People in the Song Dynasty were lawless

Chapter 514: Military Parade, the Army of the Song People

December 29th, the twelfth year of the Qingli calendar, was a climax day of the celebration.

There is the Minor New Year's celebration on the 24th, the New Year's celebration on the 28th, and the grand military parade and awarding of military ranks on the 29th, demonstrating the national strength and military power of the Song Dynasty.

Early in the morning, newspapers throughout Bianliang began to take action.

There are many newspapers in Bianliang today. In addition to the official ones, there are also a large number of private newspapers.

Moreover, newspapers and periodicals other than those in Bianliang must also set up an office in Bianliang.

For example, local newspapers in commercially developed areas such as Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Guangzhou, Quanzhou, and Chengdu had offices in Bianliang so that they could keep abreast of the court's movements at any time.

So in addition to the local newspapers in Bianliang, dozens of major newspapers from other places flocked to Xuande Gate.

Since cameras had not yet been invented, newspapers often relied on hand-drawn illustrations to increase newspaper sales.

This gave many unknown painters a way to make a living.

But in order to achieve better results, you need a broader vision and a better position to paint the most beautiful pictures.

According to investigations by many newspaper reporters, Changqing Tower on the east side of Yuda Street outside Xuande Gate and Baoci Temple on the west side are currently the best places to observe Xuande Gate Square.

The grand military parade requires a larger square, and only Xuande Gate Square is suitable. After the expansion of the imperial palace, the original Jingling East Palace and Xingguofang were incorporated into it.

The current Xuande Gate Square is the southern part of the former Xingguofang and Jingling East Palace. The cross street outside Xuande Gate becomes the Imperial Street outside the palace.

As a result, the south gate of the imperial palace became two pavilions, the east and west. The Changqing Tower located in the east pavilion is three stories high, and the Baoci Temple located in the west pavilion is not high, but there is a five-story tower inside.

Standing at the highest point of the tower, you can even overlook the South Palace of the Imperial Palace.

As a result, Baoci Temple and Changqing Building were crowded with people early in the morning. The most popular seats were at Baoci Temple. Because there were too many people, the head monk of the temple originally wanted to close the temple, but they gave too much money for incense.

So after offering a position that cost as much as ten strings of coins, the great monks of Baoci Temple let more than twenty people in, filling the top floor of the originally small tower with people.

If it weren't for safety reasons, they would even want to climb over the railings on the side of the tower and run to the eaves or even the top of the tower.

Baoci Temple has the best location, but the place is too small. Basically, only those who pay a lot of money or have a noble status can go up there. And for food, you can only ask the big monk in Baoci Temple to send some vegetarian meals up there.

It’s different over at Changqing Building. The place is big and you can sit there to eat. It costs little and can solve the problem of breakfast, lunch and dinner. It is much more comfortable than Baoci Temple.

As a result, more than a hundred people gathered on the grand stand on the top floor of Changqing Building.

Although it is a bit far from Xuande Gate, separated by a street and a square, who can blame the fact that glass craftsmanship has become popular?
In addition to selling glasses, private optical shops also sell telescopes.

The result was that starting from the morning, many people went up to take up seats, and all kinds of drawing boards, tables and chairs, pens and ink were laid out, and everyone had a telescope.

By the beginning of the Chenshi period, which was seven o'clock in the morning, the palace had already become bustling.

Hundreds of officials gathered at the Imperial Gate Square outside the Chuigong Hall, including more than a hundred generals wearing new military uniforms. They were extremely excited among the crowd, and each of them had a small team that gathered together to chat.

Zhao Zhen, Zhao Jun, Fan Zhongyan and others stood at the gate of Chuigong Hall. Beside them were Zhang Kang, Di Qing, Wang Deyong, Cao Cong, Li Yonghe and Li Zhaoliang.

All six of them were dressed in the new light blue military uniforms, standing straight and straight, with ribbons, epaulettes, service badges and stars on them.

