prosperous age

"How could this be?"

At this time, in the Qintianjian, an official wearing a green robe rushed out of the official office, and quickly ran to a high platform in the yard with the front of the official robe, the patch on his chest embroidered with white pheasants kept moving.

As he ran, he didn't look up at the sky, but behind him, officials ran out one after another.

On the high platform, he asked impatiently: "What's the matter, there is a solar eclipse today, why didn't it be calculated?"

At this time, on the high platform, three green-robed officials were standing in front of the armillary sphere at a loss, but they were speechless when they heard the questioning from the visitor, not knowing what to say.

"Yang Lingguan, tell me."

"Master Jianzheng, I don't know how to explain the abnormality in the sky today."

"Why can't you figure it out?"

"Master Jianzheng, the celestial phenomena have been unpredictable since ancient times, and many of them have been unpredictable since ancient times."

While Jianzheng was talking to Lingtailang, people behind him also arrived one after another.

"Bao Zhangzheng, can the celestial phenomena be recorded?"

Seeing that the two Wuguan Lingtai Lang couldn't explain the reason clearly, Qin Tianjian turned his gaze to a person standing next to him and asked, he is Qin Tianjian Wuguan Baozhangzheng, who specializes in recording celestial phenomena, and the Wuguan Lingtai Lang who asked earlier It is an official who specializes in observing astronomical phenomena.

Na Baozhanglang held the record in his hand and read: "In February of the 40th year of Jiajing, there was a solar eclipse in Xinmao, and the day was slightly cloudy."

"Boom thump. thump."

While he was talking, there was a faint sound of drums coming from the direction of Xiyuan in the distance.

"His Majesty is beating drums to save the day."

Someone in the crowd behind said in a trembling tone.

With the sound of the Xiyuan drum, the officers and soldiers guarding the towers and drum towers of the entire capital immediately followed the rules and beat the big drums, and the drums in the entire capital rumbled for a while.

"It's over, it's over, it's over."

Some people have been frightened and dumb, they only know that they keep chanting the word "it's over".

The ancients were more superstitious, and the theory of interaction between heaven and man has been deeply rooted in the hearts of the people with the continuous development of Confucianism. Therefore, in their view, the occurrence of a solar eclipse represents God warning the emperor.

Zhu Yuanzhang, Emperor Taizu of the Ming Dynasty, once said: "Since I started the army, everything I have done, the intention has only sprouted, and the sky will show it, and the omens are seen in advance, so I always take precautions and dare not hesitate."

Linking political activities with celestial phenomena is an important means for the emperors of all dynasties to emphasize the legitimacy of their rule. The emperor's deep belief in "astronomical and calendar events reveal good and bad luck" is reflected in the establishment of astronomical and calendar institutions and the emphasis on astronomical and calendar work.

For this reason, Zhu Yuanzhang also specially promulgated the ritual of saving the sun and the moon, stipulating how officials should rescue the sun and the moon when a solar eclipse occurs.

In the ceremony of saving the sun and the moon, Zhu Yuanzhang used high-standard etiquette and music to rescue, and accompanied by the respectful rescue etiquette of civil and military officials, all of which showed that Zhu Yuanzhang attached great importance to the occurrence of "solar eclipse" and "lunar eclipse".

Rescue for solar and lunar eclipses has gradually become institutionalized and complicated. From facing the solar and lunar eclipse at the beginning, to the emperor beating drums to scare away the dog, and then to the emperor needing to wear ordinary clothes and cannot live in the main hall, etc., it can be seen that the feudal dynasty Emphasis on solar and lunar eclipses.

The calculation of the solar and lunar eclipse mainly relies on institutions such as the Qin Tianjian, and due to the deviation of the calendar, the Qin Tianjian often has deviations in calculating the specific time of the solar and lunar eclipse, so many officials of the Qin Tianjian will be wrong because of the measurement time. It can also be seen that the ancient dynasty attached great importance to the phenomenon of solar and lunar eclipses.

For example, a lunar eclipse occurred on Xinmao in the first month of the first month of Jingtai, but because the officials of Qin Tianjian predicted that the time would be later than the actual time, the emperor put him in a big prison.

However, this solar eclipse was not calculated at all. Thinking of the possible punishment, everyone on the high platform trembled.

Half of them were blown by the cold wind on the high platform, and the other half were frightened.

Qin Tianjian is an astronomical and calendar institution in the Ming Dynasty, which is in charge of astronomical divination, formulating calendars, calculating solar terms, choosing dates, and telling time.

The predecessor of Qin Tianjian in the Ming Dynasty was the Taishijian. The Taishijian was established in the 16th year of Yuan Zhizheng, and the prison was changed into a courtyard the next year.

After the establishment of the Ming Dynasty, it inherited the institutional setting of the Yuan Dynasty. In the first year of Hongwu, the Taishi Academy was changed to Sitianjian, and later renamed Qintianjian, forming a pattern of four subjects under the jurisdiction of Qintianjian: Astronomy, Louke, Datongli, and Hijri. "Handling astronomy, determining the calendar, occupying the marquis, and pushing the steps."

