Chapter 838: The National Day Grand Ceremony

Time had already crossed into the eleventh year of Qianyou (958). It was the fifteenth day of the first month, and spring had already been welcomed in Kaifeng. In the Han palace, at dawn, the morning light was still faint. The entire court had awakened earlier and faster than usual, and was busier as well. All the halls, terraces, and towers had long since been cleaned spotless. On this special day, the palace women of every hall, as if wound up like clockwork, rose early to wash and dress.

The palace eunuchs and guards were also racing against time, making the final arrangements of festive ornaments. A joyful atmosphere had quietly spread throughout the imperial city, and was expanding beyond the palace walls. At the Great Audience on New Year's Day, the Emperor had formally issued an edict: on the fifteenth, a national celebration would be held to commemorate the "decade of governance."

A national celebration had in fact already been held in the spring of last year, celebrating the tenth anniversary of the Great Han's founding. However, it was clear that the celebration of ten years on the throne received greater attention, and the ceremony was more solemn. The expenditure from the imperial privy purse and the state treasury was enormous, and the scale of the ceremony's preparation could be called unprecedentedly lavish. After all, there was the support of the Meng Shu state treasury...

In Yaohua Hall, Noble Consort Gao also rose earlier than usual, performing a meticulous toilette. At thirty years of age, Noble Consort Gao's womanly charm had grown ever richer, her bearing alluring. Attended by palace maids, she donned a set of gorgeous palace robes, and her whole person became even more radiant and beautiful, exuding grace and elegance, her entire being suffused with an air of nobility.

"Mother!" Guided by a palace eunuch, the Third Prince Liu Xi walked in and made a respectful bow to his resplendent mother.

Liu Xi was already ten years old. Over the past two years he had grown quickly, his head now above the Noble Consort's slender waist, nearly reaching her high bosom. Thanks to good genes, his looks naturally passed muster. As long as he didn't grow up crooked, in the future he would definitely be a handsome young lord, graceful and elegant.

Dressed in a set of luxurious silk robes that fit him very properly, his hair bound only by a silk ribbon and a jade hairpin, his whole person seemed very relaxed, a hint of a careless smile always at the corners of his mouth.

Seeing his lazy smile, Noble Consort Gao couldn't help but stiffen her expression slightly, shooting him a glare as she asked: "All packed and ready?"

Liu Xi nodded, his dark, glossy eyes rolling around a few times. Looking at the visibly heavy palace robes on Noble Consort Gao, he yawned and replied: "The hour is still early, and there's still time before the ceremony. Mother, why must you work so hard!"

Hearing this, Noble Consort Gao immediately showed a trace of exasperation at his lack of ambition, and scolded: "How can you still be so lazy and sloppy!"

Seeing his mother angry, Liu Xi hurriedly straightened up and composed his expression, turning serious, his young face taut. Only then did Noble Consort Gao earnestly admonish him: "Today is your father's great day, the greatest celebration since the founding of the Great Han. The sacrifices, the military review, the court congratulations, the imperial banquet — you must attend all of them at His Majesty's side. On ordinary days, it's fine for you to relax, but at this grand ceremony, with ten thousand eyes upon you, you must perform well..."

Listening to his mother's earnest instructions, a trace of helplessness involuntarily showed on Liu Xi's youthful face, but he still answered solemnly: "Yes! Your son remembers!"

Seeing this, Noble Consort Gao finally sighed, her jade-like countenance softening considerably. She bent down slightly, reaching out to straighten Liu Xi's ceremonial robes, and said: "My son grows taller and bigger by the day!"

For her own son, Lady Gao had great expectations. Yet many times, many things — what you strive for with all your might, others obtain without much effort at all.

The spring sunshine was bright, warm breezes carried blessings. When the auspicious hour arrived, the sound of bells rang out, marking the beginning of the day-long grand Qianyou celebration. Under the arrangements of the Ministry of Rites officials, Liu Chengyou led the empress and consorts, the imperial clan, relatives, and the hundred officials to the Ancestral Temple, to sacrifice to the ancestors, pray to heaven and earth, and report his achievements.

Afterwards, riding in the same imperial carriage as Empress, the elder Lady Fu, he toured Kaifeng, going straight out along the main avenue, receiving the cheers and acclamations of the Eastern Capital's populace. The common folk were jubilant and eager, spectators packed like walls, the atmosphere extremely lively.

After that, the Han Emperor personally ascended the southern gate tower of the imperial city to review the imperial army of the two commands. The troops on display were elite warriors carefully selected from all the armies of the Eastern Capital, each one tall and stalwart, the military bearing extremely magnificent. The neat and rousing cries of "Long live!" pushed the celebration to its first climax. The remnants of separatist regimes and the barbarian peoples of the four quarters invited to observe were all shaken, their hearts filled with awe and submission.

