There is no such thing as the Kangxi and Qianlong eras

Chapter 370 Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum

Zijin Mountain, southern foothills.

Dulongfu, at the foot of Mount Everest.

The Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum is an above-ground architectural complex.

Unlike the Forbidden City in Nanjing, which had a less fortunate history, the Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum, although damaged to some extent during the wars of the Ming-Qing transition, underwent a superficial restoration project to appease the gentry in Jiangnan, as the Qing dynasty's rule was not entirely legitimate.

During his southern tour, Kangxi sent officials to pay homage at the Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum six times and personally visited the mausoleum five times.

The imperial procession of the Han dynasty arrived at the Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum.

The Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum is built against the mountain, facing south, with a depth of 2.62 kilometers and surrounded by a red wall with a circumference of 22.5 kilometers, covering an area of ​​more than 2000 mu.

The above-ground structures of Xiaoling Mausoleum can be roughly divided into three parts: the Sacred Way, the Mausoleum itself, and the tombs of meritorious officials.

The Sacred Way extends from Xiamafang to Wenwufangmen, including the Shenlieshan (Zijinshan) Stele, Dajinmen, Sifangcheng, Sacred Way stone carvings, and Yuhe Bridge.

The main buildings of the mausoleum, from the Wenwu Fangmen (Civil and Military Gate) to the Chongqiu (Mound), include the Stele Hall, the Offering Hall, the Ascension Bridge, the Fangcheng (Square City), and the Minglou (Bright Tower), and are surrounded by a wall.

The tombs of meritorious officials are all the founding heroes of the Ming Dynasty, such as Li Wenzhong, Xu Da, and Chang Yuchun. Their tombs are scattered around Xiaoling Mausoleum, forming a feng shui pattern of tombs guarding Xiaoling Mausoleum.

When Nie Yu arrived at the sacred path, he had always dismounted and walked. Now, he didn't need to mount his horse again; once he stepped onto the sacred path, he should walk on his own two feet.

The King of Han walked at the front, followed by his officials.

On both sides of the spirit path stood elite Han soldiers, holding weapons.

This was both to maintain order and to demonstrate the importance that the Han Dynasty placed on visiting the Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum and to showcase the prestige of the nation.

The path to the spirit tablet wasn't too long. Nie Yu walked forward and soon passed through the civil and military gates at the entrance of the Xiaoling Mausoleum.

Entering through the Wenwu Fangmen (a gate for civil and military officials), one arrives at the mausoleum buildings.

To the west is the Hall of Clothing and Sacrifice, and to the east are the Divine Kitchen Courtyard and the Slaughtering Pavilion.

If you walk a little further ahead, you will see the Xiaoling Gate, which was renamed the Stele Hall by the puppet Qing dynasty.

Because the Qing dynasty erected a stele at the entrance that read "Governance Surpasses that of the Tang and Song Dynasties."

Nie Yu pointed and asked, "What is this stele?"

The Han officials, both civil and military, were unaware of the details. It was Yuan Shu, representing the surrendered officials, who stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, this is the Stele of Governance Surpassing the Tang and Song Dynasties. It was erected here in the thirty-eighth year of the Kangxi Emperor's reign when the false emperor Kangxi visited the Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum. It signifies that the achievements of the Ming Dynasty surpassed those of the Tang and Song Dynasties."

Yuan Shu called out "Great King" quite naturally. Although he was initially hesitant and reluctant to surrender when the Han army first entered Nanjing, he was relieved to hear that his hometown in Zhejiang had been occupied by the Han. He immediately cut off his queue, changed his clothes, and became a loyal subject of the Han.

Yuan Shu is almost seventy years old this year, which would be considered an elderly man in modern times. As people age, they often suffer from osteoporosis, and their bones naturally become softer, making it easier for them to kneel.

Moreover, having served as an official for decades, Yuan Shu had a more thorough understanding of the national situation than others.

The Qing dynasty is likely to collapse, and the Han dynasty is the most likely powerful vassal state to seize power after the Qing falls.

Such a momentous event of political upheaval is truly a once-in-a-century occurrence.

If Yuan Shu weren't already very old, he would have immediately given away all his wealth to join the Han bandits.

"A dynasty that rivals the Tang and Song dynasties, haha."

After hearing Yuan Shu's explanation, Nie Yu sneered, "Why should my Han people's great Ming Dynasty need a pseudo-Qing Manchu dynasty to erect a monument to vindicate us?"

Upon hearing this, everyone's eyes immediately turned to Nie Yu.

Yuan Shu was also looking at Nie Yu. He knew it wasn't that simple. The Prince of Han didn't like killing people, but that didn't mean he wouldn't kill. Even the occasion of paying respects at the Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum was an opportunity to make a scene!
Liu Jun and Gu Jing stepped forward one after the other and asked, "What does Your Majesty mean?"

"After this visit, let's tear it down!"

Nie Yu said, "The Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Works will recast a new one, inscribed with 'Recast in the third year of Xinghua, a stele that embodies the spirit of the Tang and Song dynasties.'"

The idea that governance rivals that of the Tang and Song dynasties is not inherently problematic, nor was it first proposed by Kang Youwei. Kang Youwei's use of this idea at the Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum does not indicate genuine affirmation of the Ming dynasty and Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang's achievements, but rather reflects a different political propaganda strategy.

First, it is said that the Ming Dynasty was more prosperous than the Tang and Song Dynasties, and its national strength and achievements were impeccable. Then, based on this, a stele was erected to commemorate the prosperity of the Ming Dynasty.

In this way, whenever someone visits the Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum, they will see this stele at first glance.

