Chapter 29: The Imperial Clan's Ceremonial Procession

  "It was the Mangshan Ke people who informed me in advance, and now they have searched out treasures and clothes from the local government, I just knew that we had escaped a disaster." Zhu Yongxing lowered his eyelids and said in a low voice: "The Mangshan Ke people originally belonged to our Ming Dynasty's Meng Nong Military and Civilian Pacification Commissioner's Office. Now they do not forget their old country, protecting us as we leave Burma and enter Yunnan, this is a great merit, from now on we cannot call them barbarians again."

  "Your Highness is as fortunate as the heavens, wise and brave, and has just caused the barbarian tribes to submit." Zhao Guo flattered and said: "With the protection of the gods, Your Highness has obtained the help of a divine instrument, and with the honor of the imperial family, you will surely be able to revive the king's map and display your great achievements in Yunnan."

  Feudal superstition is indeed very serious! Zhu Yongxing sighed in his heart, what era has its own characteristics, burying stones, putting cloth strips into fish bellies, learning to call ghosts at midnight, and looking foolish and ignorant from a later perspective, but having a social foundation that was prevalent in the relative era.

  Zhu Yongxing lazily pointed to the hunting rifle and unfolded tourist map on the table, letting Zhao Guowei take a closer look to dispel his doubts. He then continued, "Since I didn't die after falling into the water, I feel like I've been reborn, like I'm living a new life. Some past events have become blurry, my memories are unclear, and even this temperament of mine seems different. However, the language of the gods has become even more profound, and every time I think about it, I gain new insights."

  "Heaven bless the great Ming, God bless your highness." Zhao Guowei only took a glance and was amazed at the exquisite printing and vibrant colors of the tourist map. He temporarily acknowledged Zhu Yongxing's words about their different personalities and turned to offer more respectful greetings and blessings to Zhu Yongxing.

  "Entering Yunnan to guard, but only you have this one loyal servant by your side." Zhu Yongxing sighed and said: "You will be in charge of Zheng Chengfu, managing the Chengfu Department, picking up the leftovers and making up for the deficiencies beside me, reminding me from time to time, so that others won't think I'm strange or weird."

  The Shengfengsi in the Wangfu is a relatively powerful department, with Shengfengzheng, Left and Right Shengfeng and Nei Shengfeng under its jurisdiction, all of whom are eunuchs. Giving Zhao Guowei such an appointment seems to be very suitable.

  "Thank you for your kindness, Your Excellency." Zhao Guo Wei knelt down and kowtowed with a grateful expression.

  "Alright, since there's no one else around, we don't have to be so nervous and can speak freely. Hmm, tomorrow I'll have to rush off to Iron Wall Pass, you go rest first!" Zhu Yongxing felt that the matter was settled and didn't want to continue talking with this old eunuch anymore, too tired.

  Zhao Guo Wei blinked his eyes and didn't move, but carefully asked: "Your Highness, as the imperial family's guardian, I wonder if the ritual equipment is ready?"

  "In a rush, there was no time to prepare." Zhu Yongxing spoke the truth, and in his memory, there was no such information. He didn't dare to make anything up, fearing that he would reveal his true intentions.

  "How can this be?" Zhao Guo Wei's face was filled with pain and distress, "How can this display the dignity of the imperial family, Your Highness' nobility? It won't do, it won't do. As a senior attendant, I have a responsibility to fulfill my duties, I dare not be remiss. I will go prepare now."

  "The sky is already late——" Zhu Yongxing didn't want to bother, just raised his hand to stop, a crisp voice had interrupted him.

  "Your Highness's status is noble, and you should have the dignity of a royal family to intimidate the people." Mengzhu walked in and said with a smile: "Even if it's prepared hastily, there should be a clear goal before it's settled."

  Zhao Guowei was unaware of Mengzhu's identity, but saw that the woman was as beautiful as a flower, chatting and laughing with Zhu Yongxing, and thought that Zhu Yongxing was infatuated with her beauty, not deeply involved in the Burmese matter, suddenly had an epiphany, and bowed his head in respect.

