The expeditionary army went all the way north from Jinling and arrived in Beijing in March.
For Wang Xian and others, this was a pleasant journey, because a few years ago, the emperor ordered the Grand Canal to be dredged again, so all their luggage for this trip was carried on the ship, and the officers and soldiers were able to travel north lightly. In terms of solar terms
, it will be Grain Rain soon. Before and after Grain Rain, you can plant melons and beans. The moisture has moved on the vast North China Plain. Willow branches have turned from yellow to green, elm branches are blooming green, cows are cheering and horses are barking, and the spring light is like wine. Walking on the wide official road,
It's like going on an outing.
This is the first time in Wang Xian's life that he has gone north along the canal. It is impossible to wander around along the way, but after crossing the Huaihe River, he still clearly feels that the clothes and appearance of the people are much worse than those in Jiangnan, especially those who are stretched.
The civilian husband was not fully clothed, with a sallow complexion and a numb and lifeless expression. Wang Xian had seen faces like this on the victims of the disaster in Hangzhou, but he did not expect that they would all have such expressions in Shandong province.
"Is there a disaster in Shandong?" On the way, he finally couldn't help but asked in a low voice.
"It's true that it's a disaster, but it's not a natural disaster..." Xu Huaiqing, who has now been promoted to Deputy Qianhu, is from Jinan Prefecture. Hearing this, he sighed: "But it's also true to say that it's a natural disaster..."
"What do you mean?" Wang Xian asked.
Xu Huaiqing hesitated, and then whispered for a while: "If you tell me, you will get into trouble, but I can trust the military advisor... Shandong is not liked by the current emperor."
"Yeah." Wang Xian changed his mind and understood what he meant. Shandong, especially Luxi, was the main battlefield of the Jingnan Campaign. Zhu Di sent troops to Jingnan and defeated Li Jinglong's 500,000-strong army. He was waiting to make a big move and take advantage of the situation to go south.
However, he kicked an iron plate in Jinan Mansion and was beaten by Tie Xuan until his teeth were all over the floor. He almost lost his life. After two years of fighting, the trees were about to fall and the hozens would be scattered... Later, there was no other choice, so he had to take risks and go south.
Unexpectedly, the auspicious stars were shining brightly, and he entered Jinling and became the emperor. He then mobilized troops to surround Jinan, and finally defeated it with great effort.
Zhu Di suffered so much from Tie Xuan in Shandong, so he naturally wanted to take crazy revenge. Not only did he cook Tie Xuan and his son, but he also launched a retaliatory massacre in Shandong. In the following years, whether it was conquering Mobei or building a canal, Zhu Di
He first conquered all the people in Shandong, and at the same time refused to exempt a grain of grain tax even in disaster years. The people's taxes and services were many times heavier than those in the world, how could they make a living?
Walking by the Grand Canal, which was dug by Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty and dredged by Emperor Yongle, looking at the miserable people on the riverside... Wang Xianxin said, Guaiguai Longdi Dong, he has been to three places in Zhejiang, Zhili and Shandong.
The people all regard Zhu Di as their enemy. This Emperor Yongle is really... I would rather let the world betray me than let the world betray me.
But when the army left Shandong, he saw a completely different scene, especially after passing through Cangzhou. The whole way was filled with incense and flowers, and the people cheered to see them off... That kind of scene where hundreds of miles along the way, people were drinking sweet flowers and sweet wine.
No government has the ability to organize the scene of drinking wine and worshiping Chen. Moreover, Zhu Di did not know whether it was to avoid embarrassment or fear of delaying farm work. He had already issued an order to all levels of government to only provide trackers and not to welcome them.
Come and deliver.
"This is the land of His Majesty's Longxing." Mo Wen is from Tongzhou. His family is a military household. He has practiced martial arts and learned the art of war since he was a child. With his extraordinary talent, he stands out from the crowd. However, he is the seventh eldest, so he has no chance to take his turn.
Before inheriting the military position, he took the military examination. He explained to Wang Xian softly: "The emperor started the army from our Youyan area. After the emperor succeeded in appeasement, he not only reduced the number of soldiers on our side many times,
We pay taxes and reward the people with money and silk to thank them for their service to the dragon..." Then he warned in a low voice: "Don't say anything about the emperor here, otherwise it will be troublesome for the people to hear."
"No wonder the emperor always lives in Beijing for half a year." Wang Xian nodded, thinking that there is indeed no love without reason in the world, and there is no hatred without reason... Most of Jianwen's old ministers were from Zhejiang, and Zhu Di recovered after he became the emperor.
The Hongwu Dynasty imposed heavy taxes on Zhejiang, so the people in Zhejiang did not like him; almost every family in the capital died during the liquidation in the early years of Yongle. How could they not hate this emperor? Not to mention Shandong, Jinan Prefecture
It's still very inhabited now... No wonder Zhu Di later moved the capital to Beijing. Of course people want to find a place to live where everyone likes them.
No matter how good his historical knowledge was, Wang Xian knew that Zhu Di moved his capital to Beijing, but he couldn't remember the specific year.
"Yes, the emperor cannot live without Peiping, so he built the Changling Mausoleum in Changping." Mo Wen whispered: "People in Yanjing all say that the emperor will move the capital to Peking in the future... Oh no, where is Beijing.
"Beiping is an old name. In the Yongle Dynasty, because it was Zhu Di's place of Longxing, it was upgraded to a companion capital and called Beijing.
"Oh..." Wang Xian thought in his heart, it was not a legend, but a certainty. But he never dared to say this. If it reached the ears of the Jin Yiwei, the ten grandsons would not be able to protect themselves. Otherwise, they would all be executed.
