Chapter 16: A Wise Emperor and Virtuous Ministers, Benefiting All Under Heaven

The emperor's reinstatement of the Gu clan had consequences vastly different from those of his initial summons.

No one knew what Gu Kang had said to Liu Zhuang that day.

Yet, from that day onward;

the Gu clan seemed to instantly revive its former glory, once again radiating brilliant light, just as in the days of Gu Xiao's lifetime.

As Gu Yi had predicted, the personalities of Gu Kang and Liu Zhuang were perfectly aligned.

Liu Zhuang was a man who demanded extremely high standards from his ministers.

Gu Kang was a pragmatist.

When both shared the same ambition, the two could achieve more than the sum of their parts.

Before the grand enterprise, any obstruction would be shattered by the two of them.

Liu Zhuang did not hide his favoritism toward Gu Kang.

He began by appointing Gu Kang as Yi Lang, granting him direct access to court deliberations.

This kind of official debut

was an unprecedented breakthrough, leaving everyone stunned.

After assuming the post of Yi Lang, Gu Kang fully demonstrated his political prowess.

He was never some greenhorn fresh to court—he was a born politician.

With his flexible moral boundaries, Gu Kang, upon entering court, presented everyone with a grand gift.

The Gu clan had not been reduced to nothing!

Among the founding meritorious officials still alive today, countless had once received favors from Gu Xiao.

In this era that Values Character, this was the Gu clan's innate weapon.

Assisting Liu Zhuang in centralizing power;

firmly establishing the restoration of the miu-liu system for both imperial clan and meritorious officials.

Suppressing the empress's kin.

Forget the emperor favoring the Gu clan—even if he entertained thoughts of promoting the empress's kin,

the Gu clan was the Gu clan, and the empress's kin were the empress's kin!

Leveraging his innate political instinct, Gu Kang helped Liu Zhuang achieve one political goal after another, making everyone understand this truth.

Precisely because of this, within just a few months, Gu Kang was promoted from Yi Lang to Minister Lang.

This was the rank of the emperor's favored minister.

Yi Lang could participate in court deliberations, but Minister Lang could carry out actual operations.

Assisting the emperor in drafting imperial edicts on court systems.

With the Minister Tai's status rising ever higher, this position had become one of the most coveted in the court.

Holding this post, barring any unforeseen mishap, guaranteed a future achievement of at least the Nine Ministers rank.

This news sent shockwaves through court and realm.

Though everyone had already sensed the emperor's favor toward Gu Kang,

the speed of Gu Kang's promotion was still astonishing.

At least let Gu Kang serve in the provinces first for some experience!

He's only just begun his career—how could he rise so fast? What if he earns more merit later?

Could it be that the Gu clan is truly destined to rise?

After Gu Xiao, could his son even reach the Three Excellencies?

This sudden change caught everyone off guard.

Of course, not everyone was passive toward the Gu clan.

In today's court, countless individuals did not wish to see the Gu clan rise again.

But they needed no help from Liu Zhuang—Gu Kang, with his 90-point political attribute, would simply teach them their place.

Perhaps due to Gu Yi's early teachings, Gu Kang had clearly seen the core weaknesses of today's great clans.

Unstable political alliances. Internal family problems.

Whenever Gu Kang seized upon any one of these flaws, all attacks against him dissolved effortlessly, and sometimes even those who attacked him faced punishment.

In short, Gu Kang dared to overturn the table.

The Gu clan's lack of deep roots had, at this moment, become his advantage.

He could overturn others, but no one could overturn him.

After this happened two or three times, no one bothered with futile efforts anymore.

The Gu clan's resurgence seemed inevitable, and many even feared Gu Kang might seek revenge.

But Gu Kang had no interest in playing their games.

After firmly securing his position and proving his abilities were more than empty words, he turned to what he did best.

——Farming!

After that conversation with Liu Zhuang, both agreed that achieving such a grand enterprise required restoring the entire Han dynasty's national strength.

In fact, Liu Xiu's policies had already laid a perfect foundation for the Han.

He had perfectly guided the realm to recovery after great chaos.

By the second year of Zhongyuan, the Han had over four million households and a population exceeding twenty-one million.

Now, after several years, the population had seen yet another slight increase.

This was the foundation of a golden age.

Liu Zhuang deeply agreed.

From the moment Liu Zhuang again ordered Gu Kang to assume the role of Field Cao Clerk, the two immediately began large-scale land reform.

