Chapter 5, Cuju Competition

Liu Jian replied with a smile: "Dragon Qi and Evil Dragons are merely metaphors used by sorcerers; how could such monsters truly emerge to devour people? However, although the city has been well constructed, without a protective talisman, it is bound to be detrimental to the ruler. Indeed, shortly thereafter, King Hailing launched an invasion against Song, only to be defeated by the Song general Yu Yunwen at Caishi, and a political upheaval arose in his rear, ultimately leading to his demise without a burial place.

Liu Jianfei kicked out, knocking the lamp holder over onto the ground, but his landing was not heavy; the lamp holder fell over partly due to the momentum. Immediately, Liu Jian got out of bed, putting on his shoes, and coldly reprimanded, "Useless thing! If you have any questions, feel free to ask me—though I may not necessarily answer you... I told you not to speak or act recklessly, otherwise, you might lose your life one day!"

Mount Wansui is capable of subduing the evil dragon, yet it also attracted the Mongolian Tartars into the pass, ultimately leading to the downfall of the Jin Dynasty. Kublai Khan, the founder of the Yuan Dynasty, established his capital here, renaming it Dadu. To avoid repeating the mistakes of the past, he invited the Xingtai faction from Mount Zijin to come and repair the city

Liu Jian walked to the bookshelf, reached out to take something wrapped in a sweat towel, and turned to throw it onto the desk: "Look, take a look."

Shen Wansan, 874, Wang Yuanhua, the Bureau of Inquiry, Earl Chengyi, Yao Shaoshi, Zhai Haiyan, Bai Fuquan, Liu Bingzhong, Wansui Mountain

Liu Jian cast him a sidelong glance, then leisurely sipped his tea before continuing: "When King Hailing of Jin moved the capital to Daxingfu, which is now Beijing, the construction began. A feng shui master remarked: 'The bitter sea of Youzhou has dragon energy, but unfortunately, this dragon is a malevolent one, lacking the treasure to subdue it. The city will be difficult to complete, and even if it is completed, it will bring misfortune to its ruler.' King Hailing did not believe in such superstitions and spent a full three years to finally finish the city. In a moment of joy, he had the feng shui master who had advised him executed..."

Boss An's pancakes are quite different from those of the people from Tianzhu. The pancakes from Tianzhu, like those from the Central Plains, have the filling inside, while Boss An's pancakes resemble those from the Western Regions, with the filling sprinkled on top. The fillings for Tianzhu pancakes are limited, whereas Boss An's pancakes can accommodate anything—beef, lamb, pork, minced fish, shrimp, seasonal vegetables, and even dried and fresh fruits can all be sprinkled on top. One notable difference is that Tianzhu pancakes have a strong curry flavor, while Boss An's pancakes contain more cheese, which may not necessarily suit the tastes of people from the Central Plains. The people of Tianzhu are inflexible, but Boss An is skilled at making improvements. He usually puts in thirty percent cheese, and if customers enjoy that flavor, he can increase it to fifty percent, or even a full serving or double, each with different prices, available for request and modification at any time. Liu Jian is different from other people from the Central Plains; every time he comes to eat, he insists on adding double cheese. However, the lantern holder is not accustomed to this flavor. At first, it tastes quite good, but after a couple more bites, it becomes greasy, and after a few more bites, it makes him want to vomit.

Holding the lamp and making a clever remark: "Sir, are you saying... are you saying... that Shen Wansan is not in the grave?"

Holding the lamp and listening to the story as we gradually approached the port, I felt a surge of excitement and couldn't help but interject, "I have heard that the Golden Sea King met a terrible end, but was he devoured by the cursed dragon?"

Ah, by the way, "Peng Deng exclaimed, 'I forgot to write down that stage direction on paper; this little one doesn't understand it either.'"

Upon running over to take a look, it was indeed lively, yet nothing particularly extraordinary was happening. I noticed that two high barriers had been erected by the street near the dice cake shop, with two cuju boards hanging on them; it turned out to be a game of kicking a leather ball. Surrounding the area were already several hundred spectators, including local shopkeepers and passersby, all of whom found it quite novel and engaging.

