The person in charge of the ceremony was Zhang Zhao, a scholar of Wenhua Palace. There was a competition for the position of Minister of Ceremonies. The main opponent was Liu Wensou, the Minister of Rites.
However, although he has not held an actual position in the court for a long time, Zhang Zhao is much more than Liu Wensou in terms of age and qualifications. He also served as a ceremonial envoy in his early years. The restoration and formulation of Han etiquette was also implemented under his leadership. In addition, he was the master of all the princes, so Emperor Liu had to give him some face.
Zhang Zhao is nearly seventy years old, and he has put a lot of effort into this first ceremony since the founding of the People's Republic of China. The position of a master of ceremonies does not bring him much power, but fame, honor, and these implicit promotions are important to him. It’s still important to say.
Zhang Zhao was wise early, read scriptures all over, and was familiar with the history books of various families. He was a learned and confident man. At his age, he may not care about power, but he definitely cares about fame and fortune. The founding ceremony of the People's Republic of China, which attracted the attention of both the government and the public, aroused all the enthusiasm of this old scholar.
The Imperial Ancestral Temple of the Han Dynasty was built in the southeast of the imperial city. Based on the previous buildings, although it is maintained and repaired every year, it is still old and decayed. In terms of scale and appearance, it is not even comparable to the Zhaolie Temple next door. Originally, the Ministry of Rites planned to recruit laborers to temporarily build a new ancestral temple, but time was tight, and if it was to be completed quickly, it would only cost a lot of money, as long as people and financial resources were spared.
Of course, being stopped by Liu Chengyou does not mean that all things that waste people and money cannot be done, but this situation is obviously something that Emperor Liu must try his best to avoid. In the end, it was just a matter of decorating and refreshing the Ancestral Temple.
In fact, during the entire process of preparing for the ceremony, Liu Chengyou had already discovered one thing, that is, he, the emperor, was not yet satisfied with his ambitions, but the ministers below had obvious changes, a kind of relaxation after achieving great achievements, and felt that the world Unified, I think it’s time to enjoy it. We strive to do many things beautifully and gracefully, even at the expense of money and people's resources.
It has to be said that just because he was aware of this change in thinking and atmosphere, Emperor Liu, who was a little lazy at first, couldn't help but be alert and did not dare to be careless...
In front of the Imperial Ancestral Temple, there are all kinds of legal guards and guards, and a number of civil and military lords, all wearing court uniforms, are lined up in sequence. The scale is grand and the scene is solemn. The sacrificial ceremony has a complicated process and a serious atmosphere, which tests not only the mind but also the physical strength.
If it were Emperor Liu ten years ago, who had no taboos in his heart, he would only despise and be bored with this kind of process and ritual. However, until now, he is enjoying all this in a calm manner, feeling that these regulations are so kind...
It may be strange to say that as he grew older, as his throne became more stable, and as his authority expanded, Emperor Liu's inner sense of awe became even greater. Of course, perhaps it was also because Emperor Liu realized that as an empire with an autocratic monarchy, these systems and rituals were the embodiment of his emperor's authority and emperor's will.
The older Liu Chengyou gets, the more he likes his subjects to abide by the rules, submit peacefully to the Han's management system, and be obedient subjects of Emperor Liu. Under such circumstances, even as an emperor who was above everything and had unlimited power, he gradually restrained himself, acted in accordance with the rules and regulations, and set an example for the world. In his early years, Emperor Liu would make some willful and unreasonable decisions and affairs, using imperial power to override national laws, but nowadays, this situation is becoming less and less common.
The gorgeous court clothes and the noble imperial crown are very heavy on the body, just like carrying the weight of the country, the country, and the country. It feels like a heavy burden and makes people breathless. However, for today's Emperor Liu, his His body, his shoulders, and his will are all enough to shoulder this important task, enough to lead the operation and development of the country...
Under the guidance of the chief of ceremonies, Zhang Zhao, the ceremony gradually unfolded. Speeches and worships were made in an orderly manner. Everything went very smoothly. In such an environment and in such an atmosphere, everyone was restrained and obeyed respectfully. Etiquette should not be exceeded in any way.
Kneeling on the futon, surrounded by thousands of people, Liu Chengyou's upright body seemed a little aloof, towering over everyone. At this moment, everyone could only look at his back. The royal family, clan members, ministers, ministers, all the people who were considered superior in the eyes of ordinary people seemed to be worthy only of crawling at his feet.
Standing above all things, Emperor Liu suddenly had the arrogance to trample the entire world under his feet. This is a contradictory emotion. He is in awe of his status and power, but he is also proud that he can control it.
In fact, at this time, Liu Chengyou didn't have much respect for the ancestors he worshiped, let alone awe. There are five ancestors enshrined in the Imperial Ancestral Temple, from far to near, including Wenzu Liu Tuan, Dezu Liu Ang, Yizu Liu Xun, Xianzu Liu Jun, and Gaozu Liu Hao.
