The Red Mansions

Chapter 1720: Ascends the throne and changes the era name to Shengding

In the eighth year of Qiande, on February 2, the dragon raised its head.

Palace Garden, Hanyuan Hall
After this sudden attack, the atmosphere in the hall fell into an indescribable silence.

The civil and military officials of the Han Dynasty lined up under the three-tiered steps, dressed in red or green official robes, holding ivory jade tablets, and whispering to each other.

Chen Luo sat on a golden throne with gold embroidery, overlooking the scene, feeling a strange feeling in his heart.

What can he do?
While Chen Luo was speaking, he stood up and said in a clear voice: "I am tired. I will follow the advice of my ministers and abdicate the throne to Prince Wei."

Now that things have come to this, what else can he say?
On February 2, the eighth year of Qiande, Emperor Qiande of Chen Han issued an edict, informing his subjects that Prince Wei was virtuous, magnanimous, and worthy of the mandate of heaven.

Since then, after more than a hundred years, the Chen Han royal family officially declared its death and abdicated the throne to King Wei, thus establishing a new king.

Ningguo Mansion——

Jia Heng briefly discussed with the ministers in the palace, and then returned to the palace, surrounded by a large number of Jinyifu guards. He wore a robe embroidered with python patterns and flames, walked into the hall, looked at Chen Xiao who was not far away, and said softly, "Xiaoxiao."

"Have all the ministers persuaded him to come in?" Chen Xiao turned her head with long black hair like a waterfall, and under her emerald green eyebrows, her eyes were as clear as rainbows and as sparkling as water. She asked in a loud voice.

Jia Heng asked, "Do you know?"

Xiaoxiao is in charge of the Suzaku Guard, so it is not surprising that she knows the movements of the imperial court.

Chen Xiao picked up a blue and white porcelain teacup with carved flowers in his hand, took a sip, and said in a somewhat nonchalant tone: "The censor who submitted a memorial to take over the government today was instructed by me."

Jia Heng: "..."

Xiaoxiao, what's going on? Why didn't you discuss such a big thing with him beforehand?
Jia Heng asked: "Why is it so sudden? Why didn't you tell me in advance?"

"It's best to make a cooked meal before it's too late. Otherwise, you're going to say that the timing is not right now." Chen Xiao raised his eyebrows, his eyes warm, and said, "Besides, it's not a good thing to continue dragging it out. Hesitation between China and foreign countries will only cause trouble. It's better to settle the matter early and make people feel at ease before we can start a new dynasty."

Let her give a push in everything.

Jia Heng asked, "That's true. Now we have already resigned and given way. Let's see how things go in a couple of days."

This is what abdication is like. He has declined and abdicated three times, and now he has declined and abdicated once. There are still many "processes" to follow.

Chen Xiao glared at Jia Heng and said, "Let's settle this matter sooner rather than later. I think your harem will also cause a big disturbance because of the Eastern Palace's affairs in the future."

Jia Heng nodded and said, "I haven't reached that position yet, so how can I decide? Let's wait and see what happens."

Chen Xiao glanced at Jia Heng with her clear eyes under her emerald eyebrows and asked, "Why don't you have a son yet?"

Jia Heng shook his head and said, "I am also puzzled by this matter and don't know the reason."

He really didn't mean it. Maybe the time was not right, which is why Keqing never had a son.

However, the White Lotus Mother should be pregnant.

Chen Xiao frowned, her beautiful eyebrows flashed with worry in her clear eyes, and said: "The wife has no son, which is a way to cause chaos."

Jia Heng said, "As long as I am here, this will never happen."

Chen Xiao snorted and said, "That's a bit too much."

Jia Heng said: "Okay, let's not talk about this for now. In the next few days, the cabinet and the civil and military officials should persuade him to take the throne again."

Chen Xiao then asked, "What do you think the name of the country will be? What will the year be?"

If we follow the title of Jia Heng's fiefdom, then it should be David, but Jia Heng obviously has his own ideas.

Jia Heng thought for a moment and said aloud, "Let's name the country Xia and change the era name to Shengding."

Chen Xiao savored the name of the country Jia Heng mentioned and said, "Xia? The great country is called Huaxia. Such a name has a beautiful meaning."

Jia Heng seemed to be pointing to something when he said, "The family empire began in the Xia Dynasty. Someday, it may end in the Xia Dynasty."

