She herself was originally a military commander, with no worries about food and clothing and immense wealth, so she no longer needed these material possessions.
Everyone gradually dispelled their doubts.
And she and Si Xitong officially embarked on the Great Age of Exploration, a time of dual martial arts rule! It became the most unique era in history, and also a great era in which feudal and progressive ideas clashed!
A note from the author:
The main story is almost finished, so I'll add a few more chapters about the little phoenix's ascension to the throne.
Then comes the side story.
Thank you to all the little angels who voted for me or watered my plants with nutrient solution between 18:02:35 on March 4, 2022 and 17:48:55 on March 5, 2022!
Thank you to the little angel who watered the nutrient solution: Xinxin (1 bottle);
Thank you so much for your support! I will continue to work hard!
Chapter 234 Si Xitong Officially Ascends the Throne
In the early morning, the officials in front of the East Gate, dressed in their court robes, were led by the Grand Master of Ceremonies from Shengyun Bridge into the palace to wait.
Si Xitong prayed at the Heavenly Gate, and the ministers knelt on both sides of the imperial road in the order of civil officials to the east and military officials to the west, waiting for Si Xitong to finish his prayer at the Heavenly Gate and come down.
When Si Xitong Tianmen came out, Xie Lanzhi was the first to step forward and follow her into the Golden Palace to take her seat.
The ministers entered the hall according to their official rank and presented their congratulations to the emperor. When the Si clan chief, Si Bo Gong, entered the Golden Palace, he formally read out the imperial edict.
①Our Western Jin Dynasty, ruled by its people, came to an end at the end of its reign. The reign of Xichengfu was over. Heroes vied for power, but only the wise King remained! The Emperor bestowed upon virtuous and capable ministers to assist him, thus quelling the rebellion of Huang Mang, the unworthy enfeoffment of the Retired Emperor in nine parts of Jin, the alliance of ten kingdoms, the invading Shenya pirate group from the Delta, the Northern Hu and Xiongnu, the Yifan, and the Northern Regions. The armies ceased, and the people returned to their fields. The land encompassed nine provinces, and all the ministers said, "The nine provinces have no ruler; we must elevate the title of Emperor." On the third day of the third month of this year, east of the Heavenly Gate, a proclamation was made to the Emperor, establishing the grand title of "Western Jin" for the entire realm. The dynasty "Jin Zhao" was established, a simple name in the Emperor's heart, and still enjoys its blessings.
Thus began a new dynasty.
As the Queen of Ying, Xie Lanzhi stood at the head of all the officials. She watched as they bowed in reverence: "Your subjects congratulate the Emperor of Western Jin! Your Majesty has ascended the throne! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"
"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"
"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"
"All civil and military officials, rise." Si Xitong, dressed in a crown and black robe, with a veil of glass beads hanging from her forehead, stood with her arms slightly outstretched, exuding the sternness of an emperor without anger.
All the civil and military officials stood up straight and said, "Thank you for your great favor, Your Majesty!"
On the third day of the third month in the early years of Emperor Zhao of Jin, the empress ascended the throne, abolished the general amnesty, and reopened all cases. The guilty were sentenced, and the innocent were pardoned.
On this day, after a joint trial by the Western Guard, the Ministry of Justice, and the Shuntian Prefecture, a three-month-long grand trial was held. Three hundred and seven wrongful convictions were resolved, and a total of three thousand eight hundred and seventy-five serious crimes were determined.
Starting in Xicheng District, there were 781 cases of embezzlement and bribery. Human trafficking reached 1005 cases. There were 300 cases of forced land sales. There were a total of 800 cases of arson, murder, and looting.
The shocking statistics published on the government bulletin board left millions of people deeply shaken.
What shocked the people even more was the integrity and incorruptibility of the new government policies, and the fair trial of every case. In the past, the government would rather cover up its scandals than let the world know about them. Now, the government's openness and transparency is an unprecedented decision.
Countless scholars admired the new policies and reforms of the Western Jin Dynasty. Contrary to their initial disillusionment with the court after witnessing scandals, the common people's confidence in the new dynasty was strengthened.
This further strengthens our belief that the current emperor's rule will be remembered for all time.
They lived in the most prosperous and powerful dynasty. Here, fairness and justice prevailed; mistakes were corrected, and there was no situation where a higher-ranking official could oppress someone. Shopkeepers dared not reduce grain rations, merchants dared not fail to pay wages, and officials dared not accept bribes.
Ordinary people have access to upward mobility, everyone can receive education, everyone can have enough to eat, and no one will freeze to death on the roadside anymore.
Everyone cherishes hope for the future, hope for the country, and hope for themselves; this is the ideal of a harmonious society.
The Western Jin dynasty thus re-established a unified empire in the Central Plains.
The Western Jin Dynasty began to implement various new policies.
