The Ming Dynasty: Starting with the border troops, it was overthrown and the Qing Dynasty was destro

Chapter 275 A Shrine is erected to honor the loyal soul of the Han King; a memorial tablet is inscribed for the orphans to continue the blood rites.

Jiang Han's wedding ceremony was entrusted to Zhao Sheng for full preparation. The various etiquette procedures were complicated and would likely take some time.

Taking advantage of this break, Jiang Han decided to deal with a major issue that had been weighing on his mind for a long time.

The surviving soldiers needed to marry and have children to continue their lineage, and the ancestral worship of those who died on the battlefield should not be cut off.

Back in Yinchuan, Ningxia, he had made a promise to the wounded veterans who voluntarily stayed behind to die in the bombing, promising to find them an orphan to carry on their family line.

Now that Jiang Han has declared himself king and established a stable territory, this matter must be put on the agenda.

This is not only to give an explanation to all the surviving soldiers, but also to give a final resting place to the fallen comrades.

He wanted to build two shrines to martyrs in Chengdu.

After careful investigation and selection, Jiang Han finally chose two locations.

The first site was located in a side hall behind the Chengyun Hall of the Shu Prince's Palace, next to the circular hall where Jiang Han's parents were worshipped.

In the future, he will personally preside over the ceremony here on holidays or major ceremonies, symbolizing that the fallen soldiers will enjoy the highest honors.

The other ancestral hall was located in a corner of the west of the city, and was open to the general public and the families of the fallen soldiers for daily memorial services.

The area west of the city was originally the location of the Sichuan Provincial Administration Commission's office, but Jiang Han has now ordered it to be vacated.

He even specially ordered people to transform the tallest main hall in this building into an ancestral hall.

Throughout thousands of years of history, many dynasties have built shrines to martyrs.

This is not simply a matter of reward and remembrance; it is also a profound political art, and the two are not in conflict.

Even powerful dynasties like the Han and Tang, and weak dynasties like the Song, established places like the Qilin Pavilion, Lingyan Pavilion, and Zhaoxun Pavilion to commemorate meritorious officials with paintings.

At the same time, shrines and temples were set up in various places to commemorate the heroes who sacrificed their lives for the country.

First, this act set an example of loyalty and bravery, educating the people of the world about the values ​​that the court promoted.

Secondly, this action also constructs a historical narrative of "sharing the Mandate of Heaven," proclaiming that the regime is not the private property of the emperor alone, but the result of the joint efforts of the monarch and his ministers, which greatly enhances its legitimacy and internal cohesion.
Finally, building ancestral halls and temples is also for the living to see.

The imperial court could use extremely low costs, such as honors and incense offerings, to gain the utmost loyalty from its civil and military officials, thus inspiring future generations to serve the dynasty to the death.

Conversely, if the rabbit is killed and the dog is cooked, or the birds are all gone and the bow is put away, such a situation cannot last long.

To take a recent example, Emperor Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang slaughtered many meritorious officials in order to pave the way for his grandson Zhu Yunwen.

The most direct negative consequence of this action was a severe shortage of military talent in the Jianwen Emperor's court.

Zhu Yuanzhang almost wiped out all the top generals who were skilled in battle and experienced in command.

This resulted in the central court having no experienced veterans available when Zhu Yunwen ascended the throne and faced the rebellion of Prince Yan, Zhu Di.

Left with no other choice, Zhu Yunwen could only use veteran Geng Bingwen, who was good at defense, and Li Jinglong, who was only good at theoretical discussions. As a result, they suffered a crushing defeat and the country changed hands.

Admittedly, Zhu Yunwen also had his own problems.

However, if some of the famous generals from the founding period were still alive, the chances of the Prince of Yan winning would be extremely slim.

Zhu Yuanzhang's massacres can be described as digging his own grave.

After Zhu Di ascended the throne, the nine-border defense line, which Zhu Yuanzhang had meticulously designed and was very proud of, completely collapsed, leading to the collapse of the vassal kings' defense system.

Although Emperor Chengzu launched five expeditions to the northern deserts, the northern defense line gradually weakened and declined after his death.

Moreover, it wasn't just the military generals who were slaughtered; a large number of civil officials and elites were also wiped out.

This large-scale purge created a climate of fear among officials, stifled political vitality, and severely damaged the confidence and initiative of the bureaucracy.

Furthermore, the institutionalization and normalization of torture and secret police tactics such as "court flogging" and the "Imperial Bodyguard" greatly humiliated and trampled on the dignity of the scholar-officials.