Of course, that should have been the post-industrial civilization era, and the constitutional monarchy practiced by his descendants could ensure the longevity and prosperity of the Su family.

Chen Xiao's beautiful face looked thoughtful as he said, "Xia Country is good, but people today may not call it Da Xia, but Hua Xia."

Jia Heng nodded and said, "It should be called Huaxia."

Chen Xiao thought for a moment and asked, "What about the official system and uniforms of the new dynasty?"

Jia Heng said: "The Cabinet will still be in charge of the central government and the ranks will be upgraded. As for the uniforms, they will still be flame red, implying that the brave and loyal officials are full of passion."

He cannot make drastic changes now to avoid the same chaotic consequences as Wang Mang's rule. Everything depends on a smooth transition of power.

Wait for ten years or so, until he has firmly established himself on the throne, and then make adjustments based on the situation.

Chen Xiao nodded and said, "A new dynasty brings new atmosphere. Everyone can benefit from the establishment of a new dynasty, and only then can they be loyal to you."

Jia Heng looked solemn and said with emotion: "Yes, not only civil officials, but also military generals will be re-evaluated for their merits and rewarded with titles, such as four kings, eight dukes and twelve marquises."

These are his four pillars, driving him to pacify the world.

Among the four princes, the Prince of Dongping, the Prince of Nangan, the Prince of Xining and the Prince of Beijing, except Xie Zaiyi who was named the Prince of Nangan, the other princes remain the same. This is the way to ensure a smooth transition of the court to the greatest extent.

As for other dukedoms, both civil officials and military generals were given the title of duke. For example, in the Tang Dynasty, civil officials were awarded the title of duke, but the title could not be inherited for three generations, so it was considered a title without inheritance.

Chen Xiao said: "Now the civil officials and military generals of the court, as well as the local governors, have almost all been replaced, which is enough to deal with the current complex situation."

In the next few days, just as Jia Heng had expected, the civil and military officials of the Han Dynasty once again submitted a petition requesting King Wei to take charge of the Mandate of Heaven, but King Wei still refused.

A few days later, the civil and military officials of the Han Dynasty once again submitted a petition, insisting that Prince Wei abdicate and ascend the throne.

Jia Heng once again submitted a letter of refusal, and this time he even claimed to be sick and stayed at home, refusing visitors, as if he was determined to refuse the offer.

The entire Shenjing City focused its attention on whether Prince Wei would accept the abdication of the Han Dynasty. The people in the capital were discussing the matter non-stop, and basically maintained a neutral and supportive attitude towards the matter.

Ningguo Mansion——

On the bustling Ningrong Street, a large number of military officers from the Beijing camp and civil officials of the Han Dynasty were welcoming each other with banners and flags on both sides of the street. Incense sticks and firecrackers were set off on both sides of the street, creating a festive atmosphere.

At this moment, Jia Heng was sitting in the hall of Ningguo Mansion, and in the huge courtyard, there were many officers and soldiers from the Beijing camp, all wearing military robes with exquisite and intricate embroidered patterns.

"Your Majesty, please obey the will of heaven, ascend the throne, and command the whole country." The generals around spoke up one after another.

Jia Heng's handsome face was full of hesitation and embarrassment. He said, "Everyone, I have received great favors from Emperor Shizong Xian. How can I have the heart to change my mind and establish my own throne in place of the Han Dynasty?"

Fan Yi cupped his hands and said in a deep voice: "Emperor Shizong Xian's sons have no moral integrity and are useless. Some of them killed their fathers and rebelled, some fought against each other, and some were rebellious and tyrannical... They have lost the support of the people. Since you took over the government, you have worked hard for the country and the people, working day and night. If Emperor Shizong Xian knew about this, he would pass the throne to you because of his pure and kind character that loves the people like his own children."

Jia Heng sighed and said, "Emperor Shizong Xianzong has a heart that the world is for the public. If he were here, he might do the same."

Well, you really know how to say it. If Emperor Chongping were still alive, he would probably curse the traitors and call on all officials in the world to send troops to defend the king.

Prince Beijing Shui Rong also raised his handsome and fair face, and said with a cupped hand: "Prince Wei, now all the civil and military officials and the military and civilians are waiting outside. Please follow the will of the people, take charge of the nine provinces, and save the people of the world from hanging."

