To The Land of Nevernight
Chapter 70
Yao Sandao: "The artisans generally understand the technique, but the output of this translucent colored glaze is not stable. One reason is that this product is inherently difficult to make, much more difficult than that soap. During the Chinese New Year, the workers have all gone home to celebrate the New Year, and they haven’t done enough.”
Tang Shen thought for a while: "Take me to have a look."
Most of the official holidays are closed until the seventeenth day of the first lunar month, after the Lantern Festival.Tang Shen returned to Shengjing a few days earlier. He wore a thick jacket and followed Yao San to Liuli Workshop in the east of the city.
Yes, before Tang Shen left Shengjing, he spent half a month and finally made the glass.
When Tang Shen showed the finished product to Yao San, Accountant Lin and others, everyone exclaimed, "Liuli!"
Shopkeeper Lu often dealt with people in Prince Jing's Mansion and saw many good things.He said: "Glass is expensive, and it is usually a tribute from the imperial court. There are also folks, but most of them are rough and muddy in color. Such a good glaze needs to be made with good glaze stones. Little boss, where did you get it?" Arrived."
Everyone mistook glass for colored glaze, but Tang Shen didn't clarify.He said: "Liu Li is mostly colored, have you ever seen this kind of colorless glass?"
Shopkeeper Lu looked at it carefully: "That's not true, I've never seen a colorless one."
Tang Shen: "This is a special kind of colored glaze, it's not made of colored glaze stones. I call it glass, but if you want to call it colored glaze, it's fine. But the most important thing is that it's not made of colored glaze stones. Yes." Tang Shen emphasized again.
Accountant Lin and shopkeeper Lu took a tight breath and glanced at each other.
Accountant Lin: "Small boss, what do you mean... the raw material of this thing is cheaper than glazed stone?"
Shopkeeper Lu: "How much cheaper!"
Tang Shen stretched out his hand and compared a number.
Everyone took a deep breath.
Thus, there is the present scene.
Tang Shen and Yao San came to Liuli Workshop and saw craftsmen carefully grinding Ling Zishi into powder.In another workshop, craftsmen are preparing sodium hydroxide.Because I have previous experience in making soap, the configuration of sodium hydroxide went very smoothly.Just mixing Lingzi stone, feldspar and sandstone powder together, and then reacting with sodium hydroxide will always cause some waste.
Tang Shen observed for a long time, and then tried it himself. He discussed with several craftsmen who are good at making soap for a few days, and finally he could only reduce the waste rate of raw materials to 60%.
Tang Shen sighed in his heart: "Although it is an ancient Western glass-making method, if we can use later generations of machines, the waste rate can be reduced to at least 30%."
After making glass water as bright and hot as magma, it is glass blowing.
The blowing method is a method of making glass that has been used in the West for thousands of years, and craftsmen continue to use it in later generations.I saw a craftsman wrapped some liquid glass with a thin iron pipe.The liquid glass is very viscous, sticking to one side of the iron pipe like paste, and the craftsman blows it hard from the other side, and the liquid glass will bulge.
The next thing to do is to blow the glass shape you need.
Today's craftsmen can't blow out too fine utensils, only some simple shapes.
Tang Shen was watching the craftsmen blowing the glass. He selected a few people and took them aside.Tang Shendao: "You guys don't need to participate in rock fluid production anymore," rock fluid is liquid glass. "You concentrate on blowing glass to make more detailed shapes and patterns."
Several craftsmen nodded in agreement.
In private, Tang Shen said to Yao San: "Brother Yao, we didn't cooperate with anyone about the Liuli Workshop this time, it's our own business. Can you do a good job of keeping it secret?"
When making soaps and essential oils, everything was under the supervision of the Tang family, and all Tang Shen had to do was provide the formula.But this time, he didn't cooperate with anyone in the glass business, he just did it by himself, and he needed to do everything by himself.
Yao San hurriedly said: "That's natural. I let different craftsmen mix different raw materials, and I have taken care of them. And small bosses, ordinary merchants are fine, you are a fourth-rank official, an official, a craftsman They dare not make mistakes. If they dare to commit crimes, they all know what will happen."
Tang Shen nodded.
In ancient times, officials were not allowed to engage in business. In addition to the lower social status of merchants, it was still to prevent officials from using their power for personal gain.Although there are no officials in this world who cannot do business, and the status of businessmen is much higher than that in Tang Shen's memory, but there is a huge difference between a fourth-rank official doing business and a white man doing business.
After taking care of Liuli Workshop, the 20-day official vacation is over.
In the 29th year of Kaiping, on the seventeenth day of the first lunar month, the ugly hour is three quarters.
Tang Shen got up quickly, and Fengbi boy brought him a basin of hot water, and asked Tang Shen to wash his face and hands.Then, Fengbi served Tang Shen to put on layers of complicated official robes.Tang Shen hadn't gotten up so early for a long time. He looked at the sky outside, only to see the moon was rising high, and the sky was pitch black.
It was just before three o'clock.
Sighing, Tang Shen put on his official hat, picked up the jade wat, and went out to the palace.
