The Tongzhi Emperor of the Qing Dynasty, Aixinjueluo Zaichun, had just stepped off the royal boat and stood on the pier in Tongzhou, when he was faced with a dark crowd of soldiers and civilians kneeling in worship.
"Long live my emperor, long live, long live!"
The waves of praise came one after another, and the rising and falling figures of kneeling in worship really seemed like the waves of the Pacific Ocean on the east coast of Ryukyu.
Back, Zai Chun finally returned to his center of power. The moment he got off the ship, it seemed like five years had passed through time!
In the past five years, all he had been exposed to were new ideas. Under Xiao Letian's wing, he lived a normal life as a rich boy for several years.
He went to the recruit camp to stand up in military posture, to practice marksmanship at the shooting range, to learn sailing in the Pacific, and to study military and diplomacy in Europe... He seemed to have forgotten what kind of environment he lived in five years ago.
Even in Tanggu, all you can see are heavy machinery spitting out the power of steam, and dirty industrial pollution is everywhere.
Only at this moment, when Zai Chun set foot on the land of the capital, did he realize that the Qing Dynasty was still the same Qing Dynasty, and its ignorance and backwardness had not changed at all.
The people knelt humbly in the dust, wearing the best new clothes at home that they were reluctant to wear during the New Year, but most of them were just ordinary homespun cotton-padded jackets.
The houses in the distance are short and dilapidated. There are only two-story houses built by sporadic merchants, but their momentum cannot be compared with the shops in London's bustling pedestrian streets.
The faces of the soldiers and civilians all had a look of beauty, and the first impression given by the entire group was that of thinness. Except for those wearing silk and satin, there was not a single fat person among the remaining soldiers and civilians.
The saddest thing was the panic on everyone's faces. Of course, Zai Chun couldn't see their expressions at all, because everyone had their faces buried in the dust, and no one dared to look up.
This is the capital, a place where the Qing Dynasty has the most stringent rule for more than two hundred years. The people have seen too many bloody storms, and no one dares to challenge Tianwei.
Zai Chun took a deep breath of the cold air and thought of Naha, London, Berlin, Hamburg...those free cities with their joyful atmosphere.
In Naha, whenever Xiao Letian's voice appears among the people, you will only see people bowing respectfully without any kneeling. Wherever the head of state goes, there is laughter and laughter.
Children can give folded flowers to Xiao Letian, and street performers can play music after the escort of the head of state. People raise their heads to greet their leader, and there is no trace of hypocrisy in the smiles on their faces.
Looking at Europe, even when Queen Victoria and the German Emperor traveled, the people lined the streets to welcome them with nothing more than applause. In fact, it was the army that attracted the most cheers.
The victorious army even received more applause than the emperor. The ladies blew kisses to the young men without hesitation, and the king's nobles did not show any airs.
In the open carriage, they also take off their hats and wave to the people!
Only in those places could Zai Chun feel that it was the human world instead of a cold tomb!
Yes, everything in front of me is as lifeless as a tomb. Everyone is waiting for orders and what to do next.
The emperor got off the boat, everyone kowtowed, the emperor got on the chariot and then set off firecrackers. The chariot moved forward, followed by dragon and lion dances... Then, following the direction of the chariot's movement, the crowds of people worshiped like waves of wheat.
This is a rehearsed scene, and there is no trace of human heart or true meaning in it!
With a long sigh, Zai Chun put away his thoughts, put on a slightly smiling face, took out his right foot and walked towards the imperial chariot!
"The Holy Emperor has returned to the capital!" the elderly eunuch said in a long tone, followed by the sound of whips in the quiet street. People continued to kneel down and touch the ground with their foreheads, shouting long live in a low and melodious voice.
After the sound of the whip passed, each squadron of the imperial army moved forward, and ninety-nine and eighty-one eunuchs knelt on the ground to welcome the Long Live Lord as he ascended the royal chariot!
Just in front of the royal chariot, the courtiers headed by Prince Gong had already kneeled all over the ground, and there were a large number of officials with brilliant feathers on the scarlet carpet.
Zai Chun walked a few steps quickly. At this time, Prince Gong, who was buried in the ground, heard the coughing sound of the eunuch next to him. Knowing that the emperor had arrived, he quickly shouted loudly.
"Prime Minister Wang and Minister Yi Xin are leading the remaining civil and military officials in the capital to welcome the Holy Emperor!"
"Long live my emperor, long live, long live!"
Kneeling three times and knocking nine times, these officials moved skillfully, like flowing clouds and flowing water, and they looked so neat!
"Pingshen! My dear friends, Pingshen! Please get up quickly, uncle! Please get up quickly, uncles!"
Zai Chun actually stepped forward and helped Guizi Liu up personally. After five years of separation, uncle and nephew finally met again!
"Uncle...you...you have a lot of gray hair..." Zai Chun's eyes turned red, revealing his true feelings.
At that moment, Yi Xin was also moved with some sincerity. He looked at Zai Chun who had grown taller and rubbed the corners of his eyes with his hands, "Long live the Lord is taller! He is really taller!"
"My body and bones have become stronger! I really have the vigor and vitality of our Manchu ancestors! It's been five years, long live you haven't been back for more than five years..."
Zai Chun grabbed the hands of Yi Xin and Yixuan, "In the past five years... it has been difficult for my uncle. I have been busy..."
Yixuan is quite honest. When he heard his nephew say such conscientious words, he shed tears immediately. "Your Majesty is the one who deserves the most hard work! Why has Xiao Letian taken care of you in the past five years? His Majesty has been embarrassed a lot..."
"Hey... don't talk about this. If you don't feel comfortable as an adult, you won't feel comfortable as an adult! You have to go through wind and rain to learn your skills!"
"Uncles, let's not talk about family issues for now. We can talk about this later when we get back to the Forbidden City. Then I will have a family dinner!"
"Look at all the officials, all my dear friends, please stand up, please stand up!"
"Long live thanks!" The Han officials behind also stood up.
"Where's Marshal Zeng? Why didn't you see Marshal Zeng?" Zai Chun was the first to look for Zeng Guofan.
Yi Xin whispered from the side, "The commander-in-chief's health is not very good and he really can't work. We persuaded him for a long time before letting him wait for the Holy Driver at Desheng Gate..."
"Long live, please come to the royal chariot! The people of the capital are still waiting to get a glimpse of the holy face!"
The royal chariots of the capital are made of top-grade red sandalwood materials and come in many specifications. The one brought out today is the largest one that could be carried by ninety-nine and eighty-one people.
The royal chariot is actually a large throne, in which the emperor can sit comfortably, with bright yellow soft cushions on the left and right backs.
Many times the emperor would ride in this smaller imperial chariot when traveling in the Forbidden City. When the weather was fine, the shed would be dismantled and the emperor would sit inside in the open air.
This kind of royal chariot not only allowed the emperor to view the scenery without blind spots, but also allowed the surrounding people to see the majesty of the Holy Emperor!
Therefore, although it was very windy today, the chariot did not have a windproof shed. Instead, Zaichun was allowed to blow the cold wind in the open air!
However, Zai Chun felt something was different when he got on the imperial chariot. It turned out that there were hand warmers hidden behind the throne and under the steps.
"The Emperor is raising a fight!"
Eighty-one tall eunuchs steadily raised the chariot and put it on their shoulders, followed by a heavy rain of firecrackers and gongs and drums.
The dragon and lion dance team started to make a fuss!
