The Ming Dynasty did not revolutionize

Chapter 396: Conferring Titles on Ministers
Rich families and companies in the Ming Dynasty began to build taller buildings, which was a small release of the wealth accumulated by the people since industrialization.

The noble class was established for personal needs, and was accompanied by a certain mentality of competing for wealth, showing off, flaunting, and being different.

While having this mentality, the wealthy people also have normal business purposes and start building taller commercial buildings for commercial benefits.

At the same time, the Ming court also began to build buildings, namely the Meritorious Building approved by Zhu Jianxuan, with the goal of becoming a skyscraper over 200 meters high.

According to Zhu Jianxuan's suggestion, the building was located between Nanyuan and Shuntian Prefecture City, and on the west side of the midpoint between Peking University Red Gate and Yongding Gate.

The Shuntianfu City has completed a complete outer city, and the scale within the city walls is already large enough. The key is that factories are prohibited from being built around the city, and the source of residents in the city is restricted.

The current city of Shuntian Prefecture is not large, and most of the buildings are still within the city walls.

In addition, Nanyuan was the royal hunting ground, and the road leading to Nanyuan from Yongdingmen was originally a royal passage, with no additional buildings built around it.

There is basically no need for demolition here now, so we can start preparations for the project itself directly.

Considering that the seventeenth day of the first lunar month of the twenty-seventh year of Tiangong was Zhu Jianxuan’s fiftieth birthday, the largest-scale pilgrimage ceremony of the vassal monarchs would definitely be held.

Therefore, the natural deadline for the construction of the Merit Building was to be completed before the end of the 26th year of Tiangong.

Preparations began in the spring of the 25th year of Tiangong, and the total construction period of less than two years was not enough time, so those involved in the project tried their best to advance the construction period.

While the detailed internal structure of the building was still being designed, the site and foundation preparation for the building itself began directly.

Clear the buildings and debris around the site and excavate the construction site for the underground space.

The design is not complete, but the foundation can be built to the highest possible standard and as many piles as possible can be driven into the rock strata fifty meters below.

At the same time, in accordance with Zhu Jianxuan’s direct instructions, an "underground shelter" of unknown purpose, an underground command center and an underground communications center were built on the foundation of the building and the surrounding areas.

Special power and weak current wells and maintenance passages will be reserved in the basement and inside the building to facilitate the subsequent addition of more new equipment.

It took several months to work on these underground things. By the beginning of summer, the design of the building was completed and construction of the building itself officially started.

The building began to rise rapidly in sections.

At the same time, after the 25th year of Tiangong, the troops sent overseas by the Ming Dynasty began to return to their homeland one after another.

According to the military garrison system formulated by Zhu Jianxuan, all Ming soldiers and generals who were ordered to garrison overseas could choose to be granted land and settle down in the local area, or they could choose to return home through rotation of guard.

The imperial court supported them to settle overseas because it was equivalent to armed immigration. A young and strong soldier staying there was equivalent to sending a family there.

Not only could they bring their families with them, but they could also take in some local women as concubines and slaves.

Therefore, in most of the newly conquered and developed places, as long as the soldiers and officers were willing to settle down there, their treatment could be directly upgraded by two levels on the spot.

Most soldiers from local garrisons were willing to stay overseas because their fathers' property in their hometown could only be inherited by one brother.

When the other brothers became adults, they had to consider whether to go to the city to work in a factory or go overseas to open up wasteland and farm.

Now, if they stay overseas directly, they can not only get the land directly, but also continue to receive the military salary. It is not troublesome to guard the local area, and they can also take one or two foreign concubines as their wives.

But now the Ming Dynasty’s homeland is much more prosperous than overseas, and many soldiers and generals want to return to their hometown to live.

For these soldiers and generals, in a non-war state, after being stationed overseas for two years, they can apply to return home, and the maximum number of years shall not exceed three years.

When this group of troops returns home, the imperial court will dispatch new troops from the mainland to replace them. The replacing troops can also choose to stay or return home after two years.

