Time has come to the ninth year of Chongzhen. Although the situation in the world is still chaotic, the pattern has been established.
Ming Dynasty struggled to death, guarding the last afterglow.
But anyone with insight can see that this old dynasty is no longer sustainable.
It's just that the influence of the two hundred years of Central Plains orthodoxy is not so easy to eliminate. There are still many people who are willing to work hard and devote themselves to the Ming Dynasty.
The efforts of these people cannot stop Ming Dynasty from sliding into the abyss, but can only slow down the speed.
After the Hou Jin Dynasty in Liaodong completely conquered Mongolia, they unified the north and began to exert pressure on the Ming Dynasty along the entire northern border.
Whether it can take over the Central Plains is hard to say now, but it has become the overlord of one party, enough to compete with the Ming Dynasty.
Under such circumstances, it can be said that it is not surprising that Huang Taiji chose to proclaim himself emperor and establish a country.
Although the Northwest Rebels are still fighting on the move and have no fixed residence, they have not changed their nature as grass bandits. But it has become a climate that cannot be wiped out by the Ming Dynasty in a short time.
"First Evolution"
For any dynasty, facing such internal chaos, if it cannot be calmed down quickly, it will inevitably lead to confusion in the hearts of the people.
Some people's ambitions will also grow and they will no longer be afraid of the authority of the central government.
The situation is like this. If Shandong cannot make a clear signal, it will inevitably be at a disadvantage in this situation, and the people's hearts that have finally been gathered will be scattered.
Being established is not only a kind of vanity, but also represents whether you are qualified to be on the stage of carving up the world.
It was precisely after understanding this and fully understanding everyone's thoughts that Zuo Mengeng chose to compromise.
Not restoring the authority and regulation of the feudal emperor was his final bottom line.
It seems now that under the influence of advanced ideas, people in Shandong have changed very quickly.
They are also unwilling to give up the good situation of equality for everyone.
The next biggest thing is what Shandong should be called.
A resounding name can not only inspire people, but also contains great significance.
At the beginning of the establishment of previous dynasties, the name of the country was only decided by a small group of people at the center.
This time, Shandong officially promoted the matter and allowed everyone to participate in it and make suggestions.
This sense of participation makes everyone in Shandong feel proud and fully feel the sense of ownership.
Of course, everyone participates in the discussion, which means that opinions are not so unified.
The news spread quickly throughout the country as if it had wings. While everyone was excited, they also expressed different opinions.
"The country is sealed in the Spring and Autumn Period, and the tripod determines future generations. If you want to take the country's title, you should take this as the criterion."
How could Qian Qianyi miss such a lively event?
He came to see Zuo Mengeng and put forward his idea.
"In the opinion of Duke Mu Zhai, what should be the title?"
Qian Qianyi said matter-of-factly: "The commander-in-chief made his fortune in Shandong. This is fundamental. Shandong is the homeland of the Qi State, the leader of the five hegemons in the Spring and Autumn Period. In my opinion, the commander-in-chief should be called the King of Qi."
Although Qian Qianyi is uninhibited, the ideas he puts forward are quite rooted.
His proposal was supported by many people.
But it’s not like there are no opponents
A letter of proposal was sent from Qufu.
Shandong not only has the state of Qi, but also the state of Lu. Confucius, the sage and sage teacher, was a member of the state of Lu. For thousands of years, "Lu" has been the synonym for Shandong. Therefore, the opinion in Qufu is that Zuo Menggeng should be called King of Lu.
Whether it is the King of Qi or the King of Lu, there are many in history, and they are all famous, and they all seem to have merits.
But don’t worry, there are still many different opinions.
Ten days later, opinions from Lianghuai were also sent over.
What they say is more interesting.
The Lianghuai River connects Qilu on the upper side and Songjiang on the lower side. It is actually the center of the camp and is extremely important.
Therefore, it is recommended that Zuo Menggeng be titled King of Huai.
Half a month later, the last wave of opinions came from Songjiang Mansion.
It was not a proposal, but Xu Ji, Zuo Menggeng’s father-in-law, came to Shandong in person as a representative.
Xu Ji came here, firstly, to honor the founding of the country; secondly, his granddaughter Zuo Xuanyan was born a long time ago, and the old man has not seen her yet, so he misses her very much.
Furthermore, the Gu family had been staying in Shandong, and Xu Ji stayed at home alone with nothing to do, feeling very lonely.
The most important reason is that the son-in-law will be named Jianguo, the baby daughter will soon become a princess, and the Xu family will also become relatives.
But the name of a foreign relative is obviously not very good.
Xu Ji was very worried about what the Xu family should do after the new dynasty was established.
He was ready to inquire into Zuo Mengeng's thoughts.
"Songjiang has always been prosperous, and it is the economic lifeline of the country. Moreover, the cultural ceremony is unparalleled in the world. Therefore, the opinion of everyone in Songjiang is that the commander-in-chief should be called King Wu."
Xu Ji also gave an example of the former.
"Back then, Zhu Yuanzhang first proclaimed himself the King of Wu, and then swept across all directions and established the Ming Dynasty. The commander-in-chief followed the example of the sages, so why worry about failing to achieve his great cause?"
After listening to so many opinions, Zuo Mengeng couldn't help but feel a headache.
The people below obviously have their own thoughts and are starting from their own perspectives, which contain their own interests.
But Zuo Mengeng didn't like any of these titles.
Qi, Lu, and Wu, although they were all powerful for a while in the long history, they could not withstand the vicissitudes of life and were lost in time.
As for the so-called King Huai, it is even more ridiculous, and there is no need to discuss it.
Various opinions were presented, but when they saw that he did not express his position for a long time, everyone knew that he was not satisfied.
"Now everyone below is guessing your thoughts, causing people to become restless. In my opinion, if you have any ideas, you might as well confess them to the public to avoid people being restless."
The only person who could talk to Zuo Mengeng at the critical moment was Huang Zongxi.
This fierce and staunch comrade-in-arms is Zuo Menggeng's most trustworthy supporter.
Facing Huang Zongxi, Zuo Mengeng can open his heart.
"Back then, we held candlelight talks at night, determined to open a new chapter for China, end the cycle of chaos, and allow all people in the world to truly enjoy peace and tranquility. Tell me, what kind of name can reflect our will?"
Huang Zongxi walked beside him and couldn't help but nodded slightly when he heard the words.
"I also feel that these names are a bit meaningless. If nothing else, the endings of Qi, Lu, Huai, and Wu in history are not very good."
It's not just bad, it's downright embarrassing.
This has long been reflected in history.
The truly noble titles are Qin, Han, Tang, Jin and Wei.
It's a pity that neither the foundation of Shandong nor Zuo Mengeng himself is related to these five titles.
In this case, we can only start a new chapter.
Facing the bright sun in the east, Huang Zongxi had an idea.
"My Chinese ancestors created the world, mended the sky and created man, tasted hundreds of herbs and encouraged farmers to grow mulberry trees, created writing to control floods, and built nine tripods to stabilize China. Only then did we have what we are today in China. If we talk about the beginning of China, it should be Xia Zun..."
He paused and suggested: "In that case, how about the honorific title 'Xia'?"