Compared to the excitement of the lieutenant generals and major generals below, they were much calmer.

Cao Cong, Li Yonghe and Li Zhaoliang were Zhao Zhen's confidants with little experience. They were appointed generals purely for Zhao Zhen's sake. They had no real power, so naturally they could not smile.

Zhang Kang, Di Qing and Wang Deyong were veterans on the battlefield and had long known how to conceal their feelings.

Zhao Zhen walked out of Chuigong Hall, glanced down, and then noticed Di Qing's collar. He walked over and helped him turn it over with a smile, saying, "Han minister, how are you? How do you feel?"

Di Qing was flattered, but he did not dare to resist. After Zhao Zhen helped him turn up his collar, he stepped back and bowed, saying, "My lord, I can only repay your grace if I die a thousand times."

"All right."

Zhao Zhen patted his shoulder and said with a smile: "You have earned all these achievements through life and death. You deserve everything you have now. Don't underestimate yourself."

"Yes."

Di Qing was still quite cautious and remained humble.

Although he is no longer attacked by civil officials, even if he is attacked by them, he is often protected by Zhao Zhen, Zhao Jun and others, and the attackers are punished accordingly.

For example, Ouyang Xiu once wrote an article criticizing Di Qing without authorization, and was scolded by Fan Zhongyan as a result, and was not promoted for several years.

But having risen from a low-level private all the way to the highest level of the Song Dynasty army, he has become accustomed to cold eyes and humiliation, and he is well aware that he is walking on thin ice all the way, so being cautious has long become a habit.

Seeing his appearance, even Zhao Zhen felt a little heartbroken.

"Sir, the military parade is about to begin."

Zhao Jun said on the side.

"Ah."

Zhao Zhen nodded and said, "Then you go first."

"Yes."

Zhang Kang, Di Qing, Wang Deyong and others around him bowed and said goodbye.

Following their shouts, many lieutenant generals and major generals below also lined up and headed towards Chongwenyuan.

Chongwenyuan is located between Daqing Palace and Changqing Palace.

The Daqing Palace used to be a parade ground where the emperor held sacrifices and ceremonies. Later it was converted into the Administrative System Council and offices of various court departments.

Chongwenyuan was the place where royal books were stored.

Previously, the imperial palace was small, so the royal books had to be stored separately: one in Chongwenyuan, two in Wende Hall, three in Longtu Pavilion, Tianzhang Pavilion, Baowen Pavilion, and four in Yeonbok Palace.

Now after the expansion, the place is larger and has more space for storage. Chongwenyuan has been converted into the office of some departments. There is also a large square outside, which is connected to the square on the Changqing Palace and the Taimiao side.

The size of the imperial city had expanded several times, so even if more than fifty departments moved in, it would not seem crowded. Therefore, the direction near the Zuoye Gate became the place where the troops lined up during the military parade.

At this moment, from Chongwenyuan to Changqing Palace, dozens of square formations were neatly arranged on the huge square. Each square formation stood in neat rows and lined up according to the order of appearance.

For this New Year's military parade, the imperial court ordered the selection of tall and well-dressed soldiers from the 600,000 imperial guards, a total of 10,000 people, and divided them into many square formations.

Some are representatives of the military, some are from various battalions and arms, and some are emerging combat heroes and outstanding soldiers who have made many military achievements.

Although this was an ancient military parade and could not be compared with the airplanes, tanks, cannons, and rocket vehicles in later parades, it at least had the initial prototype of modern military forces.

After many generals returned to their troops, some served as leading generals in the parade formation, while others stood collectively on carriages and appeared in a formation of generals.

Zhang Kang, as the prime minister and general, rode alone on a warhorse, with a square formation of infantry behind him.

They also wore the new Song Dynasty uniforms, with swords hanging from their waists. In front of them were flag bearers and flag bearers, forming the three-army guard of honor. In the back came Di Qing, who led a cavalry formation.

