In the hand of Emperor Chu, there is a flower cuqiu in one hand and a football in the other hand. They are in sharp contrast with the cuqiu sent by Zhu Yuanzhang, the Duke of Ming Dynasty. They are as different as clouds and mud.
"Yes, they are both cuqiu, they just have different names."
Emperor Chu lifted up the flower cu, explained it to the girls, and then showed the football. The two items, which had been separated for thousands of years, had a huge impact on the girls.
"Xi'er, Daji, Bangning, Wu, do you feel very tired after playing Cuju?"
The girls nodded one after another. Indeed, as Emperor Chu said, after the Cuju game ended, they were dripping with sweat. Sometimes their clothes were wet with sweat.
"That's true, but that's the fun of Cuju!"
"Xi'er, Cuju can indeed strengthen the body, but you don't have many methods. It's just a waste of energy."
The Emperor of Chu knew that the girls were in love with Cuju, so he decided to tell them the correct method. If Cuju could become popular in Chu State, it would be considered his contribution to sports.
In this way, the people have something to do when they are free. Coupled with the Chu State Monthly Report, it greatly improves the people's cohesion and sense of belonging.
"Wrong way?"
The girls noticed that Emperor Chu was pretending to be mysterious, with their lips pouting and looking aggrieved. Fei Ling'er and Diao Chan acted coquettishly and pulled Emperor Chu's arm.
"Your Majesty, you actually know how to play Cuju. Why don't you teach it to me and make fun of us again? This is really bad."
"Haha, I have no political affairs today, so I will give my beloved concubines a good talk about Cuju."
"As for playing Cuju together, I'm afraid we have to wait until tomorrow."
There were no goals in the open space in the imperial garden, and it was easy for the maids to guard them. It would be easy to hurt them. Emperor Chu decided to let the craftsmen forge two goals first, and then create the 'Fengliu Eyes' and the clothing required by the goalkeepers.
Since we want to vigorously promote Cuju, of course it must be in a decent way. If it is vague, Emperor Chu will think it is disrespectful to football.
Next, Emperor Chu very seriously explained the rules of Cuju to his beloved concubines. Fortunately, the girls were very talented, so he only talked about the girls on both sides and they roughly understood it.
It's just that there is no goal and romantic eyes, and they are still a little vague in some places, but it has already surprised Emperor Chu. I will remind them of the remaining questions when everything is ready.
A little while.
Xiao Guizi brought the salt water with the servants. The kettle was just placed on the stone table. Fei Ling'er hurriedly poured it for the girls. They were sweating a lot and were already very thirsty.
Phew~
Fei Ling'er raised her glass and drank it all in one gulp. She found that the water in the glass was salty, so she turned sideways and squirted out.
"Why is this water salty?"
Xiao Guizi and the chamberlain looked sideways at Emperor Chu. They were preparing according to Emperor Chu's request. As for why they added salt to the water, they had no idea.
"Ling'er, don't blame Xiao Guizi, I arranged all this!"
Hear the sound.
The girls were a little surprised. They didn't know why Emperor Chu would prepare light salt water for them. They had just gone through strenuous exercise and were very thirsty. Wouldn't drinking this salt water make them thirstier?
"Dear concubines, you must drink some light salt water soon after you finish strenuous exercise. Due to the large amount of sweating, the sodium and chloride ions in the body are reduced. Light salt water can replenish these ingredients very well and solve the body's hunger.
Thirst state.”
“And, it’s great for your skin!”
"Is it good for the skin?" Fei Ling'er picked up the kettle, poured two glasses in succession and drank it all in one go. Others raised their glasses to drink.
"Women love beauty. I learned that it is good for the skin, and drinking salt water can give the feeling of ambrosia and nectar."
Emperor Chu ordered his maids to send all his beloved concubines back to the palace, and then asked Xiao Guizi to find craftsmen to complete the goal and the romantic eye.
.............
At dusk.
Liu Lou, Wen Boya, Yang Feng, and Xu Xiake appeared in the imperial study.
Two months have passed, and today is the time for Liulou to deliver the second issue of the Chu Monthly. As for the arrival of others, Emperor Chu knows that it must be a train, and the road construction has made progress.
Last month, Yang Feng and Xu Xiake sent road drawings. Emperor Chu was very satisfied and ordered them to test asphalt construction on Chang'an Road. It seems to have achieved results.
"Your Majesty, the second edition of the Chu Monthly Report has been finalized, and I specially sent it to your Majesty for your review!"
Liu Lou was dressed in official robes and was full of energy. It was hard to tell that he was an old man in his sixties, which may be the reason why people feel so energetic during happy events.
Taking the monthly newspaper in his hand, Emperor Chu browsed through it.
"It's good. There are records of the trial operation of the train and the initial completion of the road. Liu Aiqing has done a good job."
"Publish on time and sell normally."
The Chu State Monthly Newspaper was not obtained for free. The publishing house set a price of one tael of silver per newspaper. Although it was a lot from time to time, the city of Chang'an had a population of nearly ten million.
The sale of each edition of the monthly newspaper also brings in a lot of income.
"Yang Aiqing, Xu Aiqing, Boya, it seems that you are here just for the train trial operation and road inspection. Tomorrow morning we will gather all the officials to witness all this."
The train was finally put into trial operation. It was a railway from Chang'an City to Ziwei County. Emperor Chu knew that this railway was the first lifeline of Chu State.
Its radiation area is so wide that it covers all the counties in the southwest of Chu State, with a total length of more than 1,000 kilometers. The whole journey takes ten days, but it originally took at least two months to go back and forth at a rapid pace.
"Your Majesty, the train has just been completed, and the grand project has finally made a good start. Tomorrow, all ministers are fully prepared and waiting for your Majesty's visit in person."
Wen Boya's excitement was palpable, and Yang Feng and Xu Xiake on both sides also echoed his words. It was indeed a case of good things coming in pairs.
After the ministers left the imperial study, Emperor Chu took Xiao Guizi to Ningxiang Palace. The train will be put into trial operation tomorrow, so he must bring his daughters to experience it.
Spring is in full bloom, the grass is growing and orioles are flying, and all the concubines can appreciate on the train what the vast country of Chu looks like in late spring in March.
A little while.
Arriving at Ningxiang Palace, the girls were immersed in the discussion of Cuju. New things are always very attractive. The girls' fresh interest in Cuju has not faded away, and now all their thoughts are on Cuju.
Suddenly, Emperor Chu entered the palace, and all the women gathered around him, asking about the doubts.
"My beloved concubines, I will explain to you about Cuju someday. Tomorrow I will take you to see another interesting treasure."
"Your Majesty, aren't you going to play Cuju with me tomorrow?"
"Yes, but Cuju will be played in the afternoon. I will take you for a ride tomorrow morning."
"Going for a ride?"
The girls were puzzled, wondering if Emperor Chu had any other novel treasures.
"The train will be put into trial operation tomorrow. I will take you to experience it."
"Your Majesty, is the train forged by the Academy of Sciences ready to run?"
Nangong Xi knows a lot about trains. She has always been curious about Prince Chu Chen's train toys. Now that the real train has begun trial operation, she wants to see how such a huge thing travels through the mountains.