Polo, in the early years of the Ming Dynasty, was still relatively prosperous.

Wang Fu, a Chinese scholar, once wrote a poem "Dragon Boat Festival Shooting Ball Banquet" when he accompanied Zhu Di to watch the ball.

However, as the number of horses decreased, and as the martial spirit gradually dissipated, polo began to decline in the middle of the Ming Dynasty, and was only retained as a court ritual and folk festival activity. But no matter what, until the end of the Ming Dynasty, polo definitely existed.

Like Keju sports, the sudden disappearance of polo came after the entry of the Manchu Qing Dynasty.

In the early years of the Qing Dynasty, there was opposition to the Qing Dynasty everywhere, so it was forbidden for more than 30 Han people to gather. It was even forbidden to worship with different surnames, and at the beginning of the arrest of a hundred sworn whips, in the eighteenth year of Shunzhi, it was changed to direct killing.

disappeared together, and there was also a trip to the top.

The Shangsi Festival is next to the Qingming Festival and the Cold Food Festival, the spring is warm and sunny, a hundred flowers are blooming, men and women go out of the city to go out, and the suburbs are full of gentry and people who play. After banning the party, it will not work, and if you go out for a spring outing, you may be arrested and put in prison. As a result, the three festivals of Shangsi, Qingming, and Hanshi were completely merged in the Qing Dynasty, leaving only the function of going to the grave of the ancestors.

At this moment, Zhao Han was sitting in the stands, and the guards of the imperial city were riding horses to "fight".

Compared with the polo of the Tang Dynasty, it has changed a lot now. The wooden ball was changed to a leather ball, the cue stick became longer, and the scoring rules were changed.

A squire named Quartz rode his horse to catch up with the ball. He leaned out, and when the wooden stick touched the ball, he did not immediately swing it, but dragged the ball forward, which is equivalent to dribbling forward in football.

The enemy's two horsemen intercepted one after another, and the closest distance was only two horses, and the quartz suddenly struck the rod.

The ball rolls quickly on the ground, and teammates pick up the ball at an accelerated pace, but the opposition is also scrambling.

"Bang!"

With a muffled thud, the ball was knocked into the air.

"Good shot!"

Lu Tianxiang was originally sitting behind the emperor, and couldn't help but get up and cheer at this moment.

But it was this accurate cross, and his teammates stretched the rod to relieve their strength. Then the horse jogged up, dragged the ball straight to the goal, the enemy someone diagonally killed to intercept, this person immediately adjusted his posture and swung, the ball broke into the goal quickly and accurately.

Compared to modern polo, there are fewer rules for polo at this time.

Of course, head-on and right-angle ramming are also forbidden. Otherwise, you can't play at all, and you're prone to injury, so you're usually riding side by side to grab the ball.

"Good!"

Zhao Han couldn't help applauding and said with a smile: "The red side wins this game, and each person will be given an official belt." ”

The official belt is not very expensive, but it is not shabby either, made of silk and inlaid with stained glass and agate. And this is given by the emperor, wearing it out has a face, and the winning side suddenly smiled.

"Your Majesty, I'm going to play too!" Lu Tianxiang was eager to try.

Zhao Han smiled and said, "Go ahead." You lead the red team, and so-young leads the blue team. ”

Tian Xiuying immediately stood up and began to put on her equipment. Wrist pads, knee pads, elbow pads, hats, etc., if you fall, you won't be seriously injured.

The two concubines turned over and mounted their horses, each selecting a team member among the guards.

Suddenly, Lu Tianxiang rode close to the stands and said, "Your Majesty, what is the lottery for winning?" ”

Zhao Han said: "Whoever wins, you can make a request." As long as you don't go too far, I'll help her get what she wants. ”

Lu Tianxiang looked at him slyly and said, "Then what is excessive, and what is not excessive?" At the beginning, I said that I would learn 500 Chinese characters, and His Majesty would let me join the army, and this matter was also ruined. ”

Zhao Han said speechlessly: "I said it a long time ago, I know five hundred words, but I just allow you to enter the palace to meet you." ”

"I don't have to go back this time." Lu Tianxiang said.

