Huangming

Chapter 114 The Emperor Resigns and Receives the Imperial Edict; A Calf Sacrifice to the Banner God

November 13th of the first year of the Taichang reign.

The weather was bitterly cold, and light snow was falling.

Inside the East Warm Pavilion, Zhu Youxiao was still reviewing memorials.

He has been familiar with state affairs for over a month now, and the memorials he has reviewed during this time could truly form a mountain.

His diligence in governance rivaled that of Zhu Yuanzhang.

As he became more familiar with national affairs, he had handled virtually every kind of matter.

Military affairs, agricultural affairs, official affairs, criminal affairs
Too much.

Especially regarding military affairs, after reviewing so many memorials, Zhu Youxiao deeply felt that the throne he held was not actually secure.

The Ming Dynasty is now facing a looming crisis, and according to historical trends, it will be mired in internal and external troubles in the coming years.

The Jurchens in Liaodong harbored wolfish ambitions, the Mongol Tartars in the north were like jackals lurking around, the local chieftains in the southwest secretly plotted against them, and the White Lotus in Shandong was stirring up trouble. Rebellions in all directions were like wildfire, and at any moment they could burn down the Ming Dynasty.

Whether it was the clash of swords and the thunder of horses in the Changbai Mountains and the Heilongjiang River, the fierce cavalry on the grasslands and deserts, the tribal chiefs' battles in the deep mountains and forests, or the cults and chaos in the land of Qi and Lu, as long as Zhu Youxiao failed to detect them in time and take effective measures, the foundation of the Ming Dynasty's rule would be shaky under these successive attacks.

During this period, natural disasters and man-made calamities intertwined, with droughts and floods raging and rivers overflowing their banks; the army mutinied due to insufficient food and pay, and soldiers rose up in rebellion for survival; the local people were overwhelmed by the burden, and public resentment boiled over, with small-scale civil unrest breaking out one after another. These chaotic phenomena eroded the body of the Ming Dynasty like termites.

People say that the rebellion of the Jurchens in Liaodong is a major threat to the Ming Dynasty, constantly draining its national strength. However, they are unaware that the rebellion of the Tusi (local chieftains) in the southwest is an even more deadly hidden threat.

Once the chaos of She'an erupted, it was like a burst dam, unstoppable.

This rebellion would not only significantly weaken the Ming Dynasty's control over the southwest region, allowing the Tusi (local chieftain) forces to grow wildly, but it would also deal a heavy blow to the Ming Dynasty's economy, exacerbating its already strained finances and becoming a major straw that broke the Ming Dynasty's back.

Hey~
There are just too many problems.

Just as Zhu Youxiao was having a headache, Wei Chao slowly approached and said to him, "Your Majesty, the Duke of Yingguo is already waiting outside the Huangji Gate."

Today is the day that Duke Zhang Weixian of England is leading his 20,000 elite Beijing garrison soldiers to Kaifeng.

According to regulations, when the Beijing garrison sets out, there is a rule that the emperor must take his leave and receive an imperial edict.

Zhu Youxiao slowly rose from his throne and said, "Prepare the carriage for the Huangji Gate."

Outside the Qianqing Palace, the imperial carriage set off, accompanied by a grand procession, heading towards the Huangji Gate.

now.

Outside the Huangji Gate, Duke Zhang Weixian of England and several high-ranking officers of the Beijing Garrison were already waiting there.

Among these high-ranking military officers were Zhang Zhiji, Marquis Guo Yinglin of Wuding, Marquis Xue Lian of Yangwu, and Marquis Zhu Guobi of Funing—all considered brilliant and promising talents.

Zhang Zhiji looked weak, with dark circles under his eyes like a panda's, his back was slightly bent, and his legs were a little weak.

Since returning to the organization, Zhang Zhiji and these纨绔侯君 (playboy nobles) have resumed their previous life of romance and pleasure.

They feasted all night long, and incidentally sought out some beautiful courtesans and courtesans from Yangzhou for some kind of "impact."

Even if he is in good health, after seven times a night, he will inevitably feel weak.

When he was in the Qianqing Palace, he missed the days when he frequented brothels. However, less than half a month after returning to his old life, he grew tired of it again.

Ah!
woman?

What's the point?
It almost made me unable to walk.

If Zhang Zhiji was in such a state, then Marquis Guo Yinglin of Wuding, Marquis Xue Lian of Yangwu, and Marquis Zhu Guobi of Funing were in even worse shape.

The three of them, supporting each other, dozed off and almost fell asleep outside the Huangji Gate.

The surrounding civil officials, seeing the nobles' demeanor, would occasionally sneer, their eyes filled with undisguised contempt.

Zhang Zhiji, thick-skinned as ever, completely ignored those stares.

The other three people simply didn't have the energy for any of this; all they wanted to do was get a good night's sleep.

The only one put on the hot seat was Duke Zhang Weixian of England.

