he put on a special crown.
It took more than a quarter of an hour to pass down a complete set of uniform badges.
By the time he was fully dressed, Zhao Xu even felt a little sore in his arms.
Zhao Xu held the ribbon around his waist in his hands, and then took two tentative steps.
The Empress Dowager and Empress Dowager Xiang looked on with satisfaction in their eyes.
"I don't usually realize that he is the real emperor until he puts on his crown!" the Empress Dowager praised.
The Queen Mother also nodded with satisfaction.
really!
Zhao Xu's appearance and demeanor should be the best among Zhao officials in the past dynasties.
At this time, Liang Weijian's voice came from outside the palace: "Two ladies, everyone... the Ministry of Rites has sent someone to report that the emperor is here, please come to the front of the palace and board the carriage!"
The Queen Mother nodded and said to the Queen Mother: "Your Majesty, it's time for the official family to go out. You can't miss the right time!"
"What your Majesty said is true!" said the Empress Dowager.
The two palaces then sent Zhao Xu out of Funing Palace together, and then watched him board the ancestral jade chariot.
As the clean whip tore through the air, the ministers and female officials all fell to the ground to pay their respects.
Then, Emperor Lu Bo, under the protection of the imperial army, set off from Funing Hall in a mighty manner, along the imperial road, towards Xuandemen.
…
Sitting on a centuries-old jade chariot, I watched the jade chariot slowly drive out of the wide palace gate of Xuandemen.
The chief ministers appeared on both sides of the palace gate, and together with the officials from the capital and the six ministries, they all prostrated on the ground to send the emperor off and pray for rain.
The Imperial Street outside Xuande Gate has been cleared in advance.
The members of the imperial water-sprinkling class were at the front.
They carried buckets and sprinkled water as they walked, acting like sprinklers to prevent dust from splashing.
The jade chariot drove slowly through the Imperial Street, and Zhao Xu saw that countless forks had been put down on both sides of the Imperial Street.
This is a kind of wooden facility improved from the horse-repelling horse on the battlefield. It was generally used as a protection on the imperial street when the emperor was traveling.
This is because the section of Imperial Street from Xuandemen to Zhouqiao is about two hundred paces wide - too wide!
So much so that this section of Royal Street is more like a large square than a street.
Every year during the New Year, Mid-Autumn Festival, Lantern Festival and other festivals, when the emperor would come to Xuande Tower to celebrate with the people, the number of people in Bianjing gathered here might reach tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands!
In ordinary times, the open space between the imperial corridors and the imperial ditch on both sides will become one of the countless markets in the entire Bianjing city.
In the morning, there are people selling all kinds of food. At noon, there are also a large number of mobile vendors in these places, selling all kinds of cooked food. There are also many scholars in Beijing who come here to sell calligraphy, paintings and curios.
Naturally, when the emperor travels, he must take some artificial measures to prevent anyone from disturbing the emperor.
The jade carriage moved forward slowly, surrounded and protected by Yu Longzhi, and drove through this large square that was a thousand steps long.
Then we arrived in front of Zhouqiao.
The urban atmosphere of Bianjing City came to my face.
Zhao Xu sat in the jade chariot and looked at the streets on both sides.
Countless lanterns are hung all over the shops on both sides of the Zhouqiao Bridge. Countless shop signs stand at the entrances of the shops.
On the other side of Zhouqiao, countless shops, layer upon layer, come into view.
Lubo crosses Zhouqiao and enters the east-facing Royal Street.
The most prosperous street market in Bianjing City immediately came into view.
This is also the most important scene in the painting Along the River During the Qingming Festival.
There are rows of restaurants along the street.
On Panlou Street, the towering figures of Thirteen Houses are also looming in the distance.
Further away, you can still see the shadow of the majestic temple of Daxiangguo Temple.
This royal temple was originally the old residence of Lord Xinling of the Wei State during the Warring States Period. It was first converted into a temple during the Northern Qi Dynasty, and was built again during the Tang Ruizong Dynasty, and was given the title of Xiangguo Temple.
