Chapter 12: A Bygone Era, Liu Xiu Deposes the Empress

Time is the most majestic and formidable force in the world.

All power, wealth, and glory will gradually fade away with the passage of time.

Luoyang.

It was now the thirteenth year of Jianwu.

More than four years had passed since the unification of the world.

On this day, Gu Xiao once again saw off an old friend of his.

—Feng Yi;

This battle-hardened general, who had rendered such illustrious service in Liu Xiu’s re-founding of the Great Han, was ultimately unable to defeat the power of time and had reached the end of his life.

In fact, according to the original history, Feng Yi should have died in the ranks of the army long ago.

That he could live until now was only because the emergence of the Gu family had made the process of the Great Han’s unification smoother, allowing him to persist until today.

As the person with the closest relationship to Gu Xiao among the current group of meritorious officials.

Upon receiving this news, Gu Xiao also hurried without rest to see his old friend one last time.

And Feng Yi’s final words, like those of other generals, were to ask Gu Xiao to help look after his descendants.

There was no help for it; since the unification of the world, the development of the Great Han had proceeded just as recorded in history.

Liu Xiu had gradually reclaimed the real power from the hands of the meritorious officials, leaving only Gu Xiao with the nominal title of Grand Marshal.

It was precisely because of this that Gu Xiao had clearly become the head of the meritorious officials.

At the very least, these military generals were still very convinced by Gu Xiao, so it was only natural for Feng Yi to entrust his descendants to him.

In truth, one could not blame these generals.

Each generation being inferior to the last is truly like a curse passed down through noble families.

And the word "struggle" seems to be a nature ingrained in the blood of humanity.

From ancient times to the present, it remains difficult to change.

It is just like the current Great Han.

From the moment Gongsun the Usurper was pacified in the Shu region, external struggles gradually transformed into internal ones.

In the imperial court, and in every corner of the world.

Everyone is struggling.

Faced with the mediocrity of their own offspring, these generals naturally all harbored such worries.

No one is willing to see the things they risked their lives to obtain be carved up and devoured by others.

But regarding this matter, let alone Gu Xiao, even Gu Yi had no solution.

He was actually facing this same dilemma himself.

And it was even more severe than theirs.

He not only needed the Gu family to be passed down, but also needed to maintain a powerful influence.

In the current situation where Gu Yi could not ensure he could control every generation.

The education of the family naturally became Gu Yi’s most severe test at present.

He had to ensure that the next generation of the family had the ability to shoulder the entire family.

Even if they could not be like Gu Xiao was now, they could not truly vanish into the annals of history.

Gu Yi did not yet know the difficulty of obtaining achievement points.

But judging by the name alone, one could conclude that if they were too mediocre, it would likely be difficult to obtain many.

Gu Yi had to create the next opportunity for himself to take control.

It was precisely because of this that ever since returning to Luoyang, Gu Yi had been busy with this matter.

That’s right, Gu Yi did not let Gu Xiao meddle in the internal affairs of the Great Han.

Gu Xiao’s current status was a bit too sensitive; although Liu Xiu did not strike at the meritorious officials in the original history, Gu Yi still had to consider this point.

And most importantly, Gu Yi did not think his own ideas could completely solve all the problems of the current era.

There are always people who think that if they could travel back in time, they could solve everything.

Take the much-criticized clan problem of the Eastern Han, for example.

Most people think that as long as the imperial examination system is implemented, it will solve the monopoly on official positions held by noble families, thereby completely resolving the problem of the clans growing too strong during the Eastern Han period.

Including Gu Yi in the past, he also thought the same.

But when he truly understood this current era, he already knew that this was impossible.

Any system progresses slowly.

Just like the enfeoffment of the Western Zhou period, leading to the current coexistence of commanderies and counties with enfeoffment in the Great Han.

To rashly launch a brand-new system without realizing that the current one is backward would surely invite a backlash from the world.

Moreover, the lack of productivity already doomed such ideas to be unrealistic.

The land of China today has just gone through years of war, with everything waiting to be rebuilt; you want to ask a group of people who cannot even get enough to eat to study.

Is that realistic?

It was precisely because of this that after thinking this through, Gu Yi put all his focus on the education of his family’s descendants.

Gu Xiao’s younger brothers and sisters had already started their own families.

And the result was not beyond Gu Yi’s expectations.

From the moment they started their own families, their names had already disappeared from the [Family Information].

However, Gu Yi did not completely abandon these people, but gave them help to the greatest extent, intending to instill the concept of the Gu family as one.

The direct line is the direct line.

But if one wanted to rely solely on the power of the direct line to pass it down, while abandoning the collateral branches, then maintaining absolute influence would be impossible.

The family must be united to be able to think of more.

