The great affairs of the country lie in sacrifice and military affairs!
This sentence comes from the record in "Zuo Zhuan·Cheng Gong·Thirteenth Year of Cheng Gong": "The duke and the princes courted the king, so he followed Liu Kanggong and Cheng Su Gong, the marquis of Jin, to attack Qin. Chengzi received a favor from the society and was disrespectful.
Liu Zi said: "I have heard that the people have to live in the heaven and the earth, which is called destiny. This is because there are rules of action, etiquette, justice and majesty to determine destiny. Those who are able to nourish it will be blessed, and those who cannot be defeated will bring disaster. That's it.
Therefore, a gentleman should be diligent in courtesy, and a villain should do his best. Being diligent in courtesy is better than paying tribute, and doing your best is better than being diligent. Respect means nourishing the mind, and being diligent means keeping one's business.
The great affairs of the country lie in the sacrifices and the military. The sacrifices have to be carried out, and the soldiers have to accept the blame. This is the great honor of the gods. Now I have become a lazy man and abandoned my life. Isn't this the opposite?'"
Sacrifice and military administration have been one of the two most important events in the country since ancient times.
Throughout the dynasties, there have been strict regulations and systems for this, and a complete set of national sacrificial systems have been established. Generally, there are two. The first is the central court sacrificial system, which is divided into major sacrificial offerings, medium sacrificial offerings, and minor sacrificial offerings. The second is the local sacrificial system.
Sacrifices are held at the provincial, prefecture, state, county, township and other levels.
And "the great affairs of the country lie in sacrifice and Rong." The sacrifice and Rong expressed here actually mean sacrifice.
Sacrifice refers to the ritual form of worshiping ancestors, offering sacrifices to heaven and earth, etc., while Rong refers to the form of sacrificial rituals before and after going out for war. In other words: the major affairs of the country are actually sacrifices.
In fact, there is a sentence in the "Book of Rites" that "there are five classics in rituals, and nothing more important than sacrifices." It can be seen that sacrifices are the most important part of our country's traditional ritual system.
Why do our ancestors pay so much attention to sacrifices?
To put it bluntly, sacrifice is actually a way for our ancestors to communicate with the gods. We use sacrifices to please and bribe the gods in order to obtain the blessings of the gods and ancestors.
Why do you say that?
As we all know, our ancestors came from the primitive tribal life of eating hair, drinking blood, and drilling wood to make fire. At that time, everything our ancestors had was heavily dependent on nature.
From hunting prey to living caves, to wind, rain, thunder and lightning, nature was extremely mysterious to humans at that time. Scorching heat, cold, and plagues would cause a large number of ancestors to die.
So at that time, people were extremely afraid and reverent of the heaven and earth, as well as the sun, moon and stars that revolved on it. For this reason, they even imagined them as gods in the sky.
The mystery and fear of nature have made our ancestors always maintain awe of nature. They believe that "everything in the world has aura". Even the dead have their own souls, and they are still wandering in the world, causing trouble.
The living.
Therefore, the ancients were particularly reverent to nature and all things, and they also had great reverence for the dead. This led to the saying "the dead are the greatest".
It is precisely because of this kind of awe that the ancient ancestors found a way to offer sacrifices, and used this method to communicate with the gods of heaven and earth and pray for their protection.
From this point of view, the matter of sacrifice has never been a matter of one person, but a matter of a country, a city, and a family!
Zhang Cheng had considered this matter when he returned from a trip to Henan to aid in the suppression of the intruders, so he built the "Baozhong Temple" at the foot of Chicheng Mountain, leaning against a stream, to commemorate the fallen soldiers who followed him in the battle.
During the time when he led the army to Liaodong, the scale of Baozhong Temple expanded a lot. On the high slope in front is the main building of Baozhong Temple, and behind it is a large mound of earth, where the souls of the fallen soldiers are buried.
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A square has been laid out in front of the Baozhong Temple, which is enough for thousands of people to gather here to pay homage to the souls of the fallen soldiers of the Xuanfu Army.
Back then, when the Baozhong Temple was first built, it was a bit hasty as it was a last-minute idea. Zhang Cheng only found some monks and Taoist priests to chant scriptures in order to bring peace to the souls of the fallen soldiers who aided in the suppression of Henan Province.
However, now, the Baozhong Temple has been completely built, and a very complete ceremony has been formulated for it with reference to the national and dynasty sacrificial rituals, and the sacrifices are offered with the proper etiquette of the country and great joy.
Special priests have also been set up. The priests of Baozhong Temple enjoy the standard treatment of the commander of the Wei Department. This is also the highest treatment that Zhang Cheng can give at this time.
Although the priest of Baozhong Temple is not included in the military roster of the Xuanfu, the salary he receives is completely distributed by Zhang Cheng himself, but if it exceeds this standard, he is afraid that people who do evil things will use it to criticize him.
Talking point.
…………
On the tenth day of the twelfth lunar month in the 14th year of Chongzhen's reign in the Ming Dynasty, more than 3,000 officers and soldiers of the Xuanfu Army and thousands of civilians from military households gathered in the square in front of the Baozhong Temple, waiting for the ceremony to begin.
