The sword is like water, Wu Yan beats the snow, and the delicate hand breaks the new orange.
The brocades are beginning to warm up, and the smoke from the beasts is constantly rising. They sit opposite each other and tune the sheng.
I asked in a low voice who I was going to spend the night with. It was already three o'clock in the city.
The horses are slippery and the frost is thick, so it is better to leave. There are only a few people traveling.
——"Youth Travel" Zhou Bangyan (Northern Song Dynasty)
…
It was a day off, and Bai Fu had been looking forward to this day for a long time. Bai Fu woke up at dawn. In order not to wake Huang Zhen, he put on his clothes, tiptoed out of the house, washed and changed clothes.
After waiting all morning, it was almost noon when Yang Yichan came back. Her hair was tied like a man's, with a short turban, a straight military uniform, a graceful and graceful appearance, and a graceful appearance. She looked like a handsome young officer.
Yang Yichan jumped off the horse, opened her arms, and turned around, letting Bai Fu look at her carefully. "Brother, does it look good? Does it look like Hua Mulan?"
Bai Fu sincerely praised: "Sister Yang, I can hardly recognize your appearance! You definitely don't look like Hua Mulan. I guess Hua Mulan is not very good-looking."
Yang Yichan was curious and asked, "How did senior brother know Mulan's appearance?"
Bai Fu smiled and said: "Mulan Ci said: 'The male rabbit's feet are twitching, and the female rabbit's eyes are blurred; two rabbits walking next to each other, how can they tell whether I am male or female?' How can there be such a handsome young general like Yang Mei in the world?"
If Hua Mulan was half as beautiful as Yang Mei, she would either be caught disguised as a man or recruited by the princess to be the consort, who would be willing to let Mulan go to the battlefield!"
What daughter doesn't like to hear her lover praise her. Bai Fu praised her beauty, which made Yichan feel sweet and happy.
Yang Yichan smiled and said: "Brother, there is a great polo match in Chang'an City today. It's Fan Yang's army versus Anxi's army. I got two tickets. Let's go together."
Bai Fu regained his interest and said: "I have heard for a long time that polo is popular in Chang'an, especially among the army officers and soldiers. Today I can finally open my eyes!"
The two of them left immediately, simply packed up, and went straight to the Royal Polo Ground - Daming Palace Liyuan Stadium. When they arrived, the stadium was already filled with people and loud gongs and drums.
It was Bai Fu's first time to watch polo. He was very excited. He couldn't help but be curious and looked at the stadium carefully. The stadium was rectangular in shape, with a circumference of about a thousand steps. It was surrounded by walls on three sides, leaving only a row of high steps on the north side. Look.
Spectators of the game sit on a high platform. At the top of the high platform, where the view is widest, there is a row of pavilions that can provide shelter from wind and rain for the guests of honor watching the game.
There are more than a dozen high-ranking officers sitting in the pavilion. Although they are not wearing armor, they are majestic. The pavilion close to Bai Fu is separated by curtains, and several young men and women can be vaguely seen in the tent. They are all rich and noble.
.
The ground of the stadium is pounded and flattened inch by inch with loess, and repeatedly cast with oil to make it as smooth as stone. In this way, when the horses run, dust will not be splashed to affect their vision.
At both ends of the court, a short goal has been erected. The door is engraved in red and colorful, which is very eye-catching and makes it easier to watch the moment the ball is scored.
When Kucha music played, players from both sides filed into the stadium.
Today, the Anxi army wears red attire, with black gauze buns tightly covering their hair. Fan Yangjun wears black brocade clothes and a beard. Both sides have narrow lapels and narrow sleeves, tights, brocade belts, and shiny riding boots. They are clean and tidy and look good.
Yiyi.
The horses under their crotches are particularly eye-catching. Horses used in competitions must not only be physically strong, but must also undergo confrontation training to adapt to the competition.
Fan Yangjun's horses come from Turkic horses. 'Turkic horses are extremely skilled, their muscles and bones are harmonious, they can travel long distances, and they are incomparable for field hunting.'
