Travel through the Qing Dynasty and become emperor

Chapter 352 The New Year of the Empire

At this time, in the underground conference room of the French Army Supreme Command, the highest commanders of the French army were all present, and they kept in touch with the troops who had not lost contact by radio.

"Your Excellency! Our situation is very dangerous now. In the north, the enemy's armored forces have broken through our defense line. According to the current situation, their target is Kang Sai. In addition, there are also a group of powerful tanks in the Great Morin River area. It is estimated that the retreat of the Biluo Army may be cut off by the opponent at any time. In the Maoks area, the enemy's attack encountered trouble due to our tenacious blocking. However, another division of the opponent has already broken through our GIA. The defense system drilled through the gap between our two armies. The 4th Army has to face the attack of the opponent's four infantry divisions from the front. At present, no troops can be mobilized, and our flank logistics supply in Montion The road is about to be captured by the opponent’s mountain troops. The situation on the entire Marne battlefield is very unfavorable to our army.” General Joffre, Chief of Staff of the French Army, said slowly while pointing at the map with a pointer, his tone seemed rather helpless .

"Your Excellency the Marshal!" At this time, the senior councilor of the Ministry of War, Romy, said: "Looking at the current situation, the enemy's attack intention is very clear. They don't just want to help the Germans regain the line of defense lost in the first Battle of the Marne. , but want to fully occupy Paris, the capital of our country, so I suggest that we should immediately abandon the lost defense line and withdraw the troops in the rear position to the east of Paris. After all, in order to keep our capital, even some sacrifices are necessary At this point, Romy glanced at Xia Fei with pleading eyes.

"No!" British consultant Martin Totman immediately retorted: "If there is no such adjustment before the war, there is still a chance for such adjustments, but now the pressure on Paris is obviously much greater than that of the Marne River. The main army group will only give the opponent a chance, and what will be lost is not just a capital, but the whole of France."

"You two gentlemen, what you said is reasonable, but now what I want to know is, how can we resist the enemy's attack, and even turn defeat into victory." Xiafei said angrily.

Both Romy and Martin lowered their heads, not knowing whether they were thinking or there was nothing they could do about it.

Xiafei sighed heavily, and said to himself: "It seems that we all thought wrong at the beginning. We can't deal with Germany alone. Now we have another powerful enemy out of thin air. China will always be a powerful enemy." A country that shocked the world."

Just after the 23rd of the twelfth lunar month, the New Year's atmosphere in Beijing became more and more intense, and Guan Xuqing became even busier. There were too many old customs left in the palace. Although he had removed some of them, the remaining ones were still extremely cumbersome.The imperial cavalry has just launched an offensive on the Marne River, and the daily battle reports are like a steady stream of snowflakes. Chinese and foreign journalists are jammed in front of the foreign affairs department every day, and they must ask His Majesty the Emperor to give a speech on the war, and summon all places to Beijing to report. An honest official, reviewing the papers, gave Guan Xuqing a headache.But the etiquette system preserved in the palace had to be followed, otherwise those veterans of the Qing school would chatter endlessly in the emperor's ears about "benevolence, justice, propriety, wisdom and faith" every day, which would be annoying to death.

The New Year in the Qing Palace is usually counted from the 23rd of the twelfth lunar month, but the real Chinese New Year starts from "inviting the gods" on New Year's Eve to "giving off the gods" on the fifth day of the lunar new year. To open for business, the prince has to attend class and study.

On New Year's Eve, the festive atmosphere began to reach, and Guan Xuqing's troubles became more and more serious.The first is to meet God.On New Year's Eve, Guan Xuqing was woken up by Wang Shang at about four o'clock in the morning, and then, amidst the sound of firecrackers, he went to the East and West Buddhist Halls of the Hall of Mental Cultivation and more than ten other places in the palace to burn incense and salute. Everywhere, sesame straws were sprinkled on them, and they creaked when they stepped on them. While walking, Wang Shang said: "This is called stepping on the year. It not only takes the auspiciousness of backgammon, but also implies the meaning of saying goodbye to the old year. I wish the emperor a prosperous future." Carried, the great cause is prosperous."

