The imperial tower of Xuandemen is paved with bright yellow imperial curtains.
The emperor's throne is high above.
Because of the grand ceremony of presenting prisoners today, the Ministry of War, East Shangge Gate, Yushitai, and Taichang Temple worked hard all night to set up this platform before dawn.
But I saw the official family coming out of the inner east gate, followed by Wang Gui and Zhang Yue, the two prime ministers of Zhongshu, and hundreds of officials followed them in turn.
After the emperor ascended to the throne, all the civil and military officials in the gate tower and all the guests and envoys walked northward to pay homage to the emperor three times.
This time to present the prisoner gift, the officials specially invited Wang Gui and Zhang Yue to go upstairs to watch the ceremony. The emperor sat facing south, and Wang Gui and Zhang Yue sat sideways.
Zhang Yue looked around and saw that the entire imperial street was packed with people. In the distance, Li Xian, dressed in red, rode a tall horse to escort the prisoners and led a mighty team to Xuandemen.
Zhang Yue sat next to the emperor and thought to himself that the present prisoner offering gift was passed down from the Yin Shang Dynasty. The Yin Shang Dynasty's murderous sacrifices retained the primitive barbaric customs, which can be described as very cruel.
After the reform of the system by Zhou Gong, it has been handed down to be much more civilized. This is the progress of Zhou Li's core value of "Emperor and Heaven have no relatives, but virtue is the assistant".
The important events of the country are to sacrifice to the Rong. Military rituals combine the sacrifices and the Rong. This is to show off the military power to all the people and establish a culture of advocating martial arts.
Until the Song Dynasty, Taizong felt that he had basically brought peace to the world, so he issued an "Edict to cease troops."
From then on, the Song Dynasty abandoned martial arts, emphasized literature over martial arts, and changed its focus from expansion to inward expansion. Therefore, the custom of offering prisoner gifts and advocating military merit was once curbed.
Until this time, Zhang Yue, after a great victory, organized the prisoner ceremony with great enthusiasm. The first purpose was to reshape the customs. Only by changing the customs could legislation be implemented.
The second is to establish the authority of the emperor, which is also the shi in the power of force. The authority of the emperor is enhanced through war, and then this authority is amplified through large-scale rituals and ceremonies.
Of course, this is Zhang Yue's top-level design. For the participants, they will naturally be affected by the environment as they unknowingly integrate into it.
Any ritual has a political meaning behind it.
The power behind political significance to inspire people's hearts, what could be more inspiring to the hearts and minds of soldiers and people than offering sacrifices to prisoners?
But they saw Li Xian marching in front, leading nearly ten thousand soldiers to escort hundreds of prisoners across the imperial bridge. The soldiers in front and behind beat gongs and drums and sang triumphal songs.
Horses and infantry troops lined up on both sides of the Royal Street, and people rushed to watch.
The shadow of the last two summer expeditions has not yet passed, and the people are holding their breath deep in their hearts.
Why did we lose to Dangxiang again? Are we all being bullied now?
The people from top to bottom have asked themselves this question. Now that we have won a great victory, everyone from top to bottom is naturally happy.
The officials watched the prisoners being escorted through the Royal Street and asked Zhang Yue, "Can the prisoners be treated well?"
Zhang Yue said: "One catty of meat and two catties of rice and noodles every day. These are all good supplies and I don't dare to neglect them."
The official said: "That's good. When Wang Quanbin destroyed Shu and trapped and killed 27,000 Shu army prisoners, I was really unhappy to think about it."
Zhang Yue said: "Everything was done in the beginning of the country, but now your majesty's benevolent heart is known to the world, and the soldiers below will not dare to mess with it."
The official said: "Okay."
After a while, Li Xian led the prisoners to Xuande Gate and led them to the place where they were presented.
The generals below Li Xian were all armed with swords and military uniforms, and the left and right were holding cloths and a box and presented them to the palace first.
After a while, the box was passed up to the imperial tower.
The chamberlain opened the box and a lime-coated head was presented to the official for inspection.
There is no doubt that this leader is Liang Yimi. Although he has been dealt with, the officials still frowned when they saw this. However, they could not show the kindness of women at this time, so they did not change their eyes. But this scene was immediately seen by the chamberlain and applauded.
Show it to Wang Gui.
Wang Gui pretended to sigh and said: "If I had known this, why did I do it in the first place?"
