The March wind blows through the apricot blossoms, and in the city of Tokyo, it is the time to eat spinned sheep skins, cut sheep heads, and braise sheep hooves.
By the way, this was the day of rest at the end of the tenth lunar month. In the afternoon, Zhao Ding, the provincial minister, declined most of the guests as he did in the past, and only read to the flowers under the old apricot tree in the courtyard.
But when the prime minister of the dynasty finished reading the half of the new book in his hand, he suddenly felt agitated. He got up and went to the back hall to find his wife, and then told her face to face:
"I won't have dinner at home today..."
"The official has an appointment today?" Mrs. Zhao was surprised for a moment. "Why are you talking about it at this time?"
"It's not an appointment, it's just a last-minute idea." Zhao Ding smiled lightly. "I haven't been to Caihenan City for a long time. Let's change clothes and go have a meal of chopped sheep heads."
Mrs. Zhao couldn't help laughing, but she was a little embarrassed: "How can I go out? The official and Fen'er will go to eat, and I can bring some back with you."
"It's okay." Mr. Zhao waved his hand and didn't care. "Nowadays, it's no different than in the past. The officials have said time and time again that following the custom of the Tang Dynasty, women should enter and leave the streets at will. Moreover, there are more officials and the two noble concubines.
I went in and out every time, went to Xuande Tower, visited Hanfang Garden, and even sneaked into the Maxing Street night market at night. I should also set an example when I am the provincial minister."
Mrs. Zhao was still a little embarrassed, but after thinking about it, she also missed the mutton head meat by the Cai River, so she couldn't help but nodded.
So Zhao Xianggong called his son Zhao Fen and two servants to go to the front station. He also called six or seven imperial guards who were responsible for guarding. He asked them to take off their armor, then changed into ordinary civilian clothes, and waited for his old wife to wear a curtain.
Mao came out with several of his younger children. A group of more than ten people got into three large mule carts hired by his son Zhao Fen and headed directly to the Cai River area in the south of the city.
In the afternoon, the spring was warm and the flowers were blooming. We had just passed the Zhuque Gate and had not yet reached the market south of Caihe River. We were just in front of the Five Mountains Temple, and we could smell the aroma of meat in the south wind. A few children started shouting...
Only Zhao Fen, the older prime minister's eldest son, was not interested at all.
After all, before Jingkang in the past, Zhao Ding was an iron-clad official in Kaifeng Prefecture. The reason why he was an iron-clad scholar was because he did not want to collude with others. However, the person he recommended was the former prime minister Wu Min, who was not easy to be kicked out.
In those years, Zhao Ding's little salary could not afford to eat the delicious food in the restaurant, and Mrs. Zhao was very prudent and often only bought some cheap sheep heads and sheep skins in Cai Henan to make tooth sacrifices. Poor Zhao Fenkan
He was known as the number one government official in the current dynasty. He grew up in Bianliang, but he was only used to eating sheep's heads of all kinds of delicacies. What kind of sentiment is there now?
Of course, one more thing to mention here is that Wu Min made huge political mistakes in Jingkangzhong. One was to protect the leader Cai Jing, and the other was to make peace before the Jin people crossed the Yellow River. The former allowed him to stay in Yuan Sheng (Qinzong of the Song Dynasty).
The times were demoted again and again, and the latter made it impossible for him to turn around during the Jianyan years.
However, Wu Min is indeed interesting to talk about. Although he was recommended by Cai Jing, he also recommended two people, one named Li Gang and the other named Zhao Ding.
Therefore, in the early days of Jianyan, although Wu Min was never able to truly stand up and take up actual posts, with the help of Li Gang, he regained his political status. And now that Zhao Ding has become the Prime Minister of the province, he has not forgotten this person's recommendation.
However, Wu Min, who was promoted to Dongxiao Palace, was appointed as the envoy of Guangnan West Road... It is conceivable that after Yue Fei successfully suppressed the rebellion, coupled with the special preferential treatment given by the Song Dynasty to Liangguang Road officials, as long as Wu Min
Min can make no mistakes. After one term, he will return to Bianliang for no reason.
It can only be said that the Jingkang Incident turned the world upside down. Who would have thought that in the past, a prime minister casually promoted a Kaifeng prefecture official, which would lead to today's two goals?
"Cut three whole sheep heads, one for each table, spin five kilograms of sheepskin, one kilogram here, two kilograms for the other two tables, and find some offal to make soup, two pots of sweet wine, not here... Let's get together
How much is it?" After crossing Caihe River, Zhao Ding casually came to a stall with a sheep's head hanging on it, sat down by the river, and then casually ordered the sheep's head as he had done a few years ago, and he always knew that this kind of table was for public use.
