Emperor of the Red Chamber

Chapter 73 Three generations of emperors chanted the self-ringing bell
As early as the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty, the Western gadget of self-ringing bells was introduced to China and entered the imperial palace.

However, there is no relevant record in the history of Ming Dynasty.

Perhaps the emperor of the Ming Dynasty didn't pay much attention to the self-ringing bell and only regarded it as a decoration.

In the Great Zhou Dynasty, the number of self-ringing bells increased, and Emperor Jing'an had long been fond of this thing. He wrote a poem about self-ringing bells in his early years, and specially showed this poem to Yuan Qingbai.

At this moment, facing Emperor Jing'an's inquiry, Yuan Qingbai smiled and said: "Of course my grandson will remember."

Emperor Jing'an smiled and asked, "Maybe you can recite it?"

Yuan Qingbai smiled and said: "Fortunately, my grandson deliberately memorized this poem by the emperor's grandfather. Otherwise, he would be embarrassed when he is being questioned like this by the emperor's grandfather."

Emperor Jing'an smiled and said, "Oh? You actually carried it on your back?"

Yuan Qingbai smiled and said: "The imperial grandfather specially asked his grandson to read this poem. How could he not memorize it?"

Emperor Jing'an was pleased again: "Recite it to me."

Yuan Qingbai immediately started to memorize:
"Ode to the Ringing Bell"

The Dharma originated from the West, and it is taught and understood skillfully.

The wheel rotates according to the moment, and the table fingers move according to the minute.

The crimson and silk curtains remind us of dawn, and the golden bell predicts the time.

I am diligent in government affairs early in the morning, but I am late in asking for memorials.

"Okay, I can really recite it!" Emperor Jing'an smiled brightly after hearing this, "I haven't asked you to compose a poem for several months. Now, why don't you compose a poem about the self-ringing bell? Let me have a look?"

Of course Yuan Qingbai would not refuse.

Just at this time, Tao Quan came to report: "Your Majesty, the Holy Emperor is here."

Emperor Jing'an said: "Let him come in."

Emperor Chengtai walked in, and Yuan Qingbai hurriedly said respectfully: "My son, I would like to pay my respects to my father."

Emperor Chengtai nodded and said respectfully to Emperor Jing'an: "My son, I would like to send my regards to my father."

Emperor Jing'an nodded and said with a smile: "You are here just in time. I am asking Qing Bai to compose a poem. As a father, you also want to take a look at how your son's poem is doing now."

Emperor Chengtai smiled slightly: "What title did my father ask Qing Bai to write for his poem?"

Emperor Jing'an said: "Chant the bell."

Emperor Chengtai said: "How come he is allowed to chant the self-ringing bell?"

Emperor Jing'an said: "Just now one of my chiming clocks was broken, and Qingbai came and helped me repair it. I then mentioned a poem about the chiming bells that I once wrote, and Qingbai actually recited it. I almost couldn't. I haven't asked him to compose a poem for a month, so I asked him to sing the self-ringing bell."

Emperor Chengtai smiled and said: "In that case, I would also like to see how well he chants."

Immediately, Yuan Qingbai stood at the desk, with Emperor Jing'an and Emperor Chengtai standing behind him on the left and right.

Haha, the pressure of writing poetry this time is not as great as usual!

Fortunately, he got inspiration after pondering, and started writing:
"Ode to the Ringing Bell"

Rare treasures come to the sea, and the refined palace lotus is refined.

Water and fire are obviously not borrowed, but they move secretly in seconds.

Heaven's workmanship is sincere and skillful, and the timing is conveyed by sound.

The needle points to the wrong point, and the wheel pushes and rotates each other.

The signs of morning and dusk can indicate, and the increase and decrease can calm the confusion.

Holding an arrow with gold is a shame, holding a pot with bronze is donated by history.

The bells are ringing in different ways, and the music is pronounced in different ways.

If you want to achieve peace and quiet, you must teach not to wind the string.

After finishing the poem, Emperor Jing'an couldn't help but praise: "Good. It's not easy to sing the bell. Although your poem is not very good, at least it's not bad."

Emperor Chengtai said: "It is indeed not bad, but the last sentence, 'If you want to have peace and quiet, you must teach yourself not to wind up' is not good. Qingbai, you must continue to work hard in this life, but you can't covet the 'free and peaceful' thing." Three words.”

Yuan Qingbai hurriedly said respectfully: "My father taught me well, and I will remember it."