He wasn't thick-skinned enough, so when the civil official cast strange glances at him, he could only lower his head and clench his fists.

She was already thinking of the hundredth way to discipline her son.

As the sun rises in the east, auspicious purple clouds appear.

At that moment, a hoarse voice rang out:

"Your Majesty has arrived~"

As the sharp, drawn-out announcement from the eunuchs of the Directorate of Ceremonial cut through the chilly morning mist, a sudden silence fell over the Huangji Gate.

The vanguard of thirty-six Imperial Guards carried the Dragon Flag, the Sun and Moon Flag, and the Five Sacred Mountains Flag. The black brocade satin fluttered in the north wind, and the gilded bronze bells at the top of the flags jingled together, like celestial music.

Twelve pairs of golden gourds, buds, standing gourds, and reclining gourds were carried aloft by the Han general, their gilded ceremonial guards casting cold, eerie light spots on the snow-covered ground in the rising sun.

The newly sharpened blade of the axe gleamed coldly against the remaining snow on the eaves, causing the nobles to squint involuntarily.

Zhu Youxiao's nine-dragon curved-handle yellow silk canopy slowly moved along the white marble imperial road, the pearl tassels hanging from the edge of the canopy trembling slightly with the rise and fall of the palanquin, just like the Milky Way pouring down.

The twenty-four eunuchs carrying the palanquin wore crimson robes with cloud patterns. Their steps were so precise that they left only a single, uniform line of footprints on the snow.

When the emperor's carriage arrived at the steps, the six eunuchs accompanying him simultaneously raised the Imperial Seal of the State, the Imperial Sword, and other items to respectfully welcome the emperor.

The ivory tablet trembled slightly in the civil official's hand, while the leather beneath the military officer's armor creaked taut.

The Duke of England suddenly grabbed his son's sleeve, and Zhang Zhiji stood up straight with a start, meeting the unfathomable eyes behind the beaded curtain of the imperial carriage.

In an instant, Zhang Zhiji snapped back to reality and kicked the three people beside him hard, one kick for each of them.

Marquis Guo Yinglin of Wuding, Marquis Xue Lian of Yangwu, and Marquis Zhu Guobi of Funing opened their sleepy eyes, about to erupt in anger, but realizing the situation was not right, they immediately shut their mouths and straightened their backs.

Although they were spoiled brats, they knew who they couldn't mess with and what they shouldn't do in certain situations.

"salute!"

Officials from the Court of State Ceremonial guided the way.

Immediately, all the civil and military officials outside the Huangji Gate knelt down and shouted in unison:

"Long live my emperor! Long live!"

"All of you, rise," Zhu Youxiao said loudly as he stood up from his imperial carriage.

"Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty."

After expressing their gratitude, everyone slowly rose to their feet.

Zhu Youxiao was already sitting on the dragon throne at the Huangji Gate.

Wei Chao stood beneath the throne, unfurled the military training edict bearing the "Imperial Decree Seal," and slowly began to speak:
"By the mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees:"

I believe that the most important matters of the state are sacrifice and war. Now, Liaodong is not yet pacified, and the southwest is fraught with danger. The capital garrison is the emperor's personal army and should serve as the model for all the armies in the land.

The Duke of England, Zhang Weixian, was specially appointed to oversee 20,000 soldiers of the Beijing Garrison, who were to immediately proceed to Kaifeng to reorganize the troops, enforce strict discipline, and conduct rigorous training to ensure they were proficient in archery and horsemanship and that their armor and weapons were of high quality.

Kaifeng is an important town in the Central Plains, with convenient transportation in all directions. You should take the famous generals of the past as your role models, emulate Yue Fei's loyalty and bravery, and learn Qi Jiguang's battle formations.

Any soldier who is negligent will be severely punished without exception; any officer who neglects his duty will be reported to the authorities immediately.

If you train a strong army, boost morale, and make your troops invincible, I will not hesitate to reward you with titles and honors, and you will all be promoted and your descendants will benefit from it.

Anyone who neglects their duties or merely goes through the motions will be punished according to the "Great Ming Code" and will not be let off lightly!

Admire this. "

Duke Zhang Weixian of England knelt not far from the throne.

After the imperial edict was read, Zhu Youxiao rose from his throne and walked slowly to the side of Duke Zhang Weixian, while Li Yongzhen, the eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, followed behind carrying a red tray.

Zhu Youxiao slowly said, "I have high hopes for this trip. I hereby bestow upon the Duke of England his official seal and royal command flag. If any disloyal person is encountered, he may execute officials of the fourth rank or below without having to submit a petition."

Zhu Youxiao picked up the tally (a bronze troop mobilization certificate) and the royal command flag from the red plate. The Duke of Yingguo accepted them with both hands and said loudly, "Your subjects will certainly do their job well and live up to Your Majesty's expectations!"

