Chapter 487: Chapter 242: The Great Wedding and Army Reform
Hongdao Eighth Year, twelfth month, twenty-third day.
On this day, the entire Changsha City was dyed red.
Bright red ribbons fluttered at the ends of the streets, and a gorgeous red carpet was laid out for ten miles.
Lan Cai’er, riding in a prestigious carriage, was escorted out from the specially awarded Feng Residence, which was the queen mother’s home, at the outskirts of the city, accompanied by over a thousand strong and imposing palace guards.
Near the red carpet, the people of the city poured out of their houses with ribbons in their hands, cheering and congratulating from the bottom of their hearts.
Since taking over Changsha, Lu Yuan has subdued the Poison Sect, and pacified various local revolts.
For several years, the people of Dongting, who had suffered from the turmoil and war, were finally able to regain a rare peace and stability in this chaotic world.
In external affairs, he had successively defeated the Zhou People, beheaded two Pillar States, and annihilated a hundred thousand troops in the Northern Expedition. He then went on to conquer three counties and expand his territory by eight. With his reputation spreading to various nations, his power became unmatched.
Being capable of bringing peace to his people internally while displaying his country’s might externally, what subjects could not adore such a king?
The stronger Lu Yuan grew, and the greater his victories outside, the more benefits these people of Changsha could enjoy.
Take a simple example.
These scholars who had recently finished their imperial examinations had gathered here for over a year. Their daily expenditures, even just the rent, had brought great profits to the city’s merchants and commoners.
Just this had already brought great benefits to the people of Changsha.
Not to mention, for today’s grand wedding, Lu Yuan had ordered that the whole nation rejoice together.
Not only were some prisoners with lighter sentences pardoned, but all registered families in the country also received some wine, meat, and food, so that they would join the king in celebration.
This task, which had been prepared for over a year, had been perfected to the extreme.
Lu Yuan was not sure about other places,
But indeed, the commoners of Changsha City had each received, one household at a time, one catty of meat, ten catties of rice, and a pot of wine as rewards yesterday.
After the bride was welcomed today, there would be even more grand feasts in Changsha City, lasting for three days, and any city dweller, regardless of their status, could enjoy them.
There’s a saying, “Taking someone’s money makes it hard to stand up straight, eating their food makes it difficult to speak.”
With all these benefits, is it possible that the commoners of Changsha City would not be deeply grateful to Lu Yuan, who brought them all this?
And now, this great Saint King in their eyes is getting married. Although the bride’s identity is somewhat unpopular, being born from the Poison Sect,
But everyone can understand.
Just like the storyteller said, the king marrying a monster from the Poison Sect was to appease the Miao People so that they would not cause more trouble.
As long as they can appease these fierce Miao people and prevent them from revolting out of boredom, the people won’t be so resistant to the Queen anymore.
Even with some support.
After all, the common people’s wishes are simple: have no chaos, no wars, less tax from the country, less corruption from officials, and stop those who force women into misery.
For the common people, these are rare good days.
When written in historical records, it would become an era of great prosperity worth boasting about.
So it’s not just Changsha.
On the day of the wedding, under Lu Yuan’s rule, 170 counties of the 17 fu-cities and even some important towns held banquets and celebrations, cheering for the king’s marriage, under the supervision of local officials.
Just kidding.
The king is getting married and has even ordered a celebration to be held across the country.
Would you, as a local official, dare not be diligent in making the commoners feel joy along with the festivities?
However, to be honest,
Although the commoners were mobilized, the costs of the entire celebration didn’t require a cent from the local government.
For this wedding, Lu Yuan had spent over four million silver tales, which was almost equivalent to the military expenses of a hundred thousand troops for one year.
With such huge expenses, he aimed to create a magnificent scene where the whole world and its people would celebrate together.
Now that the money has been distributed, the local officials only needed to follow the rules and regulations and use the allocated funds to prepare. It wouldn’t require any local treasury expenditure or cause hardship to the people.
Of course, there are rules and regulations, and there are systems.
It is hard to guarantee that there would not be some unscrupulous audacious people, who even dare to stretch their hands to the king’s wedding expenses, or use the national celebration to bully and exploit the commoners.
Lu Yuan could only send more people to supervise and inspect after the event, and clear away more pests.
But that’s a story for another day and for the future.
At least at this moment, the people in Changsha City are truly happily celebrating and enjoying the festivities together.
The wedding procession, along the ten-mile-long red road, entered the city from the outskirts, receiving blessings and cheers from the people along the way, and then passed through the city to the temporary Changsha Royal Palace outside.
Inside the Royal Palace, a red carpet was also laid out, and the various decorations along the way became even more luxurious and magnificent.
Even the onlookers on both sides had changed from ordinary commoners to city officials and ambassadors from various nations.
The wedding carriage soon arrived at its destination, and the entourage on both sides of the vehicle was reduced to only a few maids and palace ladies.
Lu Yuan stood on the high platform, watching the arrival of the large red vehicle in the distance, his eyes deep and his thoughts drifting away.
Unconsciously, he had been in this world for seventeen years, and this body was already thirty-three, almost thirty-four years old.
After such a long time and constant struggles, he finally achieved a king’s domineering career and realized his initial dream of claiming kingship and empery. Now he was about to marry the Holy Maiden of the Five Poisons, achieving his goal of finding a demoness as his wife.