Simulates history, but Chongzhen is the Divine Emperor at the beginning

Chapter 173 The final conclusion
Since the time of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, there has been a custom of posthumously honoring descendants of previous dynasties and performing veneration and sacrifices to them. During the Western Zhou Dynasty, this custom developed into a mature system known as the "Two Kings and Three Kes."

Unlike the later belief that "after a dynasty replaces a previous one, it will ruthlessly disparage the previous one in order to boast about its own," ancient feudal rulers always clearly understood the concept of "class." When dealing with the previous dynasty, they generally glorified it on the basis of being of the same class.

[The purpose of doing this is generally to appease the remnants of the previous dynasty and, incidentally, to enhance one's own legitimacy, thereby facilitating governance.]

For example, after the Qing invaded the Central Plains, Shunzhi immediately and tearfully acknowledged Chongzhen as his "brother" and launched a campaign of "revenge for the Ming Dynasty." Later, Kangxi even went to the Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum to pay tribute to Zhu Yuanzhang. Without hesitation, he immediately declared, "Your governance surpasses the Tang and Song dynasties! It far surpasses the Han and Tang dynasties!"

[Another example of the relationship between the Ming and the Yuan: although Zhu Yuanzhang directly launched a northern expedition to drive out the Yuan Shundi, he later said that he was "happy to be born in the Yuan era" and that his rebellion was only because he was misled by the instigation of the Red Turban demons, and it was definitely not the fault of the Yuan Dynasty...]

[While it is undeniable that the later dynasty will, to a certain extent, blacken the previous dynasty, on the whole, it is basically beautified. If the later dynasty blackens the previous dynasty too much, it will really be detrimental to the war.]

[Of course, all of these beautification methods are actually for the purpose of provoking war. If the previous dynasty has no value in provoking war, then the later dynasties will really blacken it. For example, Xia Jie and Shang Zhou, they are really worthless. They just add crimes to their bodies and use them as negative examples for future emperors...]

Therefore, facing those dynasties and regimes that were not worth provoking, it would be a blessing for the later dynasties to ignore them... As for offering sacrifices to them? Dream on!

[For example, you are currently worshipping Li Zicheng and the Dashun regime.]

In the original history, Li Zicheng not only had a bad image in the official circles of the Ming Dynasty, but also in the Qing Dynasty. This was because he was not worth provoking. The Ming and Qing dynasties were essentially one family, and they did not look down on such a "rebellious" peasant uprising leader!

[In the Divine Emperor Ming Dynasty, Li Zicheng was even more tarnished, and the only thing missing was a fabrication that he was a ditch vendor...]

[It is precisely because of this that Li Zicheng has never had a good image, and since the Dashun army had its core members wiped out, no one would respond to offering sacrifices to him, and naturally, no one would think of offering sacrifices to him.]

【But you still came! 】

【…】

On August 21, the 139th year of the Chongzhen reign, Li Zicheng's 160th birthday... On this day, you led officials of all ranks and a large sacrificial team to Li Zicheng's hometown: Li Jiqian Village in Mizhi County.

Then, in front of the astonishment and confusion of the officials and common people, you earnestly bowed three times to this "anti-Ming traitor," "Jiannu traitor," and "500,000 Mongols," and held a grand ceremony in his honor!

This ceremony is even grander than the one you held for Zhu Yuanzhang at the Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum in Nanjing...

Many people may be puzzled: Why would Tianzun praise a traitor who was nailed to the pillar of shame?

What's the point?

Your answer to this question is: Because he was a true leader of the peasant uprising, he once pleaded for the people, acted on behalf of Heaven, killed corrupt Ming Dynasty officials, and divided the land and oxen of the landlords to give to the suffering people.

Although he wasn't perfect, and didn't meet the expectations of the people, he was a failure... However, he did meet the needs of the people, leading his army to "suppress the rebels and pacify the people," "reduce taxes," and successfully overthrow the evil late Ming Dynasty!

[No matter how perfect a fly is, it is still a fly. No matter how flawed a warrior is, he is still a warrior.]

[No matter what the outcome, he deserves respect...]

In your past two lives, you've always wanted to hold a ceremony to restore his reputation, but you were always afraid to overturn his verdict because the Divine Emperor was so overbearing... But this life is different. You've completely won. The arrogant Divine Emperor has been socially dead. From now on, He can only tread on a "sewing machine" in prison, serving as a tool to maintain the world.

[Now, nothing can stop you from clearing Li Chuang's name!]

Amidst the astonishment of officials and civilians, and the tearful gaze of former bandit subordinates like Li Laiheng, you solemnly announced it at the ceremony.

