The team continued along the Imperial Street, and the Beigong could already be seen, and the crowds were getting denser, and the colored sheds were like camps. Zhao Bing knew how magnificent the Aoshan in the Song Dynasty was from the legends of history books in his previous life. He had seen a large lantern festival held in modern cities, and also watched the Aoshan in front of the palace in Qiongzhou. However, today he was only seen from afar and was shocked before he was approached.

The original meaning of Aoshan refers to the high mountains in the sea in ancient myths and legends. According to "Liezi? Tang Wen", there is a large valley east of the Bohai Sea, which is a bottomless valley. There are five mountains in it, which often follow the waves and go back up and down. The Emperor of Heaven ordered fifteen giant turtles to raise their heads and wear them, and the five mountains began to remain unmoved. The shape of the Aoshan lanterns in the Song Dynasty was usually based on this as a blueprint to move the legend to the real world.

Compared with what Zhao Bing saw in Qiongzhou, the Aoshan can only be described as shabby. The Aoshan that is copied in modern times can be said to be just a name left. The Aoshan in front of him is no less than six or seven feet high, almost with the same height as the palace walls. The entire work is composed of countless colorful lanterns, and the giant turtle carries the mountains, with mountains, stones, trees, pavilions, towers, various gods, Buddha sculptures, etc. There is also a stage on the mountain, played and performed by musicians and actors, which shows how big the entire Aoshan lantern is. The magnificent momentum cannot be expressed in words. The various lanterns ignited exuding dazzling light.

Think about it, under the current technical conditions, I was only ten days away from the palace. Such a mountain of several meters high was built and decorated. The lanterns could be tributed to the imperial court, so they would naturally not be ordinary. It would take a lot of manpower and material resources to work day and night to complete, but all this was just to win the emperor's joy and satisfy his personal hobbies.

Zhao Bing sighed, but he felt distressed. Even if we don’t talk about how much manpower and materials were used to build this huge Aoshan lamp, it would be a huge expense to just light the lantern. You should know that in the Song Dynasty, and even hundreds of years later, there were no cheap and easy-to-get oil candles, but used insect wax. Even though the candles were not rarer than in the Han and Tang dynasties, each price of 150 cents was not affordable for ordinary people.

At present, the candles lit on Aoshan are as big as rafters and small as children's arms, and the number is even ten thousand. Lights are required to be placed everywhere in the city, and the lighting in public areas is also subject to Lin'an Prefecture. The lamp consumed overnight is a thousand pounds. According to the convention, the lamps should be put on for five days. After a little calculation, you can tell how much money is spent. The lanterns made in Dingshan cost ten cents of money and the expensive ones cost more than a hundred cents of money.

A rough calculation of a light would cost hundreds of thousands of coins, and Zhao Bing was used to saving, and this was meaningless to him. How could he not let him feel distressed? You should know that when the General's Mansion Army first arrived in Qiongzhou, the money could support their needs in a year and fight a few battles, but it was wasted for joy, which was really painful like cutting off his flesh...

"I will meet your Majesty!" Moving forward again, the matter of approaching Beigong suddenly became clear. There were already soldiers of the guards and guards in front of him who had set up a clearing space, and Wen Tianxiang led all the ministers to politely.

"All ministers are exempted from courtesy!" Zhao Bing squeezed out a smile and raised his hand.

"Please take the chariot and give the people a pre-reward!" At this time, Xu Zongren, the Minister of Rites, stepped forward and said, and while speaking, four small yellow gates were carrying a chariot and approaching, and respectfully asked Your Majesty to get on the chariot.

"No need, I can ride a horse with all the generals!" Zhao Bing shook his head and refused the suggestion of riding a chariot, waved to the point where he led the horse.

"Your Majesty, this is not in line with the rules, right?" Xu Zongren said in a daze.

"Rules?! The rules are all regulated by emperors of all dynasties. Can't I change the rules now?" Zhao Bing said to Xu Zongren with a smile.

"This...this is all right!" Xu Zongren hesitated and nodded.

"Very good!" Zhao Bing nodded. At this time, Chen Dun had already brought the horse. He turned over and jumped onto the war horse and nodded at Xu Zongren and smiled.

"Your Majesty is careful!" Xu Zongren bowed and politely.

"All the generals obey the orders, follow me to preview the Lantern Mountain!" Zhao Bing lifted the reins, and the front hooves of the war horse flew into the air. He turned the horse's head on the spot. He raised his right hand and clenched his fist to order.

"Abide by the imperial order!" Zhao Mengjin and other generals immediately stood at the utmost to salute, turned over the horse, immediately adjusted their formation, and lined up two columns.

"Go forward!" Zhao Bing pulled out the battle knife, slashed downward and gave an order, then turned the horse's head and held the battle knife as he moved forward. The generals immediately urged the horse to follow.