Liu Jian spoke at length about matters that seemed irrelevant, leaving one to wonder whether he was speaking to himself or to the lantern holder. The lantern holder grew increasingly perplexed as he listened: "Sir, I have heard that males are considered yang and females yin. Why is Miss Luo regarded as a pure yang body? Are you implying that..."

Taking advantage of Liu Jian's feigned slumber, he quietly took the key to open the bookcase door. As soon as the door opened, his heart began to race wildly, uncertain of what he might discover. Suddenly, a flash of red light appeared before him, and he couldn't help but exclaim, "Ah!" He stumbled back a few steps, drenched in cold sweat.

Liu Jian had no interest in cuju and only wanted to go to the dice cake shop to eat. However, Peng Deng kept saying, "It's almost over, it's almost over." Reluctantly, he had to stand his ground and watch. Cuju, this competition, is an ancient sport of China, divided into two teams, each consisting of five players on the field, scoring by kicking the leather ball into the opponent's high goal. The game lasts for the duration of three incense sticks, and the team with the most points wins. Liu Jian noticed that the third incense stick was almost burnt out and thought that it wouldn't hurt to stand for a while.

Liu Jian listened to the shouts of the crowd, appearing very resentful yet unclear about the reasons. He then inquired with an elderly man by the roadside. Upon asking, he learned that this resentment had a long history, having persisted for nearly a century

Thus, he began operating a pancake stall, and the business grew increasingly prosperous. He then upgraded to a pancake shop. Due to his gambling nature, he painted two dice on the sign and named it after his own surname, calling it "Da Momo Pizza Shop"—unfortunately, the pronunciation was quite awkward, and people from the Central Plains could not pronounce it correctly, so they simply referred to it as the "Dice Pancake Shop"

This continued until the Tang Dynasty, during which the form of the cuju sport began to become diverse: there were methods with two goals, methods with one goal, and methods without goals; kicking alone or with a few people was called "da ju," while two people kicking against each other was called "bai da," and three or more people was referred to as "chang hu," such as "three-person chang hu" or "four-person chang hu," and so on. By the Song Dynasty, the method with two goals gradually decreased, while the methods with one goal and without goals became widely popular, transitioning from a sport to a form of acrobatic performance. Two people kicking against each other was called "bai da," and three or more people was referred to as "chang hu," such as "three-person chang hu" or "four-person chang hu," and so on. By the Song Dynasty, the method with two goals gradually decreased, while the methods with one goal and without goals became widely popular, transitioning from a sport to a form of acrobatic performance. In addition, professional teams and players emerged, promoting professional ethics and sports hygiene.

Liu Jian smiled faintly, picked up a folding fan from the table, and said, "I have mentioned before—killing beggars is false, but seeking the dragon's energy is true; looking for gold is false, but searching for the sea's eye is true." Deng Deng was utterly confused, hoping the host would elaborate further, and hurriedly picked up a palm fan to fan Liu Jian. Liu Jian glanced at him, placed the folding fan back on the table, and continued, "This person is certainly not Shen Sanxiu from Nantong; he is a significant figure from the previous dynasty. As for who exactly he is, I cannot say for certain. Even if I guessed correctly, you would still be perplexed. However, he knows where gold and silver are hidden in Beijing and where the feng shui is settled."

Liu Jian picked up the tea bowl to drink while looking at the piece of paper, on which was written:

Holding the lamp to see the opportunity, with a "thud" sound, he knelt down on both knees, then crawled to Liu Jian's front, raising the lock and key high above his head, squeezing out tears as he pleaded: "I know my mistake, Your Excellency... I beg you to punish me, just please do not strike my face"

He set down his pen, picked up a fan to wave it, looked up and thought for a moment, then slowly explained: "This matter must start from the origins of Beijing. Initially, King Yu divided the world into nine provinces, and this northeastern region was governed by Youzhou. Due to its remote location and poor water quality, it was also referred to as the Bitter Sea Youzhou. Beijing hetushu .com .com is the center of Youzhou, which served as the capital of the Yan state during the Spring and Autumn period, known as Ji. During the Qin and Han dynasties, it belonged to Guangyang State and Guangyang Commandery, and in the Sui and Tang dynasties, it was called Youzhou. In the Song dynasty, Youzhou was successively occupied by the Liao and Jin dynasties, renamed Nanjing Xijun Prefecture and Zhongdu Daxing Prefecture, both of which were secondary capitals of foreign tribes ... Beijing hetushu .com .com is the center of Youzhou, which served as the capital of the Yan state during the Spring and Autumn period, known as Ji. During the Qin and Han dynasties, it belonged to Guangyang State and Guangyang Commandery, and in the Sui and Tang dynasties, it was called Youzhou. In the Song dynasty, Youzhou was successively occupied by the Liao and Jin dynasties, renamed Nanjing Xijun Prefecture and Zhongdu Daxing Prefecture, both of which were secondary capitals of foreign tribes ..."