At this time, Jian Zheng, who was still in a daze just now, suddenly raised his head to look at the sky. Although most of the red sun hanging high in the sky was covered, it was not completely covered. Gradually from dark to bright.

"Is the eclipse coming to an end?"

The supervisor asked in a trembling voice.

"It seems to be bright."

"It's on."

Amidst the chatter, Jianzheng suddenly thought of something, and immediately grabbed the booklet recording the astronomical phenomena in Baozhangzheng's hand, and couldn't help muttering: "A solar eclipse on a new day, the day is slightly cloudy, the day is slightly cloudy"

With the gradual disappearance of the solar eclipse, the sky regained its light, the sun was still high above the sky, and the capital, which was in a panic for a short time, also restored order.

At this time, on the Drum Tower of Xiyuan, Emperor Jiajing threw the drumstick in his hand to Huang Jin, waved his sleeves with both hands, and descended the Drum Tower angrily with his hands behind his back. Huang Jin followed closely behind the emperor with the drumstick in both hands.

"Send someone to Qin Tianjian immediately, I want to explain."

Today's solar eclipse happened suddenly, and there was no warning from Qin Tianjian before, and the corresponding rescue ceremony was not prepared at all.

After the solar eclipse, Emperor Jiajing rushed out of the bedroom and came here in a hurry, and at this time his heart was full of anger.

"Send someone to quickly invite Wang Jin, Liu Wenbin, and Lan Daoxing to me. Go quickly."

While walking, Emperor Jiajing ordered, and at the same time he was thinking in his mind, what is going on with this solar eclipse, did I do something wrong recently?

Suddenly, Emperor Jiajing stood still, looked up at the sky, and murmured: "Is it wrong for me to obey the ancestral system, shouldn't I be King Yu?"

Emperor Jiajing's whispers made Huang Jin, who followed closely behind him, have his eyelids twitching. He has been following Emperor Jiajing, and he knows everything inside and outside the palace. He also listens to what the emperor says. Understood.

Who will be the crown prince actually has little to do with him. How old is he? He is already in his sixties, how much older than Emperor Jiajing, and how long can he live?

But he knew better that if King Yu hadn't taken over the throne, all the civil officials in the world would collectively oppose it, and the situation at that time might be even more complicated than when he just ascended the throne.

Emperor Jiajing returned to the Yongshou Palace, while Huang Jin was sent out to handle errands.

After leaving the palace gate, Huang Jin summoned Chen Ju and a few other servants, "You go out of the palace immediately and invite Lan Xianzhang, Wang Xianzhang, and Liu"

Emperor Jiajing asked him to invite alchemists to enter the palace, he must be doing divination for today's solar eclipse, so Huang Jin immediately sent eunuchs to invite people.

After arranging everyone's errands, they sent everyone out, but when Chen Ju turned to leave, he suddenly heard Huang Jin shout: "Chen Ju, wait a minute, I still have something to explain."

Chen Ju turned around, and after everyone else had left, Huang Jincai quickly said in a low voice: "After you leave the palace, immediately go to Prince Yu's mansion to send a letter to Wei Guangde. Today is a solar eclipse, and the emperor is worried that the heavens will warn King Yu to come up with a solution as soon as possible. "

"Heaven warns. King Yu"

When Chen Ju heard Huang Jin's words, he was surprised from ear to ear.

"Your Majesty followed the ancestral system and chose King Yu to succeed to the throne, but at this juncture there was a solar eclipse, and the emperor is now a bit wavering"

Huang Jin quickly explained, "Go, let them figure out their own way."

Regarding this matter, Huang Jin was powerless.

He can provide help to King Yu, but he will not disobey the emperor, and the only thing he can do is to inform King Yu's mansion in advance.

"Yes."

When Chen Ju got a job, he immediately called two servants and left Xiyuan, but when he got to the gate of Xiyuan, he ordered the two servants to invite alchemists, and got out of the car directly.

After Chen Ju trotted all the way out of the palace wall, he hired a small sedan chair on the street, without asking the price, and said to the bearer directly: "Go to Shiwangfu Street, hurry up."

The news Huang Jin gave was earth-shattering, and the duck he got could fly away. Now he can only inform King Yu of the news as soon as possible, and ask everyone in Prince Yu's mansion to find a way to stabilize the situation.

Fortunately, many of these alchemists trusted by Emperor Jiajing lived in Taoist temples outside the city. In order to maintain their image of masters, most of them showed that they were tired of the fireworks in the world, and only occasionally went to the city to stay for a while because of the emperor's call.

Speaking of which, Chen Ju still had time to pass on the news before the alchemists entered the palace, and think of a way.

