Yongle Emperor's grandson: Zhu Yuanzhang with cheats, Zhu Di went crazy

Chapter 140: Obey the auspicious order from heaven, start harvesting

"The battle should have started by now, but I don't know what the outcome will be."

The imperial farm was shrouded in golden light, and the full grains of wheat bent the ears of wheat.

Zhu Zhanjun was wearing a straw hat, looking towards the north, and muttered something in a low voice.

According to historical records, the old man has now gone to war with Bayanchur.

History only records a great victory and that Bayanchur escaped with seven riders, but there is no accurate record of the Ming army's casualties.

The ancestors of Yan and Huang were just like this. They just brushed aside their victories and achievements, but remembered their failures clearly.

Perhaps this is the heritage left by the Yanhuang people over the years, recording hatred in a small notebook to remind oneself at all times to settle accounts with the enemy later.

"Your Highness, the Empress, the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess, along with all the civil and military officials, have already set out."

Xiaohu rode over on his horse and reported loudly the situation in the capital.

The grain in the imperial farm matured little by little, and the plump ears of wheat attracted everyone's attention.

No one is blind. The same wheat in other fields is sparse, thin and short, with only a dozen or so grains on the ears.

The wheat planted in Zhu Zhanjun's Huangzhuang has full grains, densely packed on the ears, and thick stalks. Anyone with eyes can tell the difference between the two.

Ever since Dad Zhu Pangpang found out about this, he was extremely happy and called it a good omen sent by God to the Ming Dynasty.

Someone is sent over to take a look every day, and sometimes even comes in person.

Xia Yuanji, seeing that the wheat was semi-open, directly dispatched a group of officials from the Ministry of Revenue to be stationed nearby. He also asked the Yingtian Prefecture government to send officials to patrol day and night to prevent fires or disturbances.

Originally, the wheat could have been harvested a few days ago, but the Imperial Astronomical Observatory reported that it was not a good time, so the harvest had to be delayed for a few days until a good time.

Zhu Pangpang attached great importance to this and sent people to observe. After confirming that the wheat could survive until that day and there would be no rain, he discussed with Zhu Zhanjun and decided to wait a little longer.

Zhu Zhanjun had no choice but to agree. He had cheated Fat Dad some time ago, so this time he would compensate him and make his father happy.

Today is an auspicious day, and my father attaches great importance to it. He went to the Taimiao to ask for instructions this morning.

Then he brought all his civil and military officials and nobles with him, and rushed over with great ceremony to harvest the wheat.

In addition, the county governments close to the capital also sent people to watch, wanting to find out why the wheat in the imperial farm was so much better than theirs.

"Get ready."

Zhu Zhanjun nodded and asked Ergou and the others to start preparing.

"Oh, and watch out for the candles. The wheat is very dry and will catch fire if it gets a little spark."

After Ergou and his men started setting up the incense table, Zhu Zhanjun asked the head of the Ministry of Revenue who was smiling next to him.

"Are the harvesters ready?"

The head of the Ministry of Revenue sent by Xia Yuanji quickly replied: "Don't worry, Your Highness, they are all good at farm work."

"Now that the wheat is completely dry, there is no need to dry it in the sun. We can thresh it directly after cutting it. We can calculate how much one acre of wheat is on the same day."

"Oh my God, I have been managing farm affairs for half my life, and this is the first time. Oh, Your Highness, please don't leave!"

Zhu Zhanjun was too lazy to listen to this guy's nonsense. He had heard such words of praise hundreds of times a day recently and his ears were covered with calluses.

When they arrived at the gate of the imperial farm, everyone was ready and waiting for the imperial court troops to arrive.

The news had spread, and the area around the imperial farm was filled with people watching the fun. If it weren't for the strict intervention of the Five Cities Army and the Embroidered Uniform Guard, many people would have run to the fields, picked an ear of wheat and taken it home to worship as a good omen.

It was only at the end of the You hour that a large group of people appeared from the direction of the capital.

Fat Dad attached great importance to this harvest and held all the ceremonial activities. Although the old man was not there, his carriage team was also among them.

The team came in a huge procession, playing music and drums along the way, and arrived at the imperial farm.

"Your Highness welcomes His Majesty!"

Zhu Pangpang helped Empress Xu get off the carriage, and Zhu Zhanjun led everyone to greet them with great ceremony.

"Saint Ann."

Zhu Pangpang replied seriously, supported Empress Xu, and walked towards Zhu Zhanjun.

"Are you all ready?"

Zhu Pangpang looked at the golden wheat fields in the distance, his face full of anticipation and excitement.

