A National Flag, a National Emblem, and a National Anthem Were All Essential

Without a national flag, how could they proclaim to the four corners of the world: this was Great Ming territory, and they were subjects of Great Ming!

Without a national emblem, how could they lend solemn grandeur to the spirit of Great Ming and display its vast and majestic dignity!

Without a national anthem, how could they forge unity, bind the countless people into one bloodline, stir the heroic spirit in their hearts, and give voice to their resolve to serve their country!

Zhu Yunwen introduced the national flag, national emblem, and national anthem to Xie Jin and the others. In a nutshell, they were the flag, emblem, and song shared by all subjects of Great Ming.

Wherever a subject of Great Ming might be, the sight of the national flag or national emblem, or the sound of the national anthem, would awaken a heartfelt sense of kinship and belonging, making them cry out:

I am a subject of Great Ming!

"The national flag, national emblem, and national anthem must all be introduced this year. I will entrust this matter to the Rites Ministry. Will that be a problem?"

Zhu Yunwen spoke earnestly.

His face flushed, Chen Di declared in a strong, resonant voice, "Your Majesty, this concerns the foundation of Great Ming. All who participate will surely shine in the annals of history. I suggest bringing in people from the Six Ministries, the Five Army Commandery, and the Grand Secretariat to work on it together."

Xie Jin and Xu Huizu looked at Chen Di, brimming with excitement.

An affair of state like this was an opportunity they absolutely could not miss. If their names became linked to the national flag, national emblem, and national anthem, then even after countless generations, even if Great Ming no longer existed, their names would never be erased!

But this alone meant they owed Chen Di an enormous favor!

Zhu Yunwen agreed with a smile. "In that case, let the Six Ministries, the Five Army Commandery, and the Grand Secretariat each contribute their wisdom and produce several proposals for the national flag, national emblem, and national anthem. Then we can discuss and revise them together at court. What do you think?"

"Excellent!"

Xie Jin, Xu Huizu, and Chen Di were filled with enthusiasm.

Zhu Yunwen lifted his tea bowl and tapped it lightly. "Then thank you for drafting the decree, Minister Xie. The fourth day of the first lunar month shall be designated Great Ming's National Day every year, as a permanent observance. All trades and occupations may take seven consecutive days off to celebrate with the nation. Since the Official Leave for New Year's Day also falls in the first month, move the court assembly to the sixteenth, after the Lantern Festival. Also, lift the curfew within the Capital during New Year's Day and National Day."

"I obey Your Majesty's command!"

Smiling, Xie Jin drafted the edict right there in the Hall of Martial Valor without even returning to the Grand Secretariat. Once Zhu Yunwen had affixed his seal, the Office of Transmission announced the news. Upon hearing it, the people of the Capital cheered and leaped for joy.

The Prince of Zhongshan's Mansion.

As soon as Xu Huizu returned home, he ordered servants to haul back Xu Yingxu, who was out drinking and reveling, so they could discuss the national flag, national emblem, and national anthem. The moment Xu Yingxu heard about it, he understood the benefits.

Do it well, and their names would echo through the ages!

In this era, reputation mattered above all else!

Even if the Xu family declined a hundred years later, their descendants could still hold their heads high and proudly tell everyone that their ancestors had designed Great Ming's national flag, national emblem, and national anthem.

"Elder Brother, how are we supposed to design them, though?"

Xu Yingxu was uncertain.

Xu Huizu frowned. "Don't you know how to paint? Just paint them!"

Xu Yingxu picked up his brush and looked at Xu Huizu, but failed to make a single stroke for a long while. Finally, he set the brush on the inkstone and sighed. "Elder Brother, I specialize in landscapes. Surely the national flag can't be a landscape? How about making it like a battle standard, with the character 'Zhu' inside a circle?"

Xu Huizu nearly spat blood. Through gritted teeth, he said, "If it were that simple, would I need you to think it up?"

Xu Yingxu grew agitated too and shouted, "If it's that complicated, asking me won't help either..."

Xu Huizu was immediately speechless. True enough, his younger brother simply did not have the skill...

