The feeling of winter is gradually coming to Shanzhou, and now the ice and snow in Huangshui is condensing. Meng Fan thought that Chang'an might also be covered with snowflakes at this time.

However, the winter here in Longyou is not only longer than in Guan Nei, but also colder.

Officials at all levels are busy with their own affairs, preparing for active attacks after spring, such as hoarding grain and quarrying stones.

There was only one idler. No matter how cold or hot the weather was, Meng Fan always wore a wide robe. After having breakfast this morning, he was ready to leave for Beijing.

When everything was tidied up, the sky was just dawning, and the east was as bright as a fish's belly.

In order to make him more comfortable on the road, the local governor specially prepared a high-quality carriage. He originally planned to arrange servants and guards, but was immediately persuaded to stop.

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In this way, the Taoist leader embarked on the journey back to Chang'an. As the saying goes, the strength of the vehicle can only be determined by the distance of the Longyou Road. If this wooden four-wheeled vehicle can really make it to the capital without being damaged, it will be of good quality.

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City entrance.

Duke Yan, Hei Chichang, etc., as well as Shanzhou officials at all levels sent relatively leisurely representatives, and they came specifically to see Meng Fan back to the capital.

After all, in the middle of winter, it is not suitable to use troops at all, and the frontier fortress has completely entered a period of calm.

In addition, everyone also knows that he has a close relationship with the Second Saint. Now that he has made extraordinary achievements, he naturally has to go back early to receive the reward.

"Excuse me, if conditions permit, Pindao will come to participate in the next war."

"This is the best thing."

"Brother Jiuru, don't worry too much. Now that Shicheng has fallen into our hands, and with sharp weapons like poisonous fireballs, the Tibetan people will definitely cry for their father and mother."

Listening to Wang Xiaojie's hearty laughter, Meng Fan had a serious expression on his face and told him not to underestimate the enemy and not to forget Xue Rengui's defeat at Feichuan in the past.

When he mentioned this matter, he couldn't help but go to Duke Yan and told him never to place his expectations on the general manager who only knew how to write and write——

When danger comes, he will definitely be the first to run away. When the vanguard encounters danger, he will inevitably retreat but not retreat, fight but not fight, which will eventually lead to the erosion of the war situation.

In response, Duke Li Jinxing of the State of Yan nodded solemnly. Meng Fan, as a military advisor, had dealt with Li Jingxuan for a long time and had obviously understood it thoroughly.

Because of this, it really has to be guarded against.

After giving all the instructions, Meng Fan waved the reins and said: "Thank you all for seeing me off, please stay."

Black technology, poisonous fireball.

After capturing Shicheng and occupying a favorable location, you can relax and wait for your work.

In addition, the Khan King Murong of Tuyuhun is a pro-Tang sect. Holding this banner and cooperating with the military might of the Tang army, the size of the coalition will only increase. And no matter how incompetent they are, they are only trained and familiar with the local environment.

After thinking for a moment, Meng Fan stopped thinking about it and set out on his way back to Chang'an with peace of mind.

However, after the city gradually expanded into a lake, he still looked back at Shanzhou again.

Farewell for now, Longyou.

At this time, Meng Fan actually felt a little sad, not because of the inconvenience of transportation and not knowing when we would see each other again after parting, just like the concubine sent her husband to the war, but because he didn't know how many soldiers would be sacrificed after the spring began.

Driving further and further away, the post road has no end in sight on the thousands-mile Longyou plain. After walking for more than an hour, the sun rose and the horse stopped.

Obviously, this is to replenish fodder.

At this speed...

To be honest, after arriving in Chang'an, I'm afraid spring has already begun there.

As a result, Meng Fan gave the high-quality Turkic horses to a nearby post station. The war horses were owned by the state, and the same was true for the inn station, so there was no advantage.

What's more, there are often military emergencies here in Longyou, and every post station has high-quality horses——

The inn is an official institution that provides accommodation services, but unlike an inn, it only accepts government personnel to stay, and most of them must be on official business. It is almost similar to a military guest house, with real soldiers stationed there.

After getting rid of the burden, Meng Fan directly flew into the clouds and mist. The speed was not very fast, but he was still ten blocks ahead of his horse. He was basking in the sun and cooking dragon hot pot. He would definitely reach Chang'an before sunset.

Of course, generally speaking, it is not easy to enter the city directly. You have to notify the court in advance. After all, there are regulations for everything.

It is worth mentioning that the pine carriage presented by the governor of Shanzhou was of good quality and spacious enough.

…

It was just afternoon when we arrived in Chang'an. I pressed the cloud at a nearby post station and asked the people inside to inform the court and make corresponding preparations.

Then, I smelled a strong fragrance in the distance between the streets and alleys, which was the smell of the New Year.

It is now Yifeng's third year.

New Year's Eve has passed, and customs such as the night watch in Chang'an and the New Year greetings on the first day of the Lunar New Year are basically still known to later generations. However, there are some important contents in the New Year's activities of the Tang Dynasty that are close to being lost today.

For example, the traditional Chinese New Year begins on the 30th day of the Lunar New Year and ends on the 15th day of the first lunar month, the Lantern Festival, but during this period it is also subdivided into other festivals.

