Chapter 24 Section 12

The first day of June every year is a major event in Chang'an City and even in the entire Tang Dynasty. This day is commonly known as "the first ball game in June", but it is actually the last polo game in the first half of the year.After this ball game, the horses were rested all summer long before the autumn races began in August. On May 28, the emperor issued an edict, in order to commemorate the efforts and sacrifices made by the soldiers and civilians of the Chang'an Body in supporting the conquest of Western Turks, the first day of June was a day off for bathing.At the same time, Princess Taiping and Princess Anle led their respective teams to play the first game in June.

Although the bet between the two parties was not announced in the edict, the news spread throughout Chang'an within half a day, and spread to Luoyang, the eastern capital, and other places by carrier pigeons that night.People in Chang'an who are very sensitive to politics still remember the competition between Princess Taiping and Princess Anle for Kunming Pool not long ago, and they all know the purpose of Princess Anle's construction of Dingkun Pool at a huge cost.What does it mean for both parties to bet on their most beloved gardens this time? Princess Anle's gamble is the most famous in Chang'an. Last autumn in a cockfight, she once lost the fief of a thousand households given to her by the emperor. The winner was Li Longye, the seventeen-year-old youngest son of King Xiang.Of course, this betting game finally made Xiang Wang so embarrassed that he had to tie his son to the court himself, and asked the emperor to punish him for not being strict with his son, and the fief was also returned to Princess Anle.What happened during this incident explained her grace and boldness in front of the emperor, and also explained how terrifying her authority in the court was.However, Princess Anle is also a pretty and straightforward person, and she gave back to Li Longye twenty Xiliang BMWs.Willing to gamble and admit defeat, this is the self-esteem that Datang people should have.

Princess Taiping is not the case. Although she also gambled heavily, she gambled no more than any prince or grandson in Chang'an City, and was no more irrational.The size of her bets has always been proportionate and restrained to her status, so the wise men in Chang'an City believed that Princess Taiping must have no choice but to use her beloved Kunming Pond to gamble with Princess Anle.With Princess Taiping's astuteness and the political means she has displayed in the past few decades, she is very clear about what Kunming Pool means to her at this time. If she loses this bet, she will also bet away more than half of her power.

Some experienced officials and scholars from the six ministries of the three provinces believed that most of this bet was forced by Empress Wei to force Princess Taiping to do it, which meant that the struggles and suspicions over the past few years had finally come to fruition—Empress Wei accounted for it. got the upper hand.Although the strongest group of polo players in Chang'an City played for Princess Taiping, Princess Taiping may deliberately lose the game in order not to anger Queen Wei.This also makes them more aware of how they should speak and behave in the future and which side they should stand on.

Based on the above analysis, the odds offered by the casinos in Dongshi and Xishi are: Princess Anle pays 7.50% for ten, Princess Taiping pays 11.50 for ten, and the gambling house pays 10%. The competition was held in the Ju field of Dingkun Pool.On this day, the emperor and empress came to watch the battle in person, all the princes and ministers in the court, the chiefs of the three provinces, six departments and nine temples were all present.It is a great honor to be able to watch this very likely historic game in person, and no one wants to miss such an opportunity. The noble ladies who had the opportunity to enter and exit the Forbidden Palace were also present.This is the best opportunity to show off their gorgeous costumes and beautiful faces, and it is also the best place to spread rumors and gather information.

What people talk about most today is of course this unusual game and the bets they made.But as if everyone had a tacit understanding, no one would be bold enough to talk about the political significance of this game on this occasion.