The reason why Jinming Pond was dug, with a diameter of about seven miles, was to accommodate a huge military exercise lineup. However, blindly practicing water warfare to show military preparedness would inevitably make the people nervous, which was very inconsistent with the peaceful atmosphere of the Song Dynasty.
coordination.
As time passed in the prosperous times, water battles with real swords and guns were incompatible with the increasingly beautiful royal gardens. So the "bidding competition" similar to the dragon boat racing in later generations, but more dazzling, came on stage, and finally competition replaced the military.
I saw a long pole erected on the water in front of the Baojin Building in Jinmingchi, with colorful balls hung on the pole. Because of their bright colors, they were called "Jinbiao". There were also erected at the four corners of the water, east, west, north and south.
A long pole, each wrapped with silk of a different color, is represented as a 'square'.
The more than ten winning boats are all four to five feet long, double-decker long boats with raised heads and tails and colorful paintings in the shape of a dragon. On the upper deck of the dragon boat, there are various flags and colorful umbrellas, which are very beautiful and have some tricks.
People cheered with gongs and drums, and two rows of strong rowing sailors sat on the lower level.
On the tilted bow, there is the leading prince who directs the steering. On the tilted stern, there is a water swing for winning the championship, and on it is a nimble young man.
When the championship begins, the dragon boat must first go around the "Four Directions" around the Jinming Pool, and then return to the Baojin Tower to compete for the championship on the pole.
The winning bid was held every year at the Jinmingchi Banquet, which attracted even officials to watch. Naturally, it also attracted countless gamblers to place bets. Even Chen Ke made a bet in the same year.
At this moment, all the ships were in place. Under the gaze of everyone, official Zhao Zhen appeared on the terrace of Baojin Tower. He waved to the athletes competing for the bid, and then sounded the starting gong!
After the sound of gongs, there was a loud roar of gongs and drums. Under the intensive beating of drums, dragon boats drove away one after another. The speed became faster and faster. In the blink of an eye, they were cutting through the waves and speeding on the water.
There were tens of thousands of spectators on the shore. Their hearts were in suspense, staring closely at the ship they supported. They shouted and cheered, shaking the sky and the earth.
Chen Ke's boat happened to be on the track. The boatman hurriedly rowed towards the center of the pool. In the central area of Jinming Pool, there were already more than a hundred painted boats, all of which were filled with princes, nobles, and dignitaries with their families.
Sitting elegantly at a long table filled with fine wine and delicacies. There were singers and female musicians playing, singing and dancing, which made Chen Ke and his boat seem shabby.
Chen Ke and the others wanted to be quiet, so they all changed out of their eye-catching green robes and put back on their old Confucian shirts, so almost no one paid attention to them.
The reason why I say almost is because someone still recognized Chen Ke. He was watching the winning bid with concentration... The boat he bought was located near the front... I heard someone laughing and saying: "Haha, the champion is incognito."
A private visit."
Chen Ke looked around and found a small cruise ship approaching, with Zhao Zongji standing on it after a long absence.
"Have you discovered this?" Chen Ke said with a surprised look on his face.
"There is no way, such a big Wen Kuixing cannot be hidden." Zhao Zongji greeted with a smile: "Come over and have a drink."
"I'm going." Chen Ke said hello to Zhang Heng and others, and boarded Zhao Zongji's ship without asking if they were going. This is not rude, but it is between officials and clan members. There is no special relationship.
It's best not to interact with each other.
But like Chen Ke, who used to be close friends with Zhao Zongji, but if he starts to distance himself from each other because he won the top prize, it will make people look down on him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chen Ke boarded Zhao Zongji's boat, and the bid competition came to the final moment. The five boats were almost abreast, heading towards the championship in front of the Baojin Tower like arrows, including the boat owned by Chen Ke.
Not caring about talking, Zhao Zongji also stared at the final battle situation.
I saw a dragon boat flying a tiger-head flag with a blue background, already one position ahead of the other boats. It was only a few feet away from the championship.
The sailors also showed their strength to feed, and in a blink of an eye, the dragon boat was close to the bamboo pole.
The water swing at the stern of the boat has been swinging higher and higher, and the winner has only one chance to seize the championship.
Then he was seen swinging high, almost level with the water. While the audience held their breath, he stretched out his hand and fished it out, but it was empty. Only his fingers wiped the silk strips on the trophy.
The whole audience sighed. The dragon boat had already sailed ten feet away and failed to win the title.
Immediately afterwards, the second boat was in place, and the position was very correct. As long as the winning hand swings over, he can take the championship into his arms.
Unexpectedly, at this moment, a figure flew over like a water bird, grabbed the championship first, and then dived into the water like an arrow, creating waves...
Only then did the audience realize that it was the winner of the last boat who made a desperate move, swinging the swing to the highest point, then letting go and flying out, ahead of his opponent, and successfully won the bid.
When the winner emerged from the water and raised the championship high, the audience burst into loud cheers. But it was not all cheers, because many people lost money because of it, such as Chen Ke.
He just heard him spit loudly: "The cooked duck flew away!"
"It flew to my place." Zhao Zongji took out a betting slip from his sleeve, waved it proudly and said, "I can't let you take all the good things."