Since then, it has prospered to this day and has become a royal temple in the past dynasties.
Almost stuck in time, Zhao Xu's Lu Bo arrived at the Daxiangguo Temple before the noon bell rang.
Han Zhongyan, the Minister of Rites, led the great monk Zheng of Kaifeng Prefecture, the officials of the Chuan Court, and the monks of Daxiangguo Temple to greet him.
"Chen Zhongyan, Minister of Rites, welcomes you!"
Zhao Xu stepped out of the jade chariot with the support of Feng Jing.
"Excuse me, sir..." Zhao Xu looked at Han Zhongyan and the large group of great monks following Han Zhongyan.
All of them have red faces, wide bodies and fat bodies.
Zhao Xu knew it very well. He knew it in his previous life.
In Bianjing City, the most unruly and dissolute monks are the monks of Daxiangguo Temple.
Most of them refer to the master who leans on the red and clings to the green, the prodigal with no hair, and the Tathagata who lives in a living room. Most of them refer to the monks who left the Daxiangguo Temple.
There is nothing we can do about this!
Daxiangguo Temple is not only a royal temple, but also the most prosperous market in Bianjing City - on the first and fifteenth day of every month, thousands of people gather here to exchange what they have, because they don't have to pay commercial taxes.
As a result, this became the place in the entire Bianjing city where transactions were most frequent and where stolen goods were most easily sold.
Whether it is something stolen from the government or something stolen from the people.
In the end, most of it went to the trading market of Daxiangguo Temple.
Therefore, this place where thousands of surnames trade, is called the "Loot House".
We are at the forefront of this commodity economy.
Unless they are eminent monks with profound practice and profound Buddhist principles.
How can ordinary ordinary people withstand the test of Brother Kong Fang?
What's more, although this Daxiangguo Temple is a royal temple, it is a quiet place.
But the surroundings are not quiet at all!
The famous No. 1, No. 2, No. 3 Tianshui Lane and Xiao Tianshui Lane are all around Daxiangguo Temple.
The entire Daxiangguo Temple was almost surrounded by Fengyue.
Which great monk can withstand the test of being surrounded by warblers and swallows when he leaves home?
Therefore, the monks of Daxiangguo Temple never looked like monks.
Except for the Bodhisattvas enshrined in the temple, the entire Daxiangguo Temple was filled with the smell of copper.
However, Zhao Xu is too lazy to care about these things.
His eyes swept over the monks, and then, surrounded by Yu Longzhi and officials from the Ministry of Rites, he entered the third gate of Daxiangguo Temple.
Then, Zhao Xu looked up and saw the most amazing "anti-universe" structure of Daxiangguo Temple.
really!
The tile heads on the temple are all raised up. This structure causes the entire temple tiles of Daxiangguo Temple to have a concave and convex appearance in the middle and high surroundings.
As a result, even Yu Hao, the master of architecture at that time, was puzzled - every time he went under it, he would look up and look at it, sit upright and sit down, and lie down when sitting upright!
I have absolutely no idea how this is done.
Zhao Xu looked around the courtyard wall again.
There are no traces of accumulated sand!
So he nodded slightly, this was the credit of Qing Bian Si.
In the past, the Bianhe River had to be dredged every year, so during the Xining period, the walls of the Daxiangguo Temple had "sand accumulated up to the eaves" around the walls.
Moreover, this is not only the case in Daxiangguo Temple, but also everywhere in Bianjing City.
So once there is a strong wind, "the wind blows sand and turns the city yellow".
After Daluo was cleared from Bian, the silt of the Bian River was washed away by the Luo River, and there was no need to clear the silt anymore.
The city appearance of Bianjing City has been completely changed.
Citizens no longer need to eat sand.
In Zhao Xu's previous life, the Qing Bian Division was deposed because of Li Ding.
Within a few years, the Bianhe River silted up again.
The whole city started eating sand together again.
After Zhao Xu took charge, he had to guide Luo Qingbian again.
