NFBE Chapter 965 The Jurchens Submit!
Chapter 965 The Jurchens Submit!
Bai Lu asked softly.
Gu Liang snapped out of his daze, turned around and saw it was her, a gentle smile appearing on his face.
"I'm thinking, could we increase the quantity of ironware that we're bestowing upon the various Jurchen tribes this time?"
He handed the gift list to Bailu.
Bai Lu took it and looked at it.
The number of iron pots, farm tools, etc. listed above is already quite large.
"Why?" she asked, puzzled. "Didn't those officials in the court always oppose aiding the enemy?"
This number is probably the limit you've managed to achieve.
Gu Liang shook his head.
"This time, that time."
In the past, they were potential enemies, so naturally we had to be on high alert.
"Now, they are the vassals of my Great Wu, and our shield in the north."
It would only benefit us if they could live a better life and have a more stable existence.
He walked to the table, picked up a pen, and added a few more lines to the gift list.
"With enough iron pots, they can cook food better and reduce disease."
"With enough farming tools, they can try to cultivate the land and reduce their dependence on plunder."
"Only when they truly feel the benefits of surrender can this alliance last."
Bai Lu looked at Gu Liang, her heart filled with mixed emotions.
The man before me was no longer the boy who only knew poetry and books.
He was no longer considering the gains and losses of a single city or region, but rather the long-term stability and security of the entire frontier.
"you're right."
Bai Lu said sincerely.
"I'll make arrangements right away to have the trading company send over another batch of ironware."
Gu Liang put down his pen, looked at her, and his eyes were filled with warmth.
"Thank you for your hard work, Bailu."
This matter wouldn't have gone so smoothly without your prior groundwork and current support.
Bai Lu smiled.
"Why say such things between us?"
The two looked at each other in silence, but the atmosphere was not awkward. Instead, a long-lost tacit understanding flowed in the air.
Ten days passed in the blink of an eye.
The investiture ceremony arrived as scheduled.
On this day, the sky was high and the clouds were light.
The viewing platform outside Pingzhou City had already been decorated in a solemn and dignified manner.
A red carpet stretched from the bottom of the stage to the top, where an incense table was set up, displaying the golden book, jade seal, and royal robes to be awarded.
On both sides of the viewing platform, three thousand elite soldiers of the Great Martial Army, dressed in bright armor and holding long halberds, formed a neat square formation.
Military flags fluttered in the wind, swords and spears stood like a forest, and a chilling aura of killing intent soared into the sky.
Below the viewing platform were the Jurchen people from various tribes who had come to watch the ceremony.
They were led by the Wanyan tribe and lined up in the square according to the size of their tribes and their closeness to each other.
Everyone changed into their tribe's most solemn attire.
When Gu Liang, dressed in a scarlet imperial envoy's robe, ascended the high platform surrounded by officials, the entire audience fell silent instantly.
He stood in the center of the high platform, his gaze sweeping over the tens of thousands of Jurchen people below, his expression solemn and majestic.
Bai Lu stood not far behind him, watching his back.
She knew that from this moment on, Gu Liang would represent the Emperor of Dawu and exercise the power of investiture.
The auspicious time has arrived.
The master of ceremonies announced loudly: "The investiture ceremony officially begins—!"
"Summon Wanyan Zonghan, leader of the Jurchen Wanyan tribe, to ascend the platform and receive his investiture!"
The sound carried far and wide.
In the crowd, accompanied by Wanyan Xiyin, Wanyan Zonghan straightened his clothes and walked steadily up the high platform.
He walked three steps away from Gu Liang, facing the direction of Kyoto, and performed the grand ceremony of three kneelings and nine kowtows.
"Your subject, Wanyan Zonghan, pays his respects to Your Majesty the Great Wu Emperor, wishing Your Majesty a long life!"
His voice was loud and clear, full of sincerity.
After Gu Liang waited for him to finish his greetings, he personally stepped forward, took the golden book from the master of ceremonies, and turned to face Wanyan Zonghan.
