Free Web NovelChapter 1254: Chapter 1223: Then Let’s Crown a King
The Battle of Pingnan allowed Great Jin to unify a large area, officially connecting the politics of the north and south. This was a significant achievement, deserving of her special treatment.
Therefore, Zhao Hanzhang personally led the officials to greet her at the city gate, and the citizens of the Capital City also joined in the excitement, welcoming them from both sides of the road.
The generals who followed Zu Ti in the southern campaign, as long as they returned to the Capital City, stayed at the post station with him. He was ordered to bring Gu Rong, He Xun, and others who came from the Capital City, and they temporarily stayed at the post station, with officials from the Ministry of Rites coordinating with them, informing them of the hour to enter the Capital City the next day.
Indeed, all of this was pre-arranged; the time the officials arrived at the city gate and when they appeared at the city gate were calculated to be auspicious times.
He Xun listened on the side, continuously frowning and couldn’t help but ask the chief official from the Ministry of Rites, Shi Hua, "Your Majesty isn’t coming?"
Shi Hua smiled and said, "Your Majesty has a noble status and is waiting for everyone in the palace."
He Xun said, "Since Your Majesty isn’t present, using the royal flag to welcome the Great General doesn’t conform to the ceremonial rules, right?"
Shi Hua replied, "The Great General oversees the administration, and the mere royal flag is an honor to the flag, not to the Great General."
He Xun made one statement, "It doesn’t conform to ceremonial rules."
Shi Hua held back, only able to report back to Zhao Hanzhang.
Now, in Jin State, the ceremonial laws in the north are led by Zhao Cheng, and in the south, by He Xun.
Zhao Hanzhang deliberately invited He Xun to the Capital City, clearly intending to utilize him, so Shi Hua couldn’t ignore his opinions.
Zhao Hanzhang listened and first looked up at the sky. Seeing that it was not too dark yet, she put down her worries, "Then please ask Uncle Zhao to think of a way to satisfy both parties."
Zhao Cheng said, "The solution would be to invite Your Majesty out of the palace to personally welcome the victorious return of the army."
Zhao Hanzhang replied, "General Zu wouldn’t be happy, would he? Since we are praising General Zu, naturally his preferences should take precedence."
Zu Ti disliked Emperor Jin.
And she didn’t want the Little Emperor to exclusively claim this credit. Different times call for different measures, and this was not the time for modesty.
Understanding Zhao Hanzhang’s intent, Zhao Cheng said, "Since the Great General wants to conform to ceremonial rules, he must adhere to them—either invite Your Majesty to welcome them, or remove the royal flag."
Zhao Hanzhang lowered her eyelids thoughtfully, then said directly, "Why not ask for a royal title? Uncle Cheng, what do you think of the title King Xia?"
Zhao Cheng widened his eyes, and Ji Yuan, who was listening to their conversation from the side, was suddenly choked by his own saliva and started coughing violently.
In the hall, only Ji Yuan’s coughing echoed. Zhao Hanzhang and Zhao Cheng silently watched him.
Ji Yuan coughed until his face was flushed. After a long while, he stopped and calmly took out a handkerchief to wipe the corners of his eyes and mouth. Facing the gaze of Zhao Hanzhang and Zhao Cheng, he said calmly, "Great General, the word Xia is too grand, signifying China. Since ancient times, no one has dared to use this word as a royal title. You hail from Yu State, so you should choose Yu as your royal title."
Zhao Hanzhang said, "Hua would also work."
Ji Yuan once again refused, "Hua also means China, derived from the ancestress Hua Xi. Although you have great achievements, it is still not appropriate; the Yu character should be chosen."
Hua Xi was considered the mother of Fu Xi and Nuwa, known as the ancestress, so people later generally thought the Hua in Huaxia derived from her name.
The title Prince Yu sounds quite nice, but Yu Country does not sound as good as Hua Country or Xia Country.
Ji Yuan felt that the lady was great in every aspect except for lacking a sense of awe. How could she manage such a grand title?
No matter her exceptional talent, it wouldn’t suffice. No one in this world could take these two characters, "Why not ask Guo Pu to divine a hexagram?"
