Just after the New Year, on the sixth day of the first lunar month, the emperor Li Shi issued a formal edict, removing Chang Gun from his post as prime minister, demoting him to the rank of Shaoyin of Henan Prefecture, appointing Han Huang as the right prime minister, and Yang Yan as the left prime minister.
After Pingzhangshi, Qiao Lin was granted the title of Pingzhangshi under Zhongshu's family, and Zuopushe was appointed as Shangshu. Cui Youfu was appointed as the minister of Zhongshu. He was also appointed as Pingzhangshi under Zhongshu's family. He also relieved Li Mianping from the post of Zhangshi and continued to serve as Jiedu of Bian Song Dynasty.
As an envoy, Li Mi was appointed as the minister of the family, and he was responsible for the affairs of the family under the same title as Zhongshu.
With the addition of Yan Zhenqing and Duan Xiushi, the number of prime ministers in the imperial court was increased to seven. At the same time, Li Shi issued an order to reopen the political hall for discussion, and restored the two-phase system to the polyphase system.
On the eighth day of the first lunar month, the seven prime ministers gathered in Zhongshu Provincial Political Affairs Hall. The first thing they discussed was not the emperor's succession ceremony. The emperor's succession ceremony would not be officially held until the late emperor was buried.
The first topic they discussed was the task given to them by the Emperor, regarding the arrangements for this year's Shangyuan Festival.
The New Year in the Tang Dynasty was just a day for worshiping ancestors, but the festival that really made the people celebrate and inspire was the Shangyuan Festival. The Shangyuan Festival is today's Lantern Festival. It has gradually been diluted today, but in the Tang and Song Dynasties, it was grand and grand.
The festival far exceeds the New Year.
In the round hall of the Political Hall, seven prime ministers were discussing matters related to the Lantern Festival.
The late emperor passed away a month ago, and the imperial court issued a decree banning entertainment and weddings within a month. The Shangyuan Festival has already passed the one-month ban. It should start from today, and all major music studios, dance studios, and religious festivals in Chang'an will
Shops and brothels can operate normally.
But the emperor asked the seven prime ministers to discuss the arrangements for the Shangyuan Festival at this time, which really made everyone a little confused. So, did the emperor mean to ban celebrations and continue mourning, or to promote the celebration of the Shangyuan Festival?
Everyone's eyes were turned to Right Minister Han Huang. He came back from the emperor's study room an hour ago. He should have obtained the emperor's true intentions.
"Everyone, there is actually no need for the Holy Spirit to remind us."
Han Huang smiled and said to everyone: "The sensual entertainment in Chang'an has begun today. Since the Holy Spirit has not banned it, there is no reason to ban the Lantern Festival lantern festival, so we have to think on the bright side."
"Does Your Majesty want to make the Lantern Festival more festive and lively?" Qiao Lin asked.
Qiao Lin's appointment as Prime Minister really surprised many people. He neither served as Prime Minister like Yang Yan or Cui Youfu, nor was he as talented as Li Mi. He was just a mediocre official. Although he had senior qualifications, he had no outstanding achievements.
Regarding his political achievements, everyone speculated that he rose to the position due to his seniority.
Han Huang nodded, "In fact, the Holy One wants to change the sad and depressing atmosphere for more than a month and make the people of Chang'an more festive."
Everyone immediately understood that the emperor was creating a grand and festive atmosphere for his official enthronement to wash away the sadness caused by the death of the late emperor. The Shangyuan Festival was the best opportunity.
After figuring this out, the political hall immediately became lively. With everyone talking to each other, a lively and festive plan was gradually introduced.
The core of the Lantern Festival is the Lantern Festival, and the Lantern Festival is mainly spontaneous among the people. But first, the court must create conditions. One is to impose a curfew and not close the city gates, allowing people to party all night long. The second is to bring out giant lanterns. Ordinary
After all, the financial resources of merchants are limited, and the real giant imperial court needs the government to come up with it. The second step is to publicize, guide public opinion, and encourage merchants and people to actively participate in this lantern event.
Since the emperor attached great importance to this Shangyuan Festival, the Zhengshitang established the Shangyuan Preparation Bureau headed by Han Huang and assisted by Qiao Lin and Yan Zhenqing to be fully responsible for all preparations for the Shangyuan Festival.
The imperial court immediately posted a notice announcing that the curfew would be lifted for three days during the Lantern Festival and a grand Lantern Festival would be held. It encouraged major businesses to actively participate in the Lantern Festival.
It is under the active guidance of the imperial court that the atmosphere of the Shangyuan Lantern Festival has heated up rapidly. Major businesses are gearing up to prepare lanterns, and the people of Chang'an have also begun to look forward to the arrival of the Shangyuan Festival.
"Damn fat man, when will you prepare our lanterns?" As soon as Zhang Lei walked into the door of the wine shop, Li Wenyu yelled at him.
Zhang Lei is extremely busy these days. Just three days ago, his concubine Caiyun gave birth to a daughter for him. He hired a midwife, arranged for a postpartum woman, and a wet nurse. Zhang Lei was running alone inside and outside.
After finally taking a breath, his wife Li Wenyu asked him to purchase the lanterns for Meishou Wine again. Seeing that there were only a few days left before the Lantern Festival, Zhang Lei felt bitter in his heart. He was just rushing to make the lanterns now. How could he have time?
Li Wenyu didn't understand his hard work at all. In Li Wenyu's view, her husband deserved it. Who made him want to marry a concubine?
Zhang Lei said with a bitter face: "Today is already the tenth day of the Lunar New Year, and the Shangyuan Lantern Festival is about to move out. There are only three days left. If you force me to death, I can't take it out."
