Chapter 127: The Passing of Liu Chen

This road is destined to be long.

For the Gu family, to truly achieve a legacy that lasts for ten thousand generations.

It requires generation after generation to keep walking forward.

Gu Yi can sense that Gu Ye also wants to set an example for his descendants through his own actions.

Time passes in a hurry.

The promotion of "Panyu Rice" has been very successful.

As more and more people from the Central Plains migrate to Lingnan, the amount of cultivated land increases, and the advantages of the Lingnan region grow greater.

In the beginning, Lingnan needed support from the imperial court.

But now.

The Lingnan region has achieved basic self-sufficiency, and at this rate, it will only take a few short years.

The Great Han will be enough to recoup the consumption in the Lingnan region.

At the same time, progress in sugar production, pepper plantations, and other areas has also been very rapid.

Such things are naturally state-run.

Gu Yi could not possibly hand over such profitable industries entirely, otherwise, it would surely cause unnecessary trouble.

With everything having a detailed plan.

By the twenty-ninth year of Qianji, all of this had already begun to show results.

And with the completion of the canal expansion.

The subsequent city planning for the Lingnan region was also put on the agenda.

Everything is slowly getting better.

Although it has only just begun, the changes in the Lingnan region are already earth-shaking.

But even in such a favorable situation.

The entire Lingnan region is still gradually being shrouded in a haze.

Everyone is worried about Gu Ye's health.

He is too important to Lingnan.

No, not just Lingnan.

This is also true for the northern frontier.

No one can imagine what would happen to the entire Lingnan region if Gu Ye were to suddenly collapse.

But even if others are worried, what can they do?

For whom can time stand still?

Gu Ling has been nursing Gu Ye back to health, but his body is still getting worse.

And just in the fourth month of the thirtieth year of Qianji.

As news from Luoyang was sent to Lingnan once again.

Even if Gu Ye insists otherwise, he has no choice but to return to Luoyang.

—Liu Chen is critically ill!

The glorious era is destined to pass completely.

Liu Chen was already a few years older than Gu Ye, and now he too has reached the end of his lifespan.

He sent an urgent edict for Gu Ye to rush back to the court to stabilize the situation.

This time, Gu Ye has no choice.

Even knowing that for his current health, returning to Luoyang is gambling with his life, he must go back.

As this matter spread.

It immediately set off stormy waves in Lingnan once again.

—Someone actually wants to persuade the Gu family to declare independence!

Even Gu Yi had not expected that there would be people saying such things to the Gu family.

And the methods of these people were very clever; they did not go to persuade Gu Ye, the current head of the Gu family, but were persuading other Gu family members.

Among them were Han people who had migrated there, as well as some Yue people.

Gu Yi can understand.

Among this group, there must be loyal followers of the Gu family who want the Gu family to lead them forever.

But no matter what, there will always be those with ulterior motives.

As time passes, the benefits of Lingnan have gradually manifested.

This kind of profit can cloud many people's minds.

When Gu Ye learned of this, he was incomparably furious.

This was the first time Gu Yi had seen Gu Ye show such a murderous expression.

But this cannot be blamed on him.

A person of his character would absolutely not tolerate anyone inciting Gu family members, thereby threatening the entire family.

Gu Ye immediately wanted to have Wen Yang slaughter all these people.

But Gu Yi controlled him at that very moment.

He intends to see if there are any other Gu family members among them who would abandon the family's interests for the sake of ambition.

This is a very good opportunity!

Invisible waves are raging throughout the Lingnan region.

Although Gu Yi also understands.

Human hearts are unpredictable, and one should not test human hearts.

But for the stability of the entire family, he must reduce all risks.

The Gu family has paid too much to get to where they are today.

If any family member truly harbors malicious intent, the efforts of so many generations of the Gu family would be wiped out in an instant.

Unlike before.

The momentum and position that Lingnan now displays truly have the capability for independence.

Although such independence cannot last long.

But when ambition takes hold, people often lose all reason.

He only had people secretly keep a close watch on every movement.

And on the surface, Gu Yi controlled Gu Ye to handle all matters regarding the return to the capital.

—The atmosphere changed abruptly!

Although everything happened in secret, as Gu Ye showed his attitude of returning to the capital, the atmosphere in Lingnan gradually changed.

Even Gu Yi's heart gradually became tense.

Even though he had made full preparations, there was still a trace of worry.

This is the inevitable situation faced by the family that has remained glorious until today.