For this crime alone, Li Ding should be exiled!
"Your Majesty..." Han Zhongyan came to Zhao Xu and asked for instructions: "The relevant ceremonies have been prepared in Zisheng Pavilion..."
"Your Majesty has paid off and moved to Zisheng Pavilion!"
Zhao Xu nodded: "Han Shangshu, please lead the way..."
Han Zhongyan bowed and then personally led Zhao Xu, who was guarded by Yu Longzhi, forward.
Daxiangguo Temple is very big!
Entering from Dashan Gate and passing through the Second and Third Gates, there is a large square no less than the Imperial Street in front of Xuande Gate.
This is also the place where tens of thousands of people trade every month.
On both sides of the square are the Main Hall and Renji Hall of Daxiangguo Temple.
These two places are places where common people burn incense and pray for blessings.
Continuing forward, at the end of the square is the magnificent Maitreya Hall.
In the Maitreya Hall, the several-foot-tall golden statue of Maitreya Buddha welcomes visitors from all directions with a smile.
Passing through the Maitreya Hall, there is another large square.
There are all kinds of trees and all kinds of exotic flowers and plants planted all over it.
On both sides of the square, there are two pavilions of Manjusri and Samantabhadra, which are the places where the dignitaries of Bianjing burn incense and pray for blessings.
As for the royal family, it is natural that they lie high in the Zisheng Pavilion in the Nine Heavens.
Therefore, Zisheng Pavilion was built in the deepest part of Daxiangguo Temple, which is also the end of the third square.
Zisheng Pavilion is the highest attic in Bianjing City, and together with Dengyun Tower in Chaoyun Palace, it is the highest attic building in Bianjing (the highest tower is the large iron tower of Kaibao Temple).
Accompanied by Han Zhongyan, Zhao Xu entered Zisheng Pavilion.
One after another, the bronze statues of Arhat made of brass came into view.
Zhao Xu faced the Arhat statues of different shapes displayed on both sides of the hall, clasped his hands and bowed.
What he worshiped was not Arhat or Bodhisattva, but Emperor Zhenzong of the Song Dynasty.
The five hundred Arhats in Zisheng Pavilion were all sent by Zhenzong himself to welcome them into the capital from Yingzhou and enshrine them here.
The name is Luohan, who protects the country. According to royal legend, he can protect the country and bless all people.
Of course, Zhao Xu knew that these Arhats did not bless Zuo of the Song Dynasty, let alone all the people.
They can't even protect themselves.
During the Jingkang Disaster, the Jin soldiers destroyed and melted all these royal statues with immeasurable artistic value, and then brought them back to the north.
However, Zhao Xu had to convince the world that the Song Dynasty was indeed blessed.
Therefore, it is natural to salute the Arhat who protects the country.
Han Zhongyan and others naturally followed suit and bowed to these Arhats.
The monks who had been following behind took the opportunity to praise one after another: "Your Majesty is kind-hearted and pays homage to Arhat. Buddha will definitely bless Zuo of the Song Dynasty to prosperity!"
Zhao Xu smiled.
The great monks stopped talking.
So, under the guidance of Han Zhongyan, Zhao Xu walked to the palace.
The Ministry of Rites has already prepared everything.
All Zhao Xu had to do was to come to the golden statue of Tathagata Buddha in Zisheng Pavilion, worship, offer incense, and pray to God for rain.
In other words, he only needs to show off.
All other etiquette, steps, and rituals are arranged by the Ministry of Etiquette and are arranged by the court.
When he entered the Zisheng Pavilion, hundreds of monks were already knocking on wooden fish and reciting scriptures in the square outside the temple.
Along with the chanting, Zhao Xu, under the guidance of Han Zhongyan, began the process of praying for rain.
…
An hour later, Zhao Xu finished praying for rain.
Then, under the escort of Yu Longzhi and the courtesy of Han Zhongyan, he returned to the outside of Daxiangguo Temple, then got on the Lubo and started to return to the palace.
