Towards the end of the year, there were more and more pedestrians on the road. A carriage passing by could hit an official if it was thrown around and turned around. Even the most insensitive person noticed that something big seemed to be happening in Zhao State.
Soon, a notice appeared in Handan City, kicking off the reform.
"The king has decreed that the last day of each year will be designated as New Year's Eve. The first day of each year, that is, January 1, will be designated as Yuan Day. It takes the meaning of eradicating the old and replacing it with the new, and all things will be renewed. On these two days, the people of the country should sacrifice to the ancestors of heaven and earth and drive away evil spirits.
In case of disaster, pray for blessings."
"Every March 3rd is designated as the Shangsi Festival to commemorate the Yellow Emperor Xuanyuan. Every April 26th is designated as the Yaowang Festival to commemorate the Yan Emperor Shennong. On these two days every year, people across the country should worship Xuanyuan and Shennong."
"At the same time, every year at this time, the king will lead the people across the country to worship the dead soldiers. On the day of the festival, taxes on goods entering the city and curfews will be cancelled. Everyone can freely enter and exit all cities in Zhao Kingdom, except during wars."
The staff who posted the notice read it loudly three times and then posted it on the most conspicuous place on the city wall.
At the same time, fast horses galloped out of the city, carrying notices across the country.
"Festival? What does it mean? But it would be great to cancel the tax on goods entering the city and the curfew for the next four days." Everyone commented one after another.
They have never heard of festivals before, nor have they heard of New Year's Eve or Xuanyuan Shennong. They are not interested in it. These have little to do with them. However, it is still very good to cancel the tax on goods entering the city and the curfew.
In this case, they can also bring some goods to sell in the city and earn some change. Zhao State does not prohibit ordinary people from doing business.
"It should be similar to the solar terms. The first day is a bit like the beginning of the year. We all celebrated it in the past, but it has little to do with us Guizhou leaders. It is celebrated by the dignitaries." Someone said.
Although the New Year's Eve and the Spring Festival have already taken shape during this period, they are only prototypes. The time of the first year of the year is different in different countries. The lunar calendar falls in Mengchun, the Shang calendar falls in December of winter, and the weekly calendar falls in November of winter.
The three Jin Dynasties all used the lunar calendar. The Qin State used to use the Zhou calendar. Later, the King of Qin changed it to the Zhuanxu calendar. The first month of the year is in October. But this year, the King of Qin changed it to the first month of the year. Historically, it has to wait until
After Qin Shihuang, it will be restored to October.
The State of Chu used to use a weekly calendar, but later changed October to January.
In short, there are some who use any calendar, and there are also some who change the original calendar. Later, Qin Shihuang couldn't stand it anymore and unified it.
"But who do you know who Huang Emperor Xuanyuan and Yan Emperor Shennong are?" someone asked.
"I don't know." Everyone shook their heads. It was a bit difficult for them, who didn't know a single Chinese character, to answer this question.
"It seems... the leader of an ancient tribe. If we trace it back, he might be our ancestor." A voice sounded weakly from the crowd.
After hearing this, everyone suddenly understood and nodded, "If they are our ancestors, they should still be sacrificed. What did they do?"
"I don't know much. I heard the teacher mention it before. In fact, not only our Zhao, Yan, Qi, Qin, and Chu countries are descendants of the Yellow Emperor and the Yan Emperor. It is said that three thousand years ago..."
A man came out from behind and spoke slowly. Everyone made room for him to stand in the middle.
"Is this the king's method?" Xunzi stood on the top of the city, looking at the people gathered below, and murmured.
Scenes like this are happening everywhere in Handan, and will sweep across the entire Zhao Kingdom and even the world in the next period of time.
"Yes, if this continues, within ten years, Huang Emperor Xuanyuan and Yan Emperor Shennong will be deeply rooted in the hearts of the people." Zhao Kuo said that there is no such thing as the descendants of Yan and Huang in this era. Except for the nobles who are tracing their origins, the people will not care about these things.
.
They had never even heard of who Xuanyuan and Shennong were.
And Zhao Kuo wanted to establish a common belief for the Zhao country and even the world. Perhaps most people would not recognize it at first, but under the influence of special festivals, it would gradually become popular among people.
After one generation, two generations, or ten generations, the name Descendants of Yan and Huang will be deeply ingrained in everyone's blood.
He originally wanted to wait until he unified the world to implement this plan, but now Zhao State has included, native Zhao people, Zhongshan people who integrated into Zhao State decades ago, Loufan, Linhu, Hezong people, and Hejian County
There are people from the Yan State, people from the Qi State in Jixi County, people from the Wei State in Ye County, half of the Koreans in Shangdang County, and people from Tao County who used to be the Song State and were ruled by Qi State and Qin State for a period of time.
Except that Zhongshan was almost eroded by the Zhao State before it was destroyed, and its culture is the same as that of the Zhao State.
Yejun and Shangdang are close to the State of Zhao. Their language, characters, and customs are almost the same as those of the State of Zhao, so it is not difficult to integrate into the State of Zhao.
There is still a long way to go before other places can truly become the ‘Old Place of Zhao State’. In many cases, Zhao State has to compromise with local governments for the sake of stability.
Not only does the world need a common ancestral belief, the Zhao State also needs a common ancestral belief. Only in this way can the Zhao State truly integrate into one and assimilate the four directions.
Instead of being a Zhao person today, a Korean person tomorrow, and a Wei person the day after tomorrow.
So Zhao Kuo came up with this plan in advance, and when he unified the world, he would just carry the name of the descendants of Yan and Huang on everyone.
Moreover, Zhao Kuo has sent a large number of public intellectuals to promote the idea that all countries are one family.
Those who do not plan for the world are not good enough for Zhao.
Not only that, the workshop has produced a large number of statues of the Yellow Emperor and the Yan Emperor and shipped them to various countries with the help of Zhao merchants.
What, you said the common people can't afford it? Sorry, it's free. I don't want money. Isn't that okay?
If you buy a hoe, you will get a small statue, if you buy a set of farm tools, you will get a large statue, if you buy a horse, you will get a painted statue.
Don’t want to buy anything? Oh, I just have one left here, so I’ll give it to you for free. Next time I pass by your place, knock on the door and ask for a drink, bro, just don’t refuse.
No matter you are from Zhao, Wei, Qi or Chu, I will treat you equally.
It's a free thing, and it's not something you keep. It can be used as a decoration at home.
Moreover, Chinese people have a characteristic. Even if they do not believe in gods, Allah, Buddha and other things, they like to worship them when they have something to do. When they are no longer needed, they throw them away. When they are needed, they will find them and put them on the table.
Anyway, I won’t suffer any loss, just in case it turns out to be true.
These folk sacrifices cannot be controlled by the government, and they cannot control them. Just like someone in Chu State commemorated Qu Yuan, even if the King of Chu couldn't stand it anymore, he could only choose to acquiesce, and even spread slowly.