Chapter 30: Gu Kang Establishes Scholarship, Canonized After Death

Gu Kang seemed to have already sensed the abnormality in his own body.

From then on;

He wrote books even more day and night.

He exhausted all his heart and blood into them.

The core philosophy of this book by Gu Kang was to "respect ghosts and gods but keep them at a distance," aiming to persuade people to solve problems through their own efforts rather than through blindly worshipping heaven and gods.

But at the same time, he integrated some of the prophetic and apocryphal studies of the New Text Confucianism.

He fused orthodox concepts such as "divine right of kings" and the "Three Bonds and Five Constant Virtues" into it.

He truly achieved a synthesis, taking the essence of both ancient and modern texts.

This was where Gu Kang’s cleverness lay.

He wanted to expound his own thoughts without completely severing ties with either school.

Within it, he also integrated the various ritual systems he had established with the Emperor Ming.

Furthermore, Gu Kang also annotated the classics within it, incorporating his own insights.

He had no intention of hiding this matter at all; as he gradually finished writing, he went to the Imperial Academy several times to discuss scholarship with the students.

The impact caused by this matter could be said to be not the least bit inferior to Gu Cheng opening up the entire Western Regions.

Gu Kang was actually engaging in scholarship!

The court officials finally realized what Gu Kang was actually doing.

Especially after hearing Gu Kang’s theories, the entire New Text school exploded!

The impact of such a thing could not be suppressed simply by relying on status.

Although Gu Kang was extremely talented.

The core content of his work had huge differences with the concepts of the entire New Text school.

Both sides debated scholarship within the Imperial Academy for many days.

Gu Kang naturally had the upper hand repeatedly.

After all, his level of scholarship was not poor to begin with, not to mention he had the foundation of the current prosperous age of the world.

This made Gu Kang appear somewhat unassailable.

There even began to be people who gradually supported Gu Kang.

But even so, the academic turmoil throughout the Great Han still could not be stopped.

Liu Da truly possessed excellent talent in the study of classics.

Under these circumstances.

He actually decided to summon Confucian scholars from all over to the White Tiger Hall to discuss the similarities and differences of the Five Classics.

The impact of this matter was truly unimaginable.

New Text scholars, Old Text scholars, and even famous Confucian scholars from various regions all came here one after another.

Although both sides had always been at odds, under these circumstances, they naturally joined forces to deal with Gu Kang.

Everyone realized the danger of Gu Kang.

A person with his status and the foundation of a prosperous age was a test for all Confucian scholars in the world who had their own beliefs.

But what could joining forces achieve?

What did it mean to integrate the strengths of the two schools?

The heart and blood Gu Kang spent on this were unimaginable to others.

He could always strike both sides from the most precise angles.

The most critical point was that the foundation of this prosperous age Gu Kang possessed was simply too deep.

Even if one searched through all historical records.

It was impossible to find a prosperous age like the current one.

This was something created by the hands of Liu Zhuang and Gu Kang.

For Gu Kang, this was a finishing move!

The successive successes of fertile fields and water management laid a sufficient foundation for Gu Kang’s entire philosophy.

For a full several months.

Gu Kang had been facing the targeting of everyone.

More and more people were influenced by Gu Kang; his thoughts, combined with the current prosperous age, were simply too persuasive.

In the end, everyone finally fell silent.

During this time, Liu Da had been listening carefully.

Now, as he grew older, he appeared increasingly heroic.

He had been letting Ban Gu record everything.

And he also had his own judgment.

Regarding Confucianism.

Liu Da showed an attitude that cared even more than Emperor Guangwu or even Emperor Ming.

Finally, he had Ban Gu compile the *White Tiger Comprehensive Discussions*, fully incorporating Gu Kang’s thoughts into it and making it the official curriculum.

He completely settled the differences in the academic circles of the entire Eastern Han!

For a time, Gu Kang’s reputation reached its peak once again.

Especially after those students who chose to follow Gu Kang entered the Imperial Academy, everyone seemed to have guessed something, and even the atmosphere of the entire Imperial Academy gradually changed.

Gu Yi had been watching all of this, and at this moment, he was also extremely shocked.

"Is this considered the prototype of *Comprehensive Scholarship* and *Balanced Discourses*?"

Who could have thought that what he had originally done just to avoid the overly superstitious education of his family descendants would develop to this point today?

Gu Yi remembered very clearly.

Zheng Xuan’s *Comprehensive Scholarship* combined the strengths of both schools, while Wang Chong’s *Balanced Discourses* criticized prophetic and apocryphal superstitions.

Although the book Gu Kang wrote now seemed not as comprehensive as those two.

But what era was Gu Kang in now?

How great the impact on the academic development of later generations would be, Gu Yi did not yet know.

But for the Gu family.

This was a huge stroke of good fortune!

The world is bustling.

Countless people come and countless people go.

But all of this had nothing to do with the Gu family anymore.

After the White Tiger Hall conference, Gu Kang seemed to have truly exhausted all his heart and blood.

His entire state deteriorated rapidly.

