Chapter 9: The Consequences of Ignorance and Lack of Skills

Such a person, Zhao Xing, unexpectedly patted the shoulder of a millennium idol, praising the other's poetry as quite good

According to estimates, in the year 1700, the forest coverage rate in Shandong was only 1.3%, ranking last in the country.

The boat sailed smoothly with the wind, moving swiftly, while ten students in the cabin busily tied wooden bows. The Song Dynasty was an era that valued literature over martial prowess; during this time, if a scholar were to enter the marketplace armed with a sword or dagger, it would incite great panic and could even lead to social unrest. In this context, the court imposed strict restrictions on the common people carrying weapons, particularly long-range weapons—bows and arrows were especially subject to these limitations.

Drinking at night, I wake up and get drunk again—was it also this old man who did it

What a wonderful poem, such an exquisite work, that a simple villager could recite it offhand is simply incredible! Zhao Xing exclaimed.

As the boat reaches the center of the river, the number of passing vessels gradually diminishes. The children see nothing but encouragement and indulgence in Zhao Xing's demeanor, and their behavior becomes increasingly unruly. Many of the children shoot arrows while excitedly singing the tunes taught by Professor Zhao Xing. Most of these tunes are songs adapted from the lyrics of the Song Dynasty.

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As he spoke, the children immediately gathered around him, taking out bows and arrows as well as weapons. Ten children formed three combat teams, with three members in each group. The remaining Cheng Xia picked up a stool to use as a shield and stood beside the teacher, holding a wooden stick in a posture resembling that of someone ready to fire a gun.

The Song Dynasty is a model of ancient Chinese civilization. During this period, all aspects of Chinese civilization had essentially taken shape. In addition to the mature Cham rice harvested three times a year, the cultivation of cotton was also widespread, particularly in the Poyang Lake region. To conceal their weapons, Zhao Xing and his companions procured a large quantity of cotton cloth at Poyang Lake, sewing it into bags to store their bows and arrows, while carrying only simple wooden staffs.

Zhao Xing's left foot had already stepped on the shopkeeper's neck, his size 42 foot completely filling the shopkeeper's thin neck. The shopkeeper had to stretch his neck as much as possible to avoid being pinned down by this large foot. As for the menacing bandits who had appeared, Zhao Xing paid them no mind; with a curious expression, he picked up the teapot that had fallen to the ground, carefully avoiding spilling the remaining tea inside.

The old customer who just detected the drug immediately shouted: "Scholar, be careful!"

At the same time, the development of the Poyang Lake region is just beginning to flourish

Cheng Xia had read ... . ... Zhao Xing immediately shut his mouth

The owner of the tea house is a limping man from Gansu, who serves tea to everyone with a slight limp. The fragrant tea from the mountain residence has a hint of the flavor of later green tea, with a greenish hue and exuding a fragrance of herbs and wood.

A clattering sound echoed through the tea house, and then more than twenty disheveled men burst out. They bared their chests and appeared fierce and menacing. The only regret was that they were all too short, standing before Zhao Xing with knives and guns, resembling aggressive little chicks in front of an eagle.

"Monghan medicine? ! ... ... I have always been curious—since the Tang Dynasty, we have been recounting the tales of Monghan medicine. I often wonder, if China has Monghan medicine, then what is the relevance of barbiturates? ? It turns out, we really do have Monghan medicine. ... ... I was just thinking, this tea has an unusual fragrance; why does my tongue feel a bit numb after drinking it? It turns out to be the legendary Monghan medicine." Zhao Xing said, pouring the remaining tea from the teapot into the cup and began to savor it. I was just thinking, this tea has an unusual fragrance; why does my tongue feel a bit numb after drinking it? It turns out to be the legendary Monghan medicine." Zhao Xing said, pouring the remaining tea from the teapot into the cup and began to savor it.

This poem is "The Return at Dusk from Pengli Lake" by Bai Juyi. However, Zhao Xing, lacking in elegance, felt that the old man's singing posture was extraordinarily refined, not realizing that this was not the elegance of a fisherman, but rather the elegance of Bai Juyi.

The road conditions during the Song Dynasty were quite appalling. Zhao Xing and his group took five days to cross Poyang Lake, but it took them ten days on land to cover a distance equivalent to a cliff's length. However, this journey was not without its rewards. Although the ten children were young, they wielded bows and arrows modified by Zhao Xing, capable of thwarting bandit ambushes from a distance. As a result, after several days of travel, three merchant caravans had begun to trail behind Zhao Xing and his group. These caravans moved in perfect synchrony, following closely behind them; they walked when the caravans walked and stopped when the caravans stopped.

Zhao Xing could not understand the fishermen's dialect, but he was fond of its rhythm. The lingering singing style reminded him of a famous advertisement—one hundred years of sesame paste. The aged voice of the elder echoed through the alleys, transcending countless moments in time and the entire history of the nation

After the Tang and Song dynasties, due to excessive cultivation, signs of desertification began to appear in northern regions. For instance, in Shandong, in 2700 BC, the forest coverage rate was 46%. By the Northern Song period, there were nearly 260,000 hectares of arable land in the Jingdong region, indicating that the entire Shandong area, including mountainous regions, had been largely cultivated. Many places had already become barren rock. Shen Kuo remarked: "Now, the pine forests between Qi and Lu are all gone, gradually extending to the Taihang Mountains, western Beijing, and Jiangnan, where the majority of the pine mountains are also bare!"

