Chapter 90: Liu Bei Proclaims Himself Emperor, the Ten Directions

As the sun and moon turn in the cycle of Shanhe, all figures of a thousand autumns fade with the wind, their merits and faults, rises and falls, ultimately become tombs.

The grand outcome is now utterly sealed.

With Cao Ang's death, the fate of the realm left not a shred of uncertainty.

The lands of Jiangdong remained in constant internal chaos;

Liu Zhang of Yizhou had long sent envoys to Gu Chen, declaring his stance.

All seemed to have reached its conclusion.

But for Gu Chen, much still remained to be done.

Though the realm was settled, all things lay in ruin, awaiting revival.

Not to mention Gu Chen still wished to complete the unfinished grand enterprise of Gu Xi, and he had yet to avenge the great wrong done to the world's aristocratic clans.

Given Gu Chen's nature, how could he possibly halt here?

Gu Chen was destined to press forward always.

Until he fully accomplished the goal long set in his heart.

Time slipped away swiftly.

Gu Chen did not harm Liu Xie or Liu Bian, merely placing them under control, while he himself led his army to campaign northward from Jizhou toward Youzhou.

As they neared Julu, Ma Chao, Zhang Liao, and others assumed Gu Chen would return to Julu to honor the Gu ancestral spirits.

But Gu Chen shook his head.

"Until I fulfill my grandfather's ambition, how could I face the Gu ancestors with my face?"

This simple sentence moved everyone deeply.

Looking across the realm today, who could match Gu Chen's achievements?

Liu Bei?

——Not enough.

Liu Bei was indeed extraordinary among the Liu clan, but to compare him with Gu Chen was clearly far too great a gap.

In truth, by now,

many under Gu Chen's command had begun nursing private thoughts.

They sought to test Gu Chen's stance, spreading rumors urging him to proclaim himself emperor.

This matter stirred immense reaction throughout the army.

After all, those under Gu Chen's command truly held absolute faith in him.

But Gu Chen swiftly suppressed the rumors.

Anyone could become emperor.

Only he could not.

Should he proclaim himself emperor, the noble reputation left by generations of Gu ancestors would vanish instantly.

——Especially Gu Xi, his grandfather who had most profoundly shaped him.

If Gu Chen chose to become emperor,

the Three Supports of the Dragon Throne, symbol of Gu Xi's glory, would immediately turn into a weapon for others to defile Gu Xi's name.

Gu Chen could disregard others.

But not Gu Xi's renown!

In the fifteenth year of Jian'an, fourth month;

Gu Chen swept through Jizhou with the force of Lei Ting.

Except for Julu, every aristocratic clan in Jizhou suffered losses—strongholds breached, private troops disbanded.

The lands of every major clan were strictly audited.

They had, of course, resisted.

But against Gu Chen, a man whose fame had long shaken the realm, how could they possibly stand?

The harshest punishment fell upon those clans most deeply tied to the Yuan family.

The Xun clan, the Yang clan—once famed across the realm, among the mightiest clans of Han—finally faced Gu Chen's final reckoning.

Gu Yi had assumed, given Gu Chen's nature, he would slaughter them all.

But Gu Chen's decision surprised Gu Yi.

He executed only the main lineage, and likewise the main branches of other lines.

As for the rest, he merely ordered them detained.

Gu Chen seemed to be planning something.

His gaze had never rested merely on clearing the realm; even Gu Yi could not fathom what Gu Chen truly intended.

——News spread relentlessly; the people of every province wept upon hearing it.

The Four Seas erupted completely.

In this age of heroes and tyrants rising, Gu Chen had finally reached the end, crushing all others beneath his name alone.

In the fifteenth year of Jian'an, sixth month;

Gu Chen formally entered Youzhou, once again raising his blade against the aristocratic clans of Youzhou.

At the same time, Liu Bei fully pacified Qingzhou.

He marched toward Jizhou.

In Ye City, he met the so-called "Son of Heaven," Liu Xie.

This scene even drew Gu Yi's attention.

He truly wished to see how Liu Bei, so transformed, would treat the Han Son of Heaven.

Of course, all of this was under Gu Chen's tacit approval.

In fact, ever since Liu Bei had spoken those words—"Liu and Gu shall share the world"—during his sacrifice at the Luo River, he had already gained Gu Chen's recognition.

Now, it was only a matter of one final step.

Liu Bei had indeed undergone great change.

In the original history, with Liu Bei's original character, he would never have revealed his ambition at such a time.

But now, it was entirely different.

Liu Bei had originally intended to first aid Gu Chen, and only after Gu Chen's return would he make his plans.