This caused the relationship between the emperor and his officials in the Ming Dynasty to largely transform from the "emperor and scholar-officials jointly governing the country" of the Song Dynasty into a master-servant relationship.

There's a saying that goes, "If a ruler treats his subjects like brothers, the subjects will treat the ruler like their own heart; if a ruler treats his subjects like weeds, the subjects will treat the ruler like an enemy."

If your Zhu family does the first day of the month, then my civil service group will naturally do the fifteenth.

From then on, the ruler and his ministers became enemies, their relationship deteriorating and their hearts growing colder.

The Ming Dynasty serves as a stark warning, and Jiang Han naturally strives to avoid a similar situation from occurring.

However, it is too early to talk about these things now. His generals and commanders were all trained by him, so there is no need to worry about this situation happening for the time being.

The construction of the Martyrs' Shrine is not only to fulfill a promise, but also to make a promise to the entire army:
Those who have made contributions will never be forgotten.

In mid-October, the Martyrs' Shrine in the west of the city was renovated.

On the 16th, Jiang Han led the civil and military officials of the city, as well as some generals and soldiers of the central army, to the ancestral hall in a grand procession.

The ancestral hall was spacious and solemn at this time, but it appeared empty, with no memorial tablets enshrined inside.

Jiang Han came today not for a memorial service, but to personally name and erect plaques for the fallen soldiers.

The most important matters of state are sacrifices and war, and he must personally participate in such activities without the slightest carelessness.

The clerks accompanying the army carried in several heavy wooden crates, which were neatly placed in the open space in the middle of the ancestral hall.

The box contained the waist tags worn by thousands of fallen soldiers.

According to the rules of the Ming Dynasty army, each soldier was issued a waist tag after enlisting, which recorded his name, age, physical characteristics, place of origin and unit number.

It serves as both an identity document and a record of merits and demerits for identifying remains after death in battle.

At exactly 9:00 AM, sunlight streamed through the high windows into the ancestral hall, and the plaque-erecting ceremony officially began.

Inside the ancestral hall, on the left side were military generals such as Li Zicheng, Shao Yong, Li Laowai, and Hei Zi, while on the right side were civil officials such as Zhao Sheng, Li Xinghuai, and Wang Chengbi. Everyone was solemn and silent.

The master of ceremonies stepped forward from the crowd, took out a bright yellow silk scroll, and read the sacrificial text:

In the eighth year of King Wei's reign, the year was Yi Hai, the tenth month was the first month of winter, and the first day of the month was Geng Shen.

With this simple offering of wine and food, I offer this sacrifice before the Shrine of Martyrs, to comfort the spirits of our fallen soldiers.

The King of Han said:
Oooh!
The world is collapsing, wolves and jackals rule; lives are in dire straits, and war rages everywhere.

You all rose from the fields, originally good people and loyal and brave men; but hunger and cold afflicted your bodies, and the oppressive government was like a tiger. You had no choice but to take up your swords and follow me in raising the righteous army and the banner of righteousness to save the people from suffering.

From Shaanxi and Henan to Sichuan, they fought across thousands of miles, their blood staining the mountains and rivers.

The rousing spirit of Yan'an, the crushing victory on the Yellow River, and the bloodshed in Yinchuan are all vivid memories.

With unwavering loyalty and courage, and a spirit of valor, the generals braved blades and arrows, advancing wave upon wave, ready to die for their cause!

Whether they died in service to the king or were wounded and died in battle, their loyalty and devotion will forever shine upon the world!

Today, the peace of Sichuan and Chongqing is finally restored, all thanks to your blood and flesh. The wind grieves over the old fortresses, and the dew weeps over the desolate graves, all of whom are my compatriots and my comrades.

Whenever I think of this, I feel my heart breaking and my liver and intestines ache!
This shrine is specially built to be revered by all people and to enjoy the offerings of future generations.

His descendants, whom I have sent to continue his work, are not far off. I humbly request that they accept my offerings.

After reciting the eulogy, under the watchful eyes of everyone, Zhao Sheng stepped forward, solemnly took out a well-worn waist token from the first wooden box, took a deep breath, and loudly proclaimed:
"Xu Yunshan! A native of Mizhi, Shaanxi! Nineteen years old! Distinctive features: thick eyebrows, yellowish complexion, and a missing left ear!"

"Belonging to the former left flank of the front battalion, under the command of Li Laowai, the vanguard of the second squad!"

After Zhao Sheng finished reading, the military clerk responsible for verifying the files immediately opened the register in his hand, quickly found the corresponding record, and added loudly:

"Xu Yunshan died in battle in the winter of the third year of Chongzhen's reign, during the attack on Prince Qing's estate!"

