Chapter 120: The Feng Shan Sacrifice at Mount Tai, Opening the Window to the World (Seeking Monthly Votes)

The Feng Shan sacrifice at Mount Tai;

For a dynasty, this is absolutely an event of extraordinary significance.

Are Liu Chen’s achievements sufficient?

——They are!

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

Yet, one still cannot deny his achievements.

As an emperor, he gave Gu Ye absolute trust, completely inheriting the consistent policies of the Martial-Manifest Emperor Liu Bei and the Filial-Benevolent Emperor Liu Chan.

And do not forget, he is quite different from Liu Chan.

Even within the imperial court, he has never forgotten the responsibilities of an emperor.

That Gu Yi’s epoch-making policies could be perfectly implemented is also due to the undeniable efforts he put into them.

That the Great Han could once again welcome a golden age.

Is absolutely not the credit of Gu Ye alone, but the result of the entire imperial court striving for all of this.

If even this does not warrant a Feng Shan sacrifice at Mount Tai, when would it?

And for the Gu Shizi——

Conducting the Feng Shan sacrifice at Mount Tai at this time is of even greater significance.

This will only cause the notion that the Gu Shizi represents a golden age to take deeper root in the hearts of the common people.

And this is the cornerstone of the Gu Shizi’s eternal endurance!

The entire imperial court has become busy for this matter.

Gu Ye now has no need to interfere too much in state affairs.

The Great Han’s government already possesses a very complete system; at least within this generation, no errors will occur.

But perhaps because he was truly idle, Gu Yi also began to ponder more and more about Gu Han’s progress.

He had not sent news for a very long time.

The only thing Gu Yi knew was that Gu Han was still alive; what he had actually done and what his situation was, Gu Yi had no idea at all.

Days quietly slipped away under these circumstances.

On the eve of the sacrifice, the entire city of Luoyang was immersed in a solemn and busy atmosphere.

Liu Chen and Gu Ye both entered a state of fasting, wearing plain sacrificial robes, living alone in quiet chambers, abstaining from women, meat, and alcohol, to express their piety and awe toward the heavens and the spirits.

During this period, the various ritual officials in the court were busy beyond measure.

They repeatedly checked and rehearsed every detail of the Feng Shan ceremony, from the preparation of sacrificial items to the positioning of personnel and the procession route, allowing for not the slightest error.

And as the news that the Emperor would perform the Feng Shan sacrifice at Mount Tai with the Gu Shizi gradually spread.

It sparked excitement throughout the world.

The Great Han was already flourishing.

And after hearing of such an event, the common people would become even more spirited, and it would further increase the people’s trust in the imperial court.

Countless literary works emerged one after another from all directions to praise the benevolence and virtue of the imperial court and the Gu Shizi.

Innumerable commoners came from all corners of the land.

Wishing to witness all of this.

People are just like this; once their basic material life is guaranteed, they often begin to pursue faith.

Finally, in the thirteenth year of Qianji, in the fourth month.

Liu Chen and Gu Ye led the officials of the imperial court.

And headed straight for Mount Tai.

After many years, this towering mountain once again welcomed the holy ruler of the current world.

The traces left by predecessors still remained;

Time had not been able to take away everything they left behind, just like those ancestors themselves, who would always live in the hearts of the people.

Liu Chen had the sacrificial altar built by the Great Han’s former emperors renovated.

And Gu Yi was exactly as he had been back then.

He had all of this recorded, and once again, the Imperial Jade Seal, unique to the Huaxia civilization, was stamped upon it.

Countless thoughts surged in his heart.

Unlike the thoughts of others, although Gu Yi had not been controlling things the entire time.

He was also a witness to all the developments of these past few hundred years.

Heroes; ambitious overlords;

Wise rulers; foolish rulers.

These figures with different personalities painted the winds and clouds of these past few hundred years.

The Gu Shizi also grew from an unknown family into the towering tree it is today.

The successive generations of family members who followed in each other’s footsteps.

