I studied in modern times

Chapter 947: Heavenly Sacrifice (2)

"Si Ji" says: The omen is in the southern suburbs, which is the positive yang position.

Since ancient times, Nanjiao has been one of the highest-level ceremonies for offering sacrifices to heaven.

The altar in the southern suburbs is called Huanqiu.

The so-called huanqiu, huan means the sphere of the sky, and qiu means the natural hills.

In the first year of Qiande after the founding of the Song Dynasty, they began to look for a sunny place to build outside the Nanxun Gate of Bianjing, and finally selected an auspicious place nine miles south of the Nanxun Gate of Bianjing as the Huanqiu.

However, in the early stages of the founding of the country, the rules and regulations concerning Nanjiao Huanqiu were still imperfect.

Therefore, for a very long period of time, except for the time before the winter solstice every three years when officials would come to Huanqiu to carefully inspect and repair it for the emperor to offer sacrifices to heaven.

At other times, the Atlas is in a blank state of laissez-faire.

Therefore, people living nearby often went into the vicinity of Huanqiu or even inside Huanqiu to collect firewood and graze their livestock.

Especially at the turn of summer and autumn, there are often herds of cattle and sheep here.

This made the scholars and officials very uncomfortable.

Every time someone passed by Huanqiu, they saw the farmers' cattle and sheep casually grazing on the grass and even defecating everywhere in this sacred place for offering sacrifices to the sky.

This discomfort reached its peak.

Therefore, in the sixth year of Tiansheng in the Renmiao reign, the literati could no longer tolerate it.

He wrote a letter to Zhang Xianmingsu, requesting that the people be prohibited from cutting firewood and grazing in Huanqiu and its vicinity.

The court naturally followed the good lead.

Therefore, an imperial decree was issued to build three wei (wei) outside Huanqiu, and to set up short walls outside the wei, and to use green ropes as markings inside the wei.

From then on, Huanqiu became a forbidden area for common people.

In the first year of Yuanfeng, another decree was issued - no burials were allowed within 300 steps of the altars in the five suburbs of heaven and earth, such as Huanqiu, no firewood collection was allowed within 30 steps outside the tombs, and no people were allowed to walk, or to cut wood or graze livestock within the tombs.

It further strengthened the sacredness of the relevant places for worshiping the gods.

At the same time, the relevant rituals have gradually developed from the simplicity at the beginning of the country to the complicated and lengthy ones today.

If it was at the beginning of the country, during the time of Taizu and Taizong.

The winter solstice in the southern suburbs occurs every three years and takes no more than an hour.

Leave the palace at three o'clock in the morning and return at five o'clock.

And now, the fifth watch is just the beginning!
Zhao Xu sat upright in the Qing Palace, in the dining hall specially designed for him to rest.

My eyelids are somewhat twitching.

Fortunately, Tong Guan would offer him boiled tea from time to time to refresh him.

This kept him from falling asleep.

Finally, after sitting in silence for a long time in the vegetarian hall, Tong Guan came to him and reported in a low voice: "Everyone, five o'clock is almost here..."

"The ministers are all outside the palace. I have submitted a petition asking everyone to set out for Huanqiu!"

Zhao Xu stood up and stretched his muscles.

"In addition, the poems of the ministers have all been written... and placed in the prepared jade box according to the story..." Tong Guan continued.

"Yes!" Zhao Xu nodded and said, "Let's go!"

He was still a little sleepy, but was just trying to stay awake.

Zhao Xu walked out of the Duancheng Palace, and, accompanied by the imperial dragon guards led by Yan Yuan, headed east from the Duancheng Gate to the Xiangxi Gate to the east of the Qing Palace.

When Zhao Xu walked to this door, the sound of drums in the Qing Palace began.

It’s five o’clock!
……

In the imperial city, the fifth watch drum sounded at the Xuande Gate.

