Chapter 105: Zhuge Dies, Gu Ye Rises (Requesting Monthly Votes)

Luoyang.

Under the bright moonlight, Gu Ye followed the chancellor's servants to the chancellor's residence.

Fang Fu entered the residence and saw Zhuge Liang, who was handling court memorials by the dim candlelight.

His white hair glowed starkly under the candle's glow.

Though he had long known Zhuge Liang's character, when Gu Yi saw this scene firsthand, his heart sank.

Perhaps this is one of the allurements of history.

Heroes and great men, before the blade of time, even when facing death daily, still held fast to their convictions.

"Chancellor."

Gu Ye quickly bowed and spoke.

Zhuge Liang did not look up, only waved his hand and said, "Zhao De, come quickly—look at this memorial."

This had become their routine over the past few years.

Gu Ye hurried forward, took the memorial, and immediately saw its contents.

It was Zhong Hui's memorial.

He proposed a more detailed strategy for evaluating Han officials, seeking reform.

Its content would be considered outstanding even by modern standards.

But its only flaw was that it was too radical.

For instance, Zhong Hui suggested mandating specific subjects to raise candidates' overall quality.

Such actions were too radical for Han at this time.

Gu Yi would not ignore it; after a moment of thought, he shook his head and said, "Chancellor, some of the strategies in this memorial are well-posed."

"For example."

He analyzed its strengths and weaknesses point by point.

Though Gu Yi had not been in constant control, perhaps due to long-term observation,

Gu Yi felt he had grown somewhat in political sensitivity.

Of course, the most crucial factors were his future memories and a modern person's superior perspective.

Zhuge Liang listened intently, then nodded slowly, looking at Gu Ye with complex expression: "This matter must be left to you of the future."

"Chancellor—"

Before Gu Yi could take control, Gu Ye spoke up himself, face filled with sorrow: "Why must you go to Yanzhou?"

"If the Chancellor trusts this humble servant,"

"I beg to go to Yanzhou in your stead, to oversee disaster relief."

His words came from sincere intent.

Though they had no formal master-disciple bond, they already shared the reality of one.

Gu Ye's feelings for Zhuge Liang were no less than those he held for his own Gu family.

How could he bear to watch Zhuge Liang, in this state, rush to the front?

But Zhuge Liang simply shook his head.

His nature of personally overseeing every matter had long sealed his fate.

Even if Han had not suffered such natural disasters, Zhuge Liang would still have fallen on the path of reviving Han.

Liu Bei, Gu Chen, Gu Ze;

From the moment these three entrusted their burdens to him, Zhuge Liang's destiny was already sealed.

He said nothing more.

He simply handed the memorial to Gu Ye, telling him to study it at home.

Gu Yi understood Zhuge Liang's thoughts.

Just as Gu Chen had once entrusted court affairs to him,

Zhuge Liang now entrusted this matter to Gu Ye.

He had already seen the flaws in Han's official selection system, but he had no time left to address them.

Each generation has its own tasks.

As Gu Ye departed, Zhuge Liang slowly picked up the brush beside him and, under the dim lamplight, wrote down the names he had long prepared on the paper before him.

Year 5 of Yankang, fifth month;

Zhuge Liang led nearly a hundred members of the seventh generation of the Gu clan, along with water conservancy experts, to Yanzhou.

At the moment of departure—

Liu Shan led the hundred officials to see him off.

Watching Zhuge Liang's increasingly hunched figure and his snow-white hair, his eyes grew red without notice.

At this moment, how similar it was to when Gu Chen had departed?

Liu Shan felt how exhausting it was to be Emperor.

Even with supreme power, he could only watch helplessly as those he cherished left him, with no way to stop them.

How cruel was this?

Tears slipped down Liu Shan's cheeks without warning.

Gu Ye was there too.

But unlike sorrow, his gaze was firmer.

He seemed determined to do something.

From this day forward, beyond his daily studies, Gu Ye began carefully studying Han's current official selection policies.

He seemed to intend to settle this matter once and for all while Zhuge Liang was still alive.

Just as Zhuge Liang himself had done back then.

While Gu Chen was still alive, he had submitted through the imperial examination an answer sheet that left Gu Chen thoroughly satisfied.