Even though he had not yet reached the age of flickering candles, his head was already full of white hair; one look and it was clear he had exhausted his heart and blood.

"Father."

Inside the Marquis of Champion’s mansion, Gu Liang and the other Gu family descendants all knelt in the room, looking at the dying Gu Kang on the bed with faces full of grief.

The entire room was filled with a heavy atmosphere of sorrow.

Gu Kang turned his head with effort, his gaze full of worry, sweeping over the family descendants one by one, and finally landing on Gu Liang: "Liang'er."

His voice was weak and hoarse.

Gu Liang had to lean closer to barely hear his words.

"After I die, the family's power will definitely weaken rapidly."

"Although you all have some talent, it might be enough to maintain things in other families, but for our Gu family, it is not enough to hold up the entire family."

"This is also the reason why I have not recommended you."

"This is a weight you cannot face."

"Since the late Emperor passed away, I have gradually restrained my sharpness, no longer participating much in government affairs except for major matters, and have successively recommended talented people."

"It is not that I buried my heart and blood in writing and scholarship as the world thinks."

"But rather to gradually relinquish power, all for the future of our Gu family."

"I spent my life assisting the late Emperor in suppressing the hundred officials; the officials have held me in awe for many years, and it has become a habit."

"Under these circumstances, if I still remained sharp."

"After I die, the court officials would surely vent their anger upon the Gu family."

"These years of relinquishing power were to reduce their resentment toward our Gu family."

"This way, they might not target our Gu family."

"Our Gu family has been honored for two dynasties, and the current Son of Heaven values loyalty and righteousness; after I die, he might bestow official titles upon you."

"But you must remember, no matter what, you must not be overly hasty; if there is truly danger, you should yield when you must."

"Our Gu family aims for eternal inheritance, not for short-term gains."

"Even if the family power truly weakens, relying on the reputation accumulated by two generations of our Gu family, it is enough to protect the family for a hundred years of peace."

Gu Kang’s breathing became increasingly rapid, as if his thinking was somewhat unclear, and even his speech seemed somewhat chaotic, but his gaze was still fixed on these Gu family descendants before him:

"Julu is the foundation of the family."

"Two generations of our Gu family have bestowed grace upon the people of the commandery."

"After I die, this matter must not stop."

"You descendants of the family must remember: if a great chaos truly comes in the future, these commoners will be the protection of our Gu family."

Looking at the increasingly frail Gu Kang before him, sounds of sobbing rose within the room.

Gu Kang did not care about this.

He seemed to want to seize his final moments to give his last instructions to these family descendants.

"You must remember: from now on, let the family descendants study the books I have written."

"Although I cannot see how future generations will be."

"I still vaguely feel that this matter may be the foundation for our Gu family to stand for ten thousand generations."

"As for the various problems our Gu family might face in the future, I have also thought a lot and left behind specific methods."

"However, the family descendants need not be overly concerned with these."

"Family descendants may use the methods I have provided as a guide, but they must never follow them entirely."

"The world is always changing."

"No one can know what future generations will be like."

"In the end, this is just me worrying needlessly."

His voice grew increasingly weak.

After saying these words, as if he had finished explaining everything, he slowly turned his head, his vision becoming increasingly blurred.

"No need for sorrow."

"Like Zhenyu, I have no regrets in my heart."

"I believe that death is not the end of a person; being forgotten is."

"Just as I will not forget my father, will not forget the late Emperor, will not forget Zhenyu..."

"As long as our Gu family endures."

"Then the people of the world will not forget us."

"After I die, you may send my remains back to Julu."

"In the past, I once thought Julu was a cage that limited our Gu family; only now do I know that it is the place that can set our hearts at ease."

"If..."

His voice suddenly stopped.

Those eyes that had been struggling to stay open also slowly closed at this moment.

——The third year of Jianchu, the eighth month.

The Grand Minister and Marquis of Guanjun, Gu Kang, passed away in Luoyang.

When this news was spread abroad.

Luoyang was shaken to its core.

The entire imperial court and the public were in an uproar.

Even Empress Dowager Ma and Liu Da rushed to the residence of the Marquis of Guanjun in person, their faces filled with deep sorrow.

Regarding Gu Kang as a subject.

In truth, whether it was Empress Dowager Ma or Liu Da.

Both were very clear.

He was the foundation Liu Zhuang left for Liu Da to suppress the officials of the entire court.

Liu Da ascended the throne as a youth and was able to quickly control real power, which could not have happened without Gu Kang's help.

Even if he did not speak.

He was still a deterrent to the officials.

Although after Liu Zhuang passed away, Gu Kang no longer handled state affairs with the same meticulous care as before.

But was this not also a form of stance?

He only spoke a few times, and every time it was for major events.

He had fulfilled everything he promised Liu Zhuang years ago.

He truly helped him safeguard this prosperous age.

But it was precisely this kind of subject.

Who had died just like that today!

How could they not be grieved?

Even the officials of the court had somewhat complex feelings at this moment.

In fact, for them, a subject like Gu Kang who alone received "imperial favor" was very prone to jealousy and hatred.

But Gu Kang's contributions were plain to see.