And Gu Xiao now had two children.

And they were both boys.

The good news was that the attributes of these two descendants were quite good, each with their own strengths.

Eldest son Gu Kang:

[Internal Affairs: 89; Diplomacy: 75; Politics: 90; Command: 50; Martial Arts: 43]

(Note: The attribute panel shows the maximum value.)

Second son Gu Sheng:

[Internal Affairs: 60; Diplomacy: 43; Politics: 54; Command: 89; Martial Arts: 85]

Perhaps because the true reason for the Gu family’s rise was not Gu Xiao, the current Gu family could be considered to have avoided the so-called theory of noble family evolution.

The abilities of the descendants were quite good.

And because of the attribute panel, Gu Yi could fully focus on cultivating their strengths based on the levels of their attributes.

But even so, Gu Yi could not be completely at ease.

He knew exactly what the politics of the Eastern Han were like.

Not to mention the Emperor Guangwu, Liu Xiu.

The Emperor Ming and Emperor Zhang could also be considered enlightened monarchs.

But once these emperors passed away, the entire Eastern Han turned into a kindergarten.

Eunuchs, imperial in-laws, and clans fought each other.

Gu Yi had to plan the path forward for the entire Gu family, ensuring that the family members could earn achievement points for him and could persist until his next time taking control.

The difficulty of this can be imagined.

Gu Yi had been thinking about how to solve this problem, but for a moment, there was simply no perfect solution.

Quefei Hall.

When Gu Xiao saw Liu Xiu again, Liu Xiu’s expression was somewhat heavy.

He already knew that Feng Yi had passed away.

After all, this was a great general who had followed him for a long time, so his mood naturally would not be very good.

"Alas, alas."

"He could share the bitterness with Me, but could not share the sweetness with Me."

"Heaven has taken another pillar of My Great Han."

Liu Xiu sighed deeply and looked at Gu Xiao with exceptional seriousness: "Zhanhong, you must remember to take good care of your health."

"I will send two more imperial physicians to help you recuperate."

His eyes carried an unconcealed look of concern.

The current Liu Xiu was no longer as high-spirited as he was in the beginning; under the toil of state affairs, he also had strands of white hair, but the majesty belonging to an emperor had become increasingly intense.

Since the unification.

Liu Xiu had also put his mind into governing the country, which could be said to have displayed his methods to the fullest.

Rectifying the administration, liberating slaves, and resolving the bloated administrative agencies caused by long-term war, he dismissed countless officials.

Every single one of these items was almost like cutting flesh from these noble families.

How could the turmoil faced in this not require thunderous means?

Among the many external ministers, it was only in front of Gu Xiao that Liu Xiu would show a few genuine emotions.

"Your subject thanks Your Majesty for your great kindness!"

Gu Xiao, with a look of being moved, bowed deeply to Liu Xiu.

"Hey, get up quickly."

"Between the two of us, why is there a need to say so much?"

Liu Xiu pulled Gu Xiao up directly and had him sit down. His entire demeanor quickly returned to normal, becoming solemn as he stated the purpose for summoning Gu Xiao this time:

"Zhanhong, I want you to return to Hebei for a period of time."

Perhaps because of the passing of Feng Yi, there was a trace of obvious hesitation on his face.

In this era, traveling far away was destined to be dangerous.

Especially for a battle-hardened general like Gu Xiao.

He would have hidden ailments to some degree or another; as long as he fell ill, these hidden ailments would be triggered, and even the gods would find it hard to save him, so Liu Xiu was naturally somewhat hesitant.

Hebei?

Hearing this, Gu Yi instantly guessed what Liu Xiu intended to do.

In fact, for some time now, everything Liu Xiu had done had provided a clear signal.

Favoring Yin Lihua.

And enfeoffing Yin Lihua's family members as marquises.

This kind of political signal was far too obvious; after all, under the current system of the Great Han, only the Empress's kin could be enfeoffed as marquises.

But Gu Yi knew that Liu Xiu was somewhat hesitant.

As for the reason, it was also very simple;

——Liu Yang was still alive!

He was even one of the most powerful people in the Great Han today.

And behind him, there were countless Hebei clans.

It was different from the original history.

Back then, Gu Yi, thinking of pacifying the world early so the family could have more peaceful time to prepare for the future, had advised Liu Xiu to establish an Empress when he ascended the throne.

Only by establishing an Empress could the hearts of the Hebei clans be completely settled.

And it was precisely because of this that Liu Yang did not rebel as he had in history.

And when Liu Xiu originally enfeoffed Gu Xiao as a marquis in the Hebei region, Gu Yi had already guessed that he intended to use Gu Xiao to intimidate the Hebei clans.

