Chinese New Year

Chapter 1398 Qingming Festival (Part 1)

When Yu Liang was summoned to the capital, Shao Xun had just left Luoyang and was on his way to Luhun Mountain.

He changed into hunting attire and galloped along the banks of the Yi River.

It was the first day of the fourth lunar month, and the spring waters were swollen. Small boats appeared on the Yi River, fully loaded with last year's autumn harvest of rice, heading to Luoyang.

Outside Yique Pass are Xincheng and Luhun counties, located on the west bank of the Yi River. Since the Cao Wei period, it has been one of the few rice-producing areas in the north, and the famous "Xincheng Rice" variety was born there, for which Cao Pi wrote a poem.

Xincheng rice is a high-quality rice variety that has been cultivated in the north for a long time. It was not until the Liang Dynasty of the Southern Dynasties that the rice varieties cultivated in Changsha were first considered to have surpassed Xincheng rice in Luoyang, which is quite surprising. Although rice is grown in the south, advanced agricultural production and breeding technologies, including rice cultivation, are still in the north.

During the Liang Dynasty, the best rice variety was the "Guangcheng Rice" cultivated by the Yang family. Its main characteristic was its smooth taste. The only drawback was that its growth cycle was relatively long and its yield was not much of an advantage over millet and wheat.

Of course, rice in those days had an overall yield advantage, but it wasn't significant, and the growth cycle was quite long. Japonica rice even had a longer growth period than millet and wheat planted in spring. The rice with the shortest growth period was Champa rice, which could be harvested in just 100 days when it was first introduced in the Northern Song Dynasty. Later, varieties with 80 and 60 days were developed, which once sparked a craze for early rice planting. However, the yield per season was not advantageous, and the taste was poor and the nutritional content was insufficient. The planting area was not large in the Northern Song Dynasty, and it was not even popular in the south by the end of the Yuan Dynasty.

That noon, Shao Xun stopped at Yique Pass and ordered rice to be cooked for the meal.

Yu Liang, dressed in plain clothes, crept up to Shao Xun, carefully finished a bowl of porridge, and then prepared to personally brew tea for the emperor to rinse his mouth.

However, Shao Zhen stopped him and took away the tea balls and tea cauldron, then went to the side to start a fire and cook.

“Yuan Gui, you’re still the same as before.” Shao Xun looked closely at Yu Liang’s face and smiled, “You’ve even gained a little weight.”

Yu Liang would have lost his temper if someone else made this joke, but this time he just echoed, "Your Majesty has unified the world and the four seas are at peace. My worries have all disappeared, and I am bound to get fat."

"Have you gained anything during your three years in Yanling?" Shao Xun asked.

"I have been in mourning for several years, constantly thinking of the kindness of my late parents in raising me, and have strictly observed the mourning rites without ever daring to slacken." At this point, Yu Liang glanced at Shao Xun, who was gazing at the distant grass and trees, seemingly without any impatience. Reassured, he continued, "Although I am in deep sorrow, I have benefited somewhat from reciting the classics, and have gained some understanding of the relationship between Heaven and Man. If Your Majesty recalls me and restores me to my post, I dare not fail to devote myself wholeheartedly to assisting in this great undertaking!"

"Hmm, good, very good." Shao Xun withdrew his gaze and smiled, "I have always been aware of Yuan Gui's talent."

At this point, he paused for a moment and said, "However, there are currently no suitable official positions available."

Yu Liang's heart skipped a beat. No official vacancies? That couldn't be the case. With a slight adjustment of official positions, there would be at least one or two suitable posts for him.

"Yuan Gui, are you aware of the current priorities of the court?" Shao Xun asked.

Without the slightest hesitation, Yu Liang replied without thinking, "Of all the matters mentioned in the amnesty document issued during the Zhenming reign, the recovery of the Western Regions is still lacking."

"Not bad." Shao Xun didn't hold back his praise.

