On the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, New Year's Eve comes.
All officials of Yingtian Mansion's ninth grade and above wear official uniforms of corresponding grades. They enter Hongwu Gate and walk along the royal road. They pass by the Liubu, Taichang Temple, Zongren Mansion and other official offices on both sides, and then they reach the Waiwulong Bridge.
Officials of third rank and above walked on the outer two bridges, princes and princes walked on the two middle bridges, and only Emperor Hongwu could walk on the middle bridge.
Officials below the third rank can only go around from both sides.
After crossing the bridge, enter Chengtian Gate, then Duanmen, then Meridian Gate, then cross Neiwulong Bridge, and then arrive in front of Fengtian Gate.
Inside the Fengtian Gate, in the center of the huge square, the magnificent palace facing north and south is the Fengtian Palace.
Nearly a thousand civil and military officials in Yingtian Mansion stood according to their rank. The guards of Yiluan Division, wearing golden armor and helmets, lined up around them.
After the whip was sounded, the ceremonial preface team led all officials to kneel down and bow, and then sang "Holy Bow, Long Blessing" in praise, etc. The ceremony was completed.
The fourth and fifth grade officials stood outside the Fengtian Palace and vaguely heard His Majesty's voice coming from inside. After a while, there was a commotion in the palace.
They couldn't help but be surprised.
The Shuowang Dynasty only paid homage to His Majesty and did not discuss matters. It ended immediately after the ceremony, and they all left in order after His Majesty left.
Why is it different today?
Besides, there was a commotion in the palace.
Soon, the Holy Spirit's decree came out, and it was chanted and sung by the Director of Ceremonies, and it reached the ears of more than a thousand officials in Fengtian Temple Square:
"I accepted the mandate of Heaven and established my foundation on the left side of the Yangtze River. I conquered the heroes and established China. I was respected by my subjects...
In the thirteenth year of Hongwu's reign, there was no danger in all directions, thieves held their breath, the years were getting richer, and the people were happy.
God is thinking of you, Master Chu appears in this world. A noble person who has attained the Tao lives in a secluded place in the mountains and forests, has pure essence, can cause thunderstorms, has golden light in his eyes, and shoots into Doufu. His form and spirit are both wonderful, his deifications are incomprehensible, his magical effects are difficult to measure, and his power is manifest..."
After a meal of praise, he compared Master Chu to the gods from heaven and descended to earth. After traveling to Yingtian Mansion, he saw that the people were living and working in peace and contentment, the palace of the Ming Dynasty was steaming with dragon energy, and the country was prosperous. Maps etc.
"...respect Master Chu as the True King of Yingtian Protector of the Ming Dynasty, who is above the princes and is not bound by secular etiquette."
After hearing this, nearly a thousand officials of Yingtian Mansion looked calm, and they thought so.
The story of Master Chu had spread, and the concubines, princes, and princesses in the palace all ate the fresh fruit, leaving them greedy.
It was not surprising that he was above the princes and princes, but that he was "not bound by secular etiquette", which made them wonder why they added this sentence.
In addition, what reward should be given to Lord Chu Zhen? Which yamen you command will be in charge of Taoist temples around the world, or in charge of sacrifices.
This is the point!
However, none of it.
The ceremonial department's song of praise was: "Circuit the map given by Master Chu to all officials!"
map? !
In Fengtian Hall, the commotion was even greater.
The fourth and fifth grade officials heard the exclamations of the ministers in the palace and saw them stretching their necks to look, but the ceremonial director did not reprimand them for being more polite.
Soon after, four eunuchs walked out holding a large map. Four of them held a corner of the map, two squatted and walked, and the remaining two stood and raised their hands to fully display the map.
"Is this the Great Ming Dynasty Map?!"
"So clear!"
“Each province is distinguished by a different color?!”
"The island in the lower right corner is Xiaoliuqiu?! How is it bigger than the big Ryukyu Kingdom?"
"It's like a rooster with its head held high, while Xiaoliuqiu and Nanhai Qidian are the chicken's feet."
"This map includes the Mongolian and Yuan Dynasties in the north, as well as Liaodong and Yunnan."
"Is your Majesty's intention..."
Just as the officials were shocked and discussing, Zhu Yuanzhang made the final decision:
"This is the territory map of the Ming Dynasty in the future!"
After a while, all the officials knelt down to congratulate him.
Immediately afterwards, dazzling orders were issued.
"Dismiss Zhongshu Sheng, promote him to the Sixth Ministry, change the Governor's Office to the Governor's Office of the Fifth Army, and announce it to the world."
"Abolition of the pro-military Duwei's Mansion and Yiluan Division, and the establishment of Jinyiwei, ranking from the third rank, with Mao Xiang as the commander of Jinyiwei."
"The Censor's Office was changed to the Ducha Yuan. The chief officers were the Left and Right Censors, and under them were the Deputy Censor of the Capital and the Censor of the Qiandu."
"Sea ban will be lifted on the vernal equinox, allowing civilians to go to sea for business, and merchants can prepare merchant ships."
"The imperial examination will be resumed in April. The palace examination will be divided into two rankings based on region: north and south. There will also be a merit ranking. Each of the three rankings will select a number of Jinshi. The imperial examination will include arithmetic. Those who are not good at arithmetic will not be hired. I hope that students all over the world will prepare early."
