Chapter 110: An Epoch-Making Reform, Prohibiting the Dispersal of Memorials

——The court and the public were in deep sorrow.

Although Zhuge Liang’s influence could not compare to that of Gu Chen.

His passing still caused a tremendous impact.

Regarding Zhuge Liang’s funeral, Liu Chan ultimately chose to follow Zhuge Liang’s final wishes.

He had him buried in Julu.

The entire process also followed the same rites as those used for Gu Ze back then.

It was not overly grand, but it could be considered extraordinary.

As for Zhuge Liang’s posthumous title—

It was finally decided as Wenzhong.

Subsequently, at the suggestion of the ministers, Liu Chan once again announced a change of reign title to "Yanxi," hoping to let the entire world thoroughly forget this era of natural disasters.

Yet time is like water, impossible to reverse.

Zhuge Liang’s death was like a signal, completely drawing back the curtain on the end of an era.

Not much time had passed;

Gu Wei passed away.

As the most outstanding military commander among the seventh-generation descendants of the Gu family, Gu Wei could be said to have been born at the wrong time.

Gu Chen had done too much.

So much so that Gu Wei had almost no opportunity to fully display his talents.

Although he accomplished many things by relying on his own abilities.

But by comparison.

He was ultimately submerged beneath the tides of the era.

Besides this, Pang Tong and others passed away one after another; those whom Gu Chen had left behind had almost all exited the stage.

Although the Great Han had struggled out of the quagmire of natural disasters.

Everyone could feel that the rising vitality of the Great Han was gradually fading.

A most brilliant trend;

Ultimately ended with the passage of time.

This was the period with the most frequent official reassignments since the resurgence of the Great Han.

The few remaining seventh-generation descendants of the Gu family had already rushed back to Luoyang.

They were no longer young.

Perhaps precisely because of this, they gradually turned their attention to the education of the family’s younger generation.

——Especially regarding Gu Ye.

To this, Gu Yi did not interfere.

He merely used his status as a seventh-generation descendant to suppress the restless hearts of the other eighth-generation descendants within the Gu family.

Gu Yi needed to re-establish the rules within the Gu family bit by bit.

The court was constantly changing.

But this could not affect the existence of the Gu family; while Gu Yi kept Gu Ye focused on his studies, he simultaneously used him to recklessly carry out reforms.

Bit by bit, he spread the specific imperial examination system to all corners of the Great Han.

At the same time, Gu Yi was making other preparations.

This included establishing a department specifically for predicting disasters, as well as preparing for the talents who would appear during this time in the original history.

This was an idea Gu Yi had long ago.

Through such long observation.

Gu Yi could clearly feel that this so-called historical correction would strengthen according to the occurrence of natural disasters.

This matter could not only help the Nine Provinces more.

It could also provide help for the future of the Gu family.

As the Gu family’s influence grew larger, this corrective force would only become stronger.

With such a department dedicated to predicting disasters, even if it could not be accurate every time, it could still provide a certain degree of help.

Of course, such a thing was destined to be rolled out slowly.

Third year of Yanxi; the fourth month.

The last of the seventh-generation descendants of the Gu family passed away in Luoyang.

An era had completely ended.

Despite being the incomparably brilliant seventh-generation descendants of the Gu family, they fell into the whirlpool of history one after another.

Even if some emitted a glimmer of light, they were ultimately hidden by the tides of the era.

Gu Ye finally shouldered the Gu family.

He officially began his path forward in the halls of the Great Han.

Fourth year of Yanxi, the fifth month.

After several years of recuperation, the Great Han had finally gradually recovered from the years of natural disasters.

At the same time, the reform methods proposed by Gu Yi were also gradually being implemented.

For the current Great Han.

The move of "official assessment" had already deeply taken root in people's hearts, and the common people naturally would not reject more detailed planning.

Gu Yi did not keep his eyes on this matter at all times.

Instead, he handed this matter over to Zhong Hui, who cared about it the most.

And he himself began another one of his plans.

Luoyang, Prime Minister’s Office.

"Predicting disasters?"

Jiang Wan looked at the Gu Ye before him in surprise, shook his head, and said: "How can human power predict the calamities of gods and ghosts?"

That’s right, Jiang Wan was now the Prime Minister of the Great Han.

Actually, at the very beginning, Gu Yi was also quite surprised by this.

After all, for the current Great Han, Zhuge Liang had many choices.

But then he saw the meaning behind Zhuge Liang’s arrangement.