Guan Xuqing was a little bit dumbfounded, thinking that stepping on straws would last forever, what a joke, these poor things will be scrapped one day sooner or later.

When it was time for breakfast, Guan Xuqing finished washing up and came to the dining room. At this time, Empress Jingfen, Concubine Lan, Concubine De, Concubine Zhen, Concubine Jin, and the former Concubine Maozi and other concubines were already waiting here. Everyone paid homage to the Emperor. Naturally, it was another word of blessing.Guan Xuqing waved his hand: "Get up, everyone, and eat with me."

I saw dozens of dishes, big and small, on the table, all colorful and unattractive. Wang Shang reported the names of the dishes with a sharp voice, and read out the names of 21 dishes in one breath, "Yellow Rice Yipin , one product of bird’s nest hanging furnace duck, one product of hanging furnace meat, wild Italian hot pot, one product of bird’s nest and hibiscus duck hot pot, one product of Wannianqing wine stewed duck hot pot, one product of Eight Immortals bowl of bird’s nest apple and fat chicken, one product of blue and white jade bowl with soup duck, one product of green A white jade bowl of Ersi Kesen deer tail sauce, a golden bowl of crushed pheasant, a golden bowl of steamed duck and a plate of deer tail, a golden plate of steamed fat duck, a golden plate of sheep with black fork, and a golden plate of roasted venison , a piece of roasted wild pork on a gold plate, a piece of deer tail on a gold plate, a piece of steamed buns rolled with bamboo knots in an enamel plate, a piece of sweet potato in an enamel plate, a piece of rice cake in an enamel plate, and a piece of small dishes in an enamel sunflower box."

Guan Xuqing has been tossed all morning, and now he is very hungry, staring at Wang Shang with a frown, wondering if this kid didn't sleep last night, and he specially recited the names of these dishes. The meal is already over.When Wang Shang finished reporting the name of the dish, he said lightly: "I'm here to eat, not to show off. Let's forget about the big day today. After changing to the imperial dining room, all New Year's Eve breakfasts will be inspected. At most, it can't exceed Six. Got it?"

"But your majesty..." Wang Shang was about to persuade him, but when he took a peek at the majesty's face, his expression darkened, he swallowed the following words abruptly, and said "cha" in a low voice.

After breakfast, Guan Xuqing drank some tea and had a chat with the concubines, and then, accompanied by Wang Shang, went to the Temple of Mental Cultivation and Heaven and Earth again, to burn incense and salute.Then go to Tianyimen, Qin'an Hall, Qianqiu Pavilion, Doutan in the Royal Garden, Tianqiong Hall on the east side of the East Sixth Palace, Miaolianhua Room in Jianfu Palace Garden, Ninghui Hall, Guangsheng Building, Qianqing Palace East In front of the sages in Lu, in front of the King of Medicine, in front of the west case, north case, Zao Jun, and Dongnuange Buddha of Kunning Palace, in front of Chengqian Palace, Yuqing Palace, Dongnuan Pavilion of Qianqing Palace, etc., burn incense and salute.After finishing this, Guan Xuqing saw sweat on his tired forehead, and waved to Wang Shang: "Go back to the palace first, I'm tired, I need to rest for a while."

"Your Majesty, this is just the beginning, and the next step is to start writing."

Guan Xuqing pointed to Wang Shang's nose and wanted to say something, but finally sighed: "Okay, lead the way." The monarchs and ministers returned to the East Pavilion of the Hall of Mental Cultivation one after the other.At this time, the palace people had already set up a "Jin Ou Yonggu" cup on the table at the bright window, poured Tusu wine into it, and lit a pair of jade candles beside it.Guan Xuqing took the fire medium from Wang Shang, lit the pair of jade candles himself, placed them on a red lacquer carved cloud dragon plate, and covered it with a bronze auspicious stove.

"The emperor's auspicious star is shining!" Wang Shang's sudden voice made Guan Xuqing's pen tremble in shock, and he almost didn't let go, thinking about this Wang Shang.

He took the pen and smoked it on the auspicious stove, dipped it in some red ink, wrote the eight characters "Sanyang Qitai, Vientiane", and then put the pen back to its original place.Turning around, he asked Wang Shang, "What's next?"

