Struggle in the early Tang Dynasty

Because the top of the crutch is a statue of a turtledove bird, it is called dove stick.According to legend, the turtledove is a bird that does not choke, implying a healthy diet, health and longevity.

But this dove staff is not something that ordinary people can wear and flaunt in the market.

The imperial courts of all dynasties have stipulated that all ancient people who have reached the age of 70, whether they are nobles or commoners, are eligible to be summoned by the emperor and given a banquet.After the imperial banquet, in order to flaunt his virtue of respecting and respecting the elderly to the world, the emperor would bestow these ancient and rare old people with wine and meat, rice, gold, silver and silk, and would also reward them with an exquisitely crafted dove stick.

You must know that the living conditions, physical fitness and medical conditions of the ancient people were not as good as those of the present. A person who can live to the age of 60 is already considered a long life.

If one dies at seventy, the funeral will be called happy mourning.

If you can still live at the age of seventy, this is already a very remarkable and rare thing, comparable to a long-lived man.

Therefore, there have been regulations in all dynasties that all the rare old people who have reached the age of seventy are eligible to attend the imperial banquet and be blessed by the emperor with a dove stick.

The most famous example is the "Thousand Seniors Banquet" held every 50 years in the Qing Dynasty. In 1722, Emperor Kangxi held it in the Yangchun Garden of the Imperial Palace, and his grandson Emperor Qianlong also held it once [-] years after he ascended the throne.

According to historical records, Qianlong also personally poured wine for the elderly over 90 years old in the Banquet of Thousands of Seniors, and made a pair with Ji Xiaolan for a 141-year-old birthday star.

The two monarchs and ministers left a widely circulated absolute: "Reopening sixty years, plus three or seven years; ancient and rare double celebrations, one more spring and autumn."

This thousand-year-old banquet is not comparable to a folk banquet. Not only is there a free Manchu banquet carefully prepared by the imperial chef, but all royal tribute drinks are also free.

It's really a 100% local banquet.

More than 1000 elderly people over the age of [-] gathered in one place, scrambling to beat Emperor Qianlong, a big local tyrant, while saying "thanks to the good policy of the imperial court", while eating and wolfing down.It is said that there are not a few elderly people who faint, fall out of joy, fall down from fullness, and fall down from drunkenness.The banquet of thousands of old people was called "Enlong Liqia, an unprecedented move in ancient times" by the literati at that time.

Of course, there is also political showmanship of the emperors of the past dynasties, because the imperial courts throughout the ages have taken the ethics of filial piety as the foundation of governing the country.The emperor treated the old man with such courtesy, and he also set an example and flaunted it, imprisoning the people of the world with the ethics of filial piety in order to achieve the purpose of ruling.

For example, His Majesty Li Er, the current emperor, isn’t he the master who always opens his mouth and shuts his mouth, saying "Filial piety is the first, and filial piety is the first to govern the country"?

As for what substantive power this dove stick has, unfortunately, it is neither a tiger talisman nor an official seal, and has no substantive power at all.It is far from the legendary golden whip that "beats the faint king and beats the greedy ministers".Otherwise, this dove stick is really awesome.

However, if you want to say that this dove staff is useless at all, then you can't say that.To give a few examples, a man surnamed Wang, a commoner in Runan in the Han Dynasty, beat an old man holding a dove stick, and was later sentenced by the Tingwei Mansion to behead him and dump his body in the downtown area.It was also a low-level official in the Han Dynasty who detained an old man holding a stick because he was suspected of violating the law.Although there was no beating, he was sentenced to death and beheaded for public display.

In addition, there is also a regulation in the laws of the Tang Dynasty. If the children are not filial and do not support the old man with a dove stick, the man can be sentenced to beheaded for public display, and the woman can be sentenced to serve as an official prostitute.Moreover, if the old man with a dove stick has no children, he can be allowed to operate a liquor business, and all taxes are exempted.Alternatively, businessmen who voluntarily take care of the widowed and lonely elderly can also receive tax-free treatment, and the imperial court will never levy taxes on them.

It can be understood that this dove stick is small, it is the emperor's reward and recognition for the ancient and long-lived people, and it represents the face of the emperor; and will.

If you can get the emperor's dove staff, you can indeed rely on your old age to sell your old age.

These are the benefits and privileges of longevity.

Even if Changsun Wuji, the head assistant of the dynasty, is present, he cannot easily brush off the emperor's face and go against the emperor's will.

Even if he was unwilling in every possible way, it was impossible for him to fight against this dove stick.

Therefore, facing the scolding and chasing by the five old men, Changsun Wuji was dumb and had no way to fight back, so he could only dodge.

Suddenly, some students in the crowd and the people around Suzaku Gate recognized the identities of these five old men, and they all exclaimed in surprise:

"My God, aren't these five long-lived men the same as the five centenarians invited by the emperor to the imperial banquet in the Tai Chi Palace last year?"

"Hey, when you said that, I remembered. The old man in the brown robe at the front is the old man of the Jiang family in Jurenfang. I heard that the old man now lives to be three to one hundred. How could he here too."

"God, I heard that even when the emperor summoned the five of them in the palace, he would not dare to accept his visit. I heard that the emperor repeatedly poured wine and toasted them at the imperial banquet."