Everything that each capable descendant had sacrificed for this.

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

It was their step-by-step efforts that brought about the Gu Shizi of today.

Including Gu Yi’s own growth.

In fact, Gu Yi once had a doubt, which was that if he continued to witness things as he was now.

After seeing too much life and death, would he develop a sense of weariness?

But at this moment——

This thought vanished completely.

The efforts made by generation after generation would only make him more determined in the goal he sought.

——To keep the Gu Shizi continuously glorious.

While being glorious, to even drive the entire Nine Provinces forward.

The Gu Shizi will continue on.

Those generations who put in countless efforts for this will also follow the Gu Shizi to achieve eternal immortality.

When the renovation of the altar was completed, the Feng Shan ceremony arrived as scheduled.

Although Gu Ye refused with all his might.

Liu Chen still insisted that he ascend the altar with him.

And proposed a reason that Gu Ye could not refuse: to ascend the altar on behalf of Gu Chen.

The two of them, one being the grandson of Liu Bei;

The other being the grandson of Gu Chen.

This was perhaps a form of inheritance in certain aspects, as the two of them completed, on behalf of their ancestors, the great task they could have done back then but lacked the time to finish.

This moment was destined to be passed down through the ages.

Luoyang.

When all the glory ended, all that remained for everyone was to forge ahead.

The Great Han cannot stop.

This was not only Liu Chen’s thought, but also everything that Gu Yi insisted upon.

The current system had only just taken shape.

The time required for this system to be thoroughly implemented would be far longer than in the past; in any case, the Great Han could not afford to have problems now.

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

Now, the Great Han’s imperial examinations had completely stabilized, forming a comprehensive assessment based on "Gu Studies" and "Arithmetic," with practical affairs as the topics.

One must say——

This world is never lacking in geniuses.

The Great Han also gradually saw the appearance of some figures that Gu Yi had never heard of in the original history.

Including the barbarians from the four corners.

After years of study, they were now gradually bearing fruit.

Finally, there were names appearing on the assessment lists.

They were like the common people who had just begun to take the imperial examinations at the start of the year, gradually chasing after the footsteps of the aristocratic families as time went on.

Of course, unless cultures could completely merge with one another.

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

Zhong Hui and the others were no longer young.

The ruthlessness of time always takes everything away, and the interior of the imperial court was also gradually changing as time passed.

The good thing was——

Liu Chen and Gu Ye were still there, and the two could maintain the direction in which the Great Han was moving.

Letting the entire Great Han forge ahead along the correct path.

But for a dynasty, everything it faced was destined not to be only good things.

It was just that as long as these things were not enough to affect the overall situation of the Great Han, that was enough.

What Gu Yi cared about more was——

In this year, Gu Han finally sent back news.

Gu Han succeeded!

Through the diplomatic means he had learned, he quickly took root among the Liren tribe.

Subsequently, he utilized the knowledge that the descendants of the Gu family had learned from a young age.

He increased the productivity of the Liren tribe.

And through this action, he rapidly expanded the influence of the entire Great Han and the Gu family outward.

Upon seeing the letter sent by Gu Han, even Gu Yi was somewhat startled.

He never expected that Gu Han could actually accomplish all of this.

But while shocked, he also quickly began to ponder his original idea.

—Developing Lingnan!

"Develop Lingnan?"

Luoyang Beigong.

Looking at the letter in his hand, Liu Chen’s expression was incomparably solemn as he said in a deep voice, "Zhaode, I fear this matter is not so easily achieved."

"Your subject naturally understands."

Gu Yi, controlling Gu Ye, nodded, and the tone of the conversation suddenly shifted: "But for our Great Han."

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

Hearing this, Liu Chen immediately fell silent.

The matter of developing the Shanyue region.

It was naturally no secret in the Great Han imperial court, it was just that few people mentioned it.

Let alone those who did not support this matter.

Even those who supported Gu Ye rarely brought it up.

Because the Great Han of that time did not yet possess the strength.

