Chapter 118: Beauty measured by a ruler

Zhao Xing had never seen a donkey-shaped horse, he was measured by the height of the horse.

The person who led the horse was the Xi people. There was once a Xi people ruins in Fangshan, Beijing. There were few remaining Xi people beds on it that were more than 1.65 meters tall. When the site was discovered, the academic community exclaimed that China had discovered the northern dwarfs, but after detailed investigation, it was discovered that this was the Xi people ruins of the northern Han Dynasty in the Song Dynasty.

Zhao Xing had never seen the Xi people, but he thought it was obvious with his heel that a person over 1.7 meters tall would never sleep on a bed of 1.6 meters. Therefore, the Xi people in the history of the Song Dynasty should not exceed 1.6 meters tall.

The full name of these Xi people is "Kumo Xi". The piano used by the Xi people is called "Xi Qin", and modern times, "Xi Qin" is called "erhu". This is one of the top ten national musical instruments in China.

The horses led by the Kumoxi people rarely have their heads that exceed the Xi people's height, and the horse's shoulders are at the same level as the Kumoxi people's shoulders, even slightly lower.

Is this height a horse?

It can only be a donkey!

Zhao Xing didn't know: In modern times, some people even calculated the height of the horse based on the height of the Xi people, and concluded that in the Song Dynasty, the height of the Mongolian horse had declined to the same as that of the donkey.

The officer was still beside Zhao Xing and could not stand it. Zhao Xing was impatient. He grabbed the bow and pulled it for three full months in a row. He returned the bow to Zhang Yong with a relaxed expression and answered Zhang Yong's question: "Guan Jun (a respectful title for senior military commanders in the Song Dynasty). This bow does not have three stones, and it is not enough for a single stone."

There has never been a three-stone bow in human history. Because pulling a bow is a process of continuous force, and it is necessary to overcome the initial damping effect. The three-stone bow with all its strength requires at least eight stones to pull it open. In the Song Dynasty, one stone is 92.5 Song jin, and one stone is equivalent to 59.2 kilograms. It takes at least 480 kilograms of force to pull it open, half a ton - my goodness, Azhu, come out and see the Martians!

However, although the ancients were very exaggerated, they often boasted that their bows had more than three stones or even five stones. However, no one could beat Jin Yong and Jin Dahe. In his book, Guo Jing could pull a 33 stone bow. If such a bow was used to pull it at one time, it would take 4,882 kilograms of strength. Then, Guo Jing could easily lift a 1,953 kilograms of heavy objects. It is estimated that when he exercised, he would use the "Santana" as a dumbbell and carry the "Red Rock Heavy Truck" up and downstairs.

Li Gonglin was still arguing with Zhao Xing. Mi Fu pulled Li Gonglin's hand out without seeing him, shouting in a straight voice as he walked: "Where is the stable? Shaoyou, you lead the way, let me see it."

Hearing the noise in the yard, the most idle Chen Buqun ran in and looked around. Zhao Xing winked at Chen Buqun and ordered: "Take two adults to where your father...Mr. Mi, Chen, and Brother Ji Chang were trying to ride a new horse in the backyard. You two will go by themselves. I will accompany Zhang Guanjun to try the new bow."

Zhang Yong couldn't pull the big bow even after he held his strength. He held the bow in his hand dejectedly and observed it carefully.

This bow has no carvings, but uses a file to make the stick flat and round, which feels smooth and warm. The wood of the bow body exudes a faint fragrance and a bit translucent like agate. Anti-slip wood grain is added in the middle of the wooden stick. Although Zhang Yong cannot pull the bow, he can't let it go when he sees the material and feel of the bow. He shook his head with regret: "What a bow, the bow is too strong."

It is understandable that soldiers in the Song Dynasty could not pull such bows. Modern people have a famous discussion on the physical strength of soldiers in the Song Dynasty, which is the "Fanyang hat principle. Soldiers in the Song Dynasty did not wear helmets, but had to wear felt hats - Fanyang hats. Research has found that this is because the Song Dynasty has weak constitutions and they cannot marche and fight with helmets.

Why did the soldiers in the Song Dynasty have such weak constitution? The further discussion concluded that their eating habits were unreasonable. Although there were many delicious foods in the Song Dynasty, they rarely ate meat. The people did not have the habit of eating pork and there was little mutton, so they could only serve the palace and high-ranking officials. Eating beef was an illegal act.

Strictly speaking, the Song people were similar to the Japanese and Koreans in the Heian era. Due to the prevalence of Buddhism, vegetarianism was popular all over the country. The introduction of Chameng rice made the Song Dynasty not worry about food shortage, so vegetarianism was very popular among the common people.

