Traveling through Du He, Li Chengqian's rebellion begins

Wearing a ceremonial robe with twelve imperial symbols, Li Chengqian led his officials in a respectful bowing towards the north.

"Thank you, God!"

With the conclusion of the sacrificial ceremony to Heaven in the southern suburbs, Li Chengqian also completed the Heavenly Mandate ceremony before his ascension to the throne.

Li Chengqian glanced at the hundreds of officials and members of the Li clan below, and his hands, hidden beneath his wide robes, began to tremble uncontrollably.

"Next, we will return to the Taiji Hall to receive the Zen teachings!"

"I shall officially become the Emperor!"

Once his father retires from the limelight, he will become the ruler of the Tang Dynasty!

Yan Liben announced loudly, "The sacrificial ceremony to Heaven is over. Your Highness, please lead all officials back to the Taiji Hall to receive the abdication!"

The next step, receiving the Zen ceremony at the Taiji Palace, is the most crucial enthronement ceremony.

After completing the abdication ceremony, Li Chengqian will become the third emperor of the Tang Dynasty, while Li Shimin will officially become the retired emperor.

An hour later.

Led by Li Chengqian, the civil and military officials returned to the solemn and majestic Taiji Palace.

Apart from a few officials in charge of the ceremony who entered the Taiji Hall, Li Chengqian and the rest of the officials lined up outside the hall to wait.

Inside the Tai Chi Hall.

Li Shimin, dressed in his abdication robes, sat on the throne. After listening to Li Jing's report, he then gave an order to Xu Jingzong.

"Xu Jingzong, go out and read out the 'Abdication Edict'."

"Li Jing will later hand over the imperial seal and sash to the new emperor!"

The task of handing over the imperial seal and ribbon should have been undertaken by Fang Xuanling, the Minister of Works, but Fang Xuanling was unable to walk and had to ask the highly respected Li Jing to do it for him.

Li Jing and Xu Jingzong bowed and greeted each other.

"The minister obeys the order!"

After watching them leave the main hall, Li Shimin's expression was incredibly complex.

Twenty-three years ago, the person who abdicated in the palace was my father.

Perhaps his father's feelings at that time were a thousand times more complicated than his.

In the main hall.

After Xu Jingzong finished reading the "Edict of Abdication" with great intonation, Li Jing solemnly handed the Imperial Seal and the ribbon to Li Chengqian.

Looking at the eight characters carved on the bottom of the Imperial Seal, Li Chengqian felt a moment of disorientation.

"If you receive orders from Heaven, you will live forever!"

These words seemed to possess a magical power, captivating him completely.

A moment of silence.

Li Jing said loudly, "Your Majesty, please lead all officials into the hall to complete the grand ceremony of kneeling and bowing!"

Led by Li Chengqian, civil and military officials and a group of vassal kings entered the Taiji Hall in an orderly manner, and everyone was extremely excited.

on the main hall.

Li Shimin had already risen from the dragon throne and stood calmly to one side of the imperial platform.

Under the watchful eyes of all the officials, Li Chengqian walked step by step up to the imperial platform and then bowed deeply to his father.

"Meet my father."

Li Shimin helped him up with both hands: "Chengqian, I entrust the Tang Dynasty to your hands. I believe that under your rule, the tens of millions of people of the Tang Dynasty will surely live a better life!"

"I hope to see the Tang Dynasty unify the world while I am still alive!"

After speaking, Li Shimin patted Li Chengqian on the shoulder heavily, and then, under the watchful eyes of the civil and military officials, left the Taiji Hall step by step.

After His Majesty left, the officials' eyes once again fell on the new emperor, Li Chengqian.

Li Chengqian clenched his fist, then quickly walked to the dragon throne and sat down.

All the officials immediately knelt down and bowed.

After bowing and kowtowing three times, all the officials shouted in unison.

"Congratulations on Your Majesty's ascension to the throne!"

"Long live your Majesty, long live, long live your Majesty!"

The shouts of the officials were deafening, and the words "Long live the Emperor!" echoed throughout the Taiji Hall.

At this moment, Li Chengqian will be officially crowned as the third emperor of the Tang Dynasty!

On the imperial platform.

Li Chengqian said with a dignified expression, "My dear ministers, please rise."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

The civil and military officials knelt and bowed again before standing up and sitting in their respective seats.