After listening to the story, Jiang Han, seated in the main seat, picked up a vermilion brush and carefully wrote down each stroke on a blank cypress memorial tablet.

The large characters read: "Xu Yunshan's position—a native of Mizhi, Shaanxi—aged nineteen."

The pen tip glided across the wooden sign, making a soft rustling sound.

Jiang Han looked somewhat dazed, as if his thoughts had been pulled back to autumn five years ago.

At that time, the troops were short of food, and by sheer coincidence, they discovered the incredibly wealthy Prince Qing's estate, so they recklessly charged into it...

After the fight broke out, they realized they had been ambushed.

It was only through the soldiers' valiant efforts, coupled with internal discord within the defending army, that they managed to win this great battle without serious injury, and even killed a court adjutant.

Later, taking advantage of the situation, they ambushed Wu Ze, the commander in Yan'an, and seized the opportunity to capture Yan'an, officially raising the banner of rebellion.
Although that battle yielded significant gains and alleviated the urgent shortage of military rations, it also resulted in the deaths of many comrades-in-arms like Xu Yunshan.

He's only nineteen, such a young man, all he wants is to have a full meal. What's wrong with that?

Jiang Han had actually been persistent in collecting information on the fallen soldiers.

These brothers followed him through four provinces, enduring hardship and displacement. Many of them died with nothing but a full stomach, and there was no question of any compensation.

Some soldiers, like Shao Yong, had lost their families and were the last survivors of their hometowns after the disaster. So, they were no match for him.
Although some of them still had families, they were engaged in a business that could lead to execution for rebellion. In addition, the troops were highly mobile, so Jiang Han had no choice but to contact the families of the fallen soldiers to distribute compensation.

If that had been done at the time, it might not have been a timely help, but rather harmed these military families.

In the midst of war and chaos in Shaanxi, the sudden appearance of a sum of stored grain and pension money in these households was bound to attract attention.

Although his soldiers had no complaints, in a world where human life was cheap, being able to eat their fill while serving as a soldier was already a great blessing. At least if they died, they would die well, which was better than starving to death.

But Jiang Han always kept this debt in mind.

All he could do was instruct his soldiers to collect the waist tags of their fallen comrades while cleaning up the battlefield and to record them in detail.

He will make amends and offer sacrifices when he is able to do so in the future.

A soldier's memorial tablet is written twice; the first tablet is placed in the Martyrs' Shrine for worship.

The second memorial tablet was used for another purpose.

After Jiang Han finished writing, the official in charge of ceremonies immediately went outside the ancestral hall, gathered his strength, and loudly proclaimed:

"Bring the orphans inside!"

Upon hearing this, the soldiers watching outside the ancestral hall stirred with excitement, craning their necks to look around, surprised to find this part of the event.

Amidst the curious and expectant gazes of the crowd, Jiang Han's personal guard captain, Feng Chengxuan, led a group of about fifty children into the ancestral hall through the side door.

The children were of varying ages, the oldest being around ten years old and the youngest only three or four.

They had all been carefully washed and dressed in brand-new red coats before they arrived.

Although the children had changed into new clothes, their sallow complexions and wary eyes were still impossible to hide.

They huddled together nervously, their little hands clutching the hems of their clothes, looking timidly at the men in gleaming armor, exuding a menacing aura, barely daring to breathe.

These children were all found from the surrounding counties and prefectures of Chengdu. Most of them were pitiful people whose families had been destroyed or whose lives were lost due to war and famine.

Almost all of them were boys, with very few girls.

This was not a deliberate selection, but a harsh reality.

In this era, the custom of valuing sons over daughters still exists in almost every rural area.

In times of famine, girls are always the first to be sacrificed, either sold to others or starved to death.

The boys had a slightly better chance of survival; they either wandered the streets begging or were adopted as servants, but their fates were no better. The soldiers watching looked at the children with complex expressions.

Many of them also had children, or they themselves had gone through similar hardships in their youth.

Seeing these frail figures, many soldiers felt as if they were seeing long-deceased relatives, and were deeply moved.

Feng Chengxuan led the children through the crowd and had them stand in the courtyard.

Immediately afterwards, the master of ceremonies announced and signaled for the first child to enter.

Feng Chengxuan nodded, took the hand of a boy who looked about seven or eight years old and appeared relatively calm, and led him into the solemn ancestral hall.

The child was so frightened by the solemn atmosphere and the presence of both civil and military officials that his face turned pale and his body trembled slightly. He managed to hold back his tears.

