Guangzong Yaoming

Chapter 248 Meeting at the Grave

Just as Shen Shixing expected, although Zhu Changluo respected Zhang Juzheng, he certainly wanted to surpass him.

Zhang Juzheng was just a minister, he was the king.

Zhang Juzheng was also limited to the era in which he lived, but Zhu Changluo knew more than 400 years more than him and had received a more systematic education and institutional training.

Zhu Yijun's funeral went according to plan.

His mausoleum was built during his lifetime, and his spirit tablet would later be enshrined in the Taimiao, including that of Zhang Juzheng.

Discussing posthumous titles and temple names was the job of the officials at the imperial court.

In the end, it was up to Zhu Changluo to choose one.

He doesn't care about these things. What he cares about is the official start of an era that belongs entirely to him.

But the ministers took it very seriously.

While Ye Xianggao had not yet arrived in Beijing, Zhu Guozuo quickly put his knowledge to use and gathered the officials in the department who wanted to seize the opportunity of this change in the wind to make progress and presented a plan.

As expected, the article in this plan implies their importance.

Zhu Changluo had to call another group of people to discuss the matter.

The posthumous title and temple name of the late emperor must be determined quickly, after all, they will be used in many subsequent texts and even in the engraving of memorial tablets.

Tian Le did not participate this time. Of course, the people from Jinxianyuan, Imperial Study, Shizhiyuan and Jianchayuan were the main attendees. Most of those who were qualified to come were just there to listen. They mainly listened to the opinions of Shen Shixing, Wang Xijue, Zhu Guozuo, Zhu Geng, Shen Li and others.

Not to mention the posthumous title, for the temple name of only one character, Zhu Changluo had three options: Zhongzu, Shenzong, and Zhezong.

Zhu Changluo actually didn't quite understand the details of posthumous titles and temple names.

But after listening to their discussions and arguments, Zhu Changluo understood some of what they meant.

First of all: Currently, those who have ministers to accompany them in worship are all ancestors. Isn’t it weird that the late emperor is not called the ancestor?

Secondly: Since the tone has been set that this is a drama about a father and son restoring the Ming Dynasty, and the late emperor was a special case in that he abdicated before passing away, it is not an exaggeration to call him an ancestor, right?

Again: Your Majesty is so diligent and wise, and the Ming Dynasty is thriving. Among the top-level posthumous titles other than Zu, there is only one Zhongzong left. Shouldn't it be left to Your Majesty?
Finally: If we want to set a precedent that the word "Zong" should also be worshipped as a ancestor, then the words "Shen" and "Zhe" are the best!
Since there is a dispute, it is of course the issue of calling one's ancestors a relative by worshipping them: it seems a bit outrageous.

The ancestor has merits and the clan has virtues. Only those who have created merits can be called ancestors, and the others who have inherited them should be called clans. However, the situation of the Zhu family seems to be a little messy. After Taizu, there was Chengzu, but now Taizong is gone. There is indeed no problem with the temple name of Emperor Jiajing, Shizong.

So can the late emperor occupy the temple name before Chengzu and be called Taizong? Obviously not.

Should we call him Gaozong? The late emperor was not the "first emperor to receive the mandate" of the Ming Dynasty.

Zhongzong? What will Your Majesty do in the future? Besides being called the ancestor, how can Your Majesty go further?
Everyone is faced with the dilemma of having to flatter the previous emperor as well as the current emperor.

The Ming Dynasty was founded over two hundred years ago, and there have been so many emperors that most of the good temple names have been used up.

Zhu Changluo didn't care about these things. He said, "It may not be appropriate to call him ancestor. Where should we place the Shi Temple and Mu Temple? It's just a matter of accompanying worship. Calling him ancestor can also be worshipped. What's wrong with that? There must be a precedent."

Zhu Guozuo was delighted: "Your Majesty is wise!"

Zhu Changluo looked at him strangely.

It seems that the cakes served in the Imperial Ancestral Temple are indeed very tempting.

Zhu Guozuo's advantage lies in his youth, and the achievements of the Taichang Dynasty have just begun. Most of the old officials today are only doing transitional work. Although there are constant waves now, there is really no achievement.