Jia Heng's resolute and calm face was full of embarrassment. He said, "Everyone, how can I... um?"

At this moment, Xie Zaiyi took the yellow robe embroidered with golden dragons from the hand of a personal soldier beside him without saying anything, quickly came behind Jia Heng, and draped it over Jia Heng's shoulders. Then he took two steps back and knelt down to ask for Jia Heng's permission.

"Your subjects greet the emperor. Long live the emperor." Xie Zaiyi knelt down first and kowtowed to Jia Heng.

All of a sudden, a group of civil and military officials urged him to ascend the throne, and shouts of "Long live the emperor" rang out, reaching inside and outside the palace.

Jia Heng was wearing a yellow dragon robe embroidered with dragon patterns. All the civil and military officials around him knelt down and begged Jia Heng to ascend the throne.

Jia Heng's voice was inevitably choked with sobs, and he said loudly: "Are you trying to put me in a position of disloyalty and injustice?"

When the generals heard this, they cried out loudly, "If the prince doesn't come out, what will happen to the people?"

"Your Majesty." Upon hearing this, the surrounding civil and military officials all shouted in unison to the young man in the python robe.

Seeing this, Jia Heng closed his eyes, and as if he was sighing, he said, "Everyone, why is it so?"

Well, it is still in progress and cannot be changed.

"Your Highness, we beg you to abdicate and ascend the throne, rule over the people of the world, rebuild a new dynasty, and create a prosperous era." All the generals around knelt down and begged Jia Heng to ascend the throne.

Jia Heng spread his hands, at a loss, and shouted: "Why do you have to do this when you are forcing me so hard?"

"Your Highness, please abdicate and ascend the throne to calm the people at home and abroad." All the generals around shouted in unison. For a moment, everyone was talking in unison, and their voices shook the four directions.

It can be said that Jia Heng has no say on this now.

Jia Heng's face was filled with sorrow. He sighed and said, "How can I face Emperor Shizong Xian a hundred years from now?"

Xie Zaiyi and Cai Quan held Jia Heng's arms and said, "Your Majesty, for the sake of the people, Emperor Shizong Xian will also praise the prince."

Before Jia Heng could say more, Xie Zaiyi and Cai Quan said, "Send His Majesty's carriage to the palace."

Jia Heng was almost carried out of the entire Ningguo Mansion.

Afterwards, Jia Heng, surrounded by a group of soldiers wearing black armor, walked out of Ningrong Street and headed towards the imperial city in a mighty procession.

Palace Garden, Hanyuan Hall——

The Jinyifu guards, wearing flying fish uniforms and with embroidered spring swords hanging from their waists, led by Liu Jixian, stood with swords in their hands under the eaves of the vermilion beams and pillars outside the palace. Their young and resolute faces were all filled with warm and expectant smiles.

"The Holy Lord is here."

At this moment, Liu Jixian stared at the huge crowd in the distance, his tiger eyes flashing fiercely, and his heart was still somewhat inexplicably excited.

The prince is finally going to ascend the throne and become emperor.

Jia Heng has been in charge of the Jinyi Palace for more than ten years. If he becomes emperor, he will surely make use of the officers and soldiers of the Jinyi Palace.

The chief minister of the cabinet, Lin Ruhai, and the second minister, Zhao Yi, and others, looked at the Prince of Wei, who was walking slowly forward surrounded by his generals, with complicated expressions.

Lin Ruhai looked a little dazed for a moment. It was unbelievable that Prince Wei could still ascend the throne and become emperor at this time of peace and change of dynasties.

However, this is also the result of more than ten years of accumulation.

"We greet the emperor. Long live the emperor." The Han Dynasty's civil officials quickly saluted Jia Heng, and the sound shook the four directions. At this moment, they were actually filled with emotion.

The new dynasty brought a new atmosphere, and Prince Wei became a great ruler.

Jia Heng's cold eyes glanced at the civil and military officials around him, and he seemed to have a helpless look on his face. He said, "Gentlemen, please stand up."

At this moment, everyone was overjoyed to see that King Wei agreed, and they surrounded King Wei and entered the hall in a mighty manner.

Jia Heng stared at the golden throne and walked forward, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

To rule the world and govern all the land, for him, today is the day when he finally gets what he wanted.

