Chapter 575: Three Hundred Years of the Two Songs, Never Recovering Yanyun

Li Zhi flipped through the old Lama's notebook. The handwriting was extremely messy, and the recorded content was not easy to distinguish; it was more like rambling during a journey. The old Lama's notebook also had rare Mongolian script, and this part of the content needed a translator to translate.

Li Zhi and his party were trapped in Kaiping Guard, and this heavy snow raged through most of the northern regions. Snowflakes also fell on the Capital and on the roof of the Imperial Study in Tonghe Palace.

The Imperial Study in Tonghe Palace was a warm pavilion. Zhu Yijun wore a large cloak and looked at a memorial in his hand. This memorial was written by the great physicians of the Dissection Institute, researching treatments for venereal diseases and "wither-bloom syndrome" (cancer).

In summary, it was "great force creates miracles" and "placing in a dead end to find life."

When Chen Lin pacified the private markets in Sandu'ao, he escorted a batch of slaves controlled by opium to the capital to conduct experiments on opium withdrawal at the Dissection Institute. Although Fan Yingqi's opium addiction was serious, compared to this batch of captives, it was far worse.

This batch of captives were originally fishermen from coastal villages who had been plundered by sea bandits and controlled by opium. Entering the Dissection Institute for detoxification was secondary; the main thing was the diseases on their bodies that needed treatment.

People addicted to opium mostly had all kinds of strange venereal diseases. These venereal diseases were infectious, and the great physicians were cautious when dealing with them. Later, in the process of treatment, they discovered a "high-fever therapy."

It was that when these patients had a high fever, they would not interfere, waiting for three hours before intervening. In this way, the small bugs causing the disease were burned to death, and the person recovered their health.

The only problem was that with this therapy, the survival rate was about one in ten. Out of a total of eighteen specimens at the Dissection Institute who underwent high-fever therapy, only three survived. Two recovered their health, and one was burned into an idiot.

This high-fever therapy also had miraculous effects on very thorny "wither-bloom syndrome," which was cancer.

Ever since the Little Emperor took a triangular prism to demonstrate to Zhang Juzheng how light refracted into seven colors, Great Ming's optics had developed greatly. Since then, there had been telescopes and microscopes. After Great Ming had microscopes, it finally opened the door to the microscopic world and conducted extensive exploration of the boundaries of cognition. High-fever therapy could kill the plague energy causing the disease, and it could also kill normal somatic cells.

Therefore, high-temperature therapy was a true life-or-death gamble of "either you die or I die," and it was the last resort of "treating a dead horse as a living horse."

For example, Shi Mao Hua, who had previously stepped into the gates of hell with one foot, insisted on going to Suiyuan. Before he even set off, he developed a high fever. He burned for two full days. His joints, such as fingers and elbows, could not bend autonomously. His whole body only had eyelids that could move. His lips were chapped. After the fever subsided, he could not sit up for seven days, had blood in his urine, and had been having nightmares with cold sweats and convulsions.

It was also during that time that Pang Xian reported to the imperial court that Shi Mao Hua might be dying, that he was in his twilight years, and the Ministry of Rites began to prepare posthumous titles and official burials.

After the high fever, there was a recovery period of one month. After his body recovered somewhat, Shi Mao Hua thought he was dying and insisted on going to Suiyuan immediately. The great physician Pang Xian had no choice but to set off with Shi Mao Hua. However, Shi Mao Hua's body was now quite sturdy, and his spirit was much better.

After research on a special sample, the Dissection Institute believed that regular, periodic exercise was the best way to maintain health.

Because when exercising, people breathe rapidly, and muscles begin to heat up, causing body temperature to rise rapidly. After long-term observation, body temperature can maintain a high temperature of over 40°C for a short time after strenuous exercise. Under such circumstances, a whole round of detoxification will be carried out within the body.

This process, great physicians Li Shizhen and Chen Shigong of the Dissection Institute called it: "Human Killing Green" (detoxification).

"Killing Green" was the inevitable process for sweet potato seedlings to detoxify, and human exercise was carrying out periodic detoxification, which was beneficial to physical health.

And the special sample observed by the Dissection Institute was His Majesty the Emperor. The Emperor's body was extremely healthy. Since he started practicing martial arts, he had only had one cold, and that was because the Emperor relied on his youth and strong fire, ignoring the "spring cold," which caused the problem.