With constant rotation and selection, fewer and fewer soldiers returned home, and more and more soldiers stayed in the local area, until there was no need for further rotation.

At the same time, after the war, most of the soldiers in the garrison forces remaining overseas will gradually be transformed from regular main forces to garrison militias remaining in the local area.

The senior generals who directly commanded the operations in this battle also returned to the Ming mainland during the first rotation of defense after the end of the war.

Their rewards have been confirmed, and they can be notified directly by telegram, or the procedural documents can be sent directly through the post station.

However, for such a serious matter, both the parties involved, the emperor and court officials, all hoped to hold a formal awarding ceremony and complete the on-site enthronement procedures.

The awarding ceremony was a ceremony to boast and display their merits and achievements, and it was also a time for them to show their loyalty to the emperor and the court.

They themselves wanted to participate and had to come back to participate, including the monarchs of the vassal states who had participated in the war.

When winter arrived in the twenty-fifth year of Tiangong, heroes from all over the country had already arrived in Shuntian Prefecture one after another, and the formal collective enthronement ceremony was scheduled for the day of the winter solstice.

On the morning of November 25, the 25th year of Tiangong, Zhu Jianxuan put on the most solemn and formal crown and robes and took the throne in the Dagong Hall, the main hall of the new palace in Beiyuan.

The royal family, nobles, senior officials of the Ming Dynasty central court, and new heroes waiting to be enthroned in Beijing all wore the most formal dress and performed the ceremony of five bows and three kowtows together.

After the ministers completed all the ceremonies very solemnly, they continued to lie on the ground waiting for Zhu Jianxuan's orders.

Zhu Jianxuan, who was sitting on it, raised his hand gently and said, "Stand up."

All the noble officials thanked them in unison, then stood up and stood in groups on both sides of the hall.

The Ming Dynasty's five bows and three kowtows ceremony was only used in very solemn and formal ceremonies, and the etiquette had to be performed in full on such occasions.

Normally, when ministers met the emperor, they did not need to kneel down, they could just bow their hands.

So let alone Zhu Jianxuan, even the previous emperors of the Ming Dynasty rarely used the order of "no ceremony".

During the Qing Dynasty in history, three kneelings and nine kowtows were established as the regular etiquette for meeting the emperor. Whenever an official saw the emperor, he should kneel three times and kowtow nine times.

However, it would obviously be a waste of time to perform such formalities when meeting someone on a daily basis.

When the emperor had urgent matters, he did not want to see his subjects kowtow in front of him. When he saw his subjects kneeling, he would simply shout: "No need for formalities."

At this time, the minister only needs to continue to bow and kowtow once, and there is no need to complete the rest of the bows.

But he couldn't stand up yet. He had to wait until the emperor said "stand up" before he could stand up.

However, the emperors of the Qing Dynasty did not have the habit of speaking upright. Even the ministers of military affairs had to kneel when speaking to the emperor.

Kneeling down to write down the emperor's instructions was called "kneeling to take notes."

After the ceremony, Zhu Jianxuan asked the Grand Secretary Shen Fu to come out and announce the imperial edict. The first imperial edict was not for his ministers, but for the whole world.

Shen Fu stood in front of a microphone and read the edict in a rhythmic manner.

The sound was transmitted through electrically driven audio equipment, echoing throughout the vast hall and also reverberating in the square outside the hall.

It is also transmitted to the outside world through the broadcasting system and played in all places with radio access in Ming Dynasty.

The edict first used a few sentences to summarize the history of Shenzhou from ancient times to the present, and praised the achievements and deeds of the ancient wise rulers and ancestors.

Then he briefly summarized the general history of the Ming Dynasty since its founding, and gave Prince Yiwen and Emperor Jingtai the official status of emperor.

Particular recognition was given to the achievements of Emperor Chongzhen, who was able to save the country from collapse when the sky was falling, thus giving the Ming Dynasty the possibility to continue and be passed on.

In particular, it adjusted the direction of the Ming Dynasty in terms of politics, economy, and culture, laying the foundation for the subsequent great development of industrial and commercial society.