Liu Jian and Peng Deng pushed through the crowd to the front, where they saw both sides glaring at each other in the small venue. On one side were Han people, while on the other were a group of Koreans. Liu Jian recognized a few faces among them; the Han people had come from Shaanxi Province and were selling pulled noodles on the street, while the Koreans were selling cold noodles.

When the two returned from the alley, holding a lamp and sneaking bites of the pizza that Boss An had packed for Liu Jian, they had not yet reached the Berlin Temple, but their faces were already flushed and they felt nauseous from the acidity in their stomachs. He even asked, "Respectfully, why are you fixated on that tall, bright one? Is there something peculiar about him?"

Liu Jian and Peng Deng walked along the small street, and by the time they arrived, it was already the hour of Shen. The two were so hungry that their stomachs were pressed against their backs. However, before they reached their destination, they heard a commotion. Peng Deng, being a busybody, prioritized watching the excitement over his hunger, and shouted, "Something has happened!" With a whoosh, he dashed ahead of Liu Jian.

The foreign boss claims to be surnamed An and named Dongni. In fact, there have been many Hu people with the surname An throughout history, such as An Lushan during the Tang Dynasty. However, Boss An insists that he has no connection to An Lushan—"My hometown is in the land of the setting sun in the west. In fact, I do not bear the surname An; An Dongni is merely a given name, and my surname is Da something..." What exactly is Da something? The pronunciation is peculiar, and Liu Jian cannot quite make it out.

Coal Mountain is the Wansui Mountain located north of the Forbidden City. The Emperor plans to use the palaces demolished by the previous dynasty to raise its height, with the intention of destroying the dragon vein of the Tartars. A few years ago, there was no mention of repairing the city, and coal was piled up there, so the common people call it 'Coal Mountain.' The Master is indeed a remarkable figure, his strategic acumen is not inferior to that of the military advisor, but unfortunately, he can foresee one thing but not the next. After killing this Shen Wansan, he intends to extract the location of the secret passage on Yuyuan Mountain from him, taking his clothing and corpse to bury them according to the principles of the mysterious gates in nine different places, which ordinary people would definitely not dare to disturb. The Master is indeed a remarkable figure, his strategic acumen is not inferior to that of the military advisor, but unfortunately, he can foresee one thing but not the next. After killing this Shen Wansan, he intends to extract the location of the secret passage on Yuyuan Mountain from him, taking his clothing and corpse to bury them according to the principles of the mysterious gates in nine different places, which ordinary people would definitely not dare to disturb. It is fortunate to have someone like Miss Luo, who possesses such a pure Yang body; without her fan, we would also...

However, later on, who would have thought that the general of Goryeo, Lee Seong-gye, would conspire to usurp the throne, changing the country's name to Joseon and paying homage to the Ming Dynasty, receiving commendations from Emperor Hongwu, Emperor Jianwen, and the current Yongle Emperor—several of Yongle's consorts were sent from Joseon. Thus, these Goryeos renamed themselves Joseon people and began to rise again, reigniting conflicts. The two factions engaged in intermittent skirmishes, significantly impacting their businesses. Eventually, the elders from both sides devised a solution involving a game of cuju, agreeing to hold a cuju competition every four years, with the format of best of five games, where the loser would have to promote the winner's business for four years. The two factions engaged in intermittent skirmishes, significantly impacting their businesses. Eventually, the elders from both sides devised a solution involving a game of cuju, agreeing to hold a cuju competition every four years, with the format of best of five games, where the loser would have to promote the winner's business for four years

Not hearing clearly, he asked, "Why is it called 'Manchester United'?"

