"The king of Yunhan and Yunhan will show his return to heaven. The king said, "Why are you here! How can you blame the people of today?" The Book of Songs·Daya·Yunhan
Since the ambush, the weather has gradually changed. The weather, which used to be scorching hot every day, is often cloudy at this time. On the post road that crosses the east and west, there are fast horses galloping, or in Hongnong Hangu, Shaanxian County There was light rain, or there were layers of clouds gathering in the Lantian Valley southeast of Jingzhao, covering the mountains. Although this little rain was like a drop in the bucket, and the emperor did not rely on this little rain to resolve the drought, this news was enough to comfort and make him I am full of confidence in the upcoming great ceremony.
In the past few days, Liu Wan, the commander of the Lingtai, kept reporting to the palace in order to increase the accuracy of the news. He said that it was made by Zhang Heng himself and that the Xiangfeng Bronze Crow placed at the highest point of the Lingtai kept turning in the direction of the southeast wind.
So the emperor wore plain clothes, cut down on meals and music, and sat in the open to listen to government affairs. This official activity was brought to the people. Lulifangmen also closed the market and banned slaughter, and families worshiped stoves.
August 20th, the first year of Jian'an.
Chang'an, southern suburbs.
At this time, a new altar has been built in the southern suburbs, four feet high and twelve feet around. There are seven red flags on it. A red earth dragon about seven feet long is entrenched in the center. There are six smaller dragons guarding the south, each with a length of Three feet and five feet. In front of the earth dragon are preserved wine, yellow cattle for sacrifice, and a pile of dry firewood. The way of setting up earth dragons to pray for rain has been around for a long time. The general principle is that "Yi" says, "The clouds follow the dragon, and the wind follows the dragon." "From the tiger", so we pray for it by likeness. Not only the official, but also folk children will catch some lizards, small snakes and other dragon-like animals to pray for rain in private.
Even Wang Chong, who has been criticizing idealism, ghosts and gods all his life, highly approves of the earth dragon praying for rain, and even cited many reasons to demonstrate its feasibility. Although in the eyes of later generations, sacrificing the earth dragon has the same symbolic meaning as whipping the spring ox. It has practical significance, but in the eyes of people who suffered from severe drought at that time, even the most determined materialists would involuntarily change their beliefs.
The festival held to pray for rain is called "Uu". Uumu festivals are divided into regular Uumu and Ouu festivals. Uzumaki festival is a ritual held every year to pray for rain, while Ouu festival is only held when the drought is particularly serious. Uumu festival has been held since ancient times. It has been passed down from ancient times to this day, and the one that the imperial courts of all dynasties have attached the most importance to and have the highest standards for is the Da Yu.
The emperor wore a crown on his head, a royal robe under the Xuan Dynasty, elegant clothes, and a red coat. He slowly climbed up to the altar. Before the altar, he first thanked and blamed himself with six things: "Heaven has punished you, and you have returned. This drought is caused by poor government, neglect of duties by the people, respect for the palace, prosperity of women’s visits, and slanderous husbands. Yuanyuan is not guilty. The crime is mine. I am willing to give it to one person and do no harm. Li Shu."
Then he knelt down twice, bowed his head to heaven, knelt down on the futon and said, "Hao was born with grains to nourish people. Now the grains are sick and dry, and I'm afraid things won't work. I offer you some wine and breasts, and then I pray for rain. The rain is lucky, so I pray for you." Sacrifice prayer.”
Then the Dazai ordered the butcher to wash the cow's head with four liters of sake, and to offer sacrifices to the five heavenly emperors, as well as all the gods of mountains, rivers, and grain that had been sacrificed before. As the pile of dry firewood in front of the red earth dragon was ignited, a wave of heat spread on the altar. Gungun, eight boys and girls came to the altar with the emperor, wearing mysterious clothes and holding feathers. They danced around and sang the poem "Yunhan". The poem "Yunhan" was written by King Xuan of Zhou Dynasty. Prayers to the sky for rain, used to cultivate virtue and avoid disasters, and harmonize yin and yang.
The emperor stood in the center, watching quietly as a dozen children danced energetically around him. They were wearing long-sleeved robes, and their round faces were covered with big beads of sweat. The children didn't know how to feel sad, even in this extreme state. On the solemn occasion, they still smiled sincerely, singing and dancing as if they were playing games. He suddenly thought of a sentence in "The Analects of Confucius", "When you bathe in Yi, the wind will dance, and you will return chanting", maybe he is in this position You can never have fun in the world, so you can only try your best to make the lives of these people in front of you safe.