I secretly thought to myself that your overly diligent father should be able to cure Dazhou when he was in power. When I succeed to the throne and become the emperor in the future, although I will also need to be diligent, at least I won’t have to be as diligent as you. Too much... Emperor Chengtai looked at Emperor Jing'an and said with a smile: "My son has also been aroused in his interest in writing poems. If my father doesn't dislike it, I can also chant this self-ringing bell today to give my father a piece of cake." Qu'er, how's it going?"

Of course Emperor Jing'an would not refuse.

Immediately, Yuan Qingbai gave up his seat next to the book desk to Emperor Chengtai. Emperor Chengtai thought for a moment and then started writing:

"Self-Ringing Bell"

Eighty thousand miles away, the grace and power are all connected.

Rare and valuable, the watch is extremely crafted.

In accordance with the laws and regulations of Tianjian, when you hear the sound, you will be in the middle of the day.

The lotus flower is in the air to control the leakage, which is the skill of the old monk.

Emperor Jing'an nodded after reading it: "Your song is not bad either."

Emperor Chengtai smiled and said: "My father thinks it's not bad, so my sons and ministers are satisfied. This fun is finally done."

Emperor Chengtai actually also liked to write poetry. Before he ascended the throne, he wrote many poems, including more than 300 poems, many of which were about the wind, flowers, snow and moon.

How many scholars in this era do not learn to compose poetry?

However, for a professional like Emperor Chengtai, writing poetry is just a hobby.

At this moment, Yuan Qingbai looked at the poem "The Ringing Bell" written by Emperor Chengtai, and planned to memorize this poem today to avoid Emperor Chengtai mentioning it to him in the future. He couldn't recite it, but if he recited it, Emperor Chengtai Naturally, he will be pleased, just like Emperor Jing'an today.

This can be regarded as a kind of scheming.

At this time, Emperor Jing'an asked Emperor Chengtai: "What brings you here this time?"

He knew his third son, who had become emperor, and knew that his third son was very diligent in his administration after becoming emperor, which satisfied him.

What is even more satisfying is that this third son, while working diligently, still remembers to show filial piety to him. Not only does he come to pay his respects every day, but he also specifically asks Qing Bai to help him show filial piety.

But at this time, the third son came here, most likely because he had something serious to ask him for advice.

Emperor Chengtai did not lie: "There is indeed something I need to discuss with my father."

Emperor Jing'an nodded, sat down immediately, and asked Emperor Chengtai to take a seat, and said to Yuan Qingbai: "Qingbai, give your father some tea."

Yuan Qingbai hurriedly poured two cups of tea and handed them to Emperor Jing'an and Emperor Chengtai.

Emperor Chengtai took a few sips of tea and then started talking.

Emperor Chengtai was talking about the issue of Ding tax and land tax.

Chinese people have been paying Ding tax and land tax since ancient times, and the Great Zhou Dynasty was no exception.

Emperor Jing'an was close to the people.

He once said: "I have experienced Shandong four times, and I know all about the livelihood of the people. The Eastern Province is different from other provinces. The small people in the fields are all related to the wealthy people. In good years, the wealthy people earn more, while the poor people The share obtained is very small; in a bad year, one has no land and property, the strong will be scattered around, and the old and weak will die in the ravines."

He also said: "If the people and shepherds can love good and take less from it, the people will gradually become richer. Today, they are demanding and unskilled, and they use all their efforts all year round to take what they can. How can these little people make a living?"

Therefore, in the ten-year prospect, Emperor An issued a decree to "never increase the number of people and increase their wealth"!
Even so, the dual taxation standards of people and acres of land in Dazhou still put a heavy burden on farmers with little land.

The matter is serious.

Although Emperor Chengtai had just ascended the throne a few months ago, he was eager to take care of the matter. This time he came to Emperor Jing'an specifically to discuss it.

When Emperor Jing'an learned about Emperor Chengtai's intention, he was relieved. He had long wanted to deal with this matter, but he could not be cruel and unable to do so.

At this moment, Emperor Jing'an looked at Yuan Qingbai with his deep eyes: "Qingbai, what do you think about this matter?"

He wanted to see if Qing Bai had any good ideas on such a major national matter.

Emperor Chengtai also looked at Qingbai after hearing this. He also wanted to see...

　Some book friends mentioned that when the Supreme Emperor is still alive, his queen should be called "The Supreme Empress" rather than "The Empress Dowager".

　　The author wrote "Empress Dowager" based on the original work, which said, "Nowadays, I serve the Supreme Emperor and the Empress Dowager day and night, and I still cannot fulfill my filial piety."

　　The author's setting is: According to the Zhou system, Concubine Yi was not the queen conferred by Emperor Jing'an, but the empress dowager conferred by Emperor Chengtai after he ascended the throne, so she was called the "Empress Dowager".

　　
　
(End of this chapter)