According to Xia Yuanji's estimation, the yield per mu of this batch of wheat is at least 700 to 800 kilograms.

When hearing this number, many people didn't believe it.

Since ancient times, wheat has been grown for many years. A harvest of 500 kilograms is considered a good omen. A harvest of or kilograms is unthinkable. Although they don't believe it, they are still looking forward to it.

If the Yongle Dynasty of the Ming Dynasty had grown eight or nine hundred kilograms of wheat, it would definitely leave a significant mark in history books.

If this kind of wheat can be promoted in the future, the Yongle era will surpass all ancient and modern times, and those who served as officials in the Yongle Dynasty will also leave a deep mark in history books and family records.

The reason why they became officials was not really to serve the court, but for profit and fame.

Compared with fame among the people, they want their names to be recorded in history books, to bring honor to their family and be passed down for thousands of years.

"Everything has been prepared, and ten acres of land have been selected for harvesting separately so that the average calculation can be made."

Zhu Zhanjun reported on the preparations.

Zhu Pangpang nodded with satisfaction.

Empress Xu, who was standing by, looked at the wheat field with a delighted expression and said, "Let's get started quickly, and don't delay the auspicious time."

Following Empress Xu's urging, everyone walked towards the incense table one after another.

For such a major event, sacrifices are naturally necessary. This is what Zhu Zhanjun meant when he said to be careful with fire.

If the incense or paper you burn falls into the wheat field, today's auspicious offering will become a joke.

The civil and military officials looked at the wheat fields in the distance, discussed in low voices, and followed Zhu Pangpang to the incense table.

The female relatives automatically moved to the sides, and old man Zhu Pangpang walked forward alone, picked up the incense and candles and began to worship.

The Ministry of Rites was reading the sacrificial text loudly. Zhu Zhanjun and all the civil and military officials were waiting quietly on the side. When Zhu Pangpang performed the salute, they also kowtowed to the sky.

Sacrifice is the most important ceremony in all courts, and the Ministry of Rites is called the head of the Six Ministries, which shows the importance the ancients attached to it.

Whether a prince is favored or not can be seen from whether he presides over sacrificial ceremonies on behalf of the emperor.

Zhu Pangpang served as regent for more than 20 years and was known as the most powerful prince in history, a fact that many people in later generations did not believe.

In fact, this is due to the difference in thinking between ancient and modern people. In the eyes of modern people, the so-called great power refers to the control of military power and influence on the court.

In ancient times, sacrifice was the greatest power.

In ancient and modern history, when it comes to crown princes performing sacrifices on behalf of the emperor, Zhu Pangpang is almost the only one who can do it, even Crown Prince Zhu Biao cannot compare to him.

As the sound of firecrackers rang out, Zhu Pangpang picked up an ear of wheat, wrapped it in a sacrificial text and threw it into the brazier.

As the flames burned, green smoke rose into the sky.

After completing the last step, Zhu Pangpang picked up the sickle with a red tassel tied to it with a serious face, walked to the wheat field, and cut the first crop.

Zhu Zhanjun also picked up a sickle and shouted to all the royal family members in Beijing: "By the order of heaven, start harvesting!"

All the royal family members raised their sickles high and shouted, "Open the sickle."

All the men, regardless of age, took sickles and went down to the wheat fields, following Zhu Pangpang to start harvesting wheat.

Empress Xu followed behind with her female relatives, carefully tying up the wheat.

"It's time to start the sickle."

After Zhu Pangpang and others cut a little, the official presiding over the ceremony shouted loudly.

"Boom, boom, boom, boom..."

Nine guns were pulled over and temporarily used as salutes, firing into the sky.

"It's time to start the sickle. It's time to start the sickle."

The onlookers also roared with excitement, looking at the harvested wheat with anticipation, waiting for good news.

The crowd even began to speculate how much they could harvest from one acre.

Some said they could collect 300 kilograms, some said they could collect 500 kilograms, and one guy shouted that it could collect at least kilograms, but this caused laughter from the people around him.

One acre of land can yield a thousand kilograms of crops. This is because you got up early in the morning and are probably still sleepy.

One sickle, two sickles, three sickles...

Amid the clamor of the people, handfuls of wheat were cut down, then tied up by the women, carried on poles by the waiting officials, and taken to the threshing floor nearby to be threshed.

No one procrastinated, everyone had a happy smile on their face and was looking forward to the wheat harvest.

Some elderly officials and children from various families, who were unable to do the physical work, walked among the crowd with small baskets, picking up ears of wheat and grains that had fallen on the ground, not wanting to waste a single one.

(End of this chapter)