In the eleventh year of Chongzhen in the Ming Dynasty, on October 22nd, it was the end of Sishi.
Beijing, the Forbidden City, the Meridian Gate, the sky is clear and cloudless, and the sun shines on the earth.
The Meridian Gate is the tallest building in the Forbidden City. It is divided into two parts: the platform base and the building body. Its platform base is about four feet high, which is nearly one foot higher than the palace wall which is about three feet high. If you add the upper part of the gate tower, In the first half, the Meridian Gate is more than twelve feet high, with nine couplets each in width and depth. It is about twenty feet wide in front and ten feet deep in depth.
On the east and west sides of the Meridian Gate, there are two towers, each with a width and depth of five couplets.
At this time, the Meridian Gate's gate tower was in the middle of the front couplets. There was a yellow cover under the eaves, and there was the emperor's throne. On the towers on the east and west sides, there were Han generals in helmets and armor, about three dozen people standing solemnly. There are more than a hundred of them, all of them are big and round, and they look very powerful.
"Your Majesty, take off!"
The silence in front of Taihe's door was broken by the shrill voice of a young eunuch.
A bright yellow chariot, carried by dozens of people, slowly came from the direction of Taihe Gate to the Meridian Gate. There were many ministers and guards at the front, rear and left of the chariot.
In front of the Meridian Gate Tower, there was a nearly 100-member triumphal band. After receiving instructions from the officials of the Ministry of Rites, they immediately started playing drums and music, and the sound of triumphal songs resounded throughout the Meridian Gate.
Accompanied by the triumphant song of drums and music, dozens of people lifted up the bright yellow chariot and walked along the wide horse path until they reached the city wall of the Meridian Gate, with ministers and guards surrounding them.
Emperor Chongzhen walked slowly down from the chariot, and he was seen wearing a nine-inch-tall crown on his head, a crimson gauze robe, and a heart-shaped neckband. Every move showed his majesty.
Under the guidance of the internal eunuchs Wang Dehua and Wang Chengen, Emperor Chongzhen walked to the throne in front of the Meridian Gate Tower. He first stood on the gate tower and looked down at the civil and military ministers and nobles in front of the Meridian Gate. After a while, he finally felt satisfied. Sat down on the throne.
As Emperor Chongzhen took his seat on the throne, the drum music stopped and the triumphal singing stopped.
In front of the Meridian Gate, hundreds of civil and military officials stood on both sides of the Meridian Gate's straight road according to their orders. Honorable ministers and nobles also stood in front of the Meridian Gate. At this time, a large number of people knelt down.
"...I wish my emperor long live, long live, long live..."
They bowed three times and kowtowed, shouting "Long Live the Mountain". The scene was extremely spectacular. Emperor Chongzhen on the throne was filled with excitement and an unprecedented sense of happiness. It was only at this moment that he had a sense of glory as the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty.
All the civil and military officials and nobles knelt down and paid homage.
Lu Xiangsheng, who holds the title of Right Assistant Minister of the Military Department of General Zoukai and former Governor of the Propaganda Department, stood up from his seat in front of the Meridian Gate and walked slowly towards the Meridian Gate.
Yang Guozhu, the commander-in-chief of Xuanzhen, is on the left, and Zhang Cheng, the Qianhuhu of Xuanzhen, is on the right. They are followed by Lu Xiangsheng, and behind them are more than a dozen junior officers such as the commander-in-chief Qian and the commander-in-chief of the sentry of each battalion.
"...I wish my emperor long live, long live, long live..."
They came to the Meridian Gate Tower, knelt there neatly, bowed four times and kowtowed, shouting "Long Live the Mountain". After all, they were all warriors. Although the number was smaller, their voices were louder.
After the salute, they returned to the south side of the Meridian Gate where the military attachés were standing, and stood upright there.
At this time, the triumphal band began to play triumphant songs again in unison, and while the drums were beating in unison, Zhang Cheng led Zhu Qianzong and Shaozong to slowly exit from the edge of the Meridian Gate Straight Road and outside the Duanmen.
In the middle of the inner passage in front of the Meridian Gate, there are several cases for receiving good news. From here to the south, hundreds of civil and military officials and nobles from the court are lined up near Duanmen. Outside them, Han generals are lined up on both sides, guarding the Meridian Gate. The door adds more majesty.
