Chapter 33: Luo River Sacrifice, to Calm the People

Luoyang.

Beneath a dim sky.

Whether in the Han court or among the common people, all seemed shrouded in a gloom that lingered long without dispersing.

The Emperor has passed away!

When this news spread from the palace, the entire realm trembled.

Even though he was merely a child.

He had never bestowed grace upon the realm as past emperors had, nor even had the chance to speak with his ministers.

But he was still an emperor.

Gu Kang's school's core principle was "Revere the spirits but keep them at a distance."

Yet "Divine Mandate of Kingship" was also one of its tenets.

And moreover, with Han suffering constant natural disasters, Liu Long's death now seemed to confirm those rumors.

——The people's hearts are scattering!

But what Gu Xi must now face goes beyond even these.

A state cannot go a single day without an emperor.

Though young, Liu Long was still an emperor and requires a royal tomb.

All these matters inevitably fall upon him, the Regent Minister.

Under these circumstances, criticism from court and realm naturally grew incessant.

Petitions arrived one after another.

Directly targeting Empress Dowager Deng Sui.

Moreover, the ministers and Deng Sui held utterly opposing views on who should be named emperor.

The ministers believed Liu Sheng's epilepsy was not severe and proposed installing Liu Sheng as emperor, urging Empress Dowager Deng to return power directly to the sovereign.

But Empress Dowager Deng wished to install Liu Hu, son of Prince Qinghe Liu Qing, as emperor.

Liu Hu had been favored since childhood by Emperor Liu Zhao.

Adopting him directly into Liu Zhao's line to inherit the throne was entirely feasible.

In truth, by bloodline, Liu Sheng, Liu Zhao's eldest son, held the advantage.

But the problem lay in his epilepsy.

As for Gu Xi,

his considerations differed from those of others.

Compared to other ministers, the Gu clan now stood above the fray; installing any emperor would not affect the Gu clan's interests.

As long as Gu Xi remained in power, the Gu clan would remain unharmed.

What he truly needed to consider was the realm.

Though Liu Sheng's epilepsy appeared mild, should it worsen again,

and should Han suffer another emperor's death under such circumstances,

what then?

Would this not convince all under heaven that the court had lost Heaven's favor?

After careful deliberation, Gu Xi agreed with Deng Sui's plan to install Liu Hu as emperor.

Under these circumstances, the ministers could only accept it.

Under these circumstances,

Liu Hu's Grand Ceremony Proceeds as Scheduled.

Though somewhat casual, it was far better than Liu Long's.

After all, Liu Hu was already thirteen, capable of handling many affairs himself.

But precisely because of this, some immediately proposed that Deng Sui return power to Liu Hu.

Let only Gu Xi serve as Regent to govern the state.

Many ministers even came to seek out Gu Xi.

Hoping he would once again take the lead, helping them strip Deng Sui of her authority.

But how could Gu Xi possibly do such a thing now?

The late Empress Dowager Dou was different from Deng Sui.

Though Deng Sui had promoted several of her Deng clan relatives, Deng Zhi and others possessed considerable talent and never acted with the same autocratic arrogance as Dou Xian had.

Moreover, Deng Sui had never laid a hand on the Gu clan.

For Han at this moment, this was most crucial.

Repeated natural disasters had destabilized the people's hearts.

This could not simply be weathered and passed over.

The foundation laid by four generations of enlightened monarchs was indeed solid.

But if civil strife erupted now, it might very well shake the very pillars of the state.

If Han truly suffered a catastrophe,

let alone what name Gu Xi, the Regent Minister, would leave in history, even the glorious reputations of generations of Gu ancestors might be tarnished.

How could he allow such a thing to happen?

The court must not descend into chaos.

This was Gu Xi's bottom line.

Only thus could he better stabilize the realm's situation.

Gu Xi issued a stern warning to the ministers, then arranged Liu Long's funeral.

The consecutive deaths of emperors placed immense labor burdens on the common people.

It would have been better if there were no natural disasters.

But now everything must be done with the utmost simplicity.

Small Small Yugu Xi's request, Liu Long was buried within the Shen Mausoleum area of Liu Zhao.

The ministers naturally did not oppose this.

Liu Long's presence as emperor was far too negligible; being buried with imperial rites was sufficient.

Afterwards, Gu Xi set about preparing to stabilize the people's hearts.

The death of an emperor had too great an impact.

Even Gu Xi himself was affected by it.

Under these circumstances, it was impossible to stabilize public sentiment directly.

Gu Xi could only increase aid to disaster-stricken regions, hoping to calm the people.