Even he cannot interfere.

Time passes in a hurry.

Countless undercurrents are churning in the shadows of the Lingnan region.

Gu Yi has been watching all of this, listening to those people's incitement of the Gu family members.

Silently waiting for their choice.

Finally—

Just before the day of departure when Gu Ye was about to state his position, a group of Gu family members finally found Gu Ye.

Night.

Listening to the soft calls outside the door.

Gu Ye's body could not help but tremble slightly; he was also very nervous.

"Come in."

He took a deep breath and then spoke.

With a creak—

The door was slowly pushed open, and several Gu family members walked in with solemn expressions, bowing to Gu Ye as soon as they entered.

"Big Brother!"

To this day, the skin of these Gu family members has become much darker.

There is no longer that sense of detachment from before.

Gu Ye's body was trembling slightly, but he still maintained a normal appearance on his face and asked indifferently: "What is it?"

He is not a person without family affection.

Gu Ye was also very afraid that these brothers would say something they shouldn't say to him.

"Big Brother, we have something to report."

The few looked at each other, and finally, the eldest among them hesitated and said these words.

"What is it?" Gu Ye's breathing suddenly became a bit hurried, and he asked immediately.

Gu Yi has been watching all of this and did not interfere.

If one looks at the situation of the previous generations of Gu family members, he would definitely not be this worried.

But now, things are finally different.

That Gu Shizi did not say much; he only hesitated for a moment before slowly taking a handwritten letter from his bosom and handing it to Gu Ye.

"Elder brother, these are the people my younger brothers and I have recorded over these past few days."

"They incited my Gu clan to establish our own independence."

As these words were spoken, none of them hesitated any longer, and they immediately detailed the clean-up of these past few days to Gu Ye.

Looking at the people before him.

Gu Yi could clearly feel Gu Ye’s body suddenly relax, and he let out a heavy sigh.

Compared to Gu Yi’s mood, Gu Ye was only more nervous.

These people were all his brothers.

If they had truly made choices detrimental to the clan, even if he could not bear it, Gu Ye would certainly have taken action against them.

But now, he could finally set his heart at ease.

"Good."

As the voices of the group gradually faded, Gu Ye looked at them with satisfaction and praised them sincerely: "As expected of the descendants of my Gu clan, you have not brought shame to the Gu clan."

None of them were fools.

Hearing this, they immediately realized that Gu Ye had already known about this matter.

Without a shred of hesitation, they immediately knelt before Gu Ye: "Big Brother, although we are untalented."

"We also know the hardships our Gu clan has faced to reach today."

"The efforts of our ancestors over generations, the heavy burden on Big Brother's shoulders..."

"Even Mo Qing can work hard for the clan."

"How could we bring shame to the clan?"

The expressions of the group were incomparably resolute.

Leading by example has always been the best method of education.

Although these Gu Shizi once had issues with their intellect, after years of tempering, they had long since changed.

Especially the changes in Gu Han, and the achievements he later attained.

It had made these people change all the more.

Silently watching these people before him, even Gu Yi could not help but breathe a sigh of relief.

Clearly—

Everything he had done was useful after all.

Just as the Gu clan was about to step onto a fork in the road, he had finally pulled the Gu clan back once more.

The great purge arrived as scheduled.

Regarding the disposal of these people, Gu Ye did not show the slightest bit of mercy.

Perhaps there was also the intention to establish authority in this.

Gu Ye wanted to intimidate those with ulterior motives before he left.

Under his orders.

Wen Yang led his men to various places, and regardless of the other party's status, they were executed immediately.

There was not a shred of mercy to speak of.

——Lingnan was shaken to its core!

Gu Ye wisely did not directly announce the crimes of these people, only labeling them as "having ulterior motives and disturbing Lingnan."

The deterrent effect of this on the entire Lingnan was by no means small.

And after this matter concluded, in the month of June.

Gu Ye finally left Lingnan.

Heading toward Luoyangcheng.

At the time of departure, the common people from all sides came to see him off.

Among them were Han people and Yue people.

They also knew they could not interfere with Gu Ye's decision, and could only use their own ways to pray for Gu Ye's safety at this moment of parting.

Gu Ling had wanted to follow Gu Ye back to Luoyangcheng.

Her medical skills were now quite extraordinary, and she would definitely be of use on the road.

But Gu Ye refused.

He had a premonition of his own end.

Even if he could return to Luoyangcheng, he would likely never return to Lingnan again.

But Gu Ling was different.

