After Yu Kui stayed in the valley for half a month, he took Dajiang to Kang, the capital city of Wu. Yu Kui's external identity is a ceramics boss, and the merchandise he brought with him was a batch of porcelain that had just been developed in the valley.
The Shang Dynasty, people have fired a glazed ceramic tire thin, high hardness, tire and glaze combined with tightly low water absorption rate of porcelain, these porcelains because of the firing temperature is too low, fired out of the porcelain appears very rough, this porcelain is known as the 'primitive porcelain'. This time people use the living apparatus, in addition to bronze vessels is this primitive porcelain. The real porcelain is in the middle of the Tang Dynasty, the Tang Dynasty, the famous Tang Three-color is the evolution of the period between the two works.
Zheng Yuming from the computer printout of the information turned to the simple steps of firing porcelain, built a heat preservation kiln, the use of the northern part of the valley is rich in quartz clay embryo (northern quartzite is also the raw material for making glass), the use of the blower to increase the oxygen, will be fired at a temperature of 1,200 degrees Celsius, the embryo of the glaze, the experimental firing out of the white and green porcelain.
People in this time and space did not yet know to use coal as fuel, but only knew to use coal crystals to carve into crafts, the ancient cultural site of Xinle in Liaoning Province, coal crafts have been found .
Porcelain must be fired at a temperature of more than 1200 degrees, Zheng Yuming did not look for coal around the city of Dacheng, the valley uses fuel is high-quality charcoal, burning high-quality charcoal is very costly in terms of wood and manpower, so the cost of firing porcelain is very high, the valley's kiln burned out very little porcelain.
These porcelain burned out, Zheng Yuming did not intend to sell around the city of Dacheng, was ready to find a reliable businessman to the distant vassal states to sell at a high price, and now Yu Kui to go to the Wu capital of the city of Kang, this batch of porcelain will be entrusted to him to do business items, of course, in order to not let the outside world know the valley of porcelain, Yu Kui to bring to the porcelain claimed to be from the southern merchants there to buy the Southern traders from the South overseas islands to buy to get.
Soon after Yu Kui left it was the August 15th Mid-Autumn Festival. In this time and space, August 15 is not called the Mid-Autumn Festival, but the Moon Festival. Originally, it was a festival for ancient emperors to sacrifice the moon, originating from the ancient worship of the moon and the custom of singing and dancing under the moon to look for puppets. After the development of the farming society, since the fall harvest will be in a month, this Moon Festival has slowly evolved into a festival of praying to the moon for a good harvest and happiness.
Zheng Yuming and Chu Chaohui would go to Dacheng every month to pay their respects to Ulsanjun, and each time they went, they must have gifts. The Moon Festival is a very grand festival, second only to the Spring Festival, and this time the two went to attend the Moon Festival organized by the Lord of Dacheng, contributing generous gifts: three pairs of black, green, and white jacquard cloths with exquisite patterns, a mule cart of white paper, Artemesia pills to fight against the plague, and two baskets of sweet potatoes. The black jacquard cloth was specially dyed for Ulsan-kun.
When Qin was first founded, only the Son of Heaven was allowed to use black color to make clothes and crowns, and the rulers of the vassal states could only use light black color. As Qin's control over the vassal states became weaker and weaker, the vassal states became more and more casual in observing the etiquette of the Son of Heaven, and not only did the vassal kings use the black color of brocade and silk to make their clothes, but also the children and grandchildren of the vassals used the black color as well. Therefore, in Qin, if you see anyone wearing black clothes and crowns, that person is either the king of the vassal state or the prince and grandson of the vassal state.
The Moon Festival officially begins on the 15th day of the 8th month at already time (09:00 to 11:00 BST) and does not end until the hour of the night (21:00 to 23:00 BST), making it a veritable day-and-night revelry for the people of this time of the year.
The largest number of people who followed the two Zheng Chu to Dacheng this time were the Wu Da couple, the Huo siblings, Wei Qing and the ventriloquist-cum-teacher Fan Jin, and the witch doctor Jiang Gui.
The reason for taking Wu Da Couple is to raise the status of Wu Da Couple, the reason for taking Huo Si Hua is to let the girl see the big scene, the reason for taking Fan Jin is that he needs Fan Jin to present his art at the Moon Festival, and the witch doctor Jiang Gui is taking the initiative to go on his own accord, as he wants to go to Dacheng to make an exchange of healing skills with other healers.
