Chapter 41: Pacifying Internal Threats, the Passing of Deng Sui

Compared to disaster relief, governing the world is truly much easier.

This allowed Gu Xi to gradually have time to rest.

What Gu Yi found relatively concerning was:

——As the world gradually stabilized, Gu Xi finally had a few offspring.

In truth, this had always been a knot of worry in Gu Yi’s heart.

Although the Gu family no longer faced the predicament of having few descendants as it once did, and family members were spread across all regions.

But for Gu Yi.

The true core still required direct descendants.

Although the attribute values of these few offspring were quite average, not even as good as Gu Liang’s had been back then.

Yet, the heart Gu Yi had been holding in suspense slowly began to relax.

In a family, how could every generation produce people of stunning talent?

That the Gu family could develop to its current scale was already highly commendable.

Even if one considered Gu Liang, the least conspicuous among the heads of these generations, he was still a capable person and could be considered to have held the Gu family up.

Now that the family descendants had mediocre aptitude, it could be considered normal.

It was not that Gu Yi had not thought about selecting a newborn to use a "Wall-Breaking Card" on.

But thinking that he could directly take control once Gu Xi died, he suppressed this thought.

The effect of the "Wall-Breaking Card" was simply too much of a gamble.

First, it had to be a newborn baby.

Then, depending on various factors, it was even possible for the original attributes to become lower.

For Gu Yi, this was too big a gamble.

Luoyang.

The Luoyang of today could be described as having all things renewed, finally possessing once again the prosperity of years past.

Just as in the original history.

Great inventions like Cai Lun paper and the water-powered armillary sphere were released one after another.

In fact, when Gu Yi was leaving techniques for the family, he had once given Gu Kang some pointers on papermaking technology.

Of course, these materials were things Gu Yi had searched for online.

Perhaps because of this, or perhaps because the Gu family had never produced a genius of invention.

Over these years, although the Gu family had never ceased research into papermaking, they had never achieved a major breakthrough.

And it was no surprise to Gu Yi.

When Gu Xi first saw the paper sent by Cai Lun, he instinctively thought of the woodblock printing technique that had been sealed away within the Gu family.

However, he did not do anything about it.

As time progressed, institutional reform was the trend of the times.

Although Gu Xi’s talent could be called extraordinary.

It was clearly still impossible for him to directly jump out of the shackles of his era.

However, Gu Yi was quite looking forward to this.

He had left the entire set of data on woodblock printing back then precisely to test whether this method could earn achievement points.

If it truly could earn achievement points.

For Gu Yi, it would absolutely be a great thing.

Everything seemed to have returned to the right track.

Liu Hu, the Emperor, also had offspring.

Although not born to Empress Yan, this news greatly encouraged the imperial court.

This child was named Liu Bao.

Although still young, he possessed a sharp wit.

Deng Sui and Gu Xi both liked this child very much.

Deng Sui even designated him as the Crown Prince, and Gu Xi even had the intention of personally teaching the child.

He wanted to cultivate a qualified Son of Heaven for the entire Great Han.

Regarding this matter.

Whether it was Liu Hu or Deng Sui, they were naturally very supportive.

Who in the world did not know of the talent of the Gu family descendants?

Even those Gu family descendants serving as local officials were more capable than ordinary officials.

This was entirely due to the superiority of the Gu family’s educational methods.

And it was not a secret.

But no one could fully learn it, because the overall atmosphere of the Gu family was distinctly different from other great clans.

If Gu Xi could personally teach the Crown Prince now, perhaps he could truly teach him to become a wise ruler like the Emperor Xiaoming of the past.

Of course, there were also people who were heavy-hearted about this.

Gu Xi already possessed such power.

If he were to become the teacher of the Son of Heaven, given how much the Great Han valued the teacher-student bond, what would he become then?

Even if one ignored Gu Xi.

Wouldn’t the Gu family descendants also benefit?