Of course, such a matter could not be accomplished overnight.

Insufficient understanding; limitations in productivity; plus the differences in land across regions;

All these problems ensured the matter could only proceed slowly.

Gu Kang clearly understood this well, so from the outset he directly advised Liu Zhuang.

This reform of fertilizing fields should begin in Hebei, to first open a favorable situation.

As for the reasons, he had explained them clearly.

Because as the Gu clan's influence in Julu grew, the grain output of Julu's farmers gradually increased—and the surrounding people could see it.

Many had already begun to imitate it.

The resistance to fully implementing this would not be great.

Moreover, having lived in Julu for years, he understood the land of Hebei thoroughly.

As for other regions, they could first be ordered to pilot the program in each commandery and kingdom.

Gu Kang had clearly already thought through how to spread his techniques nationwide; handling such matters came naturally to him.

Liu Zhuang naturally accepted all of Gu Kang's suggestions.

He fully understood the importance of this matter, and even decided to perform the "Ritual of Personal Plowing" to set an example.

This was precisely what made Liu Zhuang extraordinary.

Unlike those emperors who each considered themselves superior, he preferred to lead by example to achieve his goals.

Gu Yi had been silently observing everything, his emotions strangely complex.

Everything seemed to be unfolding as he had originally envisioned, yet everything was utterly different.

Gu Kang and Liu Zhuang had truly become a natural pair.

Though it had only just begun, the two already exhibited the legendary image of a wise ruler and virtuous minister—something he had never imagined.

Even though the future remained unknown.

But at least now, the Gu clan was truly growing better.

And more surprising than anything else was the curved-plow and the fertilizer reform.

This had merely been a casual move he had made back then, just to see if he could earn achievement points.

Yet the impact it had now seemed greater than all his previous actions combined.

Although by modern agricultural standards, what Gu Kang and Liu Zhuang had done was insignificant.

But in today's Han Dynasty, its significance was entirely different.

According to the original course of history,

The curved-plow was not developed until the Tang Dynasty;

Yet now it had been advanced ahead of time!

If this transformation continued, what changes might unfold in the future—truly hard to imagine.

When Gu Yi realized this, he immediately exited the game zone and carefully checked the detailed records, hoping to see if anything had changed.

But unfortunately, all of it was destined to remain powerless against the force of time.

Though the curved-plow's appearance had shifted from the Tang to the Eastern Han,

The intervening time seemed suspended, without the continuous progress Gu Yi had expected.

The self-correcting power of history appeared to have paused its development.

Everything… was no different from before.

Clearly, only by continuing to flourish could the Gu clan truly influence history.

Gu Yi quickly calmed down and returned to the game.

Marquis of Champion Fu.

This was now the Gu clan's main base in Luoyang, granted to Gu Xiao by Liu Xiu.

Although the Gu clan had not resided in the capital for years, the estate had never been neglected, and it was large enough for both Gu Kang and Gu Sheng to live there.

Because of their deep favor with Liu Xiu in the past,

The Hou Fu was extremely close to the imperial palace.

That Gu Kang and Gu Sheng both resided here now was proof enough of how much favor they enjoyed.

Of course, the most striking figure was Gu Kang.

Though Gu Sheng now held the official post of Central Army Sima, few paid attention to him.

No one wished to believe,

That three members of the Gu clan across two generations would become accomplished.

"Brother, today I met a remarkable person."

Before Gu Sheng entered, his voice came through the door.

Gu Kang, who was reviewing reports from various regions, did not even look up; when Gu Sheng stepped inside, he asked, "What remarkable person?"

"The fortune-teller said he will be enfeoffed as a marquis ten thousand li away."

Gu Sheng's face lit up with delight; he chuckled twice. "The fortune-teller also said I will be enfeoffed as a marquis ten thousand li away."

Hearing this, Gu Kang finally set down his documents and looked at Gu Sheng. "You believe him?"

"Why not believe?"

Gu Sheng countered. "Do you doubt I can achieve merit and glory?"

This might be a common ailment of the Gu clan's current branch.

Gu Kang was confident in his own abilities.

Gu Sheng, however, was confident in his Wu Gong.

"Facial reading cannot be trusted," Gu Kang said again, shaking his head seriously.

He fundamentally did not align with the mindset of the people of this era, and did not believe in ghosts or demons.