Liangzi has a good grasp of political acumen. The Zhenming era name has been used for five years. Anyone who is interested can check the edict from five years ago that changed the era name to know what the court's national policies were during this era and what tasks were yet to be completed.

"After completing these tasks, if I were to change the era name, what should I do?" Shao Xun continued to ask.

This isn't an easy question; you need to be able to follow the thought process.

After thinking for a moment, Yu Liang gave a few answers: "Goods trade, maritime transport, principles, and industrial management."

Shao Xun nodded slightly.

These are all correct; they are all things that require long-term development and may even require more than one generation to complete.

"Is there anything else?" Shao Xun asked.

"And then there is the matter of the borderlands," Yu Liang said. "We will use the Yin Mountains as a screen to protect the heartland of Central China and safeguard the people."

“Yuan Gui speaks well,” Shao Xun said meaningfully. “I intend to establish the position of Transport Commissioner of Guanzhong to stockpile grain, weapons, and carriages in Wuwei, and to reorganize the troops in the various camps of Liangzhou. Yuan Gui can temporarily assume this position, what do you think?”

Yu Liang was somewhat disappointed.

The "Kansai Transport Commissioner" was a temporary position, created for specific purposes and dismissed once the task was completed. Judging from the name, it was probably established to prepare logistical support for the reconquest of the Western Regions, and the position was required to be held for more than a year.

This is a thankless and demanding job that is extremely exhausting and requires a lot of effort.

However, seeing the emperor silently watching him, Yu Liang felt a chill and bowed his head, replying, "Your subject obeys the decree."

"You should go back to Luoyang first," Shao Xun said. "After a short rest of ten days, we will move to Chang'an by the end of April at the latest, recruit officials, and handle the stockpiling of supplies."

Yu Liang responded again, but his mood wasn't very high.

He's not young anymore. How long will it take to recover the Western Regions? Will he really have a chance to enter the Council of State in a few years?
He pondered silently, but had no confidence whatsoever. Perhaps he should find an opportunity to discuss it with his sister and nephew in the future.

******
Perhaps because the Qingming and Hanshi festivals are too close together, many places now celebrate them together.

Upon arriving at the Luhun Mountain Mausoleum, the pines rustled in the breeze, and a light drizzle fell from the sky.

After having almond and rice porridge in the morning, Shao Xun climbed the mountain on the slightly slippery stone steps.

Shao Gui and Wang Huiwan followed behind Shao Xun, one on each side.

When they reached the halfway point of the mountain, Shao Xun pointed to the tombs nestled among the pines and cypresses in the distance and asked, "Huiwan, is that where your mother rests?"

"Mmm." Wang Huiwan, being a virtuous and gentle person, only responded softly.

"Remind me before you leave," Shao Xun instructed.

Wang Huiwan hummed in agreement again.

His mother's mausoleum looked close, but it was actually located halfway up a mountain, requiring a long detour to reach. However, it was the closest mountain to the Shao family's imperial mausoleum complex. Perhaps his mother, now resting there, could one day gaze upon his father, the Emperor, from afar. "Badger, did you come here last year?" Shao Xun asked, slightly out of breath. He stopped and turned to look into the distance.

The soldiers had already stopped at the foot of the mountain and formed a camp around the vehicle.

Palace servants held up umbrellas, and several concubines who had accompanied the emperor were carefully climbing the mountain.

The roads were slippery from the rain; it must have been tough for them.

“Grandpa, I’ve come every year since Mother passed away,” Shao Gui said in a muffled voice.

“Your mother will be very happy,” Shao Xun said as he continued climbing the mountain.

Two rows of stone tomb guardian beasts appeared ahead, with the local villagers and guards standing by, quietly waiting for Shao Xun's arrival.

In fact, this is just the outer perimeter of the Luhun Mountain Imperial Mausoleum Area—some people don't even consider this an imperial mausoleum, because only the mausoleums of emperors and empresses of past dynasties can be called imperial mausoleums.

