- >>-> "There is a bird like a crow, which crows before the chicken, and makes a grid. When people wait for this bird, they enter the fields to wait for it." [Jingchu Chronicles]
The fourth day of the second lunar month in the third year of Jian'an was the vernal equinox.
Jingzhou, in Xiangyang City.
As soon as the first lunar month has passed, people are still coming and going in the Prefecture, and various colorful ribbons are still hanging on the branches swaying in the cold wind. The vibrant branches have already drawn a touch of green in the still cold air, and magpies are jumping between the branches.
Go and stare at Cangtou with eyes as big as mung beans, slaves climb the stairs and plant fireweed on the roof.
Jiehuocao is also known as Sedum, Shenhuo. The leaves are as big as purslane. It can be used as medicine. Because of its name, it is also said to have the function of warding off fire. Every spring equinox, people in Jingchu area in the south use clay pots.
It is cultivated and planted on houses to ward off fires in the year. It is just ordinary grass and trees, which are difficult to withstand lightning strikes. What’s more, fire is naturally a natural resistance to trees. How can it be avoided with just one name? It’s just that this custom also places the people of Jingchu’s hope for the coming year.
The meaning behind the blessings of smooth rains and smooth winds and good fortune is far greater than the effect of a few grasses planted on the roof.
Therefore, Liu Biao was only curious about this custom for a while when he first came to Jingzhou, and then he accepted it calmly. Every year, he personally ordered his servants to take charge of various local customs in Jingchu.
Instead of being prejudiced against the northerners, he actively accepted local customs and wrote articles praising them, so he developed a good impression of him. For this elegant, knowledgeable, elegant and noble descendant of the emperor who came alone, the scholar-bureaucrats quickly established themselves in Jingzhou.
, played a big role in winning over the people.
Liu Biao drank a glass of wine and then looked down at the fireweed in the earthen basin. The leaves of the grass were green and sprouted from the perennial roots. It was even more elegant when paired with the simple earthenware basin. Cang Tou was holding a large tray.
There are several tile pots of the same size inside, with a few delicate fireweed growing in each. They are to be planted on the roofs of the owner's main house, front hall and other important buildings. Liu Biao personally inspects and handles them every time.
Only then could he show his concern. I saw Liu Biao reaching out and touching the tip of the grass blade in one of the earthenware basins. He took out the earthenware basin and placed it beside the charcoal stove. He nodded again and signaled Cang Tou to step back.
Lou Gui held the wine bowl, and when he saw Liu Biao's actions, he glanced at the earthen basin inadvertently. There was nothing unusual about the fireweed in the earthen basin, and it was not weak at all, but the other party was worried about this plant.
The grass would be so cold that he had to take it to the fire to roast. He was turning his thoughts unconsciously in his mind. He didn't think much about it, but thought of another thing and was trying to figure out how to speak.
"Uncle Zi just came back a few days ago, so maybe he hasn't heard anything yet." The location the two of them are currently in is not the study room where Liu Biao usually lives, but in an open pavilion far away from the atrium of the Zhou Mu Mansion.
There were flowers and trees all around, and there were several paths snaking through them. Liu Biao spoke softly, and his voice seemed to have a charming magnetism. Coupled with his elegant and gentlemanly appearance, even if he was irrational, he could make people laugh.
People are born with three points of belief.
Lou Gui sighed for the first time. In addition to his courage to kill decisively, the calculation of each family's calculations, his profound knowledge, and his noble family background, it was also hard not to be impressed by the other party's outstanding appearance. He
I couldn't help but think of the great minister Liu He and Lingtai Ling Liu Wan whom I met several times back in Chang'an and several other members of the Liu clan. They were all very handsome, and the emperor was even more handsome and charming.
He didn't know that all these beautiful feelings mostly came from Lou Gui's self-consolation when facing power. Power is the best tonic and accessory. Even if the emperor came to see him wearing short brown straw sandals, Lou Gui would feel that the emperor was informal.
grid.
Lou Guido was wise and resourceful, but his thoughts were divergent and he often wanted to go elsewhere. Liu Biao had long been accustomed to this. He coughed lightly and continued: "Pang Degong's nephew, the man named Pang Tong, drove a car the day before yesterday.
I went to Yingchuan to meet Sima Decao and had a dispute."
"Oh?" Lou Gui responded curiously: "Sima Hui of Yingchuan is an elegant man and good at understanding people. I heard that Pang Tong is a simple and blunt man, and he seldom gets famous. This time, he must be seeking fame, right?"
"Really?" Liu Biao curled his lips indifferently, reached out to pick up the wine bowl, swung the remaining wine in the bowl in his hand, watched the wine turn into a whirlpool in the bowl, and said with a smile: "It is said that Sima Decao was under the tree at that time.
When we were picking mulberries, Pang Tong got out of his car and sat under a tree, chatting with him all day and night. There was quite a dispute during the period, but Sima Decao was nowhere to be seen."
Lou Gui immediately became interested. He had met Pang Tong once. He was not good-looking and dull in intelligence. He was not a very outstanding person among many Pang children. So at first, he only saw Pang Tong briefly and then forgot about it. Who would have thought that he would be replaced by Pang Tong again?
Liu Biao mentioned it: "Sima Gong has always had a clear outlook and is highly respected in the country. How can an ordinary scholar talk to him day and night? There must be something extraordinary about this son."
"You are right. Sima Decao was very surprised at the time and later said that he was worthy of being crowned as a scholar in Nanzhou." Liu Biao's voice was clear and spread around the open pavilion.
Lou Guiyuan kept his head down, and when he heard these words, he suddenly felt something was wrong. At this moment, he suddenly raised his eyes and looked into Liu Biao's cold eyes. His own reflection was clearly visible. Liu Biao always maintained a graceful appearance.
Just looking at his smile, he seemed to be a magnanimous and open-minded celebrity. Lou Gui was slightly startled, and his eyes suddenly opened wide, as if ice and snow were blowing in from outside the pavilion.
Pang Degong was from a wealthy family in Jingzhou, and Liu Biao ruled the state. He tried to recruit him several times, but was rejected. The last time, Liu Biao personally resigned and hired him, but he refuted the opponent's words. Not only was he not invited back to support his appearance, but he was also rejected.
It encourages the other party's lack of fame and fortune.
Recalling that after Liu Biao took over Jingzhou, the Kuai family, Cai family, and Xiang family all joined the imperial court as officials. Only the Pang family and other families were away from home. It is impossible to say that Liu Biao would not feel angry and aggrieved after this experience. Lou
Gui knew the reason why Liu Biao recruited him to join the government alone today. After all, he had been on several missions to Chang'an, and this time he had just returned from Chang'an. He was familiar with the people and movements of the court. Recently, Xu Huang led the army in Xinye and Liu Biao was not going.
I must find him to ask about the direction of the court.
At this time, before the main topic had begun, Liu Biao involved a little-known boy from the Pang family who went to Yingchuan to visit Sima Hui and argued with him. This must not have been an unintentional move.
Lou Gui is a person who is good at overthinking, and he quickly found the rationality behind this seemingly unreasonable situation.
He turned his eyes and suddenly showed a cautious expression: "Pang Tong is a humble man, and few people pay attention to him. At this time, he went to Yingchuan. Perhaps it was the instruction of Duke Pang De?"