Su Shi once talked about his "Wutai Poetry Case" and the food patterns during his exile - most of them were vegetarian, and the only article "Huangzhou Good Pork" talked about meat and rarely talked about fish.

Zhao Xing knew the reason why the other party was feeling, so he turned back to the room and brought the small bow. This children's bow made of thin branches might be suitable for Zhang Yong. Zhao Xing handed it to the other party and said, "Guan Jun try this bow. This is the bow I used when I was a child... Guan Jun tried to give it to you."

Zhang Yong could indeed pull the bow open. He pulled it a few times and felt very good. He couldn't put it down and stroked the wood on the bow body and asked, "What material is this? It feels like jade and has very elasticity. How could there be such a material in the world?"

Zhao Xing shook his head: "Xing doesn't know! I heard that this is a strange overseas tree. If this wood cuts the bark, bright red blood will flow out. Local people use the branches of this tree as bows. They say: The arrows shot from this bow can penetrate dragon scales."

"Dragon Blood Tree!" Zhang Yong was amazed: "It's too expensive... I'm sorry, I'm so embarrassed."

He said embarrassed, but he had no intention of letting go. He even called the servants to send the target to the test shooting in Zhaoxingyuan, and forgot to watch the purpose of the war horse.

"It shouldn't be a dragon blood tree." Zhao Xing also cooperated with the bow and archery, saying while shooting: "I have been to Black Africa and have seen a real dragon blood tree. It is a spice tree. The juice from the branches can be dyed with cloth, mixed with tung oil can be used as red paint. The color it paints is said to have never faded for thousands of years."

The two of them had a happy time, and time passed without realizing it. Soon, Qin Guan led two great painters back from the backyard. Li Gonglin was obviously hit and looked depressed - of course, the modern horses often talked about: Hequ horses, Yili horses, look at their steep bodies alone, but when they were led to the equestrian competition field, compared with those famous horses, it was like a donkey breaking into a herd of horses.

This is the population degradation caused by thousands of years of castration tradition.

Li Gonglin obviously accepted Chen Qing's advice. After he came back, he kept silent about the war horses. When the officer arrived on duty, he said goodbye with the newly obtained treasure bow. Li Gonglin said softly: "Zhang Yong's support of the Japanese army is a horse army. The officials sent him to see, perhaps to see if your horse is really as majestic as the legend."

Zhao Xing had already fully understood the customs of the Song Dynasty at this time. He had begun to look at the Song Dynasty with the mindset of the Song Dynasty and no longer looked up at the majesty of the royal family, so he just shook his head gently: "The body is heavy, and the donkey-shaped horses in the Royal Horse Supervisor may not be able to carry me. I specially bought these horses from overseas. The horse army needs to be breeding, but if you want to exchange horses with me - don't think so."

Mi Fu asked softly: "Are there many such horses overseas?"

Zhao Xing shook his head: "The wind and waves on the sea are unpredictable. Horses are originally grassland animals. They need great space to carry by boats and are extremely unacceptable to the bumps on the sea. I used a boat to pull hundreds of horses, but only these four survived. In one shipping, only ten horses were carried on the ship, and no cargo was thought to be transported except horses. Based on this calculation, each of these four horses is worth more than 50,000 jin."

Li Gonglin shook his head: "The stallion is useless. If you pull it into the Imperial Horse Prison, you will be castrated... Leave people, I advise you to offer the mare."

Zhao Xing answered without hesitation: "Yes!"

Li Gonglin felt very embarrassed after asking for the only mare in Zhao Xing's horse group. All this storm was caused by Qin Guan. Qin Guan was also a little embarrassed, and Zhao Xing seemed generous: "Everyone, why bother to be so depressed - horses are used to ride. If this matter is not resolved, I dare not ride on the street. Now I do this! I can ride on the street as I wish in the future."

After saying this, everyone also understood each other. Mi Fu first said: "Okay, okay, since Li Ren is open-minded, why should I turn to his things for you... Well, dinner is coming soon, Li Ren, I have heard of the good food in your house. You know what to do, you know, ah, hurry up and serve everything you should serve, I want to see it even if I can't eat it!"

It was not dark yet, and it was bright. Qin Guan first shouted to change his official uniform. When he came back, he was carrying the copper lamp he occupied last night, and was so whistling, afraid that people would not pay attention to his hands. When Zhao Xing saw the lamp, he remembered the reminder: "Shaoyou, don't carry this lamp on the street?"

"What?" Qin Guan asked in confusion.

"I asked you to go to the warehouse to choose. Did you really choose a treasure. Have you not noticed that there are no more than ten such purple-red glass lamps in the warehouse."

