Imperial Master of the Ming Dynasty

Zhu Di's face was ashen and his chest heaved violently.

Every word and sentence that Mei Yin said just now was like thousands of steel needles piercing his heart, causing unbearable pain.

I was so kind and forgiving to people like Mei Yin and Jing Qing, why did I only get betrayal in exchange?

Zhu Di's fists were clenched tightly, his joints cracking, and an impulse of anger and killing filled his mind.

He doesn't want this kind of thing to happen again, and he will never allow anyone to disobey him!

"According to my decree, Mei Yin's crime is obvious and he will be executed at a later date!"

"In addition, additional soldiers will be sent to strictly guard the large sacrificial altar in the eastern suburbs to prevent thieves from causing trouble!"

——————

At noon.

A group of people set off from the Duke of Wei's mansion and drove out of the city gate in a mighty manner and headed straight for the eastern suburbs.

At this moment, the area around the large sacrificial altar in the eastern suburbs was more than ten miles away. To use an exaggerated rhetorical technique, every place where one could put one's feet was filled with people, all of whom were eagerly waiting.

There are both men and women among these people, including old men in their fifties and sixties; young men in their twenties and thirties; and even children aged seven or eight...

As for this group of people, except for a very small number of officials sent by the imperial court to observe the ceremony, they were ordinary people who came from all directions from the entire southern Zhili area.

Most of the people in Nanzhili did not recognize the statue of the Fertilizer Immortal, or even if they recognized it, they could not relate it to the national master they had never seen before.

Some of them had not heard of the imperial edict and did not know that the chemical fertilizers that had been promoted were manufactured by the Imperial Master.

They only know that today's rain praying ceremony is a reflection of whether God is alive.

It is also an issue related to the legitimacy of the new emperor with God.

If God sends rain, it means that the new emperor is recognized by God. On the contrary, it means that the new emperor who killed the king and usurped the throne is not yet recognized.

In the past twenty days, the news had spread from one to another, so today they gathered near the large altar in the eastern suburbs, preparing to witness this historic moment with their own eyes.

There are also many clever vendors who have prepared some small gadgets and food and sell them on the move, making a lot of money.

"What is this?"

Soon, in the open space of the large altar that was a little higher than the ground, the hot air balloons that were hidden by black cloth and transported here in advance revealed their true appearance. There were six hot air balloons separated by a certain distance. , lined up.

The silk fabric of the hot air balloon is a small ten feet when spread out, which is extremely wide. Coupled with the height of the large sacrificial altar, these seemingly huge things stand like giant beasts in the Classic of Mountains and Seas. Be in front of the crowd and make everyone curious.

"Is this the legendary magical weapon used by Chinese masters to pray for rain?"

"It's really magical. Could it be that with a pinch of the magic weapon, this magic weapon can fly into the sky?"

Mo Liangqi and others from the Bingzhan Bureau are nervously conducting final inspections, including the strength of the balloon gap, the placement of the hanging basket, and whether the heating device and fuel are operating normally.

Watching the hot air balloon's heating device begin to ignite and preheat, and the balloon began to inflate, the people around him started talking about it.

Some of the impatient people couldn't bear it anymore and wanted to come forward and touch it.

However, because the soldiers had already formed a formation and prohibited the people from approaching, even though they were hundreds of steps away, they were blocked by the soldiers in front of them.

"No touching!"

"If you mess around again, I'll arrest you."

The soldiers scolded.

After hearing this, the impatient man could only retreat angrily, but he still stretched his neck and stood on tiptoes, trying to take a closer look.

Near the large sacrificial altar, in a circle with the altar as the center, there are soldiers responsible for maintaining order in all directions. They use human walls to circle the position around the hot air balloon to prevent those who are willing to squeeze in and interfere. normal launch of the hot air balloon.

Of course, the human wall is limited to the outer area.

As for the deeper parts, there are several layers of thick earth and wood fortifications to prevent anyone from breaking through the outer human wall.

On the inside of these several layers of earth and wood fortifications, there are elite soldiers of the Loyalty Guard, holding swords and shields in their hands, guarding solemnly.

After all, those who participated in the rain prayers this time were all important ministers from the imperial ministries, temples and even the Fifth Army Governor's Mansion. They had high status. If something went wrong, who could afford it?

The group of people from the Duke of Wei's Mansion passed through the crowd, and a sightseeing spot had been reserved for them. Outside the group of the Duke of Wei's Mansion, some people from other dignitaries' mansions couldn't help but ask.

"Do you think this national master is reliable? Is this a magic weapon used to pray for rain?"

Xu Jingchang rode a tall horse and showed off intentionally or unintentionally: "I don't know if it's reliable or not. Anyway, I saw this thing fall a while ago."

"What?"

Everyone exclaimed, and then questioned: "There was no news about this kind of thing in advance, how did you know about it?"

Xu Jingchang sneered: "Don't worry about these people. Anyway, I saw it with my own eyes. Could I still lie to you?"

Everyone was stunned.

Although Xu Jingchang's family background is prominent, his own small circle has become quite famous recently. It's not a good reputation anyway.

However, whether it is from Duke Cheng or the prince, it is indeed possible for the news to leak out.

If it was really what those two people said, how could such a person tell such nonsense?

Suddenly, many people's hearts changed.

Since I have fallen before, there is no guarantee that I will not fall today. I don’t know if praying for rain today will succeed.

