Ma Liang also didn't expect that everyone in Yunnan seemed to be quite hostile to the former King of Shu.
Zhu Rong saw Ma Liang's confused look and immediately explained.
"When Liu Zhang was the king of Shu, he levied heavy taxes on the border residents of Jianning and Yunnan. Grandpa was the leader elected by the cave masters' alliance. We fought with the Shu general named Lingbao for a long time, and we lost more than we won. , life is very difficult.”
"Six years ago, I suddenly heard that the King of Shu had been defeated by the King of Chu. The court sent people to recruit people and canceled most of the taxes, leaving only a field tax. Only then did the tribes settle down. After that, the court opened fire at the border again. With the mutual market, our life is gradually getting better."
"This time the government issued a document saying that the King of Chu will be the emperor of the Han people and invited us to watch the ceremony. Grandpa will take us to see it."
Ma Liang suddenly realized that there was such a story in it. When he thought about it carefully, he found that Chu State's taxes were indeed low, similar to those during the Wenjing Dynasty. The wealth of the Chu State's treasury mainly came from commissions from guilds, tolls collected from building straight roads, and profits from opening factories.
Large-scale construction projects have been a drain on the national treasury and people's power in all dynasties. However, under the auspices of Ji Shu, money was invested in construction and development, which promoted commerce. Goods in various states and counties began to circulate, and many rare items that were rarely seen by ordinary people in the past became commonplace. Business was unprecedentedly prosperous, and the imperial court earned far more wealth than it invested.
Money actually makes money!
To get rich, build roads first. This sentence has become a proverb circulating in Chu country.
What strikes Ma Liang most deeply is that many members of the aristocratic family now talk about how to make money no longer through real estate, but by engaging in business. Although this is partly because the new law of Chu State stipulates that land belongs to the state, Master Situ's skill is indeed awe-inspiring.
"Since all the ministries in Yunnan are satisfied with the current life, why should you argue with a has-been monarch?"
Haha~
Meng Du looked back and laughed.
"Sir, that's right! So many years have passed since what happened in the past. There is no need to ruin the good life now."
Mengdu's laughter inexplicably attracted the attention of Sun Shangxiang and Sun Quan. Just when Ma Liang felt a little stressed, a voice sounded.
"The sacrificial ceremony begins!"
As the sound rang out, a group of black soldiers slowly poured into the venue, forming a circle around the altar at the center of the stage. Only the heavy clanking of armor echoed in the venue.
Dancers wearing red and black costumes entered the venue and lined up in the center in front of the altar steps. There were eight people horizontally and vertically. They began to dance as the drumming music sounded, with solemn and solemn movements.
Ma Liang lowered his voice and spoke in a voice that only a few people nearby could hear.
"This is the Eight-Year Dance, the highest ritual for sacrifice."
After the ceremony, the dancers retreated, and nine people walked towards the altar along the central path.
The leading man was handsome and handsome, wearing a white robe. He was Sun Ce. Four of the eight people behind him were wearing armor of various colors, and the other four were wearing Confucian robes of various colors. They were neatly divided into two lines and followed behind Sun Ce. Each of the eight people held something in their hands, whether it was a sword or a piece of clothing.
I saw nine people slowly walking up to the altar, until they reached the highest point of the altar and looked down at everyone. His eyes fell on Sun Ce, and Ma Liang swallowed. The nine people in front of him were the nine people who represented the highest power in Chu State.
"Wear the emperor's crown."
As the voice fell, General Gan Ning, who was wearing a gorgeous robe, stepped forward and put the emperor's crown on Sun Ce.
Putting on a crown itself is a very quick thing, but everyone's movements are very slow, and every movement must be carefully arranged, which is full of a sense of ritual.
Ma Liang explained in a soft voice to everyone in Yunnan.
"Being crowned means coming of age in our clan, and the emperor's coronation means that the emperor begins to exercise supreme power."
Everyone nodded, but no one spoke before they heard it again.
"Wear a dragon robe."
Taishi Ci, the Grand Governor in red armor, stepped forward to put on the dragon robe for Sun Ce and carefully straightened the corners of his clothes.
Ma Liang continued to explain.
"It is said that about two thousand years ago, there were three largest tribes in the Central Plains. The Xuanyuan clan of the Yan tribe united with the Shennong clan of the Huang tribe and defeated the most powerful Jiuli tribe. After that, some smaller tribes came to surrender. Xuanyuan Huangdi Parts of the totems of each tribe were removed and combined together to form the dragon totem. It has the body of a snake, the horns of a deer, the head of a lion, the mouth of a crocodile, the eyes of a turtle, the ears of an ox, the scales of a fish, and the scales of a shrimp. The beard and the feet of the eagle. This is the earliest Chinese clan. As the highest ruler of the Chinese clan, the emperor wears a dragon robe, which means that he will bear the inheritance of the clan."
"Girdle a jade belt."
Zhao Yun, the hussar general in silver armor whom everyone had seen before, stepped forward and put a jade belt on Sun Ce.
Ma Liang, who had just finished explaining the previous ceremony, continued without even having time to wipe the sweat from his head.
"The twelve pieces of jade on the jade belt represent the three ministries and nine divisions, and also represent that the ministers in the world will assist and restrain the emperor."
"Peillong Jade."
Huang Zhong, a cavalry general wearing golden armor, stepped forward and buckled a dragon-shaped jade pendant on his jade belt.
These steps were too simple, Ma Liang could only speak quickly.
"The so-called 'gentle as jade', a gentleman wearing jade means personal cultivation."
"Wear the ever-victorious sword."
General Wei Yan, who was dressed in black armor, stepped forward and held out a sword with both hands. Sun Ce took it and took a look at it, then sheathed it and put it on the sword stand behind him.
Ma Liang thought about the words and said.
"I heard that this sword was forged by the common people and dedicated to His Majesty before he became king. Logically speaking, it would not appear in such a ceremony, but since it does appear, it is obviously because His Majesty did not forget the people."
"With Zhanlu Sword."
Sima Zhouyu, who was dressed in a green robe, walked forward and presented the sword to Sun Ce with both hands as he spoke. Sun Ce also took it and took out the sword, took a look at it, returned the sheath and put it on the sword stand behind him.
Ma Liang said slightly excitedly when he saw this.
"This sword is the holy sword of benevolence. It will choose the king on its own. In history, this sword will only appear when a virtuous king appears. This sword can be used by your majesty because it is a gift from God!"
"With a jade seal."
Situ Jishu, who was also wearing a green robe, stepped forward and presented the jade seal to Sun Ce. Sun Ce took it and placed it directly next to the sword stand behind him.
Ma Liang said even more excitedly.
"The jade seal represents the world's orthodoxy and has been passed down from the Han Dynasty. With this seal, even if Wei King Cao Cao proclaims himself emperor in the future, he will only be called a false emperor like Dong Zhuo."
People in Yunnan can still understand what I said before, but they can only look at this with big eyes and small eyes. They really don't know what the relationship between orthodoxy and orthodoxy is?
"Recite rituals."
Sikong Fazheng, who was dressed in a green robe, stepped forward and presented a scroll of sacrificial texts to Sun Ce. Sun Ce took it and opened the sacrificial texts and began to read.
Ma Liang listened to the memorial service and explained the last ritual to everyone in Yunnan with a smile.
"Sacrifice to heaven and earth also declares to the people of the world that Sun Ce, Emperor of Chu, will complete the unification of the Central Plains."
