The so-called singing and dancing was what Liu Tan understood. In fact, the process list read: singing and worshiping around the farm tools.
Translated, it means that they will dance a sacrificial dance around the plow and sing blessing songs.
Because all officials participated in the plowing trial and the common people watched, the common people would watch these high-ranking officials who usually looked high and mighty singing and dancing around the farm tools.
Liu Tan imagined the scene and felt like he was suffocating. Who the hell came up with this?
However, in fact, this is the "wisdom" left by our ancestors.
Liu Tan was getting a little impatient and directly called over the Zongzheng Huang Dan who was preparing all these things and asked, "Do I have to do this too?"
Zong Zheng hesitated for a moment before saying, "It was arranged by the Prime Minister himself."
Well done, Huo Guang!
Are you unwilling to jump into the water yourself and want to drag others into it?
Liu Tan quickly called Huo Guang over and asked, "Why do you want me to worship with you? Isn't it enough for you to have so many people with you?"
Huo Guang looked at Liu Tan calmly and said, "The plowing test is of great significance. This is the first time Your Highness has presided over a plowing test. Last year, the harvest in the Northern Border was not great. Your Highness personally praying will convince the people."
Liu Tan was puzzled: "How can I convince the people just by going there myself? Can't you do the same?"
Huo Guang's voice was tinged with a smile. "People say that Your Highness is a star that has descended to earth. Naturally, they believe in Your Highness more than we do."
Liu Tan: ...
He still tried to struggle desperately: "You also said that it was just a rumor!"
Huo Guang said, "It doesn't matter whether we believe it or not, but the people do."
Depend on!
Liu Tan looked down at the process chart and sighed deeply: "I don't know how to do it."
Huo Guang: ...
Well done, their prince is just a little bit away from being unlearned.
But think about it, Liu Tan grew up in the Marquis' Mansion until he was fourteen years old, so it seems that this kind of thing is really not his turn.
Liu Tan believes that in this era, people who are chosen to dance the kind of dance that is performed by the gods are either famous or have high social status. Ordinary people cannot dance it, so it is actually an honorary job.
Huo Guang had no choice but to quickly find someone to give Liu Tan extra lessons.
Liu Tan had never expected that at his age he would still be learning to dance. He imagined himself bending over and doing a split, then shuddered and said, "Simplify it if you can. Don't be too exaggerated."
Huo Guang suddenly became very serious: "How could Your Highness fool the gods?"
Liu Tan almost blurted out: Just treat me as a god.
For the sake of his own life, he would rather be mistaken for a god!
Is dancing something that just anyone can learn? Who doesn't practice it from childhood? With his stiff arms and legs, it would be a real struggle for him to learn it!
However, no matter how Liu Tan acted coquettishly and made trouble, Huo Guang insisted that the simplification could not be carried out. His reason was that simplification would lack sincerity and would not move God. What if God was unhappy and did not make it rain?
There is already very little rain in the Northern Kingdom, so don't offend them anymore.
Liu Tan cried out to the sky, but finally had no choice but to make time for music and dance classes.
Music class was fine. Although he couldn't really appreciate the music these days, it wasn't particularly difficult to learn. The only awkward thing was that the music in ancient times was based on five notes rather than the seven notes that later generations were used to.
As for dancing, there is no need to bend over and do splits, but it is only slightly simpler than these two movements. Because it is a prayer to God, many movements are done while leaning back towards the sky, and the movements of the feet cannot be sloppy either.
After studying for a few days, Liu Tan felt as if his arms and legs were stretched. Although his back and waist ached while studying, he had to admit that his body's flexibility had indeed improved a lot.
On the second day of the second month, Huo Guang had already prepared the treadle plow, but was told not to use it at the last minute. He knew that Liu Tan and Gongshu Jia were tinkering with something. Could they be making a new plow?
Huo Guang took his men to the piece of land specially prepared for testing the plow. The land was surrounded by guards at this time, and outside were people who came to watch. Next to the sky and the earth, in addition to two yellow cows standing, there was also a huge monster covered with red cloth.
After Huo Guang walked over, the officials bowed to him and he saw Gongshu Can standing behind him in the crowd.
Gongshu Yi could not attend this occasion because he did not hold an official position, so the most he could do was stand outside and watch.
Gongshu Can was not familiar with any of the officials present, so he could only stand alone. Huo Guang thought for a moment, waved to him, and said, "Gongshu Dongguan."
Everyone's eyes immediately focused on Gongshu Can. Gongshu Can suddenly became nervous, and his hands began to sweat. He secretly wiped his hands, tried his best to calm himself, walked up to Huo Guang, saluted, and said, "Your humble servant greets the Prime Minister."
Huo Guang held his arm and said, "Don't be so polite, Winter Official. I called you here just to ask you, is that the farm tool Your Highness has just made covered by the red cloth?"
Gongshu Can replied, "Yes, this is the Northern Border Plow that Your Highness drew and ordered me to make."
Huo Guang was a little surprised: "Northern Border Plow?"
Gongshu Can said, "Yes, His Highness Li has not yet been given a name. I just called him that casually."
Huo Guang asked, "How about this plow?"
Gongshu Can's eyes lit up. "Your Highness is truly unrivaled. I bow down to you. Even if my ancestor Gongshu Zi were still alive, I'm afraid he would consider you a close friend."