The Anxi Army's horse racing horses came from Dawan Horses. Li Bai wrote a poem for them: "The Pegasus Horse came out of Yueshi Cave, with tiger-striped dragon-wing bones on its back, neighing blue clouds, vibrating green hair, and the orchid tendons and powers disappeared."
After the drum beat, all the riders lined up in the polo field, raised their sticks and saluted the pavilion.
A general walked out of the pavilion and said loudly: "The stadium is like a battlefield. It is not comparable to life and death, but it is higher than life and death! All generals should fight with all their strength to show off the power of our Tang army. The winners will each be rewarded with a hundred taels of silver and a hundred pieces of silk!"
The polo field suddenly burst into cheers and thunderous applause. The riders waved their sticks to signal to the audience, and their horses raised their heads and neighed, showing high morale.
Yang Yichan began to explain the rules to Bai Fu:
"Brother, the head of these sticks is naturally curved into a crescent shape, so they are also called 'moon sticks'. Military sticks
They are all relatively simple. You see, they only painted a layer of red paint on the surface of the wood. I heard that the sticks of members of the royal family and children of aristocratic families are more luxurious and are often wrapped with animal skins with bright patterns, such as tiger skins.
Leopard skin, etc. When swinging the club like this, it looks majestic and beautiful.
Did you see the small painted ball placed in the center of the field? This is polo, only the size of a fist. It is a solid ball made of wood. It is very hard and has no elasticity. The surface of the ball is painted with paint. This way the ball will roll on the ground.
, or flying in mid-air, it can be as eye-catching as a shooting star, making it easy for riders to find and for spectators to watch.”
…
As soon as the drum sounds, the game begins.
Players from both sides fought bravely to take the lead. Fan Yangjun and An Shouzhong hit the first shot! There was a crisp sound! The crescent head of the stick scooped up a piece of loess on the ground, and the polo was hit far away. People from both sides were there.
Chase the ball tightly.
Fan Yangjun and Cai Xide were quick, stretched out their sticks and took control of the ball.
Bai Xiaode and Ma Lin of the Anxi Army came to intercept one after another. Cai Xide often practiced polo and was very skilled in the game. He commanded his horse to rush left and right. Under the attack of the Anxi Army, he went in and out as if there was no one, and scored two goals in succession.
Anxi Army lost two goals in a row and stepped up its counterattack. Duan Xiushi of Anxi Army got the ball and ran quickly. Unexpectedly, as soon as he took ten steps, Cui Qianyu of Fan Yangjun took the opportunity to snatch it away. After Cui Qianyu got the ball, he went to the meeting alone and rushed to the goal with lightning speed.
All the riders of the Anxi Army were left far behind.
Li Siye, the commander of the Mo Dao Army of the Anxi Army, chased after him and came diagonally. The two fierce horses galloped side by side, and their heads and necks collided. Cui Qianyou swayed several times, but was unable to break through Li Siye. With a glance, Tian Chengsi had already stepped down from the side road.
Bottom. Cui Qianyu swung the ball and prepared to pass the ball long to Tian Chengsi.
Unexpectedly, Li Siye was faster. At the moment Cui Qianyu introduced the stick and swung his staff, he flicked his wrist and used a gentle force to grab the ball.
Cui Qianyou kicked the left stirrup, and he and his horse collided with Li Siye, trying to borrow the horse power, and then trying to take it back. Li Siye didn't give this chance, and passed a long pass to Li Qiyun, who then passed it to Feng Changqing, and Feng Changqing
Get the ball in the middle circle, hold the ball to the left and dribble it to the right, attracting the opponent's three cavalry to defend, and the gap suddenly appears in front of the left.
Feng Changqing made a strong move and made a long pass, sending the ball into the hinterland. The moment Feng Changqing passed the ball, Duan Xiuzhen understood it. Before Fan Yangjun's defender could recover, the Spurs kicked the horse in the belly as fast as lightning.
Insert it into the belly and instantly arrive at the landing point of the ball.
Duan Xiushi didn't wait for the polo to hit the ground, and waved his staff in the air. The polo drew an arc in the air, passed the last defensive rider, and entered through the net on the right side of the goal.
"Anxi Army scores!" The crowd on the court cheered again.