Zhang Zhiji, Guo Yinglin, and other senior generals of the Beijing Garrison also knelt on the ground and shouted, "We will certainly do our job well and live up to Your Majesty's expectations!"

Zhu Youxiao looked at these oddballs with a blank expression.

"A banquet will be served."

The emperor slowly opened his mouth, and the officials of the Court of State Ceremonial immediately announced: "Farewell Banquet!"

Officials from the Dali Temple hosted a banquet for civil and military officials.

Of course, the farewell banquet was just a formality; in reality, no one dared to overeat and indulge in food there.

If His Majesty has something else to do, their bladders are at risk of bursting.

The banquet ended.

Li Yongzhen, a eunuch serving in the Directorate of Ceremonial, was appointed as the supervising eunuch for this expedition.

The Ministry of War selects a physician whose duties are to audit provisions and report military intelligence.

The Ministry of Revenue selected a chief clerk to accompany the delegation, whose responsibility was to manage military supplies and provisions.

These three, along with officials from the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, accompanied Zhang Weixian out of the palace to the training grounds of the Beijing garrison.

At this moment, the training grounds of the Beijing garrison were covered in snow, and the imperial guards stood in formation like an iron wall.

After everyone arrived, the flag-raising ceremony began.

Suddenly, three cannon salutes were heard, and Li Yongzhen, the eunuch in charge of the Directorate of Ceremonial, announced loudly: "The divine banner has descended in majestic splendor; let us offer sacrifices and wine in celebration!"

Four bare-chested strongmen led in a robust, pure black calf from the west corner gate. The calf had a red dot on its forehead, black silk wrapped around its horns, and red silk tied around its hooves. It was the "Dark Clouds Pressing Down on Snow" auspicious animal carefully selected by the Ministry of War and the Court of Imperial Stud.

The calf seemed to know its end was near, and its mournful moo pierced the cold mist, but the strongman used an iron ring to hook its nose and dragged it to the dragon banner.

The tall, black-and-gold banner was suddenly lifted by the north wind, its surface unfurling furiously like a black dragon turning over, the gilded tiger head at the top of the banner clanging loudly.

Duke Zhang Weixian of England led his generals to kneel before the banner. The executioner gripped the three-foot-long ghost-head sword in reverse, and with a clang of the nine rings on the back of the blade, the bull's head crashed to the ground in an instant as the snow-white light and the blade's edge clashed.

Hot blood splattered on the banner pole, winding down along the dragon pattern on the flag, as if a real dragon were drinking blood.

The eunuchs in the hall filled a golden basin with cow's blood, and the Duke of England took the lead by dipping his thumb in the blood and pressing his red seal onto the silk scroll bearing the dragon banner.

The ceremonial music suddenly began, and the Master of Ceremonies of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices recited the "Blessing of the Banner God" in a drawn-out tone: "Wherever the banner points, the swords and spears gleam; when the sacrificial blood is poured, the warriors are as strong as steel."

Before the echo had faded, a dying calf's muffled groan suddenly came from the snow-covered landscape, mingling with the slight trembling of the nobles' armor.

The flag-raising ceremony is complete.

The army slowly marched out of the Beijing garrison training ground and arrived outside Zhengyang Gate in Beijing.

The Imperial Guards lined up in ceremonial procession, and officials from the Five Ministries and Six Departments were all present.

Zhang Weixian bowed to the crowd, then ascended the wine-tasting platform, drank three cups of imperial wine, and immediately performed the grand ceremony of three kneelings and nine kowtows in the direction of the Forbidden City.

The imperial edict has been proclaimed, the banner has been offered to the gods, and the imperial wine has been drunk.

Duke Zhang Weixian of England led his generals to mount their horses and ordered the army to set off.

However, the moment the 20,000 soldiers of the Beijing garrison set out, their true nature as a rabble was revealed:
The soldiers in the front row were wearing shiny armor and putting on a show, but after only a couple of steps, the metal plates started falling off, revealing that their cotton-padded jackets were rotten and made of black cotton.

The back row was even more impressive, with some wearing straw hats and others wrapped in flowered headscarves. The wine gourds hanging from their waists were heavier than knives, and the arrows in the archers' quivers were crooked and twisted, looking like a few sticks stuck in the ground.

What was supposed to be a marching column turned into a bustling market scene.

Zhang Weixian covered his face and sighed deeply, saying:

"My lifelong reputation, Zhang Weixian, is probably going to be ruined by them!"

Behind Zhang Weixian, Zhang Zhiji curled his lip and muttered under his breath, "He talks as if he really has a great reputation."

Before he could finish speaking, he was silenced by Zhang Weixian's fierce gaze.

"Once you leave the capital, put away your carefree attitude."

Zhang Zhiji had no choice but to nod.

He lured those纨绔侯君 out and infiltrated their ranks. After that, it was time for him to make a name for himself!

Beloved family and friends can also fetch a good price!

(End of this chapter)