In principle, Lady Lu, the concubine of Xiu Rong, might not have been qualified to be buried in Luhun Mountain. To put it bluntly, if Shao Xun had died first and Lady Lu had died later, the new emperor might not have allowed Lady Lu to be buried there, since not every concubine was qualified to be buried in the imperial mausoleum.

Shao Xun quickened his pace and soon arrived at the square in front of the mausoleum.

There are more than a hundred steps to go up, and Empress Dowager Liu is buried inside the mountain.

Around June or July, the coffin of the retired Emperor Shao Xiu will also be moved here to be buried with the retired Empress.

Shao Xun's mausoleum has been completed and is located in the center, surrounded by other separate mausoleums like stars around the moon.

He has no intention of visiting his final resting place today.

After a short rest, he climbed the more than one hundred stone steps in one go. Looking at the towering gate and the wall built against the mountain in front of him, he subconsciously slowed down.

The imperial envoy and officials below him stood respectfully outside the gate.

Shao Xun slowly walked inside.

Inside the walls, birds sang and flowers bloomed, making it look less like a tomb and more like a garden.

Directly in front is a sacrificial hall with side buildings on the left and right, which is generally the place where the mausoleum commissioner presides over sacrifices and other ceremonies.

There is a spirit path stele in front of the hall, and the spirit tablet of the Empress Dowager is enshrined inside. At this time, incense smoke rises and offerings are neatly arranged.

"Your Majesty." The imperial envoy followed in and respectfully directed the clerk to set up the incense burner.

The stove was filled with wormwood, eupatorium, and other spices.

Shao Xun took the torch from his hand and began to burn incense and offer sacrifices, while the envoy of the mausoleum read the sacrificial text in a melodious and rhythmic tone.

Shao Xun had a feeling that his mother had actually left long ago, because he could not feel any trace of her presence here.

It's really just a place for remembrance.

But he still respectfully completed the entire process, took one last look at the memorial tablet, sighed silently, and left the ancestral hall.

King Shao Gui of Chu stood in the courtyard.

Shao Xun nodded to him and said, "Go in and pay your respects to your grandmother."

Shao Gui responded.

Shao Xun paced back and forth in the courtyard, with Shao Zhen holding an umbrella and following closely behind him.

The imperial envoy tried several times to speak to the emperor, but seeing that the emperor had no interest in talking to him, he gave up.

It took Shao Xun a long time to tour the entire mausoleum.

This mausoleum is about a mile in circumference and has four gates. Fifty households of people live nearby to guard the mausoleum. There are seven or eight officials, including the mausoleum official and minor scribes.

The north gate leads directly into the mountainside, where the tomb chamber is located. It is currently sealed with bricks and stones, but it will need to be reopened when my father is buried here, so that the two of us can be buried together.

This was Shao Xun's first time as emperor, and also his first time building an imperial mausoleum.

It was at this moment that he realized why some emperors began building their mausoleums as soon as they ascended the throne—it was indeed a considerable undertaking.

Compared to them, it's already late for me to do it myself.

When he returned to the South Gate, he saw that Shao Gui had been waiting for a long time. He took out a silk handkerchief and wiped the raindrops from his son's forehead, saying, "Come with me to see your mother."

“Okay.” Shao Gui obediently replied and followed closely behind his father. They went down to the square, turned left, passed through the dense mountain path, and came to a dormitory that was much smaller and simpler.

There is only a simple courtyard and a not-so-tall ancestral hall here. There is no official position like the "Mountain and Tomb Envoy," but it is kept very clean and tidy.

Behind the courtyard is a conical burial mound. A spirit path stele, stone tigers, stone sheep, and other stone figures stand in front of the burial mound, surrounded by stone pillars, and the mound is covered with pine and cypress trees.

Pei Lingyan stood under the corridor and waved to Shao Xun.

(End of this chapter)