Volume 2: Chapter 65 of Hongzhi ZTE: Great Court Meeting

Style: Historical Author: Qin LuWords: 3402Update Time: 24/01/12 09:31:58
After drinking Jiaobai wine and eating dumplings, Zhu Youtang secretly wrapped money in the dumplings and said: "Whoever can eat dumplings and get money will be rewarded with a "Jade Ruyi". Of course, if you can get the meaning of money, It is also said that "whoever gets it can predict the good fortune of the year."

After the event, Zhu Youtang issued an order again according to etiquette, allowing his relatives to pay homage to various imperial tombs in Changping again.

Because the emperor also wanted to worship, Taichang Temple appointed a member of the Thousand Households of the Sacrifice and nine flag troops to deliver all the items used for the mausoleum sacrifice to Changping Prefecture ten days before the memorial ceremony.

On the day before the worship ceremony, the sacrifice cases and sacrifices for each case should be arranged according to the etiquette. The display of sacrifices on each case has a fixed pattern. On the emperor's official case, there are three pieces of wine, one tea, two soups, two rice, four vegetables, one roasted meat, one roasted liver, one meat and bones, one oil cake, and one pancake. One horn, one chestnut, one jujube, one round eye, one lychee, one walnut, two steamed buns, one mutton, two hog meat, one juice pot, one wine pot. The sacrifices displayed on the Queen's formal case are the same as those on the Emperor's case, except that there is no wine pot but a teapot.

Accompanied by the sound of Shao music, Zhu Youtang stepped onto the stage wearing a dragon robe, took the wine bottle from He Ding, and presented it to his ancestors three times. Afterwards, the Jianyou calendar was officially promulgated.

That is to say, the unitary calendar was implemented in the second year of Hongzhi! "The common people are also waiting for the new calendar and the new year and new atmosphere!"

Next is the most important court meeting, where civil and military ministers and envoys from all over the world are going to congratulate the Ming Emperor.

The day before Zhengdan, Shang Baosi had already set up a throne in Fengtian Hall in advance. Set up a table to the east of the throne, and set up an incense table to the south of the palace steps. Jiaofangsi arranged bands to play Zhonghe Shao music on the east and west sides of Fengtian Hall, standing facing north.

In the early morning, the honor guard of the Jin Yiwei stood on the east and west sides of the steps and the platform. Mou Bin, the new palm commander of Jin Yiwei, is in charge. After all, it is a very important festival and a grand gathering for all nations to come to court. Every detail must be done well without any mistakes, so as to demonstrate the majesty of the heavenly kingdom.

"The station over there is one stop to the east. Yes, that's right there! Old Liu, you have chosen the position on the platform. The distance should be the same!" Mou Bin was loudly directing the positions of the honor guard.

The layout of the palace is under the responsibility of He Ding, the eunuch in charge of the royal horse supervisor. Because Huaien, the eunuch in charge of the ceremony, is ill and bedridden, He Ding has full command today. Several young eunuchs set up fans on the east and west sides of the palace, and placed chariots and chariots on the east and west sides of the platform facing each other. Then they set up four people holding whips to stand on the left and right sides facing north.

The Jiaofang Division then set up a band to stand facing north on both sides of the palace steps and played music. The Ceremony Division set up Tongwen and two cases of jade and silk on the east side of the steps. There are soldiers outside the door and on the east and west sides of the steps. Jin Yiwei set up generals outside Fengtian Gate, on the steps, platform base and Fengtian Gate, and placed flags on the east and west sides of Fengtian Gate. The shepherd officer placed horses, rhinos and elephants on the south side of the civil and military building, facing east and west.

On the other hand, Qin Tianjian set up Si Chenlang on the east side of the inner road to tell the time and stood on the north side. The two censors in charge of etiquette stood on both sides of the steps, facing each other. Assume that the two inner zans stand on the left and right sides of Fengtian Hall, and the two outer zans stand facing each other on the north side of the steps. Then there are messengers and announcers in the hall, facing each other from east to west in Fengtian Hall.

Just hearing the sound of a tong drum, hundreds of officials in court uniforms lined up and stood waiting outside the Meridian Gate.

Immediately after the sound of the two tong drums, the ceremonial officers ushered the officials through the left and right gates to enter and stand on the east and west sides of the palace platform, facing north.

After three drums, the deacon entered the Huagai Hall to serve. The eunuch knelt down and asked the emperor to come to the throne.