When you are the emperor, your kingdom will be yours.

However, a new challenge reappeared before him: how to lead the Han Dynasty to become the "Sun Never Sets" Empire and become the most powerful country on Blue Star hundreds of years later.

Jia Heng walked quickly to a golden chair and sat down. At this moment, he was wearing a light yellow dragon robe draped over a black and red satin embroidered dragon robe.

In the palace, all the civil and military officials bowed to Jia Heng with the courtesy of a subject.

"We, the ministers, have paid our respects to His Majesty. Long live the emperor! Long live the emperor!" All the civil and military officials paid homage with great ceremony, and the sound of "Long live the emperor!" shook the roof tiles.

Jia Heng listened to the shouts of "Long live the emperor" from below and gently stroked the throne on both sides. At this moment, he vaguely understood the mood of Emperor Chongping who was ruling the world.

With feet on both sides of the galaxy and the sun and moon in your hands, you can see them spinning.

After a moment of silence, he spoke in a magnetic voice: "Gentlemen, please stand up."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Upon hearing this, all the ministers present stood up, stood quietly, and listened attentively to the holy teaching.

Jia Heng said: "I am the hope of the whole world and the support of all the ministers. With my humble body, I am in charge of the country. It is like standing on the edge of a deep abyss or treading on thin ice."

Upon hearing this, the civil and military officials below bowed a little more.

Jia Heng pondered for a moment, then said aloud: "Thinking back to the fourteenth year of Chongping, I met Emperor Shizong Xian in the inner study. It was a meeting between the monarch and his subject, and we regretted not meeting each other earlier. We proposed strategies to pacify the enemy, quelled the internal banditry, fought against the enemy invaders abroad, and fought wars in the south and the north. It has been more than ten years now..."

Speaking of this, scenes from the past seem to come to mind.

These years have been really non-stop.

"I feel deeply touched by the kindness of Emperor Shizong Xian, and I feel as if I have been reborn. I therefore have the thought of dying for the country and comforting the people. However, times have changed, the country is in turmoil, and the royal family has lost its virtue. Although I have tried my best to support the country, the royal family's suspicion has not diminished, and strife within the palace has repeatedly occurred."

Having said this, he cast his gaze towards the civil and military officials below.

Jia Heng said: "I have been entrusted with the task of assisting the young ruler by Emperor Shizong Xian. Fortunately, loyal and brave men from home and abroad shed their blood in Hexi, and talented men contributed their wisdom to the court. The people have traveled all over the world. Now the territory of Kyushu extends to Japan in the east, Mohe in the north, Pamir Mountains in the west, and Taiwan in the south. Now the mountains and rivers of China have undergone tremendous changes, and the sun and moon have become a new world."

When he spoke of this, all the ministers in the hall bowed slightly.

Since King Wei began assisting in the administration, the country's civil and military achievements have been the greatest since the founding of the Han Dynasty.

Jia Heng said, "I originally wanted to wait for the young master to grow up and rule the country, and then I retired to the mountains and rivers, enjoying my grandchildren, and I also established a good story of monarch and minister harmony with Emperor Shizong Xian. However, the fate of billions of people has come, and civil officials and military generals are forced to die. I... I have been a soldier since I was fourteen years old. For more than ten years, I have lived up to the people of the world, but I am ashamed of... Emperor Shizong Xian."

At the end of his speech, his voice was choked with sobs and tears were already flowing from his eyes.

Well, he was forced to become emperor.

If there is one person he is not doing well, it is Emperor Chongping. He is worthy of everyone and the people of the Han Dynasty.

"Your Majesty, I am guilty of the death penalty!"

All of a sudden, seeing Jia Heng crying, all the ministers in the hall knelt down and kowtowed to Jia Heng.

It was all their fault, putting the emperor in a disloyal and unjust situation.

The man did not shed tears, but he did not go to the sad place.

It can be said that Jia Heng's crying even added a touch of tragedy to this attempt to establish himself as the successor of the Han Dynasty.

Even if Yao and Shun were to be resurrected, their moral character would be no more than this.

Jia Heng stood up, knelt down in the direction of Emperor Chongping's mausoleum, and bowed deeply.

At this moment, all the ministers in the hall bowed to each other again, willing to take the blame.

