Chapter 001: A Family of Abundant Feasts and Resounding Bells
All civil officials enter the government through the imperial examination. The sons of nobility and military merit often take alternative paths.
Everyone is praising, yet only Liu Yu is lamenting—were the cultural standards of ancient people really this high? Even a courtesan can compose such a verse? What will she say when it is her turn to recite a poem?
Liu Yuduan raised his glass,整理了所有的记忆, and looked at the crowd around him who were making a fuss, tilting his head back and downing the drink in one go
The courtesan, having spoken, picked up the ivory dice on the table with her slender fingers resembling green onions, gave her wrist a flick, gently tossed them onto the table, and began to sing softly.
With the background of the family known for its wealth and culinary prowess, everyone said that his future was limitless, and they clamored for him to host a banquet.
After making his way from Shaanxi to Jingzhou, Li Guo, seemingly possessed by a time traveler, completely distrusts this group of incompetent allies from the Southern Ming dynasty
The words were spoken in a tone that initially conveyed disdain, followed by mockery, and then shifted to a tone of feigned sulkiness and girlish grievance
Upon entering the upper class, if one can achieve the highest rank, they are referred to as "Kuaishou," equivalent to the top scholar in the imperial examination. Whenever the opportunity arises, the emperor uses these noble families and the sons of military generals from the upper class as pawns, placing them into the officialdom to maintain balance
Having said that, a group of people raised their glasses and offered a toast to Liu Yu, who was still in a daze
A piece of cold and fragile bone, transformed into countless hearts. Ever since it has encountered some stains, it has been cast away until now
From now on, I shall be Liu Yu, the third son of the Duke of Yiguo of the Dashun Dynasty
Shanhaiguan remains a stone of failure, and Li Zicheng still met his demise on Jiugong Mountain
Gently counting, she took out the jade wine cup, gazing at Liu Yu across the table with flirtatious eyes like silk
Although Liu Yu is not the legitimate eldest son, he is also not born of a concubine; his mother is a legitimate lady of rank, one who occasionally attends banquets hosted by the empress in the inner palace.
The courtesan chuckled softly, her expression shifting from the sorrowful demeanor she had while reciting poetry, and, as was her usual habit, she gracefully waved her hand with a charming posture
How to traverse, and why traversing has lost its meaning, since there is no way to return, one can only adapt to the new identity of today
The civil officials naturally oppose and look down upon those young scholars who have not studied the classics and historical texts, relying instead on the privileges of the imperial examination; the noble offspring of military merit also disdain the literary scholars, leading to a significant rift between the two sides. The noble families from the Wude Palace have also seized positions in the officialdom, deepening the conflict.
In just a brief sentence, the tone was unexpectedly convoluted, like the strands of hair around the neck, causing a prickling sensation in the hearts of the seated men
A few days ago, during the assessment at Wude Palace, he received top marks in many subjects, and he has already set one foot into the upper class
If pushed to the limit, we can resort to using the noble sons of the Wude Palace to take charge; we cannot allow the gentry to force the emperor into a corner with no options left.
History has now changed, and many of those once tragic heroes have surprisingly not perished
The old foreign neck tree on Coal Mountain has added eighty more rings this year, after years of turmoil have subsided, the new dynasty has stabilized, the country is prosperous and the people are safe, and peace reigns across the four seas
At the Jingcheng Quanliu Ji Winery, several noble youths openly joked about both the current and previous dynasties. Eighty years have passed since the Jiashen Incident at the end of the Ming Dynasty, and this deliberately propagated prophetic discourse has long become common nonsense known to everyone on the streets.
But Dazhong actually turned the tables in Jingxiang
It is also used during weekdays to introduce obstacles in the officialdom, in order to prevent uncontrolled factional disputes among the civil servants
Liu Tichun was also granted the title of "Duke of the State, Minister of Assistance in Founding the Nation, Promoter of Sincerity and Strength, and Military Minister" after Li Laiheng unified the world, and was posthumously awarded the title of a prince.
If it were not for the events of that year, our ancestors would have been foraging for food in the soil of Shaanxi, and it would only be in dreams that we could seek a bride from Mizhi, how could I possibly drink with a beauty like you in this capital city
In the marketplace, there is much love for prophetic sayings, while the scholars and talented individuals discuss the righteousness of the nation. The Great Shun has already "entered the pass," and there are great Confucian scholars who will argue for its divine mandate. The words of Li replacing Zhu and the restoration of the Tang dynasty are merely meant for the common people to hear.
Indeed, today is a momentous day for Brother Liu, and the casting of this lot is truly remarkable! It is indeed fitting for the occasion
According to the order, the host shall drink one cup, while everyone else shall drink two cups. The great roc rises with the wind in a single day, soaring straight up to ninety thousand miles; this is indeed fitting for the occasion. Today is the grand day of Young Master Liu, and in the future, he will surely soar to great heights.
