Xia Yu came out of the study with nothing to do. He had already begun to think about what Lishan Academy would teach after it was built.
In the past few days, I have more or less figured it out. When I have time after the new year, I can start writing the teaching materials.
Suddenly he looked up and saw Su Dingfang commanding several servants to pile up pieces of bamboo into a pyramid shape in the courtyard.
Xia Yu was a little strange: "Dingfang, what are you busy with?"
Su Dingfang turned around and said with a smile: "Teacher, you are setting off firecrackers! This is the custom of saying goodbye to the old and embracing the new, to drive away evil and filth."
"They are piled up in the afternoon, and when it gets dark, every house will set them off. Usually they will burn for most of the night."
Xia Yu suddenly realized.
In the early Tang Dynasty, there were no firecrackers or fireworks. People set off firecrackers and used the explosions to ward off evil spirits and usher in the new year.
"Haha, that's it, you guys pile it up."
Although he wasn't interested in the effects of firecrackers, he didn't know how to handle fireworks. Even if he wanted to use firecrackers, it was too late.
So, let’s make do with it for now and wait until the Spring Festival next year.
Suddenly, Xia Yu remembered something. He said that he always felt that he had forgotten something, and quickly asked: "Dingfang, are you posting the couplet now?"
"Couplet? What is that?" Su Dingfang was stunned, a little confused.
"Just write some auspicious words on paper and stick them on both sides of the door, just like firecrackers, as a good omen to bid farewell to the old and welcome the new."
Su Dingfang suddenly realized, shook his head and said: "Teacher, this disciple has never seen this thing, only peach charms."
"Peach charm?"
"Well, I just painted the portraits of the two door gods Shen Tu and Yu Lei on peach wood, and then hung them on both sides of the door to ward off evil spirits."
Xia Yu was happy when she heard it, but there were no couplets left.
He has crossed the Party in a dignified way and is a Wenzong. It is Chinese New Year and there is not even a couplet in front of the door. If he tells it, wouldn't it be a shame for a time-traveler!
"Yin screen, help me polish the ink."
"Zhang Yu, find some red paper for me."
Xia Yu immediately gave the order impatiently, turned around and returned to the study, ready to show off her skills.
Seeing this, Su Dingfang ignored the firecrackers and followed in curiously: "Teacher, are you going to write those couplets?"
"Of course."
"This disciple has never heard of this 'couple' before. Teacher, is this the custom of Guigu Sect?" Su Dingfang said naturally.
Just as Xia Yu was about to nod, she suddenly remembered that Zuo Hui and Han Ni were also there, so she laughed and said, "No, I just thought about it."
After a while, the ink was polished, and Zhang Yu also found some red paper and cut it into a pair of suitable long strips according to Xia Yu's instructions.
Xia Yu picked up Langhao, recalled the couplets from her previous life, and then began to write:
"People are in high spirits when times are prosperous, and the weather is new as the year turns to spring."
As soon as Su Dingfang finished reading, he was very happy. He gave a thumbs up and praised: "Teacher, is this a couplet? It is really festive!"
Xia Yu laughed: "Remember to post this on the middle door later."
"Okay, disciple, let's do it."
Then, Xia Yu wrote another one: "The green bamboos separate the other three scenes, and the red plums are bringing spring to all families." He ordered: "Hang this one by the side door."
“There’s a lot of firewood, rice, oil and salt, and it has all the sour, sweet, bitter and spicy flavors.”
Waiting for Xia Yu to write another one, Zhang Yu's eyes lit up and he hurriedly said: "Master, let's see, this one is for the kitchen?"
"Clever." Xia Yu continued to write quickly: "I will write again, and you will guess where to post it."
"Feng Yun has three feet of sword, flowers and birds have a bed of books."
"I know." Yinping rushed to say this time: "Sir, this must be for the study room. You can see that it is very elegant."