First-rank officials can take a carriage driven by two horses and rush to the palace; second-rank officials can take a carriage driven by a single horse to go to the palace.Further down, third-rank officials ride in donkey carts, and fourth-rank officials walk on their feet.There are also fourth-rank officials with bad legs and feet. They can submit a letter to the Ministry of Rites, and the Ministry of Rites will approve them, allowing them to go to court every day in a donkey cart.
But when they entered the Xuanwu Gate of the imperial palace, everyone got out of the car one after another and walked into the palace.
Before the time came, the first and second rank officials were resting in the main hall of Chongzheng Hall, the third rank officials were in the left hall, and the fourth rank officials, who had the largest number of people, were crowded together, all in the right side hall.
After not going to court for a long time, the officials congratulated each other on the New Year.
Fortunately, those who need to come to court every day are all Beijing officials of the fourth rank or above.In addition, if some local officials with a fourth-rank official rank come to Beijing, they need to report to the Ministry of Rites one day in advance, and they will also come to court the next day.
Tang Shen looked at the side hall on the right, and sure enough, he found many strange faces.
At the beginning of the new year, local officials went to Beijing to congratulate the emperor for the new year, so there were more people.
When the time came, the eunuch in charge came to the Chongzheng Hall, and the Xuan officials entered the hall to have an audience.First, the first- and second-rank officials from the main hall went out, followed by the third-rank officials from the left side hall.Finally, it was the turn of these fourth-rank officials.
The etiquette and laws of the Song Dynasty were strict, and even the emperor could not exceed the rules.
As a member of Zhongshushe, Tang Shen was an official of Qinzheng Hall. He stood in the line of officials on the left, with his head bowed, listening to the Minister of Rites, Meng Lang, recite New Year's blessings.Tang Shen stood in the second row among the rank four officials.Just like the jingle circulating in Shengjing: those from other places are not as good as those from Shengjing, and those from Shengjing are not as good as those from Qinzheng.
The officials of Qinzheng Palace are all higher than other fourth-rank officials when they go out.
Because it was the first time to go to the morning court in the new year, all the officials in the court hall reported to Zhao Fu what happened in the past year.Except for the heavy rain in the north last year, which flooded many cities and washed away an unrepaired bridge, there were no other natural disasters.No one would touch the emperor's bad luck at this time. The new governor of the governorate brought up the collapse of the Jinghe Bridge, and publicized that more than half of the official roads in the governorate had been repaired, and it would definitely be repaired by the middle of this year.
Governor of Cizhou: "Your Majesty, the blessings are as good as the sky, and the people of Cizhou are looking forward to it day and night, and the official road will be completed soon!"
Zhao Fu smiled and raised his hand, his voice softened: "Then go and fix it."
"Yes!"
An hour later, the court was over, and all the officials left the palace one after another.
Tang Shen raised his head and subconsciously glanced at the first and second rank officials.I saw Wang Qin was talking to Xu Linghou, the left servant of the household department, Xu Linghou looked up at Wang Qin in surprise from time to time, and nodded again and again.After a while, the chief eunuch Ji Fu came out from the hall and said a few words to Wang Qin.
Wang Qin paused for a moment, then followed Ji Fu back.
At the end of the first month, shopkeeper Lu and accountant Lin set off for the north, and it took half a month to go there.
As a member of Zhongshushe, Tang Shen reads the notebooks sent by officials from all over the country every day, and from time to time also participates in the drafting of the imperial edict.
Of course, the imperial edict of the emperor cannot be written by himself.Except for the Edict of Guilt and the annual prayer to heaven, the emperor had a decree at other times, ordering the eunuch to come to the Qinzheng Hall to read the oral edict, and then asked Zhongshu Sheren to write an edict and send it to the Chuigong Hall. After the emperor reviewed it, he stamped it with the seal of the jade seal.
The 29th year of Kaiping has just started, the world is peaceful, and the weather in Kyushu is smooth.
By mid-February, Lin accountant returned to Shengjing.
Accountant Lin: "For the matter of Ningzhou, with the letter from the little boss and the help of Mr. Wang Xiaowang, it is really getting twice the result with half the effort. Ningzhou is the place where the Song Dynasty and the Liao Kingdom have the most trade, and the things that the Liao people like are all new things. , such as silk, tea, and the translucent colored glaze we brought over this time. Regarding the matter of the Liao merchants, please take a weight for the little boss, don’t worry."
Tang Shen nodded, and was about to speak, when he heard a little girl in men's clothing say, "Take the official road of Ningzhou, although you can reach Shengjing in one day. But if you want to transport a large amount of goods, the speed will not be fast, I'm afraid it will take a long time." Two days."
Hearing this, Tang Shen smiled and said, "I haven't said anything about you yet, why did you go to Ningzhou again and still dress like this?"
Don Juan opened his eyes wide: "I, what's the matter with me dressed like this! Brother, didn't you read the book that women in the previous dynasty liked to wear men's clothes a lot. They often wear men's clothes every day and ride horses in the suburbs. Oh! Although there are fewer women wearing men's clothes in this dynasty, I can see one or two every day in Xixia Tower. What's more..." The voice gradually faded, "What's more, I went to Ningzhou wearing men's clothes , and no one found it along the way.”
Tang Shen suddenly laughed.
I dare you to wear men's clothes without being noticed, is it a good thing?
