The matter of establishing an empress remains the most mysterious part of the upcoming coronation ceremony for the new emperor, Chen Huai'an.
Apart from him, no one outside the court has heard a word about him. Even Empress Dowager Xu Ruoyun is unsure of Chen Huai'an's intentions. The suspense will be maintained until the very last moment.
It was precisely because he had not revealed the news of establishing an empress to the outside world that the interest groups of the Sixteen Prefectures of Youyun, represented by Liu Shujun and Yue Qiluo respectively, and the interest groups of the Thirty-Six Kingdoms of the Western Regions, maintained a superficial restraint before the enthronement ceremony of the new emperor Chen Huai'an, and the city of Jinling was peaceful.
But everyone knows that beneath this calm surface lies a turbulent undercurrent.
As a result, Luo Yucheng, the deputy commander of the Longcheng Inner Guard, had to send more people to keep a close eye on all forces in order to prevent any further trouble before or after the new emperor's enthronement ceremony.
On the 29th day of the twelfth lunar month, the new emperor Chen Huai'an hosted a banquet for envoys from various countries in the Hall of Supreme Harmony.
On the first day of the first lunar month, Chen Huai'an once again hosted a banquet in the Hall of Supreme Harmony, inviting the civil and military officials of the court. The emperor and his ministers drank and chatted, looking forward to the enthronement ceremony three days later.
After two consecutive days of banquets, Chen Huai'an began a three-day fast, from the second day of the Lunar New Year to the day of his coronation ceremony (the fourth day of the Lunar New Year), to show his piety and reverence for Heaven.
During the fasting period, in addition to bathing and changing clothes and abstaining from meat, a series of prayer and sacrificial activities will be carried out under the overall arrangement of the Ministry of Rites and the Court of Imperial Sacrifices.
Regarding the name of the new dynasty, after repeated discussions among the court officials, the new emperor Chen Huai'an finally decided to establish the dynasty as Tang.
The Great Tang Dynasty was established, and the reign title was Zhaowu!
The Founding of the Great Tang Dynasty:
The reason why Jin and Ming were not chosen as the name of the country was that after repeated deliberation and consideration, Chen Huai'an finally decided to follow the historical timeline he was in before his time travel and establish Tang as the name of the country.
Furthermore, in Chen Huai'an's impression, the "Great Tang Dynasty" in history was an extremely glorious and splendid period in Chinese history, in which unprecedented achievements were made in many aspects such as politics, economy, and culture.
Whether it was the political improvement of the imperial examination system or the implementation of the Three Departments and Six Ministries system;
Or it was the economic prosperity of the Silk Road trade and the continuous expansion of overseas trade;
Or perhaps it was the flourishing and innovation of a diverse and vibrant culture, which produced outstanding poets such as Li Bai, Du Fu, and Bai Juyi, as well as remarkable achievements in painting, sculpture, and ceramics (such as Tang tri-color pottery).
In addition, the advancements in science and technology and thought during the Tang Dynasty's golden age led to its continuous rise in international status and influence;
The unprecedented achievements of the Tang Dynasty's golden age coincided with the policies and measures adopted by Chen Huai'an, who ascended the throne as the founding emperor.
Therefore, it was Chen Huai'an who ultimately stepped forward and made the final decision, establishing the new dynasty's name.
Jianyuan Zhaowu:
Zhaowu was the reign title of Chen Huai'an after he established the Tang Dynasty. Emperor Zhaowu was Chen Huai'an.
The character “昭” means light and beauty, expressing a hopeful and bright image.
The character “武” represents bravery, strength, and power, and in contrast to “文”, it embodies the symbolism of strength and courage!
The day finally arrived: the fourth day of the first lunar month, the day when the new emperor Chen Huai'an would hold his coronation ceremony.
Chen Huai'an's enthronement ceremony and the sacrificial ceremony to Heaven were undoubtedly the most solemn and grand ceremonies of the new dynasty, and also a day when vassal states and all nations came to pay tribute.