At this moment, the only way in Chen Ju's mind was to take the money, ask those alchemists to help him speak, say good things, and find a way to get rid of today's solar eclipse incident, so that he didn't even have time to ask his godfather for instructions.

Because Chen Ju knew very well that his godfather's thoughts should be the same as Huang Jin's, and he didn't want Emperor Jiajing to have a big fight with the civil servants when he was old.

"Eunuch Huang probably thinks so too."

Sitting in the sedan chair, Chen Ju whispered to himself.

The sedan chair crossed Chang'an Street and soon turned into Shiwangfu Street. Chen Ju didn't ask the bearer to take him outside Yuwang's Mansion, but got off the sedan chair on the street. Go around outside the courtyard wall of King Yu's Mansion, and diagonally opposite is the side entrance of King Yu's Mansion.

After he arrived here, he searched along the horse-stretching stone, and soon recognized Wei Guangde's carriage.

"Li San."

Seeing the coachman leaning on the handlebar and squinting, Chen Ju knew him.

"Huh? Who?"

Zhang San turned his head to look over, and immediately recognized that it was Chen Ju. He immediately jumped out of the car and opened his mouth to shout, but was immediately interrupted by Chen Ju's wave of his hand.

Chen Ju passed directly beside him, looked around and then climbed onto the frame and got into the carriage. When Li San approached, Chen Ju said to him: "Go to the palace and ask Wei Guangde to come out, don't mention that it's me , tell him that it is urgent.”

Chen Ju's strange behavior made Li San feel that it was unusual, so he quickly nodded and agreed, and hurriedly ran to the side door of the palace.

Not long after, Chen Ju in the carriage waited for Wei Guangde to arrive.

When he was in the palace, Li San only said that there was an urgent matter at home and asked Wei Guangde to come out. He obeyed Chen Ju's order.

It's not like eating inside and outside, Chen Ju's appearance doesn't look like an act, maybe something really big happened.

However, Li Sancai quickly told Wei Guangde that Chen Ju was waiting for him in the carriage on the dozens of steps away from the palace.

Wei Guangde's heart trembled at this moment. Chen Ju's behavior was abnormal, so he didn't ask any more questions. Li San didn't know anything, so he had better get in the car and talk about it.

But thinking of the solar eclipse that happened just now, although he knew what the solar and lunar eclipses were, he didn't bother to explain them.

In fact, in these years, some scholars in ancient times have discovered the causes of solar and lunar eclipses, but they can't explain the specific reasons for them. God willing.

Therefore, no one goes into this kind of discovery, and often strengthens the theory of "interaction between heaven and man" in their cognition.

When Wei Guangde got into the carriage, before he could speak, he heard Chen Ju whispering to him: "Shan Loan, something is wrong."

"Brother, what happened, so panic?"

Hearing Chen Ju say something bad about the big thing, Wei Guangde's first reaction was that something about Chen Ju's money collection outside happened.

In fact, Wei Guangde also knew that Chen Ju not only collected money from him, but also from other people, but he was very ethical and knew that he could take the money and not.

Of course, it may be Gao Zhong's handwriting behind it. After all, Chen Ju hasn't honed his old-fashioned demeanor until now. He can see through many things by seeing things.

However, although Chen Ju also used money to do things outside, he was able to do things with money, but he was similar to Yan Shifan's style of doing things that couldn't be done.

But with Xiaoge Laozhuyu in front, Chen Ju's name is naturally not so famous, and not many people know it.

In fact, the former Chen Ju was just an honest child, all of whom were raised by Wei Guangde.

At that time, Chen Ju was just a servant, but he was able to collect a few taels of silver by passing on the decree. A few dozen taels would be the best. Hundreds of taels, up to thousands of taels.

"You know about the solar eclipse before."

Hearing Chen Ju's words, Wei Guangde nodded subconsciously. Who in the capital would not know that the drums were so loud.

Immediately, Wei Guangde realized what was going on. Before King Yu was still restless in the palace, even Yin Shizhen and Zhang Juzheng were silent on the side.

Wei Guangde was relatively calm because he came from later generations and knew some simple astronomical knowledge. He didn't realize how much astronomical phenomena such as solar eclipses had affected the political situation in ancient times.

As soon as Wei Guangde changed his previous calm expression, he didn't think it before, and he would be a fool if he didn't pay attention to it now. He had already guessed what Chen Ju was going to say, and he was afraid that the palace had something to do with King Yu.

"Brother, if you have something to say, hurry up."

Wei Guangde couldn't help urging.

"There was a solar eclipse today, and His Majesty was still in Yongshou Palace at that time."

Then, Chen Ju told Wei Guangde all the things that happened in Yongshou Palace before and after the solar eclipse, and finally, Eunuch Huang asked him to invite Lan Daoxing, Wang Jin and other Taoists into the palace, and explain everything Clearly, Chen Jucai said: "According to Eunuch Huang, maybe His Majesty is worried that today's solar eclipse is a warning from heaven, perhaps a warning to King Yu."