He came from a decent family, though not a wealthy one. His parents had sent him to elementary school for a little over half a year, so he learned to read a few characters.

Unfortunately, disaster struck one after another: war and floods destroyed their home and killed their parents.

He fled all the way to Chengdu, hoping to receive relief from the government, but unfortunately he was controlled by the city's beggar leader and was beaten and scolded every day, forced to beg for food.

He dared not resist, simply because he had witnessed too many tragic ends for those who resisted.

At best, their hands and feet would be broken, and their voices poisoned to the point of muteness; at worst, their limbs would be severed, and they would be stuffed into jars and pots for people to see and be curious about...

It wasn't until the Han King's army breached the city and all the beggars in the city were wiped out, with the most heinous ones beheaded and their heads displayed, and the lesser ones sent to hard labor, that he was able to see the light of day again.

Jiang Han beckoned him closer, softened his tone, and asked gently:

"Child, come here."

"What's your name? What happened to your family that led you to this state?"

Hearing this gentle tone, the child's tension eased slightly.

He straightened up, clasped his hands in a gesture of respect, and replied clearly:

"Reporting to Your Majesty, my surname is Fan, my given name is Le'an, and I have just turned eight years old."

“My father took the meaning from the saying, ‘The benevolent find joy in mountains, the wise find joy in water, and the virtuous find peace and happiness.’”

"My family... my family was originally in the Pixian area, but last year we suffered from war and floods, and my parents unfortunately passed away."

"I fled all the way to Chengdu, but unfortunately I was captured by the evil people in the city. Fortunately, the king's heavenly army broke through the city and I was freed."

Although Fan Le'an spoke with a childlike voice, his words were clear and logical, and his choice of words and sentence structure showed traces of early childhood education.

Upon hearing this, a hint of admiration flashed in Jiang Han's eyes:
"I didn't expect you to be educated. That's rare."

"I called you here today because I have some good news to tell you."

"Many of my soldiers sacrificed their lives for the country and died on the battlefield, but they had no children and their lineage could not be continued."

"I specifically invited you homeless children here today because I want you to inherit their surnames and carry on their family line."

"If you agree, the government will provide you with a monthly pension of silver and rice, so you won't have to worry about making a living."

"In addition, I will send you to school to study, and you can also learn martial arts."

"After completing their studies and passing the exams, they can either become officials in the imperial court or follow in their fathers' footsteps, fight on the battlefield, and bring glory to their family."

"If you are not suited for studying or martial arts, when you come of age, I will also give you land and houses so that you can go back to be law-abiding farmers and live a peaceful and prosperous life."

"Are you... willing?"

Upon hearing this, Fan Le'an's eyes lit up instantly. Such a good thing?

He nodded vigorously without any hesitation, his voice trembling:
"Yes! I'm willing, kid!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your divine grace!"

Jiang Han nodded with satisfaction and solemnly handed the newly written "Xu Yunshan" memorial tablet to Fan Le'an.

He looked at Fan Le'an and said in a deep voice:
"Good! From today onwards, this will be your father's memorial tablet. Remember to keep it safe and do not lose or damage it!"

"From now on, you will change your surname to Xu and your name to Xu Le'an."

"The incense offerings and sacrifices should be made during the four seasons and eight festivals without any slackening, so that your father can enjoy the blood offerings of his descendants even in the afterlife."

"Do you remember it clearly?"

Xu Le'an's hands trembled as he tightly clutched the heavy memorial tablet to his chest, nodding heavily:
"You'll remember this, lad! You'll never forget it!"

Upon seeing this, Jiang Han immediately gestured for the master of ceremonies to step forward and hand over three sticks of incense and a stack of yellow paper that had been prepared to Xu Le'an.

Jiang Han pointed to the memorial tablet that had just been placed in the center of the ancestral hall and instructed Xu Le'an:

"Go, offer incense and burn paper money for your father, and perform the three kneelings and nine kowtows ceremony."

Xu Le'an nodded solemnly again, took the incense sticks and yellow paper, and walked to the incense table under the guidance of the master of ceremonies.

He first carefully lit the yellow paper and watched the paper money turn to ashes in the basin;
Then, he lit incense sticks, raised his hands above his head, and slowly knelt down in front of the memorial tablet for "Xu Yunshan".

A bow.

His forehead slammed heavily against the cold ground, and all around him was silent.

Kowtow twice.

The civil and military officials present looked solemn, and the eyes of several generals were slightly red, as if their chests were filled with a thousand cliffs and ravines, and they could not relieve their pent-up emotions.

Kowtow three times.

The soldiers watching outside the ancestral hall felt the same way.

