The Sixteen Kingdoms of the Eastern Jin Dynasty: The Competition in the Central Plains

Murong Shui went to get the scissors, while Tao Liao and two followers started folding the red silk. After a while, Murong Shui brought a pair of scissors. Tao Liao took the scissors and began to cut left and right. After a while, when Tao Liao unfolded the red silk, a big red double happiness word was displayed in front of everyone. The two Murong brothers watched intently. Looking at the cut-out red double happiness characters, Murong Shan exclaimed:"Ah! It's amazing! You can still change the Chinese characters like this! When I have time, I will definitely talk to Mr. Tao Learn to cut out the Chinese character double happiness!"

"this is very simple. Tao Liao put down the scissors in his hand and said,"This is not difficult. I guarantee you will understand it as soon as you see it and learn it as soon as you do it." When I meet Murong Da Chanyu and complete the task given to me by the emperor, I will teach you how to cut the Chinese characters for Double Happiness, as well as learn some commonly used Chinese characters."

"Thank you Mr. Tao!"The Murong brothers said. While Tao Liao was talking, he folded and cut out a double happiness character. Murong Shui asked:"Why are there two double happiness characters?"

"Aren’t you two newlyweds?"After Tao Liao finished speaking, everyone around him laughed. Tao Liao used smaller red silk to cut out some small double happiness characters. Murong Shan asked:"Master Tao, why are you cutting so many small double happiness characters?"

"It seems that you Xianbei people don’t know much about Han customs."Tao Liao said:"When Han men and women get married, they not only have to post big red double happiness characters on the screen wall, but also post smaller double happiness characters in a conspicuous place at home. Look up and see joy, there is joy everywhere"

"Lord Tao is such a knowledgeable and talented person!"Murong Shan praised

"Do you know the meaning of this double happiness?"Tao Liao asked. The Murong brothers shook their heads. Some of the Han people who came with them nodded, and some shook their heads. Tao Liao continued:"The word"happy" on the left represents men; the word"happy" on the right represents women. The man is on the left and the woman is on the right, holding hands, respecting and loving each other, helping each other, never leaving, and growing old together!"

Everyone present listened to Tao Liao's meaning of the word double happiness and nodded in agreement. Seeing how knowledgeable Tao Liao was, Murong Shan winked at Murong Shui, and the two of them left their seats and knelt down in front of Tao Liao. Murong Shan Said:"Thank you, Mr. Tao, for bringing us two such wonderful beauties to our brothers! It made us both feel the beauty of life again. My two brothers want to make you their adoptive father. I wonder if Master Tao is willing?"

"Okay, okay, I didn’t say this."Tao Liao was smiling and agreed without much hesitation. The Murong brothers stood up again, knelt down again, and kowtowed to Tao Liao three times. The two men said in unison:"My foster father, please accept my child. Three bows! Tao

Liao quickly helped the two brothers up, and more than a dozen people sat down around the table. Murong Shan said:"Father, please host our wedding tomorrow!""

"Okay, okay, okay, this job couldn’t be better! Tao Liao nodded very happily, and then said:"My trip this time is really worth it!" Before I even met Murong Dashan, he created such a beautiful marriage for his people, and even adopted you two brothers as adopted sons. But as my adoptive father, I should always express my gratitude and give some gifts!

Tao Liao touched his chin, thought for a while and said,"Yes!" When I came, I not only brought dozens of volumes of books to help me pass the time on the road, but also the writing brushes and inkstones of us Han people. Go to two brothers and bring over the box where I put the books."

The two soldiers who just took the red silk have already seen that there are many books in the box. Under the silk in the box containing books are dozens of volumes of bamboo slips, many of which are Confucian works. On top of the books are some writing brushes and inkstones. There are also a lot of ink blocks. The most important thing is that this box contains important documents such as the imperial edict to Murong Xin and the customs clearance document. The two soldiers came to the place where the box was placed and took out the silks of different colors inside. Tao Liao added

:"I think this wedding still lacks two important things!"

"What is it, foster father?!"Murong Shan asked

"You'll find out in a moment!"Tao Liao said, and began to fold these silks of different colors again. Folding them, folding them, and cutting them, ah! It turned out to be a big red flower! Then, Tao Liao cut out the third silk. The second, third and fourth big red flowers

"Two days ago, a group of Goguryeo people were found robbing people at the beach, and there will be a wedding tomorrow. Is there anything else on the carriage that needs to be brought in? After all, this is a war-prone year, so it is better to be careful."Murong Shan said. Tao Liao said:"Yes, we should move all the remaining things on the carriage into the tent, just in case."

The eight soldiers went out together, and the rest of the food and supplies on the carriage were brought in. Tao Liao came to the place where the box was placed, opened the box containing the books, and took out some volumes of bamboo slips from it. Tao Liao stacked these books and then introduced them one by one:"There are seven handwritten bamboo slips in total, namely"The Book of Songs"》、《minister》、《Book of Rites》、《"Book of Changes" and"Spring and Autumn Period"》、《The Analects of Confucius" and"The Classic of Filial Piety". Study a little if you have time, it will come in handy later. If you don’t know a word, you can ask me"

"Thank you foster father!"Murong brothers said happily. Tao Liao explained:"These seven books"The Book of Songs"》、《minister》、《Book of Rites》、《Zhouyi》、《spring and autumn》、《The Analects of Confucius and the Classic of Filial Piety, collectively known as the Seven Classics’《"Spring and Autumn" was compiled by Confucius and his disciples during the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period. This book records the history of 242 years from the first year of Lu Yin to the fourteenth year of Lu Aigong. The Analects is a treasure. As the saying goes, half of the Analects rules the world."

As he spoke, Tao Liao spread the books on the ground so that the Murong brothers could see the titles and some of the contents of the books. Murong Shan picked up"The Analects of Confucius" and started reading

"ah! So many books! This is great!"Murong Shan was a little excited. He said:"My father was very fond of Central Plains culture when he was young, especially Confucian classics. It's a pity that his old man was killed by soldiers from the Yuwen Ministry and can never be seen again."

"There are so many works by ancient celebrities that the two of us can't finish studying in a short while!"Murong Shui said, picking up a volume of"The Book of Changes" and reading it

"This is easy to do. Tao Liao said:"As long as you like Han writing, love Han culture and Confucian classics, you can ask them for advice whenever you meet literate Han people in the future." Some of you Xianbei people also like Confucian works. When you see such people, you can humbly ask them for advice. As long as you study slowly, you will gain something over time."

"Thank you foster father for your advice!"Murong Shan said:"Now that we have these precious bamboo slips, we must devote ourselves to studying these Confucian classics. If you don't know a word, ask the people you know and the Han people here, and strive to become a learned man like your adoptive father in the future."