Li Wenyu glared at him fiercely, "I told you three days ago, who told you not to do it?"
"This is not the birth of a little sister. You are the eldest mother. You don't care, but you have to let me, the father, take care of it, okay?"
Li Wenyu wanted to say, 'What does it have to do with me?' But she also knew that her husband would get really angry when she said this.
She swallowed these words back and said bitterly: "What do you think we should do? We won't participate in the Lantern Festival this time?"
"Of course not. I went to the warehouse this morning and looked around. Our lanterns from last year are still there. Who do I mean, we will continue to use last year's lanterns."
"no!"
Li Wenyu flatly refused, "You can imagine that if you use last year's lanterns, you won't be afraid of being laughed at by others?"
"If it doesn't work, just wait until next year! We're putting up lanterns now, it's too late."
"But I paid the money for the lamp position, so we are leaving our lamp position empty? Let others think that something happened to Meishou Wine, and the lanterns in Jubao Pavilion, don't you want to forget about it?"
The big shopkeeper next to him really sympathized with Dongzhu Zhang. He stepped forward and said with a smile: "I have an idea. I can exchange the lanterns in Jubao Pavilion with the lanterns in Meishou Wine Shop, and then change the three characters of Jubao Pavilion to Meishou Wine."
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Zhang Lei slapped his thigh and said, "This is a good idea. Why didn't I expect that the lanterns in the Jubao Pavilion warehouse from several years ago are still there, which is the monkey offering treasures. Let's change the monkey offering treasures to the monkey offering wine, and then make it the world's No. 1
Once the brand of the wine is established, the effect will come out. Then we put the Chang'e's Flying to the Moon from last year's Meishou Wine in the East Market, temporarily decorate it with some small lanterns made of jewels and jade, and turn it into fairy flowers. Wouldn't that be enough?"
Li Wenyu's face improved a little and asked: "Can three days be enough?"
"It's in time! It's in time! I've been doing this for the past few days, and I guarantee there will be no delay."
"Then you don't care about my little sister?"
"This" Zhang Lei scratched his head, a little embarrassed.
Li Wenyu grabbed his ear and said, "Damn pig head, I'll help you this time. I'll take care of my little sister. Let me tell you, if you dare to hook another woman into the house again, I won't be surprised if I don't kill you!"
Zhang Lei grinned in pain, "Ma'am, be gentle, I promise there won't be a next time, I swear on Master!"
Only then did Li Wenyu let him go, "Hurry up and do something, and don't swear by master in the future. You are dozens of years old and you still don't understand anything!"
"I will obey my lady's orders!"
Zhang Lei escaped the disaster and ran away happily. The big shopkeeper next to him was speechless. Their fat boss was afraid of his wife. It looked like he was afraid to the core.
The main battlegrounds of the Lantern Festival Lantern Festival are Zhuque Street and East Market and West Market Squares. Generally, they are not held in each square. The main reason is to avoid fire caused by the lanterns. A giant lantern tree is being built in the square in front of Zhuque Gate in the past two days. This
The lantern tree appeared during the Tianbao period and was known as the most beautiful lantern, but it has been discarded in the warehouse ever since.
This lantern tree is composed of more than 9,000 small lanterns. The lanterns have become rotten and cannot be used, but the lantern stand is intact. The main trunk is made of a thousand-year-old tree with a height of ten feet. It came from the mountains of Yuzhang County.
It was cut down and transported to Chang'an by water. It was originally used to make the main beam of Hanyuan Hall, but in the end this one was left and was made into the trunk of the lamp tree by craftsmen.
Then the branches are made of long wood and mounted on the trunk. Finally, nearly ten thousand lanterns of various types are hung on the branches, forming a dazzling and unparalleled lantern tree.
It took hundreds of craftsmen and more than a thousand soldiers three days to erect the lantern tree and fixed it with eight huge iron stakes. Unless there is a violent storm, the lantern tree will not fall down easily.
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The squares in front of the East Market and West Market are also extremely busy. The lanterns here are mainly provided by various merchants. This is also an opportunity for advertising. Each merchant's lantern exhibition area is about 20 square meters, and the rent is ten thousand yuan.
In addition to placing lanterns, money can also be used to set up tables and sell various gadgets.
Almost all businesses are busy putting up lanterns, and Meishou Liquor Shop is no exception. The lanterns at Meishou Liquor Shop are called monkeys offering wine. In fact, they are the lanterns of Jubao Pavilion last year. A three-foot-tall monkey will present a treasure.
A plate was raised high. It was originally filled with all kinds of jewels, but now it has turned into a large wine bottle. On the wine bottle are written the three characters "Mei Shou Wine". Last year's "Chang'e Flying to the Moon" lantern was placed in the
, Chang'e changed the wine bottle in her hand to the plate.
The "Chang'e Flying to the Moon" was changed into a fairy scattering flowers, the wine bottles were turned into flower baskets, and all kinds of jewelry were sprinkled into the world and placed in the square of the East Market.
There is also a line of large characters above the monkey's offering of wine, newly made this year, which reads "The best wine in the world". This is the emperor's imperial writing, and even if someone is dissatisfied, they dare not say it out.
"Put it up, yes! Move the word "天" a little further to the left. The spacing between each word must be the same. Use a ruler to measure it!"
Zhang Lei was loudly instructing several workers to put up lanterns. At this time, two children whispered behind him, "Brother, is this monkey the one I saw in Dongshi last year?"
"It seems so! The black stain on the monkey's tail was made by me."
Zhang Lei's fat face twitched when he heard it. Damn it, someone really recognized him.