For him personally, this matter was naturally difficult.

As for the reform of the core system;

only an outstanding figure capable of outshining his entire generation could accomplish it through long, sustained deliberation.

Even Gu Xi of former years had needed decades of thought before settling on the final system.

But don't forget—Gu Yi is still here!

In truth, Gu Yi had not intended to step in so quickly.

Because he had to consider the impact on the eighth generation of Gu Shizi.

This generation of Gu Shizi was already somewhat impetuous; if they saw a peer rise to fame across the realm overnight, it would likely only worsen that mentality.

But since Gu Ye had already made up his mind on his own.

Gu Yi no longer cared either way.

There would be plenty of chances to set the clan to rights; better to seize this moment and see it through—at the very least, it would let Zhuge Liang pass away with peace of mind.

Beyond improving themselves, the appearance of the Gu clan—

was it not precisely about mending the regrets of history, little by little?

Gu Yi did not take too large a stride.

If one said that the Han's current system of official selection was still only an embryonic form of the imperial examination, then Gu Yi had merely elevated it into a freshly formed imperial examination system.

As an institution that spanned the greater part of China's feudal history, the imperial examination underwent numerous changes from its formation to later eras.

A system must progress bit by bit with the times.

Strides taken too large would only produce the opposite effect.

The development thereafter might even slip entirely beyond Gu Yi's control—and that was something Gu Yi did not want.

Yanzhou.

—A thousand li of scorched earth!

Years of natural disasters had dealt a fatal blow to the ecology of all Yanzhou.

Were it not for the court's vigorous relief efforts, today's Yanzhou would likely have fallen entirely into a dead land, devoid of any life.

Although he had long anticipated Yanzhou's disaster conditions.

when Zhuge Liang personally set foot in Yanzhou, he still felt a heaviness in his heart.

How many people had ultimately fallen upon this land over years of disaster?

Zhuge Liang did not know either.

The only thing he could do was make use of every moment, striving to swiftly put an end to such misery.

This flood-control effort differed from the situation Gu Kang had faced back then.

Zhuge Liang had many factors to consider—not only designing the precise excavation route, but also safeguarding the health of the laborers.

Water was the most critical thing at present.

To ensure the smooth progress of the project, this point had to be taken into account.

Although the workforce he had brought this time was by no means small.

Zhuge Liang's temperament had destined that he would still conduct on-site inspections.

In weather like this.

that was a thoroughly grueling affair.

Only after nearly a full month did he finally settle the matter.

—He decided to begin with the main course of the Yellow River, first building diversion channels and reservoirs to ensure an ample water supply.

At the end of the seventh month, work officially began.

This was destined to be a great undertaking worthy of a place in the annals of history.

And it was precisely because of the appearance of the Gu clan.

the common folk had transformed from their initial helplessness before natural disasters into people who now dared to fight against fate.

Zhuge Liang held his ground at the very front line of disaster relief throughout.

No one's persuasion could sway him.

And most critically, while overseeing the relief efforts, he was simultaneously keeping an eye on the Han court.

He seemed already accustomed to toil; he simply could not stay idle.

This matter was destined to be immensely difficult.

From a scientific standpoint, under conditions of high temperatures and dense populations, bacteria would proliferate and spread far more easily.

In truth, Gu Yi had already brought many improvements to the Han this time.

Drinking boiled water, using lime to kill germs, and various other measures usable in the current era were all among them.

But when it came to epidemic prevention and sterilization—

under present circumstances, perfection was simply unattainable.

Especially given Yanzhou's current situation.

disease still gradually arose.

Zhuge Liang, keenly aware of the gravity of the matter, immediately launched large-scale quarantine measures.

But once such a thing arose, it could not be easily brought to an end—especially in densely populated areas like canal excavation sites.

Illness grew ever more widespread.

The most critical thing was—although Zhuge Liang had already been extremely careful.

His body truly seemed to be far too frail.

Insufficient resistance would inevitably lead to many problems.

Although he had taken isolation to the extreme, in the end he still contracted the illness.

All the problems that had accumulated from years of controlling the court erupted completely under these circumstances.

Before the project was even half finished, Zhuge Liang collapsed outright.