"My dear, I've always heard that there are five centenarians in Chang'an City, but unfortunately I haven't had the chance to meet them yet. It's really a blessing to be able to see five of them together today, a great blessing."

"Hmm. I heard that people who don't die at the age of [-] are all auspicious. Otherwise, how could His Majesty treat them like gods? The five old birthday stars chased and beat the eldest grandson Wuji together with dove sticks in their hands. Look at what kind of evil Mr. Changsun has committed, he will be punished by the heavens!"

"It's a pole, it's a pole!"

There was a lot of discussion around the scene, and there were many sighs and sighs, filling everyone's ears.

The five long-lived men, old and strong, actually chased Changsun Wuji around in front of Suzaku's gate, not at all lagging behind, chasing such a big man like Changsun Wuji to run away like a mouse, desperately dodging with.

As for whether he is suffering or not, only he himself knows.

Kong Yingda and Yu Shinan, who were sitting under the clay sculpture of Kong Shengren, were also shocked by this sudden scene. You look at me, I look at you, as if to say, do you know what's going on?Did you invite me to help you?

But each other shook their heads speechlessly and depressed again, let alone the two of them, even His Majesty the Emperor might not be able to invite these five old birthday stars to appear at the town hall together.

Immediately, Kong Yingda and Yu Shinan looked at Chen Kang who came closer to watch the excitement with questioning eyes.

Knowing what the two adults meant, Chen Kang shook his head in doubt, and finally said in distress: "It should be written by Guo Ye, right?"

When Yu Shinan heard that it was Guo Ye again, he couldn't help but smile a little, and praised: "Yes, it should be him. Besides him, who else can have such crooked tricks?"

"Guo Ye?"

Kong Yingda also couldn't help becoming very interested in Guo Ye, whom Yu Shinan mentioned to him many times.

Then he said to Yu Shinan: "Brother Yu, if you have a chance, you can bring this young man to my house. He is quite an interesting young man."

Yu Shinan nodded slightly, expressing his agreement.But he smiled in his heart, don't wait for a chance, after today's trouble is over, it is estimated that the emperor will come out to clean up the mess for Changsun Wuji.

At that time, this kid Guo Ye will also be an official with you and me in the same dynasty. In the days to come, will he not be a minister in the same palace and meet every day?

"Ahh~"

A hundred meters away from the room on the second floor of the inn, watching the hungry Guo Ye by the window, he suddenly sneezed.

He rubbed his nose, smashed his mouth and said, "Grandma, who sneezes in broad daylight, who is whispering about me behind my back? Sneeze..."

After speaking, he sneezed heavily again.

Li Chunfeng next to him turned his head to look at him when he heard the sound, and said in a narrow voice: "Everyone talks about thinking about it, swearing and swearing three times, you sneezed twice, I guess Mr. Changsun Wuji is now scolding your uncle and your ancestor the Eighteenth Congress." It's clean. Haha, I think today should be the darkest day in the life of the eldest grandson."

Guo Ye curled his lips, and said disdainfully: "He scolds as much as he likes. Anyway, he has torn his face. I'm still afraid that he will curse me and scold me? Besides, his eldest grandson Wuji is the one who is ruthless and ungrateful. It’s all for him to make up for old debts. As for whether it is the darkest day or not, I really don’t know. From now on, as long as you are in the same palace as ministers, there are still a lot of hard days waiting for him.”

"Uh... uncle, you are really wicked!"

Li Chunfeng couldn't help but pay attention to it, he couldn't offend his cheap uncle in the future, the tricks of tricking people are endless.

Guo Ye didn't take it seriously when he heard Li Chunfeng say that he was immoral. Instead, he smiled and said, "Chunfeng, I would like to thank you and your master this time. If it wasn't for your master, it is estimated that these five old birthday stars would not have given face so much. Hit Changsun Wuji with a cane."

Li Chunfeng shook his head and said: "It's my master's face, I'm just running errands to deliver letters. Hehe, you know, master, my master is proficient in Huang Lao's art and is good at alchemy. These old birthday stars can live so long, my master's elixir is a skill It must be. Let’s say that the old birthday star surnamed Jiang learned the art of exhalation and Qi training from my master 20 years ago, and even took my master’s elixir, otherwise..."

"What?"

Guo Ye interrupted Li Chunfeng's praise of Yuan Tiangang with a cry of surprise, and said strangely, "Your master can also eat that elixir? He can also make people a long-lived elixir?"

"Uncle, what are you talking about? What do you mean that my master's elixir can also be eaten? You have to know that in the entire Taoist sect, my master's alchemy technique is... Hey, uncle, listen, there is what sound?"

In the middle of Li Chunfeng's speech, he suddenly raised his hand and pointed to the Suzaku Gate a hundred meters away.

Guo Ye looked at the Suzaku Gate, with a perfect smile on his face, and said slowly with a satisfied expression:

"It seems that the servants in the palace shouted for the emperor to come to the tower of Suzaku Gate. Hehe, His Majesty is quite punctual. Stepping over to help Changsun Wuji out of the siege and clean up the mess. Let's go, Chunfeng, we should pass now, your teacher Uncle, my glory, wealth and bright future lie there!"