Taichang Ming Dynasty

Chapter 75 The Emperor's Land within the Six Directions
After the shouts of "The crime is forgiven and the people are at peace" were issued, the execution was officially over and the prisoner was taken away and put on a warm coat.

At this time, the dark clouds were a little thinner. Although the scorching sun hanging high in the sky still did not break through the clouds, its light was reflected and spread by countless ice crystals.

When the emperor stepped down from the execution platform, the common people in the corners of the imperial city thought the ceremony was over. However, the civil and military officials below were puzzled, because after the ceremony, the common people and officials had to perform the ritual of five bows and three kowtows to the emperor again. Without this ritual, the ceremony would be incomplete.

However, the high-ranking civil and military officials on the Chengtian Gate Tower could clearly see that beside the viewing platform there was not only a sword rack, but also an altar for the jade sceptre.

The emperor placed a jade sceptre inscribed with the words "Abolish sin and pacify the people" on the altar, symbolizing "sins eliminated" and "peace to the people." He then donned his melon-shaped wubian, completing his wubian uniform. The emperor's wubian was essentially the same as the helmets worn by military officers and soldiers. The soldiers' helmets were made of cloth with iron plates embedded inside and iron spikes on the outside, while the emperor's was made of leather strips, and the iron spikes on the outside were replaced by gems.

Minister of Rites Xu Guangqi frowned slightly when he saw this scene, because wearing a hat and clothes separately was unprecedented.

But he said nothing. As the Son of Heaven, he held the power of Heaven. If there were no precedent, he would just create one. It was already quite good that the Emperor didn't follow the Jiajing Emperor's lead and wear a green scented leaf crown on his head.

After putting on his military cap, the emperor walked to the sword rack and picked up the broad two-handed ceremonial sword.

The emperor returned to the execution platform, took off the scabbard, then held the hilt with both hands, aimed the sword tip at the latch on the execution platform, and then inserted it heavily.

"play music!"

The trumpets sounded again, but this time, instead of gradually increasing in intensity from far to near, they sounded in unison. After the first blast, the eunuch in charge of the bell and drum department, following a pre-planned plan, directed the eunuchs carrying the trumpets to their designated positions on the southern wall of the imperial city. Along with these trumpets came drums, gongs, cymbals, staff drums, clappers, and other specialized instruments.

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom-boom-boom!
The chorus of drums and trumpets resonated, triggering a small avalanche on the tiles.

At this time, the big Han generals who had been standing with their backs to the imperial road turned in unison towards the Chengtian Gate Tower and knelt on one knee.

Their actions inspired the people watching the ceremony around them. Three thousand people knelt down again facing their lord. The people outside the corner of the imperial city and inside the Jinyiwei barricades saw the situation on both sides of the imperial road through the two openings of the Daming Gate and knelt down involuntarily.

The herd effect was fully demonstrated at this moment. No one ordered to kneel, but tens of thousands of people outside the south wall of the imperial city knelt again.

"Within the universe, is the emperor's land!" The magnificent victory song seemed to come from the sky.

"West is the quicksand, south is the end of the north gate!"

"To the east lies the East China Sea, and to the north lies Daxia!"

The "Da Ming Hui Dian" records that the imperial city wall was 3,325 zhang, 9 chi, and 4 cun in circumference, equivalent to approximately 21 li. Currently, the entire force of the Western Investigation Bureau and the Imperial Horse Administration's Warrior Battalion, totaling 5,540 men, were evenly distributed along the entire length of the wall, with a post every six feet.

Before the music started, except for the more than 1,000 men on the south wall, the other officers and soldiers had remained silent. Now, the remaining more than 4,000 men also joined the chorus.

"Wherever people go, everyone will submit!"

"His achievements surpass those of the Five Emperors, and his benevolence extends to cattle and horses!"

"Everyone receives virtue and lives in peace!"