"Long live my emperor, long live, long live, long live!" The war horse moved, and cheers were everywhere. The people around him knelt down and gave great greetings, shouting long live the mountain.

"Salute!" Zhao Bing immediately shouted loudly, and the generals drew their swords in their hands, slashed downwards, and saluted the cavalry.

"Majestic, majestic, long live my emperor!" The surrounding soldiers responsible for the guards and the guards who came with their escorts immediately held their rifles and held their guns to stand at attention, held their guns and greeted each other, shouting long live.

"Our army is mighty!" After attending several ceremonys a few days ago, it was clear that there was no difference between modern and ancient times. Whether it was kneeling down and bowing or shouting long live the mountain, there were arrangements, and the slogan had been set up. The people from the Jiaofangsi were entrusted as a tutor. Just like the deputy director who was specializing in mobilizing the audience's emotions in the evening party, they led everyone to shout. Even if the others were not clear, they would bow and shout along with them. But he could hear that the shouts of these soldiers were from their original hearts and did not require the guidance of those people.

If Zhao Bing was alone, he would just do it, but it would be different to lead the generals. One reason was that these generals had no chance to go to Beijing to watch the lights when they were either permanently resident or low-level officers; the other was accompanied by the generals, which was also his intention to express his favor for the military, and at the same time, it was also to put pressure on the literati.

However, Zhao Bing still felt that the opportunity was rare. He was attracted by the colorful lanterns. On the colorful building and the mountain climbing, there were Jiaofangsi and actors sent from the palace to play new songs, either melodious or cheerful tunes floating in the noisy world. A five-color glass pavilion has been built above the palace gate, and curtains made of crystals were hung between the windows. After refraction, it emitted colorful streams of light and shining brightly. There was also a throne in the hall, which was obviously prepared for him. With cigarette smoke swaying like colorful auspicious clouds, he suddenly felt like he was living in the heavenly palace.

Walking in the tassel treasure belt, the sound of silk and bamboo lingering in his ears, and the sound of long live the mountain was endless. It made Zhao Bing feel like he was the only one in heaven and earth. This feeling is intoxicating and extremely satisfying in his vanity, and it also made him understand why emperors of all dynasties have spent huge sums of money to hold lantern festivals.

Think about how frustrating it is to think of how a man who has been seized by a foreign race and has to occupy a corner of the south of the Yangtze River, but is unable to launch a counterattack, restore the Central Plains, worship the ancestral tombs, and have to pay tribute. He can only satisfy the pride of the emperor through such a false form, get some "comfort" from it, get some pleasure, and have some fun.

"Long live the emperor!" A four-colored emperor's words, composed of five-color jade shank, appeared in the middle of the tower. The hundreds of art workers on the terrace were more dedicated to the competition when they saw the passing. Zhao Bing smiled bitterly on his silent face. The prosperity and enthusiasm in front of him were more like a kind of mental anesthesia, covering up the reality of crises and devastatedness, making people intoxicated in this illusion. And when people are confused, how far is the country from defeat?

"Prime Minister Lu, what do you mean by Your Majesty's army to Beijing?" Seeing the little emperor leaving on a horse and watching the lanterns, Wen Tianxiang and others gathered around to inquire.

"Alas, Your Majesty is stranded in martial arts. It is only because the Mongolian Yuan Dynasty was suspected of transferring troops across the river to cross the south, so he discussed countermeasures with the generals. He had no other intentions." Lu Xiufu sighed, "But when I asked Your Majesty to return to the palace to appreciate the lanterns, Your Majesty was furious, thinking that this was a deception of peace and a waste of money. He also knew that the Empress was hosting the organizer, so he was not angry. He immediately ordered his troops out of the camp and returned to the palace. I thought it was about to launch an army to question the crime, and there was a suspicion of deposing the queen!"

"When you were in Qiongzhou, Your Majesty had a clear order. It is not appropriate to be extravagant in the national crisis. All rituals should be simple. The Shangyuan Lantern Festival only had a hundred lamps at the palace gate. This is true for the Empress. Your Majesty was angry. I have also submitted a memorial to all the ministers, but the Empress said that the Emperor's personal rule should be celebrated together. And there was also an imperial decree in front of me. I only blamed us for not submitting the advice again and again." Wen Tianxiang shook his head and sighed.

"Suang Wen, don't complain anymore. How to calm Your Majesty's anger is the right way to calm down your majesty's anger." Lu Xiufu frowned. He couldn't persuade him in martial arts, so he sent his personal followers to quickly turn around and notify the ministers to try to stop him. Unexpectedly, what he heard was Wen Tianxiang's irresponsible complaints, and he couldn't help but feel a little annoyed.

