Chapter 116

Mount Taishan sacrificial rites;

For a dynasty, this was undoubtedly a matter of extraordinary significance.

Does Liu Chen's merit suffice?

——It does.

Although over these years, it seemed Gu Ye was the one always doing the work, while Liu Chen remained within Luoyang.

Yet his merits cannot be denied.

As emperor, he granted Gu Ye absolute trust, fully continuing the policies of Emperor Zhaowu Liu Bei and Emperor Xiaoren Liu Chan.

But do not forget—he is not the same as Liu Chan.

Even within the court, he never forgot a monarch's duty.

Gu Yi's groundbreaking policies could be perfectly implemented, and his efforts in this cannot be denied.

The Han dynasty's return to prosperity

Was not solely Gu Ye's achievement, but the result of the entire court striving together for this.

If this still does not warrant Mount Taishan sacrificial rites, when will it ever?

And for the Gu clan—

Conducting Mount Taishan sacrificial rites now holds even greater significance.

It will only deepen the people's conviction that the Gu clan represents the age of prosperity.

And this is the unshakable foundation of the Gu clan's eternal rule!

The entire court became busy with preparations for this event.

Gu Ye no longer needed to intervene heavily in state affairs.

The Han court had developed a highly refined system, one that would not falter within this generation.

But perhaps due to his newfound leisure, Gu Yi found himself increasingly pondering Gu Han's progress.

He had not sent word in a long time.

The only thing Gu Yi knew was that Gu Han was still alive; what he had done or how he fared, Gu Yi knew nothing.

Days slipped away quietly under these circumstances.

On the eve of the sacrificial rites, the entire city of Luoyang was steeped in solemn, bustling activity.

Liu Chen and Gu Ye entered abstinence, wearing plain sacrificial robes, dwelling alone in quiet chambers, avoiding women, abstaining from meat and alcohol, to show profound reverence to Heaven and Earth and the spirits.

During this time, the court's ritual officials were overwhelmed with work.

They repeatedly verified and rehearsed every detail of the sacrificial ceremony—from preparing ritual objects to positioning personnel and routing processions—allowing not the slightest error.

As news spread that the Emperor and the Gu clan would perform Mount Taishan sacrificial rites,

It stirred nationwide excitement.

The Han dynasty was already flourishing.

Upon hearing this, the people grew even more spirited, and their trust in the court deepened further.

Countless literary compositions emerged from all corners, praising the court's and the Gu clan's benevolence.

Countless commoners came from every direction.

To witness it all.

People are like this: once their basic material needs are secured, they inevitably seek faith.

Finally, in the thirteenth year of Ganji, the fourth month,

Liu Chen and Gu Ye led the hundred officials of the court,

Marching straight toward Mount Taishan.

After many years, this majestic mountain once again welcomed the holy sovereign of the present age.

Traces left by predecessors still remained;

Time had not erased what they had left behind—just as those ancestors themselves continued to live in the hearts of the people.

Liu Chen ordered the restoration of the altar cast by the Han dynasty's former emperors.

And Gu Yi, just as in days past,

Had it all recorded, and once again stamped it with the Imperial Seal of the Huaxia civilization.

Countless thoughts surged within him.

Unlike others' thoughts, Gu Yi had never directly controlled them,

Yet he too was a witness to all developments over these centuries.

Heroes; warlords;

Wise rulers; foolish rulers.

These figures of varied character painted the turbulent storms of these centuries.

The Gu clan had grown from an obscure family into the towering tree it was today.

Generation after generation of clan members had fallen in succession.

Each capable descendant had given everything for this.

These scenes of the past flashed through his mind in this moment.

It was their steady, step-by-step efforts that had brought the Gu clan to its present glory.

Including Gu Yi's own growth.

Gu Yi had once harbored a doubt: that if he continued witnessing as he did now,

After seeing too many deaths, would he not accumulate a heavy, weary aura?

But at this moment—

This thought vanished completely.

The efforts of generations who sacrificed for this would only strengthen his resolve toward his goal.

—To sustain the glory of the Gu clan.

In its glory, and even to uplift all of Jiuzhou.

The Gu clan will press forward.

Those generations who poured countless efforts into this will also attain eternal immortality alongside the Gu clan.

When the altar was repaired, the Grand Ceremony Proceeds as Scheduled arrived.

Though Gu Ye vehemently refused.

Yet Liu Chen insisted he ascend the altar alongside him.

And he offered a reason Gu Ye could not possibly refuse: to take Gu Chen's place on the altar.

One was the grandson of Liu Bei;

the other was the grandson of Gu Chen.

This perhaps was a form of succession — the two replaced their ancestors in completing the great deed they had once been able to do but lacked the time to accomplish.

This moment was destined to be remembered for millennia.

Luoyang.

When all the glory ended, what remained for the people was only to press forward with grit.

The Han cannot stop.

This was not merely Liu Chen's thought, but also everything Gu Yi held firm to.

The current system was just taking shape.

The time required to fully implement this system would far exceed any previous era; under no circumstances could the Han encounter problems now.

In the fifteenth year of Qianji, the Han once again held the imperial examination.