Under these conditions, Liu Hu ascended the throne and proclaimed a new era name: "Yongchu."

Hoping for renewal of all things, that Han might safely endure this succession of natural disasters.

State affairs remained under the control of Deng Sui and Gu Xi.

Although the ministers strongly objected, they dared not act against Gu Xi's warning.

At the very least, they suppressed their emotions.

Everyone awaited that this new emperor's ascension would end the natural disasters.

——But in the first month of Yongchu Year One,

the land in Yingchuan Commandery collapsed;

casualties were countless.

In March.

First came celestial portents, then a great wind in the capital Luoyang, lifting roof tiles into the air.

In June.

the land in Hedong collapsed, and black water surged from beneath;

In October.

in Xin Cheng of Yuzhou, mountain and water spirits erupted violently, destroying farmland and bursting forth from springs three zhang deep.

Earthquakes and incessant heavy rains triggered mountain floods and wind disasters,

disaster after disaster struck across Han lands, shaking the hearts of the realm.

Sorcerers gathered from all regions, rumors spread endlessly, and the theories of the former Confucian textual school were once again brought up one by one.

This was inevitable.

Omen and divination superstitions had long been widespread throughout the realm; how long had Gu Kang's teachings been proposed?

Under these circumstances,

even Gu Xi, the Regent Grand Tutor, began to face criticism.

Under duress, Empress Dowager Deng finally issued an edict of self-reproach.

She declared, "My governance has strayed from the middle path, causing disasters to descend repeatedly," and granted a general amnesty.

This was indeed a good tactic.

The court had many ways to maintain the people's morale from collapsing.

After all, Han had just passed through four enlightened emperors.

But under these circumstances, could such measures alone possibly calm the people's hearts completely?

The oldest and strongest human emotion is fear, and the oldest and strongest fear is the unknown.

Only through the same unknown means could the people's hearts be truly stilled.

Chang Le Palace.

When Deng Sui heard Gu Xi say he would personally go to the Luo River to lead disaster victims in worshiping Gu Kang, she froze.

Immediately, she shook her head vigorously, her gaze fixed on Gu Xi, urgently saying:

"Absolutely not!"

"Epidemics continue without end."

"How can the Grand Tutor personally go to the Luo River to worship with disaster victims?"

"If the Grand Tutor is harmed, I would have no face to meet Emperor Xiaohe—let alone, our Han state's foundation would surely shake!"

Deng Sui's stance was resolute.

She was a highly intelligent woman, and naturally understood Gu Xi's importance to Han.

If Gu Xi truly suffered misfortune, Han would surely collapse entirely.

Even if it did not threaten the state itself,

it would inevitably scatter the people's loyalty.

Gu Xi was not surprised by Deng Sui's reaction.

He said nothing extra, only bowed to Deng Sui and said: "Empress Dowager."

"I have arranged all relief efforts."

"Granaries across the realm are properly stocked, but the relief officials still require your supervision."

"After reviewing my grandfather's old texts, I noticed the southern lands are fertile but still uncultivated; we may relocate disaster victims there to help them settle."

"If this can be accomplished."

The pressure on each province will be significantly reduced.

There is also the granting of land to the people and the exemption of taxes in disaster-stricken areas.

The foundations left by our Han dynasty's past emperors still stand; though we have suffered repeated natural disasters, they are insufficient to utterly shake the very core of our Han state.

I have already prepared everything.

What truly troubles me is the instability of the people's hearts.

I am the Regent Grand Tutor.

Regardless, I must go in person.

Gu Xi's expression was especially serious.

Deng Sui fell silent.

She naturally understood the meaning behind Gu Xi's last two words.

If Gu Xi does this, the effect will surely far surpass that of a woman like herself.

Because Gu Xi bears the surname Gu!

In today's world, Gu Kang has become a sage in the hearts of the people.

Who does not know that their good days were brought by Gu Kang?

Now, sacrifices to Heaven in every region include Gu Kang.

And Gu Xi is Gu Kang's grandson.

His going now would have far greater effect than hers.

Thinking this, Deng Sui felt only helplessness and sighed softly: "Since the Grand Tutor has made up his mind, I shall not hinder you."

"But regardless."

"Please, Grand Tutor, take care of your health."

Gu Xi nodded, then bowed to Deng Sui: "Then I shall say no more."

"Empress Dowager, do not worry."

"I cannot stand idly by and watch our Han's golden age perish under my hands."

"If not."

"Even after death, I shall have no face to meet Emperor Xiaohe, no face to meet my Gu clan's ancestors."

