"The word Ji means "borrow", and it is managed by the people's power, so it is called "Ji Tian".
Chang'an, east of Qingming Gate.
It’s the time of spring and summer, and the breeze blows in the fields outside the city. There has been abundant rain in Guanzhong in the past two years, and the weather in April is also suitable. Dozens of newly built canals continuously bring clear and cold river water.
, the grass seedlings blown by the breeze are constantly bending and standing upright in the field, and the slender green stems are like the new hair of children, pregnant with infinite vitality.
This piece of fertile land with an area of several hectares belongs directly to Taichang. It is a land whose political function is greater than its practical use. Since this land was designated, every year the emperor and his ministers would come here to hold a 'farming ceremony' and a ceremony to worship the God of Agriculture and pray.
The weather is good and the grain is abundant. Not far away, there is the Xiannong Altar, which is used to worship farmers and pray for good harvests. There are also ancestral temples, Sheji and other ritual buildings built in the south corner of Chang'an City.
According to legend, the emperor's homeland had a thousand acres, and the princes had a hundred acres. Before spring plowing, the emperor would symbolically push or push farm tools three times or one hand on the homeland, which was called the "home ceremony" to show the emphasis on agriculture. The homeland was originally just a demonstration for the emperor.
Farming has long been just a form. After the emperor completes the ceremony, the land will be handed over to specialized farmers for management. At the end of the year, the grain harvested and threshed by the emperor "personally" will be used for sacrifices.
This form that has been passed down for thousands of years began to change with the emperor. Not only did he personally take off the heavy court clothes in the spring field, put on coarse and short brown clothes, and go to the fields to work in person, but under his leadership, many
The accompanying ministers also had to change into common people's clothes and go to the fields.
After all, the emperor has stepped into the mud with both feet, and it is not suitable for others to continue to stand on the ridge and watch.
On almost every specific day, including the Spring Equinox, the Ear Grain, and the end of the summer heat, the emperor would go to his fields to inspect the crops. Even at the final harvest, he would solemnly lead the officials to preside over the harvest of a certain piece of land, and then harvest the fields.
The rice harvested in a year was given to the ministers respectively.
Most of the ministers had been away from farming since they were born. As they got older, they often went to the fields with the emperor to check on the farm conditions, and they all complained in their hearts. Some said that this was disrespectful and undermined the dignity, but the emperor was happy with it.
, no one can change his mind.
On this day, after the emperor stood on the Xiannong Altar and looked at the fields, he went to a certain field again and greeted Dong Cheng. Several close ministers from Zhao and Wen followed him to plant rice, and the rest of the accompanying officials were in other fields.
Work under the guidance of experienced farmers.
When the sun was not yet scorching, the warm wind was gentle, and the water and soil were cool. The emperor raised his arms and wiped his forehead with his rough linen sleeves. Seeing this, Dong Cheng behind him immediately straightened his waist and took the opportunity to be lazy.
The emperor turned his head and glanced at Dong Cheng, and was about to say something when he suddenly saw that Zhao Wen was slightly out of breath, and his tone softened: "Let's rest for now."
Dong Cheng was granted amnesty. He was born in the army. Although his body was stronger than other officials in the court, he had been pampered for many years and his body was not as good as before. He had long been impatient with this kind of hard work and did not bother to do it. He just saw the emperor doing it himself.
, I couldn't help but could only follow behind and sit up.
So the emperor and others walked to a big mulberry tree on the ridge. The emperor sat down on the bed with bare feet. Mu Shun quickly brought a bucket and poured the mud on the emperor's feet.
While drinking water, the emperor looked at the expressions of the people around him with great interest. Working in the fields was not a decision he made without thinking. For him, working in the fields could exercise his body and make him familiar with farming, and it could also benefit others.
to the role of 'reform through labor'.
"Mr. Zhao is tired?" the emperor said to Sikong Zhao Wen beside him.
Zhao Wen smiled bitterly and joked: "I am old after all. How could I be like this if I were ten years younger?"
The emperor smiled and asked Situ Yang Biao: "What about Mr. Yang?"