He unfolded the golden book and, in a clear and resonant voice, began to read the imperial edict of investiture:
"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Wanyan Zonghan, leader of the Jurchen Wanyan tribe, has long been under the rule of the Emperor and his heart is with the Celestial Dynasty... Now, recognizing his sincerity and remembering his merits, he is hereby granted the title of Prince Shunyi, a hereditary title! He is bestowed with a golden book and a jade seal, and is to command the Jurchen people, serving as the eternal bulwark of the northern frontier of our Great Wu! So be it!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Gu Liang closed the golden book and handed it to Wanyan Zonghan with both hands.
Wanyan Zonghan raised his hands high, respectfully accepted the golden book, and kowtowed again.
"Your subject, Wanyan Zonghan, thanks Your Majesty for your great kindness!"
Wanyan Zonghan held up the golden book and kowtowed again to express his gratitude.
Gu Liang turned around and took a sandalwood tray covered with bright yellow silk from another master of ceremonies.
He gently lifted the silk, and a huge jade seal appeared before everyone's eyes.
The jade seal was carved from the finest Hetian white jade, with a warm and lustrous texture and a restrained luster.
The seal knob is a majestic seated lion, exquisitely carved and lifelike.
On the seal face, four large characters are engraved in ancient seal script: “Seal of the King of Shunyi”.
Gu Liang held the jade seal in both hands and slowly walked to Wanyan Zonghan.
"Prince Shunyi, receive the seal."
His voice was steady.
Wanyan Zonghan knelt down again, stretching out his trembling hands and raising them high above his head.
His posture was extremely devout, as if he were welcoming a sacred object.
The moment the cold, heavy jade seal landed in his hand, Wanyan Zonghan's body trembled violently.
From this moment on, he was no longer merely a tribal chief, but a vassal king appointed by the Great Wu...
What he held in his hands was the future of the entire Jurchen tribe.
"Your subject accepts the imperial decree and expresses his gratitude!"
He held the jade seal tightly in his arms and kowtowed for the third time.
After the seal was conferred, the next step was to bestow the official robes.
Two servants carried a neatly folded set of royal robes and crown up to the high platform.
It was a deep purple robe with four claws, made of brocade and embroidered with intricate patterns in gold thread. It shimmered and shone in the sunlight, exuding luxury.
Beside the robe was a purple-gold crown inlaid with gemstones and pearls, majestic and magnificent.
This is the attire of a prince, an unparalleled honor bestowed by the Great Wu Emperor.
Gu Liang personally picked up the purple-gold crown and walked behind Wanyan Zonghan.
Wanyan Xiyin quickly stepped forward and, as a subject, respectfully removed Wanyan Zonghan's original Jurchen leather robe, and then two attendants helped him put on the majestic four-clawed dragon robe.
After being given the royal robe, Wanyan Zonghan's entire demeanor changed.
His original boldness and domineering nature as a grassland warlord were tempered by this elaborate and solemn attire.
Finally, Gu Liang held the purple-gold crown with both hands and placed it steadily on Wanyan Zonghan's head, then straightened it for him.
At this moment, the tens of thousands of Jurchen people below the stage who had been eagerly waiting were completely in an uproar!
A Jurchen man suddenly knelt down excitedly and slammed his forehead heavily onto the grass.
His action was like a signal.
In an instant, as if a tide had swept across the grassland, tens of thousands of Jurchen people below the stage, regardless of gender, age, or tribe, all knelt down in unison!
Facing the figure on the high platform, dressed in a purple royal robe and wearing a purple-gold crown, their eyes were filled with fervent worship and excitement.
"king!"
In the crowd, someone was the first to shout out at the top of their lungs.
"king!!!"
The second, the third, hundreds and thousands of voices converged together.
In the end, the shouts of tens of thousands of people merged into a tremendous sound wave that soared into the sky, making people's eardrums buzz.