Zhu Changluo now felt that he had deliberately asked the Ministry of Rites to come up with a plan to call himself the ancestor even though he knew it was inappropriate, just to praise the merits of the Wanli Dynasty's new policies in laying the foundation for the dynasty's achievements, and to show his loyalty to the emperor: At worst, you will be Zhongzong in the future, and I will do my best!

Anyway, in the end, it will set a precedent that the ancestor must be worshipped as a descendant.

Zhu Guozuo was confident, but Zhu Changluo was not optimistic about him.

The fact that he has the energy to make a fuss about these things only shows that his thinking is still old-fashioned.

So we get back to the topic of naming the ancestor, which character is appropriate for the temple name.

The word "God"... At present, there was Song Shenzong before him, and during his reign, there was the Xining Reform. Zhu Changluo listened to their discussion and said that the meaning came from "Wenzu Shenzong", and in some classics it was also referred to as Emperor Yao, abdication...

In Zhu Changluo's concept, Shenzong seems to have a derogatory meaning. But now, according to what they say, it seems to be a better one besides Tai, Gao, Shi, Zhong, Ren, Xuan, Xiao, and Xian.

For example, the title of Shengzong, there was only one Liao Shengzong in the previous dynasty, and the meaning of "knowing everything" is not suitable for the late emperor. The majestic and ceremonial title of Suzong, "In the Muqing Temple, Suyong showed his appearance", is not suitable for the late emperor who always lacked suburban sacrifices and court meetings. There are precedents for Han Suzong, Jin Suzong, and Tang Suzong, which does not meet the purpose of praising the late emperor now.

Zhezong was also related to the new law... The current precedent is Song Zhezong, the son of Song Shenzong. When he ascended the throne at a young age, Wen Yanbo first came back to power and abolished the new law, but after he took power, he changed the reign title to Shaosheng and posthumously named Wang Anshi Wen, allowing him to be enshrined in the temple of Shenzong and restart the new law.

The meaning of the word "zhe" in the posthumous name system is: to know people is called zhe; to know the profound is called zhe; to be an official is called zhe; to know the comprehensive is called zhe; to know the details and think through the whole is called zhe; to be able to distinguish things is called zhe.

Zhu Changluo was confused by their argument, and he extended it to the four virtues and four fortunes of Yao, and also involved it with the meanings of benevolence, righteousness, propriety, and wisdom, saying that philosophy has the meaning of wisdom.

They also say that Ying refers to the heroes of the Xia, Shang and Zhou dynasties, and Zhe refers to Yao, Shun, Cheng Tang, King Wen and King Wu of Zhou, who are represented by those who know people wisely, those who build civilization wisely, those who are virtuous and wise, and those who have wise kings in the world. Therefore, Zhezong is roughly equivalent to Yingzong.

Zhu Changluo's mind flashed with the image of Emperor Yingzong Zhu Qizhen in Fengxian Hall. He looked at everyone and waved his hand, "Stop arguing. Since the Xining Reforms went through twists and turns and lasted until the time of Emperor Zhezong of Song, and my father finally came to his senses, let's decide on the word Zhe. My father knew that Taiyue Gong was a philosopher, and he knew that I was also a philosopher. Knowing the details and thinking through the end is also suitable for my father's later years."

Now, Zhu Changluo would rather emphasize that Song Zhezong himself wanted to inherit Song Shenzong's will and continue the reform, but Song Zhezong also died young.

How much did the first ten years of the Wanli Dynasty have to do with Zhu Yijun himself? He did not rule the country when Zhang Juzheng was in power. When Zhu Yijun was really the emperor, the new law was counterattacked at the beginning. However, Zhu Changluo now attributed his "credit" for restarting the new policy after he succeeded to the throne to his ability to know people and "abdicate" the position, and to be aware of details and consider the final result.

The late emperor finally realized that it was time to reform.

It's just unfortunately a little late.

Before that, the pillar of the country was in decline, there were bad people in the court, and the people were in turmoil. It took the late emperor more than ten years to stabilize the imperial power.

His life's work can be summarized by this "philosophy" of knowing people. He did not try to stop Zhang Juzheng at the beginning, and finally made a decisive decision to abdicate. It is enough for him to make these two correct decisions in his life. The right and wrong in the middle will be explained and told by Shen Shixing and others.