In the first year of the Western Jin Dynasty, there was a bumper harvest. The four Southeast Asian countries, together with the Anluo envoy delegation, returned, and maritime trade resumed.
In the second year of the Western Jin Dynasty, there was a bumper harvest. Anluo's delegation requested that their warships dock. A conflict arose between them and a soldier from the Delta Force regarding the personnel to dock. The soldier immediately opened fire and sank Anluo's warships.
In the third year of the Western Jin Dynasty, a bountiful harvest occurred. Prince Zuo of Anluo ascended the throne, becoming the new king. He punished Marilyn, denouncing her as a traitor who concealed the weakness of the Western Jin Dynasty, causing Anluo to miss the opportunity to enter the Central Plains. Marilyn fled to Dixi with a large sum of money. The following month, conflict erupted between Anluo and Dixi, igniting the first major war. Marilyn fled from Dixi again and disappeared without a trace. Some say she took a large sum of money and settled in the Central Plains.
In the fourth year of the Western Jin Dynasty, a poor harvest occurred. Merchants colluded to manipulate prices, causing them to soar and widespread suffering. Emperor Wu of Jin opened the ten major granaries to buffer prices, arrested fifty illegal merchants, and executed them all. Their property was confiscated.
In the fifth year of the Western Jin Dynasty, a drought occurred. Potatoes were discovered overseas and brought back to China, initiating a potato cultivation project. King Xie Lanzhi of England assisted Empress Wu Zetian in launching the South-to-North Water Diversion Project. The Customs Service established an independent naval academy.
In the sixth year of the Western Jin Dynasty, severe floods destroyed thousands of farmhouses, but fortunately, well-developed irrigation systems prevented casualties. However, the harvest failed, forcing price increases. In response, Emperor Wu issued a decree throughout the land, promoting potatoes as the staple food during both drought and flood seasons. This prevented four million people from starving and allowed them to survive the year on potatoes and sweet potatoes. An Agricultural Affairs Bureau was established, and agricultural talent was recruited.
In the seventh year of the Western Jin Dynasty, a bumper harvest was achieved. At this time, the Western Jin population reached 200 million, and a new grain-planting project was launched. The head of the Ministry of Agriculture began large-scale trials of the new grain. In the same year, the number of warships built exceeded one thousand, making it a major warship-producing nation. This astonished the major powers overseas. In the same year, an envoy delegation was sent for friendly trade, resulting in a four-hundred-fold increase in import revenue. Customs were opened at multiple entrances in the south.
In the eighth year of the Western Jin Dynasty, Emperor Wu began his campaigns against foreign lands. Led by assimilated Western Jin troops, he directly conquered the northern nine provinces. Thus, the eighteen prefectures of the Western Jin Dynasty were established!
In the ninth year of the Western Jin Dynasty, Emperor Wu, freed from the pressure of heavy reliance on land taxes, abolished half of them and replaced them with import taxes. That same year, the dynasty generated 238.657 million taels of silver in revenue. At this time, the population of the Western Jin Dynasty reached 300 million.
In its tenth year, the Western Jin Dynasty was a time of peace and prosperity. The old system had been largely overthrown, and ideologies were changing rapidly. Feudal thought was gradually being replaced by new ideas. By this time, the Western Jin possessed a complete military-industrial complex. It imported various production lines from abroad and used welfare programs to attract foreign technicians. In June, 6,000 overseas talents entered the Western Jin, known as the "Six Thousand Peacocks." The Western Jin claimed to have entered the first industrial society, leading other overseas nations. At this time, these overseas nations were still in an era of intellectual exchange.
During the ten years that Xie Lanzhi served as Empress Wu, she constantly read world classics, trying to find someone similar to a great man, but unfortunately, no one appeared yet.
She always had a feeling that a great person would be born in the Western Jin Dynasty.
At that time, the Western Jin Dynasty will once again enter a highly civilized society.
Of course, these historical missions are for people in the future to do.
She and Little Phoenix are in their prime and there's still so much they can do. She promised Little Phoenix that they would sail the seas together someday, and that promise is almost fulfilled.
Xie Lanzhi rode her bicycle to the Golden Palace. After Si Xitong finished court, he immediately changed out of his yellow robe and put on the newly fashionable short robe and tight-fitting clothes before sitting on his bicycle.
After court, the ministers would go to the west side to retrieve their bicycles and leave the palace, or be pulled home by guards in rickshaws.
The Western Jin Dynasty also had another title: the "Cycling Superpower." The roads built during the Western Jin Dynasty had increased by 80,000 li (approximately 40,000 kilometers), and a cyclist once traversed all eighteen prefectures, taking a total of one year. No matter where one was from, as long as they rode a bicycle, even an oxcart, they could travel between various towns and cities in a single day. Walking was also extremely convenient.
The horses had to be kept in enclosures and could only run on muddy roads.
Later, it became known as the "Great Bicycle Nation" during the Western Jin Dynasty.