"Let's play first." Zhao Han felt that this girl was fighting ghost ideas again.

"Drive!"

Lu Tianxiang pulled the reins, pulled the horse's head and rushed to the field.

The referee took out the Datong silver dollar, Tian Xiuying guessed the front and back, and had the right to hit the ball in the opening game, while Lu Tianxiang could choose the venue.

Both women are the shooters, and the guards are in charge of the scramble.

After a fight, the ball finally passed to Tian Xiuying's side. The players on both sides fought very fiercely, and sometimes even rubbed against each other, but when the ball reached Tian Xiuying's hand, it immediately became peaceful.

The enemy players also came to scramble, but they didn't dare to get too close, for fear of causing Concubine Tian to fall off the horse and get injured.

"Intercept it, grab the ball!" Lu Tianxiang shouted anxiously.

That being said, the guards were timid.

After Lu Tianxiang screamed, the team members under his command did become more active, but their enthusiasm was very limited.

"Bang!"

Tian Xiuying swung a shot, and the ball scored accurately.

Lu Tianxiang's lungs were about to explode, complaining that the team members didn't dare to fight. But when she got the ball, she was in a happy mood again, because Tian Xiuying's players didn't dare to get too close to her.

To put it bluntly, a group of guards are playing with the two concubines.

Zhao Han shook his head and smiled, fortunately he didn't play, otherwise the situation would definitely be similar, and the guards would definitely not dare to grab the emperor's ball.

Lu Tianxiang's eyes rolled and decided to make a plan.

She is also not a regular shooter, once the opponent has the ball, she immediately chases after her, and the position is played from the front to the midfield.

Sure enough, seeing Concubine Lu riding a horse, the player who took the ball immediately passed the ball out. Charge with the ball side by side with the emperor's favorite concubine? It was too dangerous for them to risk it.

As a result, wherever Lu Tianxiang rushed, it seemed chaotic.

Under the panicked pass, it was inevitable that there would be mistakes, and the ball was quickly recaptured by Lu Tianxiang's teammates. Then, Lu Tianxiang took the initiative to ask for the ball, and went straight to the goal from the midfield with the ball, and the enemy players along the way did not dare to stop it.

Tian Xiuying watched this goal from a distance, and suddenly couldn't cry or laugh.

She is much older than Lu Tianxiang, and she has experienced the demise of the Ming Dynasty, and she has already put away her competitive spirit. Since Lu Tianxiang wants to win, let the little sister win, it's just a polo game.

Forty minutes later, the game finally ended, and Lu Tianxiang won by a big score.

Riding a horse to the stands again, Lu Tianxiang said: "Your Majesty, I won!" ”

Zhao Han laughed and said, "You cheat." ”

Lu Tianxiang asked rhetorically: "Where did I break the rules?" ”

Well...... It seems that there really is no foul.

Zhao Han could only say, "What do you want?" ”

Lu Tianxiang said: "It's definitely impossible to join the army, but I still want to lead the army." I heard that Your Majesty is going to send the Praetorian Guards to the sea, so why don't I take command of these Praetorian Guards, and then send some female officials from the Imperial Horse Prison to follow. ”

This request was beyond Zhao Han's expectations.

Zhao Han asked, "How do you know about the Praetorian Guard's going to sea?" ”

Lu Tianxiang said: "In the racecourse for the past two days, the guards are competing for places at sea. They are also trying to shoot archery and polo, and only those who win can be ordered to go to sea. ”

"I see." Zhao Han suddenly realized.

Going to Europe is very dangerous, and going for three or four years is obviously a chore.

But Zhao Han's Imperial City guards were all elites selected from various armies. They had long been impatient in the capital, and as soon as they heard that they had the opportunity to go out to fight, they immediately broke their heads - not only could they leave Beijing to stretch their strengths, but they also had the opportunity to kill the enemy and make meritorious contributions.