"Abolish the prime minister system, install a cabinet, and set up the Huagaidian, Wuyingdian, Wenyuange, and Dongge bachelors. Hu Weiyong was moved to be the Huagaidian bachelor and also the official minister, and Li Shanchang was the Wuyingdian bachelor."
"..."
All the officials inside and outside Fengtian Hall were excited when they heard this.
Except for the maritime ban, which is a trivial matter, the rest are nothing short of earth-shaking changes.
Who would have thought that after Prime Minister Hu was released from prison, he only served as Prime Minister Zuo of Zhongshu Province for one day before he was dismissed by the Holy Emperor and re-appointed or demoted to the rank of Bachelor of the Huagai Hall of the Cabinet.
If he had not concurrently served as the Minister of Civil Affairs, Hu Weiyong could be said to have fallen into the bottom of the valley.
In addition, the imperial examination was reopened in April, divided into north and south and enbang. It also imitated the Tang system and added a subject of Mingshuang.
The specific content of the exam has not been released yet, but the Holy One has told all students in the world in advance to learn arithmetic as early as possible. Otherwise, no matter how brilliant your essays are, you will not be able to win the Jinshi. At most, you will win the exam.
"Your Majesty has another decree." The ceremonial department's chant continued: "In the imperial examination, a poem title was added, called: "I heard that the Ming Dynasty collected the Sixteen Prefectures of Youyun"."
The officials were shocked again.
What's the meaning?
Why did Your Majesty reveal the subject in advance? !
The Sixteen States of Youyun have been recovered long ago, and now they are asking the ministers to write poems to praise them?
How to compose a poem on this topic?
Could it be that His Majesty wants to regain Liaodong?
Many officials are more or less capable of composing poems, but they can never guess the Holy Spirit's thoughts.
I only know one thing. In the next three months to a year, scholars in the Ming Dynasty will have to rack their brains and think in advance how to write this poem.
What is even more unbelievable is that students taking the exam can hire someone who is good at poetry to compose a good poem first, and then write it directly after entering the exam room.
Cheating above board.
"bye!"
The ceremonial director sang praises and songs, and all the officials knelt down and worshiped. After the ceremony, the court dispersed.
After exiting Fengtianmen, the discussions among the officials suddenly became fierce. They speculated about the content of the imperial examination and how the three rankings were divided. Some Jiangnan officials were overjoyed about the lifting of the sea ban.
While they were discussing, they suddenly heard a piece of news:
Guangjiku promoted Shen Mao and was summoned by the Holy Father!
…
Huagai Palace.
"Your Majesty, Shen Mao, see you!"
Shen Wansan's eldest son Shen Rong's son, Shen Mao, who was promoted by Guangjiku, bowed respectfully.
"No gift."
Zhu Yuanzhang asked him to stand up. He wanted to ask him directly about something, but suddenly thought of something, so he asked instead: "I remember that you were responsible for the promotion of Guangjiku?"
Guangjiku is one of the inner warehouses, which stores sulfur, saltpeter and other substances.
"Your Majesty, that's right!"
"Well, keep an eye on it. Sulfur and saltpeter will be used in large quantities soon."
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
Shen Mao was flattered. It was a big surprise for him, a small official, to be summoned. He didn't expect that His Majesty would still care about his small work.
Zhu Yuanzhang asked again: "How old is your grandfather this year?"
Shen Mao's heart trembled, and he looked dazed for a moment before replying: "My grandfather is already seventy-eight this year."
"Seventy-eight... almost octogenarian."
Zhu Yuanzhang sighed: "When I led the troops to attack Zhang Shicheng, your grandfather committed a crime and was punished by me to go to Yunnan to guard the border."
Shen Mao knelt down to apologize.
"Now that everything has passed, I have forgiven your grandfather's sin and allowed him to return home."
Zhu Yuanzhang's words made Shen Mao overjoyed and kowtowed tremblingly, "My lord Shen Mao, thank you for your grace. On behalf of my grandfather Shen Xiu, I thank your majesty for your kindness!!"
Even if his grandfather unfortunately died on the way back, it would still be a great grace for His Majesty to pardon him and allow his grandfather to be buried in the ancestral land.
"Don't be in a hurry to thank me, I still have something for you, the Shen family, to do." Zhu Yuanzhang said.
"Your Majesty, please give me orders. The Shen family will not give up even if they die!"
"I want to open the sea, but there are many bandits overseas, and many maritime merchants are doing business with Zhang Shicheng, Fang Guozhen and other parties. The Shen family has a certain prestige in Jiangnan. I will appoint you as a royal guard. What official position has not been decided yet, so you can secretly find out for me. Who are the people who colluded with the pirates?"
Jin Yiwei has just come out, so his official position has not yet been decided, but Shen Mao already roughly knows why His Majesty summoned him.
"My lord, I obey the order!"
Shen Mao accepted the order.
He is not the head of the Shen family and cannot be the master, but he is willing to let his grandfather return home from the Yunnan border, not to mention serving as a secret agent for the imperial court, even if he has to spend all his family wealth.
