New Year’s Eve in the Ming Palace was very lively.
Those opera troupes that were able to perform on Fengtian Square also worked extremely hard.
For the artists of the Ming Dynasty today, being able to perform on a stage like Fengtian Square, even if they are just a small apprentice moving some props backstage, is an honor worth bragging about for a lifetime.
Because no one knows whether there will be such an arrangement on New Year's Day next year.
In order to prepare for this performance, these selected well-known troupes had already rehearsed countless times, and no mistakes would be allowed.
The level of strictness is such that any mistake made during the drill will result in disqualification.
After all, this is the highest stage in the drama industry.
Because there are too many candidates.
It is not something that can be taken over by just one opera troupe, but rather an integration of the entire opera troupe industry circle, with all the roles being combined together in the most outstanding way.
Such a grand event is the first in the industry.
There are many programs and it doesn’t end until midnight.
Every time there was a shift change, someone would announce auspicious words such as a certain family congratulates His Majesty on their long life and the long-lasting Ming Dynasty.
Every time Zhu Yuanzhang, who was sitting in the front, heard this, he would laugh out loud.
He knew that with every congratulation, a stack of Ming Dynasty banknotes went into the imperial treasury.
At this time, he would always subconsciously look at his eldest grandson.
And at the end of the performance, there is a storytelling segment.
It tells the story of the Japanese pirates' invasion of the coastal areas.
It feels similar to a stand-up comedy, it sounds a bit funny, but after laughing, it is easier for people to fall into contemplation.
The misery of the people who were invaded by the Japanese pirates was so severe that it was hard to accept just by imagining it.
Such a program is not joyous. Although it is told in the form of jokes, it is full of sadness and does not fit the current atmosphere.
This program was decided by Zhu Ying alone and cannot be changed.
Why do I have to tell such a thing on a day like this?
Because this is Nanjing.
The name of Nanjing was given by the white-haired old man sitting next to Zhu Ying.
Today's Nanjing can be said to be the pinnacle of the entire history, the center of the world, and the capital of the world.
On this stage, there are not only officials from the Ming Dynasty, but also envoys from all over the world.
But only Zhu Ying's heart was filled with deep sadness.
Because it was this city that experienced too much trauma after its prosperity declined in later generations.
In the city of Nanjing, at the Fengtian Square of the Imperial Palace, the crimes of the Japanese pirates are told.
This is what Zhu Ying wanted to do a long time ago.
When the crimes of Japanese pirates along the coast were being told on the stage, Zhu Ying's eyes were reflecting the heinous crimes he had seen in the memorial hall of the previous century.
There are also the cries of hundreds of thousands of compatriots in Nanjing.
His teeth were clenched and hatred was everywhere.
All invasions should be nipped in the bud in this life.
There will be no more wailing among the people of Nanjing.
Zhu Yuanzhang seemed surprised. When talking about the Japanese pirates, he clearly felt that his eldest grandson was not in a good state. He was full of murderous aura and seemed to be ready to devour someone.
However, when I think of my eldest grandson's hatred for the Japanese pirates, I am not sure where it came from.
But as a grandfather, of course I have to give my full support.
Zhu Yuanzhang was well aware that arranging such a program on New Year's Eve was a preparation for the spring expedition to Japan and arousing the emotions of officials.
So after the show ended, Zhu Yuanzhang called Liu He and gave him a few instructions.
Immediately, Liu He came up to the stage and shouted loudly: "Your Majesty has ordered a reward of 100 strings of precious coins!!!"
The storyteller kowtowed continuously and shouted "Long live the king".
Many officials also understood what His Majesty meant.
A hint of gratitude flashed in Zhu Ying's eyes.
In fact, this stand-up comedy is not as good as the previous ones. The old man is expressing his support for himself.
The finale was a piece of song, dance and music.
It was a way of trying to reset the atmosphere. After all, it was New Year's Eve, and Zhu Ying couldn't just consider his own emotions.
And the moment the singing and dancing ended was exactly twelve o'clock in the morning, and it turned night.
Suddenly, countless loud noises erupted throughout the palace. Most people were unable to react and were terrified.
The next moment, countless fireworks were seen rushing towards the sky from all over the palace.
boom!!!
Countless thunderous sounds rang out in the sky throughout Nanjing, and millions of people looked up.
I saw the originally dark sky was instantly lit up, and the colorful fireworks looked like a peacock spreading its tail or a fairy scattering flowers.
Bright petals poured down from the sky like rain.
The night is as bright as day, illuminating the entire Nanjing.