Your Majesty wants to uphold the principles of loyalty and filial piety, but they are the ones who are forcing him.

In fact, when a holy emperor is in power, he cannot have any moral flaws, otherwise people will lose their morale and all the people in the world will follow his example.

After Jia Heng finished doing all this, he stood in front of the throne with a solemn expression. At this moment, the hall was so eerily quiet that you could hear a pin drop.

It can be said that until this moment, even though Jia Heng had established himself as the emperor of the Han Dynasty, he still had not lost the reputation of loyalty, filial piety, chastity and righteousness of Emperor Shizong Xian.

Because, after Emperor Sejong, a larger archway was erected.

All the people in the world!

Even if people in later generations discuss Jia Heng's usurpation of the throne, there is nothing wrong with that.

Of course, even if Jia Heng did not achieve great achievements comparable to those of Yao, Shun and Yu, he at least had to create a prosperous era in order to shut up future generations.

Well, it was history and people's hearts that chose Jia Heng.

Lin Ruhai, holding an ivory jade scepter, broke the deathly silence in the hall and said in a slightly hoarse voice, "Your Majesty, now that the new dynasty has just been established, we should establish a country name and a year name to calm the people of the world."

Zhao Yi, the deputy minister of the cabinet, also cupped his hands and said, "When His Majesty was in the palace, he was known to the world as the King of Wei, and the State of Wei was also a state conferred by the direct descendants of the Zhou emperor during the Spring and Autumn Period."

At this moment, the two cabinet ministers changed the topic, which immediately dispersed the solemn atmosphere in the hall a little.

A group of court officials who were well-versed in history and current affairs began to choose the name of the country based on the name of Jia Heng's fiefdom and the Book of Changes, citing classics.

Cabinet minister Liu Zheng held an ivory jade tablet in his hand and said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty's surname is Su. During the Spring and Autumn Period, the country was still called the Su State. It is reasonable to name it the Su State."

Liu Zhen said: "If so, then the Zhao Song Dynasty did not use Zhao as its country name, which shows that there is no such thing."

At this moment, Tan Jie was standing behind Liu Zhen and tugged at a corner of Liu Zhen's sleeve.

Zhao Kuangyin bullied the orphans and widows of Emperor Shizong of Later Zhou and established the Zhao Song Dynasty. It is really inappropriate to cite this example now.

In short, the ministers in the court were divided into two factions. One faction wanted to use Jia Heng's previous title of King Wei as the country's name, while the other faction wanted to use Jia Heng's original surname as the country's name. Each faction held a different opinion.

At this moment, Beijing Prince Shui Rong held an ivory jade tablet in his hand and said, "The name of the country concerns the continuation of the clan society. Your Majesty, please make the decision."

Upon hearing this, the people who were citing various evidences stopped arguing and said, "Your Majesty, I would like to ask for your decision."

Jia Heng was silent for a moment, then said loudly: "Ancient books record that the beauty of Chinese clothing is called Hua, and the greatness of etiquette is called Xia. The cabinet drafted an edict and decided to name the country Xia."

Zhao Yi murmured and asked, "Xia?"

The Xia Kingdom was the first ancient dynasty to establish a hereditary monarchy, and it can be regarded as a model of wise rulers who ruled for three generations.

A look of surprise appeared on the faces of the ministers in the hall, some of whom were resolute and some were calm.

Liu Zheng's face turned serious, and he asked, "Your Majesty, I wonder what the reign title of the new dynasty is?"

Jia Heng's face was as calm as the mysterious water, and his voice was as surging as the flowing jade of a spring, and as exciting as metal and stone: "Next year, when the reign is changed, the reign will be called Shengding."

Zhao Yi, holding an ivory jade tablet, walked out of the court quickly and said, "Shengding means the country is at its peak and thriving. This reign title has a good connotation."

Other ministers in the hall were also whispering to each other, and their praises were endless.

Lin Ruhai held a flawless ivory jade tablet in his hand and said, "Your Majesty, in a few days, you will hold a coronation ceremony, confer titles and rewards on the concubines in the harem, and announce it to the world, so that all the subjects will be informed."

Jia Heng said: "There is no rush for this matter, we can discuss it later."

He would definitely reward the meritorious ministers first, and there was no reason to reward the concubines in his own harem first.

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