Xia Yu rolled her eyes and said with a smile: "I will write another one. If you guess it correctly, you will be rewarded."
"Then please write quickly." Zhang Yu was overjoyed.
Xia Yuti laughed and wrote quickly, and everyone held their breath while reading:
"Let's see how sentimental the guest officer is. He is willing to take off his clothes and belt without regrets.
Don't think this thing is useless, turn it into spring mud to protect the flowers."
For a moment, everyone looked at each other in confusion. These beautiful sentences are so well thought out and so wonderful that they are indescribable, but the meaning behind them is really difficult to understand.
"Haha, you can't guess, can you?" Xia Yu looked proud when she saw this.
"What can't you guess?" At this time, someone came in with a smile, but it was Ling Jing.
Su Dingfang quickly pulled Ling Jing over and explained: "Look, sir, the teacher has written a couplet, which is auspicious words posted on doors everywhere. Look at this, even we can't understand it."
"Couplet?" Ling Jing looked down curiously and couldn't help but clasped his hands and laughed: "Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful, such a wonderful sentence!"
Su Dingfang said hurriedly: "Sir, can you understand? Where should this couplet be posted?"
Ling Jing glanced at Xia Yu.
Someone smiled and said nothing, with a pretentious look on his face.
Ling Jing laughed loudly: "The military advisor's test is really ingenious. Think about it, do you have to take off your clothes and take off your belt when you go to the place where the grains are reincarnated?"
When everyone heard this, they were all shocked.
Su Dingfang said in astonishment: "Is it a toilet? Oh my God, in such a filthy place, the teacher can actually write brilliantly and become so gentle!"
"Young Master is so awesome, he deserves to be a literary star!" Su Dingfang was not well educated, and Zhang Yu didn't have much ink, so he relied on a few words of "awesome" to get around the world.
Xia Yu laughed: "I knew it wouldn't be difficult for you, sir."
Ling Jing felt proud, and he caught a glimpse of a few others nearby. He hurriedly went over to take a look, and repeatedly praised: "It's really a good idea! Once the couplet of military advisor comes out, it will become a fashion. Chang'an is more expensive than Luoyang paper."
"Where! Where!" Xia Yu was so happy that she couldn't open her mouth from ear to ear.
"That's right," Ling Jing suddenly felt something in his heart and said with a smile: "The military advisor will not arrange to write more and send them to the palace and various families. Such good deeds are free of charge and can be a favor."
Xia Yu was stunned for a moment, then suddenly realized: "What a great idea! Come on, come on, everyone hurry up, grind ink, and cut paper. It's getting late."
Su Dingfang and the others immediately got busy.
Ling Jing approached Xia Yu, his face slightly condensed: "Military advisor, people are passing through the house one after another today, sending some greeting cards and invitations."
"The housekeeper took a look at it for me. Most of them are submissions from poor people. I will sort them out and send them over later."
Submit papers?
Xia Yu was stunned for a moment and then understood.
During the Sui and Tang Dynasties, although the imperial examination was established, only dozens of people were admitted to each subject, the number of places was pitiful, and most of the official positions were still controlled by wealthy families.
Ordinary disciples from poor families who want to be officials have to cross the single-plank bridge of the imperial examination with thousands of troops and horses. The difficulty is no different than reaching the sky!
Therefore, slowly, a unique phenomenon evolved:
Many scholars from poor families, unwilling to fail repeatedly, submitted their articles and works to wealthy and powerful people in order to be appreciated and recommended for official positions.
Correspondingly, these poor scholars also became the disciples and minions of the powerful.
This phenomenon is called "rolling".
At this time, Xia Yu was undoubtedly a member of the powerful, and he was also a Wenzong of the generation and a disciple of Guigu, so he was naturally more attracted to the low-ranking scholars.
Even if you want to be a lackey and surrender to Xia Yu's family, that would be much more glorious.
Thinking of this, Xia Yu felt happy.