After the military review concluded, Liu Chengyou returned to the palace. After a brief rest, he went to Chongyuan Hall to receive the homage and congratulations of the assembled ministers and envoys from all quarters. Throughout this entire series of proceedings, Empress, the elder Lady Fu, remained constantly at Liu Chengyou's side, signifying that the emperor and empress shared in the glory and honor.

Within the great hall of Chongyuan, ceremonial guards stood in formation in the courtyard. The civil and military officials, all in ceremonial caps and court robes, stood in several ranks. The scene was magnificent and orderly. Zhang Ji, Academician of the Chongzheng Hall, serving as Master of Ceremonies, stood upright below the red terrace, reading aloud the congratulatory address. It had been personally written by Tao Gu, Minister of Rites, then revised by various academicians, and had received Liu Chengyou's approval. The congratulatory text ran to several thousand characters, entirely in praise of Emperor Liu Chengyou — extolling his virtue, lauding his achievements. The key point was that it contained almost no repetitive or redundant phrases, showing no small literary talent.

Zhang Ji took a full two ke to read the congratulatory memorial. His enunciation had to be clear, his voice sonorous, his breath steady — not the slightest error could be made. Even for a young man like Zhang Ji, this was no easy task. However, Zhang Ji truly could handle a grand occasion. With the Son of Heaven behind him and the hundred officials before him, under such pressure he proceeded smoothly, reading the congratulatory address to the end without a single mistake or omission.

Though called reading, it was no different from reciting from memory — vivid and expressive, the long text had long since been memorized by Zhang Ji until it rolled off his tongue. When the final character left his mouth and his voice ceased, Zhang Ji was not merely parched — the sweat on his back had already soaked his handkerchief...

The platform of Chongyuan Hall was the highest among all the halls of the Han palace. Liu Chengyou, seated upon it, was completely elevated above the assembled ministers, the visual effect of looking down from on high being most pronounced.

Seated high on the imperial throne, listening to the praises of himself, though rather lengthy, Liu Chengyou listened with great relish.

After Zhang Ji's congratulatory address concluded, it was Chancellor Fan Zhi's turn. Fan Zhi's congratulations were far more practical — he enumerated one by one Liu Chengyou's civil and military achievements over the past ten years, each accompanied by corresponding results.

In ten years' time, the Great Han had made great strides in progress and development, and the unification of the realm was imminent. And over such a long period, Liu Chengyou as Emperor had indeed accomplished no small number of things.

After Fan Zhi's sorting and summarizing, looking back, everyone had a sudden realization — so the Your Majesty's civil and military achievements had flourished to such a degree. It was nearly a military and political work summary report, an unconventional form of singing praises and extolling virtues.

An army of 200,000, a population of 16 million, annual revenue of 14 million strings of cash, 9 million qing of cultivated land, the separatist regimes eliminated, the cities and territories taken, the canals and roads opened, the floods brought under control... Fan Zhi spent over half a shichen narrating in detail Liu Chengyou's deeds in enriching the state, strengthening the military, and bringing order to the realm. Those glorious achievements were breathtaking.

After Fan Zhi came the reporting officials from the various circuits and prefectures, each presenting local tribute. After them came the envoys of the various states and peoples, who came forward to pay their respects and congratulations. Liao had also sent an envoy bearing gifts — it was the "old friend" Xiao Husi, with intentions of spying. Of course, in terms of the preciousness and abundance of gifts, none surpassed the Southern Tang and Wuyue. And considering the Southern Tang's political upheavals in recent months, Liu Chengyou couldn't help but cast a few extra glances at the Tang envoy Zhong Mo.

Not until dusk did the celebratory banquet begin at Chongyuan Hall. A grand state ceremony required not only solemnity and grandeur, but also fine wine and delicacies, with ruler and ministers celebrating together. The imperial house, nobility, civil and military officials both inside and outside the court, and envoys — over three thousand people attended the banquet in total, the largest number since the founding of the state.

Those celebrating were not only the Great Han's ruling class — the scholars and commoners of the Eastern Capital celebrated too. It was not only the national celebration, but also the Lantern Festival, with ruler and people rejoicing together. In the streets and markets of the Eastern Capital, men and women, ten thousand voices cheering, strolling through the streets and markets, radiance filling the city, continuing through the night until dawn — it had already earned the name of the Lantern Festival.

In the military camps within the capital, officers and soldiers celebrated together as well. As was customary, the stationed troops received generous rewards and commendations from the Son of Heaven.

Inside and outside Chongyuan Hall, colored lanterns piled up like mountains, silk ribbons stood like a forest. More than half of the plaza before the hall was occupied by banquet tables and mats. To serve this imperial feast, nearly all the palace eunuchs and maids within the Han palace had been gathered to attend the banquet.

Since the founding of the Great Han dynasty, it had never been so extravagant. And in his opening remarks at the banquet, Liu Chengyou announced but one piece of good news: under the valiant efforts of the soldiers at the front, the Shu rebellion had already been declared pacified.