Great Zhou Empire: Kill Zhao Kuangyin at the beginning

Chapter 582: Ending: A Picture of the Thousand Miles of Rivers and Mountains (Special thanks to the book friend Shu Shang Nanshan 2022…0001
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After Empress Dowager Fu was buried in "Qingling", Chai Zongxun missed her too much and fell seriously ill, which took him more than a month to recover.

Chai Zongxun felt that his originally extremely strong physical condition had deteriorated a lot, so he began to make preparations for Crown Prince Chai Jiyu to succeed to the throne.

After the death of Empress Dowager Fu, Chai Zongxun handed over the "Four Subjects of Imperial Examinations" to the Crown Prince Chai Jiyu to preside over. All the successful candidates were disciples of the "Crown Prince", who supported Chai Jiyu and cultivated his own lineage among the newly appointed civil and military officials.

For several years, the four seas have been peaceful without any war.

In an open, fair and free social atmosphere, the citizens of the country continue to develop the national economy, improve people's livelihood and national strength, and the cultural and entertainment industries are more prosperous.

Emperor Chai Zongxun's poems were widely circulated among the people and became popular, and a large number of great poets and cultural celebrities emerged.

The influence of the Great Zhou culture also spread throughout the world. In Europe, the continent south of Maya, Mishra and other foreign countries, there was a wave of learning Chinese and imitating the Zhou system.

Those who are proficient in Chinese can easily find jobs with significantly higher monthly salaries in their own country's businesses.

It can be said that "wherever there is a well, people are chanting the poems of Emperor Taizu" and "wherever there are Zhou people, there must be a gathering of elegant poems."

In the 69th year of Kaixi, the population of the Great Zhou Empire exceeded 500 million, of which the Han population exceeded 400 million.

After consultation between the emperor and his ministers, Chai Zongxun considered the current empire's territory and productivity, and the fact that the Han population had reached his goal and accounted for more than 80% of the total population, so he ordered the cancellation of the policy of rewarding births.

Instead, this huge amount of funds was invested to encourage the "Royal Academy of Sciences" and civilians in the Great Zhou to conduct scientific research and establish colleges.

With Chai Zongxun's continued and substantial financial support for the "Royal Academy of Sciences" and private academies, dozens of scientific and technological innovations were born over the past few decades, and attaching importance to basic scientific research has become a consensus in the academic community of the Great Zhou Dynasty.

In addition to the "Royal Academy of Sciences" as the empire's highest scientific research institution, during the Kaixi Dynasty, dozens of universities famous both at home and abroad emerged among the people, such as "Bianjing College", "Sanxiang University", "Chengdu University", "Taiyuan University", "Liaodong College", "Guangzhou University", "Linhuang College", etc.

Hundreds of "ladies' colleges" that specialize in educating women have emerged across the country.

The rapid development of science has greatly promoted the development of productivity and further promoted the comprehensive development of society and economy.

According to statistics as of March of the 70th year of Kaixi, industrial and commercial taxes accounted for 80% of the imperial treasury's tax revenue, while agricultural taxes accounted for only 20%, and the total amount exceeded 5 billion taels of silver per year.

Among the people of the Great Zhou Dynasty, 60% of them were well-off families, 35% were wealthy families, and only half of them had enough food and clothing.

The average ordinary family raises four children. Although life expectancy is difficult to calculate, it is estimated based on folk data to be over 60 years old.

The literacy rate of the people is over 80%, among which almost all adult men are literate and the literacy rate of women is 60%.

Except for Kievan Rus, India and Tubo, where the minimum monthly wage for hired workers was 3 taels, the minimum monthly wage for hired workers in all other regions of the Great Zhou Empire was 5 taels.

Due to the prosperous economy of the Great Zhou, prices were several levels higher than those in other countries. All foreigners who came to the Great Zhou lamented that "prices in the Great Zhou were extremely high" because the average income of their own people was only one-third of that in the Great Zhou, or even one-tenth.

On July 16, the 70th year of Kaixi, Guo Xi, the chief painter of the Hanlin Academy of Painting, who had traveled around the Great Zhou Empire for eight years, returned to Bian Jing to meet Emperor Chai Zongxun.

Chai Zongxun summoned Guo Xi to Yanfu Hall.

After the greeting, Chai Zongxun saw that Guo Xi was exhausted and his face looked weathered, but he was full of joy and excitement.

Guo Xi said happily:

“Your Majesty, since I was ordered to travel around the mountains and rivers of our Great Zhou, I have now visited almost all the prefectures.

I feel that my experience has greatly increased, and my painting skills have also made some breakthroughs.”

Chai Zongxun said happily:

"It is great that you have returned safely and gained a lot.

My dear minister, you have already traveled around the country. Please tell me what the situation is like in each place.

Whether good or bad, we must report the facts. "

Guo Xi bowed and said:
"Yes, Your Majesty.