This was an accident no one had anticipated.

Fortunately, Zhuge Liang had brought quite a few people on this trip, among them members of the seventh generation of the Gu clan.

Although these people's reputation throughout the realm could not yet match that of Zhuge Liang the Chancellor, they were still able to shoulder the burden and keep the disaster relief on track.

Yet a vague shadow still rose up in everyone's hearts.

Many people wanted Zhuge Liang to return to Luoyang.

But given Zhuge Liang's temperament, how could he possibly leave?

Setting aside whether he could even hold on any longer.

If he brought this illness back to Luoyang, he would become a sinner of the great Han.

How could he possibly do such a thing?

News of this matter was swiftly sent back to Luoyang.

Upon hearing of this, Liu Shan was utterly panicked.

He almost sent every imperial physician in the court, sparing no cost in his desire to cure Zhuge Liang.

But Gu Yi was very clear—this was doomed to be in vain.

To still be infected despite that degree of isolation.

Was enough to show just how poor Zhuge Liang's health truly was.

Years of overwork had long since hollowed out his body; this bout of illness was merely the trigger that would cause all the hidden ailments within Zhuge Liang's body to erupt completely.

Such a condition, let alone in the current great Han, would be a difficult problem even in the modern era.

How could it possibly be reversed?

The Champion Marquis's Hou Fu.

Gu Yi looked at the just-completed "Memorial on Reform" before him and could not help but murmur softly:

"Boundless heavens, how could you treat me so thin?"

He controlled Gu Ye to shake his head.

Then he picked up the memorial and walked straight out.

The time was nearly right.

It was time to give the great Han a shock!

An invisible tidal wave rose up within the city of Luoyang almost instantly.

In just one day, the matter had spread throughout all of Luoyang.

Given the current configuration of the great Han's court, how could these people fail to detect the loopholes within the official assessment system?

And don't forget—Zhong Hui had long since inserted himself into the matter!

Upon seeing the reforms proposed by Gu Ye, the shock brought to the entire court was simply unimaginable!

The ministers immediately began to deliberate.

And this time—

Gu Yi went further, controlling Gu Ye to take part in it, using his mouth to answer all manner of questions.

Listening to those answers one after another.

The ministers within the court immediately grasped the core of it, and were utterly astonished, as if beholding the work of the heavens.

Although Gu Ye had reformed the disaster relief before this.

Everyone had instinctively assumed that Zhuge Liang's help and guidance must have been behind it.

But this time was different!

Zhuge Liang and the seventh-generation disciples of the Gu clan were all out in the field!

Although they had not seen it with their own eyes, this still said a great deal!

Gu Ye's name immediately resounded throughout all of Luoyang.

Of course, such a matter would not be settled lightly and directly.

Although Liu Shan had grown somewhat over these years, he would not make the decision on his own either, and immediately sent the matter off to Yanzhou.

Yanzhou.

Zhuge Liang's illness grew ever more severe.

An intense weakness tormented Zhuge Liang at every moment, leaving him without even the strength to rise.

The most critical thing was—

To prevent contagion, Zhuge Liang forbade anyone from coming to see him.

Only a single servant, willing to die alongside him, attended him at all times.

Even at such a stage, he was still following the current situation, using the mouths of others to relay the progress of the disaster relief.

"Chancellor."

After once more finishing the report on the disaster relief, the servant looked at Zhuge Liang, barely clinging to life on the couch, his face full of grief, and dropped straight to his knees: "Let us return to Luoyang."

His face was full of sorrow, tears streaming down without cease.

Upon hearing this, Zhuge Liang slowly opened his eyes.

His eyes were blood-red, his entire condition utterly wretched, as though he might breathe his last at any moment.

"Return to Luoyang?"

Zhuge Liang murmured softly, then shook his head slightly: "I cannot go back."

In that instant, he suddenly recalled the scene from when he had gone to meet Gu Chen.

He never expected that after so many years.

He would actually utter the very same words as Gu Chen.

"Prime Minister." The servant's face grew even more sorrowful, seemingly wanting to offer more persuasion.

But Zhuge Liang cut him off directly, his voice weak as he gave instructions: "Warn them, they must make every preparation, they absolutely cannot let the disaster victims go hungry."

