"The King of Han is coming, the King of Han is coming... Pay attention, the King of Han is coming..."
"Quick, stand up quickly... everyone starts to move. Those who play the music, start playing quickly. Do you want me to give you orders? Those who play the gongs, please play the gongs, and those who play the drums, please start playing the drums immediately..."
With the arrival of Zhang Rui, the officials of the Ministry of Rites who were preparing to pay homage to Xiaoling Mausoleum of the Ming Dynasty suddenly became busy.
After a short while of hustle and bustle, everything became normal and orderly.
"King of Han, you are here." Upon seeing Zhang Rui's arrival, Guan Renli, the interim chief officer of the Ministry of Rites, immediately came forward and kowtowed in greeting.
"Well, Mr. Guan, get up quickly! We don't want to kowtow in our new court. Don't do this again." Looking at Guan Renli kneeling on the ground, Zhang Rui quickly got off his horse and stepped forward to help him up.
"The King of Han is kind, and I should be very grateful. However, etiquette cannot be abolished, let alone on such an important day. Please allow me to pay homage out of respect for the King of Han!" Guan Renli said gratefully and respectfully.
"You are now the head of the Ministry of Etiquette. If you kowtow, will others kowtow in the future? So please set an example in the future and don't kowtow all the time. I like capable officials rather than kowtowing bugs. As long as they are able to do practical things, even if I like it even if you don’t kowtow to me." Zhang Rui said seriously.
"Yes, Wei Chen understands. Wei Chen must do his best to serve the court in return for your kindness." Guan Renli replied humbly, but he secretly made a calculation in his heart.
"You're kidding, no need to kowtow? Who knows if you just say it. I'd better be more cautious. As the saying goes, people don't blame others for etiquette. What's more, I am the head of the Ministry of Rites? If I am impeached for not kowtow, I, the head of the Ministry of Rites, will be impeached. It’s such a shame.”
"Well, that's right. If everyone bows to me when they see me, I will be annoyed to death before things are done. Pay more attention in the future." Zhang Rui nodded with a smile.
"Yes, yes... I know that I am guilty, and I also ask the King of Han not to say any unlucky words." Guan Renli reminded carefully.
"Haha... I used to be a rough guy with no taboos. Okay, let's not mention it. How are you preparing for the worship ceremony? Can we start?" Zhang Rui asked.
"Back to the King of Han, it will take half an hour before the time is suitable for worship. Please go to the tent to bathe and change clothes first. When the time is up, I will inform the King of Han." Guan Renli said.
"Well, then lead the way!" Zhang Rui replied.
"Yes, yes. Please follow me this way." Guan Renli stretched out his hand to make a petition.
"By the way, I heard from my uncle that my grandpa is here too. I haven't seen him for a long time. Where is he?" Zhang Rui suddenly remembered and asked.
"Back to the King of Han, the old abbot is also resting in the tent. It is not far from the tent of the King of Han. I will go to invite the old abbot to the King of Han later?" Guan Renli replied.
"No, it's hot and the old man is working hard, so let him rest for a while. I'll go see him after I take a shower and change clothes." Zhang Rui ordered.
"The king of Han is filial, and humble ministers are ashamed." Guan Renli praised.
"Master Guan has given you too much praise. Benevolence and filial piety are the foundation of our Han family. We should keep this in mind and never forget it." Zhang Rui replied righteously.
Although Zhang Ruiming knew that what Guan Renli said was just flattery, he had to respond to him. If Zhang Rui dared to acquiesce to Guan Renli, his arrogant and arrogant words would surely come out in the future.
"The King of Han's teachings should be kept in mind by the ministers and spread throughout the world." Guan Renli answered humbly, as if listening to the imperial edict again.
"King Han, I have something to report." At this time, Zhu Zhangzhang said suddenly.
"Uncle, what do you need to report?" Zhang Rui looked like Zhu Zhang with some curiosity. Although I couldn't bear to say these words similar to classical Chinese, there was no reason why Zhu Zhangyi couldn't listen to them either!
"Weichen's father is here, so I want to go and see him first. I would like to ask the King of Han for permission." Zhu Zhangyi bowed and said.
"Uncle Guo, there is no need to be like this. I...this king is of course sure about this." Zhang Rui replied.
"Master Guan, please send someone to lead the way for my uncle."
"Wei ministers obey the order." Guan Renli replied, and then turned around and appointed an accompanying official from the Ministry of Rites to lead the way for Zhu Zhang.
Under the leadership of Guan Renli, Zhang Rui quickly arrived at the camp. The tent was no less than fifty or sixty square meters in size. It was obvious that the Ministry of Rites had put a lot of effort into this huge tent.
At this time, more than a dozen eunuchs were constantly carrying water in and out of the tent, constantly pouring warm water into the "bath bucket" in the tent. It's said to be a bathtub, but it's actually not much different from a small swimming pool. No wonder it took more than a dozen eunuchs to constantly carry water.
Eunuchs are an essential group in traditional Chinese dynasties. Although he was often spurned by the officials, as the emperor's domestic slave, he was no less protective of the imperial power than the officials.
Although eunuchs are loyal guardians of the imperial power, Zhang Rui, as a modern soul, is opposed to the use of eunuchs. If nothing else, I just hate this kind of destructive thing.
Most of those who entered the palace as eunuchs were too poor to survive. People who have trouble even eating naturally can't talk about reading, and they don't understand much.
Although these eunuchs will loyally support the imperial power, they can also bring hatred to the royal family. It is precisely because of this that most of the eunuchs who can leave their names in history are great talents. But such talents are very few.
"It is better to forget each other in the world than to help each other." Zhang Rui liked my words very much. Rather than causing trouble for his own people to become eunuchs in the palace, Zhang Rui hopes that all the people under his jurisdiction can be fed, clothed, and live in peace and contentment.
Before the Manchu Qing Dynasty, there was a phenomenon of eunuchs, maids and foreigners in the palace. ①The countries where foreigners come from mainly include Japan, Korea, Myanmar, etc., and of course there are also people from other ethnic groups.
In ancient times, China had always been the suzerain state, and vassal states naturally came to pay homage and pay tribute. In addition to gold and silver treasures, rare treasures and local specialties, they also paid tribute to a large number of local slaves, who later became eunuchs and maids in the palace.
In ancient times, human productivity was based on people, so the more people there were, the more things could be done. This was also a major reason why ancient China needed slaves from other countries.
But it was completely changed during the Qing Dynasty. The rulers of the Qing Dynasty replaced the eunuchs with all Han Chinese, and the palace ladies became all bannermen. These bannermen come from the Eight Banners of Manchu, Mongolian and Han.
As for why this is done?
Maybe the rulers of the Manchu Qing Dynasty felt that foreigners were inferior, so they didn't want foreigners to have foreigners in their palace maids. The royal family often had relations with their palace maids. It would be very embarrassing if a white or black child was accidentally brought up. You know Everyone is yellow!
The uniform use of Han eunuchs as eunuchs was a method used by the Manchu rulers to attack the Han people. It was like shaving one's hair and changing clothes to weaken the power of the Han people.
Besides, if more Han people enter the palace as eunuchs, then there will be fewer Han people outside, and relatively speaking, there will be more Manchus. As long as Han people are used as eunuchs, there will only be fewer and fewer Han people. After all, eunuchs are sterile.
The eunuchs currently used by Zhang Rui were discarded from the Manchu Qing Dynasty. To put it bluntly, if you cut too much, you can no longer use it, so you throw it outside and leave it to fend for itself.
Note ①: The information is collected from the Internet.
②: There are votes, support, and no eunuchs. Thank you all for your love of this book. (free word count)