Zhang Cheng and others walked out of Duanmen and saw a guard of honor composed of Han generals from the Jinyi Guard, holding troops and flags, arrayed on both sides of the royal road and inside and outside the Jinshui Bridge.
He led everyone along the imperial road and came to the outside of Chengtian Gate. The carts escorting the leaders of the Qing army, prisoners, banners, gold drums and armor were lined up here, and groups of sergeants were also lined up here.
They had all dismounted, and the horses were guarded by soldiers from the Beijing camp on the side of the square. When they saw Zhang Cheng and other generals coming out, all the sergeants became energetic and prepared to enter Chengtian Gate and go to the Meridian Gate to present the prisoners.
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In front of the Meridian Gate, the triumphal song ended, and Lu Xiangsheng walked out slowly again, holding the good news in both hands and walked towards the west side of the inner road to the several cases. The official who had been waiting here took the good news from Lu Xiangsheng's hands, and then walked towards the several cases. On the east side, deliver good news to the official who receives the good news.
The ceremony officer then led the victory report to the reading officer, who then loudly read the victory report:
"...Lu Xiangsheng commanded Ruoding... Yang Guozhu, the chief military officer of Xuanfu Town, made a decisive decision... Zhang Yan, the general of the right wing battalion of Xuanfu Town, fought bravely against the slave thieves... Zhang Cheng from Qianhu was unparalleled in bravery. He attacked the slave formation several times and captured Jian alive. Nujia Lazhangjing Harpa...".
The good news spreads and is heard in all directions. Finally, the good news is spread throughout the country to show it to the world.
Only then did the actual sacrifice of prisoners begin.
Zhang Cheng, as the general who presented the prisoners, took the lead and walked in front. Teams of sergeants were arranged on both sides, with the cart still in the middle.
They stepped forward, stepped onto the Jinshui Bridge, and soon passed Chengtian Gate, heading straight north along the Imperial Road, towards Duanmen.
The thousand-step corridors on both sides of the royal road were filled with Han generals in charge of their troops. They looked really tall, mighty, energetic, with bright armor, and were very majestic.
But Zhang Cheng knew that they were just silver pewter spearheads, just to look good. If they were really thrown outside Beijing, not to mention fighting against the Qing army's cavalry, they might not even be able to see it. Let the birds and beasts disperse.
On the royal road, there was only the sound of boots hitting the ground. Although they have not been specially trained, people are born with the heart to follow the herd. What's more, they are also highly disciplined sergeants. Even if it was a little messy at the beginning, everyone moved forward as they walked. The steps gradually became uniform.
"Creak...crack..."
The unique sound of wheels pressing against the bluestone ground penetrated the footsteps of the soldiers and spread far away.
On the Thousand-Step Corridors on both sides of the royal road, the Han generals in charge were all focused on these carts. Like the common people outside the imperial city, they all had expressions of surprise on their faces.
The only difference is that they only showed various expressions such as surprise, nervousness, envy, terror, etc., but they opened their mouths wide and did not dare to make a sound.
Just when Zhang Cheng was leading the generals to walk outside the Meridian Gate to Chengtian Gate, he heard someone behind him whispering something. He was so frightened that he broke into a cold sweat. He turned around and shouted: "Shut up, don't risk your life." What’s up!”
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Beijing, Forbidden City, Duanmen.
The Duanmen Tower was built in the 18th year of Yongle in the Ming Dynasty. It is between the Meridian Gate and Chengtian Gate. The entire building structure and style are the same as Chengtian Gate. It is mainly a place where the emperor's ceremonial supplies are stored.
Zhang Cheng was the first to appear at Duanmen. His burly figure, handsome face, and shining steel armor shone dazzlingly under the sunlight, attracting hundreds of officials and officials standing on both sides of the Meridian Gate. Xun Gui's eyes lit up.
There was a sound of surprise. Most of them did not expect that the Ming general who captured La Zhangjing, the Qing army's leader, was so young.
As he continued to walk in, the heads of the Qing army from behind him also appeared in front of the officials. Their mouths were wide open, with expressions of surprise on their faces. Some people even pointed at the convoy. With.
After the eight carts passed through the end gate, they were lined up on both sides, leaving space in the middle. Then one by one, the prisoners of the Qing army appeared in the sight of hundreds of officials.
They were all dressed in red linen smocks, with their hands and feet shackled. Four sergeants crossed a Qing army prisoner and strode towards the prisoner presentation place in front of the Meridian Gate.
