Hongwu thirty-one years, the fifteenth day of the first lunar month.

Zhu Yuanzhang, the Hongwu Emperor who founded the Ming Dynasty, is about to abdicate the throne to Crown Prince Zhu Biao.

demise.

This was not the first of its kind in the Ming Dynasty.

In ancient times, after the Yellow Emperor, Yao, Shun, and Yu abdicated, establishing the national political system and social thought of the ancient Central Plains.

During the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, King Kuai Chan of Yan gave up his title to his son, the Prime Minister of the State. King Wuling Zhao Yongchan of Zhao gave up his title to his son Zhao Huiwen King Zhao He.

The crown prince of the Western Han Dynasty, Liu Yingchan, was given to Wang Mang.

Emperor Xian of the Han Dynasty, Liu Xiechan, gave it to Emperor Wen of the Wei Dynasty, Cao Pi.

Emperor Yuan of Wei, Cao Huanchan, gave it to Emperor Wu of Jin, Sima Yan.

…

Tang Gaozu Li Yuanchan gave it to his son Tang Taizong Li Shimin.

Wu Zhaochan passed to his son Tang Zhongzong Li Xian.

…

Song Guangzong Zhao Dun gave the Zen throne to his son Song Ningzong Zhao Kuo.

Since ancient times, kings of the Central Plains have often made concessions.

If you give way to someone with a different surname, it is called outer Zen. If you give way to someone with the same surname, it is called inner Zen.

Regardless of external Zen or internal Zen, in fact, it is more full of political color than what the Zen aspirant really wants to do.

But today's Ming Dynasty is different.

Huangdi just doesn’t want to do it anymore.

The crown prince, who had been in charge of the country for many years, refused to the point of death. In the end, he had no choice but to accept the offer of abdication.

The sky is getting brighter.

Yingtian City became noisy earlier than usual.

The common people walked out of their homes early and began to gather near the imperial court where the abdication ceremony was held, waiting to witness this national grand event.

From the cabinet, to the governor's office of Zhili, and then to Yingtian Prefecture and two counties, all government offices were dispatched in an orderly manner.

The officers and soldiers of the Military and Horse Division had already dressed up and set out before it was dark, and were stationed on the west side of the east city.

The officers and soldiers of the Beijing army also entered the inner city early, and cooperated with the imperial guards. They started from Hongwu Gate and headed south to Zhengyang Gate. Then they stood at regular intervals on Zhengyangmen Outer Street and Tiantan Street.

On both sides of the road.

The twenty-four yamen of the inner court, together with the yamen of the Ministry of Rites, Honglu Temple and other yamen, will be decorated along the way.

All street trees are cut to the same height and size.

If it is not contrary to nature, according to the wishes of the twenty-four yamen of the inner court, even the branches and leaves on the canopy after trimming must be determined to a unified number.

This time, Hubu and Da Ming Yinhao were even more relaxed about spending money.

Countless colorful flags fluttered in the wind.

Starting from outside Zhengyangmen, passing through the Temple of Mountains and Rivers, and ending at the Temple of Heaven, the road along the way was re-paved a year ago.

There was a level of flat gold bricks made in Suzhou, and when horses' hooves and combat boots stepped on it, there was a continuous pleasant metallic sound.

The street walls on both sides were also cleaned and painted with white lime.

Even Yingtianfu was deeply inspired by the Xicheng project. They paved the sidewalks with bluestone slabs under the trees along the street, and then built a circle of flower ponds with bluestone strips under each tree.

Even though it is still the first month and spring has not yet begun.

Starting from Zhengyang Gate and ending at the Temple of Heaven, the flower ponds under the trees on both sides of the street are already filled with flowers of all colors in full bloom.

A few years ago, the shipping companies headed by the Xu family received orders from the Ming Dynasty companies, and the flowers purchased from Jiaozhi Road and Zhancheng Road were rushed to the capital.

After the new year begins, these flowers are moved from the greenhouse in Shanglin Garden to the street tree flower ponds on both sides of Tiantan Street.

Even the common people's houses on both sides were repaired at a rapid pace.

Not to mention, every resident of Yingtian Mansion has a palm-sized Ming Dynasty dragon flag sewn with brocade cloth, and a bright yellow silk scarf that can be tied around the neck.

The imperial court was particularly gracious this time and allowed the people of Yingtian to wear bright yellow silk scarves that could only be used by the Tian family.

After the above-mentioned ministries and offices made great efforts.

The various ministries and offices above the court also moved in response, each showing their magical powers.