Tang Shen looked at his younger sister carefully, and roughly understood why she was not easy to be found in men's clothing.Tang Juan worked hard in the countryside since he was a child, exposed to the wind and the sun, his skin was not as delicate as those boudoir ladies.She has eaten well since she was a child, and Tang Shen and Aunt Yao never bothered her to tell her to eat less, so she has a strong body and is half a head taller than ordinary girls.
For such a girl, after wearing men's clothing, it is really difficult for people to discover her true identity.
Tang Shen: "Tell me first, why did you go to Ningzhou again this time?"
Don Juan froze immediately, and she whispered, "I came up with this idea, can't I even go to Ningzhou..."
Tang Shen looked at her steadily.
Don Juan was beating a drum in his heart.Just when she thought Tang Shen was going to scold her and not allow her to go out at will, Tang Shen smiled and said: "When did I say you can't go out, you just don't go out alone, you know? Be careful when walking outside .Ningzhou is a place where Liao people gather, and if something happens there, no one can protect you."
"I know, brother is the best!"
Tang Shen talked with Accountant Lin for a while, Accountant Lin left first.After the family had dinner, Tang Shen called Tang Juan to his study.By this time Don Juan had changed into a woman's dress.He is handsome and handsome in men's clothes, but heroic in women's clothes.Tang Shen looked at his younger sister seriously, and Tang Juan was overwhelmed and hairy all over.
Tang Shen: "Earlier, my aunt told me that you are about to grow old soon, and you should marry someone else."
Don Juan: "..."
"What do you think?"
"I don't want to marry yet!"
Tang Shen: "Okay, that's how it is."
Tang Juan had prepared a lot of words, but when she heard Tang Shen's answer, she was stunned: "Brother, you... allow me not to marry?"
Tang Shen raised his eyebrows: "Didn't you say that you don't want to marry for the time being, do you plan not to marry in the future?"
Don Juan chuckled: "No way, I just don't want to get married right now."
"It's up to you. My Tang family can afford to feed you."
Tang Juan was taken aback, looking at Tang Shen at this moment, she suddenly had a strange idea in her heart.If she told Tang Shen now that she never wanted to marry in her life, maybe Tang Shen would agree.It's obviously something that Yu Li disagrees with, but Tang Shen will definitely not force her to do something he doesn't like.
For no reason, she just thought so.
After a long time, the 14-year-old girl said softly: "Brother, when I came in, I heard from Aunt Yao that she gave you pig's trotter soup, and I'll bring it to you?"
Tang Shen looked at his younger sister in surprise.
When did his sister become so caring?
Tang Shen: "Okay."
Don Juan ran out of the study happily.
In fact, even if Tang Juan didn't refuse this time, Tang Shen never thought about marrying his younger sister.
Getting married at the age of 15 is really anti-human!
He couldn't imagine the 15-year-old Don Juan with a big belly.For such a young mother, her physical development has not yet grown well. If she conceives and gives birth at this time, not to mention dystocia, it will be very unhealthy for her body.The average life expectancy of women in ancient times was so short, and getting married and having children too early was a major reason!
If Tang Juan wanted to get married earlier, Tang Shen could keep her until she was 16 years old, and 16 years old was his bottom line.
In the Song Dynasty, although there were not many marriages, it was not too uncommon.It's just possible that there will be some gossip.However, it is the people who are not strong enough who will really be crushed by gossip.He believes that he can protect his younger sister, and prevent the little girl with red eyes who cried and said that she would give all her dowry to her brother to study, to marry a stranger who doesn't know anything about it.
In late February, Tang Yun went north by boat and came to Shengjing along the Grand Canal.
Yao San took him to Tanhua Mansion.
The first time Tang Shen met Tang Yun was in his plain and simple courtyard in Gusu Mansion.Tang Yun lost his temper and threw everything in the yard all over the floor. The two even made a bet on whether Tang Shen would be able to pass the children's examination next year.
Now four years have passed, and the sea has changed.
Tang Yun has become a relative and has grown a mustache.He managed to pass the exam last year, but he didn't pass the college exam, so he is not eligible to take the township exam for the time being.Seeing Tang Shen, Tang Yun couldn't help showing a trace of timidity.
Tang Shen saw Tang Yun's embarrassment in his eyes, and until now, of course he would not get angry with him.If he was so fussy about such a trivial matter, he would be furious to death as an official in the court every day.
Tang Shen took the initiative and said, "Brother, what happened to Gusu and Jinling?"
Seeing that Tang Shen called him "big cousin", Tang Yun heaved a sigh of relief.He said: "As you said, just after the new year last month, my father and I went to Jinling to discuss the delivery of goods with the Zheng family. We already had business dealings with the Zheng family, and they quickly agreed. It will take seven days at the fastest to transport goods from the Grand Canal to Shengjing. The more goods you transport, the lower the cost. But Tang... Tang Shen, you are sure you need so many goods, can you get all of them? Sell it?"
Tang Shen: "You can rest assured."
After staying with Tang Yun in Shengjing for two days, Tang Yun bid farewell and returned to Gusu Mansion.
The things in the north are taken care of by shopkeeper Lu and accountant Lin, and the things in the south are all handed over to the Tang family.Tang Shen came to the study room, spread out a piece of white rice paper, took a deep breath, and wrote three large characters on it.