Finally, summarize and recall the general experience and major achievements of Emperor Tiangong Zhu Jianxuan's life so far.

Based on these preparations, it was officially announced to the world that the entire world had been completely unified and that the Ming Dynasty had become the common ruler of the entire world.

The old era has ended and the new era is about to begin.

For everyone in the world, being able to live in this era is an honor and a challenge. As the emperor of the Ming Dynasty and the father of the world, Zhu Jianxuan will lead the Ming Dynasty court and make the world more prosperous in the future.

Create a prosperous, stable and peaceful new world for future generations.

This is a statement announced to the world, so that everyone in the world can know and accept the new world order now and in the future.

After the imperial edict was read, all the ministers present bowed again.

After receiving this edict, Zhu Jianxuan asked his half-brother Zhu Jianyu to come out and read the edict of enthronement to the monarchs of the vassal states who had made contributions on the scene as a prince.

Zhu Jingcheng, the Prince of Anling and the third son of Zhu Jiancan, the Prince of Liang, led the monarchs of the vassal states of the Ming Dynasty and other countries who participated in the war to come out and bow down, including Napoleon, the King of Poland, and Charles, the Duke of Austria.

Now these monarchs are all a little bit uneasy and worried.

Now that the new world is unified, won’t the Ming Emperor consider new ways to reduce the power of the princes?
In the past, emperors supported the relocation of fiefdoms and even established a large number of new vassal states. Could that have been just a temporary measure?

Before the war began, the emperor made them a promise to establish new vassal states for their descendants in the occupied areas. Can this be fully fulfilled now?

Will they be detained directly in Shuntian Prefecture and then immediately start a war to reduce the power of the feudal lords?
However, although this uneasiness and worry exists, it is not strong because Zhu Jianxuan has an excellent political credibility.

Even when dealing with a few worker leaders who were causing trouble, Zhu Jianxuan kept his word.

Even if the promise was made under relative disadvantage, there has never been any retaliatory move after death.

As Zhu Jianyu finished reading the contents of the imperial edict paragraph by paragraph, the hearts of the vassal monarchs present were completely relieved.

The emperor is still the same emperor, and whatever arrangements he made in the beginning will be implemented now.

Napoleon was also allowed to use the prince's crown, robes, and ceremonial objects, while Karl was additionally given the title of Duke of the Ming Dynasty.

In history, Archduke Karl now holds the title of Duke of Austria, but the Duke of Austria and the Duke of Ming Dynasty are not titles of the same level.

The enthronement ceremonies of these vassal monarchs were held at the same time, and their names were listed together in the edict that was read publicly.

But each of them would have his own separate imperial edict and a set of documents corresponding to the vassal state.

It includes a formatted vassal agreement that clearly defines their monarchical status and succession method, as well as the obligations they must fulfill to the emperor and the court.

What is more important is each person’s fiefdom map, which is the specific scope of their future ruling area.

These things are the source of their future legitimacy for rule.

This group of newly established vassal states were concentrated in the inland areas of India, the inland areas of the Anatolian Plateau, and the inland areas of the European part of Russia.

The future status of these places will be "provinces and countries in parallel", and even the status of the entire Ming Dynasty will be "provinces and countries in parallel", which is somewhat similar to the "counties and countries in parallel" status of the Han Dynasty.

The four regions of Shenzhou mainland, Central Asia, the area north of Shenzhou and Central Asia, and Australia are completely under the direct jurisdiction of the imperial court, and most of Linzhou is under the direct jurisdiction of the imperial court.

The eastern part of America, eastern Europe, Asia, and Africa were "provinces and kingdoms running parallel to each other", and most of western Europe was ruled by vassal states.

Although the Ming Dynasty has now unified the entire world, the world's structure is still very complicated, and there are still a large number of isolated ethnic groups in many places.

If the entire world were to become completely provincial, the difficulty and cost of governance would be too high, so this situation would continue for a long time.

After hearing the imperial edict, the monarchs of the vassal states once again performed a grand ceremony to express their gratitude and received the documents of their own vassal states.