Their emotions became just as excited as Li Chengqian's, because the new emperor would soon be bestowing new titles and rewards upon all the officials.

Moreover, apart from His Majesty, even the Grand Secretary Ma Zhou and the Chamberlain Xu Jingzong were unaware of the specific details of the rewards bestowed upon the officials this time.

A moment of silence.

Li Chengqian's gaze swept over the civil and military officials, then he waved to the eunuch and said, "Laiji, announce my first imperial edict!"

"promise!"

Lai Ji carried the imperial edict to one side of the imperial platform and then read it aloud.

"By imperial decree of the Great Tang Emperor: The cycles of Heaven are cyclical, and the calendar is fixed; the imperial system is newly established, and the reign title should be new... I wish to follow the ancient ways and usher in the new era, to embody the Way of Heaven, and to take the primordial chaos as the new beginning... I wish that all within the four seas may once again be bathed in the pure light, and that all beyond the eight directions may return to perfect order."

"Starting from the first day of the first month of this year, the twenty-third year of Zhenguan will be renamed the first year of Hongmeng. This change of era name is not merely a formality, but a genuine intention to spread new virtues throughout the world and implement benevolent governance across the four seas..."

"Announce it to the whole world, and let all know it."

Normally, this imperial edict would only have twenty or thirty words, but when a new dynasty was changing, it was written with extreme solemnity and seriousness.

As Lai Ji finished speaking, all the civil and military officials stood up and shouted.

"Your Majesty, Holy Might!"

These officials had already learned from Xu Jingzong that the new dynasty's reign title was Hongmeng, so they were not too surprised.

After the officials sat down.

Lai Ji then opened the second imperial edict and, under the watchful eyes of all the civil and military officials, read it aloud.

"By imperial decree: Your Majesty now occupies the throne and, mindful of the long suffering of the people from war, now that the whole world has submitted, Your Majesty's benevolence should be extended. Following the precedents of sage rulers throughout history, Your Majesty hereby issues a general amnesty to appease the people and demonstrate the new policies."

"Firstly, prisoners sentenced to death shall be reduced by one rank, and all those sentenced to less than death and who are not officials shall be released without charge!"

"Secondly, the people of the Tang Dynasty were exempted from taxes for one year and from labor service for three years, and a grand feast was held for ten days throughout the land!"

"Thirdly, officials of the fifth rank and above who did not previously hold a title will be granted a first rank of nobility; those who were dukes of the prefecture or dukes of the state will be granted a first rank of viscount; and officials of the sixth rank and below will be granted an additional rank of honorary official!"

Fourthly...

As Lai Ji read out a decree granting amnesty to the entire nation, the faces of the civil and military officials were filled with astonishment.

What a grand gesture!

As expected of the new ruler, he has great courage!

After Lai Ji announced the imperial edict granting a general amnesty, the eyes of all the civil and military officials once again focused on Li Chengqian.

Next up is the main event!

Reward all officials!

On the imperial platform.

Li Chengqian smiled and said, "My dear ministers, you have made unparalleled contributions to the war and the governance of the country over the years. Today, I will bestow great honors upon you all!"

"The new dynasty will continue the official system of the Zhenguan era, but I have added a department and a new official position."

"Laiji, you announce it!"

As he spoke, he waved to his personal attendant, instructing him to hand over the imperial edict he had prepared to Lai Ji.

what!

A new department and a new official position?

The current setup of the various departments in the Tang Dynasty is just right. Wouldn't it be bloated if a new department were to be established?

Under the watchful eyes of all the officials, Lai Ji walked to one side of the imperial platform, then unfolded the imperial edict and read it aloud.

"By imperial decree, Li Ji, the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, retains his official rank but is hereby granted the title of Minister of Works and a fief of 2000 households!"

"By imperial decree, Hou Junji, the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, retains his official rank but is hereby granted the title of Grand Commandant and a fief of 2000 households!"

wow~

As the first appointment concluded, a huge uproar erupted at His Highness the Crown Prince's residence.

All the civil and military officials turned their attention to Du He, their faces filled with doubt.

The Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel was actually Li Ji.

What position does the South Korean public hold?

Surely his official rank couldn't be lower than Li Ji's?