During my travels over the past few years, I have seen that all parts of our Great Zhou are prosperous, the officials are honest and law-abiding, the people are hardworking and polite, there is an endless stream of merchants and travelers, public and private granaries are full, there are no thieves on the roads, and people do not lock their doors at night.

I was escorted by ten soldiers from the Military Virtue Division and encountered danger from wild beasts only a few times while collecting wind in the mountains and swamps. However, all the soldiers were brave and escaped unscathed. "

Chai Zongxun asked for a long time and was overjoyed when he saw many details that showed that Guo Xi was telling the truth.

Chai Zongxun said:

"Very good!
As long as a society is dominated by industry and commerce, and is supported by a system in which the people supervise officials, there will be no country that cannot become prosperous.

The most worrying thing is to use power to monopolize social resources and opportunities, and to create an unfair distribution system, which will stifle the production enthusiasm and creativity of the people. This is a great harm to a country! "

Guo Xi said:
"Your Majesty, Holy Ming!
I have been blessed by Your Majesty and have gained a lot from traveling around the mountains and rivers of our Great Zhou. This time I am in Beijing to take up the post of Chief Painter and I would like to present my humble work "A Thousand Miles of Rivers and Mountains" to Your Majesty."

Chai Zongxun was overjoyed and immediately ordered it to be presented to him for his inspection.

The chief eunuch He Yao worked with three other eunuchs in front of the palace to slowly unfold the "A Thousand Miles of Rivers and Mountains" on the imperial desk.

Chai Zongxun looked at it intently and saw that there were many scenes and characters in the painting, with outstanding brushwork, and the characters, flowers and trees in the painting were extremely lifelike.

The characters are all well-dressed and luxurious, with different expressions and many smiles. The landscape is also full of splendor and sunshine.

The picture is sunny and the pen tip is filled with happiness.

Guo Xi explained the painting in detail to Chai Zongxun.

The painting "A Thousand Miles of Rivers and Mountains" is 35 feet long and 5 feet 2 inches wide. It depicts 8,226 figures, taken from the 108 ethnic groups of the Great Zhou Dynasty.

The scenes were taken from 156 scenic spots across the Great Zhou Dynasty, showing all four seasons: spring, summer, autumn and winter.

Chai Zongxun was very pleased and said:
"My dear Guo, your painting skills have reached a high level!
This "Millions of Rivers and Mountains" truly depicts the "Kaixi Prosperous Era" of our Great Zhou Dynasty. We should order the "Hanlin Academy of Painting" to copy it and spread it widely throughout the country so that this painting can be passed down through the ages!"

Guo Xi was delighted and agreed immediately. He took office as the chief painter that day and began to copy paintings with the other painters.

After the spread of "A Thousand Miles of Rivers and Mountains", it set off a wave of artistic fashion in the Great Zhou Dynasty, leading to the rapid development of fine arts, music, singing and dancing, etc. On December 20th of the 70th year of Kaixi, Chai Zongxun felt that his energy was not strong, so he summoned the crown prince Chai Jiyu to the Qingshou Hall.

After the greetings, Chai Zongxun ordered Chai Jiyu to sit on the throne.

Chai Zongxun said:

"Yu'er, I feel that I am old and I don't have enough energy to handle state affairs, and I am also tired of it.

After many days of consideration, I have decided to abdicate and spend my remaining years in peace before I become too old and confused.

Yu'er is the crown prince that I have carefully cultivated since childhood. He is outstanding in all aspects. With Yu'er succeeding me as emperor and steering the Great Zhou Empire, the state affairs are safe and I have nothing to worry about!"

Chai Jiyu hurriedly said:
"My father is in good health and continues to lead the people of the Great Zhou Empire to move forward. How can you abdicate just like that?
My child is not talented and well-educated, and I am afraid that I will not be able to take on such a big responsibility and disappoint my father."

Chai Zongxun smiled and said:
"I am about to turn eighty, and Yu'er is already over fifty. Do I have to let Yu'er be the crown prince until he grows old?

Yu'er has a noble and kind character, and is wise and decisive. I am very satisfied with you, and you will surely become another holy monarch of our Great Zhou!
After New Year's Eve, Yu'er's coronation ceremony was held.

I am old now and do not want to worry about government affairs any more. I just want to enjoy my grandchildren, granddaughters and great-grandchildren in the palace."

Chai Jiyu declined several times, but Chai Zongxun refused, so he had to agree.

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After several days of preparation, on December 30th of the 70th year of Kaixi, Chai Zongxun issued the "Abdication Decree" to all the subjects of the Great Zhou, passing the throne to Crown Prince Chai Jiyu.

After the joyous New Year's Eve holiday, on January 16th, the new emperor Chai Jiyu held a grand coronation ceremony.