Before boarding the jade chariot, Zhao Xu raised his head and looked at the sky.
Although it was cloudy today and there was some wind, the sky did not mean it was going to rain.
The corners of his mouth couldn't help but twitch.
He felt that if it didn't rain again, he might have to punish himself.
But he remembered very clearly that in his previous life, the empress dowager had never issued an edict against oneself in his name.
so……
"It should rain..."
"Just these days!"
The jade wheel started slowly, and the wheel began to move forward.
Slowly drove through the imperial road, crossed the streets, drove up to Zhouqiao, then passed through the imperial corridor and returned to Xuandemen.
The ministers in charge have already greeted Xuande at his door.
Zhao Xu ordered Feng Jing to comfort the ministers.
Feng Jing just took the order and left.
Light rain began to fall in the sky, and the spring rain fell in front of Xuande Gate.
"It's raining!" Feng Jing shouted in surprise outside the jade chariot: "Long live your Majesty!"
The officials in front of Xuande Gate also raised their heads and looked at the falling rain.
Very small raindrops fell on the imperial street in front of the city gate, moistening the dry ground.
Really, it’s raining!
Even though it’s light rain!
but……
Everyone knelt down and said, "Your Majesty is blessed by heaven, and I would like to congratulate you!"
Zhao Xu stepped off the jade chariot, twelve strings of white beads swaying in front of his eyes.
He stretched out his hand, and cold raindrops fell on his small palm.
As a qualified king, Zhao Xu certainly knows what he should do?
He immediately turned around, faced the north, bowed deeply, with tears streaming down his face: "Chen Xu, I sincerely thank God for the rain, which relieves the suffering of the people!"
The so-called rule is the art of the emperor and his ministers working together to deceive the people.
Since Sima Yi broke the oath to Luoshui, Cao Mao charged in the street and was stabbed to death by a spear in the street.
The once sacred emperor has fallen into the mortal world.
Only a fool would believe that the emperor was really ordered by heaven.
Therefore, Liu Yu came to kill the Sima family, not to mention how happy he was.
In the subsequent Northern and Southern Dynasties, we will appear on stage after you sing.
The royal family of the previous generation will definitely be killed!
What two kings and three knots?
It’s already a piece of waste paper!
The sanctity of the Son of Heaven has been trampled on in the mud again and again.
With great difficulty, the Tang Dynasty reestablished the majesty and sanctity of the Emperor.
Then, it was torn into pieces again by the commanders of Beiya's Shence Army.
During the troubled times of the Five Dynasties, things like this happened: The emperor had strong soldiers and horses to do it.
In the Song Dynasty, officials shared power through alliances with scholar-bureaucrats and nobles.
Temporarily stabilizing the emperor's sacred attributes, at least not letting it continue to decline.
But the emperor has actually been sitting on a powder keg.
Now, this is just the right rain.
For Zhao Xu, it was the best opportunity for him to reestablish the sanctity of the emperor - no matter how it happened.
The fact is that it fell when Zhao Xu returned from praying for rain.
No matter what, this is more convincing than the so-called heavenly book.
Of course, Zhao Xu also understands.
This kind of thing is just a matter of fooling the common people.
Don’t believe it yourself!
Also, don’t expect the scholar-bureaucrats to believe it!
Those human beings have already thrown Dong Zhongshu's set of heavenly and human telepaths into the trash can!
Note: According to historical records, on the seventh day of the second month of the first year of Yuanyou, Liu Zhi was still impeaching Cai Que and Zhang Dun, saying that the reason for the lack of rain was because of their treacherous officials, so it would be better to drive them away.
But after the tenth day of the lunar month, Liu Zhi was no longer seen impeaching Cai Que and Zhang Dun for not raining.
My personal guess is that the drought started to end on this day.
But the problem is that according to the tradition of the Northern Song Dynasty, since it rains, ministers or the emperor or the queen mother should be sent to thank the rain in person.
But I didn't find any relevant records.
All I know is that suddenly no one mentioned the drought and it stopped raining.