Isn't he supposed to be repairing the temple? What is he doing building a mountain instead

Liu Jian heard an old man nearby lamenting, "It has been sixteen years, and we still cannot win against them. The fear of heights is truly helpless!" Liu Jian smiled and asked, "What fear of heights? Are you saying that the Koreans suffer from a disease?" The old man glanced at him and replied, "Not the fear of heights, but the fear of the high goalposts; the final kick is utterly foul! In a few more years, the Koreans might even claim that this game of kicking a ball was invented by them... the fear of heights is truly helpless!" Liu Jian smiled and asked again, "What fear of heights? Are you saying that the Koreans suffer from a disease?" The old man glanced at him once more and said, "Not the fear of heights, but the fear of the high goalposts; the final kick is utterly foul! In a few more years, the Koreans might even claim that this game of kicking a ball was invented by them..."

Liu Jian observed a robust man in the Han team, whose skills were exceptional and movements agile. Out of the ten goals scored by his team, he had contributed to nine. This individual looked unfamiliar, not resembling a noodle vendor. Unfortunately, despite his bravery, his teammates were lacking in ability, and ultimately, the Korean team won decisively against the Chinese team. The spectators grumbled and even booed, all turning away with expressions of disappointment.

Liu Jian lifted his robe and sat down at the table, crossing his legs: "Who knows, after all, these shoes were not worn on his feet."

Peng Deng listened and repeatedly congratulated. However, Liu Jian's mind was not on this matter; he simply asked Boss An thoughtfully, "Are you saying that the tall player from the Chinese team who played beautifully just now is named Gao Liang?"

Speaking as he did, regardless of the pain from holding his head, he glanced out the window: "Have all the monks perished? Did they go all the way to Yuyuan Mountain to fetch water? Never mind, I won't wash up either; I'll just wipe my face with a dry towel and go eat something first"

Holding the lamp and listening intently, he hurriedly pulled out a piece of paper from his sleeve and presented it to Liu Jian, saying, "I have noted down everything I do not understand on this paper. Please explain it to me one by one, sir."

Do not worry, Liu Jian spread out a sheet of rice paper under the lamp, and was about to take up his brush to jot down some notes. He casually replied, "If he does not go out within July, there will be no calamity. Once July has passed, I will have my own way to save his life"

During the Ming and Qing dynasties, the sport of cuju gradually declined, with professional players and teams becoming rare, and it was more commonly seen as a performance item by individuals or groups within juggling troupes

Holding the lamp, I lay on the ground, too afraid to move: "I won't dare again; even if I were to be scratched to death by ants, I still wouldn't dare."

Startled by the light, he hurriedly bowed and said: "I am but a foolish and ignorant person, esteemed... please do not take offense, and I kindly ask you to continue speaking."

During the Yuan Dynasty, the relationship between the Goryeo royal family and the Yuan emperor was very close. The king of Goryeo offered the daughters of the royal family as concubines to the Yuan emperor, and in return, the emperor married a princess from the imperial family to the king of Goryeo. As a result, the Goryeo people who came as part of the dowry settled in the capital, taking advantage of the royal favor to sell cold noodles. They later even claimed that noodles were invented by the Goryeo people, widely publicizing this in the city. This led to dissatisfaction among various culinary guilds from Shanxi, Shaanxi, Hubei, and Henan, such as the knife-cut noodles from Shanxi, Saozi noodles from Shaanxi, hot dry noodles from Hubei, and Huimian from Henan. Many of these regions were known for their fierce local customs, and several leaders had previously gathered people to cause trouble at the cold noodle shops. However, after the fighting began, they realized that the Goryeo people were considered 'color-eyed' people and were under the protection of the court. After several suppressions by the Mongolian soldiers, everyone could only act secretly, looking for opportunities to throw bricks at the Goryeo people in places like Sidaokou outside Deshengmen, where they gathered. It was not until the establishment of the Ming Dynasty by Emperor Hongwu, when the Yuan emperor fled north, that the Goryeo people temporarily lost their power, leading to a period of relative calm.

Liu Jian let out a "puh" and sprayed a mouthful of tea, soaking the paper. He couldn't help but laugh heartily: "Is there a rhyme to it? Are you composing a three-character classic?"

Liu Jian picked up the folding fan and struck the lantern's forehead sharply, saying: "What are you thinking about? In this vast world, with countless principles, who says that everything can be explained simply by the phrase 'male is yang and female is yin'?"