Empress Dowager Xiang in Baoci Palace heard the drumbeats and looked towards the south. She thought to herself, "Sixth Brother must have left Xiangxi Gate, right?"

Zhang, the palace lady beside her, walked in from outside the palace, quietly came to her side, leaned close to her ear and whispered.

Empress Dowager Xiang listened with her pupils slightly shrank. She looked towards the Qingshou Palace and asked in a low voice, "Is it true?"

"Madam Anren Baoyou said that there are many female officials in the Qingshou Palace who are very sure of what they said..."

Madam Anren Baoyou was the late emperor’s wet nurse and one of the highest-ranking female officials in the imperial city.

Of course, his actual power had basically disappeared after the death of the previous emperor.

But she has been in the palace for more than ten years, and has her own network of contacts.

Therefore, after the death of the previous emperor, Empress Dowager Xiang still allowed him to stay in the palace.

Over the past few months, Empress Dowager Xiang has been doing many things through Madam Anren Baoyou.

The female officials in the Qingshou Palace also secretly contacted Madam Anren Baoyou.

no way!
Most of the high-ranking female officials in the Song Dynasty had their own families outside the palace.

Many even have husbands and children.

Their fathers, brothers, husbands, and children all depended on the status of the female officials in the palace.

Now, the Qingshou Palace ship is about to sink.

The smart ones among these female officials naturally began to vote with their feet.

Empress Dowager Xiang listened, but she clasped her hands together and sighed: "Amitabha!"

"This must be a villain who wants to alienate the flesh and blood of the royal family!"

However, Zhang clearly saw a flash of anger in her own wife's eyes.

Obviously, the Empress was very angry about Qingshou Palace's slip of the tongue.

But Zhang knew that her wife was a respectable person.

Unless she is pushed to the edge of the wall, she is unwilling and does not want to tear her face off and roll in the mud with others.

So, Zhang asked, "Madam, how should we respond to Madam Anren Baoyou about this matter?"

He chanted the Buddha's name to the Queen Mother: "Buddha, have mercy on me!"

Then he looked at Zhang and said, "Tell Madam to tell those people to keep their mouths shut and not spread the news everywhere!"

Zhang lowered her head and said, "Yes!"

She had served Empress Dowager Xiang for twenty or thirty years, and had been serving her when she was still in the boudoir.

Therefore, Zhang knew very well what her own queen meant - don't let anyone know, the news just needs to be released from Qingshou Palace.

……

Zhao Xu walked out of Xiangxi Gate and boarded the jade carriage again. Then, accompanied by the imperial guards led by Yan Da and his son, and surrounded by civil and military officials, he walked towards Huanqiu along an imperial road specially built for offering sacrifices to heaven.

After walking about a mile, the short outer wall of Huanqiu came into view.

Huanqiu of the Song Dynasty followed the system of the Han and Tang Dynasties.

Especially after the Yuanfeng reform, it completely embarked on the path of retro style.

The Huanqiu Altar is no exception.

When Zhao Xu arrived at Huanqiu, the eastern sky was already turning pale.

However, the temperature was still very low, and your breath almost turned into ice.

Zhao Xu sat in the jade carriage and looked at Huanqiu illuminated by the bonfire.

Zhao Xu knew that all the bonfires in Huanqiu were set up on the so-called burning altars.

Therefore, this world is just looking at the reflection of the fire.

In fact, it is still very cold after entering the Atlantis.

Good thing...

He touched the crown he was wearing.

Even the Inuit in the Arctic Circle like to wear sea otter skin, and its thermal insulation performance is unquestionable.

Wearing this crown and robes, let alone the winter nights in Bianjing, even the cold winter nights on the peninsula can be tolerated.

He can also face it!

……

Thousands of miles away. Liao, Shangjing, southern suburbs.

Because the Liao Dynasty's astronomical observation technology and clepsydra timekeeping technology were backward.

Therefore, although Liao was in the north, the Liao people's fifth watch was one or two quarters earlier than that of Bian Jing.

