Reborn as King of South America

Chapter 341 Military Parade and Wedding

At 1879 a.m. on December 12, 26, the grand military parade officially began.
On the long road simply paved with gravel and sand, the troops being reviewed slowly passed through the crowd of spectators and marched steadily towards the direction of the round hill platform.

The seven major arms formations, namely infantry, cavalry, artillery, engineers, marines, garrison troops and militia, passed the platform in turn to be reviewed.

Wearing shiny leather combat boots and solemn and slim-fitting black uniforms, the young soldiers took firm and powerful steps, and from a distance they looked like a tightly-knit black machine, demonstrating the powerful strength of a new military force in silence.

"The flames of war illuminate the armor, the horses' hooves clang and the flags stand proudly overhead
The smoke of war is gone, and the will should be rewarded, and the immortality of the Han Dynasty is sung

I have no clothes to wear, so I can share my robe with you. I sharpen my spear and sword, so I can share my hatred with you.

Ancient roads connect the desert and the mountains, Qinguan Pass and Hanyue boil wine on the paths

Holding a sharp sword and a long spear, he is so majestic that he can swallow mountains and rivers

Who says I have no clothes? I will share the same water with you, and I will repair my spear and halberd and work with you.

In troubled times, we are locked in the dust of the journey, and we share the hatred for our country and family

The setting sun is bloody, and the heroic spirit stands for thousands of years
The emperor's career is unique, and the struggle for hegemony determines the fate of the world

The heroes are buried on the battlefield and their souls return to their hometown

Drums and horns sounded in the vicissitudes of life, blood was shed on the ten-mile battlefield, and the wind blew and the swords sang loudly.

Who says I have no clothes? I will share my clothes with you and repair my armor and weapons.

Expand the territory, open up new frontiers, become prime minister, and rule the four directions. "…………

With their hands tightly gripping their rifles and their eyes fixed on the center of the platform where Li Mingyuan was, the soldiers sang the imperial army's anthem "Military Song - Without Clothes" aloud, and moved forward in coordinated steps, showing the true spirit of the Han army to the surrounding people and foreign guests attending the ceremony.

The deep and powerful tone sings out the hardships of Chinese civilization and the difficulties in the founding of the Han Dynasty. At the same time, the ups and downs of the song also show the process of the Han army's rebirth from the ashes and the reappearance of Chinese civilization in South America.

There is no special breed of generals or ministers, and men should strive to be strong. Every soldier who has the honor to participate in the military parade is a backbone of the army who has performed well and made outstanding contributions in all previous wars.

From them, Li Mingyuan saw the achievements of the country’s founding eleven years ago and the hope for the future development and rise of the South American Han Kingdom.

"The Han army is mighty!" Facing the phalanx of soldiers stretching for miles on the long road, Li Mingyuan expressed his feelings at the moment with the most direct words.

"The Han army is mighty! The Han army is mighty!"…………

The national flag with the Chinese character "Han" on a red background was flying, and the entire parade site was filled with loud shouts. The soldiers of the Imperial Guard Division who were responsible for security protection and maintaining order on the scene were not only infected by the emotions, but also had to strengthen their security to prevent the excited crowd from disrupting the parade team and threatening Li Mingyuan's personal safety.

The slogans of "The Han Army is Mighty" were louder and louder. The cameramen hired by the central government seized the opportunity, quickly operated the cameras, and took a series of precious historical photos.

The ceremony of his enthronement was grand yet economical. The entire ceremony, including a military parade, free lunch for the spectators, and a three-day performance by a drama troupe, cost a total of about 560 million Han yuan, equivalent to five months' military expenditure for a standard army division of the Han Dynasty.

On December 12, the morning after the coronation ceremony, the mansion purchased by Zhang Zhenxun, the richest Chinese in Southeast Asia, in Chang'an was bustling with activity. The main family members of the Zhang family, including Zhang Zhenxun, his six sons, three daughters, and several concubines, all gathered in Chang'an City.

Today is the day my daughter Zhang Baoyi is getting married. Since last night, the whole family has been busy focusing on Zhang Baoyi.

"Baoyi, what do you think of this skirt? The color is bright and colorful, and it was made by a famous artist in Suzhou and Songjiang. It will definitely suit me very well."

The third sister Zhang Baoyue said, holding a bright red silk skirt in both hands.

"Thank you for your kindness, sister. However, Your Highness prefers simple and elegant clothing. I'm afraid you would not like my little sister to wear this kind of clothes."

Zhang Baoyi was wearing a bright red wedding dress, and several women around her were busy giving her the final touches.

"Haha, Third Sister, I guessed right, didn't I? I'm not like you who only likes bright red clothes. I have a discerning eye. Otherwise, I wouldn't have bewitched Your Majesty so much after just one meeting with him, and sent someone to your house to ask for marriage the next day."

A decent-looking, carefree girl laughed out loud.

"Crazy girl, if you keep talking nonsense, I'll tear your mouth apart."

Zhang Baoyue pretended to be angry and scolded the girl, unnoticedly resolving the embarrassment. "Alright, alright, stop messing around. Today is Baoyi's wedding day. If you delay the wedding, I won't forgive you."

Zhang Zhenxun's wife scolded the two of them, then said to Zhang Baoyi with a smile, "Baoyi, once you enter the palace, you are a member of the royal family. His Majesty is very kind to you. You must work hard to get pregnant as soon as possible and give birth to a prince for His Majesty, so that you can consolidate your position in the harem as soon as possible."