Next came Wang Deyong, Cao Cong and others.

Just as the soldiers were lining up in the rear, preparing to go on stage, at the end of the Chenshi hour, which was nine o'clock in the morning, the military parade was finally about to officially begin.

Outside the fence of the square outside Xuande Gate, it was already crowded with people from the Song Dynasty. In order to prevent overcrowding, fences were built in rows around it to separate the crowd. The entire Nanheng Street outside Xuande Gate was ten miles long, and the miles near Xuande Gate were full of people.

Many people were waving a small Song Dynasty dragon flag in their hands. The cold winter wind was blowing, and the weather was a little gloomy. The temperature was not high, but it could not resist the enthusiasm of the people, and they all stood in their positions to watch the ceremony.

The busiest places were Kaifeng Prefecture and the Imperial City Administration. In order to maintain order, thousands of yamen runners from Kaifeng Prefecture and thousands of inspectors from the Imperial City Administration had to patrol everywhere to prevent illegal activities such as crowding, trampling, and petty theft.

"Bang bang bang bang!"

Just after the last quarter of the Chen hour and at the beginning of the Si hour, at exactly nine o'clock, fireworks shot straight into the sky from the palace gates on both sides of the Xuande Gate.

As dozens of explosions ended, Zhao Zhen, Zhao Jun and other cultural relics officials, about a hundred people, slowly walked onto the Xuande Gate platform. There was a rostrum on the platform, and Zhao Zhen stood beside the rostrum in a solemn robe.

The Minister of Rites, as the host, came on stage first and said, "May all the people be blessed with peace and happiness. Today is a day for universal celebration, and also a day to show the military might of the Song Dynasty."

"The Song Dynasty has been established for 93 years. Since the founding of the country by your Majesty, we have made outstanding military achievements and have been feared by all. Wherever the army marches, it is invincible. This achievement is the result of the bloody struggles of the soldiers."

"On this special day today, the emperor will review the majesty of the three armies, and at the same time, he will also give military ranks to the countless soldiers who have fought since Baoyuan's foreign wars, to highlight the honor of the country."

"Now, let us welcome His Majesty the Emperor of the Great Song Dynasty."

The Minister of Rites hid the notes in his arms and walked backwards off the podium.

Zhao Zhen first took a deep breath, looked at the crowd of countless people watching the ceremony in the distance, glanced at the sea of ​​people outside the Xuande Gate, and unconsciously dodged his gaze before looking at Zhao Jun next to him.

Seeing his eldest grandson giving him an encouraging look, Zhao Zhen couldn't help but feel more confident. He couldn't help but cheer himself up and calm down his originally nervous mood.

Originally, the Ministry of Rites suggested taking a piece of paper to read out, but Zhao Zhen thought that this would not be a good idea, so he has been memorizing the lines every day for the past few days.

Although it is already very familiar, it is still frightening to see such a scene.

Fortunately, Zhao Zhen had seen the grand ceremony of the founding ceremony in his notebook, and had imagined himself standing on the city gate tower and overlooking the people below in his dreams countless times, so the nervousness gradually subsided, replaced by excitement.

He stood on the stage and was instantly surrounded by thunderous applause. At the same time, the people far below also cheered like thunder. All kinds of applause and cheers condensed into a sea of ​​​​people.

"Guanjia, Guanjia!"

"Long live the emperor, long live the emperor."

"The Song Dynasty has an official family. What a blessing it is."

The people shouted.

Zhao Zhen was very moved. He waved his right hand and waited until the cheers died down before he reached for the microphone and said, "It has been more than 400 years since Emperor Gaozu of the Tang Dynasty started an uprising and eliminated the chaos of the Sui Dynasty to establish the country, and then to the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms, when the Yan and Song dynasties rose."