Staying in Lingnan to continue walking her own path was the most appropriate choice.

Regarding this, Gu Yi did not interfere.

He still had the "Cure-All Talisman" in his hand.

As long as Gu Ye did not die of old age, he was confident he could protect Gu Ye.

As for Wen Yang.

This time, he chose to return to Luoyangcheng together with Gu Ye.

He was no longer young either.

Rather than staying in Lingnan, he was more willing to follow Gu Ye back to Luoyangcheng, regardless of whether he could hold on.

At the very least, this was what he wanted to do most.

Time flowed on; compared to when they first fought their way into Lingnan, everything had long since changed.

Whether it was Gu Ye, or Wen Yang.

Or even those fallen soldiers of the Han Army.

They had all left their marks on this land.

Even the surrounding mountains and rivers had changed.

But on this return journey, they could still see too many shadows of the past, reminding them of many, many stories from years gone by.

Gu Ye became increasingly silent.

Even Wen Yang no longer had his usual boisterousness.

Perhaps this was also one of the characteristics of the Huaxia people.

Often, after reaching a certain age, one becomes increasingly nostalgic.

He went to pay his respects to Zhong Hui.

And at every battlefield where they had fought in the past, he would stop to offer sacrifices to the soldiers who had fallen on this land.

Gu Ye was not in too much of a hurry regarding the schedule of this trip.

Even though the roads had long been repaired, this journey was still very long.

His age was no longer young.

Being anxious was useless.

It might very well cause him to fall before Liu Chen.

As for the Great Han.

The monarch and his subject must at least have one of them remain.

Gu Ye saw this very clearly; if they were meant to meet, the monarch and subject would meet regardless.

This journey was destined to be very difficult.

Gu Ye still fell ill.

He had truly reached the age of the candle, and even though he was walking on these repaired roads, he ultimately could not bear it.

Fortunately, Gu Yi had been watching closely the entire time.

He used an item at the first opportunity, which helped him overcome the crisis.

But clearly—

There was not much time left for him.

Luoyangcheng.

After many years, Gu Ye finally returned to this city once again.

Just like the welcome of years past.

Although Liu Chen also had a head full of white hair and no longer possessed his former high spirits, he still led his officials to welcome Gu Ye outside the city.

"Your Majesty..."

Looking at Liu Chen’s appearance, Gu Ye’s eyes turned red in an instant.

He stumbled as he stepped down from the carriage.

Trembling as he spoke, he prepared to kneel before Liu Chen.

But Liu Chen directly stopped Gu Ye, his own eyes also slightly red, and said with a trembling voice: "Zhaode is the pillar of my Great Han, there is no need for this."

"Your Majesty!"

Gu Ye gripped Liu Chen’s arm.

The monarch and subject looked at each other; although they did not say much, it was as if they had said everything there was to say.

For the two of them—

To be able to meet again is already a great fortune in life.

At least among the wise monarchs of the Han and the virtuous ministers of the Gu family throughout history, there are truly few who could meet again in their twilight years.

"Let's go!"

Liu Chen pulled Gu Ye by the arm and, disregarding all etiquette, walked toward the city just like that.

Countless gazes followed them.

Some people even uttered words of shock involuntarily.

Yet the two of them did not care in the slightest, leading the ministers as they walked slowly toward the city.

This day was destined to be extraordinary.

Liu Chen held a grand celebration banquet for Gu Ye, proclaiming his merit in pacifying Lingnan.

The ministers naturally accompanied them.

But for Gu Ye, there were not many familiar faces left in the imperial court now.

What truly drew Gu Yi's attention was Liu Jun.

He was also the current Crown Prince of the Great Han.

Regarding the offspring Liu Chen had in the original history, Gu Yi actually had no impression of them at all.

The only impression was knowing they were killed by Liu Chen before the fall of Shu Han.

He naturally had to take a good look.

But unfortunately, perhaps due to his fear of Liu Chen, Liu Jun did not show anything, and nothing extraordinary could be seen.

Throughout the banquet, Liu Chen kept conversing with Gu Ye.

The monarch and his minister could be said to have spoken of everything.

In the end, Liu Chen even had Gu Ye stay overnight within the imperial palace.

Regarding this—

Gu Ye did not refuse.

Liu Chen's health had indeed developed problems; his complexion was noticeably pale.

He would cough a few times every now and then.

It was a pity that the "Ailment-Curing Talisman" could only be used for Gu family descendants; otherwise, Gu Yi would have liked to save Liu Chen.