Yang Biao had a bitter look on his face. Zhao Wen had always been a chivalrous and righteous man when he was young. He had gone through many hardships, but he was a wealthy family. Not only did he farm, he rarely even went to the fields. Now the emperor pulled them together in a whim.
After working hard for a long time, he felt physically and mentally exhausted, as if he was back on the bumpy journey from Luoyang to Chang'an.
"My legs are inconvenient. I'm going on a trip today. I'm afraid I'll have to recuperate at home for a few days after I go back." Yang Biao said bluntly.
"People need to move regularly so that they can have a healthy body and smooth blood circulation, and then they can live a long life." The emperor pointed at the old farmer who was still helping in the farmland in the distance and said: "This person has long been deaf, but he can still eat.
Doing rice, working hard all day long. It can be seen that regular exercise strengthens the body and prevents debilitating diseases."
Yang Biao would rather choose exercise methods such as horse riding and archery than do such undignified hard work. He thought that he was a dignified official and an important minister of the country, but he still had to do some farmer's work. What would others think? In his mind
He didn't think so, but he said he wanted to be taught.
The emperor noticed the subtle changes in everyone's expressions and the hesitation to speak, and said no more.
Zhonghuangmen came trotting seriously from a distance and reported to the emperor: "The captain of the city gate came to report that General Wei has arrived in the north of the city."
Dong Cheng, who was taking a breather and resting, looked slightly cold and said sarcastically: "According to the schedule, Cao Cao should arrive tomorrow. It seems that Xiliang is not suitable for living for a long time. As soon as he was transferred, he came here non-stop."
The decision to recruit Western General Cao Cao to serve as General Wei was made by the emperor himself without anyone's suggestion. It was precisely because of this that Dong Cheng paid special attention to it.
"He came quickly." The emperor was not affected by Dong Cheng. He was raising his legs to let Mu Shun wipe his feet with a relaxed expression: "Why, Cao Mengde heard that I was here and wanted to come to see you?"
"Your Majesty, this is not a place to receive foreign ministers. It is inappropriate to dress appropriately and lose your dignity." Dong Cheng's words rarely aroused the unanimous agreement of Yang Biao and others. In order to facilitate their work, they all changed out of their cumbersome and loose court clothes and wore
The same short brown linen clothes worn by farmers and common people.
Thinking that Cao Cao came here dressed neatly, people like myself seemed to be in trouble. How could they be able to stand up to the ministers in person in the future?
"Emperor Xiaowu sat in the toilet and issued an edict to Wei Qing. He met Gongsun Hong without wearing a hat. Every etiquette must be adapted to the time and place. You cannot just stick to it and don't know how to adapt." The emperor stepped on his shoes with two bare feet.
, leaning against the mulberry tree, with firm eyes.
"But Cao Cao also has hundreds of cavalry retinues brought from Xiliang." Dong Cheng had no good intentions and objected from another aspect.
"Is it the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry he trained from Liangzhou?" Cao Cao was naturally allowed to bring a team of soldiers and horses as escorts with the Emperor's permission. He didn't think so, but was eager to try. He looked at Huben, whose soldiers were neatly armored and patrolling the fields.
, the Yulins: "That's just right, they have nothing to do, so let's just compete."
Dong Cheng and others had no choice but to quickly send someone to tell Cao Cao, so that Cao Cao could not even enter the city gate, so they bypassed half of Chang'an City from the city wall to Xiannongtan Jitian.
The new General Guard who was transferred from the local area knew the rules very well. He did not dare to show any prestige, so he took the lead in dismounting his horse and walking when he was far away from the Xiannong Altar. When he reached the surveillance range of the Forbidden Army, he even asked the accompanying guards to dismount.
He took off his armor and saddle, and stayed aside quietly. He handed over his sword, and followed the leader with small steps to a big mulberry tree.
Cao Cao never thought that after leaving Luoyang to organize a rebellion against Dong, he would see the emperor again on such an occasion and in such a way.
If it weren't for the elite imperial troops patrolling around, the monarchs and ministers looked tired but their energy was not diminished. Cao Cao subconsciously mistakenly thought that the other party was fleeing!
Cao Cao inadvertently looked at the official court uniform that he had specially changed into on the way here, and suddenly felt that he was a little out of place.