Chapter 63

（The new book is not on the bestseller list, it's lonely and pitiful, please give it a recommendation...）－

The air was filled with the fragrance of flowers, the grass was long, and the orioles were flying, marking another spring. []

On the lecture ground of the lower temple of Zhongyan Temple, a Cuju (ancient Chinese football) match was about to take place.

Cuju, a popular ancient sport since the pre-Qin period, evolved into many forms of competition. Before the Tang Dynasty, it was mainly a strong confrontation with two goals, where players on both sides had specific roles and engaged in fierce battles on the field. Wherever the ball went, players would fall over, and after a match, it was common to see bruised noses, swollen faces, and even broken legs or heads. There was also a more elegant single-goal form, mainly for literati and women to play.

To put it simply, the two-goal Cuju of that time was very similar to modern football, but its intensity exceeded that of rugby. The single-goal competition, on the other hand, had rules similar to volleyball, techniques similar to sepak takraw, and scoring methods similar to basketball...

By the Song Dynasty, Cuju had developed into the nation's top sport, known as "the most elegant thing is to play Cuju." Kicking a good ball was considered the most glorious and honorable thing. The main participants were no longer soldiers and martial nobles, but ranged from the emperor and princes to common people. The enthusiasm of literati made the competitiveness and performance of the game gradually replace its confrontational and military nature. The two-goal competition was no longer favored. Instead, the single-goal "Zhuqiu" and the goalless "Baida" became popular.

The match currently taking place at Zhongyan Academy was a Zhuqiu competition.

This sport had developed to a mature stage with established rules. Before the match, people used lime to draw a rectangular field ten zhang (about 30 meters) long and five zhang (about 15 meters) wide on the ground, which was then divided into two square halves by a central line. At the midpoint of the central line, two bamboo poles over two zhang (about 6 meters) high were erected, with a net tied between them, leaving a hole about one chi (about 30 cm) in diameter, known as the "Fengliu Eye." The teams could only score by kicking the ball through the Fengliu Eye.

The two halves were called the Left Army and the Right Army. The players were divided into these two teams and could not cross the boundary. The Left Army had seven players, each with a specific role: the ball leader, the kicker, the main flank, the head flank, the left net post, the right net post, and the free player. They all wore red brocade jackets, trousers, and soft leather boots. The ball leader wore a long-tailed headband, while the others wore curled-tailed headbands. The Right Army was similar, but they wore blue brocade jackets to distinguish them from the Left Army.

There were three referees, called "She Si," on the sidelines, and each team had its own coach, called "Bu Shu" and "Jiao Zheng." For such a formal match, there were naturally layers of cheerleaders. Even before the match started, the cheerleaders of both teams began to cheer and encourage their teams, just like in modern sports competitions.

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This match was the annual "Upper Three Classes" vs. "Lower Three Classes" competition, naturally becoming the focus of the academy. It attracted not only all the teachers and students but also the rarely seen headmaster's daughter, Wang Fei, and the students' idol, Su Xiaomei.

Wang Fang also came. This old gentleman shamelessly used his privilege to occupy the best viewing position, had mats laid out, and tables set up, enjoying fine wine and delicacies with several older professors, watching the match comfortably.

At the hour of Chen, Professor Du, serving as the referee, brought the Cuju ball to the goal. The ball was brown and round, with an inflated pig bladder inside and a surface made of twelve pieces of treated yellow leather, sewn together without visible seams, weighing twelve ounces. In terms of shape, weight, and feel, it was not much different from a modern standard football.

He gathered the ball leaders of both teams. The ball leader of the Upper Three Classes, Chen Sanlang, was a young man over six feet tall with healthy wheat-colored skin, sharp eyebrows, and bright eyes, exuding a heroic aura. He was already seventeen years old.

Chen Ke was already tall, but the ball leader of the Lower Three Classes was nearly a foot taller. This black and muscular giant, with a face full of deep lines, looked to be in his thirties. But when he spoke, he called Chen Sanlang "Brother": "Brother San, there are no fathers or sons on the field, I won't let you off!" Who else could it be but Chen Wulang?

"Don't worry about me!" Chen Ke smiled, revealing his neat, white teeth.

"Enough talk, let's draw lots and choose sides for the kick-off." The referee grew impatient, extending his hand with two paper balls.

Chen Ke let Wulang draw first. Wulang picked one at random, unfolded it, and saw the word "side" written on it. He said, "We'll take the Right Army." In this high-kicking game, the wind direction had a certain influence, so it was natural to choose the side that was advantageous.

