Volume 2: The Capital, I’m Back Chapter 87: The Martyrs' Shrine is completed
As New Year's Eve approaches, snowflakes begin to fall again in the north.
"Your Majesty, the Imperial Observatory Beilin requests to see you!"
"Belin is back?" Zhu Qizhen raised his head, his face showing joy, "Hurry up and announce it!"
This trip to northern Shaanxi can be said to have saved the people from dire straits and made everyone look at him with admiration.
Soon, Beilin and Li Zhen walked into the imperial study together.
"Your Highness, your Majesty, is greeted by your servant Beilin!"
"Your Highness, I, Li Zhen, kowtow to you!"
"You two nobles, please stand up!"
Zhu Qizhen looked at the two of them with a smile and nodded, saying, "Very good, very good! Yulin Prefecture, Yan'an Prefecture, and all prefectures and counties have sent memorials to praise the achievements of the two nobles. Especially in Suide Prefecture and Mizhi County, the local gentry even presented a letter to the people, treating you like living gods!"
"Your Majesty, I am so humbled by your praise. I really don't deserve it!"
Beilin seemed a little embarrassed. She was a very honest person, the kind who would not wait until dawn to get her revenge. However, she could not stand being praised and would blush when someone praised her.
Zhu Qizhen continued, "Li Shimen has retired and returned to his hometown. The position of the Supervisor is vacant. I intend to let your family take charge of the Imperial Observatory. What do you think?"
"Your Majesty, please think twice!"
Unexpectedly, when Beilin heard that she was going to be promoted, there was no joy on her face, but instead a serious look.
Zhu Qizhen thought he had some concerns, so he asked, "Don't worry, Qing family, I will help you deal with those old stubborn people!"
"That's not what I meant!"
Beilin thought for a moment and said, "If the emperor is interested in reforming the Imperial Observatory, I would like to recommend someone!"
"Oh, who is it?"
"Former deputy supervisor Peng Qing!"
"Peng Qing?"
Zhu Qizhen had no impression of this person, so he asked, "What talents does this person have?"
"Your Majesty, I learned all these humble skills from Deputy Supervisor Peng."
Zhu Qizhen's eyes lit up and he said, "In that case, Huai'en, summon Peng Qing to the palace!"
"Your Majesty..." Huai En smiled bitterly, "Peng Qing is... in Zhaoyu..."
Zhu Qizhen frowned and asked, "What's going on?"
Huai En had no choice but to explain: "This Peng Qing has some personal relationship with Wang Zhen, and was identified as Wang Zhen's accomplice. I heard that he will be exiled to Lingnan soon."
"It's unfair, Your Majesty!"
Beilin bowed and said excitedly, "Deputy Supervisor Peng and Wang Zhen only have official dealings and do not have a personal relationship. When the emperor personally led the army, Deputy Supervisor Peng wrote a letter to warn Wang Zhen with the Xiangwei and openly opposed Wang Zhen. Many people know about this. The emperor can send someone to investigate."
"I remember now!"
Zhu Qizhen looked guilty and nodded, "It seems to be the case. I am ashamed to say that I was biased and wronged the loyal and good Huai En!"
"The servant is here!"
"Pass on my oral order. Peng Qing of the Imperial Observatory has made meritorious contributions and has no faults. I order him to serve as the chief inspector and Beilin to serve as the deputy inspector. Let the cabinet draft the order. As for how to clear Peng Qing of suspicion, leave it to Yuan Bin to do it!"
"I obey your command!"
Huai En did not dare to say a word. Beilin was now a favorite of the emperor. With just one word from her, Peng Qing was directly reinstated and promoted to a higher rank without any inspection by the factory guards.
Beilin was deeply moved and burst into tears, saying, "I thank you for your grace!"
"Your family will assist Peng Qing in managing the Imperial Observatory in the future and make some achievements. Don't be like those people who used to use empty words to fool me. If something goes wrong, no one can be relied on!"
"I obey your order!"
Zhu Qizhen looked at Li Zhen again and asked, "Is Ha Ming back?"
Li Zhen replied, "Your Majesty, Ha Ming and the soldiers will stay in the suburban area."
"Tell him to come to the palace tomorrow. Come with me then. I have something to tell you."
"yes!"
The two men bowed and took their leave. Not long after, news came that the two troops that had gone to the south to quell the rebellion had returned to the capital.