The people in the houses went out one after another to look at the most beautiful night sky in their lives.
It was the most beautiful thing they had ever seen.
Countless people opened their lips. Even the most talented and eloquent people were so shocked by the scene that their lips opened and their minds went blank.
Really:
Countless flowers bloom in the sky, and colorful auspicious clouds surround the crimson platform.
The stars suddenly scattered when they fell to the ground, and the sound of rain swirled in the sky.
It’s not that no one has seen fireworks. Fireworks and firecrackers became popular as early as the Tang Dynasty.
But no one has ever seen fireworks covering an entire city.
Among the foreign officials in Fengtian Square, Pierma Heima was shocked and revealed an unconcealable deep fear.
His grandfather Timur also attached great importance to gunpowder, so Pirmahemah had been exposed to it a lot since he was a child.
Being able to cover the sky of a city with fireworks means that the Ming Dynasty has enough ability to cover a city with gunpowder.
The power to destroy a city.
It only takes a moment.
Because the fireworks over Nanjing lasted for a full quarter of an hour.
Piermahema was indeed right in his guess. Zhu Ying had prepared for this grand fireworks display for a long time, and the amount of precious money he spent was an astronomical figure.
Anyway, Zhu Ying had no intention of telling the old man, for fear that the old man would be too distressed if he knew the price.
More than half a month ago, the Gunpowder Department was fully preparing for this fireworks display.
And tonight, Zhu Ying mobilized more than 5,000 large and small cannons.
Rounding it off, this can also be called a simulacrum of thousands of cannons.
At present, only the Ming Dynasty royal family has the ability to display such fireworks effects.
The amount of treasure money spent was indeed high, but it was enough to deter envoys from various countries.
Unconsciously, all the foreign ministers' waists bent slightly.
They knew very well that if the Ming army brought such fireworks into their own city, there would be no possibility of resistance.
Surrendering obediently is the only way.
Especially those Mongolian nobles who nominally paid tribute but secretly had evil intentions.
The fireworks also made Zhu Yuanzhang drink three cups in a row and feel happy.
But the result was that Zhu Ying supported him and he lay down directly in the Qianqing Palace bedroom.
“What beautiful fireworks.”
"If you like, every year on this day from now on, the night sky of the capital will be in full bloom."
"Thank you, Your Highness."
The crowd dispersed, and Ye Yueqing stayed by Zhu Ying's side until the old man was settled. Then the two of them walked slowly in the palace, not knowing which direction to go.
The sensible Guo Zhong had already disappeared from sight with the officials and followed from a distance.
The bright moonlight, shining on Ye Yueqing's fair face, made Zhu Ying's heart surge.
The throbbing that I haven't felt for many years suddenly hit my heart at this moment.
In silence, the two figures moved closer and closer.
Zhu Ying has always been indifferent to matters between men and women.
Perhaps it’s because it’s too easy to get, or perhaps it’s because of the hidden thoughts in the previous life, the door of my heart has never been opened.
Until today, that wonderful feeling suddenly appeared and caught Zhu Ying off guard.
The two separated in front of the side door of Kunning Palace.
Guo Zhong also appeared at the right time.
This is the Ming Dynasty, not the future.
For a woman, not getting married in a formal way is both hurtful and insulting.
Although Zhu Ying could force his request, he would not be so impatient.
Tonight, the two of them were destined to toss and turn.
And Zhu Yuanzhang slept soundly.
…
The first day of the first lunar month is the first day of the year.
It is extremely important to the imperial palace.
Especially the convening of the grand court meeting.
The main point of the grand court meeting is one big word.
This was the largest court ceremony of the imperial court, with as many as 10,000 officials participating. Officials from remote areas had to set out several months in advance.
More than 60 regions including Ryukyu, Annan, Zhenla, Siam, Champa, Yibei, Oirat, Sichuan Yuanyi King, Hami, Turpan, Huozhou, and U-Tsang came to pay New Year greetings to Zhu Yuanzhang of the Ming Dynasty.
This grand ceremony must be adequately prepared, and it must be majestic yet elegant, elegant yet grand, high-end and classy, low-key and luxurious with connotation. At the same time, security work must be done well for so many people.
All departments have to get busy, and safety comes first.
The Jinwu Guard and the Embroidered Uniform Guard were mainly responsible for the ceremonial guards and guards at the grand court meetings. The Embroidered Uniform Guard had to first collect intelligence to nip the danger in the bud, and the Embroidered Uniform Guard had always been in charge of the emperor's ceremonial guards and guards.