The people who went to the festival in the valley got up before dawn, Zheng Chu two people and Huo Si Zhong and Wei Qing rode the horses, the others sat on the three mule carts loaded with goods, and after the gap exit under the hillside and Wu Da husband and wife will ride, a group of people wagon will be vastly towards the city of Dacheng. Along the way, there are many common people walking towards Dacheng, these people wear their best clothes, young girls put all their ornaments on their bodies, and their heads are also inserted with various colors of flowers, among which chrysanthemums are the main ones. Chrysanthemums symbolized the quality of purity in ancient times and were a favorite flower.
Nambu to go to the festival of a line of people walking on the road is very conspicuous, in addition to riding the horses tell people that this group of people identity noble, Zheng Yuming and Chu Chao Hui outstanding instrument is more striking, all the way to meet the pedestrians are always in the hands of flowers and wild fruits while throwing them, while the mouth of the loud chanting of hymns and poems, so that Zheng Yuming was surprised that the older old man and the old lady is also the same behavior. People at this time bold and forthright, love of beauty regardless of age and gender, the Han Chinese people's implicit is only later.
"Governor Zheng!"
The caravan went to Qiuzhuang, the closest to Dacheng, and ran into the caravan of the Guo clan attending the Moon Festival, Guo Huben rode ahead of him, and his eyes glimpsed Zheng Yuming and his party and hurriedly beat his horse to catch up.
"Guo Huben! Farewell!" Zheng Yuming arched his hand towards Guo Huben on his horse, his face was a bit embarrassed, this Guo Huben would try to get over to him no matter where he saw him to strike up a conversation, if it was an ordinary conversation, Zheng Yuming didn't mind, but Guo Huben's staring was too scorching.
"Guo Huben! Haven't seen you in January, you've gotten even more heroic!" The corner of Chu Zhaohui's mouth pulled downward, and he turned his horse to squeeze in between the two.
"Hey! Governor Chu!" As soon as Guo Huben saw Chu Chaohui who had interjected himself, he realized that he had not greeted this governor just now and hurriedly made up his salute. Guo Huben disliked staying next to Chu Chao Hui, this overseas man was too tall and stout, giving him a threatening feeling.
"Did Guo Huben lead the team to Dacheng for the Moon Festival?" Chu Chao Hui and Zheng Yuming's horses both stopped motionless, the only person who led the Guo Clan to Dacheng for the festival could be the Guo Clan Chief, Chu Chao Hui intentionally asked Guo Huben this way, alluding to the fact that Guo Huben had been rude, grabbing the first opportunity to make idle chit-chat before the clan chief of his own clan had come forward to speak.
Before Guo Huben had time to reply, the Guo Clan Chief on the carriage behind him had already opened his mouth to inquire, "Is the Nambu Governor in front of you?"
The patriarch of the Guo Clan was already in his early fifties in age and was sitting on a carriage pulled by two tan-colored horses.
"Governor Nambu has met Patriarch Guo." Chu Chaohui and Zheng Yuming dismounted their horses and saluted towards Patriarch Guo, the two of them were one rank lower in official rank than Patriarch Guo, and it was impolite to salute them on a horse. Patriarch Guo himself was very much trusted by Wei Shen, and the Guo clan was one of the three powerful nobles in the Dacheng region.
"The two governors should not be too polite, Guo Mou here would like to thank the two of you for the Artemisia annua pills that you gifted to the Guo Clan, with this good medicine, no one in the Guo Clan's fiefdom has died this year due to malaria."
The Guo patriarch had a long beard like Wei Shen, who had a beautiful beard, while the Guo patriarch's beard was a sparse goat's beard.
Zheng Yuming had Jiang Gui refine a large number of Artemisia annua pills, and every month, in addition to sending out one-third of them to Wei Shen as tribute and one-third for his own use, the other one-third was distributed to several major nobles. As one of the three major families in Dacheng, Guo Clan was of course among those who gave them away. Every year, when the weather turns hot and mosquitoes appear, it is the season when malaria is concentrated and infected, and a lot of people have to die every year because of malaria in Dacheng area, and this year, with the emergence of artemisinin medicine, the number of patients who died of malaria in Dacheng city has never been reduced before. In addition, Zheng Yuming helped the nobles to build a water conservancy tool waterwheel irrigation, Guo clan chief of Zheng Chu two people have a very good impression.
"Patriarch Guo doesn't need to take this small matter to heart, the pills run out despite talking to Nambu." Zheng Yuming spared no effort in doing good deeds, Jiang Gui beside the mule cart listened to his face muscles twitching, he and his own medicine apprentice, half of the time every day is put on refining pills, just to satisfy Zheng Yuming in Dacheng squandering good deeds.
"Haha! The two governors are quick, so I, Guo, will not be polite, and I will definitely send someone to Nambu to ask for the pills when they run out in the future!" Patriarch Guo stroked his goatee beard and laughed.
