Chapter 75 one

In the twelfth year of Zhiyuan (1275), Guo Shoujing wrote to the imperial court after inspecting the Jianghuai River to Dadu: "Since the Song and Jin Dynasties, Wen and Si are connected by rivers, so they can pass through water." Kublai Khan approved Guo Shoujing's plan to dig the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal.In the past, in Guo Shoujing's water conservancy plan to Kublai Khan, he proposed to divert water to the central capital of the Jin Dynasty (Yuan Dadu), east to the old Caohe River in Tongzhou, and then south to Kaihe to Yangcun (now Wuqing County, Hebei).Therefore, the new canal is based on the old canals of the Sui and Tang Dynasties. It diverts Shenshan Spring in Baifu Village, Changping County, crosses Shuangta and Yu River, and then diverts water from Yimu and Yuquan (in today's Changping District, Beijing) to flow into Wengshan Park. (now Kunming Lake) to Dadu and Yimen (now Xizhimen) into the city, converging into Jishuitan (now Shichahai), and the accumulated water goes southeast out of Wenmingmen (now Chongwenmen) to Tongzhou Gaolizhuang and enters Baihe River, with a total length of 164 Wally Xu.This is the famous "Tonghui River".Water boats can go north and enter the metropolitan area, and go south to connect with the Tongzhou Yunliang River between the Baihe River and the Dagu River.

The masts of the Tonghui River are like tides, and thousands of "drum boats" meet each other at the first place, facing each other with boats and boats.In the Shuimen Port of the Zhahe River, five miles north of Heyimen, in the misty fog, the water surface of the pier shines like a fifteenth moon.Under the white houses in the distance and the looming towering towers, there are already a lot of people's voices and crowds of people.At the time of Si, thousands of people from the welcome mission sent by Yuan Ting waited on the pier early, forming a neat rectangular formation to sing and dance.Amidst the sound of drums and music, the "drum boat" slowly approached the pier.After a long journey of more than a month, the Queen Mother Quan, Zhao Wei and hundreds of people from the prayer mission arrived in Dadu.Guo Shoujing was entrusted by officials from the capital of Yuan Ting Zhongshu Province to go five miles out of the city to meet the Queen Mother Quan, Zhao Wei and her party.

Prime Minister Zuo Jian Wu Jian, Prime Minister Right Jia Yuqing, and Political Counselor Jia Xuan Weng, who arrived in Dadu earlier, were also among the welcome queue. "Scholar of Zhaowenguan, Doctor of Zhongfeng, Consul of Zhitaishi Academy, and Master Guo Shoujing, the governor of the capital, are waiting here!" The officials from the capital of the Zhongshu Ministry announced loudly, "Master Guo, please go ashore to rest the Queen Mother and Emperor Song." Following the voice, groups of graceful Mongolian girls presented khatas, flowers and fine wines to the distinguished guests.

This is the twenty-fourth day of the third month of the Bingzi year (May 9, 1276), and history will always remember this day. In the central hall of the Huitong Hall, Guo Shoujing raised his wine glass and said to everyone: "I have been in the south for a long time, and I can't adapt to the climate in the north for a while. All the daily life of the members." He walked to the Queen Mother and stopped, "Guo is not talented, drink first as a respect." The Queen Mother hurriedly stood up and said: "Master Guo is a man of great intelligence, no one knows it, and who doesn't know it. It's better for the slave family to respect the master." The Queen Mother said, picking up a cup of tea on the table, "The slave family uses tea instead of wine, please. Master Guo is free to do so."

Guo Shoujing smiled and said, "How dare you! The Queen Mother can do whatever she wants, and I'm afraid it won't work if you ask me." Guo Shoujing returned to his seat and praised sincerely, "There have been many beauties in Kuaiji since ancient times. Only when I see the Queen Mother and Emperor Song today can I really understand this sentence. The meaning of the words." The Queen Mother Quan, from Kuaiji, is the grandniece of Li Zongxiansheng's wife.At that time, she was registered as the crown princess because of her dabbling in book history and proficiency in etiquette.

The Empress Dowager Quan felt sad, but she also thanked Guo Shoujing for his sincere praise and respect for her. The Queen Mother drank all the tea in the cup, and the atmosphere in the hall became a little more active. "Queen Dowager, I, Empress Chabi, was worried that you and the young emperor were not used to life in the north. I once asked the Great Khan to allow you to live in Lin'an, but due to the strong objections of the ministers of the court, I put this matter on hold. But the empress really cares for you. With compassion, she not only personally selected the house for you, including bed, clothes and other daily necessities, but she also made arrangements for you. She only hopes that you can live in peace of mind."

Empress Dowager Quan burst into tears. As a subjugated queen, how dare she expect a better situation than this?She had heard that Empress Chabi was benevolent and kind, and now she felt the same way. "Queen Dowager, there is another matter. Kublai Khan is currently staying in the capital to escape the summer heat. He has passed down a decree that he will summon the Queen Mother and his party in Shangdu. The Queen Mother will rest for two days, and I will send someone to escort you with me on the 27th." Going to Shangdu, what do you think?" Empress Dowager Quan bowed her knees and said, "Everything is at the discretion of Mr. Guo."

"Okay. Come on, order the banquet!" Immediately, eight tones played in the hall, and a group of dancers filed in, performing the most famous court song and dance of the Yuan Dynasty——Sixteen Heavenly Demon Dance.The Sixteen Heavenly Demon Dance is magnificent and graceful.The dancing girls are free and easy, and their songs are like the sounds of nature. Generally, they only perform when receiving distinguished guests and foreign envoys. Jia Yuqing, Wu Jian, Jia Xuanweng and the young emperor Zhao Yan watched with relish, sweeping away the sorrow and depression of many days. The Empress Dowager Quan had a solemn expression, hiding all the pain of the country's ruin and family death in her heart.