Zhao Han didn't agree, nor did he refuse, but asked, "Do you know how long it takes to make a round trip?" ”

Lu Tianxiang shook his head: "I don't know." ”

Zhao Han said: "A round trip will take three years at the earliest, and it must be smooth sailing without delay." If you have a little trouble, you will be able to come back for at least four years. I will also visit various countries on the way, and the time for returning to Beijing again may be extended to five or six years. Do you still want to go to sea? ”

"This ......"

Hearing that it would take five or six years to go back and forth, Lu Tianxiang finally hesitated.

After being silent there for a while, Lu Tianxiang suddenly raised his head, gritted his teeth and said, "I will go in five or six years, stay in the palace for the rest of my life, and I will suffocate to death!" ”

This is annoying enough, if it were another emperor, it is estimated that Long Yan would be furious.

What do you mean to suffocate to death if you stay in the palace?

Does being a concubine make you so uncomfortable?

Zhao Han was also a little unhappy, but there was no need to be angry with the woman, so he immediately said angrily: "It is already a bad rule for the concubine to leave the palace." Usually you are allowed to go out of the city to play on horseback, and I am quite generous when I ask myself. You've been on a trip to sea for several years, what do you say like when you spread it? ”

Everyone present did not dare to speak out.

Lu Tianxiang straightened his waist and said, "You have no jokes, Your Majesty has promised." Besides, let the female officials of the Imperial Horse Prison follow, they don't leave an inch every day, do I ...... I can't still keep the woman's way......"

Zhao Han was so angry that he laughed, and saw Lu Tianxiang clenching his fists, looking like he was angry and waiting for the emperor to die.

This wild girl, if she doesn't let her lead the army once, I'm afraid that she will not be safe for the rest of her life.

The harem is not allowed to interfere in politics, and the harem is not allowed to touch the army, but it is not necessarily impossible to go to sea.

Zhao Han thought about it repeatedly, turned his head and said to You Julian, the palm print of the Imperial Horse Supervisor: "You Eunuch, select twenty female officials of the Imperial Horse Supervisor who are proficient in martial arts, protect her safety closely, and you must not leave half a step after going to sea." ”

"Yes!" You Julian arched her hand and said.

Zhao Han looked at Lu Tianxiang again: "After going to sea, you only nominally lead the army." Negotiations with Fanbang are the sole responsibility of civil officials. The battle against Fanbang is under the full responsibility of the generals. ”

Lu Tianxiang was suddenly overjoyed, dismounted and knelt down and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty!" ”

"Go and sit down in a proper manner." Zhao Han was still angry in his heart and didn't want to pay attention to this concubine.

In fact, Zhao Han is not so resistant, which is due to the special psychology of the traverser. Sending a concubine to lead the army to the sea will definitely be rich in the history books, and it is estimated that various stories will be derived in later generations. The reason why he is reluctant is purely because he doesn't want to break the rules, what does the harem look like when he goes out?

After repeated considerations, Zhao Han still made a decision, go to the rules of the fuck, Lao Tzu is the founding emperor.

Twenty female officials of the Imperial Horse Prison are staring closely, can Lu Tianxiang still steal men?

The polo game was still going on, Tian Xiuying sat next to Lu Tianxiang and said in a low voice: "My sister is so bold, aren't you afraid of being beaten into the cold palace by Your Majesty?" ”

Lu Tianxiang said: "I have learned a martial art, I always have to lead the troops to show my skills, and I have to try it no matter how risky it is." Your Majesty, won't you agree? ”

"That is, Your Majesty, which emperor will agree?" Tian Xiuying muttered a few words, but she was actually quite envious in her heart.

What Zhao Han thought in his heart was that he still had a few months to go to sea, so he could go to Lu Tianxiang to sleep more, and he didn't have to go in case he had a big belly.

But if you think about it carefully, two or three months before going to sea, you can't sleep indiscriminately, what if you find out that you are pregnant after boarding the ship?

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