My Cultivation Starting from Archery
Chapter 888 - 264: Ascension to the Throne_2

Chapter 888: Chapter 264: Ascension to the Throne_2

Upon hearing these words, the faces of several great scholars, who had previously feared not even death, turned extremely grim. They charged forward as if driven mad.

"Traitor Chen!"

"We shall fight to the death with you!"

"..."

Before they could get close, they were all arrested and taken away by the guards inside the hall.

"Your Majesty."

Xu Wencai said worriedly, "Will this affect the edict?"

"If these people could affect the birth of the nation’s fortune, wouldn’t that be the greatest joke under heaven?!"

A clear voice sounded. A young man wearing a long robe with a jade pendant at his waist stepped into the hall, clasped his fists, and bowed, "Minister Tang Yingke greets Your Majesty! Yingke daringly recommends himself. May I undertake the drafting of Your Majesty’s ascension edict?"

"Why not?"

Chen Sansi said without hesitation, "I’ll leave it to you to write. I shall see if those Cao Family house slaves can actually affect the nation’s fortune!"

This person was someone he had met during the Selected Point in Liangzhou, who later returned to the Capital City and achieved the top scholar honors. Despite his young age, he was already a renowned literati.

After Beiliang raised troops, they secretly corresponded through letters.

With the person to draft the edict determined, all matters were ready.

Early September.

Chen Sansi officially accepted the abdication of the rightful Emperor Cao Huan in the Taiji Palace of the Great Ming Palace, wearing the Dragon Robe adorned with the Dragon Crown, seated upon the Dragon Chair, and received the homage of the civil and military officials.

Mid-September.

He led the civil and military officials to Ziwei Mountain, personally spearheading the reconstruction of the Temple, and on the mountain top, opened an altar to worship heaven, perform the Fengshan sacrifice, and announce to the world.

The ascension edict stated:

The Emperor, Minister Lei, dares to use the Black Bull to announce to the grand Emperor and Empress: The Sheng Dynasty has existed for twenty-one generations, occupying the throne for three hundred and fifty-six years. The four seas suffer hardship, and the royal principles are not upheld. The five phases are in disorder, auspicious omens appear, casting divinations and calculations ponder the ancient way. All believe that the heavenly calendar’s cycle ends with this generation, and all good omens are showing the end of prosperity, symbolizing the Han Dynasty’s divine mandate.

Lei, although of humble origins with no followers, is filled with resentment of the difficult times and compassion for the chaotic situation. With a single command, the imperial fortune was restored. Facing crisis, it could be held; on the verge of collapse, it could be supported. Treacherous traitors were annihilated, and false usurpers were extinguished. Sincerity seems destined to be successful, and rise and fall have their times. On restoring order and aiding the people, a grand architecture was created by making use of the time’s fortunes, thus assuming its labor. Given that foreign territories admire virtue and send tributes, and the calendar reform reaches all, they all willingly accept civilizing influence. Even unto the three spirits showing signs, landscapes proclaiming omens, humans and spirits harmonizing, and the years being illustrious. Therefore, all lords, ministers, and people of myriad tribes declare respectfully that the imperial spirit with keen perceptiveness above, the Sheng Dynasty with genuine sincerity below, heavenly mandate cannot be delayed for long, nor can the celestial pole remain vacant even for a moment. Thus, under compulsion of public opinion, we solemnized this grand ritual. With scant virtue, entrusted above the masses of people. Though reverently fearing heavenly might, omitted minor details, looking deeply and eternally cherished, respectfully feared responsibility as if treading upon ice. With chosen original day, ascended altar to accept abdication, announced categories to supreme deity, to fulfill of all nations’ hope. To ensure divine protection and eternal prosperity in the name of the Han. Only in luminous spirit will it feast.

Thus.

Chen Sansi ascended to the position of the Emperor, becoming the rightful Emperor of the Central Plains of Eastern Continent.

