Chapter 223 Starry Sea
On the huge square outside the Ganyang Palace, a large cauldron for offering sacrifices to heaven was placed to connect heaven and earth and to control the world.
The shouts of the ministers in worship also echoed in the tripod.
After all the ministers have finished their ceremony, the ceremonial officer will start chanting "hello" again.
A large number of royal families from the former dynasties of various countries outside Kyushu, holding scrolls and brocades in their hands, marched in under the watchful eyes of a group of civil and military officials.
This is a grand scene unprecedented in history.
Back then, to demonstrate the grandeur of the empire, Emperor Yang Guang planted cherry and pomegranate trees along the Tianjie Street in the Imperial City, bringing running water along the roadside, a display of extreme luxury. During celebrations, brocade curtains were used and silk was wrapped around the trees.
In the sixth year of Daye, leaders and merchants from various countries in the Western Regions came to Luoyang.
Shops in Luoyang entertained Hu merchants for free, and the market dared not charge for food and drink. They even wrapped trees with silk to create the illusion of a "prosperous age."
Let Tianjie become the stage for this grand performance.
As soon as Hu Shang left Tianjie, he realized that the so-called "prosperous times" was just a beautiful dress draped over a skinny body covered with pus-soaked flesh.
But no one could imagine it.
Today, all nations come to pay tribute to the new king and congratulate him. The gifts they present are not corals, jade trees, or rare treasures, but pictures.
The former King Yeongryu of Goguryeo, now the governor of Goryeo County, walked at the front of the team.
He didn't dare to look up, holding the atlas all the way, and immediately bowed down after entering the Ganyang Palace.
First shout "Long live the emperor", then raise the scroll in your hand above your head.
He muttered in a loud voice:
"Your Majesty's holy virtue is far-reaching, illuminating the vast expanse of the world. Your divine majesty resonates far and wide, benefiting all lands. I, Gao Jianwu, a humble servant living in remote Haidong, have long been a descendant of Your Majesty's teachings and a benevolent influence. I now come to present to Your Majesty a scroll of the beautiful mountains and rivers of Goguryeo."
Eunuch Li from Jiangdu Palace took the regional map brought by Gao Jianwu and presented it in front of the emperor.
The map of Goguryeo is obviously not as long as the map of Yan.
Li Gongha immediately expanded.
Zhou Yi had an excellent eye. With just one glance, he could clearly see the precipitousness of the Yalu River, the majestic beauty of the Changbai Mountains, the arrangement of cities and garrisons, and the winding and straight paths on the map.
It can be seen that Gao Jianwu put a lot of effort into it.
Zhou Yi smiled slightly and asked, "Why are you offering the picture?"
Gao Jianwu, in a state of panic, bowed his head and kowtowed again: "I only hope that Your Majesty will show the wisdom of the sun and moon, recognize the sincerity of this humble minister, and make the remaining people of the East forever subject to your rule."
Hearing the voice of Prince Rongliu, the officials in the court were extremely excited.
Some former Sui Dynasty officials were filled with emotion.
Recalling the past when Yuan was regarded as dirt, I compare him with Jianwu who presented the map today.
There is no need for a million-strong army to invade Liaodong. The imperial power alone is enough to make all nations bow down and foreign races surrender their countries.
In front of all the court officials in Ganyang Palace, King Yeongryu, as the monarch of Goguryeo, declared that Goguryeo had officially become history, and a Goryeo County had been added to the Kyushu area.
After Gao Jianwu started.
Next came Tongyehu Khan from Western Turkestan.
The man with a huge hooked nose and a burly figure felt a chill on his back and was extremely nervous, fearing that the person on the throne would suddenly come to him to ask for a debt.
Fortunately, following the rhythm of King Rongliu, Tongyehu Khan successfully presented the map of Western Turkestan.
Throughout the whole process, Zhou Yi did not make things difficult for him.
