ATPnovel Chapter 16: Offering Sacrifice to Heaven and Ascending the Throne, I Am the Emperor of Great Qin!
Chapter 16: Offering Sacrifice to Heaven and Ascending the Throne, I Am the Emperor of Great Qin!
Summer of 208 BC, on the ninth day of the ninth month.
On the right bank of the Euphrates River in the suburbs of Chang'an, stands a tall altar.
The foundation was laid with five-colored soil, five zhang square and nine zhang high, with a total of ninety-five white jade steps, which corresponds to the number nine and five.
The sacrificial table was already set with three sacrificial animals: a pure-colored cow, a sheep, and a pig.
The wood-burning stove, fueled by pine and cypress branches, emitted wisps of smoke that rose straight into the sky, making it particularly eye-catching.
“Wuwu!”
At 3:45 AM, the melodious and deep sound of horns emanated from the Weiyang Palace.
The bells and drums rang out in unison, and the deep Qin music resounded throughout Chang'an, awakening the people who were still asleep.
"Tap tap..."
One by one, elite Qin soldiers, clad in armor and armed with weapons, emerged from the Weiyang Palace, their armor plates clanging against each other.
From the main hall of the palace to the altar outside the city, two rows of elite soldiers stood tall and straight like pine trees, their faces filled with solemnity and reverence.
A large, densely packed group of people had appeared at the foot of the altar early on, mostly nobles, scholars, and elders from the ten provinces of the Western Continent.
Atalus, Mithridates III, Nicomedes, Macarios, and Arialates stood at the forefront, surrounded by tribal leaders who had submitted to the Qin Dynasty, coming from all directions and with diverse appearances.
These people had bitter smiles on their lips, but they had to force a smile as they gazed toward Chang'an.
Envoys from Parthia, Bactria, Kangju, the Mauryan Empire, and the Greek Federation of India were also invited.
"Da da da! Da da da!"
Three thousand white-horse warriors galloped out of Weiyang Palace, leading the way.
The silver-white armor, illuminated by the campfire, reflected a chilling gleam, exuding unparalleled heroism.
Then, a procession of carriages appeared before the spectators, in the order of Sima's carriage, Bi'e's carriage, Jidao's carriage, and Jingshi's carriage.
Large numbers of Imperial Guards appeared on both sides, wearing black gauze hats, flying fish robes, and embroidered spring knives at their waists.
"Squeak! Squeak!"
The Jiuyou carriage, Yunhan carriage, Pixuan carriage, Fanji carriage, Luanqi carriage, and Jianhua carriage slowly passed through Zhuque Avenue.
Banners fluttered, canopies danced, drums and music resounded, and the atmosphere was magnificent.
Nine black horses pulled the imperial carriage slowly forward, and Ying Xuan sat upright in the carriage, closing his eyes to rest.
Behind them were the carriages of civil and military officials, with civil officials riding in carriages and military officers on horseback, all in an orderly fashion.
"Whoosh!"
The Qin soldiers guarding the left and right kneeled on one knee the moment they saw the emperor's carriage.
He clenched his left fist and pounded it heavily against his chest, his expression one of unprecedented fervor.
They paid the highest tribute to their lord, the supreme Emperor Ying Xuan of Qin.
"May Your Majesty live ten thousand years! May the Qin Dynasty live ten thousand years!"
"Ugh!!!"
Every five steps, guards would blow horns and attendants would shout.
Wherever the emperor's entourage passed, the sound of horns rang out and shouts echoed through the sky.
From afar, this grand procession of carriages appeared before the crowd at the altar, leaving the envoys from various countries in awe.
"Thump! Thump! Thump!"
The emperor's carriage stopped before the altar, and the drums sounded, the bells and music resounded, and the glory of the Chinese nation and the splendor of the western continent were displayed.
"Please ascend the altar to offer sacrifices to Heaven!"
Han Xizai, the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, was the chief officiant and spoke first with a solemn expression.
"Please ascend the altar to offer sacrifices to Heaven!"
The civil and military officials echoed in unison, each bowing respectfully in invitation.
"Please ascend the altar to offer sacrifices to Heaven!"
The 80,000 Northern Army soldiers surrounding the guards chanted a salute loudly, their voices shaking the heavens and the earth.
*Whoosh!*
The servant stepped forward and lifted the heavy curtain.
Wearing a twelve-tiered crown, a black robe and crimson skirt, and red shoes, Ying Xuan stepped out and alighted from the carriage.