"Uncle, in the future, send my nephew forward to Nambu." Guo Huben listened from the sidelines and hurriedly approached Patriarch Guo to ask for orders, he wanted to have more chances to meet Zheng Yuming.
Patriarch Guo took his eyes and glared fiercely at his somewhat two-dimensional nephew, ignoring his plea for help and simply inviting the Nambu caravan to travel with Guo's caravan.
All of the nobles caravan are in the da city temple collection waiting. When the Nambu caravan and the Guo family arrived, the nobles had already come almost, and the two Zheng Chu and this group of nobles were again exchanging pleasantries.
At nine o'clock in the morning, the Ulsan ruler, Gongzigwang, dressed in a black wide-sleeved and deep coat, wearing a high crown with a group of tassels on both sides hanging down and tied under his jaw, and wearing thick-soled cloth shoes, appeared in front of the crowd leading the officials of Dacheng and the priests of the Imperial Temple.
"Secretary Zheng and Secretary Chu, come to the side of the light." At a glance, the Ulsan Monarch saw the two cranes, Zheng Chu, and immediately beckoned them cordially.
"See you, City Lord!" Zheng Yuming and Chu Chaohui hurriedly walked over to the side of the Azure Mountain King to salute.
"The two of you are excused! Yuming, you will follow beside me." Azure Mountain Jun waved his hand for the two to be excused, took the left hand of Zheng Yuming who got up, and let Zheng Yuming walk on his right side, as for Chu Chao Hui, he could only fall behind Azure Mountain Jun, whose left head was Wei Shen.
Before entering the Imperial Temple, the Azure Mountain Monarch had been rambling with Zheng Yuming, Wei Shen, who was walking at his left, had his eyes downcast, and Chu Chao Hui, who was following behind the Azure Mountain Monarch, had an expressionless face.
For Azure Mountain Jun's affectionate attitude, Zheng Yuming had been a little used to it, but today's scene was grand, Azure Mountain Jun still acted towards him as usual, which made Zheng Yuming very uncomfortable, thousands of pairs of eyes fell on his body, if not Azure Mountain Jun acted naturally and not ambiguously, Zheng Yuming had a kind of feeling that he wanted to run away.
In front of the main gate of the Imperial Temple, Wei Shan Jun let go of Zheng Yuming's hand and straightened his clothes and crown before crossing the high threshold of the Imperial Temple to enter, the hundred officials following behind Wei Shan Jun entered in order of rank, Zheng Yuming knowingly lagged behind by a few steps, and Chu Chaohui entered together with Guo Patriarch and Chen Clan Patriarch Chen Meng behind him. Wei Shen looked on and nodded slightly in satisfaction.
The ancestors of the King of Wu are enshrined in the Great Temple of Dacheng, and the rituals of worship are very elaborate. Under the singing and shouting of the rituals, the nobles kneel after the Ulsan Monarch in the Great Temple, and the commoners kneel outside the temple. When worshipping, except for the singing and shouting of the rituals, there is no other noise inside and outside the temple except for the pattering sound of clothes, Zheng Yuming and Chu Chaohui don't believe in gods, in such a solemn environment, they can't help but follow the solemn attitude.
After the worship at the Great Temple, there is the prairie offering to the ancestors. The offerings in the temple were live oxen, elk, sheep, pigs, chickens, jade and silk. The animals were burned on a pile of firewood set up in the open space of the temple, and the jade and silk were also placed on top of it. The king of Ulsan led the people of the city to prostrate again before the burning fire. After kneeling, they stayed by the fire, and when the fire was extinguished and the priests went up to look at it and gave the sign of 'great goodness', the people who participated in the festival cheered in unison, for the extinguished prairie fire sign showed that the ancestors were satisfied with the offerings made by Dacheng, and foretold that this year's autumn harvest would be a great harvest.
After the prairie sacrifice, the procedure was for the nobles from all over the world to offer tribute and gifts to the lord of Dacheng City, and the offerings were still made according to the rank of the officials. Each noble would offer the best products and treasures of their own fiefdom, and this offering was done under the eyes of the entire city, so the nobles prepared their offerings with great care, and no one wanted to lose face in front of a large crowd. Every time the nobles came to Ulsan-kun's presence to make their offerings, it caused a great deal of discussion.
Nambu's offerings were expensive in terms of novelty and chicness, not to mention the Nambu jacquard cloth, which was already recognized as exquisite. The white paper aroused great interest, and the two baskets of sweet potatoes aroused the curiosity of the king of Ulsan, who, upon learning that the sweet potatoes tasted sweet and savory when boiled or baked, ordered on the spot that he would enjoy a basket of them at the revelry feast this evening.