The Han's imperial examination had now stabilized completely, forming a comprehensive assessment based on the Gu Studies, including Mathematics, with practical matters as its questions.

One must admit —

The world never lacks geniuses.

The Han gradually began producing figures unknown to Gu Yi in its original history.

Including the barbarians of the four quarters.

After years of study, they were now beginning to bear fruit.

Names finally appeared on the examination list.

They were like ordinary commoners who had just taken the examination at the start of the year, slowly chasing the footsteps of the aristocratic families over time.

Of course, unless culture could fully merge.

Otherwise, for them, this path was destined to be unbearably difficult.

Zhong Hui and others were no longer young.

Time's mercilessness always took everything; the court's internal structure was gradually renewing itself with the passage of years.

The good thing was —

Liu Chen and Gu Ye were still alive; the two could maintain the Han's direction of progress.

To keep the entire Han pressing forward along the correct path.

But for a dynasty, everything it faced was destined never to be only good.

As long as these things were insufficient to affect the Han's overall stability, that was enough.

What Gu Yi cared about more was —

In this year, Gu Han finally sent word.

Gu Han succeeded!

Through the diplomatic methods he had learned, he quickly took root among the Li people.

Then, through knowledge the Gu clan's young ones had studied since childhood,

he raised the Li people's productivity.

And through this, rapidly expanded the influence of both the Han and the Gu clan.

When Gu Yi read Gu Han's letter, even he was stunned.

He never imagined Gu Han could actually accomplish all this.

But in his shock, he immediately began reflecting on his original idea.

—To expand into Lingnan!

"Expand into Lingnan?"

The Northern Palace of Luoyang.

Holding the letter in his hand, Liu Chen's expression was grim. He said solemnly: "Zhao De, this matter is not as easy as it seems."

"Your subject is well aware."

Gu Yi, controlling Gu Ye, nodded. The tone suddenly shifted: "But for our Han —"

"This is a great undertaking that must be completed, sooner or later."

Hearing this, Liu Chen fell silent.

The expansion into the Shan Yue.

Had long been no secret within the Han court, though few ever mentioned it.

Not to mention those who opposed it.

Even those who supported Gu Ye rarely brought it up.

Because the early Han did not yet possess this strength.

Unlike the northern frontier.

The environment, climate, and everything else in the Shan Yue lands were an absolute lethal challenge for Han soldiers.

Looking across all of history.

Every time the Central Plains dynasties launched campaigns against the Shan Yue, they were destined to pay an extremely heavy price.

Yet the gains they brought were minuscule.

"Your Majesty."

Gu Yi understood Liu Chen's concerns— the Shan Yue's geographical advantage was something no one of this era could perceive.

But for Gu Yi, it was different.

Developing Lingnan—

Whether for the Gu clan at present, or for the Han.

It would certainly count as a major undertaking.

Given Lingnan's environment, it would greatly enhance the Han's productivity.

Including the critical advantage— its proximity to the sea.

They could even use this opportunity to forge a dedicated "Maritime Silk Road."

The Han's current shipbuilding industry was not poor.

Even if they could not sail far.

They could still expand their influence across all of Southeast Asia, which held extraordinary significance for the Han and indeed for all of Jiuzhou.

According to Yi's Thought.

This move might— open a window to the world.

But he naturally could not say these things to Liu Chen— none of this could be accomplished by a single generation.

For the Han at present, there was still much ground to cover.

Gu Yi merely explained to Liu Chen the benefits this move could bring, based on current needs.

From border stability;

To population, to soil fertility— how much help it could offer the Han after policy implementation.

And all other factors as examples.

Liu Chen listened very attentively; he was not an emperor without his own judgment. Though he had absolute trust in Gu Ye, he still formed his own assessments.

After a long while passed.

He looked at Gu Ye again and said slowly: "Zhaode, can you and I truly accomplish all this?"

Time always made many heroes and warlords feel regret.

Liu Chen felt this way now.

He was no longer young!

Although from a modern perspective, Liu Chen was still in his prime.

But in this era, it was entirely otherwise.

Liu Chen was indeed a hero— in courage, and in every other respect.

He had fully inherited some of Liu Bei and Liu Shan's strengths.

Yet every hero hesitates.

Especially a monarch.

Especially a monarch of his age— he would wonder whether his actions might cause the Han to decline from its peak.

"Has your Majesty's passion cooled?"

Gu Yi smiled and asked casually.

Liu Chen felt no resentment; after a moment of silence, he said directly: "I fear the Han may suffer unforeseen consequences."

"But has Your Majesty considered that if you do not act now?"

"There will never be another chance."

Gu Yi spoke the truth.

Feudal dynasties always followed this pattern: at the beginning, whether monarch or minister, they represented the dynasty's absolute peak.

No matter how great a dynasty, it inevitably succumbed to internal decay and decline in its later years.

Gu Yi was actually quite confident about this.

The current progress in integrating the surrounding barbarians already demonstrated its feasibility.

Although Lingnan would be even more difficult.

But the Han's present golden age was sufficient to sustain it all.

Moreover, Gu Han had already laid an excellent foundation.