When they heard the words "Within the six directions, the emperor's land," the three eunuchs of the Imperial Household Department took the lead in kneeling. In this way, how could the civil and military officials on the gate tower not know that this was a moment of praising the emperor?

But the ministers didn't understand what the emperor was talking about, so they couldn't find the right words for a moment. It wasn't until the five thousand guards, imitating the heavenly voice, sang "His achievements surpass those of the Five Emperors, his benevolence extends to cattle and horses" that Fang Congzhe realized: "This is... the Langya Stone Inscription?"

The Langya Stone Inscription is a cliff inscription engraved in the Qin Dynasty. It is divided into two parts. The first half was engraved in the 28th year of Qin Shihuang's reign, with a total of 497 characters. The first 298 characters are used to record Qin Shihuang's achievements in unifying the world and are called "Ode to the First Emperor."

What the five thousand guards in the imperial city had just sung were the last forty-eight words of "Ode to the First Emperor".

"No wonder." Fang Congzhe's murmur was interrupted by a sudden roar from the outer city walls of the capital. Boom! The cannons stationed on the Yongding Gate Tower opened fire!

"May prosperity last forever!" Five thousand guards dragged out the long sound of the word "Chang" that pierced the sky.

Immediately afterwards, the sound of cannons spread left and right, and the cannons installed on the thirteen gate towers outside Beijing roared like thunder.

"Long live your Majesty! Long live! Long live!"

Boom! The final verse was accompanied by the dragon roars of the newly installed cannons on the four main gates and corner towers of the imperial city.

The cannonade was deafening, but it didn't cause much commotion. After the singing and the cannonade had ended, all the soldiers, from the human wall running through the central axis to the Forbidden City walls, the Imperial City walls, and even the inner and outer walls of the capital, were repeating the same word: "Taichang!"

The capital is boiling!
The ceremony is coming to an end and also reaching its final climax.

The emperor, praised by his subjects, said nothing. Instead, amid countless praises, he drew out the two-handed ceremonial sword inserted in a special socket and walked down the steps of the execution platform.

Zhu Changluo walked up to Zhu Youxiao and ordered in an imperial tone: "Stand up!"

"Your son obeys your command." Zhu Youxiao didn't even dare to breathe.

"Raise your head and look into my eyes." Zhu Changluo continued to give orders.

Zhu Youxiao raised his head tremblingly and looked at his father with eyes mixed with fear and admiration.

"Can you hold this sword?" Zhu Changluo asked.

"Son, I dare not." This "sword" was actually a slender Mo Dao. But in this situation, it was the Emperor's Sword.

"Can you hold this sword?" Zhu Changluo repeated the question.

"Your son, your son can't hold you now." Zhu Youxiao met Zhu Changluo's eyes, where he saw both majesty and expectation.

"Oh, then try to hold it well." Zhu Changluo chuckled, sheathed the sword, and handed it to Wang An. At this moment, the special symbolic meaning of the sword disappeared.

High-ranking civil and military officials knelt under the execution platform, and a hint of surprise flashed through their minds: Is this implying that if the leader is not virtuous, he will not be appointed?

"Get up." Zhu Changluo walked up to the Prime Minister Fang Congzhe.

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Fang Congzhe kowtowed and stood up, only to find that the emperor was staring at him.

He immediately felt a pressure coming at him, as if it was going to crush him. But Fang Congzhe did not back down. He took a deep breath and raised his head.

A minister could not look the monarch in the eye, or it would be an act of usurpation. Therefore, Fang Congzhe raised his head but lowered his gaze as usual.

"Prime Minister, I have already given you my answer. What's yours?"

"I would like to have my name engraved on the stone tablet." Fang Congzhe bowed deeply and replied.

The last 208 characters of the first half of the "Langya Stone Inscription" record the names of Li Si, Wang Wan and other accompanying ministers, as well as the deeds of the ministers in discussing and erecting the stele.

(End of this chapter)