If His Majesty insisted on exercising like this, and had a regular schedule and healthy diet, His Majesty would maintain long-term health. This was great news for the Great Ming dynasty. Of course, for the base scholars, it was a bolt from the blue.

"Long sitting will surely lose peace; manipulating weapons can lead to longevity." Zhu Yijun read the final summary of the Dissection Institute. Regarding His Majesty's amount of exercise, the Dissection Institute was very approving, maintaining it at a very high but reasonable level all year round.

His Majesty's physical condition was a problem that made the base scholars feel desperate; they couldn't outlive His Majesty even if they tried.

This statement from the Dissection Institute actually explained some things.

For example, when Zhao Guangyi was "speeding" at Gaoliang River, why was he shot in both legs? On the 2nd day of Dinghai and Wuzi, he fled from Zhuozhou to Dingzhou, a total of 380 miles. After being wounded, he still ran for so long and could live for so long.

For example, why was the first longest-lived emperor of Great Ming Zhu Yuanzhang, who lived to the ripe old age of 71, and the second longest-lived was Zhu Di, who lived to 64? Because these were emperors on horseback. Later on, not one lived past 60, because people didn't detoxify themselves, didn't periodically "kill green," and naturally couldn't seek longevity.

Of course, such an explanation also made the matter of Emperor Wuzong of Ming never recovering after falling into the water become even more confusing.

Emperor Wuzong of Ming was not a "bowing and arching" emperor, a "good baby." His activity level was even greater than Zhu Yijun's, but in the end, he still couldn't resist the curse of Great Ming emperors being "soluble in water."

After this memorial from the Dissection Institute entered the court, it immediately triggered impeachment from court officials. Any achievement of the Dissection Institute would be impeached, because in the eyes of court officials, the existence of such a place as the Dissection Institute shouldn't exist. Its existence was a mistake, and its achievements were even more wrong!

This time, the angle of attack on the Dissection Institute's memorial was that the Dissection Institute was clamoring for more intense New Policies, creating public opinion for tax increases!

According to the Dissection Institute, high fever could cure diseases. Great Ming was sick now; did it mean that more intense New Policies, such as tax increases, were needed to clear up accumulated ills and toxins?

Great Ming court officials were now extremely sensitive to tax increases. As long as there was a little bit of wind and grass, they would make groundless associations and then spontaneously boycott. It was a bit of an overreaction, showing that they were truly afraid of this.

"Li Shizhen and Chen Shigong explained it so clearly. Out of eighteen people, three survived, and one became an idiot. The court officials are truly frightened by the wind and the cranes, like soldiers in a battle." Zhu Yijun looked at the pile of memorials. This was opposing the inhumanity of the Dissection Institute, and also testing the Emperor's attitude toward tax increases.

Zhang Juzheng just posted a "floating ticket," which scared this group of court officials like frightened birds.

"Who told them to have nothing better to do than to impeach Li Rusong and several young generals? It was the court officials who provoked it first. It's not the fault of the Master and the military nobles for fighting back. Those are military nobles; when have military nobles been beaten all day? Li Rusong couldn't stand this anger even more. They deserve it." Feng Bao said happily.

The old ancestor Feng Bao, who never had a good word to say about civil officials, seized the opportunity to put some "eye drops" on the civil officials again.

Zhang Juzheng was the Earl of Yicheng, the kind with a hereditary certificate! So Zhang Juzheng's current stance was the military noble stance, and it was only natural for him to be in cahoots with the military nobles.

Because Zhang Juzheng saw very clearly that the leader of the young military nobles now seemed to be Li Rusong, but in fact, it was His Majesty himself.

The entire young faction existed around the Emperor, which played a crucial role in the stability of the dynasty and the implementation of the New Policies.

Regarding the attitude of the people around Zhu Yijun toward civil officials, and Zhu Yijun's deep-rooted prejudice against civil officials in his heart, this dead knot could never be untied. There was simply no such environment.

"It is indeed deserved." Zhu Yijun thought for a moment and drew a circle on these memorials. It was neither a check nor an X, but a circle, indicating an ambiguous attitude—that is, "read, no reply." As for what he meant, let these civil officials who were worried about tax increases guess for themselves!

"These congratulatory memorials are interesting." Zhu Yijun lined up several congratulatory memorials. It was almost New Year again. Officials from all over the country had to write such a congratulatory memorial to celebrate the New Year, which was considered paying a New Year's call to the Emperor. Theoretically, all officials in the world were students of the Son of Heaven, so students writing congratulatory memorials to pay a New Year's call to their teacher was part of the ritual.