"My daughter remembers it. Thank you for your reminder, mother."

Zhang Baoyi agreed in a low voice and did not speak ill of her father's wife who had bullied her biological mother in the past because of her change in status.

"Oh, well, well, since she was little, Baoyi has been a beauty, with beautiful appearance and dignified manners. She is destined to be extraordinary when she grows up. I didn't expect that I underestimated Baoyi at the beginning. In the blink of an eye, seven or eight years have passed. Baoyi has grown up and will soon become a noble concubine in the palace. I remember that the family affairs were busy in the past few years. The master was busy with the business outside, and I was busy taking care of the affairs of the front yard and the back house. I didn't take good care of you and your daughter. Now that Baoyi has entered the palace, please don't blame me for my faults."

"My daughter doesn't dare. My father works hard outside all day. My mother manages nearly a hundred servants in the backyard. Baoyi knows how much my mother takes care of me and her daughter, so she won't blame her in secret."

"Good child, I was not wrong about you. When I came here just now, your third and fifth brothers wanted to seek a position in the court and were worried that you would not help. Now that I hear what you say, I feel relieved."

"I wonder what positions my third and fifth brothers are seeking? If it's appropriate, I'll find a chance to mention it to His Majesty. It will also give my two brothers a chance to compete for positions with others, and it will also prove their talents so that they won't be gossiped about by others."

"Baoyi, you are the imperial concubine in the harem. It's not a big deal to help your two brothers. What can others say?"

Zhang Zhenxun's wife, Mrs. Liu, changed her expression. She had just finished speaking and was about to refute Zhang Baoyi's statement when Zhang Zhenxun walked in from outside the room with his six sons.

"Nonsense, the third son is mediocre, the fifth son is uneducated, what good can they accomplish if they are appointed as officials in the court? They should first sort out the affairs in the backyard. Women should not interfere in the affairs of the court."

"Meet my father."

Zhang Baoyi stood up and saluted.

"Get up, there's no outsider in the house, so there's no need for so many etiquettes."

Zhang Zhenxun helped his daughter sit down and continued, "I have already discussed with the 400 shopkeepers under the Zhang Family Chamber of Commerce and have agreed to give 2700 million taels of silver in cash and million taels of silver worth of plantations, shops, gold, jade and other items from various places as your dowry to Your Majesty."

"Master, you have handed over all the money and property in our family to the emperor. How are we going to live in the future?"

When Liu heard that Zhang Zhenxun gave away his property worth 3100 million taels of silver, she immediately became restless.

"You are the master of Zhang's backyard after all. Why are you so flustered?"

Zhang Zhenxun reprimanded his wife in dissatisfaction, explaining, "Although the Zhang family is not as prosperous as it was ten years ago (according to historical records, in 1869, Zhang Zhenxun controlled a fortune of 8000 million taels of silver, as described in Chapter 5500), we still have 2400 million taels of silver. Excluding the dowry given to our daughter, we still have million taels of assets left. In South America, we are still one of the richest business families, so we don't have to worry about the expenses of the family."

"Father, would you like to reconsider this?"

"It is precisely because I have thought it through that I am planning to do this."

Zhang Zhenxun looked at his daughter Zhang Baoyi and said seriously, "Sometimes too much money is not a good thing. When we were in Southeast Asia, Daddy was always worried that the Dutch would turn against you and murder you and your siblings for the Zhang family's property. Earlier this year, I went to South America, just in time for the outbreak of the Argentine War. I witnessed with my own eyes that the fierce army under your majesty's command wiped out 100,000 white troops in two or three months.

Looking around the court today, there is no one who has the ability and merits that surpass your majesty. It is useless to rely on the Zhang family's wealth for the Qing court, and it will not last long to continue spending money to buy peace from the Dutch. Therefore, when I heard that your majesty intends to marry you as a concubine, your father began to consider how to deal with the family's property.

Nanmei Han is a big country with many places to spend money. The Zhang family gave Your Majesty 3100 million taels of silver for your future happiness, to avoid being suspected by Your Majesty because of the family property issues, and for the future development of the Zhang family. We stand firmly on Your Majesty's side and use the property we gave to contribute to Your Majesty's national cause and seek stability and peace for the Zhang family in the next few decades."

"My daughter thanks Daddy on behalf of His Majesty."

"Haha, my dear daughter is so quick to consider His Majesty."

Zhang Zhenxun laughed and said with relief, "You were right to refuse to ask for an official position for the boss. As an imperial concubine, you cannot let your natal family's affairs affect the court's affairs, otherwise it will cause His Majesty's displeasure.

As for your two useless brothers, I have my own arrangements. If they stay in South America, they will inevitably meet some mean people who flatter them. I am afraid that they will be corrupted. I will simply arrange for them to study in Germany at their own expense. The third and fifth brothers are both under 30 years old this year. After studying in Germany for three years, it will not be too late for them to enter politics or do business. "

"Dad has made all the arrangements. It would be a good idea to send my two brothers to Germany for some training."

"After the third and fifth sons went abroad to study, the family business was handed over to the eldest and fourth sons. The second and sixth sons followed me to take out the first batch of 200 million taels of silver, respond to His Majesty's call to open up a new route in the South Pacific, and unite a group of transport merchants to establish a Pacific Shipping Company specializing in the South Pacific route."…………

(End of this chapter)