"Please, Empress Dowager, safeguard the court—and the Son of Heaven!"

Some things must rise above life itself.

For Gu Xi, the reputation of his ancestral lineage and the Han empire were precisely such things.

Having finished speaking, Gu Xi no longer hesitated and turned to walk out.

When news spread through court and realm that Gu Xi would personally journey to Luoshui for sacrifice, the entire realm was shaken!

Luoshui had long been called the Divine Water.

Among the common people, countless legends surrounded it.

In this time of unceasing natural disasters, countless people daily made sacrifices beside Luoshui.

How many of them were plague victims, no one could say.

Upon hearing that Gu Xi now intended to go in person, many came to dissuade him.

But Gu Xi's resolve remained unshaken.

After realizing persuasion was useless, some ministers offered to accompany Gu Xi, even suggesting the Son of Heaven lead all officials in person to demonstrate true sincerity.

But Gu Xi rejected them all, without exception.

More people show sincerity?

Are not the tears and blood of the masses enough?

Gu Xi had long been deeply influenced by Gu Kang's principle: "Respect spirits and ghosts, but keep them at a distance."

After these two years of experience, he now scorned all omen-based superstitions.

He did this not to beg Heaven to cease sending disasters.

Gu Xi merely wished to be that single thread of light piercing through the gloom.

To steady the hearts of the people across the land!

After settling all matters, Gu Xi departed Luoyang directly.

As expected, when the people heard that the reigning Grand Tutor—Gu Kang's own grandson—would personally lead them in sacrifice at Luoshui, the masses erupted in fervor!

Gu Xi built an altar beside Luoshui.

He led the disaster victims in an extraordinarily grand sacrificial ceremony.

Countless refugees followed.

Wails echoed through heaven and earth.

Countless people poured out their inner anguish beneath this grand ritual.

Gu Yi silently watched it all, his heart heavy.

The Han dynasty's natural disasters had not changed from their original course.

No—the casualties were even greater.

This may be the nature of cause and effect.

Gu Kang's appearance had pushed the Han's national strength to a peak unattainable in its original history.

Its population had far surpassed that of the original timeline.

Population growth, coupled with this sudden disaster, naturally caused greater casualties.

Gu Yi could not change any of this.

If another divine item, like the Celestial Phenomenon Card, that can influence the entire realm were drawn, perhaps this could change everything.

But how could Gu Yi possibly spend all his achievement points outright during this period?

Never mind whether such an item could even be drawn.

Looking at the original history.

The onset of natural disasters during the Eastern Han marked a clear dividing line for the entire dynasty.

The day of great chaos is not far off.

He must make thorough preparations to help his entire family survive the coming day of great chaos.

The outcome did not surprise Gu Xi.

As the sacrificial rites gradually spread to all corners, the people's unease actually began to ease.

Fear of the unknown must be resolved with equal unknowns.

The power of faith can sometimes achieve unimaginable effects.

This is precisely the case now.

The court had never abandoned relief efforts.

The people's unrest throughout the realm stemmed entirely from fear of the unknown.

As long as this emotional fear among the common folk could be resolved, the hearts of millions would be calmed.

The matter had even affected the imperial court.

Once it was confirmed that Gu Xi was truly not ill, even the gloom within the court seemed to lift slightly.

The disaster had not yet ended, yet the atmosphere no longer felt so oppressive.

Gu Xi returned once more to the court, coordinating efforts across the realm and managing relief operations.

The Han dynasty's foundation was indeed solid.

Even facing such a catastrophe, proper coordination could not shake the state's core.

Especially now that the people's hearts were at peace.

Gu Xi could devote greater energy to the task.

For a time, the gloom hanging over the Han seemed to lift somewhat.

But as if heaven itself were targeting them, the Han's trials were far from over.

——— In the third year of Yongchu, famine struck Bingzhou and Liangzhou; people ate each other;

The waters of the Hedong pond turned red.

With this event, granaries across the Han realm finally felt the pressure.

Gu Xi had to adjust, planning relief efforts with greater precision.

But this was not yet over.

The Southern Xiongnu Chanyu Shizhudi of the Wan clan, believing the Han people had perished en masse from the disasters, decided to launch a military campaign against Han.

Wuhuan's leader Wuhe and Xianbei chieftain Qiulun allied with the Southern Xiongnu's Gudou Hou.

Han troops in Wuyuan Commandery suffered a crushing defeat; the commandant died in battle.

The Han faced internal unrest while external threats emerged.

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(End of chapter)