But Zhuge Liang had stopped him.

Some things, he must complete himself.

Liu Bei saw the underlying meaning, then heeded the advice and acted, speaking to Liu Xie of the world; of the Han dynasty's state;

And then—

The familiar ritual of three refusals and three offers.

In the fifteenth year of Jian'an, the tenth month;

Liu Bei formally received the Han emperor's scepter from Liu Xie, changed the era name to "Zhangwu," and ascended the throne as emperor.

He became the only emperor since Emperor Ling to hold real power, after three successive emperors.

And immediately after his coronation,

His first act was to travel to Julu.

There, he sacrificed to the ancestral emperors of the Han dynasty, including the ancestors of the Gu clan.

—And he fulfilled his old promise.

Before ministers and the people, he abolished the temple names of Emperors Huan and Ling, re-bestowed the posthumous title upon Gu Xi, and reburied Gu Xi with proper rites.

Of course, Liu Bei would not disturb Gu Xi's rest.

Instead, as the Gu ancestors had done,

He buried Gu Xi's body in Julu.

And erected a ceremonial tomb for him in the capital region.

Liu Bei placed Very Heavy importance on this.

He truly felt affection for Gu Xi; after all, had it not been for Gu Xi's words years ago, Liu Bei might never have reached today.

This funeral was destined to be of immense significance.

Liu Bei bestowed seals, jade caskets, and other items, reburied Gu Xi with the rites of a prince or duke.

Finally, he assigned Gu Xi the posthumous title "Marquis Wenxiang."

Meaning: "One who weaves heaven and earth is Wen; one who toils in armor is Xiang."

In truth, for Gu Xi,

The most fitting posthumous title would have been "Zhongwu."

But Gu Xiao had already received Zhongwu, and as Gu Xiao's successor, Gu Xi could not, in sentiment or reason, share the same title as his own ancestor.

Yet such honors far surpassed those granted to any other minister.

This could no longer even be called the status of a subject.

And what followed, and what truly captured everyone's attention, was the enfeoffment of ministers—others were secondary; what the world truly cared about was Gu Chen.

Whether by Wu Gong or by reputation,

Liu Bei, this so-called emperor, was truly inferior to Gu Chen.

And most crucially—

Almost everyone knew Gu Chen still held the Imperial Seal.

Without the Imperial Seal, no matter how much real power Liu Bei held, he could never truly be said to have inherited Heaven's Mandate.

Liu Bei seemed to have prepared for this.

Before the ministers, Liu Bei granted Gu Chen an unprecedented official title.

—Ten Directions Expeditionary Envoy!

His rank towered above all court nobles; his authority even surpassed that of the Chancellor.

He could intervene in both civil and military affairs.

He could even mobilize all troops and conduct campaigns without the emperor's approval.

Ministers must avoid his name, and bow upon seeing Gu Chen.

This office had entirely exceeded the boundaries of a subject's role.

One could say that, save for the title of subject, Gu Chen was effectively another emperor of Han.

Should Gu Chen ever harbor disloyal intentions,

He could at any moment challenge Liu Bei, this so-called emperor, for dominion over the realm.

In past times, such a move would have provoked fierce opposition from ministers—it was true in every dynasty.

But for the Han of now, it was entirely different.

Whether by Wu Gong or by prestige,

Gu Chen had already reached the pinnacle of the realm.

Should he wish to proclaim himself emperor,

Who in all the world today could stop him?

What reason could there be to oppose such a man attaining such status?

And most crucially, Gu Chen's prestige was simply too immense.

For the assembled ministers, the pressure they felt when facing Gu Chen had even surpassed that of Liu Bei, the Emperor.

Who would dare speak up to dissuade him?

Liu Bei had truly fulfilled everything he had once promised.

"The Liu clan's tripod, engraved with the Gu clan's name."

The news kept spreading.

For the common folk of the realm, this was absolutely an immensely uplifting matter.

Liu Bei's reputation among the people had always been decent.

All the more so now that it was the Liu clan's Son of Heaven the people most hoped for, paired with a son of the Gu clan.

From this day onward, the entire realm seemed to have changed.

Though in truth, nothing had actually changed yet.

Yet that kind of change people delighted in still allowed one to sense the Han's difference.

The people across the land, at last, once again had hope for the future of the realm.

Youzhou.

Gu Chen was naturally the first to receive the news.

Regarding Liu Bei's arrangement, he seemed to have anticipated it long ago and showed not the slightest surprise.

Gu Chen did not much care about his own official post.

At his current standing, he truly no longer needed these so-called official posts at all.

What truly moved him somewhat was still Liu Bei's arrangement for Gu Xi.