"Baibaoge"
After finishing writing, he felt dissatisfied again, crumpled the rice paper into a ball, and wrote several times.
After writing seven or eight chapters, Tang Shen simply put down the pen and wrote it later.
The next day, just as Tang Shen was leaving the court, the chief eunuch Ji Fu suddenly stopped him.
Tang Shen was shocked. Facing Ji Fu, he pretended to be flattered, bowed his body, and said, "Eunuch Ji."
Ji Fu is just an eunuch, but Tang Shen is a fourth-rank official. Tang Shen gave him a false gift, which is not in accordance with the etiquette, but Ji Fu is very useful.Back when Tang Shen was still a housekeeper, he treated Ji Fu very politely, and would give a small gift every year and festival.Now that Tang Shenguan is a fourth-rank official, he is a member of the Zhongshu Sheren of Qinzheng Palace, and he still treats Ji Fu like this, and the smile on Ji Fu's face deepens.
He said in a sharp voice: "Master Tang, the official family is waiting for you in the Chui Gong Palace, you can go with the slave family quickly."
Tang Shen immediately followed Ji Fu to the Chui Gong Hall.
In the Chuigong Palace, Zhao Fu was flipping through a memorial, and when he saw Tang Shen coming, he put down the memorial and said with a smile: "Jing Ze is here."
Tang Shen bowed and saluted: "Your Majesty."
Tang Shen glanced around quietly, the living room and living room people sitting on the left and right sides were all unfamiliar faces, presumably they were newly transferred by the emperor after Tang Shen left.
Zhao Fu looked at Tang Shen, smiled and said, "I haven't seen Jing Ze for a long time, but Jing Ze is still separated from me."
Tang Shen raised his head very appropriately, showing a moved and grateful expression.
Zhao Fu saw his little tricks in his eyes, he knew that Tang Shen was trying to please him, and he also liked the feeling of being flattered.What's more, Zhao Fu likes officials who can see through them at a glance.
Zhao Fudao: "I'm getting old. Recently, when I was reviewing memorials in the Chuigong Palace, I felt that the light was dim, not like before."
Tang Shen hurriedly said: "Your Majesty lives as long as the sky."
"Jing Ze, after thinking about it, I feel that this paper window doesn't seem to let in much light. I heard that you made something interesting." As he spoke, Zhao Fu looked at Ji Fu, who understood, He ordered the little eunuch to bring a wooden plate of huanghuali, with a crystal clear thing on it.
This thing is really amazing, the eunuchs serving in the hall, the living man, and the living servants were all shocked when they saw it.
Zhao Fu: "Look up and have a look."
Tang Shen raised his head, and when his eyes met the small glass bottle of essential oil, Tang Shen suddenly froze.
Zhao Fu looked at Tang Shen's stunned look, and said, "Does this thing look familiar? It's Zifeng's. One day a corner of his sleeve was exposed, and I saw it, so I played with it. Translucent colored glaze , is really rare. I heard from Zifeng that this is something you made, is it true?"
Tang Shen was full of thoughts, he said: "I come from the Tang family in Gusu Prefecture, and my family runs a business. This translucent colored glaze is called glass, and it was figured out by a worker in the Tang family's workshop."
"It's a good thing, and it should be rewarded. I see, isn't it made of glazed stone?"
Tang Shen briefly talked about the raw materials of glass.
He was frightened and trembling, but Zhao Fu looked at him meaningfully, and touched the small glass bottle again.
"For me, replace all the paper windows in the Hanging Palace."
"Yes!"
Tang Shen was covered in cold sweat, leaving the Chui Gong Hall with trembling fingers.Walking to the palace road made of white jade, Tang Shen turned around and looked at the majestic and majestic palace.He opened his mouth, only to realize that he was speechless.
With Zhao Fu's words, the Tang family became an imperial merchant, and the glass became the Tang family's private property!
Tang Shen didn't know how Wang Qin did it.What did he do in the past two months to make Zhao Fu feel so at ease with Tang Shen, willing to list the Tang family as an imperial merchant, and make glass a synonym for the Tang family.
These days, Tang Shen couldn't sleep day and night. He even thought about deliberately reducing the production of glass to make such things rare and expensive.
But Wang Qin cleared all obstacles for him.
"Wang Zifeng..."
"Brother."
Tang Shen read the name softly, and his heart beat violently in his chest.
That night, he brought a box of snacks and came to Shangshu Mansion.
Wang Qin is playing the piano under the moonlight.It is said to be playing the piano, but it is actually just adjusting the sound of the piano.He was wearing a blue gown, and his long hair stood up with a jade crown.Hearing the sound of footsteps, Wang Qin raised his head, as if he had expected Tang Shen to come, he said with a light smile, "Junior brother."
Tang Shen walked into the pavilion by the pond, stared at Wang Qin for a long time, and said, "Today, I seem to have received a New Year gift prepared for me by my senior."
Under the moonlight, the young man in white smiled, and Wang Qin slowly pursed his lips.
Tang Shen thought for a while: "Take me to have a look."
Most of the official holidays are closed until the seventeenth day of the first lunar month, after the Lantern Festival.Tang Shen returned to Shengjing a few days earlier. He wore a thick jacket and followed Yao San to Liuli Workshop in the east of the city.
Yes, before Tang Shen left Shengjing, he spent half a month and finally made the glass.