This day is destined to leave a significant mark on the historical records of the Tang Dynasty.
Before dawn, the vast city of Jinling was already immersed in a solemn and dignified atmosphere.
Along the route from the imperial city of Jinling to Zijin Mountain, the Imperial Guards, fully armed and in armor, were already on guard. Beyond the cordon, civil and military officials, envoys from all directions, and tens of thousands of ordinary people from Jinling waited all night.
Everyone eagerly awaited the procession heading to Purple Mountain to ascend the throne and offer sacrifices to Heaven.
As dawn broke, the golden light of day shone down on the city of Jinling and its surroundings, enveloping the summit of Zijin Mountain. Accompanied by the sounds of drums and horns echoing from the city walls, the sacrificial procession led by the new emperor Chen Huai'an marched out of the city along the predetermined sacrificial route, heading straight for Zijin Mountain.
It is worth mentioning that Princesses Liu Shujun and Yue Qiluo both attended the event dressed in bright red phoenix robes, riding in a dragon carriage to the left and right of the new emperor Chen Huai'an.
At 3:45 AM, the auspicious time has arrived.
Wearing a dragon robe, a crown, and holding a jade tablet, the new emperor Chen Huai'an, guided by the priests of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, solemnly and dignifiedly ascended the altar (Tiantai) set up atop Zijin Mountain.
Before Chen Huai'an, a huge bronze cauldron symbolizing the beginning of a new dynasty had been set ablaze with flames;
Behind him were tens of thousands of soldiers of the Dragon City army, clad in heavy armor and wielding sharp weapons, as well as civil and military officials dressed in court robes with solemn expressions.
At this moment, everyone's eyes were fixed on the tall, golden figure on the rooftop of Zijin Mountain.
The phrase "under the spotlight" is perhaps the most fitting description of Chen Huai'an's current situation.
It is said that when a person is on the verge of success, they feel dizzy.
At this moment, Chen Huai'an was unsure whether he felt dizzy or not, but the excitement and exhilaration in his heart were something he couldn't suppress even if he tried his best to do so.
He recalled his experiences before and after his time travel, and now, as he ascended the throne on Zijin Mountain to become the emperor who ruled the world. He felt that all of this had a dreamlike quality.
But all of this is truly happening right now.
Beneath the Temple of Heaven, Empress Dowager Xu Ruoyun sat in a chair, gazing kindly at the Temple of Heaven above. Looking at her eldest son Chen Huai'an's towering figure, she finally couldn't help but burst into tears.
Beside her, two princesses, dressed in bright red phoenix robes and with their long black hair tied up and secured with hairpins, also gazed affectionately at the Temple of Heaven, their gentle, watery eyes following the tall, golden figure.
Since ancient times, beautiful women have loved heroes; this is an age-old truth, and these two princesses were no exception.
At this moment, watching the extraordinary man they admired ascend the steps of the Temple of Heaven, symbolizing the supreme ruler, and be enthroned to offer sacrifices to Heaven under the watchful eyes of the world, the two princesses were genuinely happy for the man they loved.
As for whether she was made empress or imperial concubine at the end of the coronation ceremony, it didn't seem to matter that much.
A little further away from the Empress Dowager and the two princesses stood Chen Longxiang, the third-generation Prince of Jin, Chang Yuchun and Chen Qingzhi, the two deputy marshals of the Longcheng army, and a group of Longcheng Polu Army generals led by the valiant general Pang Xianchu.
These generals of the Polu Army, who followed the new emperor Chen Huai'an and raised an army of eight thousand Polu soldiers in their fiefdom of Longcheng to quell the rebellion, and who ultimately witnessed the former Prince of Jin's heir grow into the founding emperor of the new dynasty, were all filled with fervor and excitement.