In truth, things had reached this stage today.

There were not many things left that could truly affect Gu Chen's thoughts, but apart from Gu Xi.

In the land of Youzhou.

Gu Chen performed a distant sacrifice for Gu Xi.

He then had his trusted men send the Imperial Seal back.

This undoubtedly also made clear Gu Chen's stance.

Yet he himself did not return directly, but instead kept fighting in the land of Youzhou.

Unlike Jizhou.

As a frontier region of the Han, the lives of Youzhou's people had always been very hard.

Especially during these years of great chaos across the realm.

The harm done to Youzhou's people far exceeded that of other provinces.

For apart from the chaos, Youzhou's people also had to face raids by the barbarians.

The Wuhuan, Xianbei, and others, taking advantage of the internal strife among the Nine Provinces, ceaselessly raided the frontier people.

With Gu Chen's temperament, how could he possibly tolerate them?

While the people of the Nine Provinces feared Gu Chen as one would a tiger, these barbarians, though they had heard of Gu Chen's name, did not pay it much heed.

The Nine Provinces' internal strife over these years.

Had indeed given them excellent opportunities to develop.

And through prolonged raiding, their current strength had also far surpassed what it once was.

This gave these barbarian tribes absolute confidence.

Compared to fighting against the various lords who were well-versed in military strategy and battle formations, facing these barbarians was far, far too easy for Gu Chen.

Though these barbarians were learning the culture of the Nine Provinces.

In the end they had only grasped the surface.

Gu Chen merely made slight use of the terrain to lay out stratagems, and successively crushed the bandit forces in great defeats.

Yet even so, these people still refused to submit.

They clamored day after day to fight Gu Chen head-on, and even fearlessly invoked Gu Xi's name, trying to provoke Gu Chen into engaging them in direct combat.

They did indeed succeed.

But Gu Chen did not lose his reason out of anger; he simply wished to act and quickly beat them into submission.

The two sides waged battle across the land of Youzhou.

Though these barbarians spoke lightly, when facing Gu Chen they still felt considerable pressure.

The legends of Gu Xi from years past still lingered.

For all the surrounding barbarian tribes, facing the "Gu clan" would always give them an inexplicable pressure.

And the outcome of events was just as expected.

When the cavalry charged, the soldiers under Gu Chen feared no one.

Especially with Gu Chen personally leading the army, these men's morale was beyond imagination.

Gu Chen successively slew several tribal chieftains before the enemy formation.

He annihilated thousands of elite enemy troops.

In a single battle he directly drove all the barbarians to retreat out of Youzhou.

Gu Chen did not lead his army in pursuit, but he did perceive the hidden signs within.

At the Youzhou border.

Gu Chen sat astride his horse, staring fixedly at the barren land before him, his brows tightly furrowed.

"General, why is this?"

Behind him, Ma Chao could not help but ask: "If the General wishes to pursue, this humble general is willing to go in the General's stead."

"Enough."

Gu Chen was silent for a moment, then finally shook his head: "The time for this battle has not yet come."

"What exactly is the general worried about?" Zhang Liao at the side also spoke up to ask.

Compared to Ma Chao, his thoughts were clearly far more delicate.

"The Nine Provinces have been in great turmoil for many years, and the barbarians of the four directions have used this opportunity to greatly increase their strength. If my guess is not wrong, in the future our land of the Nine Provinces will surely have a great battle with these barbarians."

Gu Chen did not conceal it, and directly stated his own speculation.

Hearing this, everyone immediately froze, all finding it somewhat hard to believe.

"Just on the strength of them?"

Ma Chao scoffed at this; the strength of these people was far, far too inferior compared to theirs.

He felt he himself could lead men to sweep them clean.

There would be no need for Gu Chen to take the field personally.

Zhang Liao felt the same.

This too was the inborn nature of the Han's common folk.

Toward the barbarians of the four directions, everyone held a natural pride in their hearts.

But out of trust in Gu Chen, he too opened his mouth to request to fight.

"If the general has this worry, this general is willing to lead the troops under his command, strike into the wilds, and sweep away the barbarians' momentum."

Zhang Liao's tone was utterly serious.

Gu Chen glanced at him, and also shook his head: "Enough."

"The time has not yet come."

"The matter of pressing importance is within the Nine Provinces."

Gu Chen naturally would not be distracted.

Right now was the most critical moment for the entire realm; everything he wished to do could only be accomplished by him alone.

No matter what, Gu Chen had to, while he still lived,

put everything into place.

Gu Yi also noticed all of this, and a faint sense of urgency inexplicably arose in his heart.

Clearly, the great battle to come was unavoidable.