"Pay attention to the repair of the reservoirs. Also pay attention to the isolation of the sick."

These were practically the details Zhuge Liang had to instruct every single day.

But before he could finish speaking.

Just then, a flurry of urgent footsteps suddenly sounded, stopping outside the tent.

"Prime Minister, urgent report from Luoyang!"

Hearing this, Zhuge Liang's expression instantly changed, a flash of panic crossing his eyes: "Has something happened in Luoyang?"

The servant dared not hesitate, quickly rising and walking to the camp gate to ask: "What is it?"

The armored soldier outside said nothing more, merely passing the memorial in.

The servant took the memorial on his own initiative and walked before Zhuge Liang, opening it and reading it aloud from start to finish.

"The current system for selecting officials is overly complex in its categories."

"This humble one believes it can be divided into the Cultivated Talent examination, the Bright Classics examination, the Presented Scholar examination, and a temporary Special examination."

"The Cultivated Talent examination should focus on current affairs policy and classical theory;"

"The Bright Classics examination should focus on the Confucian classics, emphasizing memorization and commentary;"

"The Presented Scholar examination should focus on strategies for governing the state."

The servant carefully read the contents of the memorial.

Zhuge Liang's expression had originally been extremely tense, but as he listened, his expression completely changed!

His entire demeanor suddenly grew solemn.

Listening to the specific contents, he simultaneously began pondering the feasibility within!

Put plainly, Gu Yi's reform this time was to specifically categorize the Great Han's jumbled examination subjects, making the entire system more streamlined.

Zhuge Liang's expression grew ever more solemn.

The moment the servant finished reading and looked toward Zhuge Liang, he was suddenly stunned!

Zhuge Liang's complexion had actually taken on a bit of color.

His expression instantly changed, and instinctively he assumed this might be a final rally before death, and tears welled up once more.

But at that very next moment, Zhuge Liang's voice suddenly rang out.

"Heaven has not failed my Great Han!"

That voice was exceptionally forceful, utterly unlike anything the current Zhuge Liang could possibly produce.

"Prime Minister—"

That servant was completely dumbfounded, even his voice was trembling.

But Zhuge Liang gave him no chance to ask questions, his gaze burning as he looked at him and said rapidly: "Quick! Take up the brush for me, quickly!"

Looking at the anxious Zhuge Liang before him.

That servant dared not hesitate, quickly walking to one side and picking up the brush.

Zhuge Liang looked at the memorial while instructing the servant to record.

He praised this reform strategy greatly, and gave it his absolute support!

Zhuge Liang understood Liu Shan too well.

Faced with such a major matter, if he did not give absolute support, Liu Shan would surely hesitate and fail to move forward.

This memorial was sent to Luoyang that very same day.

And whether it was the power of suggestion or not, Zhuge Liang's condition suddenly improved greatly from that day onward.

Coupled with the successive interventions of a group of imperial physicians.

Zhuge Liang's entire condition visibly recovered.

And once he could stand on his own feet again, Zhuge Liang overruled everyone's suggestions that he rest and recuperate, and returned to the disaster-relief front lines.

At the same time, after receiving Zhuge Liang's memorial.

Liu Shan finally settled the matter.

Most critically—

He even followed Zhuge Liang's intent, handing the entire matter over to Gu Ye, formally bringing Gu Ye into the Great Han officialdom.

The moment the news broke, the entire court was shaken!

Although this reform had been proposed by Gu Ye.

Gu Ye was still far too young.

Entrusting such an important reform to Gu Ye—how could it not alarm the people?

Immediately, quite a number of ministers submitted memorials in succession to remonstrate.

These people certainly were not targeting the Gu clan.

So long as Liu Shan lived.

The Gu clan's position within the court could not be shaken by anyone.

They were truly worried that Gu Ye would botch this matter, after all, the official assessment system was one of the Han's core institutions.

But Liu Shan's attitude was extremely firm.

He already had a natural fondness for the Gu family's juniors, let alone the fact that this matter had been proactively proposed by Zhuge Liang.

Regarding this, Gu Yi naturally would not refuse.