The talents among the ministers of the Great Han court were too strong.

It required someone with a steady personality to balance these talents, and Jiang Wan was the most suitable candidate.

After all, in the original history.

Under the circumstances of the Shu Kingdom, his ability to quickly stabilize the shock to the court following Zhuge Liang’s death already demonstrated his character.

"Prime Minister."

Gu Yi controlled Gu Ye to bow to Jiang Wan and said very earnestly: "If human power can defy the heavens, why can natural disasters not be predicted?"

He handed over the memorial he had already prepared.

Gu Yi naturally would not write anything overly difficult to understand in it, just some of the most basic knowledge.

It was merely making judgments to a certain degree through abnormal weather.

Including special situations such as animal abnormalities.

Synthesizing these to prepare in advance and avoid natural disasters.

Actually, for Gu Yi, there were more direct and efficient methods.

That was to bring out the "Xuanji Calculation Rods."

Although the Xuanji Calculation Rods could only predict the weather for seven days, they were still simpler and more efficient than this method.

But the "Xuanji Calculation Rods" were one of the foundations of the Gu family.

Unless Gu family descendants were involved.

Otherwise, it was most appropriate to keep such things hidden.

Jiang Wan read it very carefully, his brows furrowed, clearly very hesitant.

This was also due to the era.

Natural disasters had always been accompanied by superstition and omens; a department specifically for predicting natural disasters was simply too inconceivable for them.

But thinking of Zhuge Liang’s previous instructions, he could not help but look at Gu Ye and ask earnestly: "Zhaode, are you truly certain about this?"

"Prime Minister, rest assured."

Gu Yi did not hesitate at all, quickly controlling Gu Ye to nod and say: "This subordinate can assert that even if this department cannot predict all natural disasters."

"It can at least predict half of them."

Hearing this, Jiang Wan finally nodded and agreed.

This matter spread rapidly.

The investment for such a department was naturally not small.

Regarding this, the attitude of the ministers was one of extreme surprise.

Specifically predicting natural disasters?

To them, this was undoubtedly a pipe dream.

But hindered by Liu Chan’s trust in the Gu family, the matter was ultimately settled just like that.

Gu Yi naturally would not care about the storms outside, firmly advancing along his own path.

After this matter was thoroughly settled.

He quickly dispatched people to summon the candidates he had long since decided upon in his memory from all corners of the world to Luoyang, including some who were already within the imperial court.

For example—Du Yu.

Gu Yi intended to take advantage of this current time of renewal to carry out a brand-new reform of the Great Han’s academics.

When Du Yu heard that Gu Ye actually wanted him to revise the calendar, he was completely bewildered.

He did indeed have some interest in the calendar.

But how did Gu Ye know of this?

Naturally, he would not refuse such a thing; the importance of the calendar in the current era was beyond doubt.

In fact, he was not the only one with such thoughts.

Besides Du Yu.

Gu Yi even summoned Liu Hui, a person who could be called the peak of an era in academics but was not famous in history.

Using the authority of the imperial court and the Gu Shizi, he specifically tasked Liu Hui with annotating the "Nine Chapters on the Mathematical Art."

Actually, Gu Yi could have done this himself, as he had also received a modern education.

But the knowledge he had learned was destined to be unsuitable for the modern Great Han.

—He could not pull up the seedlings to help them grow!

Academic progress must be made bit by bit, rather than jumping directly from one to one hundred.

For the Great Han, Liu Hui was the most suitable.

This fellow was a powerhouse who could calculate pi to 3.1416 in this current era, and could be called the most peak existence of this time.

With him here, there would be no accidents in this matter.

Liu Hui was actually very bewildered about this matter, even more so than Du Yu.

After all, Du Yu was at least still an official in the court.

As for him, he was originally an obscure person who had just developed the desire to annotate the "Nine Chapters on the Mathematical Art" when he was directly brought to Luoyang by Gu Ye.

How could he not be bewildered?

But since he had already arrived, no matter how bewildered he was, Gu Yi would not let him leave.

Gu Yi had already made his plans.

He would definitely have mathematical subjects appear in the imperial examination system earlier, and he would also raise the status of mathematical subjects in history.

Although such changes might not be visible in the short term.

But for the entire long course of history, this was definitely a very significant change.

Besides this, there were the craftsmen.

This was an attempt Gu Yi had made in the land of Julu, summoning many craftsmen to go to the land of Julu.