Chai Zongxun personally brought Crown Prince Chai Jiyu to worship at the Taimiao, and after ascending the Altar of Land and Grain, a ceremony to worship heaven and ascend the throne was held.

From then on, Chai Zongxun lived in the Imperial Palace's Retired Emperor Palace, entertaining his grandchildren and great-grandchildren every day and ignoring state affairs.

After Chai Jiyu's enthronement ceremony, he discussed with his ministers and changed the reign title to "Jiasheng". That year (1030) was designated as the first year of Jiasheng.

Feng Zheng, the chief minister, had two years left in his term, so he remained in office. Gao Hua, the chief minister of the military cabinet, had reached the age of seventy and retired, and Yang Yanzhao was appointed as the chief minister.

If all policies are implemented as they were when my father was in power, the country will be peaceful and the people will be safe.

In October of the third year of Jiasheng (1032), Chai Zongxun was critically ill.

Emperor Chai Jiyu came to visit his father on October 12th.

After the greeting, Chai Jiyu rushed to the bedside, held Chai Zongxun's hand, and cried:
"Father!"

Chai Zongxun sighed:
"The most unretainable thing in the world is the beauty of the mirror and the flowers and trees!

I have been very satisfied with Yu'er's reign over the past three years.

In my life, I have been blessed by God and have achieved my wish to unify China, establish an unprecedented vast territory, and achieve a prosperous era with a prosperous people and a strong country.

We established the advanced system of the Great Zhou Dynasty and established the "Holy Zhou Ancestor's Instructions".

The concubines and maids in the harem are all the most beautiful in the world, they have happy love and many children. I have no regrets!

Yu'er, I have a few things to tell you."

Chai Jiyu cried:
"Father, please give your order, and I will do my best to fulfill it!"

Chai Zongxun said slowly:

"Yu'er, the first thing is, after I pass away, I will be buried together with all the concubines and imperial concubines in the Kaixi Garden, and the deceased concubines and imperial concubines will be reburied here.

The second thing is that I have already planned fiefdoms and titles for the twenty-odd princes and princesses who are not yet adults. When they come of age, Yuer will be responsible for their care.

The third thing is that after my death, my will was issued to confer the title of concubine to Mo Zang Liuyun, to build her statue in the Kaixi Garden, and to bury her with me after her death. "

After taking a breath for a while, Chai Zongxun said:
"Yu'er, the fourth thing is that after I pass away, you can make your prince a vassal on the Mayan continent.

I once promised to grant Jun'er a great vassal state, and I have not broken my promise.

If you make Yu'er a king and establish a fiefdom in the Mayan continent, it will stop Jun'er from having any thoughts of harming the country after my death!"

Chai Jiyu cried:
"Father has devoted his life to the country and the people. He is wise and brave, and has a noble character. Even now that his health is not good, he is still thinking about how to secure the throne for his son!"

After the father and son discussed for a long time, Chai Jiyu saw that his father was exhausted and took his leave.

Fifteen days later, on October 28, the third year of Jiasheng (1032), the retired emperor of the Great Zhou Empire, Chai Zongxun, died in the Wansui Hall of the Bianjing Imperial Palace at the age of eighty.

After the tragic news spread, the whole country was in extreme grief. The people mourned for Chai Zongxun for three months, and there were thousands of people crying their eyes out across the country.

After Emperor Jiasheng Chai Jiyu held a luxurious and grand funeral for his father, he buried his father Chai Zongxun in the imperial mausoleum "Kaixi Garden" on November 30th.

After consulting with his ministers, he posthumously named his father "Emperor Wenwu Shengsheng" and gave him the temple name "Shizu".

The "Kaixi Prosperity" created by Chai Zongxun, the founder of the Great Zhou Empire, became the beginning period of the Great Zhou Empire's "world hegemony" in world history.

The "Kaixi Prosperity" lasted for seventy years, from the first year of Kaixi (960) to the seventieth year of Kaixi (1029).

During these seventy years, Chai Zongxun, the de facto founding emperor of the Great Zhou Empire, vigorously implemented new policies, promoted the development of industry, commerce and science and technology, abolished the lifelong and hereditary system of bureaucracy, and improved the rule of law and supervision system, thus transforming the Great Zhou society from an autocratic official-based society that had lasted for more than a thousand years to an enlightened monarchical commercial society.

Zhou Shizu Chai Zongxun was recognized by later historians as the greatest monarch and the most influential person in Chinese history, and was called the "Father of the Nation" by the people.

postscript:

Thank you to all the book friends for your companionship and encouragement along the way! Special thanks to the book friend Tangtanger for his willingness to take charge of the operation of this book and his hard work along the way!

This is the second book I have written. I have many shortcomings but also gained a lot.

I hope the next book will be a big hit.

I wish all book lovers peace and happiness in this great era!
(End of this chapter)