Boss An arrived in Beijing seven years ago, unfamiliar with the surroundings, his wallet nearly empty, and lacking any specialized skills, he was almost driven to despair. One day, while wandering the streets on an empty stomach, he stumbled upon a small alley where he suddenly saw several Kunlun vendors shouting on the street, inviting everyone to try their pancakes, claiming: "Famous delicacies from Tianzhu, freshly made and baked, with endless flavors, not to be missed." Boss An slapped his forehead, recalling that his hometown was also renowned for its pancakes, and he had learned how to make them when he was young. Why not set up a stall and make a living?

Could this be the shoes worn by Shen Wansan? Can a beggar afford new shoes?

Liu Jian asked Boss An if his hometown was in Yilibali. Boss An did not understand, so Liu Jian dipped his finger in the wine and drew a map on the table for him to see. The westernmost point of the Ming Dynasty was Yilibali, located just north of Wusizang. Boss An shook his head, saying, "It still needs to go further west, it's quite far away." Liu Jian then pointed to the right and marked a point, saying it was called "Qincha," and annotated it with "over 9,000 li." To his surprise, Boss An still shook his head, saying, "I'm afraid it needs to go even further west..."

Liu Jian also spotted Boss Anthony in the crowd, who turned out to be a fan of cuju. Liu Jian and Peng Deng walked over to greet him, and while leading them into his restaurant, Boss Anthony muttered, "It's too smelly, too smelly. Tomorrow, I will also form a team to play with the North Koreans."

Liu Jian asked Boss An why he had left his hometown and traveled thousands of miles to the Central Plains. Boss An replied with a pained expression: "I do not wish to leave my hometown; it is just that in recent years, the clergy in our country have been capturing demon women and sending them to the stake to be burned. I have been somewhat implicated, which is why I was forced to venture east by sea, wandering from place to place, and it took me more than five years to finally arrive in the Celestial Empire"

The competition on the field is extremely intense, with the North Koreans displaying remarkably bizarre movements, as if the ball is glued to their toes, making their attacks exceptionally sharp. In contrast, the Han Chinese employ straightforward tactics, continuously intercepting the ball from the showy North Koreans, passing it two or three times before reaching the goal area. Unfortunately, despite their fierce offensive, they are unable to score, and in the blink of an eye, the North Koreans have won three consecutive goals.

Boss An suddenly changed his expression upon hearing the question from the lantern holder, becoming somewhat shy: "Hehe, actually I will be getting married next month. The bride is the only daughter of the owner of the dumpling shop next door, her nickname is Manlian... Let's have Gao Liang as the team leader, he plays football the best."

Boss An replied without a second thought, saying: "Let's call it 'Manlian', how about that?"

At this point, Liu Jian raised his teacup and took a sip, letting out a soft sigh: "Wang Yuanhua, oh Wang Yuanhua, you have killed him, yet it may not necessarily lead to the good fortune of the young master."

Liu Jian glared at him and said, "Do not misuse idioms—what do you want me to explain?"

Liu Jian carefully put away the straw sandals, reattaching the talisman, and then, holding a lamp, he exited the temple and headed towards the small street, intending to eat pancakes at the small eatery run by the foreign boss.

With the lamp held high, I cautiously observed Liu Jian's expression while slowly rising to my feet. I gently placed the padlock and key on the desk and reached out to lift the sweat towel. Initially unaware of what lay beneath, my curiosity was piqued. However, upon seeing it, I felt a tinge of disappointment. It was merely a pair of straw sandals, indistinguishable from those worn by ordinary peddlers. The only difference was that the upper part still had grass thorns, suggesting they had been worn for only a day or two; they were a new pair of shoes. Initially unaware of what lay beneath, my curiosity was piqued. However, upon seeing it, I felt a tinge of disappointment. It was merely a pair of straw sandals, indistinguishable from those worn by ordinary peddlers. The only difference was that the upper part still had grass thorns, suggesting they had been worn for only a day or two; they were a new pair of shoes

Holding the lamp and widening his eyes, he perked up his ears, fearing he might miss even half a word. Liu Jian set down the teacup and carefully wrapped the pair of straw sandals in a sweat towel again, saying, "There should still be eight such mounds in Beijing, but none of them have a corpse... I estimate that the corpse of the owner of this item should be buried beneath the Coal Hill"

Holding the lamp and shedding tears, looking pitiful: "Sir, you are tired, I dare not disturb you... You know me, I cannot keep things to myself. With you being so mysterious, if I cannot see what is hidden in the cabinet, it feels as if a thousand ants are scratching inside my heart, making it unbearably itchy..."

