These magic sticks, witches, monks, and Taoist priests intended to smoothen their relationship with officials they knew well, but they were told that all officials supported the eradication of locusts...
Moreover, what made them even more desperate was that later, Shaanxi Qin merchants also stood behind He Shen to express their support.
At this time, these magic sticks, witches, monks, and Taoist priests already felt that the trend was irresistible and were ready to give in.
Therefore, when He Shen summoned them, these magic sticks, witches, monks, and Taoist priests were even more intimidated...
Here, in the hall of the prefect's yamen, after meeting these clan elders and squires, He Shen did not show politeness and asked straight to the point: "I want to destroy the locusts. Do any of you object?"
As He Shen finished speaking, Taiyuan Liu An, who was waiting aside, immediately expressed his stance first and said: "Your Excellency is dedicated to serving the country and the people, and I will definitely give my full support to you!!"
As soon as the words fell, all the Taiyuan Prefecture officials responded one after another...
"……………………".
Immediately afterwards, Shaanxi Qin merchants did not fall behind. Luo Dayou also said on behalf of all the Qin merchants: "Slaying the locusts is a good deed, but it will save countless people. We, the merchants, will definitely support you!!"
After the officials and businessmen had finished speaking, the elders and squires of Taiyuan also chose to express their support...
Then, He Shen turned his attention to these magic sticks, witches, monks, and Taoist priests...
These magic sticks, witches, monks, and Taoist priests looked at each other, feeling that they were surrounded on all sides and that the situation was over...
In the end, under the leadership of Mrs. Pan, the magic sticks, witches, monks and Taoist priests all came together.
Seeing that no one was correct, He Shen said "Okay" and then said this.
"Since everyone has agreed, I will personally pray to the gods of heaven and earth to worship the heaven tomorrow."
"First, ask God whether it is sinful to destroy locusts. Second, pray for rain. If something happens tomorrow, I am willing to bear the responsibility and will never blame others!!"
"…………"
"Sir, praying to the sky to kill locusts is okay, but praying for rain is really a bit confusing, and the risks involved are too great..."
Kazuji in the room said somewhat uneasily.
Praying for rain is a double-edged sword. If it rains, everything will be fine and all difficulties will be solved!
If there was no rain, the opposition that Heshen suppressed in the name of imperial envoy would immediately come back to bite him, putting Heshen into a disadvantageous situation that would never be recovered...
He Er is aware of this, and He Shen is naturally aware of this...
If he dares to do this, he is naturally confident...
"………………"
Tomorrow, He Shen, the imperial envoy in charge of disaster relief, will hold a ceremony to offer sacrifices to heaven at Mengshan Mountain on the outskirts of Taiyuan, praying for rain and asking about the destruction of locusts...
This official edict, through the propaganda of some thoughtful people, spread throughout Taiyuan City in an instant!
As soon as this news came out, the states and counties in Taiyuan, which were already in a state of chaos, suddenly became calm as if a basin of clean water had been poured into it!
The officials of Taiyuan Prefecture had prepared the sacrifices and altars needed for the heaven-sacrifice ceremony long ago...
Large groups of people who came from various towns in Taiyuan, as well as people in the city, took advantage of the sun going down and the cool nights to rush to the foot of Mengshan Mountain to seize advantageous terrain to prepare for watching the Heaven Sacrifice Ceremony tomorrow...
It's night, when night falls, countless torches shine around the Mengshan Altar, complementing the stars in the sky!
"…………"
In the Qing Dynasty, August 9th, the 25th year of Qianlong's reign, the night of this day was extremely long for many people!
However, for He Shen, it passed so quickly. As soon as he opened his eyes, as soon as he closed them, the next day was here...
The next day came quickly!
Offering sacrifices to the sky to pray for blessings and asking for rain are important events in the eyes of the people, comparable to the Spring Festival, or even more important...
In He Shen's eyes, the so-called offering sacrifices to heaven to pray for blessings and praying for rain is the best opportunity for him to put on the cloak of "acting on behalf of heaven" and take the opportunity to build momentum and show off.
Yes, according to He Shen's plan, the so-called offering sacrifices to the heaven to pray for blessings and praying for rain is, in the final analysis, just a show and a show...
This move not only allows the people to follow him to cull the locusts with peace of mind, but also earns him a great reputation.
On this day, people gathered outside the city of Taiyuan Prefecture, and there was a sea of people. Not only that, the people around Taiyuan also arrived...
Moreover, the officials in Taiyuan, as well as businessmen, local clan elders, squires and elders, all the people with names and surnames are all here...
At this moment, these people were gathered around the altar that had been built in the past few days, watching the ceremony of offering sacrifices to heaven, praying for blessings, and praying for rain.
At Chen hour on this day, near the Mengshan altar, there were loud gongs and drums, as well as firecrackers.
The religious disciples are praying, the witches are dancing, the monks are chanting, and the Taoist priests are practicing...