Later, the head was passed to Zhang Yue, and he took a look at it without much reaction.
The official's expression was natural and he said: "It will be passed on to all the officials, and the guests will have a look."
Liang Yi's head was sent downstairs for viewing.
This time everyone could see it clearly, especially several tribute envoys from the Western Regions who had also gone in and out of Dangxiang Palace and met Liang Yi, the leader of Dangxiang and the Prime Minister.
Liang Yi was so high and mighty before, but now his body and head are separated here.
Seeing this scene, all the tribute envoys from the Western Regions trembled and bowed to the officials on the imperial tower. Seeing this, Zhang Yue suddenly remembered the classic saying that foreigners' knees cannot bend.
The official extended his hand to indicate to the envoy that there was no need to be polite.
Only then did the envoys regain their composure.
After delivering the first message, Wang Gui immediately read out the announcement.
"The privy envoys of Qinfeng Road, Yongxing Military Road, and Hedong Road, Han Zhen, the envoy of Huanqing Road, Li Xian, the envoy of Lanhuixihe Zhizhi, and Shen Kuo, the envoy of Jingyuan Road, went to Zhongshu's door: Chen et al. Wen Fei
Frost stirs up electricity, so God declares his power; when he punishes the people, the king of Ming Dynasty uses it to show off his power..."
General Lu Bu explained clearly the ins and outs of the two Lanzhou victories. At the same time, he also talked about how cruel Dang Xiang's army was, and how the soldiers worked hard through countless battles, succeeded in one battle, and ended the war with a battle.
After the announcement was made, all the generals and commanders under the city drew their swords from their scabbards.
Some of the hundreds of prisoners kowtowed to plead guilty, while others did not beg for mercy but just closed their eyes, waiting to be punished.
In the end, the officials selected a dozen party leaders or generals who had repeatedly attacked the Song Dynasty and were regarded as vanguards and took them to Xishi to kill them, while imprisoning the rest.
These people were led by the generals on the left and right with white-collar ties and escorted away. The rest of the people were also escorted to standby. When the officials and the people saw this scene, they were all shouting with joy.
"Long live!"
"Long live!"
"Long live!"
The official looked moved when he was sitting on the throne, and immediately smiled and greeted the officials and the people.
But the people below couldn't bear it and were so excited that they broke through the obstruction of the officers and soldiers and rushed to the left and right of the imperial tower to shout to Tianzi Mountain.
Suddenly the shouts of "Hail, Long Live" resounded throughout the audience.
The officials were very happy to see this. Feeling the joy in their hearts, they said to Zhang Yue: "Thanks to you, I know the glory of the emperor today."
Wang Gui was not jealous when he heard this, as if he had become accustomed to it.
Zhang Yue said humbly: "Your Majesty, my hard work is not enough to repay Your Majesty for your kindness."
The officials were very happy when they saw Zhang Yue's achievements but were not arrogant. They thought, Xining, I have Wang Anshi as my prime minister, and Yuanfeng, I have you, Zhang Yue, as my prime minister. The revival of the Song Dynasty is just around the corner.
If the previous words were still to win over and praise, the official did not say these words, but kept them in his heart.
The official immediately stood up from his throne and said, "Give me something."
The attendants rewarded the officials with crowns, clothing, jewelry, and gold and silver coins. Yuanfeng was rich in wealth, and the officials and generals received heavy rewards.
The officials and generals who received the reward once again thanked the officials. There was also a general who, after thanking the officials for the reward, actually spread his jewelry and coins among the people with a wave of his hand.
It caused the people to fight for it.
The servant's expression changed, but the official did not take it seriously and said: "In the past, Huo was cured of illness and attacked the Xiongnu. He spilled the royal wine into the river and drank with the soldiers. It is also a good story."
Everyone was relieved when they heard this.
After saying this, the official turned around and went downstairs to sit on the chariot and return to the palace. Seeing this, the officials and the people all bid farewell.
…
Zhang Yue returned to his mansion and learned that Han Zhen's staff, Xu Xi and Lu Dazhong from the Sixth Route Privy Council, were seeking an audience at his mansion.
What the two brought was a letter from Han Zhen to Zhang Yue.
After reading the letter, Zhang Yue slapped the table and said, "What does Han Zhen mean? When your wings become stiff, you want to fly?"
Seeing Zhang Yue getting angry, Xu Xi and Lu Dazhong lowered their heads and dared not speak.