The officials wore robes with cross-collar and right-fastening fronts, and wore different crowns such as the Gaoshan crown, the Fa crown, and the Wu crown. They wore leather belts and sashes around their waists and stood on the left and right respectively.
On the altar, a red flag with a black bird design fluttered in the wind.
Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Ying Xuan walked up the steps one by one.
The world was silent, and countless eyes were fixed on the twenty-year-old monarch.
"Your Majesty!"
Zhao Jiang and Han Xin looked at Ying Xuan on the stage, their eyes welling up with tears.
One was a member of the Qin clan, and the other was a subordinate who had followed them from humble beginnings.
They watched Ying Xuan come this far, overcoming countless obstacles, fighting bloody battles, and experiencing countless life-and-death situations to reach where he is today.
He conquered ten provinces in the Western Regions, far beyond the Qin homeland, and ruled over a population of fifteen million. He succeeded the First Emperor to the throne and became the ruler of the Qin Empire.
The civil and military officials were equally excited; the difference between the Western Ruler and the Emperor of Qin was like heaven and earth.
They learned both literary and martial arts, intending to serve the emperor. This was their lifelong pursuit.
Hundreds of thousands of people, including Persians, Babylonians, Greeks, Thracians, and Armenians, watched this scene unfold.
Compared to the crudeness of Western countries, the elaborate etiquette of the Qin Empire revealed the profound heritage of civilization.
At that moment, they seemed to feel an immense sense of belonging to the character "Qin".
Perhaps becoming a subject of the Qin Empire was the luckiest thing for them in their lives, or for their descendants.
"Tap tap..."
Ying Xuan climbed to the top step by step, turned around, and looked down at the dark mass of people below the altar, his heart pounding with excitement.
"Prince Xuan was the fifteenth son of the First Emperor and a descendant of Emperor Zhuanxu."
"By imperial decree, we marched westward, expanding our territory by nine thousand li."
"He pacified the kingdoms of the Western Continent and established ten major provinces."
"Now, the country is plagued by treacherous officials who have usurped the throne and seized power, causing the people to suffer and live in misery."
"Looking up to the Kings of Qin and the First Emperor above, I hereby proclaim to Heaven and Earth that I have ascended the throne."
"The ninth day of the ninth month in the thirty-ninth year of the First Emperor's reign!"
Han Xizai, the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, received the eulogy and recited it aloud.
A concise yet powerful article was clearly conveyed to the hundreds of thousands of people present, its momentum inspiring and uplifting.
The text conveys the Qin army's overwhelming power and domineering nature, sweeping across the western continent for nine thousand miles.
The envoys from the invited countries, including the Xia, Parthian, Mauryan, and Kangju, felt their scalps tingle.
"We respectfully invite Your Majesty to offer sacrifices to Heaven."
Luo Yin, the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, stepped forward respectfully, carrying a red cloth tray.
"Um."
Nodding slightly, Ying Xuan took three incense sticks from the tray, lit them, and inserted them into the bronze cauldron.
As wisps of smoke rose into the sky, he solemnly performed the grand ceremony of three bows and nine kowtows.
"The ceremony is complete!"
Han Xizai's loud voice rang out again.
Ying Xuan slowly rose, faced the civil and military officials, and loudly proclaimed, "I, the Emperor, here today, ascend the throne."
"Heaven and earth, the nation, and all living beings bear witness."
"I am the Emperor of the Great Qin Empire."
"Long live Your Majesty! Long live the Qin Dynasty!"
The assembled officials bowed their heads and kowtowed, shouting three times, "Long live Your Majesty! Long live the Great Qin Dynasty!"
"Long live Your Majesty! Long live the Qin Dynasty!"
The hundreds of thousands of people present were thrilled, their voices resounding throughout the heavens and earth.
From this moment on, Ying Xuan was no longer the Western Lord of Qin, but the sole ruler of Qin.
Thousands of miles away, in the Xianyang Palace, Hu Hai was nothing but a usurper. What virtue or ability did he have to inherit the throne?
"Rise!"
After receiving everyone's homage, Ying Xuan's figure became even more upright, as if he stood tall and firm.
His entire attire exuded an aura of supreme authority, and in everyone's eyes, he was as bright and majestic as the sun.
The people and nations of the Western Continent may only know that he ruled over ten provinces and fifteen million people, second only to Alexander the Great.
However, Han Xin, Zhao Jiang, Xun Yu, and others were well aware that he was inheriting the legal system that ruled over tens of millions of descendants of the Yellow Emperor and Yan Emperor in the East.