Snorting sounds could be heard from the crowd, and many tough men were secretly wiping their eyes with their sleeves.

The commander-in-chief is still the same commander-in-chief. Although he has become king, he still cares about his brothers.

For them, dying in battle was not terrible, and having no descendants was just a regret.

Now that Jiang Han has made up for this last regret, they have no more worries.

Inside and outside the ancestral hall, a strong sense of belonging silently gathered and rose among the people.
After the ceremony, Xu Le'an stood up, his small face full of solemnity.

Jiang Han stood up and said loudly:

"Today, with Heaven and Earth as our witness, and all the civil and military officials in this hall as our witness, you, Xu Le'an, are the son of Xu Yunshan and the heir of the Xu family."

Upon hearing this, Xu Le'an turned to face Jiang Han, knelt down again with a thud, and kowtowed three times forcefully, even drawing blood from his forehead.

"Your Majesty is benevolent; your kindness is like giving me a second life!"

"I will never forget this. In the future, I am willing to serve Your Majesty by repaying your kindness, even by chopping grass in your mouth and carrying your whip or stirrups!"

"If I break this oath, may I be condemned by the gods and demons, and be destroyed by heaven and earth!"

Seeing this, Jiang Han nodded with satisfaction and personally stepped forward to help him up.

Actually, Jiang Han had once thought about whether he could take these orphans as his godsons.

After all, many emperors, generals, and peasant army leaders had adopted many sons when they started their uprisings.

From the distant past, there were the Righteous Sons Army that flourished during the late Tang and Five Dynasties period; to more recent examples, there was Mu Ying, the adopted son of Zhu Yuanzhang; and even Zhang Xianzhong had four adopted sons under his command.

These men were all capable and trusted advisors, each a skilled warrior and a pillar of their respective regions.

Taking on adopted sons in the early stages of a startup is indeed an effective way to quickly build a core team.

But after careful consideration, Jiang Han ultimately abandoned the idea.

First of all, he is now known as the King of Han, no longer the rebel who used to fight everywhere, and his status is different.

Adopting many sons can easily lead to the formation of a powerful and uncontrollable political group. These children, bearing the title of "adopted sons," may become spoiled and difficult to manage in the future, potentially turning into a source of trouble.

Secondly, in the long run, he hoped to establish a healthy regime based on merit and institutions, rather than a small circle that relied on personal favor and blood ties.

Allowing these children to grow up as descendants of fallen soldiers will help them remember their roots and avoid many unnecessary political troubles.

Jiang Han already has plans for these children.

Jiang Han planned to settle them in one place and provide for them in a unified manner, and then send them to government-run schools when they reached the appropriate age.

Anyway, Jiang Han already has territory and is about to build a school.

Since I can't be their godfather, I'll be their principal.

After being educated by Jiang Han, these children, whether in academics or martial arts, will surely become the loyal cornerstone and backbone of the new regime.

After Xu Le'an stepped down, the ceremony continued.

Zhao Sheng read out the information of the fallen soldiers one by one, while Jiang Han wrote the memorial tablets by hand.

The list is very long, containing thousands of people.

Jiang Han wrote with utmost care, and his wrist soon felt sore, numb, and swollen, but he endured the discomfort and insisted on writing each stroke neatly.

Seeing this, Li Xinghuai stepped forward and whispered for instructions:

"Your Majesty, perhaps... we could write it down for you?"

"You can rest for a while."

Jiang Han didn't even look up, his pen still moving, and said in a deep voice:

"No need."

“These are all my own brothers, Jiang Han, and I must write them myself.”

Although I'm a bit tired, all the soldiers are watching, so how can I entrust this task to someone else?
Even if he has to grit his teeth, he has to persevere today.

Jiang Han's voice wasn't loud, but it clearly reached every corner of the ancestral hall and also among the soldiers listening outside.

Everyone stood in awe, watching their king, despite his exhaustion, carefully write a memorial tablet for an ordinary soldier.

This silent action is far more effective in uniting people than any eloquent words.

Several hours passed, the sun gradually set in the west, and the sky grew dark.

At this time, hundreds of memorial tablets had been erected inside the ancestral hall, which was brightly lit by candlelight.

In the firelight, these newly erected memorial tablets resembled silent guards, watching over the new king to whom they had sworn to serve.

Jiang Han's wrist ached so much from writing that he could barely lift it, forcing him to stop.

There are still many memorial tablets left, so we'll have to continue tomorrow.

Another group of soldiers will come to witness the ceremony tomorrow. This was a special arrangement made by Jiang Han to ensure that more people could see this scene in person.

(End of this chapter)