When Tang Shen showed the finished product to Yao San, Accountant Lin and others, everyone exclaimed, "Liuli!"
Shopkeeper Lu often dealt with people in Prince Jing's Mansion and saw many good things.He said: "Glass is expensive, and it is usually a tribute from the imperial court. There are also folks, but most of them are rough and muddy in color. Such a good glaze needs to be made with good glaze stones. Little boss, where did you get it?" Arrived."
Everyone mistook glass for colored glaze, but Tang Shen didn't clarify.He said: "Liu Li is mostly colored, have you ever seen this kind of colorless glass?"
Shopkeeper Lu looked at it carefully: "That's not true, I've never seen a colorless one."
Tang Shen: "This is a special kind of colored glaze, it's not made of colored glaze stones. I call it glass, but if you want to call it colored glaze, it's fine. But the most important thing is that it's not made of colored glaze stones. Yes." Tang Shen emphasized again.
Accountant Lin and shopkeeper Lu took a tight breath and glanced at each other.
Accountant Lin: "Small boss, what do you mean... the raw material of this thing is cheaper than glazed stone?"
Shopkeeper Lu: "How much cheaper!"
Tang Shen stretched out his hand and compared a number.
Everyone took a deep breath.
Thus, there is the present scene.
Tang Shen and Yao San came to Liuli Workshop and saw craftsmen carefully grinding Ling Zishi into powder.In another workshop, craftsmen are preparing sodium hydroxide.Because I have previous experience in making soap, the configuration of sodium hydroxide went very smoothly.Just mixing Lingzi stone, feldspar and sandstone powder together, and then reacting with sodium hydroxide will always cause some waste.
Tang Shen observed for a long time, and then tried it himself. He discussed with several craftsmen who are good at making soap for a few days, and finally he could only reduce the waste rate of raw materials to 60%.
Tang Shen sighed in his heart: "Although it is an ancient Western glass-making method, if we can use later generations of machines, the waste rate can be reduced to at least 30%."
After making glass water as bright and hot as magma, it is glass blowing.
The blowing method is a method of making glass that has been used in the West for thousands of years, and craftsmen continue to use it in later generations.I saw a craftsman wrapped some liquid glass with a thin iron pipe.The liquid glass is very viscous, sticking to one side of the iron pipe like paste, and the craftsman blows it hard from the other side, and the liquid glass will bulge.
The next thing to do is to blow the glass shape you need.
Today's craftsmen can't blow out too fine utensils, only some simple shapes.
Tang Shen was watching the craftsmen blowing the glass. He selected a few people and took them aside.Tang Shendao: "You guys don't need to participate in rock fluid production anymore," rock fluid is liquid glass. "You concentrate on blowing glass to make more detailed shapes and patterns."
Several craftsmen nodded in agreement.
In private, Tang Shen said to Yao San: "Brother Yao, we didn't cooperate with anyone about the Liuli Workshop this time, it's our own business. Can you do a good job of keeping it secret?"
When making soaps and essential oils, everything was under the supervision of the Tang family, and all Tang Shen had to do was provide the formula.But this time, he didn't cooperate with anyone in the glass business, he just did it by himself, and he needed to do everything by himself.
Yao San hurriedly said: "That's natural. I let different craftsmen mix different raw materials, and I have taken care of them. And small bosses, ordinary merchants are fine, you are a fourth-rank official, an official, a craftsman They dare not make mistakes. If they dare to commit crimes, they all know what will happen."
Tang Shen nodded.
In ancient times, officials were not allowed to engage in business. In addition to the lower social status of merchants, it was still to prevent officials from using their power for personal gain.Although there are no officials in this world who cannot do business, and the status of businessmen is much higher than that in Tang Shen's memory, but there is a huge difference between a fourth-rank official doing business and a white man doing business.
After taking care of Liuli Workshop, the 20-day official vacation is over.
In the 29th year of Kaiping, on the seventeenth day of the first lunar month, the ugly hour is three quarters.
Tang Shen got up quickly, and Fengbi boy brought him a basin of hot water, and asked Tang Shen to wash his face and hands.Then, Fengbi served Tang Shen to put on layers of complicated official robes.Tang Shen hadn't gotten up so early for a long time. He looked at the sky outside, only to see the moon was rising high, and the sky was pitch black.
It was just before three o'clock.
Sighing, Tang Shen put on his official hat, picked up the jade wat, and went out to the palace.
First-rank officials can take a carriage driven by two horses and rush to the palace; second-rank officials can take a carriage driven by a single horse to go to the palace.Further down, third-rank officials ride in donkey carts, and fourth-rank officials walk on their feet.There are also fourth-rank officials with bad legs and feet. They can submit a letter to the Ministry of Rites, and the Ministry of Rites will approve them, allowing them to go to court every day in a donkey cart.
But when they entered the Xuanwu Gate of the imperial palace, everyone got out of the car one after another and walked into the palace.
Before the time came, the first and second rank officials were resting in the main hall of Chongzheng Hall, the third rank officials were in the left hall, and the fourth rank officials, who had the largest number of people, were crowded together, all in the right side hall.
After not going to court for a long time, the officials congratulated each other on the New Year.