Yes, it is appropriate to give money first.
"Sir, please sit down and we'll be here soon... The total amount is eight hundred cash." The sheepish stall owner was overjoyed when he saw the large number of visitors and many orders, so he hurriedly came to serve him.
When Zhao Ding heard this, he was initially surprised that sheep head meat and sheep skin were much more expensive than in previous years, but considering that half of the country was still in decline and the important sheep-producing area of Hebei was still in the hands of the Jin people, he quickly accepted this.
After that, he signaled the servant to give him money.
However, after collecting the money, the stall owner probably saw that this family was obviously from an extraordinary family, so after hesitating for a moment, he continued to ask: "Sir, mutton is cheap now, do you want more mutton?"
Zhao Ding was slightly startled, but asked curiously: "Do you also sell mutton here now?"
The stall owner hurriedly answered: "You can tell at a glance that your guest is an acquaintance in Tokyo City. Before Jingkang, this stall by the Cai River would never sell mutton, but it is different now... Good quality mutton only costs 300 yuan."
One pound, guest, why don't you cut up a few pounds? One pound of very tender meat, I asked my wife to stew it into mutton soup for your guest, and use it for the guest's table to dip into the sauce. The other few pounds of thicker ones are used for the bottom.
But no more haggis?"
Zhao Ding's index finger moved for a moment, and he nodded in agreement, and the servant immediately gave him money. The stall owner was very happy that he had made a big business, and went back to cut the meat himself.
However, while he was waiting, Zhao Ding could not help but frown.
"Dad." When Zhao Fen saw this, he smiled and understood in his heart. "Are you wondering why sheep heads and sheepskins are so much more expensive, but mutton is so much cheaper? And they are sold on the banks of the Cai River?"
"That's right." Zhao Ding was immediately surprised. "Do you actually know?"
Zhao Fen couldn't help laughing when he heard this: "This matter is simple to say. It's just that my father is busy every day and doesn't know what's going on here. But my son and I go to and from the Imperial Academy, which is not far from here, so I know more or less..."
"Then just say it directly, don't be too pretentious."
"This is because the palace no longer eats mutton, and before Jingkang, the palace used 10,000 sheep every year..." Zhao Fen dared to betray his father, and quickly answered. "I dare to ask, no.
The remaining sheep skins, heads, and haggis after taking out the 10,000 muttons are rare and expensive, shouldn’t the price increase? However, the palace is simple and does not need so much mutton, so the sheep from Guanxi still have to come.
The mutton has naturally become cheaper, and it flows to the Cai River."
Zhao Ding immediately came to his senses, and for a moment he held up his palms and sighed.
"Father, I don't know that there was an incident in the palace over this sheep's head and mutton..." Zhao Fen seemed to be interested when he saw his father sighing, so he hurriedly said more.
"What's the matter?" Zhao Ding was really curious.
"It was said that in early spring, although the official family did not like to eat mutton in large quantities, they occasionally wanted to drink mutton soup and mutton stems, so they asked Feng Erguan if there was a cook who could make yokan. As a result, Feng Erguan found one at the Gao family.
A cook who used to be good at making soup from sheep's heads was sent to the palace... Who would have thought that the cook only used the bit of meat from the sheep's face to make mutton soup, but ended up using three bowls of soup in one meal.
Five sheep heads! Not only that, after she used the sheep heads, she threw them on the ground and did not allow others to use them again. The other cooks in the palace who had been tamed by the officials and were accustomed to simplicity picked them up and prepared to make soup.
She scolded me as 'a dog'!"
Zhao Ding was stunned when he heard this, and Mrs. Zhao was also urging: "What happened next?"
"Later, the palace officials complained to the officials. The officials were stunned for a long time, and then kicked the cook out again. They also laughed at themselves like a dog... It is said that the Gao family was in bad luck this time, and it was more or less the same as this.
The cook has something to do with it!" Zhao Fen naturally explained the result clearly to his mother.
Mrs. Zhao sighed and didn't mention it for a moment, and Zhao Yuanzhen, Zhao Xiangguo, also shook his head: "Everyone says that the old dream of Tokyo is good, but I don't know whether it is a good dream or a nightmare... It's just that the official family is also a person who has experienced such prosperity, but why
Why don’t you have old dreams?”
Mutton soup, cut sheep heads, and spinned sheep skins began to be served one after another. The two tables next to it immediately became lively, and the children at the table themselves were chattering away, which attracted Mrs. Zhao to hurry up and talk. But for some reason, she was originally very interested today.
