Early Tang Dynasty: forge ahead

Chapter 441 The Emperor Bathing in the Morning Sun

The moment when the rising sun in the east jumps out of the horizon.

The brilliant light shone on the Tang Emperor Li Zhi.

After bathing and fasting, Li Zhi, wearing his imperial robe and crown, enjoyed the first ray of sunshine.

Li Zhi's appearance was quite delicate, and he did not look majestic at all. But when he put on the supreme royal ceremonial dress, the feeling that was deeply rooted in Chinese culture immediately emerged.

Especially under the sunshine, the indescribable aura really has the style of the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty.

Chen Qingsi looked at Li Zhi who was sitting at the top, and a hint of admiration flashed in his eyes.

The person he admired was not Li Zhi, but Chinese culture and the group of old antiques in the Imperial Astronomical Bureau.

The Taishi Bureau was the least prominent department in the Tang Dynasty. It was staffed by old scholars who were in charge of observing astronomical phenomena, calculating solar terms, and formulating calendars.

Chen Qingsi had no contact with them due to his duties, so he had no impression of them.

To this day, when the sun rises, Chen Qingsi is filled with admiration.

In the first part of the Fengshan Ceremony, the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty accepted worship from civil and military officials as well as envoys from foreign kings on the altar at the foot of the mountain. Surrounded by such officials and envoys from the kings of the four barbarian states, he was the only one in the world to ascend Mount Tai.

Here a question arises: when should he ascend the altar to accept worship from civil and military officials and envoys from the kings of the vassal states of the four barbarians?

The Tai Shi Bureau showed up at this critical moment and set the time: 1:12 pm, Chenshi.

This number confused Chen Qingsi, who thought he had integrated into the ancient times.

It was the moment of Chenshi, he understood, which should be seven fifteen in later times.

But at 1:12 am, there was no contact.

In his impression, the unit of time calculation should be a mixed measurement of the hour system and the shift system.

There are twelve hours in a day, divided into ninety-six and one hundred and eight to adjust for the time difference.

As for the watch system, it is not as accurate as the hour system, but it is used in the dark night when there is no sunlight and the sundial cannot be used to tell the time. The drum sound is the watch and the bell sound is the hour, so that people who are awake at night can know the approximate time.

In addition to the terms hour, quarter, shift and o'clock, this was the first time that Chen Qingsi heard of the term quarter second.

After asking carefully, I found out that the "two" in this "刻二" ​​is a small "刻", while the "刻" they usually use is a large "刻".

The big moments usually last fifteen minutes, and in special cases it lasts twelve minutes. The small moments are even more precise, with the time accurate to the minute.

In addition to the small ke system, the Tai Shi Bureau also has the hundred ke system, the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches timekeeping method, the sixty-point method, and so on. The Tai Shi Bureau mixed many timekeeping methods together and then calculated the most accurate time based on astronomical phenomena.

Chen Qingsi was confused by what he heard, and felt that he understood but not quite. He thought that the old guys were deceiving him, but he did not understand and could not produce any evidence, so he agreed to the time they set.

After all, this is just a small matter. In Chen Qingsi's opinion, there is no difference between the first and second quarter of Chen hour and the third and fourth quarter of Chen hour, or the sixth and seventh quarter of Mao hour.

But just now, at the moment when Li Zhi stepped onto the platform at 1:12 am, the first ray of sunlight actually shone onto the platform at the same time.

The rising sun in the east seemed to be welcoming Li Zhi to take the stage...

There is indeed a certain element of luck involved in this situation, but Chen Qingsi doesn't believe it can be entirely attributed to luck.

Chen Qingsi was a little reluctant at first, but now he has to accept it.

It makes sense. Under limited technological conditions, one could identify the seven planets, determine the twenty-eight constellations, write down the theory of the twelve zodiac signs and the mutual generation and restraint of the five planets, and make scientific research instruments such as the armillary sphere, sundial, and spirit level by just observing with the naked eye. How could one not have some skills?

Even Chen Qingsi, who was born in the future, was shocked by the scene before him...

What’s more, the ancients were bound by the thoughts of the times?
The civil and military officials were so shocked that they were speechless. As for the King of Silla, Kim Beommin, the King of Wa, the King of Tuyuhun, Murong Nohebo, as well as the chiefs of the Tiele tribes, the chiefs of the Turkic tribes, the chiefs of the Xi, Khitan, Huihe and other tribes, the kings of the Western Regions, the envoys of Daqin, Tianzhu, and Fulin... and the envoys of Srivijaya, Malla, Zhenla, and Champa in the south...

Almost all the forces surrounding the Tang Dynasty gathered here. They looked at Li Zhi, who was leading the way towards the sun, and at the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty who seemed to be possessed by holy light, and all of them showed expressions of fear and shock.

The superstitious ones even prostrate themselves on the ground and worship...

The less culturally developed a country is, the more superstitious it is.

The sun will always be an existence that humans revere.

The Tang Dynasty was a country where even abortion was a must.

There was one person leading the way, and the people around him all bowed to the ground and shouted, "Long live the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty!"

The sunlight shone on Li Zhi's twelve-tassel crown, making it sparkle brightly. Kings, chiefs, and envoys from all directions were kneeling on the other side. This scene was exactly in line with the line in Wang Wei's poem.

"The nine heavens close the palace, and all nations wear their crowns and pay their respects."

This is the Tang Dynasty, one of the most prosperous eras in China.

Chen Qingsi's chest felt hot: he also contributed to this scene.

Because of his existence, the current Tang Dynasty is a healthy emerging country with a prestige far surpassing that of previous dynasties.

In this situation, Li Zhi was also full of ambition and recited the first edict to confer the title of Emperor Taishan.

When offering sacrifices to the gods at Mount Tai, it is not Mount Tai that is being honored.

This is because the top of Mount Tai was regarded by the ancients as a place that "goes directly to heaven". On the top of Mount Tai, one can communicate with the ancestors in heaven.

Taishan is just a platform...

This is an announcement to all directions that the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty has arrived.

After the sealing ceremony on Mount Tai was over, Li Zhi began his journey to climb the mountain to offer sacrifices to heaven.

Of course Li Zhi didn't have to walk by himself. When the First Emperor was performing the Fengshan ceremony, seventy doctors discussed various rules, such as climbing the mountain on foot to show piety. The First Emperor refused to listen and dismissed the scholars. He decided to drive to the top of Mount Tai himself to perform the Fengshan ceremony and carve a stone on the top of the mountain to praise his own achievements.

The First Emperor of Han set a precedent, and later Emperor Wu of Han and Emperor Guangwu of Han both climbed the mountain in a sedan chair or on foot.

It was impossible for Li Zhi to lose to them, so he also rode in a sedan chair.

Only in dangerous places would he come down and walk a few steps.

As for Chen Qingsi and his civil and military ministers, as well as the kings of various countries, chiefs, and envoys, they naturally did not receive such treatment and all walked on foot.

Chen Qingsi paid attention to the expressions of the kings, chiefs and envoys, and found that they were still immersed in the shock from before. So, like believers, they followed the sedan chair and slowly climbed the mountain.

Chen Qingsi was surprised but also a little proud. This was the essence of Chinese civilization.

This time the Fengshan ceremony was given priority, and Chen Qingsi did not make any unnecessary movements.

But after the Fengshan ceremony, Chen Qingsi proposed holding a grand military parade to show off the Tang Dynasty's victorious army to all the kings, chiefs and envoys from various countries, so that they could have a deeper understanding of the gap.

But now...

Just one move by the Historian Bureau was enough to shock these ignorant kings, chiefs, and envoys out of their wits.

(End of this chapter)