The commanders of these two armies were Ningyang Marquis Chen Mao and Minister of Works Shi Pu.
In the autumn of the 13th year of the Zhengtong reign, Deng Maoqi of Fujian led his troops to revolt, and the rebellion was getting more and more intense. The court sent Chen Mao to lead the army to Fujian to quell the rebellion. Chen Mao was the most capable fighter in the Ming Dynasty besides Duke Ying, Zhang Mao. If he had stayed in the capital and followed the emperor to lead the army, the outcome would still be unknown.
In the spring of the 14th year of the Zhengtong reign, the Chuzhou thief Ye Zongliu rebelled, and the Minister of Works Shi Pu led the army to quell the rebellion.
Zhu Qizhen could never understand why the court sent the Minister of Works to take charge when it had so many meritorious officials to be left unused?
It was not until Shi Pu returned to the court that he realized what a pity it was for his elder brother to become the Minister of Works. A 1.9-meter-tall strong man with dark skin, a face full of flesh, and a beard, he did not need any makeup at all to play Li Kui.
When Chen Mao and Shi Pu were summoned, another piece of news came that the main building of the Martyrs' Shrine had been completed and the exterior decoration was underway and it would be put into use after the new year.
Zhu Qizhen was very happy and immediately summoned all officials to visit the Martyrs' Shrine.
Under the protection of the imperial guards, all the civil and military officials in the court came to Chengtian Gate in a mighty manner.
Although they knew that the imperial court was building a large-scale project here, when all the officials arrived at the Martyrs' Shrine, they were all shocked by the scene before them.
What comes into view is a vermilion lacquered gate with a pair of huge stone lions in front of it, which appear to be carved from a single piece of gray rock.
"Where did you find this rock? It's completely colorless, how rare!"
"Yes, I just looked carefully, the whole rock is a whole, without a single crack."
"It looks like limestone from the Western Hills, but it's so huge. How was it transported here?"
Everyone continued to move forward while talking.
Entering the gate, there is a spacious courtyard.
Many trees have been transplanted in the yard. They are all big trees with their branches and leaves sawed off. Although they look a bit bare , it is foreseeable that in the spring of next year, they will sprout branches and immediately grow into towering trees, and their green shade will cover most of the yard.
Passing through the straight passage, what comes into view is a majestic hall.
The main hall is covered with gleaming glazed tiles and has thick columns dyed dark red. As you enter the hall, you will see a huge stone tablet with five large characters "Ming Martyrs' Shrine" written on it in a flamboyant style.
Various battle scenes are carved on the walls of the hall. For these well-educated Ming officials, they are not unfamiliar at all. From Taizu's uprising, Xu Da's Northern Expedition, to the Jingnan Campaign, the expedition to Annan, the expedition to Mobei, and even the Battle of Tumu Fortress are portrayed vividly.
Looking at the solemn hall, a sense of solemnity arises spontaneously, making people pay homage to the soldiers who fought bravely for the Ming Dynasty.
Go around the stone tablet in the main hall and enter the back hall, where there are rows of white marble walls engraved with the names of loyal martyrs who died in battle since the Ming Dynasty.
Everyone took a tour around the Martyrs' Shrine and it was an eye-opener, especially the Minister of Works Shi Pu, who grinned and laughed all the way.
I didn’t expect that while I was out fighting, I would also have such a big project built at home, beautiful!
This Left Vice Minister Lu Xiang really gave face to the Minister of Works!
After being shocked, everyone couldn't help but wonder: how did the Ministry of Works complete the construction of the Martyrs' Shrine in just three months?
According to past experience, it would be difficult to build such a large building in such a short time, let alone gather the bricks, stones and wood needed for construction.
Moreover, it seems that there is no wooden structure in the entire Martyrs' Shrine.
Zhu Qizhen also noticed the confusion on everyone's faces, so he waved to the Left Vice Minister Lu Xiang and the Earl of Pingxiang Chen Huai.
After receiving instructions, Lu Xiang and Chen Huai stepped forward and began to explain the new casting method to everyone.
Looking at the soldiers fighting bravely on the mural wall, Zhu Qizhen secretly sighed in his heart that the blood of the Ming soldiers should not be shed in vain. Yesen, you just wait!
If I don’t beat the shit out of you this time, you’ve done it cleanly!