Unlike the northern frontier.

The environment, weather, and everything else in the Shanyue lands were absolutely a fatal challenge for the soldiers of the Great Han.

Looking throughout all of history.

Every time a Central Plains dynasty campaigned against the Shanyue, it was destined to pay an extremely heavy price.

Yet the benefits it could bring were few and far between.

"Your Majesty."

Gu Yi naturally understood Liu Chen’s worries; the geographical advantages of Shanyue were not something people of this era could discover.

But for Gu Yi, it was different.

Developing Lingnan—

Whether for the current Gu family or for the Great Han.

It could absolutely be counted as a major event.

Given the environment of the Lingnan region, it would definitely be of huge help to the improvement of the Great Han’s productivity.

Including the key to its geographical advantage—being near the sea.

One could even use this opportunity to build an exclusive "Maritime Silk Road."

The Great Han’s current shipbuilding industry was not bad.

Even if it could not travel far.

It could still use this move to expand its influence to the entirety of Southeast Asia, which had extraordinary significance for the Great Han and even the entire Nine Provinces.

According to Gu Yi’s thoughts.

This move might—open a window to the world.

But he naturally could not say these words to Liu Chen; none of this was something that could be accomplished in a single generation.

For the current Great Han, there was still a long road to travel.

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

From border stability;

To population, and then to how much help it could bring to the Great Han after implementing policies on soil fertility.

And everything else to provide examples.

Liu Chen listened very earnestly; he was not an emperor without his own opinions, and although he had absolute trust in Gu Ye, he also had his own judgment.

Just like that, after a long while.

He looked at Gu Ye and said slowly once more: "Zhaode, can our generation truly accomplish all of this?"

Time has always made many heroes and ambitious leaders feel regret.

Liu Chen was like that now.

He was no longer young!

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

But in the current era, it was entirely different.

Liu Chen was indeed a hero, whether in terms of courage or other aspects.

He had fully inherited some of the strengths of Liu Bei and Liu Chan.

But any hero would hesitate.

As an emperor.

Especially an emperor who had reached his age, he would think about whether his own measures would cause the Great Han to decline from its peak.

"Has the hot blood in Your Majesty’s heart cooled?"

Gu Yi smiled and asked back casually.

Liu Chen felt no dissatisfaction; after a moment of silence, he said directly: "I fear the Great Han might encounter accidents because of this."

"But has Your Majesty thought that if you do not do some things."

"Then there will never be another chance."

What Gu Yi said was the truth.

Feudal dynasties have always been like this; at the beginning, whether it be the monarch or the subjects, it is the peak of the dynasty.

No matter how great a dynasty is, it cannot avoid internal friction and decline in its later stages.

In fact, Gu Yi was still very confident about this matter.

The current progress in integrating the barbarians of the four directions already demonstrated the feasibility of this.

Although Lingnan would only be more difficult than that.

But the current flourishing age of the Great Han was enough to support all of this.

Not to mention that Gu Han had already laid a very good foundation.

Hearing this, Liu Chen fell silent again.

His gaze was extremely complex, and countless thoughts surged continuously in his mind.

On one hand was the hot blood innate in his body;

On the other hand was the calmness of an emperor.

Gu Yi was not impatient, just watching Liu Chen silently like this.

He still had a lot of confidence in Liu Chen.

For the Great Han.

There was no monarch more suitable for expansion than Liu Chen.

Sure enough, Liu Chen quickly made a decision; he stared fixedly at Gu Ye and said earnestly: "Since the Gu family is willing to move forward through hardships, what do I have to fear?"

Hot blood is ultimately hard to extinguish.

An emperor destined to build a great legacy would not lose his ambition because of old age.

He slowly stood up and walked to Gu Ye, earnestly taking Gu Ye’s hand: "I will say it again, Zhaode, just keep moving forward."

"I, will be here in Luoyang."

"Protecting everything!"

A simple sentence completely expressed Liu Chen’s attitude.

He was just like Liu Zhuang of years past.