Mi Fu likes to fiddle with gold and stone, and is most sensitive to such things. When he heard Zhao Xing's explanation, he immediately screamed: "Is it a purple gold lamp?"

"That's right!" Zhao Xing nodded.

Purple gold was also called "lazy gold" in ancient China because gold and copper are often associated mines. If you are too lazy to extract gold from companion ores, this is lazy gold.

Modern research shows that when the ratio of gold and copper reaches a certain component, gold and copper atoms will show dynamic equilibrium in a wonderful coordinated state. Such purple gold will have the function of "self-cleaning", and dust will not be able to fall on it.

The lamp that Qin Guan picked up was a purple-gold glass lamp. Generally, such expensive lamps were hung by wealthy families on the eaves. Carrying such lamps onto the streets would attract thieves to worry about. Your own safety is a problem.

Qin Guan originally loved the style and color of this lamp. The lamp looked like a Chinese octagonal pavilion, with purple-red pavilion covers imitating tiles, layered with fish scales. Under the faint starlight, it was shining by the surrounding lights, and it was as bright as a star. Now, when he heard that the lamp was so expensive, he quickly put it in his arms and refused to show it to others.

When Mi Fu heard that the lamp was so expensive, he had already made up his mind to rely on the moonlight in Zhaoxing's mansion and also brought it home with a lamp like this. He is not afraid of thieves' concern now. Because he heard that the Bianliang gang had been hit by a devastating blow recently, Qian Xie, the prefect of Kaifeng Prefecture, brought the beggar gang to the sky in one fell swoop. Now it is too late to hide everywhere in the capital, so how dare you go to the streets to patrol at night?

Since he had made up his mind, after dinner, the dusk was vast, Mi Fu shouted to serve tea and kabuki. He wanted to listen carefully to the new song "The Moon Night" that Su Jun disciples privately chanted. When Zhao Xing was eating, he kept looking at the sun outside the house. When the sun set, he shook his head in disappointment and muttered, but no one heard clearly what he was saying. But time happened to be the time when Mi Fu asked.

Mi Fu was dissatisfied and was about to ask Zhao Xing what he said to himself. Cheng Xia led a sweaty young man in. The young man was breathless and couldn't speak. He took out a pair of new boots from his arms and handed them to Zhao Xing. Then he rolled his eyes, so soft that he was on the ground.

That was Zhao Xing's customized high heels. The boot store owner rushed forward and finally fulfilled his promise and completed Zhao Xing's order at sunset.

Before Zhao Xing could check the boots, a group of Japanese women rushed into the hall chatteringly. They pulled Zhao Xing's arm without any hesitation and put the clothes they made in their hands one by one to measure. A Japanese woman saw the boots placed on the table, her eyes lit up, and she grabbed them in her hands, exclaiming: "What beautiful shoes."

This is a pair of high heels that cross the ages. There are copper nails on the side of the boots. The boss uses ribbons to make shoelaces and wears the copper nails to decorate the boots. The shape of the whole shoe is like the lower crescent moon in the sky, with a beautiful curve. The only regret is that the boots are made of light cowhide, and there is no color on it, which is the true color of cowhide.

Zhao Xing called the Japanese woman who could paint "Tang paintings" and pointed to her boots and said, "How about painting on it? First use a layer of oil to dye it evenly with a layer of oil to make the background - just red, it should be red like the cherry blossoms in autumn. Then paint a few daisies and yellow daisies on it. How to layout the picture is designed by you."

The Japanese woman snatched her boots from someone else's arms, nodded solemnly, and answered hard: "Yes!"

Then she whispered: "I want it too."

When Li Gonglin and Mi Fu heard the painting, their eyes lit up immediately and they asked in unison: "Oilcolor? Can you paint on the skin? Draw boots? It's really incredible. Who would you paint, you can also paint?"

In fact, Zhao Xing just ordered the Japanese women to draw boots in person, which was a temptation to the two masters. In this era, people had the habit of painting on clothes, and of course they could also think of painting on other objects.

As soon as the two masters spoke, Zhao Xing hurriedly recommended to both sides: "This Japanese girl learns Tang painting techniques, have you seen the 'lady's picture of a lady with a hairpin'... Have you really seen it? When will I steal it and let me see it... Okay, okay, let's discuss the question of whether to steal or not, and then talk about boots:

Depicting complex scenes with bright colors - this is a technique learned by the Japanese from the Tang Dynasty. They call it "Tang paintings", full of the style of "lady with flowers in hairpins". The Japanese also invented colorful ink that can be painted on cloth silk. This time I want them to try painting on boots... Red boots with yellow daisies and green branches, I believe that those boots will be beautiful."