Although the various religious forces are fighting together, it seems a bit nondescript, not formal, and even makes people laugh...
However, from a good perspective, it can be regarded as taking into account the emotions of religious believers from all sides and further stabilizing the people.
I have to say that although this is a bit funny, it is surprisingly useful.
Whether it is praying for rain or exterminating locusts, it is a big deal in the eyes of the people...
No one knows whether the sacrifice of Yao to pray for rain will succeed, whether God will agree to exterminate the locusts, all of this is unknown...
Now that the spokesmen of gods and Buddhas all over the sky are gathered here, the uneasy mood in the hearts of the people has been somewhat calmed down.
"..."
At the same time, groups of local garrison soldiers, mobilized by the Imperial Envoy's official badges, put on armor and picked up weapons. Then, under the leadership of the captain and captain, they rushed to Taiyuan, ten miles away from Taiyuan City. Mengshan, the highest mountain!
Countless people crowded around the Mengshan Heaven Sacrifice Altar. They were anxiously waiting for the moment to pray for rain and heaven!
The arrival of a large number of fully armed soldiers, wearing armor and holding swords, immediately made Mengshan, which had seemed chaotic due to the large number of people, instantly become orderly.
These soldiers not only maintained order, but also guarded and managed all the people who came to watch the heaven-sacrifice ceremony, dividing them into areas based on their accents and clothing!
"…………"
At the same time, these soldiers also brought countless steamed buns and large buckets of thin porridge for the people who were watching the ceremony to worship the heaven!
As for luxuries such as white flour steamed buns, the Taiyuan government will naturally not provide them...
And the reason why they kindly control food and drink is to better manage these people who are gathered together, and their hearts are awash, and they appear to be a little confused!
…………
In the morning, at Yinshi, He Shen was woken up by He Er who got up early for the first time and started dressing!
today.
He Shen was wearing a pure black Imperial Envoy robe embroidered with gold threads, a red Imperial Envoy official badge woven with silver threads, and an official hat of the third grade...
This is the second time He Shen has dressed so solemnly since he came to Taiyuan Mansion!
On He Shen's side, after finishing dressing up, he set off in an eight-horse carriage, escorted by a large number of officials!
In order to show the majesty of the imperial envoy, He Shen led the troops in a strict formation. After all, he was appearing in front of hundreds of thousands, or even nearly a million, people, so it was not a grand spectacle.
Although, it is impossible for most people to really get close to Heshen, or even see Heshen up close!
"………………"
At six-quarters of an hour, the eight-horse carriage carrying He Shen and a huge crowd arrived at the altar!
With the arrival of the convoy of Imperial Envoy Heshen, the nearly one million people in Mengshan, who were originally turbulent at dawn, gradually became quiet!
Although many people were far away from Heshen due to the obstruction of the soldiers, and many people could not see clearly Heshen's face and clothes.
However, the countless long swords, the sky-filled flags, the imperial envoy's red official badge, and the majestic momentum all told everyone that the imperial envoy was here!
Everyone knows that with the imperial envoy coming, the heaven-sacrifice ceremony must be about to begin!
Since the time of Emperor Yan, Emperor Huang, and Chi You, the ceremony of worshiping heaven has been the most important ceremony for the emperors, princes and other high-ranking officials of China...
Especially in the Western Zhou Dynasty, a complete set of etiquette and procedures has been evolved and formulated.
This is the land of China, the reverence of the Yanhuang people for heaven and earth...
The heaven-sacrifice ceremony is of extraordinary solemnity. Officials, clan elders, businessmen, and poor people all have the same pious heart, praying to God and benefiting all people...
Therefore, He Shen came from the mansion in a carriage, causing all the people to cheer loudly...
Amid cheers and escorted by numerous officials, an eight-horse carriage slowly drove forward.
Under the seven-foot-high hood, sitting solemnly were the imperial envoys wearing black gold imperial envoy robes and official hats of the third rank, He Shenhe...
This is the first time that the people of Taiyuan Prefecture have officially seen the Chaoyan imperial envoy who is in charge of disaster relief matters on a large scale.
The nearly one million people in Taiyuan saw Heshen, who officially appeared for the first time, becoming the focus of the audience as soon as he appeared.
Under the gaze of everyone and surrounded by officials, He Shen, dressed in the official uniform of the imperial envoys, walked slowly onto the altar with the cooperation of Zhong Ding Zhi Yin.
Then, the firecrackers stopped, the bells and cauldrons stopped, and the magic sticks, witches, monks, and Taoist priests also stopped pretending to be gods...
The solemn atmosphere in the middle of the altar began to spread to the surroundings, and soon the place was completely silent...
Everyone's eyes were focused on He Shen.
The ceremony to worship heaven is solemn and solemn...
Except for He Shen and the officials in Taiyuan, everyone else could only watch He Shen leading the officials at the altar, offering sacrifices to the sky to pray for rain, and asking God about how to destroy the locusts...