This time, he did not choose to give any major assistance directly.

He only provided some pointers on the line of thinking—

Letting these craftsmen use their own talents based on these pointers.

A vigorous reform was brewing within the Great Han.

Regarding these actions of Gu Ye, the ministers naturally would not interfere.

After all, in their eyes.

Everything Gu Ye did was just some "strange skills and techniques."

It was clearly not worth offending the Gu Shizi and angering Liu Chan for this.

They still governed the entire country in an orderly manner as usual, and no major mistakes occurred.

The fifth year of Yanxi;

—Under the advice of the ministers, the Great Han initiated a brand-new census of fields.

Checking the fields of the powerful clans and the population of the world once more.

This was also the main theme of the Great Han.

As long as these ministers in the court had not completely died off, this main theme would not undergo any changes.

Gu Yi also paid extreme attention to this matter.

After all, in the current situation;

Population and fields represented the foundation of a country.

But this matter was destined to take time.

What really concerned Gu Yi was that he suddenly discovered that "taking the Five-Stone Powder" had actually become one of the trends of the Great Han.

Unknowingly, many things seemed to have returned to their original history.

There were simply too many children of powerful families in all directions who had not passed the official examinations.

And their way of venting their frustration was to choose to "take the Five-Stone Powder."

It was precisely because of this.

Under their influence, this matter gradually became a trend.

Regarding this—

Gu Yi's attitude was very firm.

He could ignore other things, but this land must absolutely not be polluted by these things.

He controlled Gu Ye to walk all over Luoyang.

On the streets, seeing those people taking the Five-Stone Powder with their hair disheveled, not looking like normal people, he immediately controlled Gu Ye to find the elderly Cao Zhi, intending to have him help write a memorial on "Prohibiting the Five-Stone Powder."

But he did not expect that even Cao Zhi, this fellow who was about to enter the grave, was also a taker of the Five-Stone Powder.

Helpless, he could only let Gu Ye write it himself.

Fortunately, Gu Ye's standard was not bad.

Although it could not compare to Cao Zhi's literary talent, which was like a cheat code, it could still be considered an excellent work.

And the very next day, Gu Yi immediately controlled Gu Ye to head straight for the imperial court, and took out this "Memorial on Prohibiting the Five-Stone Powder" before the ministers.

—A shocking change!

Inside the Beigong.

Gu Yi was controlling Gu Ye to read the "Memorial on Prohibiting the Five-Stone Powder" in his hand before the officials.

The hall was deathly silent.

—Only Gu Ye's sonorous voice kept ringing out.

The expressions of the officials were all somewhat shocked, but beyond the shock, they were also somewhat dissatisfied.

Prohibit taking the Five-Stone Powder?

In the current Great Han, "taking the Five-Stone Powder" had been completely rendered as an elegant act.

Even someone like Cao Zhi, who had a transcendent status in the Imperial Academy, was taking it, which showed how great the influence was.

This move was destined to make everyone feel resistant.

Even if there were some among them who had never taken it.

But the benefits it could bring were still enough to make them dissatisfied with Gu Ye.

Liu Chan was also very surprised by this, never expecting that Gu Ye would propose such a thing.

Although he had never taken it.

He had heard that the "taking of the Five-Stone Powder" was rising and had become an elegant act pursued by frustrated scholars of the world.

He had originally wanted to find an opportunity to try it, but did not expect Gu Ye to propose this matter.

If someone else had said it, he might not have cared.

But after all, Gu Ye's surname was Gu!

After hesitating for a moment, Liu Chan asked: "Zhaode, why must the act of taking the Five-Stone Powder be prohibited?"

This was also the reason why everyone did not understand.

They did not understand why Gu Ye wanted to propose the act of prohibiting the Five-Stone Powder.

Gu Yi's will was like iron; without the slightest hesitation, he immediately controlled Gu Ye to say sonorously: "Your Majesty!"

"Your subject has heard that when minerals enter the throat, one temporarily obtains the ease of the physical form; yet the evil poison invades the marrow, ultimately leaving behind the worry of life."

"Formerly, Zhongjing created prescriptions to treat deep-seated illnesses in the vitals; yet He Yan misused them, ending up destroying the liver and gallbladder in the wine cup."

"In the alleys of Luoyang, one often sees those in crane-feather cloaks with disheveled hair, imitating the forms of Ji and Ruan while losing the spirit of integrity; in the desolate graves of Yexia, who mourns the souls of those wasted away, admiring the romanticism of He Yan only to fall into the register of ghosts?"