"Report to the emperor, it's time to accept the congratulations from all the officials." Wang Shang replied.

"I remember quite clearly. Lead the way."

"twitter."

At this time, in front of the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the cumbersome ceremony had already been prepared, and Chen Fa, the guard of Luanyi, drove Luan to book in front of the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the Gate of Supreme Harmony, and the Gate of Meridian.Chen Zhonghe and Shao Le of the Department of Harmony of the Music Department are located under the east and west eaves of the Hall of Supreme Harmony, and Danbi Dale is located under the east and west eaves of the north side of the Taihe Gate.There is a division that sets up table cases in the south of the east couplet in the Hall of Supreme Harmony, and a brush and inkstone case in the south of the west couplet in the hall.

Prince Su and other princes are all standing on Danbi, and the rest of the officials are in Danchi. There is a copper-grade mountain in Danchi, arranged according to the nine ranks, 18 rows from east to west, and there are censors and ceremonies next to them. The official is responsible for identifying the position of the officials.

Guan Xuqing strode up to Danxi and sat on the throne with a majestic look.At this time, Wang Shanggao, who was standing beside him, shouted, "Congratulations!"

I saw a row of princes and ministers, under the guidance of the officials of the Ministry of Rites, came to the foot of their own ranks and stood respectfully waiting to worship.Time is not long, only to hear the officials of the Qin Tianjian shout: "The auspicious time has come!" "Dangdangdang" three times, the bell and drum at the Meridian Gate rang together, and at the same time all kinds of musical instruments in the hall were played together, which was very pleasant to the ears.After a while, the music stopped, and the master of ceremonies blew his whip three times from the steps.

Only then did the princes and ministers go down the steps one by one according to their ranks to congratulate the emperor, kneel down three times and kowtow nine times. Guan Xuqing found it troublesome to watch, but he still had to keep his majesty on his face.The ministers and foreign envoys all knelt down and worshiped, and more than two hours had passed.

"Give me tea." Guan Xuqing waved his hand slowly, and the palace people filed in and placed a cup of tea in front of each of the ministers.

Everyone took a symbolic sip, then crawled back to the ground and shouted: "Long live my emperor, long live, long live!"

In the evening, Guan Xuqing gave a banquet in the Baohe Hall as usual, mainly entertaining princes from Mongolia, Xinjiang, Xinjiang and other places from foreign vassals.But it is still the same old way. After Guan Xuqing arrives at the palace, he performs rituals such as Yan Li, playing music, serving tea, entering nobles, serving wine, serving food, music and dancing, acrobatics, a hundred operas, and giving thanks after the banquet.After finishing, the empress and her family members went to the Hall of Mental Cultivation to say goodbye to the emperor. Since there is no empress dowager, there is no need to salute the empress dowager.The family members went to the Queen's Palace to say goodbye to the Queen.

After all these things were done, it was time to light up the lamps.For a while, the lights inside and outside the palace were brightly lit, Guan Xuqing said to Wang Shang wearily: "I'm too tired, I went back to the palace to rest."

"Your Majesty" before Wang Shang finished speaking, Guan Xuqing suddenly turned around, two cold lights shot out from his eyes, he gritted his teeth and said, "Haven't you tormented me enough, what else do you want to do?"

Wang Shang was so frightened that he shuddered, and fell to his knees with a plop, "Your Majesty's servant deserves to die, this slave deserves to die." He slapped himself as he spoke.

Seeing Wang Shang's swollen cheeks, Guan Xuqing actually laughed too, and patted Wang Shang's shoulder: "Get up. You are just acting according to etiquette. I have no reason to blame you."

Only then did Wang Shang stand up timidly: "Actually, the slave wanted to ask the emperor just now, which master should I go to today?"

Guan Xuqing smiled: "I'm tired today, so I won't go anywhere. You've worked hard enough, go take a rest early."

"Zha. Thank you, Your Majesty, for your kindness." Wang Shang wiped the cold sweat off his brow, and said to himself that being with you is like being with a tiger.

(End of this chapter)