Chapter five hundred and seventy-eight the jade seal of the country
With the capture of the Iron Pot Emperor, apart from a few fish that slipped through the net, there were also some unlucky ones who were beheaded, Yuan Ting's heart had been wiped out.
This feels a bit like searching the mountains and seas to capture Zhao Jiumei. Although there are still some military leaders, such as Wang Baobao... but the framework of the Yuan Dynasty has been broken up and is hopeless.
To put it more bluntly, the Yuan Dynasty fell!
The country is indeed subjugated.
Although Dadu was recovered last time, the whole Ming Dynasty only celebrated the recovery of Yanyun's hometown.
The reason is also very simple. Although the moment it invades Dadu, it means that the Yuan Dynasty is already dead. It's just that if a person dies, he needs to be beaten and buried in glory, let alone a country?
It's impossible not to have a decent funeral.
And with the Emperor, Queen, and Crown Prince of the Yuan Dynasty all being arrested, the prerequisites for holding a funeral for the Yuan Dynasty finally became available.
Zhu Wenzheng sent another twenty cartloads of information from Kaiping City, the capital of Shang Dynasty.
All were handed over to Zhang Ximeng.
After getting this information, Zhang Ximeng was helpless.
Although Zhang Ximeng had read a lot of books and gained some knowledge base by relying on supplements, Zhang Ximeng could not understand these Mongolian documents, which were mainly in Pasiba script. He could only order the Hanlin Academy headed by Song Lian to sort them out.
translate.
"I have asked your lord to formally establish the National History Museum, and I will be responsible for not only compiling the history of the Yuan Dynasty, but also compiling a general history from the Qin and Han Dynasties to the Song and Yuan Dynasties."
"General history? It's like a historical record!" Song Lian was shocked, "Xiang Zhang, this is a huge work! Do you have any idea how to edit it?"
Zhang Ximeng said with a smile: "I'm probably adhering to my previous views. Starting from the rise and fall of China, I summarize the historical laws and build on the past."
Song Lian thought for a moment and then asked: "Xiang Zhang, then, how are you going to write about the Qin Dynasty?"
Zhang Ximeng said with a smile: "The Qin Dynasty is the beginning of this period, so it is not easy to write about it. Moreover, for many years, it was called violent Qin Dynasty. I think it is very unfair to view the Qin Dynasty in this way."
Song Lian thought for a moment, leaned forward and asked, "Xiang Zhang, can you tell us more about how you plan to summarize the Qin Dynasty?"
"Naturally, it is an innovation in the way of governance. It abolishes feudalism and governs the country with counties and counties. It ends the aristocratic governance of local areas and uses officials to govern the country... The world is regarded as one, and the emperor directly controls every common people through hundreds of officials... This especially lays the foundation for the future
The pattern of thousands of years. From this point of view alone, the Qin Dynasty pioneered the creation of the world. The Han Dynasty inherited the Qin system, not only took it over, but also carried it forward, and made greater contributions. The Qin and Han Dynasties were the rise of China and the prosperity of the Tang Dynasty.
It represents a peak, and since the Anshi Rebellion, it has been the decline of China. Step by step, we have reached the cliff mountain."
Song Lian listened patiently and kept thinking,
Zhang Ximeng has already said many of his points, but just because he has said them does not mean they are effective.
When people die and government ceases to exist, nothing can be overthrown.
But once it is turned into annals and written into a general history, it will be enough to influence future generations for thousands of years.
Even after so long, many people still study the historical records and regard them as examples, which is the best proof.
And Zhang Ximeng is in charge of compiling history this time, and it is very likely that he will compile a monumental work that is even larger and more profound than the Historical Records!
Once this history book is completed, it will surely become a must-read for scholars all over the world.
Over time, the views of the history books will accumulate into the common consciousness of the Chinese people, thus influencing them for thousands of years, or even longer.
After thinking about it for a moment, Song Lian felt his blood boiling, "Xiang Zhang, I, I boldly ask, let me follow Xiang Zhang to compile history!" Song Lian said with emotion: "I have been a scholar for these years, and I am not very good at being an official.
.At this age, I still ask myself that I have accomplished nothing. If I can do my best for this history, even if I die, I can rest in peace."
Zhang Ximeng smiled and said, "Scholar Song, there is indeed a lack of history editors around me. We have cooperated for so many years and we are a perfect match. Naturally, I have nothing to say. But about the history of the Yuan Dynasty and the history of Mongolia, I mean, can we
Find a few people involved and ask them to help compile history!"
Song Lian smiled and said: "Hasn't Prime Minister Zhang asked these people to write memoirs a long time ago? Let's refer to some of their things and make use of them."
Zhang Ximeng smiled. He had already guessed what Song Lian meant. He couldn't help but laugh and said: "I want to gather a group of people in the National History Museum and let them take charge of the Yuan history."
Song Lian was slightly startled, and then said: "Xiang Zhang is open-minded and open to all rivers, which is naturally good. But I'm worried that over time, they will inevitably apply rouge and powder, which violates our original intention of compiling history!"
Zhang Ximeng smiled and nodded, "Indeed, so I hope to let those who have been transformed and can truly understand the problem to participate in writing. They have experienced the pain of national subjugation, and let them write, I guess they will be more ruthless, I don't know!"
Isn't that what happened to the group of literati in the late Ming Dynasty? Not only did they reflect deeply, but they also spared no effort to undermine the Ming Dynasty when compiling the history of the Ming Dynasty.
Song Lian was still hesitant, "No matter what you say, I think you should review it carefully and never be careless!"
Seeing Song Lian like this, Zhang Ximeng naturally had nothing to say. If you are willing to work hard and sweat, why should I stop you!
Basically, this history compilation is a very important task for Zhang Ximeng next.