Of course, what they care about is not the prayer itself, but the bet on the National Master's Qiyu, which has high odds in all major public and private gambling games.

If this thing doesn't work, then the probability of success in praying for rain will naturally be lower than expected, which means that many people will make or lose money.

Xu Jingchang saw the change in their expressions, and a smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

"Jingchang, did you really see one fall?"

At this moment, Xu Miaojin suddenly bit her lip and asked.

Xu Jingchang was stunned for a moment and replied: "Sister-in-law, this is what we saw with our own eyes."

Xu Miaojin looked at the six hot air balloons on the large sacrificial altar in the eastern suburbs, and couldn't help but feel vaguely worried. She twisted the silk ribbon with her fingers and remained silent for a long time.

At the large sacrificial altar in the eastern suburbs, Li Zhigang, the Minister of Rites, dressed neatly in sacrificial attire, appeared in person to read the sacrificial text.

"When nature is innate, it does not violate it, and when it is acquired, it is in accordance with heaven. When the year comes, spring will appear, the east wind will thaw, the earth will be dispersed, the grass and trees will enjoy themselves, but the sky will not rain for a long time, how can Yuanyuan be wronged?

Who can teach farming and save the hungry? Is Budli and Shi Qinghui not as good as Jie? How can we cover up the bones and bury them? If there are no musk deer and no eggs, it is not as good as a tree. How can we name the mountains and rivers, and perform sacrifices and sacrifices, which is not as good as a tree?

Qin Ruo's decree only increases the fear. The announcement is far and near, so the people know this meaning. "

"National Division?"

Song Li, the right minister of the Ministry of Rites, looked at Jiang Xinghuo while holding the tray containing the sacrificial inscriptions.

It stands to reason that there should be a series of complicated rituals next.

Jiang Xinghuo waved his hand slightly and looked down at his feet.

Right where he stood, Zhu Yuanzhang once sat on a wormwood mat for three days and three nights, wearing plain clothes and straw shoes, trying to move the sky to send rain.

In the end, I just caught a cold.

"No need for the rest, just finish reciting the memorial ceremony today."

Jiang Xinghuo raised his head and looked around at the sea of ​​people.

No need to guess, most people here come to see his jokes.

"Huo Fei, are you ready?"

Six test pilots who volunteered had bottles containing silver iodide powder tied tightly to their wrists.

Behind them is a primitive parachute worn directly on the body, like a large umbrella skirt. The material is the same as a hot air balloon balloon. It is currently in a constricted state. All you need to do is untie the belt and let the umbrella skirt slide along. The air will expand, giving them the decelerating effect of a parachute.

Around the Great Sacrifice Altar in the eastern suburbs, not only Datianjie Temple and other places, there were troops everywhere. Even the Xiaoling Guards at Zhongshan had received orders that if someone fell from the sky, they must rush to rescue them.

In fact, Jiang Xinghuo was the least afraid of death, but at this moment, he couldn't help but go ahead and become the first person in the sky.

Senior Brother Huikong, who was covered in tendon meat, was watching Jiang Xinghuo from behind after being entrusted by Yao Guangxiao.

Yao Guangxiao and Zhu Di did not attend the rain praying ceremony at the eastern suburbs altar, but watched at the Datianjie Temple on Fengshan Mountain not far to the south.

The six test pilots headed by Huo Fei have signed a life-and-death contract. If an accident occurs, the compensation will be enough for their families to live without worries for three generations.

When they think that they will become the first people to fly into the sky in history, these test pilots feel not only instinctive fear, but also extremely excited. Adrenaline surges, and some even have trembling fingers. stand up.

"National Master, we are ready!"

Everyone shouted in unison, with high morale.

Jiang Xinghuo looked at these test pilots whose courage was enough to shine through the annals of history and said one last thing.

"May you all return safely."

Six people, neatly lined up in a row.

For their burning hearts, the wind was biting and cold enough, and it instantly filled everyone's noses and mouths, making people tremble uncontrollably.

But even so, no one backed down.

Their eyes are full of determination and belief, full of desire and yearning for the unknown world, and hope for victory.

Huo Fei took a deep breath, stepped on the cold ground with his feet, stepped over the edge of the hanging basket with his right foot, and felt as relaxed as a feather.

He looked back and said to the five people beside him: "Let's get started!"

"Um!"

Five people nodded.

Huo Fei took another deep breath and completely ignited the preheated heating device. The whale oil sizzled and heat waves rolled out.

Following an order, six hot air balloons slowly took off.

The hot air balloon rose higher and higher, higher and higher... and gradually left the ground.

When they were about tens of feet away from the ground, everyone had to look up, but at this moment, visible to the naked eye, their speed invariably slowed down and paused for a moment.

"Oh my God! There's someone in there!"

"How is this going?"

"Isn't the magic weapon broken?"

The people talked a lot and their faces became serious.

At this moment, a cold wind suddenly blew over.

"The wind is picking up!" Suddenly, someone exclaimed.

Immediately afterwards, a strong wind blew up, making people unable to open their eyes.

Someone in the crowd of onlookers asked: "What's going on? Did God show up and cause rain ahead of schedule?"

"It wasn't raining, or there was a sudden strong wind, and the clouds started to move."

Someone covered his eyes with one hand and squinted to see the situation clearly, then pointed to the sky above his head with the other hand and said.