The emperor ordered him to be buried beside the Zhaode Mausoleum, and the funeral was to be held three days later. Officials and common people in Chang'an were allowed to release their mourning clothes three days after the funeral, and were not prohibited from getting married, drinking alcohol or eating meat. The same was true for local governors, county governors, and prefects, who were only allowed to mourn in their places of government and not leave for three days, and were not allowed to disturb the people under their jurisdiction.
The last words of the will were: "I have fulfilled my duty and feel guilty. All unfinished matters shall be handed over to the Crown Prince to be decided after he ascends the throne. I have no objection to anything."
According to the rules, the Crown Prince Li Hui was worshipped by all the ministers in the Ling Palace and ascended the throne as emperor.
The new emperor led his ministers to tell the princess that they should mourn according to proper funeral rites. The princess was grief-stricken but still ordered to follow the late emperor's wishes and not to disobey. The new emperor obeyed with tears in his eyes.
After the state funeral, the new dynasty began and the reign title was set as Jiye, which would be implemented from the next year.
On the first day of the new emperor's court session in the Golden Palace, an unusual event occurred. While all the ministers were presenting their congratulatory messages, the Imperial Censor Zheng Song stepped out and presented a memorial, requesting the court to restore the reputation of the old Shenhu Army, which had been wronged in the past and had not yet received the due honor.
After his memorial, there was another petition. The book was old and yellowed, but it was the petition that Cui had presented with her son kneeling outside the palace gate, asking for a pardon for the mutinous soldiers. Even today, the fingerprints left by Cui in blood at the end of the book have changed color due to the passage of time, but they are still clearly visible.
Zheng Song said that submitting this memorial at this time was not a disrespect to the late emperor. On the contrary, it was to show loyalty and filial piety, to uphold the late emperor's original intention, to promote the prosperity of the clan society and the country, to inspire the subjects, and to share the fate of the country. He also asked all the ministers, loyal officials and good generals to work together to assist him. From now on, there will be no party or bias, and they will work together to protect the country and make the world peaceful.
When Cui's old book was passed from one minister to another, the court immediately responded with great resonance, and all the ministers requested it.
Finally, the petition reached the hands of the young emperor. After reading it, he burst into tears, stepped down from the throne, and knelt down in the direction of the Taimiao, weeping.
The young emperor followed the times and issued the first edict after he ascended the throne. He posthumously conferred the title of Shangzhuguo Zhongyong Weiguogong on the late General Pei Gu, and added the title of Si Tu, allowing him to worship in the Taimiao. He posthumously conferred the title of Yishou County Lady on Cui, and posthumously conferred the title of Yunhui Hou and General Guide on Pei Huaiguang. He also posthumously conferred titles of honor on the 800 soldiers who followed Pei Gu out of the pass and sacrificed their lives, and doubled the relief for their families and descendants. The titles were inherited by his descendants from generation to generation.
Not only that, the young emperor issued another decree to build a temple for Pei Gu and the eight hundred heroes, as well as all the soldiers who had died for their country in the past, next to the long scroll of heaven and earth in the Zhenguo Tower, in order to commemorate their loyalty and bravery, so that the incense can be burned forever and immortalize it for thousands of years.
On the day of the temple's establishment, the young emperor led hundreds of officials to the scene, and invited the former members of the Shenhu Army, veteran soldiers, and the families of the eight hundred heroes to attend and receive the above courtesy. They, together with the people of Chang'an who came from all directions after hearing the news, gathered together to witness the establishment of the temple.
The ceremonial officer read out the memorial text written by the young emperor himself. When he recited "Drawing swords and spears, going through fire and water, turning his body into the wilderness, his righteous name will live forever", everyone's eyes were filled with tears and grief. When he recited "He valued righteousness over his own life, using his short life to illuminate the public for thousands of years", it aroused the generosity and enthusiasm of the whole audience. The sound of the unanimous recitation of "The heaven and earth will last forever, and the mountains and rivers will never end" shook the top bell.
After the temple was built, the court announced that now that the bandits had been pacified and the country was free of major events, a general amnesty would be granted to all except those who plotted treason, spread rumors to confuse the people, killed their lords and rebelled against their superiors, and officials who violated the law and accepted bribes. The people would also be allowed to live in peace, labor service would be reduced and farming would be encouraged, so that people could continue their industries and recuperate, so as not to disappoint the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the country and the people.