"Look at you." Mrs. Zhang behind him pursed her lips and smiled: "They look like two children."
Chen Ke turned around embarrassedly, saluted Mrs. Zhang and the slim little princess, and said, "Gambling is a bad habit, and I just can't quit it."
Apart from the maids and guards, there were only three of them on the boat. They didn't talk much about the protection between men and women during the game, so they all sat down around a table.
Zhao Zongji poured wine for Chen Ke and said, "The most incredible thing in the world is that you won the first prize."
"I find it incredible, too." The two of them were used to laughing and arguing, and Chen Ke said with a stinking look on his face: "But some people are born to create miracles, and that's me."
"Pfft..." Mrs. Zhang and the little princess couldn't help but laugh. There was really nothing they could do against these two lunatics.
"But no matter what, I must congratulate you!" Zhao Zongji picked up the wine glass, and Zhang and the little princess also picked up the wine glass.
"Thank you." After finishing the drink, Mrs. Zhang brought a box of snacks to Chen Ke and said, "Try the fruit made by my sister."
"I thought that after the exam, I wouldn't have to eat anymore." Chen Ke was overjoyed, scooped a spoonful of steamed cheese, put it into his mouth and tasted it carefully. He couldn't help but praise: "The glass bowl of fragrant cheese, I taste it drunk every year."
I'm used to it...it tastes like this, how can it be made so delicious? Alas, it makes people reluctant to finish it all in one sitting."
"..." For such a grand festival, all women have to dress up carefully, and the little princess is no exception. However, she saw that her exquisitely beautiful face was painted with light plum blossom makeup. Unknowingly, the makeup had faded away.
Her youthful youthfulness made her appear noble and soft. Hearing this, his face turned slightly red and he said, "Third brother, just eat. My little sister will make more for you another day."
"That's a good feeling." Chen Ke suddenly smiled, and while stuffing the delicate snacks into his mouth, he nodded repeatedly: "This delicious snack is really unique in the world..."
"Isn't that also the number one snack?" Mrs. Zhang said with a smile.
"The princess is worth much more than the number one scholar." Chen Ke shook his head and said with a smile: "I am unprecedented, but I am only from the sixth rank, but the princess is from the first rank. Heaven and earth. So it is better to ask the princess for snacks."
"I haven't been able to support you all day long at the banquet? Why do you look like a starving ghost?" Zhao Zongji said with a smile.
"Can you eat enough at that kind of banquet?" Chen Ke shook his head and said, "The table is full of immovable dishes. It's hard to bring up a few edible things. I just want to lift the chopsticks, or the official
When you talk at home, it’s not just the princes coming to express condolences, or someone making a toast. When you finish entertaining all the gods, the banquet is over..."
It made Mrs. Zhang laugh, but the little princess said with concern: "Then you should eat some food early and drink it with one part of royal jelly and five parts of honey in a tea bowl. Although the third brother doesn't like sweets, it can relieve hangover and protect you."
liver."
"My sister is considerate, don't you envy her?" Zhao Zongji chuckled and said, "Apart from helping you fight, your brothers are not so attentive, right?"
"Okay, don't be greedy for me." Chen Ke spat: "Who's talking about my sister?"
"Oh?" Zhao Zongji was stunned for a moment, then widened his eyes and said, "Could it be, could it be your father..."
"Ahem..." Chen Ke coughed twice, which was like acquiescence.
"Awesome!" Zhao Zongji praised.
"What are you talking about?" Chen Ke rolled his eyes at him and said, "Your child has been going to school for half a year, but he hasn't gained any momentum at all?"
"I still learned a lot." Zhao Zongji put on a wry smile and said, "But, you know, Li Guiren, the new member of the official family, is very happy."
"Oh..." Chen Ke finally understood what the officials meant by the so-called "three happy events" on the day Xiao Chuanlu was passed on. He looked at Zhao Zongji and said, "Are you deeply affected?"
"That's not the case." Zhao Zongji shook his head and said, "I'm really happy for the official family. After more than ten years, the palace is finally going to have a new member." He said with a smile and said, "The one who should be hit is the one who deserves the blow, but it's not the official.
I really can’t tell it from the top.”
"As long as it doesn't affect you."
"How come it has no impact? The most direct point is that the master who taught us suddenly stopped paying attention." Zhao Zongji curled his lips and said: "It turns out that the ministers often supervise the studies and give lectures in person, but since the news was confirmed, the ministers did not come.
Now, the masters are no longer tight, they are really snobbish and tight."
"Let's be open-minded." Chen Ke smiled lightly and said: "Do you think people really care about the education of the clan? They treat you as princes, so they are careful. Why are they still bothering now?"
He smiled and said: "However, you still have to perform well. You must know that the more you study hard when you are hopeless, the more impressive you will be."
"You don't need to ask me to do this." Zhao Zongji said, "If I don't work harder, why would I be friends with a top scholar like you?" He sighed softly and said, "Besides, I studied in Zongxue just right, and I can understand so many principles.
Those are things that the masters in the palace cannot teach."
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The next update will be delivered tomorrow morning. To be continued