After expressing his gratitude, Tong Yehu, like Gao Jianwu, joined the ranks of the civil and military officials of the Tang Dynasty like a court official.
The Western Turks belonged to Kyushu, and the title of Khan was a thing of the past, so he was naturally a subject.
Tong Yehu watched as Jie Li Khan's nephew and Bohai Kingdom's Dragon King Bai Ziting's uncle presented the map together. He breathed a sigh of relief and thanked Yun Shuai a thousand and ten thousand times in his heart.
I heard that it was Yun Shuai who drove the car and the oxen to help him get this precious opportunity.
Otherwise, his fate would be the same as that of Jie Li Khan and his gang on the north bank of the Wei River, with their heads chopped off.
Gaochang Kingdom, Tuyuhun, Tiele in the Western Regions, and Dangxiang Qiang in the Northwest.
The 32nd Tibetan king, Nangri Songtsen, even brought his young son Songtsen Gampo to pay homage.
The Ryukyu tribes in the East China Sea, the Linyi and Champa tribes in the south, and the Shiwei and Uighur tribes in the northern desert.
The mountains and rivers are beautiful in shape, and they all enter Kyushu.
Volumes of regional maps were all integrated into the territory of the Tang Dynasty.
As the emperor who had just ascended the throne, this gift from all nations was unique.
After the court congratulations, Zhou Yi rewarded his meritorious officials.
Du Fuwei, King of Huainan, was actually granted 3,000 households.
Xu Xing was granted the title of Duke of Zhao, but his actual fief was 2,800 households.
You Hongda was granted the title of Duke of Lai, with a fiefdom of 2,700 households.
Li Jing was granted the title of Duke of Weiguo, with a fiefdom of 2,600 households.
Shan Xiongxin, Chen Laomou, Yang Zhen, Xu Shiji, Dou Jiande, Lu Zushang, Zhang Xutuo, Song Lu, Song Zhi, Feng Ge, Qin Shubao, Cheng Yaojin, Luo Shixin and many other ministers who had made contributions to the country were rewarded with different official titles.
At the same time, a series of policies were announced to reduce taxes, ease the burden on the people, provide disaster relief, and improve laws.
In the official system, the six ministries responsible for execution remain unchanged.
The three ministries were transformed into the Cabinet, which served as advisors to the emperor and could "draft" memorials.
There was also a Jianli Pavilion to correspond to the Cabinet, but this Jianli Pavilion was not composed of eunuchs.
But it comes from the "Coffin Palace".
These people originally practiced the Coffin Palace martial arts, and the road ahead was difficult, but after Zhou Yi perfected the skills, they were able to break free from mental constraints.
And they have no worldly desire for power.
Inner demons are born from worldly desires, so those who pass the selection process for the Coffin Palace and enter the Supervisory Rites Pavilion cannot be bribed or threatened. They are able to be consistent, meticulously follow the rules, and strictly limit the power of the cabinet, making them a powerful tool for supervision.
Those who are devoted to martial arts can get the opportunity to practice secret techniques, and Zhou Yi stipulates a time limit.
When one reaches the age of sixty, the people in the Jianli Pavilion can resign at any time, which is a good opportunity to use the state of mind that has been honed over the years to pursue the ultimate in martial arts.
Xu Xingzhi and Wei Zheng entered the cabinet, and Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui, who were privately recommended by Erfeng, were also accepted by Zhou Yi.
From top to bottom, there are former relatives and friends, people who surrendered, and former opponents.
For talented people, Zhou Yi is not ashamed of their previous identities.
In his opinion, doing this is nothing.
But
These people, including Wei Zheng and Fang Xuanling, were very excited.
The Supreme Being is wise, benevolent, and there is no need for proof.
With a complete set of official systems in place and a special and strict supervision system, Zhou Yi felt relatively at ease.
Once you get through the initial period, it probably won't be a big problem even if you "train your body to be like a crane".
Where there are people, there will be conflicts, and this is inevitable.