Giving the Gu family absolute trust.

Wishing to firmly establish the foundation of the Great Han within this generation!

This matter immediately caused a heaven-shaking wave in the imperial court.

—Send troops to Lingnan!

After many years, when the court officials heard of this matter again, they still felt that this move was too fantastical.

They truly could not think of what sending troops to Lingnan could bring to the Great Han.

Just like the current northern frontier.

Even today, no Han person would want to migrate to such a desolate place.

This was entirely a matter that did more harm than good.

Memorial after memorial was sent up immediately, and some even brought up the campaign against Lingnan by Emperor Wu of Han, Liu Che.

This move even had the air of a death-defying remonstrance.

He spoke without any restraint about the awkward situation of the current Lingnan region, saying that although it was named as Great Han land, it was actually completely self-governing, and so on.

They described this move by Emperor Wu of Han, Liu Che, as a futile effort that wasted manpower and money.

They hoped Liu Chen would not emulate Emperor Wu of Han.

Faced with a memorial that was practically equivalent to cursing his ancestors, how could Liu Chen not be furious?

But this could not stop the officials from offering their remonstrances.

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

Faced with protests of this scale.

Never mind Liu Chan, even if Liu Bei were the sovereign, he would have considered the feasibility of this matter.

But Liu Chen was ultimately different.

He was truly like Liu Zhuang back in the day; once he had made a decision, he would absolutely never back down!

After so many years of personnel adjustments.

Liu Chen's position was already unshakable, not to mention the support of Zhang Hua and the others.

Faced with the memorials of opposition from the officials.

He brushed aside all dissenting opinions and finalized the matter directly.

Under these circumstances, the Great Han, currently in the midst of a glorious golden age, immediately displayed the strength it ought to have.

Forces from all four directions moved in succession.

Including various resources such as medicine to avoid miasma and grain supplies.

The current Great Han, whether it was the morale of the soldiers or the trust of the common people in the imperial court, was at its peak.

Not to mention that this campaign was led personally by Gu Ye.

This further intensified the common people's confidence that the Han Army would be victorious.

Clouds gathered from all four directions—

Just before the troops were mobilized, even Wen Yang sent word.

He wanted to join Gu Ye in the campaign to conquer Lingnan.

Wen Yang had truly grown so much now; although Lu Kang was still present in the northern frontier lands.

But the northern frontier had been able to remain stable.

This was enough to show that Wen Yang already had the ability to guard a region.

Regarding this, Gu Yi did not refuse.

Although he had absolute confidence in his heart, since they were going to war, how could there be any reason to leave his sharpest blade behind and not use it?

Whether it was Wen Yang or the troops under his command.

They were absolutely the most elite batch of people in the current Great Han.

Gu Yi did not have any "why use a butcher's knife to kill a chicken" mindset.

Even if the Great Han had far too many advantages on the surface, Gu Yi still had to make every possible preparation!

Likewise, Gu Yi also wanted to see.

Once the most terrifying threat was removed, whether the situation in the northern frontier would actually fall into chaos.

The Great Han could not keep staring at the northern frontier so tightly forever.

This time was a very good opportunity!

Besides this—

For this battle, Gu Yi also mobilized many troops from the barbarians of the four directions.

Regarding combat in this kind of special environment.

Their ability to adapt was absolutely far superior to the Han soldiers who had always lived in the Central Plains.

Gu Yi even drew from the lottery a few times for this.

To test if he could draw items beneficial to this campaign.

What Gu Yi truly wanted was the Miasma-Avoiding Pill.

This item was only of common quality.

But its effect on this campaign was extremely extraordinary.

It was a pity that although Gu Yi had the heart to draw from the lottery, he could not consume too much.

In the end, he only drew two Miasma-Avoiding Pills.

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

However, this was enough.

For the Gu Shizi.

Items were ultimately just aids; if one wanted to continue walking on this path filled with thorns, human effort was the key.

PS: Seeking monthly tickets!

(End of this chapter)