Therefore, at this moment, the progress of the Liao Kingdom's winter solstice ceremony of worshiping the sky was even faster than that of Zhao Xu in Bian Jing.

The Liao ruler, Yelu Hongji, wore the same crown and robes as Zhao Xu.

Wearing a flat crown with twenty-four glazed ornaments hanging down, a single red shoe and holding a jade sceptre in his hand, he was led by an old Taoist priest, ascending the small steps of Huanqiu to his final destination, the altar of offering sacrifices to heaven.

Here, dozens of Taoist children were standing facing north, singing ancient ballads to attract the attention of the Lord Haotian.

Under the guidance of the old Taoist priest, Yelu Hongji first faced north and bowed.

There was a yellow mattress, and on the mattress was a shrine with the inscription: Lord Haotian.

Then, Yelu Hongji faced southeast and kowtowed respectfully to the ancestral tablet placed on a yellow mattress in that direction.

On this ancestral tablet, there are words engraved - the throne of Emperor Taizu of the Great Liao.

On the back is engraved the name of Emperor Taizu of Liao.

If you look closely, during the Liao Kingdom's southern suburbs sacrifice to heaven, the name of Taizu on the back of the ancestral tablet had an extra line of regular script next to [Taizu's surname was Yelu and his name was Abaoji] - [Descendant of Emperor Gaozu of Han, surname Liu and his name was Yi].

This was unprecedented in the Liao Dynasty.

Although, at the beginning of the founding of the Liao Dynasty, everyone in the country knew that the Liao Emperor Abaoji, before he became emperor, worshipped Emperor Gaozu of Han and used the Han surname Liu, calling himself Liu Yi to interact with his friends.

But this is the first time that this fact is clearly engraved on the ancestral tablet during the sacrifice to heaven, and the heavens and the earth are invited to witness it together!
After Yelu Hongji finished paying homage to the tablet of Taizu and stood up.

The bell on the Mound of the Universe began to ring.

Then, countless instruments joined the ensemble.

Then, the chime bells placed on the altar also joined the ensemble.

The Liao Kingdom's ceremony of offering sacrifices to heaven officially began.

Wearing a flat crown, Yelu Hongji looked up at the sky and began to pray in a low voice amid the grand music: "Your servant Yelu Hongji... No, Liu Hongji! I respectfully inform the Lord of Heaven, the Emperor of Heaven and Earth, the twelve palace gods, and the stars in the sky..."

"I have now made peace with the Song court in the south, subdued the Tanguts in the west, and suppressed the rebellion of Goryeo in the east, and recovered the borders of the four Han counties. Then I will raise a benevolent and righteous army, cross the sea to conquer the traitorous Fujiwara clan of Japan, and restore the country to its former glory and continue the extinct family!"

"So, the four barbarians came to visit, and the nations came to pay homage!"

"Liao has reached its peak!"

"May the Lord of Heaven, the Emperor of Heaven and Earth, the four stars, and the twelve palace gods bless our Liao Dynasty and make it last forever!"

Pray till here.

Yelu Hongji added in his heart: "I hope to find a good son-in-law from the Southern Dynasty, so that my descendants can follow the example of Emperor Taizong..."

"Conquer the Central Plains, unify the world, return to the old capital, and revive the Han Dynasty!"

Whether it is Chang'an or Luoyang.

It is the real home and imperial capital that successive Liao rulers have longed for.

For them, the five capitals of Liao Kingdom today are just temporary residences!

……

Under the guidance of the abbot of Zhong Taiyi Palace, Zhao Xu ascended the stairs from the small level and stepped into the Huanqiu altar.

The Huanqiu Altar of the Song Dynasty is almost the same as the Huanqiu Altar of the Liao Dynasty.

There are two yellow mattresses on the north and southeast sides, and on the mattresses are angel tablets with the words "Haotian God" and "The Throne of Emperor Taizu of the Great Song Dynasty" written on them respectively.