"Your Majesty, please come to Fengtian Palace to observe the ceremony!"

The quiet whip was fired, and the internal and external officials sang the order of the hundreds of officials. When all the officials were lined up, the praise officer shouted:

"Bow." Fengtian Hall played loudly.

The saluting officer bowed four times, all officials were leveled, and the ceremonial officer shouted:

"Enter the table."

I saw the two people involved in the matter go to the same desk to guide them. The leader of the team lifted the case and then entered the main hall through the east gate. He placed the case in the main hall and the joy came to an end.

Neizan sang loudly: "Announcing the declaration."

All the officials immediately knelt down to wait for the declaration. The official stood up from the ground and shouted: "Declaration."

The Exhibition Officer took out the list, the Announcement Officer went outside the beaded curtain of the emperor's throne and read the list loudly, and the External Appreciation Officer shouted: "All officials kneel down."

At this court meeting, the official who addressed the emperor was the newly promoted cabinet minister Xie Qian. I saw Xie Qian kneeling in the middle of the steps and reading aloud the speeches of the officials:

"I am an official and a minister. On the occasion of the first day of the lunar month, the three Yangs will be prosperous and everything will be new. I respectfully express my sincere wishes to His Majesty the Emperor, and may God provide you with everlasting prosperity."

After the congratulatory memorial, the ministers shouted: "Long live my emperor!"

The countries participating in this meeting include Chaoxian, Annan, Ryukyu, Sulu, Hemaowu, Meluoju, Borneo, Guma Qilang, Fengjiashilan, Zhenwa, Dieli, Rilaxiazhi, Old Port, Sumatra, Baihua, Pahang, Kuri, Little Kelan, Big Kelan, Ganlida, Pengana, Kamba, Jilandan and other countries.

These foreign vassals bowed, knelt, and kowtowed, and then shouted in unskilled Chinese: "Blessings to the Ming Emperor."

"I am safe."

Zhu Youtang glanced around and saw that these envoys from foreign countries were dressed in strange clothes and had slightly weird gestures, and he couldn't help but feel a little funny in his heart.



After the court meeting, Zhu Youtang held a big night banquet in Maoqin Hall and rewarded the ministers with festival money.

Moreover, Zhu Youtang decreed the opening of the inner market. The inner market was a market set up within the Imperial City and outside the Forbidden City during the Ming Dynasty. It was mainly located outside Donghua Gate and inside Dong'an Gate on the east side of the Forbidden City, and continued northward to Xuanwu Gate. area. The inner city played a guiding role in the folk customs of the capital, and continued to develop and prosper with the relaxation of imperial control and the trend of commodity economy throughout the country.

In the Maoqin Hall, the British Duke Zhang Mao, the first assistant of the cabinet Liu Ji, the second assistant Xu Pu, as well as the six central ministries and civil and military officials from various ministries, all toasted to each other at the table.

"Mr. Ge, I'd like to toast you. Your strength has been growing continuously over the past year! Two days ago, you chased Wei Zhang fiercely and successfully knocked him down. I don't know who I want to knock down next. ?" The person who spoke was Zou Mo, the right servant of the Ministry of Finance. Although what Chief Assistant Liu Ji said that day was still ringing in his ears, he still couldn't swallow it. After all, Wei Zhang had a good relationship with him before.

That day, Zou Mo wanted to say a few more words for Wei Zhang, but seeing the decisiveness in his first assistant Liu Ji's words and thinking about his wife, children, and future career, he held back. After Wei Zhang was arrested, Zou Mo felt very ashamed. He took advantage of the banquet today and drank some wine, so he vomited it out.

Before Xu Pu could speak, Xie Qian raised his glass and said with a smile: "Come, Minister Zou, I want to toast you a drink. I'm afraid that Minister Zou is too drunk, has he drank too much? The first person to impeach Wei Zhang to His Majesty was the Minister of War, Han Junyan, and Han Junyan was also recommended by all of you against all odds. Moreover, the crimes committed by Wei Zhang are all true according to the Jinyiwei investigation. We are just discussing the matter. If Zou Shilang has resentment in his heart, he wants to report the injustice to Wei Zhang. , just ask your Majesty for an explanation!"

Xie Qian's last few words were loud and deliberately let Zhu Youtang, who was sitting in the first place, hear them.