Fortunately, those who need to come to court every day are all Beijing officials of the fourth rank or above.In addition, if some local officials with a fourth-rank official rank come to Beijing, they need to report to the Ministry of Rites one day in advance, and they will also come to court the next day.
Tang Shen looked at the side hall on the right, and sure enough, he found many strange faces.
At the beginning of the new year, local officials went to Beijing to congratulate the emperor for the new year, so there were more people.
When the time came, the eunuch in charge came to the Chongzheng Hall, and the Xuan officials entered the hall to have an audience.First, the first- and second-rank officials from the main hall went out, followed by the third-rank officials from the left side hall.Finally, it was the turn of these fourth-rank officials.
The etiquette and laws of the Song Dynasty were strict, and even the emperor could not exceed the rules.
As a member of Zhongshushe, Tang Shen was an official of Qinzheng Hall. He stood in the line of officials on the left, with his head bowed, listening to the Minister of Rites, Meng Lang, recite New Year's blessings.Tang Shen stood in the second row among the rank four officials.Just like the jingle circulating in Shengjing: those from other places are not as good as those from Shengjing, and those from Shengjing are not as good as those from Qinzheng.
The officials of Qinzheng Palace are all higher than other fourth-rank officials when they go out.
Because it was the first time to go to the morning court in the new year, all the officials in the court hall reported to Zhao Fu what happened in the past year.Except for the heavy rain in the north last year, which flooded many cities and washed away an unrepaired bridge, there were no other natural disasters.No one would touch the emperor's bad luck at this time. The new governor of the governorate brought up the collapse of the Jinghe Bridge, and publicized that more than half of the official roads in the governorate had been repaired, and it would definitely be repaired by the middle of this year.
Governor of Cizhou: "Your Majesty, the blessings are as good as the sky, and the people of Cizhou are looking forward to it day and night, and the official road will be completed soon!"
Zhao Fu smiled and raised his hand, his voice softened: "Then go and fix it."
"Yes!"
An hour later, the court was over, and all the officials left the palace one after another.
Tang Shen raised his head and subconsciously glanced at the first and second rank officials.I saw Wang Qin was talking to Xu Linghou, the left servant of the household department, Xu Linghou looked up at Wang Qin in surprise from time to time, and nodded again and again.After a while, the chief eunuch Ji Fu came out from the hall and said a few words to Wang Qin.
Wang Qin paused for a moment, then followed Ji Fu back.
At the end of the first month, shopkeeper Lu and accountant Lin set off for the north, and it took half a month to go there.
As a member of Zhongshushe, Tang Shen reads the notebooks sent by officials from all over the country every day, and from time to time also participates in the drafting of the imperial edict.
Of course, the imperial edict of the emperor cannot be written by himself.Except for the Edict of Guilt and the annual prayer to heaven, the emperor had a decree at other times, ordering the eunuch to come to the Qinzheng Hall to read the oral edict, and then asked Zhongshu Sheren to write an edict and send it to the Chuigong Hall. After the emperor reviewed it, he stamped it with the seal of the jade seal.
The 29th year of Kaiping has just started, the world is peaceful, and the weather in Kyushu is smooth.
By mid-February, Lin accountant returned to Shengjing.
Accountant Lin: "For the matter of Ningzhou, with the letter from the little boss and the help of Mr. Wang Xiaowang, it is really getting twice the result with half the effort. Ningzhou is the place where the Song Dynasty and the Liao Kingdom have the most trade, and the things that the Liao people like are all new things. , such as silk, tea, and the translucent colored glaze we brought over this time. Regarding the matter of the Liao merchants, please take a weight for the little boss, don’t worry."
Tang Shen nodded, and was about to speak, when he heard a little girl in men's clothing say, "Take the official road of Ningzhou, although you can reach Shengjing in one day. But if you want to transport a large amount of goods, the speed will not be fast, I'm afraid it will take a long time." Two days."
Hearing this, Tang Shen smiled and said, "I haven't said anything about you yet, why did you go to Ningzhou again and still dress like this?"
Don Juan opened his eyes wide: "I, what's the matter with me dressed like this! Brother, didn't you read the book that women in the previous dynasty liked to wear men's clothes a lot. They often wear men's clothes every day and ride horses in the suburbs. Oh! Although there are fewer women wearing men's clothes in this dynasty, I can see one or two every day in Xixia Tower. What's more..." The voice gradually faded, "What's more, I went to Ningzhou wearing men's clothes , and no one found it along the way.”
Tang Shen suddenly laughed.
I dare you to wear men's clothes without being noticed, is it a good thing?
Tang Shen looked at his younger sister carefully, and roughly understood why she was not easy to be found in men's clothing.Tang Juan worked hard in the countryside since he was a child, exposed to the wind and the sun, his skin was not as delicate as those boudoir ladies.She has eaten well since she was a child, and Tang Shen and Aunt Yao never bothered her to tell her to eat less, so she has a strong body and is half a head taller than ordinary girls.
For such a girl, after wearing men's clothing, it is really difficult for people to discover her true identity.
Tang Shen: "Tell me first, why did you go to Ningzhou again this time?"
Don Juan froze immediately, and she whispered, "I came up with this idea, can't I even go to Ningzhou..."
Tang Shen looked at her steadily.