  "This is Mengshan Ke's Princess Mengzhu, my inner canon treasure and Shu Tang official." Zhu Yongxing introduced: "Mengzhu, this is Zhao Gonggong, who is currently serving in the imperial court and is very familiar with the etiquette of the imperial court. In the future, you can often ask Zhao Gonggong for advice."

  "It's an honor to meet Your Highness." Zhao Guo Wei showed respect on the surface, but in his heart, he didn't think much of her. What princess? She was just a barbarian woman, and the title "Your Highness" only served to elevate her status. It was clear that she was extremely favored, and therefore, not someone to be offended.

  "Zhao Gonggong, oh, it's Zhao Chengfeng." Mengzhu heard Zhu Yongxing call him "Gonggong", and her heart was filled with joy. She felt that she should do something for her lover, so she smiled at Zhao Guowei and said: "A full set of ceremonial attire is definitely not prepared in time, I wonder what the most important thing is, is it easy to make?"

  Zhao Guowei thought for a moment and said: "The command flag is necessary, red silk with yellow characters in the middle can show your identity."

  "Then let's make a banner first." Mengzhu nodded and smiled: "Red silk and yellow silk should be available, there are many skilled women in our clan, and the specifications will be asked to Zhao Chengfeng for guidance."

  "At your esteemed princess's command."

  "No need to be too meticulous, simple is good." Zhu Yongxing added a sentence, watching Mengzhu and Zhao Guowei retreat before shifting his gaze to the map. Using a tourist map for military campaigns, I'm probably the first one to do so? At least it's better than nothing, although the highways and railways on this map are basically negligible, the mountains, rivers, and streams should still be relatively accurate. If there was another map of the current era, revising it according to the scale of the tourist map would make its accuracy unparalleled in maps of the same era.

  As long as we can get through the most difficult time now, it's not impossible to turn the tide. At the moment when the Southern Ming was in danger, people were afraid of the military power of the Eight Banners of Manchu, but Zhu Yongxing had his own unique views. After decades of war, how many of the Manchu Eight Banners were left with a small population base? How many old-generation Manchu generals with rich combat experience are still alive? Now in most cases, it is Han people fighting against Han people, although this is sad, but it is an indisputable fact.

  It seems that the Qing dynasty's conquest of China has been completed, but the shaving order enforced under the brutal slaughter and violence has left a volcano of resentment among the people. Once they see hope, the majority of the population in Jiangnan who now call themselves subjects of the Great Qing will rise up like tigers to restore their hair and clothing, having previously submitted meekly like sheep to save their heads.

  For Chinese people who take family, Confucianism and Taoism as their roots, they may view the rise and fall of dynasties as a natural cycle of heaven's way. However, if someone were to forcibly change this by imposing a new hairstyle, forcing thousands of years of Han Confucian hairstyles to be changed to shaved heads with queues, this would not only be an insult to human dignity but also a kind of spiritual "castration" that brings great pain. Living in such a "barbaric" image, one would certainly feel ashamed before their ancestors after death and have no face to meet them underground.

  As long as the anti-Qing banner does not fall, there will always be hope. Because the resistance of all ethnic groups against the Qing has never stopped. Look at history: in the 16th year of Shunzhi, Li Qisheng of Xincai, Henan led an uprising against the Qing; Na Song, the Tusi of Yuanjiang, Yunnan, led an uprising against the Qing; Feng Tianyu, the Tusi of Guizhou, led an uprising against the Qing; Long Tao of Guangxi led an uprising against the Qing. In the 18th year of Shunzhi, Yu Qi of Shandong led an uprising against the Qing. In the second year of Kangxi, Zhou Yu, a fisherman from Guangdong, led an uprising against the Qing. In the third year of Kangxi, An Kun, the Tusi of Shuixi, Guizhou, rebelled against the Qing. In the fourth year of Kangxi, Wang Yaozu, the Tusi of Yunnan, rebelled against the Qing; Lang Dai, the Tusi of Guizhou, rebelled against the Qing. In the fifth year of Kangxi, Lu Changxian, the Tusi of Yunnan, rebelled against the Qing. In the eighth year of Kangxi, A Rong, the Tusi of Kaili, Guizhou, rebelled against the Qing...