Xie Lanzhi, dressed in a custom-made black Tang suit, asked, "Little Phoenix, have you decided which scenic spots and holy sites you'd like to visit when you go to Anluo?"
Si Xitong said, "I just want to see if the foreign countries in this world are as Lan Zhi described."
This is an instinctive reaction in people from the East: the fear of falling behind and being attacked.
Xie Lanzhi was both amused and exasperated: "We're just here to have fun. Now we not only need to understand their technology, but also their way of thinking."
"By the way, hold on tight." Xie Lanzhi started pedaling and rode back to Lanzhang Palace with Si Xitong.
In recent years, Lanzhang Palace has been renovated and is now six stories high, with a large rooftop courtyard.
Xie Lanzhi and Si Xitong loved to sunbathe in the rooftop courtyard and then swim in the swimming pool that had been expanded in the back hall, all for the purpose of going out to sea at the end of the year.
Now we live in an era of reinforced concrete, and many places in Tianjing have been replaced by buildings in the style of classical Eastern architecture. They are sturdy and magnificent.
Half of the people have abandoned their tiled houses and built multi-story houses. Thatched houses have disappeared, replaced by tiled houses. Ten years ago, tiled houses represented the wealth of well-off families. Now, people of all ages live in tiled houses.
Many wealthy people, unwilling to abandon tradition, live in traditional houses, while even the poorest can afford to build a tiled house. Aside from those driven by a desire to outdo each other, who insist on building concrete houses, the wealth gap for most people has been kept relatively balanced in terms of clothing, food, housing, and transportation.
In just ten short years, the entire Great Jin Dynasty has undergone earth-shattering changes, something no one could have imagined. And now, they have indeed witnessed a miracle.
After Xie Lanzhi and Si Xitong returned to the palace, she habitually carried Si Xitong up to the third floor, where they booked a massage room. Upon entering, the female masseuse was already waiting, and the two lay on the couch together, enjoying their massages.
Xie Lanzhi squinted her eyes comfortably: "It's really enjoyable. It's similar to what I was like back then, but their skills are even better."
Si Xitong was also lying face down and being held down. She breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Lanzhi, I want to eat ice cream today, and also the milk tea you made."
“Okay, but you can’t drink too much,” Xie Lanzhi said.
Milk tea is a beverage she started last year, made using modern ingredients. She never imagined that, given the abundance of water and tea in ancient times, she could create milk tea that is even more natural and sweeter than modern versions.
After drinking the milk tea, Si Xitong fell in love with it. She would ask for a cup every day.
If it weren't for the fact that she gained two pounds, Si Xitong might not have been able to give up milk tea.
The coffee that An Luo brought was also a good example. Si Xitong didn't like strange and bitter tastes, but after Xie Lanzhi made it, even a simple cup of coffee became delicious.
Before she knew it, she had gained another pound. With three pounds remaining, Si Xitong finally understood the saying that happiness makes people fat.
She started taking her queen swimming, and she quickly lost three pounds within a month. It reminded her of milk tea, ice cream, and the pudding that Laneige mentioned.
Si Xitong has already shown her foodie side and hopes Xie Lanzhi will bring out even more delicious food.
However, Xie Lanzhi was still strictly controlled if she ate even one more piece of meat. Xie Lanzhi retaliated by not allowing her to drink an extra cup of milk tea.
The two then began to have a disagreement about food and sweets.
A note from the author:
①Special reminder: The beginning is based on the official version of the enthronement and edict of Emperor Hongwu.
Thank you to all the little angels who voted for me or watered my plants with nutrient solution between 17:48:55 on March 5, 2022 and 17:52:18 on March 6, 2022!
Thank you to the little angel who threw the landmine: Yunmu (1);
Thank you so much for your support! I will continue to work hard!
Chapter 235 Gouying and Qiqi
Ten years of waiting.
It became even more prosperous and bustling, becoming the busiest port in the Western Jin Dynasty.
After being assigned to the Beijing Guard, Xie Bing became a new guard.
Xie Ying led three thousand men to garrison here, and they stayed for ten years. As usual, Xie Ying wrote to his parents, explaining that he could not go to the north for the New Year this year.
When Subbag found her at the port, he saw Xie Ying retract her letter and guessed, "General Xie, it seems you will be able to return to your parents' side next year."
"You've had a tough ten years."
After the great battle, Xie Ying was promoted three ranks and is now the Grand General of the Xie Clan.
Because of Xie Lanzhi, the Xie family no longer appoints a separate marshal. Therefore, the current Grand General of the Xie family is the highest-ranking general in the Xie family.
Xie Ying said, "Great Barbarian, the armies from the Northern Region are frequently defecting to you. You must be careful."
Subbag said with relief, "With you here, we're not afraid."
The word "we" made Xie Ying's eyes flash, but she remained silent.