"Your Majesty, observe the autumn wind withering the trees and the cold crows circling the withered branches—this is not a calamity shown by Heaven and Earth, but in truth, people harming themselves!"

"I humbly request Your Majesty to issue a clear edict to the world, strictly ordering a total prohibition, so that minerals return to the furnace and herbs return to the mountains and forests,"

"And do not let the prescription of the 'Five Stones' continue to erode the Yang of our Great Han."

Gu Ye's tone was incomparably sonorous.

This was the first time so far that Gu Yi had done something so firmly.

Perhaps it was precisely because he knew the harm of such things, as well as the influence that "similar products" would have on this land in the future.

He absolutely could not tolerate this matter continuing!

Within the entire imperial court, there was a deathly silence!

Everyone stared blankly at Gu Ye, never expecting that Gu Ye's attitude would be so firm!

"Fallacy!"

Immediately, someone spoke up to refute, bowing to Liu Chan: "Your Majesty, there are many frustrated scholars in the world today."

"These people are disheartened because they cannot become officials, and only then do they choose to consume Cold Food Powder to vent the pent-up frustration in their chests."

"If we were to ban the consumption of Cold Food Powder."

"Setting aside how many people would become dissatisfied with the imperial court."

"In the future, what method would these frustrated scholars use to vent the pent-up frustration in their chests?"

A burst of discussion erupted instantly.

As more people began to speak, a massive debate broke out across the entire imperial court regarding whether or not to "ban the consumption of Cold Food Powder"!

Just then, a sonorous, angry roar suddenly echoed through the hall.

"A group of corrupt scholars actually dares to talk recklessly about the great affairs of the state!"

This angry shout drew everyone's gaze, and the crowd could not help but turn their heads to look.

They saw the Prince of Beidi, Liu Chen, striding in from outside.

With a face full of rage, he looked at those present and said: "The Gaozu of our Great Han was once merely a humble pavilion chief; when facing the First Emperor, he could still say, 'A great man should be like this!'"

"Emperor Xiaowen; Emperor Xiaowu;"

"And then our Great Han's Emperor Guangwu, who restored the Han house, up to Emperor Zhaowu and Gu Shizi who restored the Han once more."

"The people of our Great Han"

"When did they become people who need to use Cold Food Powder to vent the pent-up frustration in their chests?"

Liu Chen’s gaze was incomparably sharp, sweeping directly across the crowd: "Giving up after failing an examination once—can such people even be called famous scholars?"

"Marquis Wenxiang once said"

"A person standing tall can defy the heavens!"

"To this day, our Great Han can even withstand natural disasters!"

"If this continues, will the hearts of our Great Han's citizens still possess a spirit of ambition?"

As he spoke, he walked through the ministers to the very front and knelt before Liu Chan: "Father Emperor, your son requests to petition for a ban on the consumption of Cold Food Powder throughout the realm!"

When he finished speaking, the hall fell silent at once.

Liu Chen had brought up all the past emperors of the Great Han, including the ancestors of the Gu family.

No one dared to refute such words.

Liu Chan’s expression also shifted slightly; he looked at those present and could not help but nod slightly: "My son is right."

"I remember"

"The Imperial Foster Father once said that consuming Cold Food Powder is an inhuman act."

"No matter what, I cannot let the Imperial Foster Father down."

—The matter was settled!

Although Liu Chan was a man without any particularly praiseworthy talents.

Yet this was precisely the point for which he was most praised.

He might hesitate at the words of others.

But he would always keep the words Gu Chen had once spoken firmly in his heart.

This sentiment even surpassed his feelings for Liu Bei.

Because Gu Chen’s judgment of people was truly too accurate; after coming into contact with Liu Chan, he no longer held any unrealistic hopes for him as an individual.

He was truly too good to Liu Chan, unlike Liu Bei, who would still try to educate Liu Chan in the past.

"Zhaode."

Liu Chan looked at Gu Ye again: "I leave this matter to you."

"Your subject accepts the order!"

Gu Yi did not have any hesitation and immediately agreed.

The ministers left one by one.

Many of them had very ugly expressions on their faces.

Clearly, there were definitely people in their families who consumed Cold Food Powder or were involved in it.

The price of the Five Minerals Powder was not cheap.

The profits that could be brought in from this would make many people green with envy.

