On the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, the ancestral temple was finally completed.
After that, Zhu Yuanzhang ordered the Imperial Astronomical Supervisor to choose an auspicious day and prepare to sacrifice to the ancestral temple on the 18th day of the first lunar month.
As the Crown Prince, Zhu Biao was one of the main members of the sacrificial entourage. Therefore, according to tradition, he had to fast and bathe the day before to cultivate his body. Then, he had to prepare the most grand imperial robe and wear it on the same day.
On the 18th day of the first lunar month, Zhu Yuanzhang brought Prince Zhu Biao and all the civil and military officials to the ancestral temple on the east side of Chengtian Gate to hold a large-scale sacrificial ceremony.
There are three red steps in the ancestral temple and nine halls. According to the system of left ancestor and right society, the left side is the royal ancestral temple and the right side is the altar of land and grain.
The Altar of Land and Grains was used to worship the Earth God and the God of Grains.
The ancestral temple was dedicated to the ancestors of the Zhu family. Four generations from Zhu Yuanzhang's father were called the Four Parents Temple, and each temple had a master.
They were Zhu Bailiu, Zhu Sijiu, Zhu Chuyi, and Zhu Wusi.
Zhu Biao stood beside Zhu Yuanzhang and looked at the names of his ancestors. He then thought of his father's nickname, Zhu Zhongba, and his three uncles who had died young were called Zhu Zhongwu, Zhu Zhongliu, and Zhu Zhongqi. He suddenly had a strange feeling. These names were too random.
However, this was also a true reflection of the low-class farmers in ancient times. Many people had been farmers for generations. They faced the yellow soil and had no culture. Their names were also inspired by their daily lives. For example, they were called Dog Feed, Niu Dan, and Zhu Wa.
However, the names of the Zhu family's ancestors also reflected the awesome character of his father, Zhu Yuanzhang.
Who said that poor families couldn't produce noble children? Who said that the son of a farmer was useless? Zhu Yuanzhang was the most powerful slap in the face to this sentence.
Sacrifice was a very important matter. There was a set of etiquette and rules. No mistakes could be made.
There is such a sentence in Zuo Zhuan: The great event of the country lies in sacrifice and war. Sacrifice was sacrifice, and war was war. Sacrifice and war were equally important in ancient times, and they were the most important things for a country.
It was far from being as simple as burning newspapers on the Qingming Festival in the future.
The sacrificial ceremony was presided over by the ceremonial envoy of the ceremonial department. The ceremonial department was the Honglu Temple of the previous dynasty and specialized in this.
First, Zhu Yuanzhang read the memorial to the ancestral temple on the high platform:
"Since ancient times, emperors have received orders from the heavens. Although the times are different, the succession of governance is the same, and the order is the same. I am blessed by heaven. In the midst of the people's fire and water, the moment of civilization's downfall, I expelled the barbarians and restored the Central Plains. This relies on the Yin De of my ancestors to protect and protect me. I rule the world and study the ancient etiquette system. Today, I specially set up an ancestral temple to worship and enjoy.
After the completion of the ancestral temple ceremony, special officials were dispatched to take charge of the sacrifice and silk. The ceremony of offering sacrifices to heaven and earth is used to express the sincerity of the emperor's virtue. Looking up to the gods of the Ming Dynasty, I can see the sincerity of this matter. Alas! Shang Xiang!"
Zhu Biao felt embarrassed after hearing this. It was really hard for the person who wrote this article.
Originally, the sacrificial rites of the ancestral temple were to praise the achievements of the temple master, but the ancestors of the Zhu family really did not have any achievements. They were all honest farmers, and some of them starved to death, so they could only praise them indirectly.
How?
It was to praise Zhu Yuanzhang, the descendant of the emperor who founded the country.
The meaning was probably that it was because their ancestors did not do anything bad in their lives that the Zhu family had such a talented descendant. The descendants were talented because their ancestors were born well.
Therefore, Zhu Yuanzhang had done a great favor to the people of Huaxia. Even the ancestors of the Zhu family had done a great favor. What would happen if they did? They would set up a temple to offer sacrifices. They would kill pigs and cows during festivals as sacrifices.
Therefore, the construction of this ancestral temple was a matter of course.
After the funeral rites were finished, the attendants took them and burned them in the incense burner. Then, they brought out the three sacrifices of cattle, sheep, and pigs. The emperor threw all the officials to pay homage.
After two hours, the sacrificial ceremony in the ancestral temple was finally over. Zhu Biao knelt on the side until his legs were numb.
Then, taking advantage of the fact that all the officials were present, Zhu Yuanzhang announced the candidates for the Northern Expedition. The Commander-in-Chief Xu Da, the Vice-Commander-in-Chief Zhu Biao, and the Vanguard General Chang Yuchun would lead 200,000 troops to the capital to attack the Central Plains.
Other than Xu Da, who knew the news in advance, the other ministers were all stunned by the Crown Prince's expedition with the army.
One had to know that the Crown Prince was the foundation of the country and could not easily leave the capital.
Lu Chang and Song Lian hurriedly remonstrated with Zhu Yuanzhang, hoping that the emperor would retract his order. However, Zhu Yuanzhang was famous for his stubbornness. Once he made a decision, no one could change it.
Li Shan Chang was very clear about Zhu Yuanzhang's temper, so although he also felt that the Crown Prince's expedition was a little reckless, after all, the sword had no eyes on the battlefield. But no matter how much he hesitated, he still didn't say anything.
After coming out of the palace, Li Shan Chang saw Liu Bowen walking in front and quickly stepped forward to stop him.""Bowen, do you have the time to chat with this old man?”
Liu Bowen bowed slightly and said,""Minister Li invited me, I have to squeeze out some time even if I don't have time!”
"Let's walk then?"
"Let's go!" "Congratulations to Prime Minister Li for being granted the title of Prime Minister!" Liu Bowen said with a smile.”
"Hahaha, this position is not easy to hold! This old man only wanted to help the higher-ups share some trivial matters!”Li Shan suddenly asked in a low voice,"What does Bowen think of our Crown Prince?"”
Liu Bowen muttered to himself,"Knowing propriety and filial piety is the blessing of the younger generation!"”
Liu Bowen laughed. Although Li Shan Chang's words were vague, how could he not understand the hidden meaning? After all, this person was too strong and too fierce. This might not be a blessing for his subjects.
However, he secretly observed a few times and found that the Crown Prince did not seem to be as simple as he appeared. He did not know if the Crown Prince himself had proposed this expedition or if it was the Emperor's intention. If it was the Crown Prince who had taken the initiative, then this person who dared to put himself in such a dangerous place on the battlefield definitely did not mean to be a benevolent and weak master.
Moreover, Song Lian had secretly told him that the Crown Prince had the intelligence to read a thousand books a day.
Minister Li and the others had probably underestimated the Crown Prince.
This book is provided by FunNovel Novel Book | Fan Fiction Novel [Beautiful Free Novel Book]