Huo Guang was a little surprised: "It works very well?"
Gongshu Can wanted to show off, but when he saw that the Northern Border Plow was still covered with red cloth, he thought for a moment and suppressed the urge to show off. He said, "Please allow me to keep it a secret for a while. When Your Highness comes, you will know whether it works well or not."
Huo Guang did not make things difficult for him after hearing this, because Liu Tan's carriage frame had already appeared in front of everyone.
When Liu Tan got off the car, the people around him were in an uproar. The guards nervously clenched their spears. However, after the initial excitement, they all knelt down obediently. No one was eager to rush forward.
Liu Tan's clothes today were not particularly complicated. After all, he was going to work in the fields, so he dressed simply. He wore a jade crown on his head and a black robe with dragon patterns embroidered on the collar and lapels with gold thread. His sleeves tightly wrapped around his wrists, and a gold pendant and jade seal hung around his waist. He looked neat and noble.
After Liu Tan got off the car, the officials, led by Huo Guang, all saluted him. He wore a perfectly reserved smile, raised his hand slightly, and said, "No need to be so polite, everyone."
Huo Guang walked up to Liu Tan and whispered, "Your Highness, why didn't you tell me you were using the new plow?"
Liu Tan turned his head and winked at him secretly: "If you told me in advance, there would be no surprise."
Huo Guang's face was expressionless: "I was only surprised, not happy."
Liu Tan raised his eyebrows and said softly, "I guarantee you'll be pleasantly surprised later."
Huo Guang said nothing more. It was not appropriate for the king and the prime minister to have too much private communication on such an occasion.
Liu Tan stepped forward and nodded to the clerk standing next to him. The clerk immediately shouted, "Begin."
After the clerk shouted, several people came forward and lifted the red cloth.
Everyone was amazed. Although everyone was trying to restrain themselves from making too loud noises, with so many people speaking together, even the smallest sound would be amplified exponentially.
The moldboard plow... The latter said that the current northern plow has too much impact on people.
Not to mention the complex structure of the entire plow, just looking at its size is very impactful.
Even Huo Guang was somewhat shocked. He knew the plow was not small just by looking at the size of the red cloth covering it. But after actually seeing it, he couldn't help but be fascinated by it - this plow was full of the beauty of the fusion of ancient simplicity and modern machinery. For people nowadays, even if they have never seen it before, they will still be captivated by this beauty.
Everyone was curious and wanted to see how the plow was used for farming. However, before starting, they had to perform a ritual, or rather a worship service.
Led by Liu Tan, the remaining officials lined up in order, but the space was limited after all, and many officials of low rank could only stand aside and watch.
Liu Tan felt very miserable facing their envious and eager gazes. After they began to sing and dance to the music, he occasionally glanced at the people around him and suddenly felt like a gorilla in a zoo.
Fortunately, this week, which symbolized honor to others but was a disgrace to him, was over.
The other officials withdrew and only Liu Tan and Huo Guang were left, one standing on each side of the northern border plow.
The clerk led the cow over and put the traction frame on the cow. Only then did Liu Tan realize that he had never learned how to drive cows before.
He secretly glanced at Huo Guang and found that although Huo Guang looked calm on the surface, his tightly clenched fists showed that he was not at peace in his heart.
Well, good that he wasn't the only one nervous.
The two of them took the exquisitely crafted whip. Liu Tan was a little nervous for a moment. Should he use the whip on the cow?
What if the cow refused to move if he didn't hit it? What if he didn't control the force well and hurt the cow and made it go crazy?
Thinking of this, Liu Tan suddenly felt a little regretful. He should have rehearsed in advance!
He glanced at Huo Guang, and happened to see that Huo Guang was also looking at him, with a look in his eyes that was hard to describe.
Liu Tan immediately understood that this was probably Huo Guang's first time presiding over this event, and his lack of experience led him to not think of this.
However, now that it has come to this, we have no choice but to go ahead with it.
Liu Tan and Huo Guang raised their hands slightly and were about to whip when they heard someone shouting beside them.
So before he and Huo Guang even lashed out with their whips, the two cows in front had already started to move forward.
Liu Tan was a little surprised and glanced at Lin Xiu next to him. After seeing the admiration in Liu Tan's eyes, Lin Xiu knew that his arrangement was correct.
Although the prime minister didn't say it, Lin Xiu was more cautious. No one expected these two to be able to drive cattle, so they naturally had to find docile enough oxen and train them in advance to avoid any mistakes.
Lin Xiu also spent a lot of effort on this matter, but fortunately, it all paid off.
After the plowing was completed smoothly, Liu Tan and Huo Guang both breathed a sigh of relief and let the clerk carry the northern border plow to the side.
Huo Guang frowned when he saw the direction they were lifting it: "Your Highness, the direction is wrong."
Liu Tan smiled slightly: "Don't worry."
As soon as Huo Guang saw his expression, he knew there was a backup plan.
At this time, there was some commotion among the people, or they just discovered that the plow was turned upside down, and the people could naturally see it.
Just when they thought something had happened to the clerk, they saw the two clerks walk to the side of the plow and somehow manipulated it, and saw the traction frame flip over.
Some sharp-eyed people even shouted directly: "The plow blade... the plow blade is turning!"
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