The monarch and his minister continued to recount the past years just like that.

Although these matters had been mentioned many times in their letters, there was not the slightest aversion on either of their faces.

Gu Ye slowly laid out the future plans for Lingnan.

Blue smoke curled from the bronze burner on the desk; a flush appeared on Liu Chen's previously pale face as he tapped his fingertips on the table: "As expected of Zhaode! If we can truly lay out the plans like this, our Great Han will surely shine through the ages!"

Before he finished speaking, he suddenly paused, looking at the withered paulownia leaves outside the window, his smile fading into a sigh, "It is just that I fear I shall not live to see this grand scene of a thousand autumns."

"Your Majesty, please be careful with your words!" Gu Ye rose abruptly, "With your dragon body in perfect health, there are many days ahead; why say such things?"

Liu Chen waved his hand, his wide sleeves embroidered with gold dragons sliding down to reveal the dark patterns on his wrists, "Why must Zhaode comfort me? We of the Liu family have not feared life or death since our ancestors."

His gaze pierced through the gauze curtains and landed on Gu Ye, "To see you return while I am on my deathbed, I have no regrets."

"With Zhaode here, the Great Han has no worries."

As he spoke, Liu Chen took out the imperial edict he had prepared long ago.

The content on it was very simple.

It was to appoint Gu Ye as Grand Tutor and Recorder of the Secretariat.

Looking at the content of this edict, even Gu Yi felt a moment of trance.

Since Gu Xi.

The official position of Grand Tutor seemed to have been elevated.

Although nominally still inferior to the Chancellor, it had surpassed the Chancellor.

For instance, in the current Yan Han.

Since Liu Bei ascended the throne as Emperor, no one had ever held the position of Grand Tutor.

Whether in the imperial court or among the common people.

The position of "Grand Tutor" had completely attained a different status.

Gu Ye's body trembled, and he looked at Liu Chen with a complex expression: "Your Majesty, why go to such lengths?"

"The Crown Prince has enough benevolence but lacks decisiveness." Liu Chen leaned against the dragon-patterned cushion, his voice growing weaker, "I have already paved the way for him, but I am still worried... Only with you overseeing the court can I close my eyes in peace."

His tone was very calm and very frank.

Gu Ye's lips moved slightly, but he ultimately could not say anything.

The hall fell into silence.

The monarch and his minister sat opposite each other without any airs.

Liu Chen had long felt exhausted, but he still forced himself to look at Gu Ye silently, and only after a long while did he speak again.

He began to introduce the current court ministers to Gu Ye.

He spoke in great detail.

Carefully describing their origins, their characters, and their talents.

Gu Ye listened very attentively.

Including Gu Yi as well.

Although Gu Ye was extremely unfamiliar with these people, he did hear some familiar names.

Until the end—

Liu Chen brought up another topic.

"Zhaode, why not let the Gu family descendants enter the court?"

Liu Chen stared fixedly at Gu Ye.

This was what he found most puzzling; the current Gu family had changed greatly from before.

Although there were many Gu family descendants serving as officials in the provinces.

But at the core of the imperial court, there was only Gu Ye, and Gu Ye was no longer young.

He had mentioned more than once that he wanted to promote Gu family descendants.

But Gu Yi had refused every time.

Hearing this, Gu Yi could no longer just watch, and immediately controlled Gu Ye to say: "Your Majesty, the Gu family descendants lack the talent and cannot shoulder such heavy responsibilities."

Liu Chen shook his head slightly and sighed helplessly: "So it is really like this."

He did not know how to express his thoughts at this moment.

This was the difference between the Gu family and other noble clans.

To put it bluntly, this behavior was something very gratifying for an emperor.

After all, this point alone was enough to prove the integrity of a noble clan.

But for the Emperor of Yan Han, it was somewhat different.

Without the Gu family in the court, it seemed that something was missing for Yan Han.

But what could he say?

"The tripod of the Liu family shall be engraved with the name of the Gu family."

He could indeed fulfill this oath, but was it really good for the Great Han to forcibly promote Gu family descendants?

If the Gu family fell to the level of other noble clans because of this move.

What kind of impact would that have on the Great Han?

Liu Chen had thought about this question countless times, but he could never come up with a good answer.

Time is ruthless, and history must always move forward.

Even Gu Yi had to admit it.

As the Gu family descendants gradually became mediocre, the glorious era belonging to Yan Han was destined to gradually come to an end.

