At this time, outside the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the waiting officials and nobles had already lined up on both sides, making way for the road. They watched in stunned silence as the eunuchs in the palace arrived in front of the Hall of Supreme Harmony holding Zhao Junchen's congratulatory gifts.
There were more than a hundred eunuchs holding congratulatory gifts. Each eunuch held a large umbrella cover in his hand. Under the umbrella cover, there were countless silk strips, and a large number of names were densely written on the silk strips.
This is the Wanmin Umbrella!
Although they have different shapes and sizes, although these Umbrellas do not seem to be formal, and although most of the officials present have never received Umbrellas in their lives, they still saw the large umbrellas held in the hands of the eunuchs and the
The silk strips made everyone recognize that these were indeed Wanmin Umbrellas!
On the other side, standing on the imperial steps, Emperor Deqing, with the support of his ministers, saw the birthday gifts sent by Zhao Junchen, and obviously guessed that these were Wanmin umbrellas, and then thought of Zhao Junchen's "giving gifts on behalf of others"
Yan, although he forced himself to be calm, he still couldn't help but trembling slightly.
As an emperor who enjoys great achievements and claims to be a holy king, and now has no shortage of money, what could be more satisfying and more prominent than the people giving him the Wanmin Umbrella as a gift?
Throughout the ages, how many emperors have received the Wanmin Umbrella from the common people?
What's more, he sent hundreds of Wanmin umbrellas in one go?
"Zhao Aiqing..." Emperor Deqing's voice seemed calm, but he stared at the Wanmin Umbrella under the imperial steps without blinking and asked, "What are these? Who are you giving gifts on behalf of?"
Understanding Emperor Deqing's intention to ask questions knowingly, Zhao Junchen stepped forward and used his loudest voice so that all the officials and nobles outside the Hall of Supreme Harmony could hear.
"Your Majesty, these are the umbrellas made by the people of Lu'an Prefecture overnight for Your Majesty when I inspected the disaster situation in Lu'an Prefecture a few days ago, and all of them were done voluntarily. There are a full 117 umbrellas.
!During His Majesty’s inspection of Lu’an Prefecture, Your Majesty’s love for the people was seen and remembered in the hearts of the people. When I returned to Beijing, the people even blocked the road one after another and asked me to bring these people’s umbrellas.
Send it to Your Majesty."
After a pause, Zhao Junchen continued: "Your Majesty, you just said that this birthday ceremony allowed your Majesty to see the prosperity of the Ming Dynasty, the loyalty and filial piety of the officials and the people of the world, and the harmony between the emperor and his ministers in the court, but
In my opinion, your Majesty has missed something, that is, your majesty loves the people like a son, and the people respect you like a father! Your majesty, please don't think that these umbrellas are shabby. As far as I know, the people of Lu'an Prefecture
We have just experienced a locust plague and are living in poverty and embarrassment. However, in order to make these Umbrellas for Your Majesty, the cloth and satin used are donated by the people. Many people finally have good clothes. In a few years
I was reluctant to wear it once, but in order to make the Wanmin Umbrella for Your Majesty, I did not hesitate to cut it into materials for making the Wanmin Umbrella. Such a loyal and filial heart, I feel very moved whenever I think of it, and the people
Our actions like this further illustrate your Majesty’s reputation and holy name in the hearts of the people!”
"Okay! Okay! Okay!"
Listening to what Zhao Junchen said, Emperor Deqing felt that he had stolen the limelight at this birthday party. From now on, he would have the confidence to call himself a "saint king and wise master". The joy and excitement in his heart were no longer enough to be appreciated by outsiders.
He said the word "good" three times.
After a long time, Emperor Deqing reluctantly looked away and issued an order in a loud voice: "Come here, put these Ten Thousand People's Umbrellas into the main hall of the Hall of Supreme Harmony. You will be with me today. Wherever I go, these Ten Thousand People's Umbrellas will follow you."
Wherever you go. After the birthday ceremony, you must also treasure it carefully! Since it is the will of the people, as a king, I must not neglect it. If you pass on my will again, Lu'an Mansion will be exempted from all taxes this year to spread my kindness!"