Future historical records:

The first year of Orthodoxy, September, the Grand Ancestor Chen Lei at Ziwei Mountain conducted the Fengshan sacrifice to heaven, inherited the grand mandate, accepted the title Heavenly Son, founded the Great Han, and began the epoch of Tian Wu.

...

The first year of Tian Wu.

October.

Chen Sansi returned to Capital Chang’an, took residence in the Great Ming Palace, and managed subsequent affairs, rewarding the founding heroes.

He himself cut wood, without using labor service, and along with the military officers, personally constructed a twenty-eight-story high building, thrusting into the clouds, named the Cloud Platform Pavilion.

Afterward, he left portraits of the Great Han’s merits in the Yuntai Tower, with twenty-eight floors corresponding to twenty-eight constellations.

The eligibility of generals to enter depended on their merits and rank.

Eastern Azure Dragon Seven Constellations:

Lu Ji, Marquis Wei Wu, appointed as Grand Preceptor, corresponding to Horn Wood Jiao.

Nie Yuan, Marquis Guangping, appointed as Special Advance Intendant of the Gentlemen, corresponding to Kang Jinlong.

Cheng Wei, Jiaodong Marquis, appointed as Special Advance Intendant of the Gentlemen, corresponding to Di Tuhao.

Ye Fengxiu, Marquis Haochou, appointed as Special Advance Intendant of the Gentlemen, corresponding to Fang Ritu.

Song Guizhi, Dong Guang Hou, appointed as Special Advance Intendant of the Gentlemen, corresponding to Heart Moon Fox.

Wei Xuan, Langling Marquis, appointed as Special Advance Intendant of the Gentlemen, corresponding to Ji Shui Leopard.

The rest are vacant.

Northern Xuanwu Seven Stars:

Wang Zhi, Marquis Liangzhou, appointed as Special Advance Intendant of the Gentlemen, corresponding to Dou Muxie.

Deng Feng, Yong Nu Marquis, appointed as Dragon Tiger General, corresponding to Oxen Golden Bull.

Meng Quji, Dancing Sun Marquis, appointed as Golden Guard General, corresponding to Vulpecula.

The rest are vacant.

Western White Tiger Seven Constellations:

Zhao Kang, Marquis Yangxia, appointed as Dragon Tiger General, corresponding to Lou Jindog.

The rest are vacant.

Southern Vermilion Bird Seven Constellations:

Dan Qunyu, Anping Marquis, appointed as General of Cavalry, corresponding to Jing Muan.

Rong Yanqiu, appointed as Special Advance Intendant of the Gentlemen, corresponding to Winged Fire Snake.

Zhang Shun, Ancheng Marquis, appointed as Dragon Tiger General, corresponding to Zhen Shui Earthworm.

The rest are vacant.

The senior brothers of Chen Sansi mostly fought desperately from the start of Beiliang’s uprising, thus were highly credited and received high titles.

The Liangshan people rendered great service at Chibi and were also heavily rewarded.

Those he brought from Po Yang, due to insufficient rank, were mostly credited for their toil, so only Zhao Kang was conferred a title of Marquis, while the others achieved up to the title of Earl, with most receiving martial honors, which shall not be elaborated one by one.

The suggestion for these twenty-eight constellations was proposed by Xu Wencai, with the vacant positions serving as incentives for others, allowing future achievements to earn inclusion.

Outside the twenty-eight floors of the Cloud Platform, in the center of the White Jade Square, Chen Sansi erected a new stele, naming it the Heroic Soul Stele.

This stele is over a hundred zhang high.

It is a gigantic stone excavated from within a mountain during his excursions, standing behind the Great Ming Palace, resembling a Heavenly Pillar, a pillar supporting the Han court.

Engraved upon the Heroic Soul Stele are densely packed texts, those being individual names, from when Chen Sansi joined the army at Po Yang, all the names of comrades who died in battle by his side, not a single one omitted.