Zhao Ding lost his appetite for a moment.
Zhao Fen, on the other hand, woke up and couldn't help asking: "Aren't you going to present the book to Uncle Meng Shi?"
Zhao Ding continued to shake his head: "I think that Meng Yue has been incompetent for half his life. He has always been just arty, but he actually wrote a notebook to return to his original nature. My father and he have been colleagues in Kaifeng Mansion for many years, and now it is rare to be asked to live in front of him.
, it’s better not to end his path, so I still have to dedicate this "Tokyo Dreams" to him, I just lament the frugality of the official family."
"Uncle Meng Shi is a member of the prime minister's clan. He was much richer than his father in Kaifeng Mansion back then. Cai He came and Fan Lou came. If it hadn't been for the Jingkang Incident, he would have drunkenly died in this dream all his life." Zhao Fen also looked at it.
After coming out, it was rare that my father was touched by the book "Tokyo Menghua Lu" today. In addition, he really didn't like eating sheep heads, so he was happy to chat with his father here for a few more words. "But that's right.
In this way, he suddenly encountered the Jingkang Incident and fled to Yangzhou with his clan. In the so-called era of chaos and war, he temporarily took refuge in the southeast, and then longed for the prosperity of Bianjing. Only then could he return to his true nature and write
Here’s the book.”
"You can say this, it shows that you have grown up. According to me, there is no need to rush for the scientific examination. Just study for a few years and find a marriage for you." Zhao Ding rarely twisted his beard when he heard this.
Relieved. "I'm just taking care of the family affairs for my father."
"It was all delayed in the past few years..." Mrs. Zhao, who was looking after her children, suddenly interrupted.
"Speaking of official frugality..." Zhao Fen saw his mother interjecting, and quickly smiled at his father. "When there was a fight over the pursuit of excessive kindness, rumors spread, and there were many absurd words among the Imperial Academy.
, It is said that the officials were actually possessed by demons in the Mingdao Palace, otherwise they would not have been so frugal just living in Prince Kang’s Palace in the past!”
"Shut up!" This was not a particularly serious rumor, and it was widely circulated, so after his son finished speaking, Zhao Ding calmly scolded him. "The official fell into the well and lost his memory. Others don't know that you don't know."
Do you know? Why spread such a ridiculous theory? Moreover, the frugality of the official family is not that simple. If you think about it, you will know that in the past, the palace required 10,000 sheep for meat alone a year. How much was it spent on the official family?
Save these, even dig your own fish ponds, raise chickens and ducks to provide your own meat, and let Pan Guifei personally lead the palace maids to raise silkworms. Although it is just a show, it is enough to make yourself invincible!"
"The official family is indeed simple." Zhao Fen quickly responded with a solemn expression, but immediately he continued to talk in a low voice. "I heard that later on, the official family slowly remembered the old things?"
"Absolutely." Zhao Ding also sighed. "That's why I, as a father, had doubts before...why the official family never fell asleep?"
"Why?"
"Perhaps he has another dream?" Zhao Ding shook his head slightly. "The officials have publicly stated their thoughts before... They want to follow Wei Wu's example in conquering Liaodong and then whip the East China Sea; he wants to conquer all nine states and erect monuments to record the heroes; he wants to make the world well-off.
And burn the table in Mingdao Palace."
"The people are tired, but they can't be well-off... The three things are actually just one thing." Zhao Fen responded casually. "It's just that we have to endure hardships, and then destroy money to unify."
"Yes, that's what the official meant." Zhao Ding, who had regained his composure a little, answered, and finally picked up the mutton soup to dip into the sauce. However, for some reason, he only took two bites of the food he was looking forward to, and he lost interest.
, so he put down his chopsticks again and just looked at the surrounding scenery with emotion. "In fact, in the future, Emperor Mingzong of the Tang Dynasty would be said to be well-off within a few years without fighting. The "Book of Jin" also said, 'If the mountains and mausoleums are solid, then the mid-Xia will be well-off.'
...If we don't ask for the Northern Expedition and negotiate peace with the Jin people, we will only be able to cover most of Henan. With the simplicity of today's official families, and the state of a prosperous court, redundant officials and redundant troops will be eliminated, and a little operation will be enough within a few years.
It’s called a well-off world.”
"Forgive me for speaking frankly, my son. It's not allowed by the officials, not by the two hundred thousand imperial army, and not by the people of Lianghe River." This time it was Zhao Fen's turn to shake his head. "Dad, even though my name has the character Fen.