The Gu family had already been glorious for four generations!

Gu Xi was only in his thirties and had already reached such a point.

Could it be that the Gu family was truly to coexist with the Great Han?

This was truly difficult for some people to accept.

Soon, voices began to emerge in the imperial court that "the Son of Heaven is already capable of ruling, and Deng Sui and Gu Xi should return power to the Son of Heaven."

Regarding this matter, Gu Xi did not care in the slightest.

In fact, the Great Han had been able to emerge from the successive deaths of Emperors and years of natural disasters.

He could be said to have already fulfilled his promise to Liu Zhao.

And he had already pushed the prestige of the Gu family to the limit.

Why not return power?

And perhaps it was because of the existence of the Gu family that Deng Sui had no intention of holding onto power forever.

Seeing that this matter was about to be settled.

However, to everyone’s surprise, Liu Hu refused!

According to his words, he was still young, and even if power were returned to him, he would still need Gu Xi and Deng Sui to govern the world together, so why go through the extra trouble?

The officials were caught off guard by this response.

Let alone them.

Even Gu Yi was very surprised.

But after thinking about it carefully, he felt at ease.

Liu Hu’s personality was like that to begin with.

Now it was completely different from history; Gu Xi’s appearance had completely changed Liu Hu’s view of Deng Sui.

He could now enjoy himself every day.

He had no burden on his shoulders.

There was no sense of crisis about being deposed at any moment, and he had all the dignity an Emperor should have.

As long as he let Gu Xi and Deng Sui govern the world well, he could leave behind a good reputation in the history books.

Why not do so?

"Has it really become a case of a benevolent mother and a filial son?"

Gu Yi was somewhat dumbfounded, and his anticipation for Gu Xi grew even stronger.

To what extent could he go?

With the effect of the Longevity Card, would the achievement points he brought directly exceed Gu Kang’s?

All of this was possible!

A person like Gu Xi was destined not to stop his forward progress.

His personality had already been formed.

Having stood out from a young age, coupled with this pacification of natural disasters.

The desire for great achievements and strong self-confidence had already been completely integrated into his bones.

Just after the world gradually recovered in the third year of Yuanchu.

He decided to begin pacifying internal threats.

——The Xianling Dynasty.

The Qiang rebellion was actually a problem that the Great Han had been unable to completely resolve for years.

In the original history, the emergence of the Xianling Dynasty was related to the rebellion in the Western Regions.

The Western Regions rebelled, and the Great Han conscripted soldiers.

The Qiang people feared being sent far away and never returning, later launching a large-scale uprising; Dianling proclaimed himself Son of Heaven in Beidi Commandery, recruited the various Qiang tribes, and established a state to threaten the Three Auxiliary regions.

But the current Great Han is in a completely different situation.

The Western Regions were pacified ahead of schedule, and combined with a series of effective policies, they have long since been forged into an impregnable barrier.

Yet even if the Western Regions had not been in turmoil, these continuous natural disasters would still have led to the emergence of the Xianling Dynasty.

In fact, as early as the second year of the Yuanchu era, Gu Xi had already dispatched men to suppress the rebellion.

But thinking of the exhausted common people, he did not mobilize troops on a large scale.

Now that the Great Han has already recovered.

He naturally would not let this opportunity slip by.

Gu Xi is completely different from Gu Xiao and Gu Cheng; he is more like a commander who plans strategies within a command tent, deeply versed in the ways of the human heart.

He understands that before a Great Han whose strength has already been restored, the barbarians in all four directions feel only fear.

And it is precisely because of this.

For this expedition, Gu Xi made quite a show of force.

The news even spread throughout the world before his vanguard had arrived.

Gu Xi’s current prestige did not come from thin air.

The record of him marching north and shattering the coalition of the Southern Xiongnu, Xianbei, and Wuhuan in one stroke is there for all to see.

This kind of psychological offensive is completely unavoidable.

