At the foot of Mount Tai, the streets were deserted as everyone flocked to the area.
Before the morning mist had even dissipated, Mount Tai was already bustling with activity. Tens of thousands of people had been waiting along the mountain paths since early morning, eager to witness the grand spectacle of the emperor ascending the mountain to perform the Fengshan ceremony.
"Don't push!" the thug on horseback shouted, maintaining order. "Stand where you're supposed to! Where's the drummer? Get your act together!"
Before the words were finished, a troop of black-armored cavalry galloped towards them: "Report! His Majesty's imperial carriage has arrived outside the city!"
"Perfect timing!" the wicked man slapped his horse's back. "Give me the order: everyone to your positions!"
Immediately, the honor guard, which had been preparing for some time, quickly lined up. Five thousand drummers stood on both sides of the mountain road, and three thousand large flags fluttered in the wind, creating a magnificent sight.
"Grand Commandant," Zhang Erhe leaned closer and whispered, "look at the sky..."
The wicked man looked up at the sky and saw the thin mist gradually dissipating, and the rising sun painting the entire Mount Tai with a golden hue.
"Heaven is on our side!" he laughed heartily. "Isn't this scene perfect for our grand Fengshan ceremony?"
As they were talking, the sound of horns came from afar. Then, a procession of honor guards slowly approached, led by Ying Zheng's imperial carriage.
"Beat the drums!" the wicked man commanded.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
A deafening drumbeat suddenly rang out, echoing through the valley like muffled thunder. The people on both sides knelt down, shouting "Long live the Emperor!"
Ying Zheng, dressed in a black dragon robe, sat upright on the magnificent golden imperial carriage.
Sunlight streamed through the clouds, bathing him in its golden glow, adding to his ethereal beauty.
"Your Majesty," the wicked man rode forward, "everything is ready. Please ascend the mountain, Your Majesty!"
Ying Zheng looked around and saw banners waving and drums and music playing on both sides of the mountain road. He couldn't help but nod slightly.
This beloved general certainly did not disappoint him.
"Issue the order: Climb the mountain!"
At a command, the grand procession began to ascend the stone steps.
With each step forward, the drums on both sides grew louder.
The momentum was so great that it seemed to pierce the clouds.
"Your Majesty, please look," the wicked man pointed to the mountainside, "these stone steps have been meticulously polished, each one perfectly stable. Even your imperial carriage can proceed smoothly."
Ying Zheng examined the stone steps before him. Indeed, each step was near perfect, gleaming with a bluish-white light in the sunlight. This was no ordinary craftsman's work.
"The Grand Commandant is very kind."
"This is all I should do," the wicked man laughed. "But if Your Majesty thinks this is grand enough, you are sorely mistaken!"
Before the words were finished, a clear bell rang out from the mountainside. The sound grew louder as it approached, gradually blending into a heavenly melody.
Ying Zheng sat up straight involuntarily: "This is..."
"These are wind chimes specially made by Xiangli He and Zizhen of the Mohist school," the wicked man said smugly. "They installed hundreds of sound tubes on the roof of the palace; a mere breeze can produce heavenly music. What do you think?"
Before Ying Zheng could answer, the scene before him changed again.
As the palace atop the mountain gradually came into view, its majestic main hall pierced the clouds, while the surrounding pavilions and towers shone brilliantly in the morning sun, resembling dragons and phoenixes in flight.
"Excellent!" Ying Zheng finally couldn't help but exclaim, "This is truly magnificent, worthy of a grand ceremony!"
The wicked man chuckled, "Your Majesty, please wait a moment, there's something even better!"
As they spoke, the honor guard had already reached the mountainside. Looking into the distance, the thousands of people and envoys from various countries below appeared as tiny as ants.
"Have all the envoys from various countries arrived?"
"Indeed," said the wicked husband. "They've all been waiting for this day. Tell me, when we pull this off, won't they be speechless with shock?"