Fortunately, he happened to meet the King of Qin Li Shimin when he traveled through time. Fortunately, he was smart enough to plaster the gold-lettered signboard of the Guigu disciples on the front.
Otherwise, it would be really difficult for a poor scholar to get ahead in a world where aristocratic families dominate the world.
You must know that since ancient times, horses with thousands of miles of horses have always been seen, but Bole has not always been seen.
"Okay, I will take a closer look at that time to see if there are any dusty beads." He agreed readily.
The prosperous Tang Dynasty needed more talents.
The revival of hundreds of schools of thought and the fight against Confucianism also require greater strength.
"In addition, the Zheng family in Xingyang also sent an invitation. It was sent by their patriarch Zheng Jibo, inviting military advisors to come to the house for a gathering on the third day of the new year."
"Congratulations, military advisor. It seems that the marriage with the Zheng family in Xingyang is basically gone."
Ling Jing had a look of envy on his face. Although everyone was unhappy with Wu Qiwang's overbearing behavior, everyone wanted to get married to him.
Even the royal family has such contradictory psychology.
"Haha, it's just a political marriage." Xia Yu waved her hands, not happy at all.
He only asked that the daughter-in-law of the Zheng family should not be too ugly, and not too delicate and unruly. Otherwise, even if she offended the other party, she would not bring any wrath on him.
To put it bluntly, he could still get along in the Tang Dynasty without relying on the power of the Five Surnames and Qiwang, because he belongs to a wealthy family!
"By the way, Sir, please tell the housekeeper and send someone to send a reply. I will definitely come to visit you on the morning of the third day of the junior high school."
"Okay." Ling Jing nodded and sighed: "In the end, it's just trouble."
He took out an invitation from his arms and Xia Yu took it, only to see that there were only a few numbers written on the cover: Hefen, Wang Ji.
"This is?" Xia Yu was stunned. He seemed to have some impression of this name, but he couldn't remember it for a while.
"The former leader of the Confucian sect in the Sui Dynasty and the younger brother of the great Confucian Wang Tong of Hefen. After Wang Tong's death, this man succeeded his brother. This man has arrived in Chang'an. I'm asking you to meet him after the year. I'm afraid the person who comes here will be unkind."
Xia Yu's face darkened and she thought about it.
Wang Tongzhe was a great Confucian of his generation. Although he was not well-known in later generations, at the end of the Sui Dynasty and the beginning of the Tang Dynasty, he was at the height of his power and his reputation was astonishing.
How awesome this person is can be seen from his disciples and family members.
The four direct disciples of Xue Shou, Yao Yi, Dong Chang and Qiu Zhang were all heroes of the moment!
Fang Xuanling, Du Ruhui, Wei Zheng, Zhang Xuansu and other famous officials of the generation also worshiped his disciples, listened to his lectures, and were named disciples.
His younger brother Wang Ji, although not as good as Wang Tong, is also a famous Confucian in the world.
Wang Tong also had a powerful grandson named Wang Bo. Yes, he was the leader of the early Tang Dynasty and the Four Tang Dynasties, who wrote the "Preface to a Guest of King Teng".
Now, when Wang Ji, the current leader of the Confucian sect, comes to visit, as Ling Jing said, the person who comes here must be evil.
Xia Yu was very happy.
Fortunately, Wang Tong died early. He was only thirty-three years old when he died of illness four years ago. If this man had lived to this day, with his reputation, he would be a formidable rival!
However, only Wang Ji is here now, and he is far inferior to his brother, so why should you be afraid?
"Send someone to send a greeting and tell him that I will visit him after the new year." Xia Yuhao was not afraid. He wanted to see what kind of Hongmen Banquet Wang Ji was hosting.
Of course, he could also ignore it.
But Wang Ji is, after all, the leader of the Confucian sect today. If he is too rude, people will inevitably say that he is too arrogant and arrogant.