"It is indeed inappropriate to hold the Lantern Festival at this time, but the Empress is allowed to take charge of the matter. It is not appropriate for Your Majesty to blame the Queen on the matter. Just explain it clearly. It will never reach the point of deposing the Queen. Is it a bit alarmist?" Liu Fu said a little displeased when he heard this. He thought that the little emperor had just been married for less than a month, and it was probably the time to mix oil in honey. Even if the Queen had ever had it, it would not be deposed.

"Governor Liu, if the situation is not serious, I dare not work for you to discuss. Your Majesty has just taken over the government and re-taken government affairs, but he has received a secret report that the Mongol Yuan has built a large number of warships from Goryeo to go south and recruited tens of thousands of people who are good at water to train the navy. It is the dry season and it is the best time to cross the river. However, there have been many incidents in the court. No one reported such major events, and there is no countermeasure, which has already annoyed Your Majesty. The Queen did not obey the order, mobilized the local area without authorization, and spent a huge amount of food to hold a lantern festival. Wouldn't it anger Your Majesty?" Lu Xiufu said with a wry smile.

"This is all our incompetence as ministers. Think about how much happened to Your Majesty in just half a year. The ministers in the court formed party members and appointed private individuals; local government orders were also not in line with private fraud, and there were endless things to fill their personal pockets. If you cannot be stable inside and have strong enemies outside, how can you not bother Your Majesty, but what have we done? All my thoughts are on internal strife, thinking about how to install close friends, how can you limit Your Majesty's power, and so as to lose political affairs and military abolition!" Ying Jieyan said angrily, "Your Majesty has been away from the palace for a few days and summoned all the generals to discuss matters. You are suspicious, worried that Your Majesty will not be beneficial to you, so they run around to connect with each other. How have you ever been worried about state affairs!"

"If you should, don't talk about these things. Your Majesty's wedding is only one month before, and you will be deposed. This has never happened in my dynasty. It will not only damage Your Majesty's reputation, but also make the political situation even more chaotic. Your Majesty has always been the most listened to the matter. Please advise more and do not act impulsively!" Lu Xiufu was also a lawsuit, and these people came to him, as if the matter was caused by him.

"I am afraid that I will not be able to take on this responsibility in this matter. At the beginning of the talent show, I have stated that Your Majesty has been in charge of politics since he was a child, so as not to interfere in the affairs of the queen, so as not to make Your Majesty dissatisfied. However, not only did you not listen to the persuasion, but you also advised the Empress Dowager, imposed interference, and threatened and tempted, so that Your Majesty's mother and son almost broke up. This is the cause of the evil, and it cannot be eliminated in a few words." Ying Jieyan also complained and was even more unwilling to participate.

"My colleagues, this matter is extraordinary and it is no longer difficult to abolish the queen. Once it is not handled properly, it will trigger an opposition between the court and the scholars in Jiangnan. You can imagine the consequences!" Seeing that the old people were alarmist about their warnings, they said anxiously.

"Oh, will it be so serious?" Wen Tianxiang asked in surprise when he saw this.

"Oh, please look over there!" Wen Tianxiang raised his hand and pointed towards the palace gate, and sighed.

"Master Cai, why did you bring the criminals to the palace for public display?" Everyone looked in the direction of Lu Xiufu's finger and saw the yamen runners of Lin'an Mansion put flails on dozens of criminals and lined up in front of the palace gate to display them. Wen Tianxiang frowned and asked.

"Reported to the right prime minister, the Marquis of Xianping led the people to collide with the sage and spoke disrespectfully, and he should be executed on the crime. Your Majesty was worried that the Dharma on the street would cause uneasiness to the people, so he ordered them to be shackled in front of the palace and showed them to the public to be executed!" Cai Wanyi replied after showing his respect.

"Horse Xianping?! But Wu Shuo, the Marquis Xianping in the Empress?" Liu Fu asked anxiously after hearing this.

"That's right!" Cai Wanyi said.

"Your Majesty wants to kill the Marquis of Xianping, but he is disrespectful because he hit the saint?" Liu Fu knew that the young emperor had always been gentle and never treated the palace maids and eunuchs in the palace. He often joked with the military in the army, but he never punished them for his disrespectful words. But today he wanted to kill people for this, and the one who killed his brother-in-law was surprised, so he asked.

"Horse Xianping is really a desperate man. He not only intercepted the marching brigade returning to the palace, but also despised Commander Ni and asked him to kowtow in public. He even spoke wildly, saying that if His Majesty leaves the Wu family's assistance, it will be difficult for him to gain a foothold in Jiangnan and be close to the country." Lu Xiufu said, "But if His Majesty kills Marquis Xianping, this time it will be like a complete rebellion with the Wu family, and it will be impossible for him to not abolish the queen."
Chapter completed!