During the Yuanyou period, Du Xie authored "Seven Discussions on Poyang," stating, "The benefits of the lakeside's bulrush fish are abundant, covering seventy thousand hectares of fertile land, and the production of soft mulberry silkworms is flourishing"; "It mentions the richness of timber in the mountains and hills, the proliferation of aquatic plants and fruits, and the abundance of fish, turtles, birds, and livestock." The lake regions of Hongzhou, Jiangzhou, Raozhou, and Nankang Commandery are all significant rice-producing areas, "where the fields are suitable for early rice cultivation, and the grain tax is delivered to the capital, making it the best in the world"

On the shore, two Japanese individuals swiftly picked up their bamboo baskets, their wooden clogs making a crisp sound as they hurriedly followed Su Dongpo.

In accordance with the etiquette of the Song Dynasty, the elders were at leisure. After Zhao Xing finished his tea, the children also picked up their bowls and drank the tea with a gulping sound. At that moment, the merchant caravan arrived, calling out as they purchased several pots of tea, preparing to rest and continue their journey.

Zhao Xing is a person who adheres to the principle of "making it convenient for others is also convenient for oneself." He follows a merchant caravan closely, clearly with the intention of taking advantage, without paying them any protection fees, yet seeks their shelter. However, he does not feel that he is at a disadvantage—having arrived in this world all alone, he sees the value in making more friends or, in other words, in being able to help others. It is a simple matter that requires no extra effort on his part, so why should he make things difficult for others? Thus, he tacitly accepts the company of the caravan.

The old customer, puzzled, sniffed the tea again, glancing at Zhao Xing. At that moment, Zhao Xing sat with his eyes closed, seemingly savoring the flavor of the tea, his mouth making a smacking sound. Suddenly, the old customer smashed the teacup and shouted, "Stop! There is a drug in the tea!"

The mountain dwellers of Chengjia'ao have become accustomed to walking through the mountains armed. During this long journey, they equipped themselves with the best gear from their homes. However, as they had to pass through the Huangzhou checkpoint, they loosened the bowstrings of their bows and disguised them as wooden sticks to evade the scrutiny of the checkpoint officials. Now, having entered the vast lake area, they secretly reattached the strings to their bows to arm themselves against potential thieves. Thus, they had loosened the bowstrings of their bows, disguised them as wooden sticks to evade the scrutiny of the checkpoint officials. Now, having entered the vast lake area, they secretly reattached the strings to their bows to arm themselves against potential thieves.

The development of Poyang Lake has far-reaching impacts. As this region became a granary of the world, the subsequent rice cultivation spread throughout the southern regions. By the Ming Dynasty, the saying "When Huguang is abundant, the world is sufficient" emerged.

This is the granary of the Song Dynasty, where the rice produced accounts for over 50% of the grain output of the Song Dynasty

When the teapot was handed to an old customer in the caravan, he hesitated as he looked at the tea, lifting the cup but making no move to drink; he merely kept sniffing. When he raised his eyes to look around, he noticed the limping shopkeeper approaching Zhao Xing with a pot of new tea, a flattering smile on his face, saying: "Sir, was the tea just now too bland? Here is a pot of strong tea; would you like to have a few cups?"

During the Song Dynasty, Poyang Lake was the most prosperous region of the entire Song Dynasty. From the moral standards of the boatmen on the lake, one can discern their sense of satisfaction stemming from ample food and clothing. As boats approach from the opposite direction, regardless of familiarity, they greet each other with a song, their melodies long and meaningful, reminiscent of modern boatmen's shanties

Zhao Xing's legs suddenly went weak, and he fell into the creek. Cheng Zhuo and Cheng Xia, upon seeing their teacher suddenly plunge into the water, hurriedly jumped in to rescue him. Huo Xiaoyi also disregarded the boat and leaped into the water. When they finally managed to pull Zhao Xing out, they heard him muttering as if possessed: "Heavens! I have no face to see anyone—I actually patted Su Dongpo on the shoulder and praised him, saying 'What a good poem, what a good poem.'"

At this moment, the children are not tired—being children, they are always full of energy. The novelty of venturing far for the first time drives them to push forward eagerly, hoping to discover what lies ahead in the world. To accommodate the caravan behind, Zhao Xing continuously slows their pace. This break is solely to look after them.