The Hanlin Academy organized students in Beijing to recite the scriptures of saints and sages on both sides of the Temple of Heaven Street. The students' green shirts were naturally purchased by the Hanlin Academy with funds from the Ministry of Revenue.

Honglu Temple, Taichang Temple, etc. even requisitioned the Xuanzhen Temple on the street outside Zhengyangmen. Before dawn, they started making rice in big pots and preparing all kinds of food.

Then the officers of Yingtian Mansion were sent non-stop to the people on both sides of the Temple of Heaven Street who had come early to occupy their seats and prepare to watch the ceremony, to prevent these people from fainting due to hunger due to leaving home early.

For this reason, Taiyuan Hospital mobilized almost all the available people in the hospital and opened a medical area in the backyard of Xuanzhen Temple to prevent anyone from being injured during the ceremony outside the city today and to receive the most timely treatment.

The most egregious one is Jiaofangsi.

Those women who had not joined the Jiaofang Department had started trying on clothes one by one as early as years ago.

Early in the morning, people wearing heavy makeup and pink and white clothes left the Zhengyang Gate. At regular intervals on the Temple of Heaven Street, there would be a dance troupe composed of girls from the Jiaofang Division, dancing gracefully with the cooperation of the music troupe.

From the first day of dawn, these women began to dance.

For a time, there was an endless stream of people who came to watch the Zen ceremony.

According to the information revealed by the Jiaofang Secretary, these women will dance on both sides of the Temple of Heaven Street until the abdication ceremony is over, and the ceremony will end only after the new and old emperors, princes and ministers leave the Temple of Heaven and return to the imperial city.

And on the outer bank of the moat under Zhengyang Gate.

There were also military guards personally supervising the event, and the fireworks show was lined up for miles.

Carloads of fireworks were pulled out from the gunpowder factory where the general was supervising.

According to the words of the general supervisors, Yingtian City will be filled with fireworks today.

So in addition to the banks of the moat, cartloads of fireworks were also arranged at various points in the city.

Then someone spread the news that after Yu Dalian, the prefect of Yingtian Prefecture, heard about the preparations for the prisoner, he led his men into the prisoner and took out the last batch of inventory from the warehouse.

Then these fireworks stocks were sent to the city wall.

When Zhu Yunxi heard the news, he didn't say anything, but silently asked Yutian to prepare several thick masks for him.

Today is destined that the entire Yingtian City will go crazy.

Also today, Zhu Yunxi finally woke up early from Taisun's Mansion and put on his own royal uniform with the maids waiting on him.

He is no longer a grandson, but he is a royal grandson of the clan, so he naturally has a set of regular clothes.

After getting dressed, he entered the imperial city through Xi'an Gate.

When it was dark, the palace began to get busy.

Emperor Hongwu's dragon robe was prepared in advance, which was different from the past. This was to show the transfer of power after abdication.

The crown prince's dragon robe has also been prepared early.

Speaking of which, the prince's dragon robe was actually ready in the fifteenth year of Hongwu's reign.

I heard from the female officials in the palace that this was personally approved by His Majesty the Emperor, and the Empress led the female officials and embroiderers to sew it herself.

The size is the body size of the crown prince.

When the female officials took out this set of dragon robes that had been dusty for many years.

The originally calm prince burst into tears on the spot in the Qianqing Palace.

After a while, and with the persuasion and comfort of many ladies, Zhu Biao was finally comforted.

When outside, the Qintian Supervisor and the officials from the Ministry of Personnel began to announce the time, the palace hurriedly let the emperor go first and take the royal chariot.

The prince is behind, riding in a sedan chair.

As for the deposed grandson of the former emperor, he could only follow His Highness King Qin and lead the clan disciples in Beijing on foot.

Today is the last day that Emperor Hongwu will assume the power of the emperor. Today is also the first day that the crown prince will ascend the throne and proclaim himself emperor.

The protagonists can only be the two of them.

Wuyangyang's group of people came out from the Meridian Gate and turned towards the Ancestral Temple behind the Duanmen.

Later, sacrifices were made to the ancestors of the Ming Dynasty in the Ancestral Temple.

After the ceremony was completed, there were nine latest giant cannons in the Ancestral Temple. The barrels were engraved with gilt dragon patterns, and they fired a full thirty-one times.

After the ceremony.

This large group of talents left Duanmen, passed Chengtianmen, passed Qianbu Corridor, and left the imperial city at Hongwumen.

Zhu Yunxi, who was following the crowd, saw a sea of ​​people outside as soon as he left Hongwu Gate.

People gathered on Chongli Street.
To be continued...