, but you grew up in Bianjing since childhood, so it’s okay, but you grew up in your hometown in Hedong, don’t you care about it in your heart? Why do you say this instead? "
"Of course I am concerned about my father." Zhao Ding became more and more sad. "But it is precisely because my father is from Hedong that I can say this... Before my father lived in Huainan for a long time, he had long been aware of the people in the south and only regarded the troops in the north as a burden...
Moreover, people in the south are indeed working hard."
"But no matter what, the officials don't allow it." Zhao Fen hurriedly tried to persuade him. "If dad says such things, I'm afraid he will violate the government's rules."
Zhao Ding shook his head again: "My father naturally understands this truth, but if I don't tell you, these Henan people and Jiangnan people will naturally find other people to tell you... Living among them, I can feel that most of the officials and people below,
They all don’t want to fight.”
"But the subordinates still can't disobey the officials." Zhao Fen disagreed. "The officials have their own military power, and their confidants are all over the government and the public... Isn't dad also considered a confidant of the officials? Moreover, the Second Sage is in the north, and the Northern Expedition is the most important thing.
.In such a situation, anyone who dares to make peace may not want to imitate Liu Guangshi or Du Chong."
Zhao Ding slowly shook his head: "What you said is probably right...but there is only one thing, and that is that the official Northern Expedition is definitely not for the Second Saint."
"Who doesn't know about this?" As the sun gradually set, Zhao Fen smiled again and again while holding a bowl of mutton noodles. "If the Jin people really send the Second Saint back, the official family will have a headache. My son is just saying that he is righteous...
Just these words are enough to make the scholar-bureaucrats in the world speechless and they can only stop the Northern Expedition! Not to mention that the officials have a large imperial army and many courtiers in their hands?"
"That's right." Zhao Ding blurted out, but frowned again. "But are the officials' attitude towards the Second Saint fully known to the people?"
"It's natural." Zhao Fen quickly put down the mutton noodles and explained again. "We have cleaned up the accumulated shortcomings before, not to mention that there are rumors about various incidents? At least the Imperial Academy has already tacitly understood it."
"So how do the people...or the Imperial Academy talk about officials?" Zhao Ding answered seriously. "Are there any inappropriate words?"
"There are some inappropriate words. In the past, they were mostly used to pursue excessive kindness. However, due to the official return to the old capital and the prestige of Yaoshan's great victory, there are always more excuses and praises... As for the Second Sage,
If the words filial piety and brotherhood are involved, there will be less discussion."
"Except for some of the most ridiculous ones, do you remember those inappropriate words?" Zhao Ding looked around and saw that it was dinner time in the evening, and there were boats and boats on the Cai River, and there was constant noise from all sides, including the stall owners behind him and the people next door.
The classmates at the table couldn't hear clearly what they were saying, so they couldn't help but ask a few more questions. "It's not just about filial piety."
"Of course I remember." Zhao Fen also looked around and took the opportunity to hold up the bowl and smiled. "My son said a few interesting things... Some people say that officials know their mistakes and do not correct them, and they like to show off their face..." Zhao Jiu from Cangzhou
'That's proof!"
"what for?"
"It is said that when the officials used this painting to seal the Huai River, they lost their memory and misremembered their place of origin, and remembered the Zhao family in Zhuozhou as Cangzhou... This is okay, after all, they lost their memory... But later they gradually remembered the old things, but they didn't wake up.
, but still uses it again and again, which shows that he is a face-loving person who is unwilling to repent."
"As for the seal, it's inherently weird. And the seal of 'Cangzhou Zhao Jiu' is already familiar to both countries. Why change it? How do you know it wasn't done intentionally by the officials?"
"Actually, there is also this saying... It is said that the officials disliked the two saints and abandoned the country, and were ashamed to be the Zhao family of Zhuozhou. They deliberately changed it to show that it was completely different from the two saints."
"This is somewhat interesting. The court has also speculated like this... Is there anything else?"
"Some... say that officials are uneducated and have no skills... 'There is nothing to fear from destiny' is the clear proof!"
"Destiny can also refer to changes in the sky. It's the same idea. It doesn't matter... Do the officials really say that they, the emperor, are not worthy of fear? Some of the words are just fallacies, not worth mentioning! You must know that the officials themselves are a hedonistic prince. If he is not
Faced with great changes, why have you ever thought about becoming an official, and why are you still studying about destiny and destiny?"
"That's exactly what it means."
"Any more?"
"It is said that the officials secretly admire the layman Yi'an..."
"That's nonsense! Master Yi An is almost fifty, and about the same age as the Queen Mother. How can he come up with such ridiculous words... At most, the officials secretly admire Master Yi's poetry talent."