With her lips slightly parted and her delicate teeth moving gently, the golden lotus did not stir, let alone take seven steps, as she recited a verse between the opening and closing of her cherry-red lips
You men are indeed unreliable; it is better to rely on oneself. In the previous dynasty, Li Xiangjun possessed remarkable talent, yet she trusted Hou Fangyu, and in the end, did she not end up in a tragic and destitute state? If she could end up like this, how could I fare any better?
At this moment, while drinking, it is necessary to issue a command, and it is precisely the turn of the courtesan sitting beside to speak. The drinking command states that one must recite something about an object on the table, which happens to be the dice used for issuing commands.
In a certain sense, today can indeed be considered a significant day for oneself
To avoid any slight disturbance to the interests of the gentry, there are instances of examination boycotts that can manipulate the court
Currently, the title of Duke of Yi is held by Liu Yu's father, having been passed down through four generations.
Later, retreating to Kuidong, Liu Tichun voluntarily relinquished the position of leader, passing it to Gao Yigong, and subsequently supported the young rebel leader Li Laiheng. Ultimately, when the situation became untenable, his entire family committed suicide in Wushan, vowing to never surrender, a tale both heroic and tragic
Look around, this is the private room on the second floor of the restaurant
As the saying goes: The heights of Maolu Mountain, where the bandits perish for the state; the vastness of Lingdingyang, where the pirates guard the nation's gates
Upon hearing this remark, several drummers applauded.
Liu Yu raised her wine glass in confusion, and after a long moment of contemplation, she finally came to a realization
The evaluation of the heroes of that year, can one's own ancestors truly be worthy of the title "hero"? Originally, he was a sworn brother of the Eight Great Kings, Zhang Xianzhong, but later had ideological differences with Zhang Xianzhong and joined the Great Shun's founding emperor, Li Zicheng, remaining steadfast even in the most difficult times
It is extremely difficult for the Great Shun to conquer the world, especially when they reached Jiangnan, where they fought against Portuguese mercenaries, the Zheng family's black guards, and Japanese musketeers, suffering significant losses from gunfire.
This situation is also deliberately orchestrated by the Da Shun royal family
Even if one cannot inherit a title, securing a position as a casual attendant or similar role, where one merely eats and waits for death, is not a difficult task. It can be said that this is a household of wealth and privilege.
The ones drinking and having fun with Liu Yu are all young people around seventeen or eighteen years old, and a female companion is sitting with the group, currently engaging in a drinking game.
What is even more remarkable is that it comes from the mouth of a prostitute, adding such a layer of identity alignment, which indeed leaves one in awe.
To create a rift between the nobility and the civil officials, thereby allowing the imperial authority to mediate and maintain balance, thus preventing either the civil officials or the nobility from completely controlling the court
At the banquet table, Liu Yu, who had just crossed over, stared in astonishment at the group of companions dressed in elegant robes and hats
Listening to Liu Yu and others discussing matters such as "though Chu had three households" and "the high status of the Dai Han," the courtesan laughed and said: "You men, when gathered together, are always eager to discuss national affairs. Today, no one is allowed to talk about it; let us continue with our games."
What?
The Ming Dynasty has been gone for over eighty years
Using objects to metaphorically represent people and comparing objects to convey feelings captures the essence of poetry
In that year, the Taijian official residence of the Ming Dynasty established the Dashun Academy, named Wude Palace
After the Ming Dynasty, it was the Shun Dynasty, not the Manchu Qing Dynasty
Our Great Ancestor Emperor destroyed the Zhu Ming dynasty as retribution for Zhu Wen's destruction of the Tang dynasty in those years. An eye for an eye, indeed. The territory of the Li Tang family was annihilated by Zhu Wen, and now this old Zhu's realm has been seized by our Da Shun, restoring the surname to Li
Good
Liu Yu, who has traveled through time, feels somewhat out of place, and her mind is still in a state of confusion
Liu Yu, being the legitimate third son of the current Duke of Yi, naturally studied at Wude Palace. He has already entered the inner chamber and has a good chance of being promoted to the upper chamber
The person who wrote the letter seeking help is an extraordinary individual named Sun Shoufa. He is a sworn enemy of the peasant army, having captured the notorious rebel leader Gao Yingxiang, which ultimately led to Gao's gruesome execution. He can be considered a mortal enemy of Liu Tichun and other members of the peasant army.
In the original history, during the Jiu Gong Mountain Incident, after the death of Li Zicheng, Liu Tichun received a letter requesting assistance from Shaanxi
This battle has solidified the morale of the troops and dispelled the despondency of the Da Shun army, which had lacked a central figure after the defeat at Jiu Gong Mountain
After the high school graduation, the capital was restored, but the young son was gravely ill, and Jiangnan was still unsettled. Thus, the throne was passed to Li Guo's adopted son, the young King Li Laiheng—this individual, originally the Duke of Lin of the Southern Ming in history, who persisted in resisting the Qing at Maolu Mountain until he committed suicide in 1664, the last general of the Ming Dynasty, unexpectedly became the Emperor Gaozong of the Dashun.