As Emperor Deqing's words fell, everyone once again said "Your Majesty is wise". During this period, there were all kinds of flattery and flattery. Emperor Deqing became more and more interested, and he smiled and accepted them all.
………
While Emperor Deqing was rejoicing, the officials around him had complicated thoughts.
Giving the emperor the Wanmin Umbrella seemed to be a shocking violation of the rules, but Zhao Junchen obviously got the right flattery once again.
This time on Deqing's birthday, the limelight was indeed stolen by Zhao Junchen again, and even more so than in previous years. The fifty-five large pendulum clocks before were already stunning, and Emperor Deqing also liked them, but with these people
Compared to an umbrella, it is nothing.
Many people were surprised and began to look forward to Zhao Junchen's third gift. If the third gift made Emperor Deqing more happy and satisfied than the Wanmin Umbrella, how would Emperor Deqing reward Zhao Junchen after the birthday ceremony?
Junchen?
Among them, the thoughts of Prince Zhu Heyu were the most complicated.
Zhu Heyu paid the most attention to Zhao Junchen. When Zhao Junchen left Lu'an Mansion, he had received rumors about the Wanmin Umbrella. Zhu Heyu had also heard about it. However, Zhu Heyu did not believe such rumors at the time. With Zhao Junchen
How can such a corrupt official receive the support of the common people?
Seeing these Wanmin Umbrellas in front of him, Zhu Heyu already understood that those rumors were probably true. If Zhao Junchen forged the Wanmin Umbrella and gave it to Emperor Deqing, it would be easy to expose it, but once it was exposed, at this time
The happiest Emperor Deqing may be the most angry one when the time comes, and Zhao Junchen simply cannot afford to take this risk.
However, in Zhu Heyu's opinion, Zhao Junchen must still have tampered with the Wanmin Umbrella, because even if the common people gave the Wanmin Umbrella, they would only give it to officials. Who would give it directly to the emperor?
Zhu Heyu wanted to expose Zhao Junchen's trick, but in the end he restrained himself.
Without him, this matter did not hinder Zhao Junchen at all. At that time, Zhao Junchen was inspecting Lu'an Mansion on behalf of Emperor Deqing as an imperial envoy. Giving the Wanmin Umbrella to Zhao Junchen was equivalent to giving it to Emperor Deqing. At most, it was only
It was not difficult to deceive Emperor Deqing by using Zhao Junchen's clever words and demeanor to lower Emperor Deqing's happiness.
The most important thing is that it is simply impossible for Zhu Heyu to admit personally that a corrupt official like Zhao Junchen has received the Umbrella of the People and received praise from the people.
Therefore, during the rest of the birthday ceremony, Zhu Heyu kept looking weird. Obviously, the news that "Zhao Junchen received the Wanmin Umbrella" came true, which had a big impact on him.
………
But it was said that Emperor Deqing returned to the Hall of Supreme Harmony and looked at the 117 Wanmin Umbrellas lined up on both sides of the hall. The smile on his face did not diminish, and he smiled and scolded Zhao Junchen: "Well, you Zhao Junchen, since these Wanmin Umbrellas have already been
You received it before returning to Beijing, how dare you hide it and hold it until now and present it to me?"
Isn’t it because only presenting at this time can make you stand out the most?
With this thought in his mind, Zhao Junchen looked like a virtuous minister. He smiled and said: "Your Majesty, I forgive you. I have heard that filial piety is the foundation of human beings. And the emperor is the first of all the people in the world."
Parents, it can be seen that it is natural for the people to show loyalty and filial piety to Your Majesty. However, Your Majesty lives deep in the palace and cannot have casual contact with the people. On your birthday, the people can only burn incense at home and pray for blessings. With this in mind,
After I received these Ten Thousand People Umbrellas, I hid them and presented them to Your Majesty until your Majesty's birthday today, because in my opinion, these Ten Thousand People Umbrellas not only represent the gratitude and filial piety of the people of Lu'an Prefecture towards you.