After the enthronement ceremony of the feudal monarch was completed, he stood up and returned to his seat
Zhu Jianxuan asked Zhu Jianyu to continue to announce the imperial edict and announce the final rewards to the most important senior heroes.

Generals Liu Biao, Yang Yuchun, Qiu Lianggong, Tian Yiming, Zheng Ruian, Nelson and others who were directly responsible for commanding the battle came out together and knelt in the middle of the hall.

When Zhu Jianxuan conferred titles on meritorious officials in the past, he was usually generous with their welfare benefits but stingy with their titles and ranks.

That’s because Zhu Jianxuan’s goal was too big. The typical top military achievements of previous dynasties were not enough for Zhu Jianxuan to obtain the highest title.

But now all of Zhu Jianxuan’s goals have been achieved, and it is really time to confer titles on his ministers and enjoy peace.

Therefore, Zhu Jianxuan's title reward this time was finally quite generous.

Several major naval and land forces were all conferred the title of Duke, including Yang Yuchun, who had made mistakes, and was directly given the title of Duke.

Yang Yuchun has already been punished for having promiscuous relationships with both men and women.

He never committed a similar crime again and never had any contact with the former Russian Tsarina again, showing a clear sign of reformation.

His abilities and contributions are real.

Zhu Jianxuan did not make things difficult for him in the end, and in the joyous event of the world being unified, his life became complete.

The last person on the list of Dukes is Cui Guodong, a new generation general who can be said to be extremely lucky.

Cui Guodong was formerly known as Cui Er, a refugee from Caozhou, Shandong Province. When a drought hit Shandong, he fled to the Ming Dynasty and by chance joined the army.

Cui Guodong really had a talent for leading troops in battle. With the expansion of the Wu Kingdom and even the Ming Dynasty, he seized countless opportunities for promotion along the way.

During this world unification war, Cui Guodong was not solely responsible for the command of a battlefield.

However, after Tian Yiming and Nelson successfully raided Constantinople, an additional battlefield in southern Russia was opened, and Cui Guodong was assigned to serve as the commander.

He once again performed well on the Russian battlefield and caught the last train to obtain the title of Duke, truly the highest position in the country.

At the same time, the deputies and staff officers of the main generals on each battlefield were given the title of county duke.

Of course, some generals who already had titles were promoted to Duke due to their merits and hard work this time.

Among the group of retired old generals, those who had not reached the highest title at that time were also promoted to the title of Duke this time, and their merits were fulfilled.

After the enthronement edict was read, all the generals bowed together again to express their gratitude, and returned to their positions after receiving the edict and documents.

After reading two imperial edicts, Prince Zhu Jianyu went down to rest. Zhu Jianxuan asked Yang Yuchun, who had just been conferred the title, to come up and read the edicts conferring titles to the marquises and earls.

This time the list was even longer. If the hall of the new palace was not large enough, these people would have to announce the decree in the outdoor square in front of the hall.

Below the marquis and earl, there are more viscounts and barons, and the hall really cannot accommodate them, so they can only wait in the square outside the hall.

However, Ming Dynasty now has sound amplification equipment, so there is no problem holding the ceremony in the outdoor square, and everyone can hear the content clearly.

However, there was no detailed list in the enthronement edict that was read out, otherwise it would take until the evening just to read the list.

Below the baron, there were gentry and country gentlemen. There were even more of them, and they did not come to attend the ceremony in person.

The corresponding edict could only be announced in their military camp through the broadcasting system.

After the conferment of titles, there will also be rewards for all officials, logistics personnel, and ordinary soldiers involved.

Officers and soldiers who actually participate in the combat will be directly paid two years' military pay and salaries, while those who do not directly participate in the combat will be paid one year's salary.

After all the awards were announced, Zhu Jianxuan asked Grand Secretary Wang Lai to come out and read an imperial edict regarding the Merit Building.

The Merit Building is used to commemorate the deeds of all those who have made contributions to the Ming Dynasty, for future generations to pay homage and worship.

All the people involved in this reward will be included in the Merit Building.

(End of this chapter)