Most of them are the family members of the soldiers who died in the Liaodong expedition, and there are also some survivors of the soldiers who died in the previous suppression of bandits and aid in the suppression of Henan Province. However, ordinary people cannot go to the square here to participate in the ceremony.
Yongning Bo Zhang Cheng and Xuanda Governor Zhang Fuzhen had fasted for two days after returning to Chicheng Castle. Then they were accompanied by Xuanfu Governor Jiang Yuxu and other officials, as well as Xuanfu Deputy Commander-in-Chief Lin Dengyou, staff generals Liu Guangwu, Guo Yingxian and other generals.
, come to Baozhong Temple to pay homage to the loyal souls of the fallen heroes.
Even the two commanders-in-chief, Wang Pu and Li Fuming, came to Chicheng together to watch the Xuanfu army's ceremony to pay homage to the loyal souls of the fallen soldiers in the Liao campaign. They also paid homage to the souls of the soldiers. They are now standing on the left and right of the governor Jiang Yuxu.
Prior to this, all the senior officials of Zhang Cheng's shogunate also rushed to Chi Castle early, and the families of the soldiers who died in the battle also came to Chi Castle to pay homage to the souls of the foreign ministers.
In addition to inviting the men who died in their own families to the Baozhong Temple, they also come to Chicheng Castle to receive their own pensions, as well as nameplates and documents unique to the families of martyrs, with which they can directly receive routine annual pensions in various places in the future.
In addition, young children in the family who study, work, enlist, etc. can receive priority care with this ultimatum, and the nameplates of the martyrs' families can be hung on the lintel, and future tax payment and military service can be obtained from the local government.
take care of.
There is no need for Zhang Cheng to take care of all this personally. Jin Xinpeng, Yan Qingrong, Wu Zhizhong and others are responsible for it. Even the Kaiping Health Department's experience in the past and the pacification of Liu Zhi have now become
Zhang Cheng's capable generals.
With trusted people like them, Zhang Cheng no longer needs to do these complicated things personally. He only needs to make decisions, and the specific tasks will naturally be completed by the following people.
After Zhang Cheng and Zhang Fuzhen returned to Chicheng together, there was no delay at all. Although most of the soldiers from each battalion returned to the flood areas, Chicheng Camp, Dushi Camp, Cavalry Camp, and Huwei Camp all stayed and were stationed outside Chicheng.
In addition, the newly attached troops of Guo Yingxian, He Zhenxiong, Kuang Yongzhong, and Tang Xiancheng were also temporarily stationed outside Chicheng. In addition, officers with outstanding performance from other battalions were also ordered to come to Chicheng.
They are all fighting heroes that Yongning Bo and Zhang Cheng hold up with one hand, and they are role models of the times for those who come after them to worship and imitate. As a latecomer, Zhang Cheng knows the power of role models all too well!
Therefore, when he sent troops to Liaodong this time, he vigorously collected the outstanding heroic performances of his soldiers and prepared to vigorously publicize their bravery.
Make their deeds become legends in the land of Xuanfu, and give them the greatest reward, thus motivating more soldiers under their command to follow suit.
In addition to staying in the Red Castle to wait for their titles and rewards, they will also visit the main hall of the Baozhong Temple as representatives of the soldiers to worship the souls of the fallen soldiers after the officials and generals of the Xuan Mansion have paid their respects.
On the second day after Zhang Cheng returned to Chicheng, he buried the bones of the fallen soldiers in the big tomb behind the Baozhong Temple amidst the sounds of mourning and music. He even shoveled the soil himself. Governor Zhang Fuzhen, regardless of his old age and frailty, accompanied him.
Working together beside Zhang Cheng.
After the bones of the fallen soldiers were buried, the following matters such as repairing and erecting plaques, etc., were handled properly by the responsible officials of Baozhong Temple according to the regulations. It was not until all the spiritual plaques were brought into the temple that the grand worship ceremony began.
As the priest appeared and took his place, the sacrificial ceremony began, the sacrificial music was played at this time, and the entire sacrificial procedures were carried out meticulously.
As the ceremony progressed, each animal and sacrificial vessel were set up one after another. The officiating priest shouted loudly: "The worship has begun, let's have fun!"
Another accompanying priest then shouted loudly: "Dance!"
Gold is like a bell, stone is like a rock, bamboo is like a pipe, a bamboo flute is like a sheng, earth is like a xun, leather is like a drum, silk is like a harp, and wood is like a bamboo. The eight notes are also sounded one by one. In the deep elegant music, music and dance are happening, or
Holding a pipe, or holding a sheng, or holding a drum, the music and dance match each other, and they dance gracefully.
Accompanied by music and dance, Yongning Bo Zhang Cheng and Xuanda Governor Zhang Fuzhen served as the chief priests. They followed the priest's singing orders, solemnly and solemnly worshiped according to the ritual process, and recited the sacrificial inscriptions.
Although Zhang Cheng's thinking was much better than that of people of this era, he still couldn't compare with today's scribes in terms of article writing, so today's memorial article was written by Governor Zhang Fuzhen.