Under the guidance of the abbot of Zhongtaiyi Palace, Zhao Xu followed the etiquette and first bowed and saluted to the tablet of Haotian God, and then bowed and saluted to the tablet of Emperor Taizu.

As he was performing the ceremony, the Taoist children on Huanqiu played the bells and sang ancient songs.

Soon, it became the same as Huanqiu of Liao Kingdom.

More than ten musical instruments joined the ensemble one after another.

Finally, two chime bells were struck by the musicians, forming a grand ensemble of ritual music for offering sacrifices to the heavens.

As the ensemble played, Zhao Xu faced the direction of his father, Emperor Yongyu's Mausoleum.

Then, look up at the sky.

The sky at this moment was very kind to him. There were no dark clouds, and sparse stars dotted the sky.

"Father, your Majesty!"

"Haotian God... Tathagata Buddha... Sanqing Daozun... Twelve Palace Gods... Celestial Officials..."

"No matter who it is... no matter who it is... let me live three lives..."

"Please listen to my prayer!"

"In this life, I swear to revive my country and never let the shame of Jingkang happen again!"

"Now, this matter is somewhat certain!"

He thought of Shen Kuo's bureau that specialized in manufacturing military equipment, and also of the thriving textile industry now in the city of Bianliang.

It reminds me more of the iteration of gunpowder and firearms technology.

"so……"

"My next goal in this life is..."

"All the land under heaven shall belong to the king... All the people in the land shall be his subjects!"

"Whether it's the European continent, or the other side of the ocean, or the islands in the ocean, or even the North Pole and the South Pole..."

"Wherever there are inhabitants, they all respect the Song Dynasty as the legitimate dynasty and China as the supreme ruler!"

The British Empire, with Britain on its side, was indeed very good and powerful.

but……

Zhao Xu didn't want to, and wasn't willing to, run such a big business.

Because this will backfire!
In modern times, he had seen Dai Ying, who was attacked by the British Empire.

It has become Little Britain and Northern Ireland is almost gone and cannot form a united kingdom!
Its main ethnic group was losing ground.

London is no longer the London of the English.

The evil forces from all over the world are constantly feeding back and eroding Daiying's already weak body.

A ghost, a ghost named Third Brother, was roaring inside and outside Daiying's body and soul - Eat my food, spit it out!
Thus, Zhao Xu saw in modern times a British Prime Minister from Sindhu.

Its international status is about to be replaced by India!
Like Britain, the situation in China is almost the same as that in the United States, which also practices colonialism and does not treat others as human beings.

Zhao Xu absolutely did not want this land to become someone else's after a thousand years.

So, there are some places, some things, and some things that really cannot be touched or done!
For example, colonizing India.

For example, genocide.

There was also a massive slave trade…opium trade…

Therefore, Zhao Xu's greatest fantasy and expectation for the future Song Dynasty was to establish a presence on both sides of the Pacific Ocean, and at most own Oceania - anyway, the indigenous Indians could be explained as the remnants of the Shang Dynasty, and with the Yin Ruins and oracle bones, there was no need to worry that they would deny it - they all liked human sacrifices and loved ghosts and gods.

Then do everything possible to incorporate other regions into the tribute system.

A modified tribute system based on free trade and centered on win-win (Song Dynasty won twice).

Standing on the altar of Huanqiu, I prayed silently in a low voice, while gazing at the sky before dawn. The ancient and grand ritual music for offering sacrifices to the sky kept replaying in my ears.

No one or any entity gave him any sign or revelation.

Even the starlight in the sky remains the same, without any change.

This made Zhao Xu feel at ease.

Because this means that perhaps no higher-dimensional forces were involved in his affairs as a human being in his three lifetimes.

Maybe it was just pure...luck.

Belongs to the so-called modern quantum mechanics!

Even if there is interference from higher-dimensional beings.

Most likely, that existence doesn't actually care about him.

At most, just treat him as a sample.

(End of this chapter)