And these congratulatory memorials in Zhu Yijun's hands all came from Shandong.

The powerful and wealthy families of Shandong had finally followed in the footsteps of the powerful and wealthy families of the two Guangs. These congratulatory memorials all meant one thing: Come back, our Great Viceroy Ling.

When it came to tormenting people, Wang Jiaping was truly capable, or rather, scholars were capable. Because now, the powerful people in Shandong were also requesting Ling Yunyi to return to Shandong through various channels. That Wang Yie was truly not a human being.

Wang Yie learned from Wang Jiaping's successful experience and began to play riddles. Having become accustomed to Ling Yunyi's vigorous and resolute style of doing things, it was truly difficult to accept the "soft nails" of these scholars like Wang Yie.

To come or not to come, as if coming; to accept or not to accept, as if accepting.

It would be better for Ling Yunyi to post a notice directly to inform everyone how much was needed, and how much each family should share according to the number of acres of land.

Zhu Yijun soon discovered why Ling Yunyi loved to kill people so much, yet these powerful and wealthy families still invited Viceroy Ling back—because of fairness.

For example, regarding this sharing, Ling Yunyi shared it according to the number of acres of land measured. For example, if a county built water conservancy, needing silver and grain, how much each household took was all posted in a notice. If your family had more land, you took more; if his family had less land, he took less. By doing this, everyone didn't have such great resentment. After all, this rule was very clear.

Moreover, every time water channels and bridges were repaired, the families who donated were ranked and carved into stone tablets, placed at the bridgeheads or beside the ditches. These luxurious households could be considered to have recognized it while holding their noses; it could be considered a good name, clear reputation, and merit.

It was just like the post road from the Great Ming Capital to Shanhai Pass, named the Chonggu Post Road. Zhu Yijun even inscribed it himself, getting a huge stone and placing it at the starting point of the post road. Wang Chonggu wished he could hug that tablet and sleep!

The local area was also like this. My family is rich; for things like repairing bridges and roads and building water conservancy to accumulate merit, taking out money and grain, having a stone tablet, is not bad.

Wang Yie was not like this. The post road from Tianjin to Mizhou was being built. The total section needed 12.37 million silver. The Great Ming Emperor gave 7 million silver, funded from the inner treasury, while the remaining silver was paid by the state treasury and the local area. The Shandong area had to bear about 3 million silver. The construction period was three years, about 1 million silver per year.

Originally, the powerful and wealthy families were all waiting for the notice. If it was really shared in Shandong, each household would take two or three thousand taels at most, and a few hundred taels at least. For families that could be defined as powerful and wealthy, this amount of silver wouldn't hurt their bones, and the benefits after the post road was connected were clear at a glance.

Waiting and waiting, the powerful families of Shandong didn't wait for the notice. Wang Yie's government order was "voluntary donation." How much you give depends entirely on your heart.

Can you not give? Of course you can, as long as you can bear the consequences.

"If I were a Shandong powerful family, I would also curse. This Wang Yie is truly not a thing." Zhu Yijun thought about it from their perspective. It was not that they couldn't pay, but there was no standard for how much to pay. If Wang Yie set up a stone tablet, it would be better to go directly to hell. Giving less would lead to being scolded by others; giving more would not even leave a good reputation.

What was most feared was that someone would secretly donate more to obtain the favor of the Provincial Governor and gain a competitive advantage.

"This method of Viceroy Ling is very fair, but that's because everyone is afraid of the knife in Viceroy Ling's hand, so it can be realized. If Wang Yie did this, I'm afraid he wouldn't collect half a tael of silver, because others are not afraid of him, so he can only do this, letting them fight among themselves." Feng Bao saw it very clearly.

Ling Yunyi could do this because he had guest soldiers under his command. Wang Jiaping and Wang Yie couldn't do it because they didn't have guest soldiers under their command.

Zhu Yijun nodded in deep agreement. The Great Viceroy Ling would not return. The powerful and wealthy families of Shandong could only continue to be tormented by scholars.

Fairness, at any time, is a very rare public resource. When enjoying it, people often take it for granted, thinking it is natural. When it is lost, they regret it too late.