The Ministry of Rites and the Honglu Temple could not stay out of the matter either.
"All major state ceremonies, suburban temples, sacrifices, court meetings, banquets, imperial lectures, imperial decrees, calendar presentations, spring festivals, the transmission of decrees, and reports of successes are to be handled by each."
There are regulations on where to kneel and which door to enter during court. Just listen to the Ministry of Rites and they will make clear arrangements.
The Guanglu Temple was responsible for banquets. People came from thousands of miles away to pay New Year's greetings to the emperor, so the emperor would not be so stingy as to not invite them to have a meal, so after the "Grand Court Meeting" there would be the "Grand Banquet".
This year's grand banquet is even more worth looking forward to. After all, yesterday's fireworks showed that everything this year is likely to be different.
Zhu Yuanzhang had always advocated frugality, and coupled with the tight treasury, it was naturally impossible for him to have too many expensive ingredients.
This year's grand banquet is almost equivalent to a cooking competition across the Ming Dynasty.
The Fengtian Hall could not possibly accommodate so many people, so from the Fengtian Gate to the Fengtian Square, it was packed with people. It was a real sea of people.
In those days, those who could enter Fengtian Gate were either powerful or famous.
This busy schedule is not much different from previous arrangements except for some changes in food.
There was no need for Zhu Ying to make any special changes.
It may be boring, but this concerns the royal dignity and cannot tolerate any negligence.
It wasn't until the dinner ended at 3 p.m. that it was over.
Next it’s time to celebrate the New Year.
Zhu Ying paid New Year's greetings to the old man and received a big red envelope.
Zhu Ying also prepared a lot of red envelopes for his brothers and sisters, including Zhu Yunhuan, Zhu Mingyue, and Zhu Yunwen.
The banquet for the royal descendants was scheduled for the second day of the New Year.
In Prince Yan's palace.
Xu Yihua is massaging Zhu Di's shoulders.
"This year's New Year's Eve is very different thanks to the arrangements made by the Grandson. The fireworks are especially beautiful."
Xu Yihua said with a smile.
She is also a woman, and she also likes beautiful things very much.
I heard that many writers wrote poems about this spectacular fireworks display.
Zhu Di listened, snorted in displeasure, and said, "I don't know how much money was spent. Such a large amount of gunpowder is probably enough for several wars. Just watching it for a quarter of an hour is really extravagant."
Xu Yihua had a different idea and argued, "The fireworks display is comparable to ten tributes, which can deter foreign ministers and at least avoid ten wars."
"It has been said in ancient military books that the best strategy is to defeat the enemy without fighting."
"Isn't this more effective than fighting on the battlefield and causing great suffering to all?"
Zhu Di was a little confused.
He didn't expect that his wife would refute him because of the fireworks, so he was speechless for a long time.
This is because he underestimated the beauty of fireworks and their power to conquer women's hearts.
Women simply cannot resist such beautiful things.
Helpless, Zhu Di had no choice but to stop dwelling on this topic.
"Tomorrow is the grand banquet. Did Concubine Ning say anything to you yesterday? I saw you two were having a very happy chat."
Zhu Di changed the subject and asked.
Xu Yihua shook her head slightly and said, "Her Majesty Ning is very tight-lipped. At that juncture, I can't ask too much. But since Her Majesty has agreed, there shouldn't be any problems. Just follow what we agreed on before."
"I think the key to this lies in Chi'er's hands."
Zhu Di frowned and said, "Chi'er hasn't come back yet?"
Xu Yihua replied, "There is no need to come back too early. Now is probably the time for the brothers to congratulate His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and cultivate their relationship."
"Chi'er, if we can make His Royal Highness the Crown Prince relax, it will be more effective than Concubine Ning."
"Back in Peking, Chi'er was the one who had the best relationship with the Crown Prince."
Zhu Di nodded, but felt unhappy.
He didn't expect that in the end he would need to rely on the help of his most disliked son.
But given the current situation, this is the only way.
The second and third sons, not to mention Zhu Ying, were not even liked by their father, the emperor. The proposal to enthronize the prince that he had made in earlier years was rejected and reprimanded.
After a slight hesitation, Xu Yihua said, "The Ferghana horse that we brought from Peking this time will be given to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."
Zhu Di felt a little reluctant when he heard this.
That Arabian horse was the best of the best, and he had gotten it with great difficulty, but now he had to give it away.
But after thinking about it, he didn't have anything good to offer, so this was the only way.
Zhu Di picked up the teacup and took a big sip.
As long as we can settle this time and ease the relationship, everything will be worth it.