The Xianling Dynasty was, after all, a coalition of various Qiang tribes.

When they heard this news, they fell into chaos almost instantly.

The might of the Great Han had long been carved into their hearts.

The already fragile alliance disintegrated completely at this moment.

With the assassination of the regent Lang Mo, the fate of the Xianling Dynasty was already sealed.

Tribe after tribe came to surrender.

The divine might of the Great Han faintly regained its former momentum; the barbarians from all directions submitted, and the Qiang threat in the Three Auxiliary regions was completely resolved!

—The sixth year of Yuanchu.

The various tribes of the Southwest Yi were dissatisfied with the Great Han; the leader of the Yi people in Yuexi Commandery, Feng, united the surrounding tribes to rebel collectively, even capturing several counties, killing officials, and plundering the people.

Gu Xi personally led a large army to suppress the rebellion.

He continued to utilize the momentum of the Great Han to strike at their morale.

While secretly winning over various tribes, he simultaneously fought against the main force of the rebels.

This was a war with a predetermined outcome.

Unless there was a truly ironclad alliance, it would be impossible to completely avoid Gu Xi’s psychological warfare.

Especially since the current Great Han has already recovered.

Whether in terms of troop strength or equipment, the soldiers of the Great Han are incomparable to these Yi people.

After a great battle.

The Han army won a great victory, beheading nearly twenty thousand men.

The thirty-six rebelling ethnic groups all surrendered.

Gu Xi formulated new policies in Yizhou, adjusted the imperial court’s system regarding the Yi people, reduced taxes, and implemented a policy of loose rein to win over their hearts.

He was like a repairman.

He wanted to take this opportunity to plug all the loopholes that had appeared in the Great Han due to these years of natural disasters.

However, the world is unpredictable.

In the ninth year of Yuanchu, the news sent from Luoyang forced Gu Xi to halt his steps.

—Deng Sui had fallen ill.

In fact, this could be considered a normal phenomenon.

Ever since Gu Xi marched north, Deng Sui had already taken on the burden of disaster relief.

Even though Gu Xi had already formulated detailed systems.

This was still destined to be an extremely heart-draining task.

Deng Sui had long since developed the same problem as Gu Xi.

She could not sleep all night whenever she heard of disaster conditions.

This series of drains on her heart and blood would naturally demand a price now.

This matter had a huge impact on the Great Han.

Although the nominal Emperor was Liu Hu.

But who did not know that Deng Sui and Gu Xi were the ones holding power?

And most importantly, Deng Sui did not rely on Gu Xi for everything.

In disaster relief, promoting education, advancing academics, and a series of other areas, Deng Sui had her own achievements.

Her sudden critical illness.

To the Great Han, it was no different from the death of an Emperor!

Luoyang, Changlegong.

Gu Xi was anxious and hurried into the palace.

The sobbing that had filled the hall ceased the moment he stepped inside.

The officials subconsciously cleared a path for him.

"Grand Tutor."

Liu Hu, who was at the head, had a face full of sorrow; seeing Gu Xi return, he seemed to see hope and hurriedly stepped forward, "Mother Empress, she—"

"Grand Tutor..." Before Liu Hu could finish, Deng Sui’s weak voice came out.

At this moment, her face was pale.

Her whole person seemed to have only one breath left.

Gu Xi walked quickly to her side, looked at Deng Sui, could not help but sigh deeply, and said softly: "Empress Dowager, I have arrived."

"Grand Tutor..."

Deng Sui turned her head with difficulty to look at Gu Xi; her originally dim and lifeless eyes gradually regained a hint of luster.

She had not the slightest fear of death, but instead smiled and said:

"To be able to see the Grand Tutor one last time before I pass, my heart is at peace."

Gu Xi smiled bitterly and asked: "Does the Empress Dowager have any final instructions?"

"Grand Tutor, how have I fared since I began presiding over the court?"