And the book "No Nonsense, Just Look When I Tell You to!"

Indeed. He is a mason, an external aid they have hired

Liu Jian's understanding of geography ends here; he cannot comprehend what lies further to the west. However, it must be said that there are not many learned individuals from the Central Plains like him. Not to mention the Qinchai, even among the Yilibali, if you were to gather ten scholars, six would shake their heads in confusion, let alone the common merchants and laborers.

The one who rebelled from the rear was Jin Shizong, Wanyan Yong, who is also considered a renowned ruler of his time. After ascending the throne in Daxingfu, he summoned the wise men from across the land to modify the city walls, aiming to subdue that malevolent dragon. Someone suggested, 'There is a mountain within the territory of the vassal state of Mongolia, where the dragon's energy is strong; it must not be left unaddressed, lest it bring future calamities.' Consequently, Jin Shizong dispatched people to investigate, and upon seeing that the mountain was not large, he simply leveled it and transported it to Daxingfu, piling it up in Danning Palace—this is now known as Wansui Mountain

Holding a lamp and smiling, he asked: "If you were to form a team, what would you name it that is striking and memorable?"

Holding the lantern with a troubled expression, he stammered repeatedly, but could not extract a word from his master. After a night of silence, the next day Liu Jian set out early to handle affairs at the newly established government school in Majiangjun Alley. After finishing, he took a stroll around the Confucian Temple in Shuntian Prefecture before returning to Berlin Temple only after dinner. The monks in the temple served tea and lit the lamps, and it was then that the lantern holder finally had the opportunity to ask: "Why don't you go save that old scribe, respected sir?"

Holding the lamp and smiling shyly: "I don't understand the rules of rhyme, I just feel that when arranged this way, it reads smoothly." After Liu Jian laughed, he became serious again, picked up his pen, and crossed out the lines "Wang Yuanhua, the Department of Inquiry, Cheng Yibo, and Yao Shaoshi": "If this piece of paper falls into someone else's hands, just these four names could cost you your life"

Holding the lamp, he saw that a rogue had set up a betting booth nearby, and he intended to take out a few coins to place a bet. However, he was struck on the back of the head by Liu Jian with a sharp blow, which made him reluctantly put the money back into his pocket

However, once he calmed down and took a closer look, there was no red light at all; it was merely a large red gauze shirt that Liu Jian had worn during the festival, which had fallen out of the cupboard and onto the floor. He couldn't help but shiver, thinking that it was not good, and hurriedly turned his head to look. Sure enough, he saw Liu Jian had already turned over in bed and was coldly staring at him.

Cuju

Cuju is a traditional Chinese sport, first mentioned in the "Records of the Grand Historian: Biography of Su Qin," where it refers to "taji"; "ta" means to kick, and "ji" refers to a leather ball

Liu Jian reprimanded, "You are still a child; how can you get used to this? Such gluttony, how have you not choked to death? The Tartars drinking milk is as essential to them as vegetables are to us, and it is indispensable at every meal. The Tartars dominate the Central Plains, and many people in the north of the Yangtze River are also accustomed to drinking milk. You have been to the capital with me since you were young, so you can be considered half a southerner. Eating too much milk will surely cause stomach aches and dizziness. How many times have I advised you? You remember the eating but forget the beating!"

Coal Mountain

Holding the lamp, a bit impatiently, urged: "Sir, these stories can all be found in books; please tell those that cannot be found." Liu Jian then raised his fan and lightly tapped him on the head: "If you read a few more books, you will know that all matters, big and small, can be found in books. You should read on your own; I will not speak any further!"

"And the Minister Song, who traveled with us on the same ship, is primarily responsible for the extensive renovation of Meishan."

Holding the lamp and smiling, he leaned closer and asked: "Sir, in the past few days, I have encountered many matters, and you have spoken a great deal, like mountains and ridges, filling pits and valleys. I truly cannot remember or understand it all. Please explain it to me carefully."