Zhao Hanzhang was a person who listened to advice. Although she considered herself remarkable, she did not assume she was invincible, so she sought out Guo Pu.
Zhao Cheng, on the side, sighed and reminded, "Isn’t it too late to confer a title now? They are entering the city tomorrow."
Zhao Hanzhang replied, "It’s just the matter of issuing an edict."
Zhao Cheng had nothing to say.
Guo Pu was summoned and, after hearing just the opening, he straightforwardly said, "Choose the Yu character. Hua and Xia, ahem, might be assessed when selecting a new country name. Otherwise, using these two characters as a royal title may lead to the premature death of the person conferred with the title."
In the hall were only Ji Yuan, Zhao Cheng, Zhao Yunxin, and Guo Pu. Guo Pu, without reserve, stated, "The Great General’s name contains both water and fire, inherently conflicting elements. But your fate is privileged, heavily weighted with fire, so water cannot suppress fire but rather tempers its intensity, keeping one balanced. Choosing the Yu character now, Yu, belonging to the earth element, is generated by fire. Earth produces metal, which in turn produces water. Using just this Yu character will greatly benefit your future."
Ji Yuan reminded again, "The Great General descends from Yu State, which indeed fits well."
Such rhetoric made Guo Pu sneer. What does one’s birthplace have to do with anything?
If truly judging by birthplace, she could opt for Hua or Xia too, for Yu State is in Central State, historically part of ancient Huaxia.
Selecting a royal title should be based on the eight characters of fate and the five elements.
Zhao Hanzhang was persuaded and, after thinking for a moment, said, "Then let’s choose the Yu character."
Zhao Hanzhang looked towards Zhao Yunxin.
Zhao Yunxin immediately went to draft the decree.
The decree was drafted, Ji Yuan reviewed and found no issues, and then personally wrote it, transcribing it onto the decree. Zhao Hanzhang reviewed it and immediately stamped it with the Jade Seal, then handed it to Zhao Cheng, "Can this be done now?"
Zhao Cheng said, "A hundred years from now, historians will surely record this."
Zhao Hanzhang, upon hearing this, immediately turned her head left and right, asking, "Where is historian Wang Hao?"
Zhao Cheng frowned and reminded, "If historians are harmed, it won’t just be a matter of leaving a bad name for ages, but could incite opposition among the aristocracy."
Zhao Hanzhang replied, "Uncle Cheng misunderstood. I want Wang Hao to be present and record this in detail. Histories, after all, should be comprehensive to prevent future generations from guessing inaccurately due to lack of context."
She wasn’t afraid of future generations knowing the real her. She feared them adding false narratives. As a modern librarian, she had encountered too many peculiar historical accounts, most disproved by archaeology.
But rumors spread easily, whereas clarification takes tremendous effort, especially when dispelling historical inaccuracies is more challenging.
Therefore, Zhao Hanzhang didn’t mind the historian recording their current conversation, as these chronicles were to be sealed, only opened after her death.
By then, she would be dead; her merits and demerits would be assessed by posterity.
As long as the assessments are truthful, whether they are positive or negative, she would accept them. But if they are false...
The thought made Zhao Hanzhang unhappy.
Seeing Wang Hao excluded, Zhao Hanzhang felt regretful. By now, calling him back wouldn’t serve any purpose, as they couldn’t perform it again before him, could they?
Zhao Hanzhang sighed and said to Zhao Yunxin, "Next time, do not stop people outside."
Zhao Yunxin agreed.
"The matter is settled," Zhao Hanzhang said, "and I ask Uncle Cheng to let Shi Hua make another trip. They may enter the city as usual tomorrow."
Zhao Cheng paused for a moment, then bowed and retreated.
Upon hearing that Zhao Hanzhang was elevated to Prince Yu in such a brief period, Shi Hua also remained silent for a long time before making a silent bow to his superior and retreating.
The news reached the post station, and everyone there, whether they were on Zhao Hanzhang’s side like Zhao Shen or Zhao Shi, or southern people like Gu Rong or He Xun, remained silent.
Only Zu Ti laughed heartily upon hearing the news, joyously saying, "Let it be so!"