Ying Zheng nodded slightly. How could he not know the significance of this Fengshan ceremony?
This was not only a symbol of his establishment of the imperial system, but also an opportunity to demonstrate the might of the Qin Dynasty to all nations.
"Your Majesty, please look," the wicked man said, pointing ahead, "that is the altar for offering sacrifices to Heaven. I had the finest jade specially selected to carve it, just waiting for Your Majesty to use it for the ceremony!"
Ying Zheng looked up and saw that the altar was crystal clear, carved with patterns of dragons, phoenixes, and auspicious clouds. Under the sunlight, it looked like a huge piece of jade inlaid in the sky.
Gradually, the honor guard finally reached the top of the mountain.
"Your Majesty, please look!" The wicked man pointed into the distance. "The weather is fine today; looking east, you can even see the Bohai Sea!"
Ying Zheng gazed into the distance. Sure enough, the sky and earth were clear, and the vast blue Bohai Sea in the distance merged with the horizon.
"Very good." He nodded slightly. "This is indeed a good place for the Fengshan ceremony."
"Your Majesty," the Imperial Clan Minister stepped forward, "the time has come; we may begin the sacrificial ceremony to Heaven..."
Ying Zheng nodded slightly and walked up to the altar.
Countless eyes were focused on this emperor.
Just then, the wicked husband suddenly waved his hand.
"Thump!"
A deafening roar erupted as the large bell atop the mountain rang out, its resounding sound so powerful it seemed to soar into the heavens.
Immediately afterwards, hundreds of large drums sounded simultaneously. The drumbeats were like thunder, shaking the mountains and rivers.
Then, the wind chimes in the mountains rang out one after another. The clear and melodious sound of the bells and the deep sound of the drums and bells complemented each other, like heavenly music.
"May the Qin Dynasty live ten thousand years!"
"Long live the First Emperor!"
"Great Qin, mighty and mighty!"
The shouts of tens of thousands of people below the mountain rose into the sky and echoed for a long time in the valley.
Just then, with a few "whoosh" sounds, fireworks burst into the sky.
Golden light shot into the sky, transforming into countless stars.
The starlight was first golden, then turned emerald green, and finally transformed into a purple radiance, illuminating the entire sky with a dazzling array of colors.
The people and envoys below the mountain were dumbfounded. Such a spectacle, such grandeur, truly opened their eyes to a whole new world, something they had never witnessed before!
Ying Zheng stood on the altar, looking down upon all living beings. At that moment, he truly felt a sense of "standing on the highest peak, looking down upon all the mountains below."
"The sky is infinitely high, the earth is immeasurably thick..."
He softly recited the sacrificial text he had prepared beforehand. Though his voice was not loud, it exuded an aura of dominance that seemed to transcend heaven and earth.
Ying Zheng raised his hand, picked up the jade seal used for the Fengshan ceremony, and solemnly pressed it onto the sacrificial text, declaring, "By the mandate of Heaven, may your reign be long and prosperous!"
Suddenly, the sound of bells and drums resounded throughout the mountain once more. The sound rose higher and higher, soaring straight into the sky.
At that moment, he seemed to foresee that this grand ceremony would be celebrated by future generations for thousands of years.
He, the first emperor in history to establish the imperial system, will be forever recorded in history along with this Fengshan ceremony at Mount Tai!
As the sun rose higher and higher, it bathed the entire Mount Tai in a golden glow.
This day, this moment, is destined to be remembered forever by posterity!
The wicked man stood aside, watching the back of the first emperor of all time, his heart filled with mixed emotions.
He knew that from now on, the world would never again be the place where warlords ruled.
Having unified the six kingdoms, and now proclaiming it to the world atop Mount Tai, the arduous journey undertaken by six generations of ancestors has come to a perfect end.
Having transmigrated to this world for many years, he has finally achieved half of his goal.
Next comes the ambition to conquer the world and set new goals!
Thinking of this, he was filled with excitement. What more could he ask for than to witness this unprecedented event?
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