Of course, in Emperor Liu's view, except for Liu Zhiyuan, all other ancestors are sufficient, and from now on, he should be the one who takes the C position and accepts the sacrifices and offerings of future kings and the subjects of the world...
After the ceremony was completed, Liu Chengyou stood up first and waved his dragon robe, showing off his domineering attitude. Zhang Zhao asked for instructions whether to continue, and glanced at it. Everyone restrained their expressions, but their fatigue could not be concealed. This is conceivable. For such a solemn ceremony, and for such a long time, both mentally and physically, they were in a state of tension. In a tense state.
Even Emperor Liu himself was a little tired, but all the processes had been arranged and Liu Chengyou didn't like to be interrupted. So, he directly ordered him to move to Zhaolie Temple to pay homage to the soldiers.
The Zhaolie Temple was built in the twelfth year of Qianyou. It lasted for half a year. Tens of thousands of people were levied in labor and more than 200,000 yuan were spent. According to Emperor Liu's wishes, it was used to commemorate all the soldiers who sacrificed for the establishment, development and defense of the Han Dynasty. , offer two sacrifices every year to comfort the heroic spirits.
Among them, the largest project is to record the merits of the stone. Those who have made outstanding contributions are recorded and their deeds are recorded. Regardless of the officers and soldiers, as long as they are killed in battle, their names are engraved on the monument. By the first year of Kaibao and the twelfth year of Tianfu (947), in a span of sixteen years, the number of Han soldiers who could be named in Zhaolie Temple had reached 213,789. people.
This also means that in these sixteen years, more than 200,000 soldiers actually threw their heads and blood and gave their lives for the Han Dynasty. Moreover, due to the long period of time in the country's early years, the inconvenience of unification, or the poor management of archives and data, it is inevitable that there will be omissions, as well as those that were concealed due to incomplete systems and poor control in the early years. The real number is even higher.
The establishment of Zhaolie Temple has had a great impact on the army. It has won the morale of the military. The soldiers' sense of identification with the royal family and the country has also been further enhanced. It is a place where the soul can rest, which can inspire the spiritual level, support loyalty, and strengthen the hearts of the people. The effect of cohesion is particularly obvious.
Because it is adjacent to the Imperial Ancestral Temple, it did not take much time to move to the Zhaolie Temple. However, following the entire process and waiting for the equally solemn sacrificial ceremony to end, it also took nearly an hour.
At noon, Emperor Liu finally showed mercy and gave everyone some time to rest. For everyone, being able to participate in the ceremony is a reflection of status and glory, but it is also a painful process. However, in many cases, the mental excitement is enough to reduce the physical suffering.
Considering that many people, in order to ensure the solemnity of the festival and avoid accidents, did not eat, even at noon, they were still struggling, as if waiting for the royal banquet in the evening. Liu Chengyou was not an emperor who was inconsiderate to his subordinates, so he asked people to prepare some supplies of drinking water and dry food.
After the ceremony, we took a short rest and then set off for the military parade. Liu Chengyou had military parades in the past, either at the Forbidden Army barracks, in the Kaifeng Palace Gardens, or in front of the Imperial City. However, this time it was adjusted and turned into a military parade. Thirty thousand horse infantry soldiers were selected from the Sanya Forbidden Army. They were fully equipped and patrolled the main streets of Tokyo according to the established route to show the military power of the Han Dynasty to the people of the capital.
At the same time, on the bank of the Bian River, we inspected the drill of the naval forces. Of course, this was a more serious ceremony. After reviewing the army, the imperial chariot returned to the imperial city, and the emperor personally visited the palace to accept the worship of all the people.
To the south of the Imperial City, the large open space that was originally used to expand the palace has been transformed into a square. Thousands of people gathered, and the people stood shoulder to shoulder, exhaling like clouds, sweating like rain, and the atmosphere always maintained a climax. There were 200,000 Tokyo citizens gathered, accounting for almost a quarter of the population in Kaifeng.
Because of the large number of people, Kaifeng Mansion and the Inspection Department specially set up cards to intercept and divert the people. Otherwise, the square in front of the Imperial City would not be able to accommodate the enthusiastic Tokyo people. It was almost a city-wide carnival. Every household was beaming with joy, and the city's restaurants, restaurants, teahouses, and theaters were all crowded with guests.
The prosperity and vitality of Kaifeng City seemed to burst out all of a sudden. Driven by the will of the country, no matter the rich or poor, they all showed their faces, cheered for the emperor, sang for the country, and blessed themselves.
Standing on the towering city gate, Emperor Liu looked down at the dense figures and swarming crowds in front of the imperial city, enjoying their warm cheers. Although he could not see their faces clearly, from the shouts of long live that shook like a sea wave , he felt a kind of enthusiasm that was close to belief, and he couldn't help but be intoxicated in it...
