Chapter 81 Chapter Sixteen

Although Shengzong of Liao Dynasty inherited the great rule at the age of twelve, the Empress Dowager Chengtian had been in charge of the court for 27 years, and it was not until Shengzong of Liao Dynasty was nearly forty years old that he really handed over the power to him.So, what will be the first thing Emperor Shengzong will do after taking power? Shengzong of Liao Dynasty did not formally take power until Empress Dowager Chengtian gave him power. A month later, Empress Dowager Chengtian passed away, and a year or two later, Han Derang also passed away. Emperor Zong's administration was hindered.Emperor Shengzong did not hold the burning firewood ceremony until twenty-seven years after he succeeded to the throne, and burned the firewood to tell the heavens.This etiquette must be performed by every emperor of Khitan when he succeeds to the throne, which is equivalent to the enthronement ceremony in the Central Plains.In the past, the emperors of the Liao Kingdom had to hold the burnt firewood ceremony in the year they succeeded to the throne, otherwise the name would be unfair.Liao Shengzong was late for 27 years, and since then, a tradition has been formed. The Liao emperors after him, Xingzong, Daozong, and Emperor Tianzuo, all practiced burnt wood rituals a few years after their succession , to show respect for the Holy Father.The late emperor was twenty-seven years late, and it was a bit inappropriate for me to burn firewood as soon as I succeeded.

Some people may think, burnt wood ceremony, isn't it just that everyone piles up a pile of firewood and burns it there? What's the point of that?In fact, the ceremony of burning firewood is very grand. The firewood is piled up as an altar, and the firewood is piled up to form an altar, and then the firewood is burned to tell the heavens.Before telling the heavens, the new emperor must continue to make humility.The old Khitan was divided into eight tribes, and the elders of the eight tribes, the elders and important ministers, and the elders and elders all came to support the emperor.The emperor should be humble and say: "The late emperor ascended to heaven, and he had uncles, uncles and brothers, so he was elected a virtuous man. It is immoral to attack others, so why do you plan?" Brothers, let them be emperors.I have no morals, so I cannot be emperor.Then the ministers should express their heartfelt support, and they should say, "The ministers are grateful to the late emperor, and your majesty is virtuous. I am willing to do my best and dare to have other plans" ("Liao Shi Li Zhi 1").We all have to do our best, and never dare to have other plans, so you have to do it.Only then did the emperor accept the support of the ministers, and first hung up the late emperor's imperial appearance to worship.Khitan's burnt wood ceremony is held on the grasslands, and Khitan still retains the characteristics of nomadic peoples, and it is not completely sinicized.When the emperor performed the burnt wood ceremony, he did not live in the palace, but in a big tent on the grassland.At night, find nine ministers who are similar in appearance and height to the emperor, and put on the emperor's clothes. Taking advantage of the dark night, one tent for each, nine ministers and a real emperor, live in ten tents respectively.The day counted.The next day was very fun. Let the ministers and guards come to catch the emperor, and go into the tent to catch the emperor. If you can catch the real emperor, you will reward more than a thousand cattle, horses and camels.It is estimated that the extras may have to make some arrangements in advance. Someone may reveal which tent is the real emperor. When someone enters the tent and catches the real emperor, the emperor must be humble and say that I am not the emperor. You caught the wrong one. I am the real emperor. The emperor's substitute.Those who arrested him had to say, you are the emperor, that's right!Ten people wear exactly the same clothes, and their height and appearance are also similar. You can be recognized by the minister at a glance, which proves that you are the right one.This may also have been arranged in advance. You can't catch the wrong one. If you catch one who is not the real one, isn't it troublesome?That person was scared to death, why did he catch me?It's not me!The emperor was recognized by the ministers at a glance, and this was the only way to formally inherit the throne.

After Emperor Shengzong came to power, Xiao Gui Cao Sui basically inherited the established policies of his mother and Prime Minister Han Derang, and did not dare to violate them in the slightest.The heyday of Khitan was the first dynasty of Shengzong.