When Zhu Youtang heard the sound, he frowned and glanced at Zou Mo. Liu Ji, who was sitting on the emperor's right side, also heard what Xie Qian said. His face was livid and he clenched his fists.

Xie Qian's words really made the drunk Zou Mo sober up a lot. Looking at Zhu Youtang with cold eyes and Liu Ji with a livid face, Zou Mo gave a flattering smile and retreated dejectedly, never to be seen again. Dare to talk to Xie Qian.

Behind Zhu Youtang, He Ding and Yanhai were on both sides, while Li Guang and Zhu Youtang sent him to visit Huaien.

For Li Guang, this kind of fair opportunity is what he urgently needs. According to his own speculation, Wynn has been bedridden for three months and should be returning to the west soon. However, his recent frequent visits to Huai'en actually have selfish motives. Once Wynn goes west and the post of eunuch in charge of the ceremony is vacant, the emperor will definitely choose another person. When the time comes, relying on his status in the emperor's mind, he will become the eunuch. You can give it a try. Even if the emperor asked He Ding to replace the ceremonial supervisor, he could still compete for the vacant imperial horse supervisor. I should go see Wynn more often and leave a good impression on this old eunuch. If he can say a few nice words for me in front of the emperor, my chances of success will be greatly improved.

In Maoqin Hall, the stunning singer from the Ming Dynasty Palace is dancing to the sounds of silk, bamboo and string instruments.

After three rounds of drinking, Zhu Youtang was already a little drunk. He clapped his hands, and Yanhai and several eunuchs presented several jade plates.

Zhu Youtang ordered to open the gift box on the jade plate, take out the gifts and put them on the table. While continuing: "Everyone here is my minister of the Ming Dynasty. Today, not only will I have festive money to reward all my dear friends, but these gifts will also be distributed to you."

Upon seeing this, all the civil and military officials held cups in honor of Zhu Youtang and said in unison: "More grace from Your Majesty, may Your Majesty be blessed!"

In the blink of an eye, all the civil and military officials were filled with gifts, but the value of the gifts was also determined by their grade. For example, the gift from Liu Ji, the first assistant to the cabinet, was a ginseng from the previous year wrapped in red-edged mulberry paper, while the gift from Xu Pu, the second assistant, was an inkstone carved from fine bluestone. The square stone inkstone was also engraved with Landscape paintings from the Northern Song Dynasty. The gift from Xie Qian, the new minister in the cabinet, was a jade Ruyi made of fine jade, and the governor of Beijing, Ma Wensheng, was a sword made of gold and silver. The remaining low-level officials also had some old-fashioned wine. Cellar wine.

Seeing the ministers happily playing with their gifts, Zhu Youtang suddenly remembered the book he read last night. Said: "The governors of Henan and Anhui reported repeatedly that the Yellow River burst and silt blocked the canal, making it difficult for boats to travel. The capital city alone relies on water transportation of four million loads of grain every year. These two things are really worrying me. "

The ministers saw that the emperor was dizzy and drunk when he spoke. Under such circumstances, they still remembered the river transport.

Zhu Youtang glanced at Zou Mo, the right servant of the Ministry of Finance, who had just caused trouble at the dinner, and asked coldly: "Zou Mo, what do you think we should do?"

Zou Mo's heart tightened and he said, "I...I think the river embankment should be built immediately."

"How to fix it?"

"This...this.

Liu Ji saw that Zou Mo couldn't answer, so he had to speak to him and said: "I think that your majesty can first send a decree to the provinces near the disaster area and order them to transport grain and rice to the disaster area, and then send officials to lead people to the disaster area. Emergency repair work on the river.”

When Zou Mo saw Liu Ji rescuing him, he looked at him with thanks, but Liu Ji just rolled his eyes coldly in return. Wei Zhang has fallen, and he can no longer let Zou Mo, a stupid pig, do bad things, otherwise he may not have the right to speak in the court in the future.

After hearing this, Zhu Youtang did not pursue Zou Mo, and said with emotion: "The Yellow River has flooded throughout the ages. The people along the Yellow River in all dynasties have suffered from floods in the Yellow River every year! That's it for today's dinner. Think about it when you go back. Don’t worry about how to control floods in the Yellow River! If you continue to indulge like this, it will be the common people who will be flooded today, and you will be flooded tomorrow!”

The officials were afraid that the emperor would be angry again, so they all bowed and went back to their homes.

And Zhu Youtang fell asleep on the Long Case...

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