The seventh day of the Lunar New Year is called "Human Day".

Yes, they are humans.

In the concept of the Tang people, the first day of the lunar new year is the "rooster day", the second day of the lunar month is the "dog day", the third day of the lunar month is the "pig day", the fourth day of the lunar month is the "goat day", the fifth day of the lunar month is the "ox day", and the sixth day of the lunar new year is the "cow day".

"Horse Day" is "Human Day" on the seventh day of the Lunar New Year, which is quite similar to the Buddhist concept of equality of all living beings.

As for the basis for this classification, it is actually quite surprising.

Nestorian Christianity, also known as the Nestorian sect of Christianity, was obsessed with Chinese local culture, so they took advantage of the situation and created festivals, which they considered to be missionary——

In the beginning, on New Year’s Eve, God created the heaven and the earth. At that time, the earth was empty and formless, and the face of the abyss was dark. God’s Spirit was moving on the surface of the water. God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. Light is good.

, and separated the light from the darkness. God called the light day, and the darkness he called night.

When morning came, God said something should crow to welcome the light, so he created a chicken.

It's the first day of the Lunar New Year.

When the night disappeared, God said, something should be guarding in the darkness, so he created dogs.

It's the second day, the second day of the Lunar New Year.

God saw that dogs are loyal and wanted to create animals to be guarded by them, so they created pigs...

And so on.

Admittedly, it was a statement promoted by pagans, but Meng Fan didn't reject it much because there was no harm at all. The people of Chang'an found the statement interesting, so they spread it.

Because the Chinese New Year is the birthday of various animals, they also have to express themselves in terms of eating. There is a folk saying:

Do not eat chicken on the first day of the lunar month, do not kill dogs on the second day of the lunar month, do not eat pork on the third day of the lunar month, do not eat mutton on the fourth day of the lunar month, do not eat beef on the fifth day of the lunar month, and do not ride horses on the sixth day of the lunar month.

As for the seventh day of the Lunar New Year, is it not allowed to eat people?

There is no day when you can’t eat people!

I heard Shangguan Wan'er said that the day of the year is determined according to the different regions of the north and the south. In the south, they usually eat vegetable soup, boil seven kinds of vegetables together, and make a bowl of soft soup to drink.

But in the north, it's freezing cold and we can't find anything to eat, so we make pancakes.

Holding pancakes in his left hand and a bowl of vegetable soup in his right hand, he walked up the street while eating and drinking, admiring various scenes - there were colorful paper-cuts on the windows and doors of every house, and the men and women walking towards him had nothing but their bodies.

In addition to wearing gorgeous new clothes for the New Year, she also wears a colorful pin in her hair.

Highlight one: fighting for beauty.

The so-called Cai Sheng refers to a large peony flower cut from red paper, a gold foil-cut phoenix with spread wings inserted in the beauty's bun, a pair of flying swallows cut from scrap satin, a pair of flying swallows cut from scrap satin, and green silk orchids and hairpins stuck on the door of the courtyard next to it.

Jade bird, paper lake rooster...

Various silk fabrics, paper, gold foil and jade pieces are cut and made into various decorations in the shape of flowers, grass, birds and figures, all of which are Caisheng.

On Human Day, not only the people of Chang'an will wear colorful ornaments of various colors and shapes on their heads and stick them on the screens in the windows, but also in all states and counties, making them the most representative symbol of this festival.

Even the royal family has established regulations to reward ministers with ribbons of ribbons on the day of the emperor's death, to show that the emperor's favor is shared.

If Meng Fan had stayed in the imperial capital to celebrate the New Year, he would have definitely put on the things given by the palace and experienced the festive atmosphere in the square. However, he had just taken the stone castle at that time. When the report arrived in Chang'an and the relevant decree came to the border, it was the tenth day of the first lunar month.

Five days passed.

That day was the most exciting.

The Chang'an Night Market, which has never been open, only opens once a year. Even now, you can still see the huge lamp wheels that have not yet been removed, decorated with silk brocades and various jewelry, and you can imagine the grand scene of that day.

In a flash of thought, Meng Fan arrived at the outskirts of Chang'an and suddenly saw five-color flags flying and many officials standing beside the pavilion.

It was Shangshu's right servant, She Lu Dunxin, who personally led his people to greet him. This prime minister had a good reputation in official circles and even among literati. For him to go out of the city to greet him showed his high standard.

Lu Dunxin was old but in good spirits. He clasped his fists from a distance and said, "Lu is here to greet Taishi Ling and congratulate him on his return. I will summon him at Linde Hall today. Let's go together."

Is the military advisor position gone?

It's not surprising, after all, it was originally set up temporarily during the war, and now that he is not on the front line, the position will naturally be cancelled.

Meng Fan got down from the carriage that was not pulled by animal power. After returning the courtesy, he said a few polite words to the ministers. Even he, who had always been calm and unfazed by honor and disgrace, was now quite happy.

Returning home in fine clothes is out of the question.

It is worth sighing with emotion to leave a name in history.

"I'll change my clothes first. How can I look like a saint dressed like this?"

"A real man doesn't stick to trivial matters."
To be continued...