The Ming Dynasty was more prosperous than the Tang and Song Dynasties, so the fact that the Qing Dynasty could bestow honorary titles upon the Ming Dynasty must be a testament to its achievements. This only means that the Qing Dynasty was roughly equal to, or even slightly superior to, the Ming Dynasty.

The King of Han issued an order that there was no need to wait until the Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum was visited.

Several Han soldiers, along with the First-Class Han King and his officials, passed through the Xiaoling Gate, picked up hammers and ropes, and began to dismantle the Zhilong Tang and Song Stele, inscribed by Kang Mazi himself.

The King of Han and his ministers numbered several dozen, and they were accompanied by many attendants, guards, and officials from the Ministry of Rites, who carried various sacrificial animals and incense.

The procession stretched from the Sacred Way to the Xiaoling Palace, and Nie Yu looked around, surveying the scene. Although there was a Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum in later generations, and Nie Yu had even visited it before, all the later Ming Xiaoling Mausoleums were reconstructions. The original Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum was destroyed by fire during the Taiping Rebellion.

The Xiaoling Hall that Nie Yu is looking at now was originally a double-eaved, nine-bay structure with a depth of five bays. It was built on a three-tiered stone Sumeru pedestal, with the three characters "Xiaoling Hall" on the lintel.

It was destroyed in the third year of the Xianfeng reign. After the Taiping Rebellion was defeated, it took eight years during the Tongzhi reign to rebuild the Xiaoling Mausoleum, but the scale was not as good as before.

That's for sure. The Tongzhi Emperor didn't even have the money to repair the Old Summer Palace, let alone spare money to rebuild the Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum. The Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum was even funded by local governors and Han gentry, and had almost nothing to do with the Qing government.

After visiting the Xiaoling Mausoleum Hall, passing through the Inner Red Gate, and then crossing the Shengxian Bridge, you will find the Fangcheng and Minglou (Bright Tower) behind you.

The square city is 16 meters high, 75 meters long from east to west, and 31 meters wide from north to south. The lower part of the square city is a 2.4-meter-high stone Sumeru pedestal, and the waist part is engraved with ribbon patterns and square knot patterns.

The central archway leads to a circular arched tunnel with 54 stone steps. The tunnel has a vaulted ceiling, and the bottom sides are carved with stone Sumeru-style bases. There are doors at the front and back.

North of the arched tunnel is the southern wall of Chongqiu. Along the edge of the city wall, one can ascend the Minglou from the left and right sides.

The Ming Tower is located on the Fangcheng (square city wall), facing south. It is 39.15 meters long from east to west and 18.4 meters wide from north to south. There is an arched doorway in the middle of the east, west, and north sides. The floor inside the tower is paved with square bricks and covered with yellow glazed tiles.

In the third year of the Xianfeng reign, the Taiping Army captured Nanjing, and the top of the Ming Tower was destroyed in the war, leaving only the four walls.

It wasn't until fifteen years ago that the Ming Tower was restored.

Behind Fangcheng Minglou is Chongqiu, also known as Baocheng, which is the joint burial site of Zhu Yuanzhang and Empress Ma.

The Chongqiu Mausoleum was built on a massive scale, with walls alone stretching over 1000 meters and reaching a height of seven meters, making it a veritable small fortress or city. Below it lies an underground palace.

When Nie Yu arrived at the Chongqiu Mausoleum, he made a point of tidying up his clothes.

He had loosened his collar a little because it was too hot from walking, but he quickly fastened it back up.

The master of ceremonies from the Ministry of Rites stepped forward slowly, with Yuan Mingyao standing beside him, chanting and shouting.

The sacrificial animals and incense used for the tomb worship were all carefully arranged by designated personnel, and everyone's expression was solemn.

"bye!"

Yuan Mingyao shouted.

Nie Yu led the way, respectfully offering prayers before the prayer mat, with incense offered by the master of ceremonies in his hands.

Behind him, the Han officials and the surrendered Qing officials knelt and kowtowed in order of their rank.

The Han Dynasty abolished the bad custom and etiquette of kneeling and bowing to officials and commoners, but kneeling to heaven, earth, and parents, as well as formal sacrificial occasions and kneeling to worship the spirits of ancestors, were still not included in this.

"Goodbye!"

Another shout rang out.

The crowd continued their worship, and the master of ceremonies from the Ministry of Rites took out the sacrificial text and read it aloud.

It was nothing more than an affirmation of the achievements of the Ming Dynasty, a praise of Zhu Yuanzhang's merits in expelling the Tartars and restoring China, and at the same time, it indicated that the Han Dynasty would also inherit the mandate of heaven, complete the unfinished work of the Ming Dynasty, expel the pseudo-Qing Tartars, and restore the Han Dynasty as soon as possible.

The reading of the eulogy alone took quite a bit of time.

During this period, Nie Yu, the King of Han, along with his officials, had to continuously perform sacrifices and offer incense.

By the time all the procedures were completed, it was almost noon.

"The ceremony is over!"

Yuan Mingyao gave a final shout, and Nie Yu finally stood up, followed by the officials behind him.

My legs are almost numb from kneeling for so long.

After the audience concluded, the officials prepared to pack up and return home.

"..."

Nie Yu did not return immediately. Instead, he took a deep look at the Chongqiu Mausoleum. In front of the tomb was the joint burial inscription of Zhu Yuanzhang and Empress Ma, which had been silent for more than four hundred years.

After watching for a long time, he suddenly smiled, turned around and left.

In early summer, a rare breeze blew by, and the sacrificial texts that had been thrown into the brazier were not yet finished burning.

A gentle breeze blew by, and half of the eulogy, blackened by smoke, flew up and landed in front of the joint burial tombstone, continuing to burn.

……

(End of this chapter)