He was not only happy to be a minister who had helped the emperor rise to power, but also happy that the heir apparent of the Prince of Jin could ascend the throne and usher in a golden age.
Then there were the five princes of different surnames from the previous dynasty, led by Prince Wu Ning, Liu Xinwu, plus Su Muchen, who inherited the title of Prince Guangling.
It is worth mentioning that Li Zongmin, the Prince of Guangxin who once declared himself emperor in the Guangdong and Guangxi regions, was also granted a special pardon to attend the enthronement ceremony of the new emperor Chen Huai'an.
Watching his "nephew's" coronation ceremony, and recalling the scene when he declared himself emperor in his fiefdom of Yangcheng, Li Zongmin suddenly felt that he had lived most of his life, but in the end, he had become a clown.
Only then did he realize how rash he had been in declaring himself emperor in his fiefdom, a joke, like a child playing house!
At that moment, Li Zongmin's admiration for the new emperor Chen Huai'an was finally heartfelt and complete!
Following closely behind were the ministers of the six ministries and the regional governors of various provinces, including Liangjiang, Lianghu, Liangyue, Yunnan, Guizhou, Sichuan, Chongqing, Youyun, and the Sixteen Prefectures, who stood at a distance below the Temple of Heaven, watching the new emperor Chen Huai'an's every move from afar.
The officials' faces showed a variety of complex expressions.
As time passed, reminded by the priests of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, the new emperor Chen Huai'an took a few deep breaths and resolutely knelt before the bronze cauldron that symbolized the beginning of the new dynasty, and began to pray to the heavens, the sun and moon, the mountains and rivers, and the spirits of his ancestors.
"Your subject Chen Huai'an respectfully beseeches upon the heavens, the sun and moon, the mountains and rivers, and the spirits of all past imperial ancestors—"
"Your humble servant, in accordance with the will of Heaven and the wishes of your subjects, on the fourth day of the first month, set up a sacrifice altar on the summit of Zijin Mountain to proclaim to the Heavenly Emperor the establishment of the Great Tang Dynasty and the founding of the Zhaowu era!"
Immediately afterwards, Emperor Zhaowu Chen Huai'an took the golden bowl that had been prepared in advance from the priest, and filled the golden bowl with strong liquor.
Chen Huai'an raised the golden bowl and poured the strong liquor inside onto the blazing bronze cauldron, praying to Heaven for the Tang Dynasty to have favorable weather, abundant harvests, and peace and prosperity.
Furthermore, he used the sacrificial ceremony to comfort the spirits of the soldiers who followed him in raising an army in Longcheng and died on the battlefield.
Immediately afterwards, Xiao Po, the commander of the Golden Guard, who had been waiting in full force below the Temple of Heaven, led two Golden Guard soldiers dressed in golden armor to move a golden dragon throne that had been prepared in advance to the front of the Temple of Heaven facing south, and set up a table with imperial robes in front of the golden dragon throne.
Beneath the Temple of Heaven, Zhang Fu, the Minister of Rites, acting as the new prime minister, led the civil and military officials in announcing: "The sacrificial ceremony is over. We request Your Majesty to ascend the throne!"
"Your Majesty, please ascend the throne!"
Beneath the Temple of Heaven on Purple Mountain, the entire court of civil and military officials shouted in unison.
"Your Majesty, please ascend the throne!"
Next, from the military formations surrounding the Temple of Heaven, the officers and soldiers of the Polu Army, Xuanjia Army, Qin Elite Army, Iron Pagoda Army, Guan Ning Iron Cavalry, and naval fleet who came to participate in Emperor Zhaowu's enthronement ceremony shouted in unison, "Her Majesty, you shall ascend the throne!"
For a time, thunderous cries of "Please, Your Majesty, ascend the throne!" resounded throughout Zijin Mountain, overwhelming and endless.
Even the people in Jinling City could clearly hear the shouts coming from the top of Zijin Mountain.