Jiang Zhou first entered Poyang Lake and then turned into Wuyang River, landing in Jianing. Zhao Xing, accompanied by several children, hurried overland to Quanzhou, while Huo Xiaoyi sailed back. Along the way, the mountain goods carried on the boat sold quite well; however, the Song Dynasty was an era of complete self-sufficient smallholder economy. Except for the Poyang Lake region, where the prices for mountain goods were relatively favorable, in other areas, the proceeds from sales merely covered travel expenses. Along the way, the mountain goods carried on the boat sold quite well; however, the Song Dynasty was an era of complete self-sufficient smallholder economy. Except for the Poyang Lake region, where the prices for mountain goods were relatively favorable, in other areas, the proceeds from sales merely covered travel expenses

What is going on here

It is incorrect; it should be stated that the modern shanty originated from the "Fishing Boat Q&A" of this era

Poyang Lake, formerly known as Pengli Lake, had a circumference of over 200 kilometers during the Tang Dynasty. By the Northern Song Dynasty, Pengli Lake rapidly expanded to the east and south, approaching the city of Poyang County, thus acquiring the name "Poyang Lake." In comparison to Pengli Lake during the Tang and Song Dynasties, Poyang Lake in the Yuan Dynasty had expanded into a vast expanse, "boundless and merging with the sky," known as the southern Poyang Lake. The plain formed by the alluvial deposits of the Poyang Lake water system covers approximately 20,000 square kilometers

A fisherman in a boat passed by Zhao Xing's riverboat. The fisherman nodded while approaching, tidying up his fishing net, and singing a fishing song. The lyrics of the song were clear, and Zhao Xing understood them; it was a poem: "As evening falls over Pengli Lake, the peach blossom water carries the breath of spring. Birds fly, leaving a thousand white dots, as the sun sets, half of its red wheel. Why worry for the exiled, when labor is but a burden to the sick? Yet here, gazing upon this scene, few are those without sorrow."

As the son of the clan leader, Cheng Xia was qualified to stand behind Zhao Xing. Upon hearing Zhao Xing's sentiments, he expressed his agreement, saying: "Indeed, teacher, when I read this poem before, I only found the words beautiful. Today, being in this situation, I feel as if I am among the immortals."

Upon entering the Fujian region, it feels as if one has stepped into a different world compared to the Poyang Lake area. Fujian is mountainous, with very little arable land. The mountain dwellers primarily rely on going out to sea for trade or hunting for their livelihood. Here, the number of people carrying bows and arrows is noticeably greater than in Hubei. However, the bows and arrows they carry are all simple wooden ones, and their power is hardly worth mentioning.

A thousand years later, historians from Japan, South Korea, and Vietnam will describe with utmost humility that in the latter half of the 11th century, all of Asia was in the era of Su Dongpo

Who in China would not know who Su Dongpo is—an unfortunate figure in Chinese politics. An enduring icon of Asia and literature for a millennium

He felt a sense of regret. This poem is even remembered by the fifteen-year-old Cheng Xia, yet he surprisingly did not know who wrote it, which is quite embarrassing. It seems that in the future, he must be more "cautious in speech and action"

Zhao Xing walked through the Huangzhou Wharf, feeling a mix of shame and shock, as the boat headed towards the lake's mouth

At noon on this day, Zhao Xing and his companions crossed a hill and saw a tea house not far away. Looking back at the caravan behind them, Zhao Xing ordered, "Let us take a break and go into the shop for some water."

The riverboat swiftly passed by the old man's fishing boat, while the children in the cabin took their prepared bows and arrows onto the deck to begin practicing. The sound of bowstrings twanging filled the deck. The oarsman, Huo Xiaoyi, seeing the boat full of children so recklessly and openly searching for birds and fish to shoot at, could not help but turn the helm and steer the boat into the heart of the river to avoid inspection

The teapot had originally been chilled in the well. Zhao Xing, drenched in sweat, drank a large bowl in one go. He wiped his mouth and leisurely savored the lingering aroma of the tea.

Perhaps this moment will also be recorded by others, becoming a thousand-year joke, with Zhao Xing as the protagonist of the joke

As soon as the words were spoken, the limping shopkeeper dropped the teapot and turned to leave. However, at that moment, Zhao Xing suddenly opened his eyes, hooked his leg, and tripped the other party to the ground. He then shouted, "Alert!"

The formation of the grain production base in the Poyang Lake area during the Song Dynasty was primarily influenced by warfare. The Song Dynasty engaged in prolonged conflicts with contemporary Vietnam, and following the victory in this war, the spoils included "Zhan Cheng rice." This variety of rice, which can be harvested three times a year, significantly increased grain production after its introduction to the Central Plains, enabling the Song Dynasty to become the only dynasty in ancient China that did not prohibit alcohol. The main cultivation area for "Zhan Cheng rice" was the region around Pengli Lake at that time. This variety of rice, which can be harvested three times a year, significantly increased grain production after its introduction to the Central Plains, enabling the Song Dynasty to become the only dynasty in ancient China that did not prohibit alcohol, with the primary cultivation area for "Zhan Cheng rice" being the region around Pengli Lake.

This was also Zhao Xing's idea. He had previously been completely unaware of the situation at Poyang Lake, believing it to be a den of bandits as described in martial arts novels, where thieves and robbers ran rampant throughout the ages, which is why he was so cautious. However, upon arriving in the lake area, he realized that such caution was entirely unnecessary

Upon entering the lake mouth, the river surface suddenly opens up, dotted with sailboats and flying white cranes, presenting a scene reminiscent of a fishing song at dusk