This was actually because of Gu Yi.

When he first took Gu Kang to the fields with Gu Xiao, he had asked him what one should do if there was no rain or drought.

At that time, Gu Kang had given a response fitting the age.

That was to pray to the gods.

Gu Yi had then told him the principle of "Respect the spirits but keep away from them," which shaped Gu Kang's current attitude toward such matters.

"Sigh, elder brother."

Gu Sheng sighed helplessly, "I know these things aren't trustworthy, but after speaking with that man, I found him truly extraordinary."

"His family is in dire poverty."

"Could you recommend him to Your Majesty? Let him serve in my army?"

Hearing this, Gu Kang frowned slightly.

Recommendation was not uncommon in the Han.

But now it was different: Liu Zhuang was extremely strict with officials; if the recommended person proved incapable, the recommender would be punished alongside him.

This greatly improved the quality of recommended officials.

But it also made recommendation far more burdensome than it once was.

Yet Gu Kang still had full trust in his younger brother, Gu Sheng.

Though he often seemed arrogant in daily life,

in military ability,

Gu Kang believed he himself could not match Gu Sheng—only strategy in court could outwit him.

The man Gu Sheng recommended,

Gu Kang fell silent, then spoke again: "Tell me, who exactly is he?"

"His name is Ban Chao, style name Zhongsheng."

Seeing Gu Kang's willingness to agree, Gu Sheng immediately smiled again: "He is from Pingling, a family generations devoted to historiography."

"His father is Ban Biao; his elder brother is Ban Gu, currently serving as Bureau of Textual Editing."

"And now he is copying texts for the government."

"Elder brother… you don't know—I spoke with him at length. Just by looking at him, you can tell he's unsuited to be a scholar."

Gu Sheng's expression grew increasingly serious as he spoke.

Hearing this, Gu Kang immediately recalled.

Ban Gu?

Wasn't that the man who was arrested for writing the Book of Han, later pardoned by the Emperor?

As a close minister, Gu Kang remembered this recent event clearly.

Ban Gu's release

came about precisely because his younger brother came to the capital to plead his case.

Remembering this, Gu Kang no longer hesitated—he nodded directly: "Fine, I will speak to Your Majesty about it."

He didn't even want to waste time examining him.

If Gu Sheng couldn't tell whether a man could fight,

how could he ever accomplish great things?

Besides, the current Emperor values benevolence and filial piety—Ban Chao's conduct makes his recommendation certain to be approved. What's there to examine?

"Thank you, elder brother!"

Gu Sheng laughed twice, then, seeing Gu Kang pick up the documents again, quickly raised his other purpose:

"Elder brother… could you speak to Your Majesty for me?"

"Don't make me train troops anymore."

Speaking of this, Gu Sheng couldn't help sighing.

Though he knew his elder brother was formidable,

the difference was simply too great.

Since arriving in Luoyang, he had been serving as Central Army Sima, training the Central Army.

For Gu Sheng, who had yet to earn battlefield merit and did not wish to waste his life, this was torture.

"When the Shao Dang Qiang raided Longxi, Your Majesty said he would give me a major post someday."

"It's been so long now…"

Some people are simply like this:

excellent at warfare, but clearly lacking in political acumen.

Gu Sheng was clearly one such man.

Gu Kang looked at this foolish younger brother and waved his hand, dismissing him.

He didn't even bother explaining the reasoning to Gu Sheng.

What's the point of small battles?

When Han's strength is fully restored, there will be countless great wars for you to fight.

Why rush now?

Seeing this, Gu Sheng sighed helplessly. Though he had more to say, seeing Gu Kang already pick up the documents, he could only leave dejectedly.

Gu Yi had been watching them all along, and now his expression was somewhat helpless.

Why can't our Gu clan produce a truly well-rounded talent?

Is this specialization really that extreme?

The achievements of civil officials are right there for all to see, and since Liu Zhuang wishes to rule the realm, promotions must come faster.

Military officers naturally differ from civil officials.

Liu Zhuang harbors great ambitions and has clearly recognized his abilities.

He can't even endure this little bit of time.

Gu Yi silently grumbled, yet his anticipation for Gu Cheng's future accomplishments grew ever stronger.

He actually encountered Ban Chao!

This completely caught him off guard.

Who could have imagined that the Gu clan would now become Ban Chao's patron?

Brothers, never raise scholars!!!

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(End of Chapter)