"Your Majesty, the Drum and Bell Tower of the Main Office will be completed tomorrow. Second Assistant Wang and Cabinet Elder Wan invite Your Majesty to go to the viewing ceremony." Feng Bao picked out a very important memorial and placed it in front of His Majesty. The Drum and Bell Tower of the Main Office was a drum tower built by imperial decree of His Majesty the Emperor, responsible for reporting the time in the capital.

Theoretically, this thing did not belong to the "Great Construction," but to a "wonder." At first, Wang Chonggu proposed it for the Empress Dowager's birthday, but Empress Dowager Li firmly refused. She said that if it was too noisy, the outer court could be as lively as it wanted, but don't build it in her name. A Buddha pagoda was enough to be poked in the spine and scolded; a Drum and Bell Tower cost 1.2 million silver, which was a full year's worth of gold-flower silver!

In the end, it became an imperial decree, with the main function of reporting the time.

"Notify the cabinet; I will go on time tomorrow." Zhu Yijun looked at the time. Going after the court meeting was just right. From the Cultural Hall to outside the East Flowery Gate, it was only a few steps away.

The court meeting the next day was not long. It had already entered the twelfth month. The main content of the court meeting was the year-end accounting. These accounts were somewhat trivial and would be comprehensively summarized at the end of the twelfth month for the Emperor to understand the current situation of Great Ming.

A heavy snow fell in the capital. When coal prices were stable, everyone thanked the timeliness of this snow, because "auspicious snow promises a good harvest." Next year would not be a year of great disaster. If it didn't snow, there would be locusts next year, the land would be dry, grain would be in short supply, grain prices would rise, living costs would increase, and sharp contradictions between people and land would emerge from under the water. Intense contradictions and conflicts would cause turmoil, and added to human disasters, this was the reason why Great Ming, both inside and outside, was hoping for snow.

"No, does Cabinet Elder Wan study history books all the way to the Liao History and Jin History?" Zhu Yijun looked at Wan Shihe's memorial and laughed. This Great Ancestor, even such obscure historical materials were studied.

"It's quite interesting. I was originally curious why Emperor Taizong of Song retained his experience of defeat at Gaoliang River. I checked the Song History but couldn't find it. It turns out that the two Songs avoided talking about this issue altogether. I had to check the Liao History to find the specific source." Wan Shihe talked about the reason why he read the Liao History and Jin History.

The allusion of the "God of War at Gaoliang River" was widely circulated. The wind and sand raised by the donkey cart that day had been talked about tirelessly, until forever.

The Song History did not record this matter. This was "avoiding talking about the venerable." Similarly, Great Ming retained all the experiences of Emperor Yingzong of Ming, Zhu Qizhen, being captured and during his northern hunting, because Great Ming conducted reciprocal retaliation. In the fifth year of Jingtai, Yesian was also killed, and his head was sent to Great Ming to claim a reward.

"There is no great righteousness after the Spring and Autumn period, only records." Ever since Zhu Xi advocated this, Great Ming scholars only read the Spring and Autumn period and did not read history books, entirely for the sake of the fictional shore of the "Three Generations."

But ever since Liang Menglong compiled the "Essentials of History" for His Majesty the Emperor, this evil wind finally stopped. Now Great Ming scholars read history books. After all, if the Emperor knew things that the officials didn't, it would appear extremely embarrassing.

"If Emperor Taizong of Song could have destroyed the Liao Kingdom, then these two arrows in the legs at Gaoliang River would probably have become a beautiful story like 'sleeping on brushwood and tasting gall.' But Emperor Taizong of Song didn't do it. Three hundred years of the two Songs, never recovering Yanyun." Wan Shihe said with great emotion.

Goujian, King of Yue, slept on brushwood and tasted gall, sleeping in a firewood room and eating gall, which resulted in "three thousand Yue soldiers could swallow Wu," and finally took revenge. When talking about Goujian, King of Yue, no one would sneer at these disgraceful pasts of Goujian.

If Zhao Guangyi could have destroyed the Liao Kingdom later, this experience of his would not be a joke, but a little frost and snow on the road to success.

Zhao Guangyi didn't do it, and his descendants didn't do it either.

"Very good, just post it in the gazette." Zhu Yijun once again affirmed Wan Shihe's research on this period of history.

In this research, besides Zhao Guangyi's defeat at Gaoliang River, there was another battle: the Battle of Tongguan.