Qin and Han, Sui and Tang, Zhao and Song.
This is what he needs to be responsible for, what are his gains and losses, what are his experiences and lessons, and what are his contributions to China as a whole...
Compiling history is not an easy task, because compiling history is not about solving cases or searching for the absolute truth. Since you are involved in a revision, you have to make choices.
The standard for making choices is the historical view a person upholds.
Confucian history revision is a typical example. They like to use morality as the standard of judgment. If there are people or things that do not conform to their concepts, they must "fix" them.
Even if a traitor with a bad reputation does good things, he has bad intentions. If a good person does bad things, it is because of necessity and can be forgiven.
This time Zhang Ximeng is writing history. He hopes to adhere to a policy of talking more about government affairs, starting from the perspective of interests, and seeing who these strategies are beneficial to, thereby revealing the intentions behind them... Zhang Ximeng hopes to teach this set of things to all scholars, so that
You guys have mastered a magical weapon and hold the key to deciphering the vast annals of history.
It is a huge work and a well-intentioned work. Where Ming Dynasty will go from now on depends to a large extent on how well this book is edited.
Zhang Ximeng did not dare to neglect, and while he was busy, Zhu Yuanzhang took the initiative to visit and came to check.
Zhang Ximeng, Song Lian, and several civil servants came to greet him.
"My lord, there are so many things going on that I haven't sorted out the general outline yet. If my lord is in a hurry, I can hand over the outline I made earlier to your majesty."
Zhu Yuanzhang was absent-minded and said casually: "Not busy, not busy!"
He turned around, obviously having something on his mind, and Zhang Ximeng couldn't ask directly. Fortunately, Lao Zhu was not a person who kept things quiet.
After he made a circle, he said to Zhang Ximeng: "Sir, this time we conquered Dadu and captured Shangdu, but we got the Jade Seal of the Kingdom?"
"The Jade Seal of the Kingdom?" Zhang Ximeng shook his head subconsciously, "We did find some jade seals from the warehouse, but they may not be the Jade Seal of the Kingdom."
Hearing this, Lao Zhu suddenly frowned, "Could it be that the jade seal passed down from the country was not in the Yuan Dynasty?"
At this time, Song Lian, a scholar of the Hanlin Academy, said: "Your Majesty, as far as I know, as early as the Zhezong period of the Song Dynasty, some people thought that the so-called jade seal was fake, but the Song Dynasty court recognized it. Later, during the Jingkang period, this jade seal was lost to the Jin Dynasty.
Later, the Yuan Dynasty purchased a piece of jade seal from the private sector, but most of it was also a forgery."
Song Lian considered it and said: "After so many years, constant wars, and dynasties changing, the jade seal may have been lost long ago, and it is no longer authentic."
Upon hearing this, Lao Zhu's face turned dark and he couldn't help but said: "Then, can't we find it?"
Song Lian shook his head helplessly.
Lao Zhu became more and more annoyed, "So, since we don't have the national jade seal, we can only be a white emperor? That will be laughed at!"
Since the beginning of Qin Shihuang, the jade seal passed down to the country has long been a symbol of emperors of all dynasties. If you cannot get the jade seal passed down to the country, you are not orthodox and can only be called the emperor in vain.
Originally, when Zhu Yuanzhang ascended the throne in Yingtian, he didn't care about this. He felt that he had conquered Dadu, so he naturally took back the jade seal.
But when the Ming army entered Dadu, the jade seal was not found.
After entering Xanadu, the jade seal was not found.
Lan Yu captured the Iron Pot Emperor, and Zhu Yuanzhang also sent someone to ask, but there was still no evidence.
Now it's better. If he can't find the jade seal, he can only be a white emperor and be laughed at. Lao Zhu is quite upset... Zhu Yuanzhang in history was quite worried about this matter. He couldn't find the jade seal, so he just dug it out in one go.
I bought seventeen jade seals, but the quality is not enough, so I have to make up the quantity.
Now that the jade seal cannot be found, Lao Zhu naturally comes to Zhang Ximeng to find a solution.
Seeing the emperor's sullen face and feeling unhappy, Song Lian tried to say: "Your Majesty, if you must find the jade seal, there is actually a way!"
"What can we do?" Zhu Yuanzhang asked anxiously.
"Just find a soldier or farmer to hold the jade seal and present it to His Majesty."
Zhu Yuanzhang chuckled and said, "If he says yes, who will believe it?"
Song Lian coughed lightly and said: "Actually, there are many such things. The key is to see if there are people with enough weight to stand up and testify for this jade seal!"
Zhu Yuanzhang frowned, as if he understood what he meant. He subconsciously looked at Zhang Ximeng, his eyes gleaming.
Song Lian smiled apologetically and said: "Your Majesty, Prime Minister Zhang is a rare scholar in the world. If Prime Minister Zhang is willing to take the lead in identifying and recognizing the jade seal, there seems to be nothing more to say."
Zhang Ximeng was slightly surprised. He didn't expect that he actually had such weight and could determine the authenticity of the jade seal! What a big face!
"As expected, it still depends on sir!" Zhu Yuanzhang said with relief.
Zhang Ximeng rolled his eyelids. If he really did this and recognized a broken stone as a national jade seal, he would definitely be the butt of laughter. I wonder what kind of wind Lao Zhu got?
But Zhu Yuanzhang was obviously not here for discussion.
Zhang Ximeng rolled his eyes, so why did he do this: "Of course I am willing to help... but I am a little worried. The National History Museum compiles history and strives to put the lord in the position of reviving China, alongside the ancestral dragon. If the lord picks up a
I don’t know if the genuine and fake jade seal made by Zulong will damage the lord’s saintliness!”
Zhu Yuanzhang was immediately speechless, "Then, what should we do?"