Don Juan was beating a drum in his heart.Just when she thought Tang Shen was going to scold her and not allow her to go out at will, Tang Shen smiled and said: "When did I say you can't go out, you just don't go out alone, you know? Be careful when walking outside .Ningzhou is a place where Liao people gather, and if something happens there, no one can protect you."
"I know, brother is the best!"
Tang Shen talked with Accountant Lin for a while, Accountant Lin left first.After the family had dinner, Tang Shen called Tang Juan to his study.By this time Don Juan had changed into a woman's dress.He is handsome and handsome in men's clothes, but heroic in women's clothes.Tang Shen looked at his younger sister seriously, and Tang Juan was overwhelmed and hairy all over.
Tang Shen: "Earlier, my aunt told me that you are about to grow old soon, and you should marry someone else."
Don Juan: "..."
"What do you think?"
"I don't want to marry yet!"
Tang Shen: "Okay, that's how it is."
Tang Juan had prepared a lot of words, but when she heard Tang Shen's answer, she was stunned: "Brother, you... allow me not to marry?"
Tang Shen raised his eyebrows: "Didn't you say that you don't want to marry for the time being, do you plan not to marry in the future?"
Don Juan chuckled: "No way, I just don't want to get married right now."
"It's up to you. My Tang family can afford to feed you."
Tang Juan was taken aback, looking at Tang Shen at this moment, she suddenly had a strange idea in her heart.If she told Tang Shen now that she never wanted to marry in her life, maybe Tang Shen would agree.It's obviously something that Yu Li disagrees with, but Tang Shen will definitely not force her to do something he doesn't like.
For no reason, she just thought so.
After a long time, the 14-year-old girl said softly: "Brother, when I came in, I heard from Aunt Yao that she gave you pig's trotter soup, and I'll bring it to you?"
Tang Shen looked at his younger sister in surprise.
When did his sister become so caring?
Tang Shen: "Okay."
Don Juan ran out of the study happily.
In fact, even if Tang Juan didn't refuse this time, Tang Shen never thought about marrying his younger sister.
Getting married at the age of 15 is really anti-human!
He couldn't imagine the 15-year-old Don Juan with a big belly.For such a young mother, her physical development has not yet grown well. If she conceives and gives birth at this time, not to mention dystocia, it will be very unhealthy for her body.The average life expectancy of women in ancient times was so short, and getting married and having children too early was a major reason!
If Tang Juan wanted to get married earlier, Tang Shen could keep her until she was 16 years old, and 16 years old was his bottom line.
In the Song Dynasty, although there were not many marriages, it was not too uncommon.It's just possible that there will be some gossip.However, it is the people who are not strong enough who will really be crushed by gossip.He believes that he can protect his younger sister, and prevent the little girl with red eyes who cried and said that she would give all her dowry to her brother to study, to marry a stranger who doesn't know anything about it.
In late February, Tang Yun went north by boat and came to Shengjing along the Grand Canal.
Yao San took him to Tanhua Mansion.
The first time Tang Shen met Tang Yun was in his plain and simple courtyard in Gusu Mansion.Tang Yun lost his temper and threw everything in the yard all over the floor. The two even made a bet on whether Tang Shen would be able to pass the children's examination next year.
Now four years have passed, and the sea has changed.
Tang Yun has become a relative and has grown a mustache.He managed to pass the exam last year, but he didn't pass the college exam, so he is not eligible to take the township exam for the time being.Seeing Tang Shen, Tang Yun couldn't help showing a trace of timidity.
Tang Shen saw Tang Yun's embarrassment in his eyes, and until now, of course he would not get angry with him.If he was so fussy about such a trivial matter, he would be furious to death as an official in the court every day.
Tang Shen took the initiative and said, "Brother, what happened to Gusu and Jinling?"
Seeing that Tang Shen called him "big cousin", Tang Yun heaved a sigh of relief.He said: "As you said, just after the new year last month, my father and I went to Jinling to discuss the delivery of goods with the Zheng family. We already had business dealings with the Zheng family, and they quickly agreed. It will take seven days at the fastest to transport goods from the Grand Canal to Shengjing. The more goods you transport, the lower the cost. But Tang... Tang Shen, you are sure you need so many goods, can you get all of them? Sell it?"
Tang Shen: "You can rest assured."
After staying with Tang Yun in Shengjing for two days, Tang Yun bid farewell and returned to Gusu Mansion.
The things in the north are taken care of by shopkeeper Lu and accountant Lin, and the things in the south are all handed over to the Tang family.Tang Shen came to the study room, spread out a piece of white rice paper, took a deep breath, and wrote three large characters on it.
"Baibaoge"
After finishing writing, he felt dissatisfied again, crumpled the rice paper into a ball, and wrote several times.
After writing seven or eight chapters, Tang Shen simply put down the pen and wrote it later.
The next day, just as Tang Shen was leaving the court, the chief eunuch Ji Fu suddenly stopped him.
Tang Shen was shocked. Facing Ji Fu, he pretended to be flattered, bowed his body, and said, "Eunuch Ji."
Ji Fu is just an eunuch, but Tang Shen is a fourth-rank official. Tang Shen gave him a false gift, which is not in accordance with the etiquette, but Ji Fu is very useful.Back when Tang Shen was still a housekeeper, he treated Ji Fu very politely, and would give a small gift every year and festival.Now that Tang Shenguan is a fourth-rank official, he is a member of the Zhongshu Sheren of Qinzheng Palace, and he still treats Ji Fu like this, and the smile on Ji Fu's face deepens.