, it also represents the gratitude and filial piety of the people all over the world towards you."
Hearing what Zhao Junchen said, Emperor Deqing was overjoyed again, and looked at Zhao Junchen in front of him more and more pleasing to the eye.
Suddenly thinking of something, Emperor Deqing said again: "By the way, Junchen, you have prepared three gifts in total. So what is the third gift? Present it quickly, and prepare it after the Wanmin Umbrella, I am afraid it will be even more extraordinary.
Bar?"
Zhao Junchen nodded with a smile and said: "I have been preparing for the third congratulatory gift since I entered the court and became an official. Now I have finally prepared it. It is the most important gift I offer to His Majesty this time."
.”
Hearing what Zhao Junchen said, everyone in the hall became more and more curious, with expressions of anticipation on their faces.
At Zhao Junchen's signal, the eunuchs in the palace finally carried the third gift to the Hall of Supreme Harmony.
This time, when everyone in the palace saw it, they knew that Zhao Junchen was making a big deal again. There was only one third gift, but it actually required more than ten eunuchs to carry it.
After a quick look, everyone in the hall looked at each other. Zhao Junchen's third gift turned out to be just a huge blanket. It was rolled up and was more than five feet thick and more than ten feet long. It was obviously very large.
Such a large blanket is certainly valuable, but it is obviously not suitable to be placed behind the Wanmin Umbrella.
While everyone was wondering, Zhao Junchen motioned to the palace eunuch to place the blanket in the center of the Hall of Supreme Harmony, and then slowly unfolded it.
As the blanket unfolded, the whole picture was displayed in the eyes of everyone in the palace. Exclaims in the palace came and went, and the look of surprise appeared on everyone's faces. Emperor Deqing, who was sitting firmly on the imperial steps, stood up suddenly.
"This, this is..."
Even Emperor Deqing, looking at the blanket that was one foot wide and two feet long, felt a little trembling in his voice.
"Your Majesty, this is the territory map of our Ming Dynasty and surrounding countries!"
Zhao Junchen replied solemnly.
Looking at Emperor Deqing's surprised and happy expression, Zhao Junchen knew that this time, he had guessed Emperor Deqing's thoughts correctly again.
Until Matteo Ricci came to China, China was limited by technology and investment and was unable to draw accurate maps, especially during the Ming Dynasty. The most accurate map was actually the "Ming Dynasty Hunyi Map" drawn by Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang during the period, and that map
Not only is it extremely inaccurate, it actually doesn't even have the ability to mark national boundaries. The map only depicts the mountains and rivers of the Ming Dynasty territory, but there is no administrative division of state capitals at all.
Zhao Junchen's map of the territory of the Ming Dynasty combines his memories of the territory of the Ming Dynasty and the drawing methods of later generations. The size of the territory of the Ming Dynasty is clearly visible on the map. The administrative divisions, rivers and mountains are also clearly organized.
And the countries surrounding the Ming Dynasty, Korea, Japan, Mongolia, and Annan, are all in short supply.
You know, even the vague "Hunyi Map of the Ming Dynasty" has been kept secret in the palace. Except for the emperor, ordinary people can't take a look at it, let alone this map drawn by Zhao Junchen?
Zhao Junchen estimated that until this map appeared, everyone in the palace realized for the first time the size of the Ming Dynasty and the distribution of surrounding forces.
In Zhao Junchen's view, to a certain extent, ancient emperors, or the most insecure profession, did not know the size of their own country, how many people they ruled, officials deceived their superiors, and even
Let them not know the true wealth and tax revenue of their country.
For an emperor like Emperor Deqing, who was ambitious but not talented, this kind of insecurity was probably even more obvious.
This is the significance of Zhao Junchen's map of the Ming Dynasty territory.
Not only should we eliminate Emperor Deqing's insecurity, but we should also make him feel proud and understand how vast and powerful the territory he rules is.
This kind of meaning and surprise was more impactful to Emperor Deqing than the Wanmin Umbrella.!