When he arrived at the gates of Beijing, he was even more convinced of his judgment... This magnificent capital city has been basically completed. It is taller, larger and more majestic than the one in the south, and has the spirit of a celestial dynasty. From the towering city gate that has not yet been named,
Entering downstairs, straight and wide avenues extend in all directions... Although the buildings have not yet been completed and it still looks like a large construction site, you can already feel the grandeur. The incomparable grandeur is like suddenly entering a huge world, which is shocking.
Forgot the grandeur of breathing
Not only Wang Xian, but all the officers and soldiers who first arrived in Beijing were stunned by the sight before them. Although they came from the capital, Jinling City is surrounded by mountains and rivers. For a super city, the terrain is very cramped and all kinds of buildings
It had to adapt to local conditions and did not care about the central axis or symmetry. Naturally, it could not compare with Beijing in terms of momentum.
"Unexpectedly, it is completely new..." Mo Wen swallowed and spat: "I came to Peiping when I was a child. It was only a little over twenty years after King Zhongshan built the city of Peiping. The city walls and buildings were still new."
"Haha," Wang Xian said with a smile: "The emperor is so angry that he wants a brand new capital.
"Well," Mo Wen nodded and whispered: "But it's enough to waste people and money..." A few days ago, he told Wang Xian not to say anything bad about the emperor. Today, he, a cautious person like him, couldn't bear it.
Living.
"The war is about to begin. Don't say anything that hurts morale." Wang Xian patted him on the shoulder and said with a smile: "Hurry up and let the soldiers enter the camp to rest. Your Majesty has mercy on you and rest for three days. If you set off again, you will not have a good life." In fact, it's good.
The days passed from Tongzhou, and the canal reached its end. The burden on the soldiers suddenly became much heavier, and they were no longer as relaxed as before.
But what is even more tragic is Zhu Zhanji. At least Wang Xian and the others enjoyed some leisure time, but His Highness Taisun had to study with several masters every day... This was the emperor's will, and Zhu Di ordered the cabinet bachelors to study strictly every day.
Teaching your great-grandson not to be neglected in both civil and military affairs. This is like going on a trip, thinking you can finally relax, but in the end you still have to stay with a tutor. Would you say it is miserable or not?
Zhu Di had very high requirements for the city of Beijing. In the seventh year of Yongle, the Fengtian Hall built on the basis of Yandi's old palace was completed. However, he was not satisfied after seeing it, so he ordered it to be demolished and rebuilt. Before the Forbidden City was repaired, he ordered it to be rebuilt.
The West Palace is a temporary residence,
Although it is a temporary residence, it is not ambiguous at all. There are also Fengtian Gate, Meridian Gate, Chengtian Gate, Fengtian Palace... There are more than 1,630 palaces and houses, and the specifications are similar to the imperial palace in Nanjing. It can be seen that although it is in the city, it is
Zhu Di did not regard Beijing as a residence, but as a serious capital.
At this moment, the emperor put on his casual robes and walked leisurely in the warm hall of Fengtian Palace. His voice was full of rare joy and he said: "It's strange to say that as soon as I return to Beijing, I will be full of life again and I won't feel anything wrong."
"The climate in the north is dry, so rheumatism cannot cause trouble." Hu Guang, the chief minister of the cabinet who Wang Xian had met once, appeared beside the emperor. In fact, he was not yet in mourning, but he was taken back from his love due to the war and accompanied him on the expedition.
The greatest advantage of this great bachelor is that he never makes the emperor angry, let alone when the emperor is so happy: "The humble minister is also feeling comfortable all over, and his old bones seem to be several years younger."
"Yes, that's what it feels like." Zhu Di looked rosy and energetic. He quickly walked to the imperial desk, unfolded a map, pointed with his finger and said: "Beijing is a good place. Both the Jin and Yuan dynasties established their capitals here.
"It's not without reason." The ministers had never heard the emperor's loud and excited voice in Nanjing: "It is the throat that connects the inside and outside of the Great Wall, the north and south of the desert. To the southeast is a vast plain, and to the west is a stretch of land that stretches to the outside of Shanhaiguan."
The mountain ranges. The passes in the mountains have the power of "one man can guard the pass, and no one can open it. According to this, the mountains and rivers are so powerful that they can control the Tatars and dominate the world. They are the foundation of our Ming Dynasty for eternity." He said with some emotion: "So Yongle
Five years later, the Queen passed away. I did not build the imperial mausoleum in Purple Mountain. Instead, I built the Changling Tomb of myself and the Queen in Changping. This is to let the people of the world understand that the gate of our Ming Dynasty is guarded by the emperor.
"
"The emperor's words from the bottom of his heart made all the ministers deeply moved. I thank you on behalf of the people of the world." Hu Guang hurriedly shouted and praised him. Seeing him kneeling down, the other ministers secretly cursed him as a flatterer, so they had no choice but to praise him.
"Haha, get up." Zhu Di said with a happy smile: "I will not treat you badly. I will wait until the capital is completely completed in two years. If you look at it, you will definitely not want to leave when you come."
Even the princes and generals could hear the hint in the emperor's words. Most of them were from Yanjing. Of course they were willing to return to their hometowns in fine clothes and were naturally overjoyed. But the civil servants were not happy... They were all from the south.
In their eyes, no matter what Beijing is called, it is just a frontier fortress and a bitter cold place. Who would want to move here from the south of the Yangtze River? But the emperor did not say it clearly, and they had no way to object. They were just secretly alert in their hearts. It seemed that they wanted to keep the capital.