Tang Dynasty: Father, if you don't rebel, I will!

The atmosphere in Chang'an today is both lively and subtly tense.

Today marks the day Emperor Zhenguan abdicated and Crown Prince Chengqian ascended the throne, making it arguably the most sensitive and solemn day in the Tang Dynasty.

At the entrances of the east and west wards of Zhuque Avenue in Chang'an, as well as at the entrances of other wards, there were groups of Wuhou and Jinyiwei soldiers, dressed in golden armor, standing solemnly with their weapons in hand.

In addition, near the palace, the streets and areas were guarded and patrolled by the Imperial Guards. Along the way, solemnly dressed officials from the Ministry of Rites were carefully observing the distances between them, leading groups of ethnic minorities from the Tang Dynasty and foreign courtiers dressed in their respective national costumes.

Tang Jian, the Minister of Rites, was extremely nervous today. He kept flipping through the notebook in his hand, which was filled with notes on the key points that needed to be paid attention to in each procedure.

This enthronement ceremony was highly valued not only by the Crown Prince, but also by the retired Emperor Li Yuan and Emperor Taizong Li Er, who was about to become the second retired emperor. If anything went wrong, Tang Jian's head would certainly not be enough to atone for the crime.

The enthronement ceremony includes a sacrificial ritual.

This matter, which involves the concepts of celestial phenomena and deities, is of utmost importance to the imperial family. In particular, the professors of the Imperial Observatory and the Meteorological Institute of the Imperial University have long been calculating and studying the auspicious dates.

Although they had chosen today as the safest date, even Yuan Tiangang and Li Chunfeng were still somewhat apprehensive.

The prince did not believe in the Way of Heaven, nor in anything ethereal or illusory. However, both of them were cultivators and understood some of the intricacies involved. They couldn't help but worry that the Way of Heaven might cause some trouble during the Crown Prince's enthronement ceremony because of the prince's great achievements.

My heart was in turmoil, but there was no way to stop it.

All I can do is pray to the Taoist sages in my heart again and again.

In addition to the many nobles and civil and military officials of the Tang Dynasty, at Li Chengqian's request, some ordinary people from various regions of the Tang Dynasty also participated in this enthronement ceremony today.

These people included men and women, young and old.

There were elderly people who were nearly a hundred years old and had even lived through the prosperous Kaihuang era of the previous dynasty, as well as children born in the first year of Zhenguan when Li Chengqian was implementing his new policies.

These people were dressed in either a wooden-colored linen robe or a scholar's robe. They included farmers and farm owners from the Tang Dynasty, students and Confucian scholars, and young talents in the study of natural philosophy.

There were professors from the Imperial University, as well as some retired officials who had already achieved great success and were seeking to retire...

The items required for the sacrifices were numerous and varied. The Tang Dynasty's control was now vast, reaching as far north as Lake Baikal and as far south as Lin-yi and Siam. To the east lay the Eastern Sea Route, and to the west were Sassanid Persia and India.

The young and valiant Crown Prince Li Chengqian ascended the throne and became emperor.

These vassal states and localities naturally had to send sacrificial offerings that best suited the wishes of their superiors.

For example, Yazdegerd II, the Sasanian Persian king, was one of Li Chengqian's fathers-in-law. He even had the True Cross, which had been looted from Jerusalem, sent over.

In addition, although Japan was destroyed, some treasured swords from the Japanese king's collection were looted. The Kim family of Silla sent a scroll of gold used for sacrifices passed down through generations of the Kim family. The King of Baekje sent a white jade horse, and Siam, Jiaozhi and other places also sent sacrificial offerings.

King Puroksha II of the Kingdom of Chalukya sent his third son, Sismi, with a precious sword that the former king of Chalukya had carried with him when he founded the kingdom.

King Harsha sent two pairs of ivory tusks engraved with Indian Buddhist teachings, and adorned with precious stones and gold... along with several of his daughters.

The alliances of various tribes on the plateau also sent tokens representing their highest beliefs, such as golden seals and golden scepters.

In addition to these, the offerings also included many products that emerged during the Tang Dynasty's new policies, such as potatoes, alfalfa, rubber trees, and winter wheat of the Tianbao Golden Seed variety.

Food is of paramount importance to the people, and these things played an unshakable and enormous role in the expansion of the Tang Dynasty's national power and the surge in its population.