However, as long as it is within the rules, it is acceptable.
On the first day of his enthronement ceremony, when many new policies were announced, Zhou Yi announced the "Imperial Examination System" in a serious tone.
It was not the Jinshi examination of Yang Guang's time, but an open examination with fair competition and selection of the best candidates. It was open to everyone and provided a channel for upward mobility for the common people and children from poor families.
In the morning, he is a farmer, and in the evening, he ascends the emperor's hall.
This is a challenge for the aristocratic families who desire class solidification. If the selection of talented and capable people continues, it will inevitably pose a threat to their status.
But when Zhou Yi announced this strategy and said he would build an official school, no one jumped out to oppose it.
Wei Zheng, who was deeply moved, was the first to stand up and kneel down to thank the people. He had been lonely and poor since childhood, and knew how difficult it was for students from poor families.
In his mind, Zhou Yi at this moment could almost be described as "a wise ruler of all ages."
All the officials followed Wei Zheng and expressed their gratitude together.
Even if some people have ulterior motives, they dare not reveal them.
Nowadays, the territory of Kyushu has expanded a lot, and there is a shortage of a large number of officials.
The imperial examination system for selecting talents is indeed necessary.
Moreover, they were facing the most special king since ancient times. He was extremely powerful and no official was worthy of his suspicion, and no one dared to resist his will.
Under these conditions.
Knowing that this is a decision that benefits the world, why would anyone oppose it?
…
After several hours of discussion on founding the country, Zhou Yi finally left the dragon throne and returned to Ziwei Palace.
This hall was almost newly built. Although many skilled craftsmen with internal skills worked together on it, some parts were not yet perfect due to the short time.
He came to the garden behind Ziwei Palace.
As soon as I entered the garden, someone came to greet me and greeted me calmly with a smile on his face.
"May your majesty be blessed with good health."
Zhou Yi looked at the beautiful woman in front of him who was wearing a yellow silk dress and a pair of jade rings on her waist. Especially the undisguised teasing in her eyes made him roll his eyes and ignored her.
"I have prepared the Bashu Mengding tea that Your Majesty likes. Would you like to try it?"
Zhou Yi sat in the stone pavilion in the middle of the pond in the Imperial Garden. He reached out and hugged her, warning her threateningly, "Xiao Feng, be normal and speak properly."
"I am quite normal," Dugu Feng said with a smile, "It is Your Majesty who is abnormal."
"Why is it abnormal?"
"How can an emperor be so sad on his first day as an emperor?"
"I don't."
"You have."
Dugu Feng kissed him on the cheek and comforted him softly:
"Don't worry so much. The common people know that there is an emperor like you who cares about them, and they have already reported it to heaven. It's only the first day, and everyone in the world is celebrating. Why should you worry so much?"
Zhou Yi thought about what she said.
If you force your own thoughts into this era, even if you can suppress them with force, it may not necessarily fit in.
I looked up at the boundless blue sky, relaxed my mind, and felt relaxed again.
"You're right, let's get down to business."
"What's the matter?"
Zhou Yi reached out and lifted a strand of her black hair, gently scratching her pretty face like snow: "Of course I want a princess."
Dugu Feng brushed the hair away from his hand, gave him a reproachful look, and then leaned into his arms again.
She suddenly remembered something, propped up her hands, and stared at him with her bright eyes.
"What's wrong?"
Dugu Feng groaned, his expression quite serious: "Don't you consider filling the harem?"
"Even if you have some candidates in mind, there are still nine concubines such as Zhaoyi, Zhaorong, and Zhaoyuan, twenty-seven ladies-in-waiting, and eighty-one imperial wives."
She said a lot, and Zhou Yi quickly stopped her.
"No, I really don't have that idea."
A smile suddenly appeared on the little phoenix's serious face. She held Zhou Yi's face with both hands and kissed him several times.