"During these four hundred years, the late Tang Dynasty was in turmoil, the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms were at war with each other, bandits were rampant like combs, and soldiers were rampant like combs. The armies of various countries brought heavy disasters to the people, so that the early Song Dynasty had to tighten the military."

"I know that being harsh on the army is not a good thing. It will weaken the army's combat effectiveness and make it unable to defend against the enemy. But how could Taizu, Taizong, Zhenzong and the others not know this?"

"But the consequences of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms on us Han Chinese were too great. I don't know how many people were captured, killed, or even eaten by the army. The people were afraid of them, and Taizu, Taizong, and Zhenzong were also afraid of them."

"So in the early years of the Song Dynasty, in order to defend the army, the generals and soldiers were forced to separate. The soldiers did not know the generals, and the generals did not know the soldiers. As a result, in the early years of the Song Dynasty, they could not defeat the foreign invaders and suffered many defeats."

"Since I ascended the throne, I have always hoped to reorganize the army, eliminate the pests in the army, insist on daily training of the army, ensure the army's supplies, strictly enforce the army's laws, and improve the status of soldiers in the hearts of the people, so that the army and the people can be of one mind."

"What I hope is that the Han Chinese have an army that fights for the people."

"I hope that the soldiers of the Song Dynasty will always point their blades at their foreign enemies, and always protect their own people behind them."

"I also hope that soldiers can stand up straight and not be called 'thieves' anymore."

“But I know that the beginning is not the right time, because the image of Song Dynasty soldiers in the minds of the people has been fixed. No matter what I say, they will still be looked down upon.

"So I have been waiting until the day comes when the Song army can prove itself."

"Until with the help of Prime Minister Zhao and Prime Minister Fan, I finally defeated Xixia, destroyed Yuan Hao, and then attacked Khitan in the north and recovered Yanyun."

"I know the day I've been waiting for has finally come."

"The army of the Song Dynasty has proved itself with actual actions. They are not the bandits in people's eyes, but the guards of the Song Dynasty. They are heroes in my heart."

"From now on, I will reform the army, let the soldiers return to the barracks, and make the army of the Song Dynasty strong again."

"And today, I want to announce this matter to the world, and tell the people of the world that the soldiers of the Song Dynasty are all great."

"From now on, they must remember that their mission is to defend their country, to protect the Han people of the Song Dynasty, and to protect their own country."

"I will also impose this order as an iron rule in the army. You are the defenders of the people, the defenders of the Song Dynasty, and the pride of the people of the Song Dynasty. From today on, you should no longer be called thieves, but real heroes!"

"I declare that anyone who insults a soldier will be considered a criminal. I also hope that the people of the world can get to know them again and change everyone's views of them. If the people encounter difficulties, please be sure to seek their help!"

"I also believe that they will not be stingy with their help and are willing to lend a helping hand to everyone who trusts them."

"They should be the most trusted people among all the people of the Song Dynasty!"

"The soldiers of the Song Dynasty are all the children of our people. Long live our children of our people, and long live the people of the Song Dynasty!"

Zhao Zhen let out a long breath and finished reciting the script he had memorized.

In fact, the content is somewhat different from the original manuscript. The manuscript written by the Ministry of Rites did not contain so many words praising the soldiers.

But Zhao Zhen added some of his own ideas and polished it slightly to make the manuscript more perfect.

this moment.

There was thunderous applause at the Xuande Gate.

Immediately afterwards, thunderous cheers came from the direction of the people below again.

"Long live the soldiers!"

"Long live the soldiers!"

"Long live the soldiers!"

The cheers were like a tsunami, one wave higher than the other.

At this moment, the Song Dynasty government finally began to change the image and status of soldiers in the hearts of the people.

This kind of official promotion is just the beginning. If the Song Dynasty’s army wants to truly gain the trust of the people, it will need to demonstrate with more practical actions in the future.

Just like our soldiers in later generations, no matter it is flood relief or earthquake fire fighting, they are always at the front line!
(End of this chapter)