During the An Lushan Rebellion, the main responsibility for the defeat at Tongguan was naturally that Li Longji lost his composure after An Lushan started the rebellion, destroying his own pillars, wrongly killing Feng Changqing and Gao Xianzhi, and then repeatedly urging Geshu Han to send troops. It was precisely because of the repeated urging to advance that led to Geshu Han's defeat.

But Wan Shihe's research found that this Geshu Han, who was "a general in the sky with a marquis seal, and a king of a different surname on the imperial platform," was not really that loyal.

Geshu Han led 200,000 troops to guard Tongguan. These 200,000 people were not the rabble under Feng Changqing and Gao Xianzhi, but the elite troops of the two military governors of Hexi and Longyou—they were elite.

The troops of the two towns of Hexi and Longyou had once conquered most of the Qinghai Plateau during the Kaiyuan period, breaking the expansion path of the Tubo during their rising period.

A Turkic Tujue person, leading the most elite troops that the Great Tang imperial court could mobilize, at Tongguan, facing only 80,000 rebel troops, had no intention of attacking for half a year. Which emperor would not be suspicious in his heart? And he would also be afraid that this Geshu Han would not pacify the rebellion, but instead turn around and enter Chang'an. Moreover, this Geshu Han had an excellent relationship with Crown Prince Li Heng.

Under such complex circumstances, the true reason that prompted Li Longji to urge Geshu Han to send troops was the death of An Sishun.

An Sishun had reminded Li Longji during the Kaiyuan period to be careful of An Lushan, and he did so regardless of Li Longji's trust in An Lushan, repeatedly speaking of An Lushan's rebellious state. And the famous Guo Ziyi, Li Guangbi, and others were all subordinates of An Sishun.

Geshu Han, leading strong troops at Tongguan, falsely accused An Sishun to take revenge for an old grudge and asked the Son of Heaven to kill An Sishun. Li Longji had no choice but to kill An Sishun to appease Geshu Han.

After An Sishun was killed, Li Longji began to frequently send people to urge Geshu Han to go out of the pass. Geshu Han went out of the pass to fight, and the 200,000 Tang troops were defeated by the 80,000 rebel troops. After Geshu Han was captured, he surrendered directly to An Lushan and said: "Your Majesty is a ruler who clears up chaos. Now that the world is not yet pacified, Li Guangbi is at Tumen, Lai Tian is in Henan, and Lu Jiong is in Nanyang. I can recruit them for Your Majesty with a single letter, and it can be pacified on three sides."

Geshu Han's surrender was so swift and so submissive that An Lushan was overjoyed, his mood pleasant.

Wan Shihe commented on this section, believing that the historical elevation of Geshu Han was mainly to reflect Li Longji's incompetence and arrogance.

And for the failure of the Battle of Tongguan, the key battle of the An Lushan Rebellion, Wan Shihe believed: the main responsibility was Li Longji's long-term slackness, being in a rush with no one to use, using the wrong people, and strategic errors.

At that time, Geshu Han was already old, and he had already had a stroke, paralyzed on one side. The imperial court looked for a long time and could only send such a general to the front line. Wasn't that the imperial court having no one to use and using the wrong people?

Geshu Han was already old and couldn't fight anymore. "A general is a bear, and the whole nest is bears." Fighting against tiger-wolf troops like An Lushan and Shi Siming, there was only such a result.

And Wan Shihe's criticism of Li Longji mainly lay in strategic errors. Li Longji made so many absurd decisions during the An Lushan Rebellion, and his purpose was only one: he wanted a quick victory.

An Sishun's strategy was: hold Tongguan firmly and do not go out, letting Guo Ziyi and Li Guangbi steal the home.

This strategy was also the consensus at the time. The only drawback was that it was a bit slow.

An Sishun was the only person in the imperial court at the time who could stop Li Longji from wanting a quick victory. As a result, An Sishun was killed, and Li Longji's idea of wanting a quick victory, just like his trust in An Lushan, had no one to advise him, eventually leading to the mess of the Battle of Tongguan.

Zhu Yijun suddenly remembered Li Chengliang.

Since Li Chengliang left Liaodong in the 19th year of Wanli, the situation in Liaodong gradually deteriorated. By the 29th year of Wanli, the Senior Grand Secretary of the Cabinet, Shen Yiguan, looked around and could only once again employ Li Chengliang, who had been idle for ten years and was already 76 years old, to guard Liaodong again.

Having no one to use was also the predicament at that time.