Her eyebrows relaxed, and she spoke with a hint of amusement, "In my heart, Zhou Lang is already the most wise and virtuous monarch."
"I'm glad I didn't disappoint you."
Although he has ascended the throne and become emperor, the atmosphere between the two has not changed at all.
Dugu Feng didn't need to be shy when talking to him, and could ask whatever came to his mind.
She didn't mean to interfere in political affairs, she was just curious about his thoughts.
"Now that you have received the multi-country map, what are you going to do next?"
Zhou Yi asked in return: "Do you think the territory is big?"
"It's huge," Dugu Feng thought, "probably the biggest one ever."
"I don't think it's enough."
"Hmm? Is it going to extend to the land of Tianzhu?"
“It’s more than that.”
Zhou Yi described to her the vast overseas lands, continents and oceans.
This time, he said it was very detailed.
As the first person to come into contact with the background, Dugu Feng was not surprised by Zhou Yi's extensive knowledge.
However, the overseas land was a mystery to her.
If you listen carefully, it's very interesting.
"You want to occupy all the continents and oceans?"
"With this idea, I naturally hope that all the fertile land will belong to Kyushu. But I am too busy to do that. I may not have the energy to do that."
"It's not difficult," Dugu Feng praised with a smile, "Nothing can faze the mighty and wise Emperor Zhou."
"Though the Tang Dynasty is still young, it's full of new vitality. All we need is to discover diverse talents and encourage them to expand our territory, just like you mentioned before, the Age of Exploration. There are those who follow the rules, but there is no shortage of explorers."
Little Phoenix added: "However, those who go out must not only be knowledgeable, but also have martial arts skills."
"Only in this way can we subdue the overseas barbarians."
Zhou Yi smiled leisurely: "I am now promoting the imperial examination and building a palace of learning, which is just the first step. In the future, they will not only learn various kinds of knowledge, but also practice skills, so that they can go further."
"It would be a completely different dynasty, well, that's not right either."
Dugu Feng's eyes flickered as he corrected himself:
"A dynasty always comes to an end. It shouldn't be called a dynasty. Perhaps a divine dynasty or an immortal dynasty would be more appropriate. You can travel through the void and have the opportunity to live forever. Perhaps the title of 'Long Live' should really become 'Long Live'."
She suddenly had many thoughts and pointed to the sky:
"Which is more vast, the other world you feel or the many continents and oceans here?"
"Of course it's more spacious over there."
"Aside from being vast, is there anything else different?"
Zhou Yi thought about it and revealed the secret: "As soon as we crossed the boundary, an endless power surged into my body. Yang Xuyan also felt similar fluctuations, but they were far less intense than what I felt."
"I guess it was a crossover filler."
"I was the one who broke the void, and Yang Xuyan was just taking advantage of it. That's the difference."
"Therefore, before breaking, the higher the martial arts realm, the better."
He smiled slightly: "So, you are right about the Divine Dynasty and the Immortal Dynasty. The goal of the people of Jiuzhou can be to have enough food and clothing, or to explore the stars and the sea."
"No wonder you are preaching Taoism in Ziwei Palace," Dugu Feng suddenly realized, "You are guiding them."
"Open source, open source. Open source for all people, open source for Kyushu, open source for the world."
"Soaring ambitions are not enough to describe Zhou Lang; he has excellent vision!"
Little Phoenix hugged him, smiled happily, and asked:
"What kind of Taoism are you going to say in Ziwei Palace?"
Zhou Yi chose to keep it secret: "You will know when the time comes"
…
June 20th, the first year of Kaiyuan.
This day was Xiao Fenghuang's birthday, and Zhou Yi presented a gift that had been prepared long ago. He announced it to the world in Ganyang Palace and officially announced that he would be the queen.
On the same day, another piece of news came out.
In the dead of winter this year, wait for the first heavy snow to fall in Dongdu.
At that time, there will be a grand Supreme preaching in Ziwei Palace.
…
(End of this chapter)
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