When Qi Ziying lobbied the chief officials of King Gui's mansion in the Gui Palace and tried to lend money to King Gui, the Wuying Hall in the imperial city in the center of Zhongdu was very lively. Cheerful music sometimes came from the hall, and in the center of the palace, there were dancers dancing gracefully in the hall.

Unlike people's imagination in the 21st century, in the Ming Dynasty, the zajus of the Mongols and Yuan dynasties were prohibited, while other folk operas, singing and dancing were not restricted. There were also court dances in the palaces of the Ming Dynasty. After the invasion of the Mongols and Yuan dynasties, the economy and culture of the Han people were largely destroyed, many Han customs were banned, and festivals were restricted. It was not until the Ming Dynasty that the Han people's dance music was revived and flourished again, and the Han and Tang dance music were reunited.

Whenever the banquet arrives, dancers often come to entertain the fun, whether in the palace or the homes of officials and gentry. Even in the late Ming Dynasty, when the storm was swaying, they still had orchestras and still had a lot of singing and dancing. In the Ming Dynasty, which had been in full swing for three years, the singing and dancing that was once forbidden by the Qing Dynasty was restored again. At this time, in the Wuying Hall, more than a dozen maids spread their arms and sleeves, and the floating dance posture made people involuntarily fascinated. This "Jinghong Dance" is the most common dance of the Ming Dynasty's palace dance.

As the maid spread her arms and sleeves with the music, the military generals wearing red general dresses were sitting at the dining tables on both sides of the palace waiting for His Majesty's arrival. For example, Li Dingguo, Zhang Jinsheng, Yu Shujie, Zhang Xiaowu, Wan Li, Yang Chaodong, Lin Feng, Chen Ze, Ma Xin, Zhang Xiaowen, Zhao Mingxing and others were all generals in the army. They were all nobles of the Ming Dynasty. Since they were heroes of the Ming Dynasty, the founders of the Xinggan Dynasty, and they were also close comrades-in-arms who had a life-and-death friendship.

As it has been decided today, these heroes have also obtained status and wealth that match their achievements. They can be said to be successful. Although only twenty-three people were granted marquis and thirty-nine people were granted lords, that is, they formed the group of heroes of the Ming Dynasty, but the status they enjoyed in the court was by no means comparable to that of civil officials.

Especially now, these honorary ministers are connected through in-laws and other means. Although it has only been three years since Zhu Mingzhong's deliberate arrangement, the Ming Dynasty's honorary ministers group has formed a stable interest group. Of course, in addition to the honorary ministers group, there is also a "excellent group". Without exception, they are "members of meritorious people", that is, military officers and soldiers who have received meritorious titles of "Yihui Medal". With the Yihui Medal, they can get 100 acres of duty-free land within the pass or 500 acres of outside the pass. Compared with ordinary soldiers in the village, these military meritorious landlords often have at least hundreds of acres and a thousand acres of land. Of course, they are all "big landlords".

Dozens of honorary officials, tens of thousands of honorary officials, plus tens of thousands of military landlords with hundreds of acres of land, formed a special group of Ming Dynasty. They were different from military households in the early Ming Dynasty and from government soldiers in the Tang Dynasty. They were aristocrats who lived with the country in a sense. Unlike civil officials who relied on civil servants to take the civil servant exam, they entered the officialdom by relying on military merits.

It is also because of this that unlike civil servants, they long for war and to gain military merit in war, because they all know very well what military merit can bring to them.

As the saying goes, people are in a happy mood when they are happy. The reason why the people who attend the banquets are laughing is because the court wants to use troops to Annan. Annan may be just a small country, and only requires tens of thousands of troops to pacify. However, if there is a war, it is better than no war.

At this moment, among the great ministers, Li Dingguo, who had the highest title, also smiled and greeted his colleagues around him politely, but his heart was far less peaceful than his expression. Since His Majesty left him to enlighten him, Li Dingguo breathed a sigh of relief, everything was as he expected.

He will stay in the capital, and his subordinates will be placed in various places in Annan as the royal family's palace guards. Once Annan recovers, His Majesty will enthrone the royal family in Annan, with one city, one county, and a county. From then on, those generals and soldiers who have followed him for many years can also settle down.

Thinking of this, Li Dingguo's mood began to become more complicated. Did he be like a decoration from then on, and was he in the Ming Dynasty like a decoration? He had a salary of 10,000 to 20,000 stones for his whole life, and there was an additional salary of the Minister of War. Well, there was also a 5,000 acres of king land in Taiyuan, which was a special reward for His Majesty. Even King Gui would not have such kindness. Of course, King Gui would have to be a vassal in the future.

"That's right, as long as the world is peaceful and the people live and work in peace, what's the harm that I will do as a peaceful minister in the court..."

Thinking of this, Li Dingguo subconsciously glanced at Zhang Jinsheng and Wang Mingde who were really talking with his head down. They were both old subordinates who started from Jiangyin with His Majesty the Emperor, and they were also one of the few generals in the back camp. In terms of military achievements and qualifications, they are naturally not comparable to others.