It's nothing more than making it clear who the bad guys are and why the late emperor was so slow to determine the foundation of the country.

Zhu Changluo didn't care much about what temple name to choose, he only cared about what direction the temple name would guide.

In short, Zhang Juzheng was right.

His emergence as Emperor Taichang and his subsequent decisions were also correct.

Zhezong chooses famous ministers and a wise ruler!
……

With the posthumous title and temple name, the funeral could continue more smoothly.

It includes the beginning of the death, small burial, large burial, mourning clothes, condolences and offerings, choosing a place to offer sacrifices to Hou Tu, funeral rites, burial in the mausoleum, funeral rites, final mourning, burial ceremony, small auspiciousness, large auspiciousness, and mourning... this is a long process.

After the funeral, the subsequent activities included compiling the official records and enshrining the ancestral tablets in the Imperial Ancestral Temple.

The ancestral tablet is usually enshrined in the Imperial Ancestral Temple two years after the death.

But this news has already spread throughout the Ming Dynasty.

At this time, the kings who were ordered to go to Beijing were still on the way. The overjoyed Ye Xianggao had to change into mourning clothes and a sad face before he even set out. The three armies of the Beijing camp outside also transformed themselves into mourning soldiers and continued their even more solemn journey.

At such a special time, the storm caused by the Chu Fan case had to give way, but it also made it more convenient for Zhejiang to act.

Taking advantage of the fact that the whole country was in mourning and most people did not dare to act rashly to anger the emperor, they tried their best to clear themselves.

Those "rebellious" tribes who were precisely controlled and thrown into death row seemed to be the human sacrifices after the death of Emperor Wanli.

It begins with the new law and ends with the new law.

The construction of Zhezong's mausoleum began in the twelfth year of Wanli's reign and took six years to complete. Nearly fifteen years after its completion, it welcomed its owner in the underworld.

Many funerary objects were to be put in. In Zhu Changluo's eyes, there was no need to bury these "treasures" underground for a long time.

But these are just details. Besides, we should leave something behind for future generations to discover the true history.

As a son, and as an emperor who was trusted and succeeded to the throne early through abdication, he personally escorted the coffin to the mausoleum with Zhu Youjian and his three other younger brothers.

He also sent a small easter egg into Zhu Yijun's mausoleum. It remains to be seen whether future generations will discover it.

On the surface, it was his last act of filial piety to his biological father Zhu Yijun, a copy of a scripture he had copied.

In fact, he left a special painting on the north side, which made it difficult for later archaeologists.

After all, the huge changes between the new Wanli Dynasty and the Taichang Dynasty will probably become an eternal problem.

It was already the ninth day of March. The coffin had been closed long ago, and now the tomb door was also closed.

Beside Zhu Yijun, who was sleeping in eternity, was his favorite wine jug on his left hand and the scripture copied for him by his son on his right hand.

If it could be unfolded, one could see text on one side of the fold, and a picture on the other side. In the world map, there were huge smoking ships on the sea, trains and tall buildings on the road, airplanes and satellites in the sky, and the most bizarre thing in the center of the picture: an emperor in a dragon robe sitting in front of a computer.

The words can still be distinguished on the screen: To be continued...

The author of this painting is actually Empress Dowager Li.

Because Zhu Changluo said, "I want my father to see that day."

Empress Dowager Li only thought that this was her grandson's strong will and his promise to her son.

Anyway, she had heard what Zhu Changluo said about the "future picture".

Now that the eggs were buried, there was no time to return to the palace today. Zhu Changluo looked at the princes of the various vassal states and the Prince of Huayang and said, "This is also a rare opportunity. Let's all go and pay homage to our ancestors. Tonight, let's talk about our clan ties in front of the mausoleums of our ancestors."

Everyone just felt eerie.

However, it is not easy to worship Taizu's other descendants here because Taizu is buried in Nanjing.

So they could only stay with the emperor in the Zhezong's mausoleum, Dingling, in the Zhezong's tomb.

For these top clan members of the Ming Dynasty, going to Beijing together was terrifying enough.

Holding a meeting in front of a grave is even more terrifying.

There is a great fear that one might be thrown in and buried alive if one disagrees with the other.

(End of this chapter)