He could gamble and use items obtained through lucky draws to cultivate talent.

But for the long-term plan of the Gu family.

Gu Yi could not make such a choice.

There is no eternal dynasty.

Achievement points were tools for Gu Yi to support the collapsing Gu family mansion, not for adding flowers to a brocade.

That night, the monarch and his minister slept at the same table.

From this day on.

Gu Ye appeared in the imperial court once again.

The Great Han was indeed in a flourishing state; the peace on the borders and the absence of large-scale natural disasters allowed the strength of the Great Han to develop rapidly.

Including the effectiveness of the imperial examinations, which was also extraordinary.

Liu Chen was capable, keeping the entire Great Han on the correct path of development.

Gu Ye did not even need to interfere too much, only needing to keep control of the court.

Liu Chen had indeed reached the end.

After returning to the capital with Gu Ye, it was as if he had fulfilled his final wish; not long after, he collapsed.

This day came faster than imagined.

The thirty-first year of Ganji, the day of Xinwei in the second month;

Liu Chen passed away with a smile in the Beigong of Luoyang.

At the moment of his passing, he entrusted all state affairs into the hands of Gu Ye.

Crown Prince Liu Jun ascended the throne.

His posthumous title was Mu.

To spread virtue and uphold righteousness is called Mu; to have one's inner feelings reflected in one's appearance is called Mu; to cultivate virtue and faith is called Mu.

He was thus the Filial Mu Emperor of the Great Han.

Crown Prince Liu Jun ascended the throne.

——————

"The Filial Mu Emperor, personal name Chen, was the grandson of the Illustrious Martial Emperor Bei and the son of the Filial Ren Emperor. His mother was Empress Gong, née Chen. He was clever and sensitive in his youth, well-versed in the Classic of Filial Piety, the Analects, and the Gu Learning."

In the first month of spring in the first year of Qianji, the Filial Ren Emperor passed away. The Crown Prince ascended the throne as Emperor and granted a general amnesty to the world. In the second month, he paid respects at the High Temple.

The Emperor continued the old imperial examination system of the Filial Ren Emperor, and in the third year of Jianji, he issued an edict to add the two subjects of Mathematics and Agricultural Policy. Once, while presiding over the examinations, he said to the Attendant Gentleman: "Governing a country is like tuning a zither; if it is too loose, there is no sound, and if it is too tight, the strings will snap. The current examinations should select those who understand worldly affairs."

He then ordered the Imperial Academy to add instruction on the land system and the Classic of Waterways.

That year, the provinces and commanderies recommended forty-seven people for Mathematics and sixty-three for Agricultural Policy, all of whom were granted official posts accordingly.

In the second year of Qianji, chaos erupted in the northern borderlands.

The Emperor ascended the platform to appoint Gu Ye as Grand General Ye, bestowing upon him the battle-axe. Ye set out from Youzhou, defeated the bandits in a single battle, and all three barbarian tribes surrendered.

In the seventeenth year, Ye marched south to Lingnan again, crossed the ancient Meiguan Road, and captured Panyu. The Emperor unbuckled the Zhanlu sword he was wearing and bestowed it upon Ye, with the edict: "The General's achievements are comparable to those of Wei and Huo."

The Emperor was frugal by nature and often wore washed clothes.

The Sili Captain submitted a request to renovate the Beigong, but the Emperor replied: "Now that there is famine in Henei and flooding in Nanyang, how can we spend millions from the treasury to build rooms for me?" The project was stopped.

Whenever he encountered disasters or omens, he would wear plain clothes, avoid the main halls, and send envoys to inspect the commanderies and kingdoms.

Once, while reading the Discourses on Salt and Iron at night, he reached the chapter on "The Worthy and the Literati" and sighed with emotion: "The methods of Sang and Kong are ultimately inferior to Chao Cuo's 'Memorial on the Importance of Grain'."

On the Xinwei day of the second month in the thirty-first year, the Emperor passed away in the Xuanshi Hall of the Beigong at the age of fifty-nine.

His last edict stated: "Let the funeral rites be simplified, counting days as months. All princes shall return to their fiefs and must not leave without authorization." That evening, a white rainbow pierced the Big Dipper, and the Luo River suddenly froze for three days. On the Gengyin day of the third month, he was buried in the Xian Mausoleum on Mount Mang.

His posthumous title was Mu.

—— "Book of Yan Han: Annals of the Filial Mu Emperor"

(End of chapter)