“Anyone who rises up for the people, anyone who pleads for the people, anyone who sacrifices for the people…will be immortalized!”

【Eternal glory! 】

[This is your final verdict on Li Chuang and all the Dashun uprising soldiers and civilians!]

【…】

In the 134th year of Chongzhen's reign, you gave the final verdict on the Ming Dynasty, praising it as "surpassing the Tang and Song dynasties and far surpassing them!"

In the 139th year of Chongzhen's reign, you gave final verdict to the Shun Dynasty, calling it "eternal immortality!"

[With this move, both the Ming and Shun families finally happily walked into the dust of history. Everyone was very satisfied with this result!]

But after Li Zicheng's name was cleared, others seemed to see an opportunity and gradually emerged from the shadows... [In the 140th year of the Chongzhen reign, in a mountain valley in Myanmar, a group claiming to be "descendants of Li Dingguo" suddenly emerged. They first lavishly praised the immeasurable merits of the Great Ming Tianzun, praising you as the embodiment of justice and a friend of the people... Then, suddenly, the subject changed.]

[Look, Heavenly Lord, you've even offered sacrifices to Li Zicheng. So shouldn't you also offer sacrifices to Zhang Xianzhong, who was also an anti-Ming rebel...]

You: Happy!

But before you could open your mouth, a few "descendants of the Aisin-Gioro clan" suddenly appeared among the Jurchen barbarians of Northeast China. They also came up to you as if to join in the fun: "This... Heavenly Lord, do you think we are also..."

You: Happy!

[This isn't the end of the story. Several more "descendants of Yang Yinglong" have emerged in Guizhou... Although they have no connection to the anti-Ming armed forces during the Chongzhen era, weren't they all anti-Ming? So, rounding it off, they're all one family...]

[Mongolia: Tianzun...]

[Annan Region: Tianzun...]

[Wakoku Region: Watasi...]

You: Happy!

[Brother, being against the Ming Dynasty doesn't mean being against the Ming Dynasty. Why are all these monsters and demons popping up? ]

[You angrily scolded these people, and only then did you suppress this "anti-Ming forces' attempt to overturn the verdict"...]

[But having said that, you still gave him some reproach in the end: for example, Zhang Xianzhong, though utterly black, at least he was credited with fighting against the Ming Dynasty. He even dug the Zhu family's ancestral tomb. It would be unreasonable not to give him some reproach.]

[For example, Ye Zhupi, although he is even more evil than Zhang Xianzhong, considering that his father and grandfather were indeed mistakenly killed by Li Chengliang's Ming army, and both sides really have a paternal grudge, you also admit that Ye Zhupi's uprising is partially reasonable... Of course, that's all, after all, this guy is too anthropomorphic...]

[As for Yang Yinglong, Annan, Japan, and so on... you didn't even bother with them.]

【…】

[Having done all this, you have finally dealt with the historical issues left over from the Ming Dynasty. The Ming Dynasty, which lasted for over three hundred years, has officially been buried in the ground, free from any further ties...]

[Of course, this does not include the Divine Emperor himself.]

After you told Him about your efforts to rehabilitate Li Zicheng, He immediately exploded with rage!

[This is intolerable. Li Zicheng was the culprit who forced me to death on Coal Hill. Now you're actually overturning his verdict... Doesn't that mean I'm the villain?!]

[In short, the Divine Emperor was extremely angry and expressed his unwillingness to accept this outcome.]

Even though He had lost all dignity and the ability to resist, He was unwilling to "forgive" Li Zicheng... Although in reality, it should be Li Zicheng who did not forgive Him...

[Looking at His furious expression, you pondered for a long time, then suddenly told Him that you had conferred the title of "Ji Ming Gong" on Crown Prince Zhu Cilang, and allowed him to worship and sweep the Ming Dynasty ancestral temple with the rites of an emperor!]

Upon hearing this, the Divine Emperor was stunned for a moment, then his annoyance gradually faded, and he sighed with relief, "You're so thoughtful..."

You can't help but smile.

"Your Majesty, didn't you say that everything here is fake, and therefore you have no feelings for the people of this world?"

"Then why does Your Majesty feel disgust towards the fake Li Zicheng, yet tenderness towards the fake Crown Prince and the ancestral temple?"

[“In your Majesty’s eyes, are they really just insignificant illusions…”]

[Although your smile is gentle, its effect is extremely outstanding.]

The Divine Emperor paused, finally falling into a speechless silence...

……

(End of this chapter)