After that, in the large square in front of the Baozhong Temple, all officials and soldiers, including Yongning Bo and Zhang Cheng, performed the ceremony of holding weapons.
The officers and generals in the front row all raised their swords, followed by the Yunzhou cannons, and then the cavalry with their tiger lances raised high. They were all wearing official uniforms and armor, solemn and solemn.
Everyone sang in unison: "The generals are raising their swords, riding their horses to determine the world, the generals are surrounded by stars, and the warriors are crescents... The loyal and brave soldiers are here, they will endure through thousands of calamities, the sky and the earth are black and yellow, the true spirit will always exist..."
The golden sound vibrates, the sound of elegant music is elegant and melodious, the dancers in front of the temple are magnificent, and nearly ten thousand people sing together in the square. The sound can be heard for miles, echoing in the Chicheng Valley, full of shock.
The contagious power of people’s hearts!
During the caroling, not to mention the officials and soldiers present, but also the people watching behind and around, all shed tears. There were even many merchants and scholars who came from other places such as Donglu and Zhencheng.
The people also burst into tears.
Many people even choked and said: "If you have to accept this sacrifice, you will not be unjust even if you die in battle..."
As the ceremony progresses, the dancing stops, the music stops, and the sound stops.
Under the guidance of the priest, Yongning Bo Zhang Cheng and Xuanda Governor Zhang Fuzhen led the officials into the Baozhong Temple, knelt and offered incense before the altar, while the priest brought a group of accompanying priests to represent all the fallen soldiers.
The family members of the family greeted each other at the altar.
After the officers and generals paid their respects, they left immediately, and then the generals of each battalion of the Xuanfu army and the family members of the fallen soldiers went to the temple in order to offer sacrifices.
The expressions on their faces were extremely complicated, including sadness, pride, and envy. The men from each family followed the general and died in battle. How could they not be sad?
However, their spiritual tablets can be admitted to the Baozhong Temple to receive worship during the four seasons, and they are even more respected by all people. The hearts of the family members are also warm and proud. The family man, his death was not in vain!
The other officers and soldiers in the Xuanfu army were extremely envious of him. They all came from military households and were born to serve as soldiers.
Previously, in addition to being ordered around by the superior officials, planting crops and doing housework for them, he was just like a slave under the superior officials, but even so, he still couldn't avoid the fate of going to the battlefield.
But at that time, whenever there was a war, they, ordinary sergeants, were just cannon fodder. Not only did they have no pay, money, grain, or even decent armor or weapons, they had to be sent to lead the charge, or they had to fight for the superiors and their servants.
After breaking.
As they are today, they are well paid, equipped with high-quality armor and weapons, and receive real military merit rewards every time they go into battle. Even if they are unfortunately killed in battle, they can enter this magnificent Baozhong Temple and receive worship for eternity.
What an honor is this?
This is treatment that they had never dared to imagine in their dreams before, even in their wildest dreams!
They all thought about Uncle Yong Ning's kindness in their hearts. Didn't all these changes happen only after Uncle Yong Ning came to Beilu?
On the other hand, the officers and soldiers in other parts of the Ming Dynasty were not the same as before. Even the Xuanfu had such changes only under the rule of Uncle Yongning.
Many soldiers hope that Uncle Yong Ning will live a long life. Only in this way can their glory as soldiers last forever. In the hearts of the Xuanfu Army soldiers, Zhang Cheng is like a lantern Buddha from thousands of families, illuminating everything for them.
…………
Yongning Bo Zhang Cheng came to the memorial tablet of Yang Guozhu, the former commander-in-chief of the Xuanfu, and respectfully offered him three sticks of incense. Yang Guozhu's bones were left in front of the Liaodong battle, and were buried in Liaodong according to his last wish to accompany his father, brother, children and nephews.
But Zhang Cheng was grateful for Yang Guozhu's care for him, and in order to pay tribute to this comrade who had twice killed slaves side by side, Zhang Cheng set up a spiritual tablet for him in the Baozhong Temple.
Standing in front of Yang Guozhu's shrine, Wang Pu was filled with emotion. He was also very familiar with Yang Guozhu. In the eleventh year of the Tartar invasion, he was transferred back to Datong and was unable to participate in the Battle of Julu.
At that time, he was extremely happy in his heart, but with Zhang Cheng's rapid rise, he also secretly regretted it. If he had had the friendship of the bloody battle with Julu, he would not have become Yong Ningbo's closest comrade today.
But at this moment, watching Xuanda Governor Zhang Fuzhen offering incense to Yang Guozhu’s shrine, I couldn’t help but feel in my heart: No matter how famous or rich you are, it’s not as good as living!
But Li Fuming next to him held a different view. He felt that if his life could be as glorious as Yang Guozhu's, even death would be worth it.
What he thinks more about is his wife and children, and his status in the family. If he unfortunately dies in battle in the future, as long as Uncle Yong Ning is still around, he will definitely treat him like he did to Yang Guozhu today.
If you fight to the death, you can give him a wife and a son, so that your name can be written in the family tree and passed down through the ages.