Forget it. I'd better bring in more people.

Song Sheng, an assistant commissioner of the Central Army Commandery, was accomplished in both letters and warfare. Li Yuan, an assistant commander of the Weizhou Guard, had a few tricks up his sleeve too. He might as well summon all the nobles of the Five Army Commandery.

"Go write invitations to the military nobles. We'll host a banquet for them at the mansion tonight."

Unable to count on Xu Yingxu, Xu Huizu had no choice but to rally the masses.

Warming himself by a small stove and drinking tea in the Grand Secretariat, Xie Jin had his subordinates send word to Yu Xin and Zhang Zhen, then leisurely leafed through a book.

Within an hour, Yu Xin had left his wife and children behind and hurried into the palace. Zhang Zhen's chronic leg pain vanished as well. He sprang out of bed and, without even taking a sedan chair, jogged all the way to the Grand Secretariat.

"Oh? Why have you two grand secretaries come here instead of staying home with your children or nursing your injuries? Didn't I just send word that His Majesty, in his heavenly grace, had granted you five more days off?"

Xie Jin slurped his tea, wearing a foxlike grin.

I've landed myself a bargain.

He was on duty at the Grand Secretariat this year; next year and the year after would be those two men's turns.

Although they were on Official Leave, it looked as though they intended to spend New Year's Day and National Day here with him rather than go home.

"Xie Dashen, don't look so smug. Next year, we'll still have to play another round to decide who takes duty!"

Zhang Zhen wiped away his sweat.

"Why should we?"

Xie Jin would have none of it.

When they beat me, those two were smug as anything. Now that it's their turn to lose out, they want to play dirty?

What happened to the integrity and backbone of grand secretaries?

"We can discuss that later. Let's talk about the national flag, national emblem, and national anthem first. Where should we begin? Should the three of us work together and complete them one by one, or should we each take charge of one?"

Yu Xin moved close to the stove and warmed his hands as he spoke.

Xie Jin passed Yu Xin and Zhang Zhen the wine he had been warming beside him. "The talents of the three of us alone will never suffice to handle this easily. Remember, the Grand Secretariat's proposals will have to be compared with those of the Six Ministries and the Five Army Commandery. I think we should bring in people from the Hanlin Academy to work with us."

"Heh, to think there's something our great scholar Xie admits he cannot handle. A rare sight indeed. I have no objection to bringing in people from the Hanlin Academy." Zhang Zhen took a sip of warm wine and spoke in contentment.

Yu Xin smiled. "A pity we don't know when that monk will return. I hear he is quite talented."

Xie Jin nodded slightly in agreement. "If Yao Guangxiao truly persuades the Prince of Yan to submit, it will be a great achievement. The man has courage and strategy, knows a great deal, and is a scholar of profound learning. He should not be left out of the work on the national flag, national emblem, and national anthem."

Zhang Zhen agreed. "Exactly. But he should still be in Beiping. Even if we send a letter now, the first month will be over before he returns, at the earliest. I'm worried the Six Ministries and the Five Army Commandery will get ahead of us."

Xie Jin breathed out a puff of warm air and rose. "My guess is that Yao Guangxiao is already on his way back to the Capital. After all, if he stays in Beiping too long, His Majesty is bound to grow suspicious. Then it will be difficult for him to realize his ambitions."

Upon hearing this, Yu Xin went to the desk, spread out a sheet of rice paper, and picked up a brush. "Then let's send someone with a letter. If the messenger meets him on the road, he can urge him to spur his horse onward. If he's still in Beiping, we can ask him to return as soon as possible."

Xie Jin and Zhang Zhen nodded. As Yu Xin drew designs on the rice paper, the two stood beside him, pointing things out and offering comments. Yu Xin revised and altered them, but in the end, none of them was satisfied.

"The national flag, national emblem, and national anthem cannot be accomplished by one man, nor in a single day. Let's have the compilers recommended by the various regions come to the Capital ahead of schedule."

After scrapping several sheets of designs, Xie Jin made this proposal.