Since the Lower Three Classes chose the side, the Upper Three Classes would kick off.

When the headmaster lit the incense and the gong sounded, Chen Ke used the inside of his foot to pass the ball to Song Duanping, who was playing the free player. Song Duanping caught it and passed it to other teammates with his knee. The ball did not touch the ground and, after three touches, returned to Chen Ke.

This series of passes was clearly well-designed. The ball moved steadily, making it easier for Chen Ke to kick it accurately.

Chen Ke took a deep breath, gauged the force, and kicked the ball with the top of his foot. The brown ball drew a beautiful arc, barely clearing the three-zhang (about 9 meters) high, one-chi (about 30 cm) wide goal.

The cheerleaders of the Upper Three Classes erupted in deafening cheers. Chen Sanlang's "Flying Rainbow Ball" was indeed well-deserved!

As the ball passed through the Fengliu Eye, it landed in the Right Army's area, where a free player caught it with a high kick, the ball sticking to his foot as if glued. He gently pushed it, passing it to his teammates at a steady pace. After two passes, he adjusted to the best position and passed it to Chen Wulang with the best force, without the ball touching the ground.

Chen Wulang kicked the ball with great force, deforming it, and it flew straight over the two-zhang (about 6 meters) high goal, landing at the far end of the opponent's field.

According to the rules, if the ball lands in the opponent's area, the team can restart the attack. If the ball goes out of bounds, the opponent restarts the attack. The opportunity to restart the attack was crucial because the net was only about two chi (about 60 cm) wide, and the goal was over two zhang (about 6 meters) high. Even with a straight kick, it required skilled technique to hit the net, let alone to score through the Fengliu Eye.

In such a match, even if one cannot score, they cannot give the opponent a comfortable chance to score. Forcing the opponent to let the ball land or kick it out of bounds, thus giving the team the opportunity to restart the attack, became the usual strategy.

Chen Wulang's powerful kick was his unique skill, called "Sky Cannon." It was powerful and quick, making the opponent easily think it would go out of bounds. However, in a headwind, it would likely land in bounds, which was why he chose the Right Army.

"Out of bounds, out of bounds, out of bounds!" the cheerleaders of the Upper Three Classes shouted.

"In bounds, in bounds, in bounds!" the cheerleaders of the Lower Three Classes also shouted.

To the players of the Left Army, the ball's rapid descent seemed likely to touch the line. The nearest player rushed forward, diving and heading the ball back just inside the line.

As the ball was about to hit the ground, Song Duanping arrived, seemingly effortlessly flicking the ball, reducing its force and making it fly gently again.

"Ahh..." the cheerleaders of the Upper Three Classes cheered, while those of the Lower Three Classes booed.

But with only three touches allowed, the Left Army could not organize an effective attack and could only勉强将球传给担任“右网杆”的苏轼。他使出最大的努力一脚抡射，但球只是高高飞起，甚至没有触网，更不用说进球得分了。

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下三班里，多有踢一脚好球的富家子弟，整体水平要高于上三班。他们可以用身体除手之外的任何部位传接球，花样百出，却又老道精准，几个回合便掌握了主动。好在上三班的陈恪和宋端平，乃是九天文学弹回来，再次组织进攻。

如果喂得位置不好，他也能以势大力沉、线路刁钻的大脚球，给对方出个大难题。

在这两位的率领下，上三班的球员使出浑身解数，与对方缠斗。为了取胜，双方拿出看家的绝活，什么“鸳鸯脚”、“拐子踢”、“挂金钩”……动作潇洒好看，充满了力的美感。

皮球飞来飞去，半天都不落地。观众们目不暇接，大声为本方每一次精彩触球喝彩，为每一个进球喝彩，为每次射门不中而惋惜，亦为失误后的队员打气。

场上场下热烈的气氛别无二致，令每一个身在其中者如痴如醉。

不知不觉中，线香燃尽，锣声响起，上半时比赛结束了。

大家才去看那记分牌，双方都是两个“正”字多两笔，七比七，竟然战成平手！

虽然不是直接对抗，但这样激烈的比赛，对双方队员的消耗，一点也不打折。

场上十四名队员，全都汗水淋漓、浑身湿透，双手叉着腰喘粗气。但目光仍然杀气腾腾，只待下半场击溃对手。

不过这会儿，还是赶紧下场，抓紧时间休息去吧。

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