They were all the most direct beneficiaries.

Among all the people in the world, who could say they had not received Gu Kang's grace?

The policies of soil enrichment and water management he promoted benefited the entire world!

The Great Han of today still had a very high level of morality.

Coupled with Gu Kang's devolution of power in the years before his passing.

These people now could not harbor the slightest hatred for Gu Kang and came one after another to pay their respects!

Liu Da even decided to suspend the court for three days to express his mourning, followed Gu Kang's last wishes to send the Central Army soldiers to escort Gu Kang's remains back to Hebei, and had the officials discuss his posthumous title.

However, the most shaken was not the imperial court.

It was the common people!

Gu Kang's reputation among the common people was too astonishing!

With years of bountiful harvests, Gu Kang had long since become an object of worship for the commoners, all calling him an "Immortal"!

Now, this immortal had passed away!

When this news spread throughout Luoyangcheng.

The ten thousand people were grief-stricken.

This scene was just like when Liu Zhuang passed away.

It was even greater than that occasion!

Because the commoners could not go to the imperial palace, they could only weep facing the palace!

But the residence of the Marquis of Guanjun was different.

Although the commoners still could not get close, they could weep directly facing the residence of the Marquis of Guanjun!

The common people wept tears of blood!

And this was not the end!

This news quickly spread from Luoyang to the entire Guanzhong, and then to every corner of the world!

The reaction of the commoners was unexpectedly consistent!

Sounds of wailing resounded throughout the entire Great Han.

There were even commoners who built temples for Gu Kang; although they had never seen Gu Kang in person, they relied on various rumors to carve an imagined image of Gu Kang, enshrined him in the temple, and the incense burned on without end.

When Gu Kang's remains were sent to Hebei.

Starting from Luoyang, all the commoners along the way came to pay their respects.

The entire Great Han was once again covered in a layer of gloom.

Under these circumstances, the officials also placed increasing importance on Gu Kang's posthumous title, successively proposing many beautiful titles.

In the end, it was Liu Da who made the final decision on the posthumous title.

"Wencheng" (Cultured and Accomplished).

"Wen" (Cultured) takes the meaning of governing the world and loving the people with kindness.

"Cheng" (Accomplished) takes the meaning of pacifying the people, establishing the government, and assisting the state to a successful end.

And from the moment Gu Kang's posthumous title was decided;

A glorious era also at this very moment;

——came to a complete end.

—————————

"Lord Kang, courtesy name Jishi.

In his youth, he harbored extraordinary ambitions, was well-versed in agricultural techniques, and understood the essentials of hydrology.

In the early years of Yongping, the fields of the world were mostly barren, and the people suffered from famine. Jishi then submitted a memorial stating:

'Agriculture is the foundation of the state; one should broaden the fields, guide the people to plow deeply, and supplement this with fertilization methods, then the land's fertility can be restored, and the year will surely be bountiful.'

The Ming Emperor accepted his words and appointed him Grand Minister of Agriculture, overseeing the agricultural affairs of the world.

Jishi encouraged farming and sericulture, taught the people to accumulate fertilizer to enrich the soil, and divided the times for sowing and harvesting.

In less than three years, there was no uncultivated land, grain overflowed the granaries, and the folk song said: 'Lord Kang enriches the fields, Heaven grants a bountiful year!' For years in a row, there were great harvests, the national strength grew daily, and the accumulation in the treasury was unprecedented in history.

Later, the Yellow River and the Bian River frequently burst their banks, and many people in Yanzhou and Yuzhou drowned. Jishi again requested to manage the water.

The Ming Emperor bestowed upon him the imperial axe and banner to supervise the river works. Jishi led the people to chisel the Zhizhu Mountain, dredge the Bian Canal, build a thousand miles of dikes, and guide the Yellow River into the sea. He once slept in the open on the riverbanks, working alongside the laborers, avoiding neither wind nor rain. In one year, the water disaster was quelled, water transport was cleared, and the people were able to live in peace.

The common people were grateful and called him the 'River God Immortal Official,' building a shrine to him while he was still alive on the riverbank.

In the third year of Jianchu, Jishi passed away.

The Zhang Emperor was deeply grieved, suspended the court for three days, and bestowed the posthumous title 'Wencheng,' with the edict: 'Lord Kang dredged the ditches to save the masses, tamed the rivers to pacify the state, his virtue matches the achievements of Yu.'

On the day of the funeral, those in white mourning clothes blocked the roads, farmers dropped their plows, craftsmen abandoned their axes, and their wailing shook the wilderness."

From the Heluo region to You and Ji, villages and towns all privately worshipped him, some carving wood into his likeness to pray for a bountiful harvest.

In later generations, whenever there were floods, droughts, locusts, or plagues, people would pray at the shrine of Gu Kang, and the incense smoke never ceased."

—— "Book of the Later Han: Biography of Gu Kang"

It is quite a coincidence that an era ended on the very last day of the month.

I hope brothers will show your support!

On this last day, could you help the author round up the monthly votes? We are only a little over a hundred away from reaching one thousand.

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(End of this chapter)