Upon hearing this, Liu Chen fell silent again.

His eyes were deeply complex, countless thoughts churning endlessly in his mind.

On one hand, the innate passion within his blood;

On the other, the cold rationality of a monarch.

Gu Yi did not rush; he simply watched Liu Chen in silence.

He still had great confidence in Liu Chen.

For the Han,

There was no monarch more suited to expansion than Liu Chen.

Sure enough, Liu Chan quickly made his decision. He stared intently at Gu Ye and said seriously, "Since the Gu clan is willing to press forward through hardship, what would I have to fear?"

Hot blood is hard to extinguish after all.

An emperor destined to forge great achievements will not lose his ambition simply because of old age.

He slowly rose and walked to Gu Ye's front, earnestly taking Gu Ye's hand: "I will say it again—Zhaode, you just press forward."

"I will be here, within Luoyang."

"Protecting everything!"

A single, simple sentence fully laid bare Liu Chan's stance.

He was just like Liu Zhuang of years past.

He gave the Gu clan absolute trust.

He wanted, within this single generation, to thoroughly lay the foundations of the great Han!

This matter immediately stirred towering waves within the court.

—Dispatch troops to Lingnan!

After so many years, when the court ministers heard of this once again, they still felt the move was somewhat too fantastical.

They truly could not fathom what dispatching troops to Lingnan could bring to the great Han.

Take the current Northern Border, for example.

To this day, no Han person would want to migrate to such a desolate place.

This is entirely a matter of harm without benefit.

Memorial upon memorial were submitted in an instant; among them, some even brought up the precedent of Emperor Wu of Han, Liu Che, campaigning against Lingnan.

Some of these memorials even carried the flavor of remonstrance unto death.

He spared no face in laying out the awkward predicament of the current Lingnan lands—though nominally Han territory, in reality they were entirely self-governing, and the like.

He cast Emperor Wu of Han Liu Che's move as a futile, fruitless exertion that wasted the people's strength and drained the treasury.

He hoped Liu Chan would not emulate Emperor Wu of Han.

Faced with memorials that were practically cursing his ancestors, how could Liu Chan not fly into a rage?

But this could not stem the ministers' desire to remonstrate.

Even the students of the Imperial Academy spoke up one after another, intending to block this campaign plan.

Faced with protests on this scale—

Let alone Liu Shan, even if Liu Bei were on the throne he would have to consider the feasibility of the matter.

But Liu Chan was ultimately different.

He truly was just like Liu Zhuang of years past—once a decision was made, he would absolutely never shrink back!

After so many years of personnel reshuffling—

Liu Chan's position could no longer be shaken, all the more so with the support of Zhang Hua and others.

Faced with the ministers' opposing memorials—

He overruled the majority and directly settled the matter.

Under such circumstances, the great Han, currently in its glorious prime, immediately displayed the strength it ought to have.

Troops from all directions mobilized in succession.

Including medicines to ward off miasma, provisions, and all manner of resources.

The great Han of today—whether the morale of its soldiers or the people's trust in the court—was at its peak.

Let alone the fact that this campaign would be led by Gu Ye himself.

This further bolstered the people's confidence in certain Han victory.

The four directions stirred—

Just before the troops moved, even Wen Yang sent word.

He wished to march together with Gu Ye to campaign against Lingnan.

Wen Yang had truly grown a great deal now; although Lu Kang still remained in the Northern Border—

The fact that the Northern Border had remained stable all this time—

Was enough to show that Wen Yang already possessed the ability to hold down a region.

To this, Gu Yi did not refuse.

Although he held absolute confidence in his heart, since he was going to fight, how could he leave his sharpest blade behind, unused?

Whether Wen Yang himself or the troops under his command—

They were absolutely among the most elite force the great Han currently possessed.

Gu Yi had no such thought as "why use a cleaver to slaughter a pig."

No matter how many, many advantages the great Han held on the surface, Gu Yi still had to make every thorough preparation!

Likewise, Gu Yi also wanted to see—

Once the most fearsome threat was removed, whether the situation in the Northern Border would actually go awry.

The great Han could not keep staring at the Northern Border like this forever.

This time was an excellent opportunity!

Besides that—

For this battle, Gu Yi had also mobilized many troops from the four directions' barbarian tribes.

For combat in such a special environment—

Their adaptability was absolutely far greater than that of the great Han's soldiers, who had always lived in the Central Plains.

For this very reason, Gu Yi even drew the lottery several times.

He tried to see if he could draw props useful for this operation.

What Gu Yi truly wanted was — Miasma-Avoidance Pills.

This prop was only an Ordinary Item.

But its role in this battle was far from ordinary.

The pity was, although Gu Yi was willing to draw, he couldn't afford to spend too much.

In the end he only drew two Miasma-Avoidance Pills.

As for the "Wall-Breaking Card" and "Longevity Card" and other props that Gu Yi wanted even more — there were none at all.

Still, this was already enough.

For the Gu clan.

Props were ultimately only aids; to keep walking down this road bristling with thorns, manpower was the true key.

PS: Begging for monthly votes!

(End of this chapter)