"Those who understand the truth will naturally understand, but dad also needs to know that there is no one in this city who likes to point out the royal family's secrets and talk about these gossips, and he can't stop it."
"That's true...what else?"
"It is said that officials are talented, but they are frivolous, and when they are depressed, they are a bit cruel, and in some things, they are quite selfish and unscrupulous... So, in fact, they are very similar to the Supreme Taojun Emperor!
"
Zhao Ding suddenly fell silent, and then nodded after a long while: "It does look like it!"
This time, Zhao Fen became angry on behalf of the officials: "If you put it this way, why is one the king who destroyed the country and the other the king who revived it?"
"Because the officials saw with their own eyes that the whole country was displaced, that the city was empty, and that blood flowed into rivers, they basically set a bottom line for themselves!" Zhao Ding sat with his hands tied and looked at each other seriously. "As for the emperor, his power is boundless.
, the most important thing is not how to be wise and powerful, but how to keep the bottom line and not act recklessly... If you look at the officials, they are talented but know how to restrain them; they are frivolous but know how to hide themselves; when they are depressed, they kill people only during the war.
Come and kill; even those who criticized Chengyou in the past, after Chen Dong's incident, will never harm their lives now; and when the politics of the DPRK and China encounter resistance, the officials can persuade and do what they can.
, I am not good at censoring the party or being involved; as for the size of the harem and the expenses in the palace, it is enough to shame and kill countless emperors...and these are the bottom lines."
"What dad said does make some sense."
"Not only does it make some sense, but as a father, I think about it, but I feel that the bottom line of the official family is three points higher than that of the so-called wise kings in the history books!" Zhao Ding became even more emotional.
"So, wouldn't it be rare for an official to have a saintly king?"
"What do you think?" Zhao Ding suddenly glared at the other party. "If it weren't for the Holy Lord in the court, as a father, I, who have been the official of Kaifeng Prefecture for more than ten years, how could I do it to save my father-in-law?! If the official family is not the Holy Lord,
You, I am just like the Supreme Taoist Lord and the Emperor, so who am I? Which one of the six thieves is there?"
Zhao Fen lost his voice on the spot, and the stall owner behind Zhao Ding who was about to deliver some side dishes was even more frightened. He quickly lowered his head and pretended not to hear anything, and then secretly replaced the braised haggis with clean vegetables before coming over.
But Zhao Ding remained silent and just lowered his head to eat the mutton.
After the meal was over, Mr. Zhao rarely lost his interest in mentioning it. The next day, the provincial minister went to the palace to meet the saint and presented the "Tokyo Dream Record" to his old friend. In this regard, Mr. Zhao's family was delighted.
Zhibao personally collected the manuscript and promised to publish it. However, he refused to reward Meng Yue with an official position for presenting the book on the grounds that his writing was not enough to govern the country. However, at Zhao Ding's request, he allowed the province to use Meng Yue's previous
Based on his official position, it is just a slight dispatch.
However, although the Zhao official family was reluctant to give Meng Yuanlao an official position, they still used his book with a shameful face. It was known to everyone that since the official family obtained "Tokyo Menghua Lu", they used this book as a basis.
Look for food everywhere.
Just like that, two days later, as the officers from Huaidong came to the capital, martial arts was reopened... Yes, I must say one more thing here, the Zhao Guan family is indeed an ignorant person. The Great Song Dynasty originally
There is a systematic martial arts, but the effect is not good... But no matter what, this is not the time to care about these things, because on the day when the martial arts reopened, the envoy of the Kingdom of Jin, Wu Lin Da Zanmo, came to Tokyo
city.
Let us also say that this envoy of the Jin Kingdom named Wu Linda served as an envoy between Jin and Liao in his early years, and then between Song and Jin several times. He was considered the most professional and heavyweight envoy of the Jin Kingdom... Therefore, he became the first envoy of the Jin Dynasty.
When he arrived, he immediately attracted the attention of the government and the public. From the noble ministers to the traffickers and soldiers, there was endless discussion.
As expected, Wulin Dazanmo "lived up to expectations", and when he came up, he made it clear in the capital and Privy Council summons that the Jin State intended to negotiate peace with the Song Dynasty while maintaining the status quo, thus quelling the war that had lasted for more than six years.
Even though everyone had expected it, Jin Guo's initiative to make peace still shocked both the government and the opposition.
After all, according to the clear rules of the Zhao Guan family, no one in the Zhao and Song Dynasties is allowed to take the initiative to propose peace... Whoever makes peace will be killed!
But now, the Jin people have actually taken the initiative to make peace, so they can't help but be unpopular.