Gu Yi controlled Gu Ye as he left, but he did not expect Liu Chen to follow him, blocking Gu Ye to say earnestly: "Zhaode, if there are any difficulties, remember to tell me."

Liu Chen clearly knew the difficulty of this matter.

Consuming Cold Food Powder was addictive.

One could imagine the difficulty of completely eradicating this!

"Your Highness, rest assured." Gu Yi nodded earnestly: "I already have a plan in mind."

As he spoke, his tone paused.

Looking at Liu Chen before him, he hesitated for a moment before asking a question: "Your Highness, I actually have a question I would like to ask you."

"Oh?"

Liu Chen was stunned for a moment, not expecting Gu Ye to say such a thing, and quickly said: "Zhaode, just ask if you have something to say; why be so polite?"

"If one day—"

Gu Yi probed: "Our Great Han faces an invasion from foreign enemies on all sides, what will Your Highness do?"

Liu Chen’s expression changed completely.

He did not understand why Gu Ye would ask such a question, and he could not help but become vigilant.

"Has Zhaode perceived something?" he asked instead of answering.

Gu Yi controlled Gu Ye to shake his head and said softly: "Your Highness, rest assured, I was just asking casually."

"Asking casually?"

Liu Chen frowned, and after thinking for a moment, he straightened his expression and answered earnestly: "If that day truly comes, I have only one thing to say."

"Those who offend our mighty Han—"

"No matter how far away they are, they shall be punished!"

Liu Chen’s expression was incomparably serious.

Upon hearing this, Gu Yi’s eyes could not help but brighten slightly; he then revealed a faint smile and bowed to Liu Chen with cupped hands.

He then turned and left.

Watching Gu Ye’s back, Liu Chen was full of confusion, unable to figure out why Gu Ye would ask such a question.

How could he have guessed?

After all, for the current people of the Great Han, the threat of the barbarians on the four borders was not even as great as it was during the Later Han.

But Gu Yi was certain—

A great war was unavoidable.

Because tribes like the Xianbei and Wuhuan had long since unified as time passed.

The borders of the Great Han were currently peaceful.

It was only because the generals left behind by Gu Chen were still there.

The barbarians on all sides held deep fear of them.

But how long could this method last?

——————

"Your subject has heard that the 'Book of Changes' says: 'Medicine without cause should not be tested.'"

"Heaven nourishes man with five Qi, and Earth settles the form with five flavors; when Yin and Yang are in harmony, no illnesses arise."

"Now, there are alchemists spreading demonic words, advocating the consumption of Cold Stones, claiming that gold and stone long-refined can connect with the divine, and consuming sulfur and mica to seek immortality."

"However, the 'Shennong Materia Medica' clearly records: Stone medicines are fierce and overbearing, and the internal organs cannot withstand them. In the past, Bian Que treated illnesses by examining the vital areas; Zhongjing treated diseases only by applying decoctions and hot compresses."

"How can one abandon the righteousness of the five grains and follow the evil of gold and stones, thereby hastening one's own death?"

"Your subject observes the nobles and relatives in Luoyang competing to imitate this, some with skin cracking and oozing pus, others raving and seeing ghosts, yet still boasting of 'taking the powder to ascend to immortality'."

"This is not nourishing life; it is truly destroying one's nature! In the past, the Zhou King abstaining from grain and Mu Man at the Jade Pool were all empty, absurd tales of the ancients."

"Your Majesty’s holy virtue is flourishing; how can you allow alchemists to confuse the masses and ruin human morality?"

"I humbly request Your Majesty:"

"First, decree to the Grand Herald to clearly announce to the world that all alchemical books involving evil arts of gold and stones be sent to the Orchid Terrace and burned;"

"Second, hold the Commandery Governors accountable to strictly investigate those sorcerers who create the powder, and judge them under the crime of 'using heterodox ways to disrupt the norm';"

"Third, order the Chief of the Imperial Physicians to gather righteous scholars of medicine to revise the 'Materia Medica', removing the delusions of stone medicines and upholding the virtues of herbs and plants."

"In the past, Cheng Tang prayed for rain without praying to gold or stones; King Xuan’s restoration focused only on agriculture and sericulture."

"I hope Your Majesty will follow the path of the former emperors, cut off the source of these demonic delusions, and let the four seas know that those who consume the powder do not reach life, and that banning the powder is the greatest benevolence!"

—"Memorial on Banning the Powder (Han, Gu Ye)"

(End of this chapter)