After Li Tingji and Wang Xijue exchanged their views, they summoned officials from the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Finance for a preparatory meeting for the emperor's 30th birthday.
Since the Tang Dynasty, the emperor's birthday was not a trivial matter. To put it simply, it was a festival for the whole country to celebrate. To put it in a grand way, it had extraordinary political significance.
Starting from Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, the emperor's birthday was a festival for the whole country to celebrate. Since then, the emperor's birthday was a festival for the people. There were many names, such as the Qianqiu Festival, the Tianqing Festival, the Spring Festival, the Qianming Festival, and so on.
Generally, it was a three-day holiday for the whole country to celebrate. The vassal lords went to the capital, the high-ranking officials went to the capital, and together with the central officials, they presented the emperor with luxurious birthday gifts and received the emperor's rewards. Everyone was happy together.
In addition, the people also had to be happy. No matter how hard life was, they were not allowed to wear plain clothes. They had to wear bright clothes. The local government kept handling criminal cases during these three days, and they were not allowed to execute felons during these three days. Anyway, there was only one central idea —
Be happy! Be happy for me!
In the Ming and Qing Dynasties, the emperor's birthday had a more unified and recognized name. It was called the Longevity Festival. In the early Ming Dynasty, because of the legacy of Zhu Yuanzhang, it was not a big event. They only gave the officials a day off. In the later Ming Dynasty, it became a festival for the whole people. It cost a lot and was very extravagant.
In the Qing Dynasty, this festival was even more grand. The local officials had to set up incense tables in the official offices to congratulate the emperor. The cost was no less than that of the Ming Dynasty. Later, there was an incident where Empress Dowager Cixi used the navy's funds to repair the garden for her birthday.
When it came to Xiao Ruxun, Xiao Ruxun didn't mention that she was going to celebrate her birthday, but she suddenly said it. Everyone didn't know what Xiao Ruxun meant, and they didn't know whether they should celebrate her birthday according to the old Ming tradition. So they discussed with Li Tingji, and let Li Tingji be the representative, and then go find Xiao Ruxun to finalize some details.
Xiao Ruxun didn't celebrate his birthday for the sake of celebrating his birthday, so he didn't think too much. When Li Tingji came to ask for instructions, he realized that his birthday was not a simple treat. There were many things to arrange, which involved the whole world.
"Which officials does His Majesty plan to call back to attend his birthday?"
With Li Tingji's question, Xiao Ruxun was enlightened.
Now, the whole world was busy. There were things to be done in all directions. No one had any free time. There were no trains or planes now. It was very convenient to ask the local leaders to take a plane to celebrate the festival, have a meal, and then fly back. But now, it would take at least a month to go back and forth. Wouldn't that delay things?
This was especially true in the southwest. The situation had just stabilized and the Great Generals were needed there to maintain order. It was clearly inappropriate to call them back to celebrate their birthdays.
Thus, Xiao Ruxun said, "The local officials don't need to come to the capital, and the generals don't need to come to the capital either. The local affairs are complicated. Let them come here for at least a month, or at most three months. We don't want to waste three months of our time doing nothing for these three days.
The local officials and generals don't need to come to the capital, and they don't need to send gifts. We don't want them to waste their money and effort and disturb the people. We will directly give them some rewards and give them a day off so that they can rest for a day.
The officials in the capital can come to celebrate Our birthday. We like liveliness, and we like having many children. Have them bring their wives and children to celebrate Our birthday. As long as their intentions are there, We don't care about anything else. We still need to reward them. "
Li Tingji felt that this was a bit too simple.
"Your Majesty, if that's the case, isn't this birthday too simple?"
"Simple?"
Xiao Ruxun shook his head. After thinking for a while, his eyes brightened. "Celebrating Our birthday alone is already not simple. We also don't want the Imperial Court to spend too much money on this matter. Let's do it this way. Our birthday will not be held inside the palace, but outside."
"Outside the palace?"
Li Tingji was taken aback. "Your Majesty, this subject doesn't understand."
"Cabinet Elder Li, We don't like to hole up in the Imperial City all day. We have decided that on the day of Our birthday, We will hold a grand military parade."
"Military parade?"
Li Tingji was astonished.
"Yes! A military parade! Daqin was founded on martial arts, and martial arts are the most important. Since I ascended to the throne, we have never stopped fighting. Fortunately, the generals are brave, and the three armies put their lives on the line to make Daqin what it is today. We will hold a military parade on the birthday of the Daqin Emperor. In the future, we will hold a military parade on the birthday of the Daqin Emperor, so that all the previous Emperors will remember that Daqin was founded on martial arts.
With Xiao Ruxun's decision, there was naturally no room for maneuver. However, there had never been such a rule or precedent for holding a military parade on the day of a birthday. There was no precedent to follow, so this must be the first time it had ever happened.
There were simply too many things to prepare.
First, the location of the military parade and the central ceremonial platform. Where would the Emperor stand to watch the military parade? This was very important.
"At the Gate of Sky Bearing."
Xiao Ruxun pointed at the location of the Gate of Sky Bearing on the map. "The royal family, ministers, and envoys of the vassal states, come with me to parade the troops at the Gate of Sky Bearing. Tell the troops to get into formation and march along the East and West Chang 'an Streets. Let me and everyone else witness the might of the Great Qin Army!"
Li Tingji swallowed his saliva and asked, "What route does Your Majesty plan to take?"
"Route …"
Xiao Ruxun thought for a while and said, "That's easy to arrange. Daqin will start from the Lugouqiao Barracks. Get the troops to gather at the Lugouqiao Barracks and walk all the way to the Yongding Gate. Enter the Yongding Gate and go straight to the Zhengyang Gate. Turn right under the Zhengyang Gate and enter the inner city from the Chongwen Gate.
Follow the inner street of Chongwen Gate to East Chang 'an Street. Turn left and walk along East Chang' an Street to the Gate of Sky Bearing. Let us see it. Then follow the western Chang 'an Street to the inner street of Xuanwumen Gate. Out of Xuanwumen Gate, we will reach the outer city and return to the barracks. "
Li Tingji looked at the route.
"After that, the military parade will end. What does Your Majesty plan to do next?"
"Next, we'll treat them to a meal. We'll watch the military parade in the morning and have lunch in the afternoon. In the afternoon, we'll go to the field outside the city and watch a polo match!"
Li Tingji was stunned.
"Polo match?"
Li Tingji didn't expect the Emperor to have so many tricks up his sleeves. "Your Majesty, this polo match …"
"I've said it before. Compared to those boring and costly celebrations, it's better to have something exciting. There are many ways to play polo matches. I can even participate in it myself. Who said that we have to eat and listen to music in the palace on our birthday? I wasn't raised by romance. "
Xiao Ruxun waved his hand. "Let's do it this way. Go and discuss this matter with the Ministry of Rites, Finance, and the Ministry of War. Later, gather all the generals. I want to talk to them personally. There are still many preparations for the military parade."
"This …"
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