From the moment he chose to let Gu Ye rise, this path could only be one of constant forward progress.

For him, this was merely a starting point.

This time, Gu Yi did not intend to hold back.

Whether in scholarship or in Wu Gong, he would accomplish everything he had long since planned.

Liu Shan was also a very good Emperor in his eyes.

At the very least—

Gu Yi had no need to manipulate things as cautiously as before, worrying about overfilling and overflowing!

Of course, this matter was destined to require a process.

Right now, the Han's key concern still lay with the disaster in Yanzhou.

Liu Shan was truly very worried about Zhuge Liang.

He knew how highly Zhuge Liang regarded Gu Ye, and had even sought out Gu Ye, wanting Gu Ye to go to Yanzhou to counsel Zhuge Liang and persuade him to return.

But Gu Yi refused.

He understood Zhuge Liang.

From the moment Zhuge Liang stepped out of Luoyang, unless he achieved complete success, it was impossible for him to return to Luoyang!

Going to see Zhuge Liang would serve no purpose other than to distract him.

In fact, that his body had managed some recovery had already exceeded Gu Yi's expectations; at a time like this, it was better to support Zhuge Liang wholeheartedly.

He merely suggested that Liu Shan issue an edict granting Yanzhou greater support.

Regarding this, Liu Shan naturally would not refuse!

Yankang fifth year, September;

The public works in Chen Liu Commandery were completed.

With the court's entire focus on Yanzhou, the speed of the works had also increased considerably.

More and more people took part.

Liu Shan even mobilized some soldiers to help Zhuge Liang!

Finally, in November.

The works were at last completed.

Accompanied by rising waves of cheers, Zhuge Liang, as though he had fulfilled some mission, collapsed once more.

This bout of illness struck far more ferociously than the last.

In just a single day.

Zhuge Liang was on the verge of death, without even the strength to speak.

But the one difference was—

At last, his face no longer bore that old worried look.

Instead, it was utterly serene.

For Zhuge Liang, he had already done everything within his power.

What remained could only be left to those who came after.

At the very least, the court now held ministers he knew, and for the future there were also those he valued.

All these years taking up the heavy burden from Gu Chen's hands.

He had always tread as though on thin ice.

Now, it was time to rest properly.

That day came faster than imagined.

On the morning of the next day, Zhuge Liang passed away with a smile at Rencheng.

Yankang fifth year, November;

The Han's Chancellor Zhuge Liang died at Rencheng.

At his final hour, following Gu Chen's example, he urged Liu Shan by all means not to show special favor to his own family's juniors.

Keep the funeral simple.

By no means exceed the rites of Gu Ze;

If possible, he wished to be buried in Julu, to rest beside Gu Ze.

Upon hearing this news, even Gu Yi fell silent for a moment, his heart both surprised and unsurprised.

What surprised him was that Zhuge Liang was willing to be buried in Julu.

What did not surprise him was his final memorial.

But after thinking it over carefully, Gu Yi also found peace.

For Zhuge Liang

Perhaps the freest, most unburdened time of his life was those years studying in Julu.

——————

"In the eleventh month of winter, Yankang fifth year, the great famine across the realm was at last quelled.

At that time, Chancellor Zhuge Liang, by imperial decree sent to relieve the famine in Yanzhou, labored day and night until spent, and died of illness at his post.

Liang was orphaned young, received the Gu family's teachings in poetry and rites, and in his youth was granted special favor by Emperor Zhaowu.

Having received the weighty trust of Gu Chen to care for his orphaned son, he labored day and night without respite to defend the Han cauldron.

Holding the position of Prime Minister for several decades, he clarified the laws and statutes, rectified court discipline, encouraged farming and sericulture, and filled the granaries.

Because of this, the realm within the seas was at peace, distant peoples admired his righteousness, and tribute envoys traveled the roads in unbroken succession.

On his deathbed he wrote by hand: "My family has planted eight hundred mulberry trees and holds fifteen *qing* of poor fields, enough to provide my descendants with gruel. On the day of my passing, within there is no surplus silk, without there is no excess wealth — perhaps I have not failed Your Majesty."

— *Book of the Yan Han, Biography of Zhuge Liang*

(End of this chapter)