Li Guo, who was originally conferred the title of Duke of Xingguo by the Southern Ming dynasty, is very likely to have been possessed by a time traveler
Since being subjected to some disgrace, I have been cast aside until now
A nobleman's son beside her smiled as he pinched the courtesan's face, saying: "How can we not discuss it? This is both a matter of state and a matter of family"
The tone is intentionally understated, yet the seductive melodies are incessant
The mention of dice also alludes to the sorrows of beautiful women, reflecting a lofty intention
At the moment of death, he smiled and said: "In the past, the old rebel leader Gao Yingxiang entrusted the military to the Li family; now the Li family returns half of the world to the Gao family. Those engaged in trade and lending can refer to this in detail"
A person beside clapped their hands and cheered, saying: "My dear, if you follow me in the future, how could you bear to throw it away again?"
It is said that the powerful minister Yan Song of the previous dynasty was exiled and fell into destitution, craving wine and lacking money. He drank two bowls here and exclaimed that after so many years as the Prime Minister of the Cabinet, he had never tasted such delicious wine. Seeing the springs and willows in this place, he took up his brush and wrote the two characters "Spring Willow" to pay for his wine.
Moreover, after Li Guo took control of Jingxiang, he placed great importance on firearms
The Wude Palace is structured with three tiers of schools: the outer school, the inner school, and the upper school. The children of nobility can enroll directly, while the children of military officers and commoners must pass assessments to enter the outer school, gradually progressing to the upper school. The Wude Palace represents an alternative pathway for talent selection alongside the imperial examination system.
After Emperor Gaozong Li Laiheng established his rule over the world, he revived Wang Anshi's "Three Accommodation Method" as a means of selecting the offspring of noble families, in accordance with the instructions left by Li Guo in his memorial.
The owner of this restaurant is a marketing genius, employing a strategy reminiscent of later practices such as "the emperor incognito, praising a certain delicacy without end"
Subsequently, under the consolidation of Li Guo, the Dashun Army recaptured Jingzhou, while the offensive and defensive struggle in Xiangyang continued, Shanxi saw a restoration, Shandong's Yuyuan Army provided support, and the slave rebellion in Jiangnan was suppressed, eliminating Wang's connections... Until Li Guo passed away, he bequeathed the throne to his brother-in-law, Gao Yigong, the Duke of Ying of the Southern Ming in the original timeline.
It seems to be talking about dice, yet every sentence is about herself
This place is adjacent to the imperial city, and Yan Song cannot lift the coffin lid to say "I am not I, do not speak nonsense." The local yellow wine indeed has a unique flavor, naturally making it a favored spot for the sons of nobility to indulge in drinking.
The six dice spun around several times and came to a stop, landing on a "four in".
This distorted San She method serves as a training base for the nobility of great merit and military officials, and it is also a means to suppress the civil officials
The method of the three abodes: it is already extremely difficult to ascend from the outer abode to the inner abode, and if one can ascend from the inner abode to the upper abode, it is even more distinct
The situation is precisely this, the matter is exactly this, and the identity is just this.
Due to the presence of many noble offspring of the founding generation in the Wude Palace Academy, the Da Shun has thus acquired a base of support that is unrelated to the great Confucian scholars of Jiangnan, and has gained the means to resort to violence.
Indeed, today's meal is hosted by myself
My ancestor was named Liu Tichun, nicknamed Erhu, and was originally one of the Thirteen Families of Kuizhou in history
After the restoration of the Great Shun, many gentry in Jiangnan were discontented. Following its establishment, the Great Shun adopted a balanced approach that relied on the suppression of civil officials by the nobility.
The siege of Jingzhou, besieging the city while attacking reinforcements, was akin to being able to predict the future; there was complete disbelief that He Tengjiao could adequately protect the flanks, leading to an ambush that resulted in the decapitation of the Manchu general Lekedehun.
My great day
However, since you have spoken, I shall heed your words
However, when Sun Shoufa rebelled against the Qing in Shaanxi, the first to think of seeking help was none other than his mortal enemy, the peasant army. Sun Shoufa believed that this former foe would surely assist him for the greater good of the world; Liu Tichun was indeed worthy of the title of a chivalrous man. Upon receiving the letter, he cast aside old grievances and led his troops to counterattack in Shaanxi, supporting his enemy Sun Shoufa, which can be considered a true act of chivalry.
The reason Liu Yu is hosting today, inviting a group of noble youths to feast and revel, is indeed due to a significant event that is worthy of celebration
Li Guo's legacy states that the selection process at the Wude Palace has abolished the practice of sword dancing and has shifted to the study of firearms and artillery. Candidates must study works such as "The Elements of Geometry" and "The Principles of Measurement" translated by Xu Guangqi, and they are encouraged to learn extensively from Western knowledge
More than eighty years ago, in a time of chaos, he was indeed a remarkable figure. Under the shadow of his family's influence, Liu Yu was of noble birth, a legitimate scion of the distinguished aristocracy of the Shun Dynasty, beyond reproach.