Behind the two of them chatting and laughing at this time, it was probably because of their argument that His Majesty agreed to send four regiments to cooperate with the Jin army. The Jin army is a subordinate army of the Jin king. After this battle, it will no longer exist, except his personal soldiers of the guard.

What is the reason why Zhang Jinsheng and the others strive to join the four groups?

It is to seek military merit for subordinates. The nobles in the court have few old subordinates, and who do not want their subordinates to gain more military merits. After all, now there are only two channels to obtain land, either actively immigrate outside the pass or Nanyang, or get rewards for land through military merits.

Compared to other things, honor fields are the ancestral property left to future generations.

Perhaps, it was time to consider the future of the guard's personal soldiers. Thinking of Zhang Jinsheng and others who were quarreling in the Governor's Mansion of the Five Army when they were fighting for military merit for their generals, Li Dingguo thought to himself.

"Your Majesty is here!"

Just then, a loud report from the eunuch outside the Wuying Hall interrupted Li Dingguo's random thoughts. Before the eunuch's voice had disappeared, the ministers in the hall stood up in unison, bowed and greeted each other:

"I welcome your Majesty's Holy Lord. Long live my emperor, long live my life."

"Let me be calm. I have said so many times that my family is a soldier. When I see me, I just need to salute me. There is no need to perform this bow."

Zhu Mingzhong, who also changed into red military uniforms, smiled and said. As early as three years ago, the Ming Dynasty had already promulgated the "Da Ming Li System" based on the ritual system of the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, and stipulated that civil servants only bow their rituals when they were facing the saint, while military officers marching. Only when they were worshiping the sky, they could kneel down.

In addition, it is also a special order to allow cabinet, secretary of the court, and military officers above the general to sit upright in front of the imperial court. This action, which seems to be contrary to the way of the monarch and ministers, was also interpreted as imitating the ancient Chinese and Autumn Period. Of course, it is not so much about retro, but rather about innovating in the ritual system in the name of retro.

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

At this moment, the ministers naturally felt that inexplicable closeness arose when they saw His Majesty dressed in military uniform.

Although many of the nobles present were veterans who had been with His Majesty for many years, many were from the Fujian vassal states, Jiangxi and even Jin vassal states. However, this kind of difference in background was at least now in military uniforms. In the relationship between the monarch and the ministers, it is true that the monarch is the monarch, and the minister is the minister, but there are also distances and nears. At this time, His Majesty was wearing military uniforms and entering the seat, undoubtedly telling them that they are all the same and that they belong to the same group.

Perhaps because I realized His Majesty’s wishes, everyone came to the table with a sense of flattery.

Although the scene seemed a bit cramped at the beginning, fortunately, as the emperor, Zhu Mingzhong himself did not care about the difference between the monarch and the ministers. In addition, he and many generals present had fought on the battlefield together. As long as he had a few glasses of wine and counted the past, the atmosphere suddenly became lively.

While singing and dancing, Zhu Mingzhong raised his wine glass and spoke to everyone.

"I didn't expect that so many years have passed in a flash. Since the Qing army invaded and stole the Central Plains, all Han people in the world are unwilling to be slaves. If you don't have the birth on the battlefield, there will be no revival of the Ming Dynasty today. Come! I would like to pay a respect to you here!"

He picked up the wine glass again, and Zhu Mingzhong said earnestly.

"Your Majesty said it was important. If it weren't for your Majesty's efforts to capture the tide of Nanjing, and the bloody battle of Tongjimen, which led our Northern Expedition Army to seize Nanjing. Later, he led his troops north to Jiangbei to block the south of the Yangtze River. This would lay the foundation for the revival of our Ming Dynasty. If it weren't for Your Majesty, how could it be today?"

Wan Li also raised his wine glass and said respectfully. He was born in the Fujian Palace and was naturally very clear about his identity. He knew that as a minister, he should give credit to His Majesty. What's more, now that he thinks about it, Your Majesty has indeed made great contributions to the world. Now, whenever he thinks about it, if His Majesty had not captured Nanjing, the Northern Expedition Army might have suffered some changes under the city of Nanjing. Perhaps the Northern Expedition would have been very likely to fail, which would undoubtedly be a disaster for the Ming Dynasty Zhongxing.

"Yes. If your Majesty had not been your Majesty, the country would have been deceived by the Qing captains, and they would have delayed their troops. If this were the case, the Northern Expedition would have failed. If so, maybe my Ming Dynasty would not have discussed the revival."

Ma Xin immediately raised his glass and agreed. He was also under Zheng Chenggong's command. Naturally, he knew how Zheng Chenggong had captured the delaying strategy of others back then. Of course, he also knew the importance of Your Majesty's capture of Nanjing City in one fell swoop to the Ming Dynasty. However, at that time, how many people would care about Your Majesty's contribution?

At that time, Your Majesty was a slight person. Perhaps people would preach His Majesty's bravery and loyalty, but what people saw more was how the country achieved success in the Northern Expedition. As for Your Majesty, who would care about him until he rose to Jiangbei?

But it's different now. As long as you seize the opportunity, no one will miss the opportunity to flatter, just like now.

With them starting out, everyone will naturally be complimenting His Majesty with every word you say and I will.

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Chapter completed!