"Thank you, Supreme Emperor!"
Hearing Li Shimin's shout, the commoners prostrate on the ground rose in response.
The father and son slowly descended and walked towards the main gate of the Imperial City.
Like Chang'an City, the main gate of the Imperial City in the new capital was also called Zhuque Gate.
On both sides of Zhuque Gate, there stood a massive stone tablet, an astonishing thirty meters high!
At this moment, the stone tablets were covered with red silk, fluttering gently in the breeze.
Li Shimin came to the space between the two giant tablets, turned, and faced all the commoners. The Minister of Rites, Dai Li, hurried to Li's side.
He shouted at the top of his lungs, "The Capital Relocation Ceremony officially begins!"
"Please recite the prayer!"
The Vice Minister behind him immediately presented a thick stack of prayers.
Dai Li took it and began to read.
According to protocol, relocating the capital required ancestral worship and offerings to heaven. Ancestral worship had already been performed in Chang'an yesterday; now it was the ceremony of offering to heaven.
The long prayer, longer than an old woman's foot-binding cloth, took a full ten minutes to conclude.
An official brought a brazier and placed it before the two giant stone tablets.
Li Shimin took the recited prayer from Dai Li and threw it into the brazier.
Then, he reached out and forcefully pulled down the red silk on the left stone tablet.
"The Heroes of Great Tang Shall Be Remembered Forever!"
Eight gilded characters glittered under the sunlight.
At the same time, Li Chengqian performed the same action, revealing the other stone tablet to everyone's sight, also inscribed with eight gilded characters.
"May the Nation Prosper and Share Joy with the People!"
Li Shimin surveyed his surroundings, then shouted to the commoners.
"Regarding the relocation of the capital, some officials advised against it, saying that the areas along the Yellow River are prone to flooding and unsuitable as a national capital."
"I also know that the Yellow River floods are the greatest disaster in the Central Plains!"
"Therefore!"
"I want to let you all know that as long as Great Tang exists, the Yellow River will forever be calm!"
"For this, the court will spare no expense!"
"From this day forward, Great Tang shall establish its capital in Zheng!"
"Zheng County is renamed Zhengzhou!"
"Boom, boom, boom..."
As soon as he finished speaking, the celebratory cannons, previously placed on both sides of the square, fired in unison.
A total of 99 rounds!
When the cannon fire subsided, the commoners cheered in unison for the wise emperor.
They did not know the other reasons for the capital relocation, but believing Li Shimin's words now, they trusted him implicitly.
The new capital was only a few dozen li from the Yellow River, which served as the best proof!
Using the nation's fortune to appease the people's hearts!
Since ancient times, which emperor had ever achieved this?
The emperors on the city walls, upon hearing Li Shimin's words, had entirely different expressions.
Shock!
Almost every dynasty had records of Yellow River floods, but who dared to move their capital to suppress the Yellow River like Li Shimin?
Shame!
Those emperors who boasted of their achievements in flood control, faced with Li Shimin's grand gesture, were utterly ashamed.
Especially Kang Mazi!
A capable minister in water management, who acted like a river god, was killed by his suspicion, causing the Yellow River to flood multiple times, inundating several provinces and bringing disaster to nearly ten million people repeatedly!
At this moment, he seemed to see countless resentful faces staring at him.
Confusion!
The stake of suppressing the Yellow River with the national capital was too great!
Once the Yellow River flooded, the nation's fortune would be greatly affected!
At best, the capital would be submerged; at worst, the imperial family would be annihilated!
If an enemy nation infiltrated and secretly breached the Yellow River, Great Tang could be thrown into chaos with virtually no effort.
They did not know that to prevent any incidents with the Yellow River, the new camps of the Central Supervision Army were located along its banks!
Unless the military camps were submerged first, the Yellow River would never break its banks!
After announcing the establishment of the capital, Li Shimin, after enjoying the cheers of the commoners, slowly ascended the city wall.
The officials followed closely. Once everyone found their positions, Dai Li once again shouted loudly.
"The military review begins!"
As the words fell, another round of celebratory cannon fire.
With the ceremonial music playing, a squadron of cavalry slowly entered the new capital from the direction of Jinshui Gate.
They wore specially made armor that did not reflect any light under the sun.
This was the Xuanjia Army!
The elite cavalry of Great Tang, and Li Shimin's direct forces!
Their spirit and demeanor were even stronger than the armies recorded in historical texts!
After all, in terms of wealth, it could be considered an understatement to say that Great Tang was now wealthy beyond measure!
Cavalry, tanks, armored vehicles, attack helicopters...
Various types of troops, one after another, appeared and paraded across the square.
Witnessing this scene, the gathered commoners felt an overwhelming sense of pride.
Look!
This is the military strength of our Great Tang today!
They wanted to say something to the person next to them, but no one dared to speak at such a solemn moment.
The solemn and grand military review lasted for an entire morning.
After it concluded, Li Shimin announced a series of national policies.
Across the entire nation,
Regardless of region, age, or youth!
Regardless of status or occupation!
All shall be exempt from taxes for three years!
The Black Emperor aircraft carrier above amplified his voice, transmitting it to every corner of the new capital.
Everyone who heard the news rejoiced.
The emperors above widened their eyes.
Qin Shi Huang: "Damn it! Li Xiao Er, are you crazy? Without taxes, can your treasury last for three years?"
Li Shimin merely smiled and beckoned the Minister of Revenue.
The new Minister of Revenue, being clever, quickly replied for him, "Reporting to His Majesty Qin Shi Huang, our Great Tang's treasury currently holds seventeen billion taels of silver and two hundred million taels of gold!"
"And twenty-seven billion three hundred million shi of grain!"
"This is enough to cover Great Tang's expenses for five years!"
Hearing this figure, Qin Shi Huang's mouth gaped, and he could not utter another word.
Damn it!
Compared to Li Xiao Er's Great Tang, my Great Qin was so poor it could be reduced to underpants...