Calling it a divine object is no exaggeration...

Harem.

Li Chengqian opened his arms, allowing the palace maids and eunuchs to dress him in the clothing and accessories needed for the sacrificial ceremony.

The dragon robe he wore before has a new plus version.

This is yet another new generation of dragon robes with improved silk weaving and embroidery techniques of the Tang Dynasty. In particular, the lines at the shoulders are more three-dimensional, and the chest area is more in line with Li Chengqian's majestic body, which resembles that of Lü Bu and Xiang Yu.

Everyone is very busy today.

Even Li Chengqian's Crown Princess, Qian Yingying, was discussing the procedures to be followed in the upcoming ceremony with officials from the Ministry of Rites.

And as Li Chengqian's only two sons.

The two imperial grandsons, Xiangyu and Pinu, were naturally not spared either.

Especially Xiang Yu, as the eldest son, had more to consider during this sacrificial ceremony than the Pi Nu...

Tang Jian, excited yet trying to remain calm, approached Li Chengqian with a flushed face.

"Your Highness, the auspicious time has arrived..."

Li Chengqian nodded, and the eunuchs and palace maids on either side withdrew. He slowly lowered his arms, put on the dragon robe he was preparing for his coronation, took a deep breath, and looked at the clear and bright sky outside the hall.

He spoke calmly, "Let's go..."

He walked out of his Eastern Palace, Xiande Hall, flanked by his Crown Princess Qian Yingying and Consort Wu Shun, who were dressed in ceremonial robes of different ranks and stood respectfully waiting. Li Chengqian took Qian Yingying's hand and walked out of the Eastern Palace.

Tang Jian and the others followed.

As Li Chengqian walked towards the Taiji Hall, Li Gang, the eldest son of the Crown Prince and concurrently the head of the Privy Council of the Tiance Mansion, was reciting the rites in a melodious and solemn tone.

"We revere that Crown Prince Chengqian, endowed with the spirit of the divine and possessing inherent brilliance, stands out with outstanding talent in accordance with the celestial phenomena..."

"His talent is unparalleled, even if the celestial celestials descended from heaven, and even if the ghost Yuqu were reborn, the entire universe could not rival him..."

Outside the Taiji Hall, court officials and foreign envoys stood solemnly on either side of the steps. Above the jade steps, the magnificent palace roof tiles, resembling four beasts breathing out or roaring, gleamed with golden light.

The Ministry of Rites' eulogy, delivered loudly and accompanied by the court musicians' melodious music, seemed to reach outside the palace.

As Li Chengqian stepped onto the first jade step.

The next moment, the former Left Wing Khan of the Western Turks, Moheduo Khan, Ashina Quli, and the civil and military officials of various ethnic groups, including the Turks, Xianbei, Dangxiang, and Tiele, led by the former leader of the Xueyantuo, Yinan, all knelt down from their left and right.

Ashina Quli and Yinan offered a lamb or a cow horn with both hands and prayed devoutly.

May the grass remain green wherever horses tread, and may cattle and sheep graze freely as water flows forever.

"Felt tents keep the calamity at bay, and pastoral songs echo throughout the autumn Yellow River."

"The lamb is born with strong ears, and the old horse knows the way and moves with ease."

Inside the Taiji Hall, Li Gang's eulogy, still accompanied by ceremonial music, continued to resonate: "His ambition is to expand across the eight wastelands and explore the myriad stars, to plow the entire world before seeking guidance from the Purple Palace..."

Li Chengqian walked solemnly up the steps, with his Crown Princess Qian Yingying a step behind, her jade hand held by Li Chengqian. Only after Li Chengqian stepped onto the second step did she take her first step.

Reach the ninth step.

On either side, a group of farmers and common people held wheat ears and steamed buns, or raised fine wine and rice milk.

May all people be free from hunger and thirst, and may they be surrounded by abundant food and their children!

"In the East Market, silk is exchanged for salt and tea; in the West Market, foreign merchants lead packhorses."

"Children glean ears of grain early in the morning, smoke rises from the chimneys; old women mend clothes as the lamplight flickers and petals fall."

Following these people, on both sides of the steps leading up to the steps, there were incense burners and smoldering smoke.

This gave Li Chengqian's solemn face a divine glow.

He remained silent, his gaze fixed intently on the direction of the Taiji Hall, as if on still water, and continued to step out...