He said in a sharp voice: "Master Tang, the official family is waiting for you in the Chui Gong Palace, you can go with the slave family quickly."
Tang Shen immediately followed Ji Fu to the Chui Gong Hall.
In the Chuigong Palace, Zhao Fu was flipping through a memorial, and when he saw Tang Shen coming, he put down the memorial and said with a smile: "Jing Ze is here."
Tang Shen bowed and saluted: "Your Majesty."
Tang Shen glanced around quietly, the living room and living room people sitting on the left and right sides were all unfamiliar faces, presumably they were newly transferred by the emperor after Tang Shen left.
Zhao Fu looked at Tang Shen, smiled and said, "I haven't seen Jing Ze for a long time, but Jing Ze is still separated from me."
Tang Shen raised his head very appropriately, showing a moved and grateful expression.
Zhao Fu saw his little tricks in his eyes, he knew that Tang Shen was trying to please him, and he also liked the feeling of being flattered.What's more, Zhao Fu likes officials who can see through them at a glance.
Zhao Fudao: "I'm getting old. Recently, when I was reviewing memorials in the Chuigong Palace, I felt that the light was dim, not like before."
Tang Shen hurriedly said: "Your Majesty lives as long as the sky."
"Jing Ze, after thinking about it, I feel that this paper window doesn't seem to let in much light. I heard that you made something interesting." As he spoke, Zhao Fu looked at Ji Fu, who understood, He ordered the little eunuch to bring a wooden plate of huanghuali, with a crystal clear thing on it.
This thing is really amazing, the eunuchs serving in the hall, the living man, and the living servants were all shocked when they saw it.
Zhao Fu: "Look up and have a look."
Tang Shen raised his head, and when his eyes met the small glass bottle of essential oil, Tang Shen suddenly froze.
Zhao Fu looked at Tang Shen's stunned look, and said, "Does this thing look familiar? It's Zifeng's. One day a corner of his sleeve was exposed, and I saw it, so I played with it. Translucent colored glaze , is really rare. I heard from Zifeng that this is something you made, is it true?"
Tang Shen was full of thoughts, he said: "I come from the Tang family in Gusu Prefecture, and my family runs a business. This translucent colored glaze is called glass, and it was figured out by a worker in the Tang family's workshop."
"It's a good thing, and it should be rewarded. I see, isn't it made of glazed stone?"
Tang Shen briefly talked about the raw materials of glass.
He was frightened and trembling, but Zhao Fu looked at him meaningfully, and touched the small glass bottle again.
"For me, replace all the paper windows in the Hanging Palace."
"Yes!"
Tang Shen was covered in cold sweat, leaving the Chui Gong Hall with trembling fingers.Walking to the palace road made of white jade, Tang Shen turned around and looked at the majestic and majestic palace.He opened his mouth, only to realize that he was speechless.
With Zhao Fu's words, the Tang family became an imperial merchant, and the glass became the Tang family's private property!
Tang Shen didn't know how Wang Qin did it.What did he do in the past two months to make Zhao Fu feel so at ease with Tang Shen, willing to list the Tang family as an imperial merchant, and make glass a synonym for the Tang family.
These days, Tang Shen couldn't sleep day and night. He even thought about deliberately reducing the production of glass to make such things rare and expensive.
But Wang Qin cleared all obstacles for him.
"Wang Zifeng..."
"Brother."
Tang Shen read the name softly, and his heart beat violently in his chest.
That night, he brought a box of snacks and came to Shangshu Mansion.
Wang Qin is playing the piano under the moonlight.It is said to be playing the piano, but it is actually just adjusting the sound of the piano.He was wearing a blue gown, and his long hair stood up with a jade crown.Hearing the sound of footsteps, Wang Qin raised his head, as if he had expected Tang Shen to come, he said with a light smile, "Junior brother."
Tang Shen walked into the pavilion by the pond, stared at Wang Qin for a long time, and said, "Today, I seem to have received a New Year gift prepared for me by my senior."
Under the moonlight, the young man in white smiled, and Wang Qin slowly pursed his lips.
You'll Also Like
-
Dragon Ball: Reborn as a Saiyan, They Covet Me
Chapter 120 1 hours ago -
Bleach: The Invincible Slacker from Rukongai
Chapter 201 3 hours ago -
Elves: Check out Ash's top ten legendary companions!
Chapter 194 3 hours ago -
I, Nurarihyon, the Lord of All Monsters
Chapter 121 3 hours ago -
Hogwarts: Past life exposed, I am the Sorcerer Supreme
Chapter 43 3 hours ago -
Shura White Tiger in Sailing
Chapter 186 3 hours ago -
National Secret Realm: Dig out Queen Medusa at the beginning
Chapter 223 3 hours ago -
Dissecting corpses in the morning, blind dating with Boss Yang in the afternoon
Chapter 209 3 hours ago -
Life in Tokyo starting as a child star
Chapter 184 3 hours ago -
Simultaneous time travel: Starting from the inherently evil Uchiha
Chapter 306 3 hours ago