Regarding the defeat of the Northern Expedition of Song Taizong and the Battle of Tongguan, Wan Shihe, based on the theory of contradictions, re-analyzed these two typical cases. In fact, it was to remind His Majesty the Emperor to be prepared for danger in times of peace and to respect the objective laws of the development of things.

The theory of contradictions speaks of the laws of the development of things, speaks of "ice three feet thick is not the work of one day," and thawing is not a matter of a moment. All things have objective laws of development, and the New Policies cannot be rushed.

"In my opinion, those scoundrels all call Cabinet Elder Wan 'Wan Boneless.' They are completely wrong. With this article, who dares to say that Cabinet Elder Wan has no bone and upright spirit?" Zhu Yijun gave a vermilion approval to Wan Shihe's long-winded argument and published it in the gazette.

What he was talking about was Zhao Guangyi, and what he was talking about was Li Longji, but in fact, they were all remonstrating with His Majesty.

Wan Shihe was expressing his opposition to tax increases. He believed that the imperial court did not need to be so urgent. Zhao Guangyi and Li Longji both failed because they wanted a quick victory. "Haste makes waste."

Both were against tax increases, but Wan Shihe's approach received the Emperor's approval, while the opposition of other court officials was mocked by the Emperor as "frightened birds."

"Your subject thanks Your Majesty for the high praise." Wan Shihe bowed again to thank him for his kindness. His reputation relied entirely on His Majesty to maintain it.

"Your Majesty, your subject has a memorial here." Cabinet Elder Wang Guoguang presented a memorial to the imperial front. Zhu Yijun opened it, his brows furrowed, his face solemn.

"After I have carefully read this memorial, we will discuss it." Zhu Yijun tucked this memorial into his sleeve, very solemnly.

Now that the court meeting was over, he had to go to the East Flowery Gate to witness the completion of the Drum and Bell Tower of the Main Office. This was also a big event. Things had to be done bit by bit.

A viewing platform was set up outside the East Flowery Gate. The official completion of the Drum and Bell Tower had a handover ceremony, which was roughly for Wang Chonggu and Wang Daokun to lead the officials of the Ministry of Works to conduct a final inspection of the Drum and Bell Tower of the Main Office, and then hand it over to the Ministry of Rites for use. The Ministry of Rites was responsible for sending firemen and watchmen to look after this Drum and Bell Tower.

There were four clock dials on the Drum and Bell Tower. Just the minute hand was one zhang, two chi, and eight fen long. The diameter of the entire dial exceeded two zhang. The pendulum clock in the entire bell chamber weighed 【missing number】 jin, which was about twice the weight of the Ruyi Golden Cudgel. For such a big thing, the mainspring had to be wound once every three days, and it also had to be calibrated once every three days.

When Zhu Yijun arrived at the East Flowery Gate, the entire area outside the East Flowery Gate was much livelier than on the day of the release of the examination results for the metropolitan and palace examinations. The left and right wings of the viewing platform were filled with court officials and foreign envoys.

Wang Chonggu led many officials of the Ministry of Works into the Drum and Bell Tower to conduct a symbolic inspection. Before this, the craftsmen had already meticulously checked all the details. Wang Chonggu led people into the Drum and Bell Tower, which was just a formality. After conducting a meticulous inspection, Wang Chonggu handed the key to Feng Bao.

"Your subject Wang Chonggu received the imperial order for the Great Construction. On the seventh day of the twelfth month of the eleventh year of Wanli, it is delivered on schedule. I request Your Majesty to inspect it." Wang Chonggu stood under the viewing platform, bowed his head, and said loudly.

"I request Your Majesty to inspect it." The officials of the Ministry of Works bowed their heads and requested.

Zhu Yijun waved his hand and said, "Then let's go take a look together."

The Great Ming Emperor did not move, because the Embroidered Uniform Guard Zhao Mengyou led people into the Drum and Bell Tower to conduct a final safety inspection, and only then did he invite the Emperor to go.

This was very necessary. What if the hour hand and minute hand, which were more than thirty zhang above the ground, fell from the sky and landed on the Emperor? What would happen?

When Zhu Di rode his horse into Jinan Prefecture, he didn't expect the thousand-jin gate to fall at the city gate. Zhu Di's horse was smashed to death, and Zhu Di luckily escaped a disaster.

Therefore, necessary security checks were for the Emperor's safety, and also for the sake of the officials. ===== CHAPTER 576 =====