Deng Sui stared fixedly at Gu Xi, her gaze full of anticipation, as if his answer transcended the torment brought by her illness.

Gu Xi had not expected Deng Sui to ask this question.

He was silent for a moment, then said with utmost sincerity: "In the past, when Emperor Xiaohe was alive, he told me that the Empress Dowager possessed the character of a great man."

"Looking at it now, Emperor Xiaohe had a discerning eye."

"The Empress Dowager is not only a great man, but also possesses the demeanor of a great sage."

Gu Xi’s expression was extremely solemn, every word filled with sincerity.

Hearing this, the smile on Deng Sui’s face grew wider, "To receive such an evaluation from the Grand Tutor, I am content."

Her voice was weak, yet it carried a trace of relief, "My life has been like walking on thin ice."

"When I first entered the palace, I dared not overstep in the slightest, fearing I would anger the Yin clan."

"Even when Emperor Xiaohe made me Empress, I had to repeatedly decline."

"Presiding over the court as Empress was even more difficult."

"I dared not treat the nation of ten thousand chariots as child's play; above, I sought not to deceive Heaven or fail the late Emperor; below, I sought not to violate the will of the people or betray my own heart."

"Fortunately, I had the Grand Tutor’s assistance."

"It allows me to have the face to go and see Emperor Xiaohe."

As she spoke, she looked at Gu Xi once more, her eyes suddenly becoming more spirited, "Grand Tutor, my time is short."

"The Great Han is entrusted to you!"

Gu Xi stared fixedly at Deng Sui, the sorrow on his face deepening.

This moment was so similar to the scene of Liu Zhao’s passing in the past.

Time had ultimately taken away too many people.

No matter how great his talent or how high his ambitions.

He was ultimately no match for the power of time.

Looking at Deng Sui’s burning gaze, Gu Xi took a deep breath, then nodded earnestly:

"I accept your command."

Hearing this, as if her wish had been fulfilled, Empress Dowager Deng’s pupils suddenly dilated.

Her eyes also gradually closed at this instant.

"Mother Empress!!!"

Accompanied by Liu Hu’s shout, the officials knelt down one after another, and the sound of weeping also erupted at this very moment.

The third month of the ninth year of Yuanchu, on the day of Guisi.

The Regent Empress Dowager Deng Sui passed away in Changlegong.

Posthumously titled Empress Hexi.

The meaning of "Xi" is one who has performed meritorious service and brought peace to the people; he was buried in the Shun Mausoleum alongside Emperor He.

On the day of the burial, the assembled officials and the hundred ministers stood in their ranks, the palace attendants played the drums and winds three times, the bells and drums were struck, and the Son of Heaven mourned.

——————

"In the third month of the ninth year of the Yuan Chu era, Empress Dowager Deng Sui passed away.

She had presided over the court for sixteen years, never clinging to power, and worked together with Grand Tutor Gu Xi to manage the affairs of the state.

At that time, the heavens were erratic, and floods and droughts occurred frequently, continuing unabated for ten years;

beacon fires rose on all sides of the border, the Xiongnu invaded the passes, and the Qiang and Rong tribes harassed the borders;

bandits in the Central Plains were as numerous as the bristles on a hedgehog, and the provinces and commanderies were in turmoil.

Whenever the Empress Dowager heard that the common people were suffering from famine, she would push aside her pillow in the middle of the night, pace the room, and remain awake until dawn.

She abolished the banquets at the Qionglin Pavilion, reduced the supplies for the Imperial Manufactory, sold the pearls and jade from the Empress's chambers to provide relief funds, and personally led the six palaces in eating coarse grain and wearing plain clothes.

Because of this, her virtue spread throughout the world, displaced people were able to return to their fields, and even during floods and droughts, the granaries were not empty, ultimately allowing the realm to return to peace and the harvests to become abundant."

—— "Book of the Later Han: Annals of the Empresses"

(End of this chapter)