The ups and downs are all caused by the suffering of the people at the bottom. Doing good deeds will not be rewarded, and doing evil deeds will not be rewarded. Ordinary people have worked hard for half their lives, and a rain can destroy everything. This also proves that the way of heaven is inaction and will not affect anything.
To lend a helping hand, and if there is really something to be done, there is nothing I wouldn’t do...
The emperor raised his head slightly, looked at the sky through the dangling jade, and sincerely wished in his heart that he should help me overcome this difficulty.
After the great ceremony, the emperor immediately returned to the palace and continued to sit in the East Hall.
In order to cooperate with the emperor's sacrificial ceremony, Empress Dong led Fushou in Yeting these days, and Song Du and others followed the emperor to wear plain clothes and eat less food, which was considered a contribution. After hearing that the emperor had finished the sacrificial ceremony, the weather was
The weather was getting hotter and muggier, and there was no wind. Empress Dong was anxious, fearing that her failure to pray for rain would be a blow to the emperor, so she sent her chief minister to inquire.
As soon as he arrived in front of the palace gate, Chang Yu saw Zhao, the Cai Nv next to Fu Shou, talking to Mu Shun, followed by a tall Cai Nv holding a food box in her hand.
"Zhao Cainu, please come back." Mu Shun put his hands in his sleeves and glanced at Chang Yu who was coming up from the corner of his eye. He put his hands away and said, "Your Majesty still has to sit in the open, so it is inconvenient to see the female family members."
"These are the nobles' own hands..." Zhao Cainv opened her mouth to say.
"Your Majesty, you think this slave is no longer good at serving others." Mu Shun said with a smile, his face full of kindness. He held his hands in one place and still refused to stretch them out from his sleeves. "Please take these back, Your Majesty has already said
But don't be in a hurry to eat. When it's time to feed, the eunuch will bring you soup cakes."
Hearing this, Chang Yu coughed lightly and walked slowly closer. Only then did Zhao Cainu see Chang Yu behind her, she stepped aside slightly, lowered her head and saluted, "I've met Chang Yu."
The Changyu is to the Queen as the servant is to the Emperor. His rank and status are only lower than the Queen and the nobles. In addition, this person is always with Empress Dong, in charge of the palace rules, and the Yeting Order and the Yongxiang Order to punish the guilty.
The palace man made everyone in Ye Ting afraid of him. Zhao Cainu treated him with all courtesy, but the other party was cold and arrogant and did not appreciate it. He acted as if he had not seen him and walked straight past Zhao Cainu, smiling at Mu
Shun said, "It is inconvenient for the queen to come to the front hall, so she sent me to greet the country."
"Queen, thank you for your trouble." Mu Shun greeted everyone with a smile, but the subtle attitude in his tone could not be concealed. "The etiquette of praying for rain is complicated. Your Majesty is just tired. Just take a rest."
.”
Chang Yu nodded, turned around and prepared to go back. Before leaving, he didn't forget to stop by Zhao Cainu's side for a while. He reached out unceremoniously and opened the food box held by the tall Cainu. He glanced at the simple meals inside and couldn't help but sneer.
Before the laughter ended, she suddenly looked up and saw the charming face of the Cai Nv, and was stunned for a moment.
Zhao Cainu, who had always been steady and measured, could not help but turn pale with anger at the other party's contemptuous behavior. She moved to stop between the two of them and said in a cold voice, "What are you doing, Chang Yu?"
"I just want to see Fu Guiren's 'attention'." Changyu couldn't help but feel a little funny when she saw the other party's behavior as if she was protecting a young child. She looked at Cainv's face for a few times, then said nothing and calmed down.
The eyebrows left.
"Sister." The tall Cainü was none other than Zou. Seeing Chang Yu's expression, she muttered angrily, "She's too rude."
"Shut up." Zhao Cainu whispered, interrupting Zou's complaint, and turned back to Mu Shun, who was still smiling and standing on the steps, "Thank you, Mu Huangmen."
Mu Shun smiled so hard that his eyes narrowed into slits, and he said kindly, "It doesn't matter, it doesn't matter."