Now it seemed that Liu Xiu was truly going to do this!

Although Gu Yi did not know why Liu Xiu would depose the Empress so much earlier than in history.

But he had no hesitation, immediately controlling Gu Xiao to agree.

"Your Majesty's command, I am willing to go!"

This kind of matter, he could not refuse, nor did he want to refuse.

Unlike other ministers.

Gu Xiao had already reached the end of his service as a minister; there was no need to keep staying in Luoyang to expand his influence.

And for the entire Gu Shizi, what the Gu Shizi wanted was ten thousand generations of prominence, not just a moment of being at the top.

The Hebei region would clearly become the core of the entire Gu Shizi for a long time to come.

Gu Yi had long since thought about returning to the Hebei region.

If it weren't for Liu Xiu constantly refusing, he would have already left Luoyang.

But seeing this scene, the look of hesitation in Liu Xiu's eyes grew even more intense.

In fact, for him now, whether it was Liu Yang or the Hebei clans.

He was naturally not afraid.

But as the Emperor of the Great Han, he knew even better how much the current Great Han needed to recuperate; if the Hebei region were to fall into chaos again, it would be inevitable to mobilize troops.

Yet, apart from him, the Emperor, if one were to ask who in the current Great Han could completely intimidate these people—

It could only be Gu Xiao, the number one meritorious official.

The Champion Marquis of the Great Han!

He could completely intimidate the Hebei clans!

But out of personal affection, Liu Xiu actually did not want to let Gu Xiao leave Luoyang.

However, he was indeed a wise emperor.

Back then, he could endure the anger of his elder brother being killed, let alone this current reluctance.

He stared fixedly at Gu Xiao, and after hesitating for only a moment, he made his decision: "Zhanhong."

"If you go to Hebei, you must keep a close watch on the Prince of Zhending for me."

"Should he dare to have any unusual movements."

"You may command the troops of various regions to take him down."

At this moment, Liu Xiu completely cast aside all emotions in his heart; the majesty belonging solely to an emperor was fully manifested in this instant, and killing intent permeated his eyes.

Gu Xiao's expression changed immediately.

But he was a martial general who loved to fight by nature, and he did not care about the reason, so he immediately nodded and bowed to Liu Xiu: "I accept the order!"

Liu Xiu stared fixedly at Gu Xiao.

The killing intent in his eyes also gradually melted at this moment.

A minister like Gu Xiao, who supported every decision he made without asking for any reason, was truly too much in line with the heart of any emperor.

"I remember telling you back then that I would enter into a marriage alliance with you."

Liu Xiu suddenly spoke, "I will not break my word. You now have two sons; after this matter, I will marry Liu to your eldest son."

He was speaking of the little princess who had just been born—Liu Li Liu.

Because she was still young, she did not yet have a title.

Her birth mother was Yin Lihua.

In fact, according to ritual and law, a marriage alliance between an emperor and a minister should not be so hasty.

After all, the infant mortality rate in these times was extremely high, and both were not yet of age.

But Liu Xiu's expression at this moment was exceptionally serious, without any hint of a joke.

At this instant, even Gu Yi was startled.

Liu Li Liu?

The younger sister of the Ming Emperor?

Although there were not many records of Liu Li Liu in history, this status alone was enough to guarantee the status of the Gu Shizi in the future.

Even if Gu Xiao were to pass away in the future!

"I thank Your Majesty!"

Gu Xiao bowed to Liu Xiu once more.

And this time, Liu Xiu merely waved his hand, unwilling to look at Gu Xiao again: "Go down, go down."

"I take my leave!"

Gu Xiao slowly retreated.

Until he was about to walk out of the palace gate, Liu Xiu's voice suddenly rang out again.

"Zhanhong!"

Gu Xiao stopped in his tracks abruptly.

"Take care of your health, and send letters often."

Words carrying a hint of loneliness came from inside the hall.

Gu Xiao stood before the hall for a long time like this, and after bowing to the hall once more, he turned and walked out slowly.

Not many days later, Gu Xiao set off for Hebei with his entire family.

This matter instantly caused a huge uproar in the imperial court.

Gu Xiao, the number one meritorious official of the founding, the Grand Marshal, and the Champion Marquis, heading to Hebei during such a sensitive period, instantly confirmed the suspicions of many.

For a time, the court and the public were shaken!

And the development of events did not exceed anyone's expectations.

A few days later, Liu Xiu announced his decision in the imperial court;

———Depose the Empress!

Ps: In the seedling stage of the new book, I ask for the brothers' support. Please do not "stockpile" the book; I ask for recommendation votes and monthly votes!

This chapter is a transition, before the development of the entire family changes and to coordinate with the upcoming plot.

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(End of chapter)