Inside and outside the imperial city, in Jinling City, the soldiers and civilians who remained in the city knelt down and kowtowed in unison amidst the earth-shattering shouts, crying out: "Please, Your Majesty, ascend the throne!"
At the summit of Zijin Mountain, atop the altar.
Amidst the resounding shouts that echoed through the mountains and clouds, and with the support of his civil and military officials, Emperor Zhaowu Chen Huai'an finally sat calmly on the golden dragon throne, officially ascending the throne.
As Emperor Zhaowu Chen Huai'an sat on the dragon throne, the civil and military officials who participated in the enthronement ceremony began to line up in order of rank below the Temple of Heaven, quietly waiting for the next ceremony.
Then, an official dressed in court attire stepped forward carrying a ceremonial robe and a treasure table. Zhang Fu, the Minister of Rites who was acting as prime minister, took the ceremonial robe from the official and draped it over Chen Huai'an's shoulders. He then solemnly placed the crown on Chen Huai'an's head.
After everything was over, the officials in charge withdrew from the Temple of Heaven and returned to their positions among the civil and military officials.
As soon as the official in charge left, the court's etiquette official carried a brocade box containing the Imperial Seal of the State up to the Temple of Heaven, took the Imperial Seal out of the box, and handed it to Zhang Fu, the Minister of Rites.
Zhang Fu, acting as prime minister, carefully held the Imperial Seal of the State in both hands and said to Emperor Zhaowu Chen Huai'an, who was sitting on the dragon throne: "Your Majesty has just ascended the throne, and your subject respectfully presents the Imperial Seal!"
Chen Huai'an solemnly accepted the Imperial Seal of the State, and then handed it to the ceremonial official beside him, who put it back into the brocade box.
Thus, the entire enthronement ceremony was finally completed.
Minister of Rites Zhang Fu and the officials in charge of ceremonies also hurriedly retreated from the Temple of Heaven and returned to the ranks of civil and military officials.
At this point, all that remained on the vast Zijin Mountain Altar of Heaven was the blazing bronze cauldron and Emperor Zhaowu Chen Huai'an, who sat calmly on the dragon throne, awaiting the worship of civil and military officials and tens of thousands of soldiers.
"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"
Led by Zhang Fu, the Vice Minister of Rites, civil and military officials and elite soldiers shouted "Long live the Emperor!" in unison.
"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"
"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"
"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"
At the summit of Zijin Mountain, amidst shouts of "Long live the Emperor!" from both inside and outside the Jinling Imperial City, civil and military officials and elite soldiers alike performed the three kneelings and nine prostrations ceremony before Emperor Zhaowu Chen Huai'an on the Altar of Heaven.
The people of Jinling City, the Imperial Guards who remained at the palace on duty, and the eunuchs and palace maids in the palace also knelt and bowed three times and nine times in the direction of Zijin Mountain at the same time.
At this moment, Chen Huai'an, who was being worshipped and adored by the masses, finally felt the supreme and unparalleled state of mind of an emperor, the supreme ruler, who held the world in the palm of his hand.
This feeling was far stronger than when he first stormed into Nanjing and received the kneeling obeisance of former generals and officials who had surrendered from the previous dynasty in the Golden Palace.
It was at this moment that Chen Huai'an realized the pursuit of the eight characters "By the mandate of Heaven, may your life be long and prosperous" by those emperors and warlords who existed only in history books.
Tell me, what man could resist the temptation of these eight words?
What man wouldn't be captivated by such a magnificent land and the admiration of so many?
Thus, on the fourth day of the first month of the first year of the Zhaowu reign of the Tang Dynasty, Chen Huai'an, only 26 years old, finally ascended the throne and was about to begin the prosperous era that belonged to him, Emperor Zhaowu.
With the completion of Emperor Zhaowu's enthronement ceremony and the sacrificial ceremony to Heaven, the Tang Dynasty was about to usher in the most important event since its founding—the investiture of the new empress.
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