The two masters couldn't wait to say, "Go on, let's see!"

The name of the Japanese girl was Zhao Xingqide, which was much better than the "Cuihua" who served sauerkraut. Zhao Xing pushed the boat and shouted at the other party: "Cuiyi, these two are the national players of my Heavenly Dynasty, you must learn from them."

Mi Fu and Li Gonglin stopped leaving. That night they stayed at Zhao Xing's home and discussed the painting techniques with the Japanese girl.

The two masters and the Japanese girl were talking excitedly. At this time, the son of the boot shop owner who had been awakened by Cheng Xia, had his eyes shining. He stood beside them and tried hard to remember the discussion content. Zhao Xing repeatedly called but did not get any response. He was so angry that he jumped forward and knocked on the other party's head.

"Hold it: This is seal leather, this leather is made of shoes, which is light, soft, breathable and waterproof; this is small buffalo leather, which is only polished and not dyed; this is beaver leather... The boots you made are too high. The weather is about to recover, and such a high boot cannot be worn. The new boots need to cut the boots off 60% of the height, and then customize a pair of short boots for both the wives of Su's family at this height. In addition, for Su, my students and I have made some short flat boots for you, and I will tell you the father.

It's still the same price, it's completed in two days. Two days later, the women here will go to your place to customize shoes, each with one pair..."

Zhao Xing handed over not only seal skins, but also various animal skins, and even unknown furs with animal hair. As a result, the boot industry opened a new door. Because the technical threshold for making this boot is not high, a large group of followers appeared in boot stores everywhere, and various new fabrics were also renovated, which made the spring of 1087 look even more colorful...

At the banquet that night, Chen Shidao and Li Li were not there. They went to visit Su Shi who left the Gongyuan and returned home. In order to avoid suspicion, Zhao Xing did not come to the door that night. By the day after the next day, according to the news from Su Shi, the verdict was not over, and his senior brother Zhang Lei was still struggling. Su Shi passed the message and told Zhao Xing not to give him too high hopes, and he probably won the ranking too high.

This sentence also means that Zhao Xing's pass the exam is no longer a problem, but in order to avoid suspicion, Su Shi and Zhang Lei will suppress Zhao Xing's ranking very low.

This is actually an imperial examination practice in the Song Dynasty and the Yuanyou period. The ranking of students who participated in other exams was very low. In order to avoid suspicion, the examiners even forced the ranking of the top scorers to the center of the list. In this way, several great writers in the Song Dynasty lost the title of top scorers.

After a night of discussion, the next day, the boots were placed in front of Zhao Xing - it was gorgeous and radiant on the table, with a variety of charm, making people feel the room full of brilliance; the red boots were as gorgeous as flames, like blooming red lips, and their intoxicating charm made people fascinated; and the yellow daisy was graceful, proud of the bones and frost, holding the fragrant branches, evoking people's solemn feelings with its extraordinary elegance...

Cheng Azhu was waiting by Zhao Xing with anticipation early on. When she saw such perfect boots, she was not in a hurry to wear them on her body. She turned around and hugged Zhao Xing tightly, her eyes closed, and tears rolled on her beads - she knew she was not sad, but why could she always couldn't stop her tears.

Chen Yiyi was so jealous that she was about to go crazy when she saw such beautiful boots. She grabbed a handful of popcorn she bought yesterday, and her mouth chewed it loudly. If it weren't for the atmosphere on the scene that was not suitable for speaking, she would probably have asked for one.

Li Gonglin and Mi Fu were also looking at the boots intoxicatedly. When they were busy last night, they felt that the drawing was beautiful, but they did not expect that when this thing was placed in the light and appeared in the eyes of the crowd, it was so beautiful and breathtaking.

The group of Japanese girls also waited in the house early, waiting for their sisters' masterpieces. Even Gu Ji came here. Now they held their breath and looked at the red boots intently, imagining the slight steps of the waves, the green green swaying, graceful graceful graceful...

Zhao Xing looked up and down at the boots. He didn't expect that the two masters could create such a masterpiece together. After a long time, he seemed to be afraid of disturbing the sleeping elf and asked in a low voice: "I know why it is so beautiful?"

"It's because red and yellow." The Japanese girl Cuiyi always looks at the color, so her answer is not out of the true color: "The colors of the two are clearly contrasted, so they are eye-catching."

"Hmph, can we work together? Can we be ordinary?" Mi Fu was proud.

"I'm very satisfied, too," Li Gonglin said in a humble tone.

"In addition to color, there is also proportion - take a ruler," Zhao Xing shouted.

"Hey, what does it mean? Can you tell us with a ruler why it is beautiful?" Mi Fu asked unhappily.
Chapter completed!