Gu Chen could not possibly spare a hand now.

No matter how dazzling a person, a single individual's time was ultimately limited.

All of this could only be left to later generations..

First year of Zhangwu, third month;

the Youzhou campaign was completely concluded.

Gu Chen brought with him a detailed survey map of the entire Youzhou, and led the army back to Ji.

And Liu Bei too had not left Jizhou, having waited for Gu Chen at Julu all along.

This was destined to be a meeting worthy of being recorded in the annals of history.

On one side was clearly the Emperor, the supreme ruler of the realm;

yet on the other side was one who, in Wu Gong, had surpassed the Emperor;

even Gu Yi himself held great anticipation for this scene, for after all this relationship had completely exceeded history.

Looking over the original history, there was not a single such case.

Gu Yi also did not know whether, following the present development, this scene would still appear in the realm hereafter.

But even if it truly could appear, it would absolutely not exceed the count of one hand..

Julu.

After many years, Gu Chen finally set foot in Julu once more.

He vaguely recalled that when he left Julu in years past, he was still a child, and only had a hazy impression of Julu.

But this did not affect Julu's place in Gu Chen's heart.

This was the "sacred ground" in the hearts of the Gu clan sons that must not be profaned.

Gu Chen put on no airs at all.

The instant he saw Liu Bei, he intended to dismount and bow.

Yet Liu Bei stepped forward directly, and before Gu Chen could make any move, took Gu Chen's hand right there before all the ministers.

"Ziyan must not be like this."

Liu Bei's tone was solemn, a faint smile hanging on his face: "Without Ziyan, without the Gu clan, whence this day of the Han's revival?"

"Ziyan must remember."

"To me, Ziyan is absolutely not a minister; from now on, never bow to me."

Not a single person present objected; all lowered their heads and bowed to Gu Chen.

Gu Chen still wanted to say something.

But Liu Bei spoke before him, smiling: "Ziyan's return today is the Han's flourishing age."

"I have heard that in years past Emperor Guangwu bestowed a painting titled 'Loyal and Martial';"

"Emperor Xiaoming bestowed a painting titled 'Civil and Accomplished'; Emperor Xiaohe bestowed a painting titled 'Civil and Inlaid';"

"today, I have had painters make a painting."

"I must bestow this painting upon Ziyan, to manifest the affection between the Liu Son of Heaven and the Gu clan."

His tone rang resolute.

Upon hearing this, even Gu Chen was momentarily stunned.

He fell silent for a moment, then gave a slight nod: "Thank you, Your Majesty."

Liu Bei smiled.

He then took Gu Chen's hand directly and walked beside him toward the city.

As the two walked forward.

The ministers followed one after another, slowly behind them.

The horn's call drifted on the wind; beneath the gaze of countless commoners, Liu Bei and Gu Chen slowly entered the city.

Afterwards, Liu Bei again accompanied Gu Chen in offering sacrifices to the Gu ancestral spirits, making clear to all under heaven his stance toward Gu Chen.

—They were merely ruler and minister in name!

Gu Chen was not a man who could ever truly stop.

Right after the sacrifice.

At the banquet, Gu Chen began discussing the next steps with Liu Bei.

Today, under Liu Zhang's surrender,

the lands of Jiangdong had still never been pacified.

Yet these matters naturally no longer entered Gu Chen's view; what he truly cared about was the establishment of the new system.

In truth, Liu Bei had long since made his position clear.

Not only through emulating Gu Chen's actions across the provinces,

but also by granting Gu Chen oversight of both civil and military affairs—he intended to give Gu Chen absolute freedom to accomplish this.

Through this great chaos across the land, Liu Bei had long recognized the fate awaiting overgrown aristocratic clans.

Liu Bei had long since made up his mind.

One by one, the others voiced their opinions.

After decades of development, building upon the foundation laid by Gu Xi, these capable men now held even more ideas.

—Things that Gu Yi cared deeply about.

Gu Ze and Zhuge Liang proposed the "woodblock printing" method at the banquet.

Though Gu Chen had not returned to Julu in many years, he still knew well the family's deep reserves.

Upon seeing Gu Ze produce books printed via woodblock technique, he immediately understood Gu Ze's intentions.

Gu Wei was stunned.

Others might have been unmoved, but for the Gu clan's generation like theirs,

they still longed for the past.

First, Gu Wei's childhood remark, then Gu Xi's repeated mentions, and finally even the words that it might one day come true.

Now, seeing these books, how could they not grasp their significance?

—Selecting talent from among all under heaven!

Gu Chen, Gu Wei, and the others hesitated not at all; they immediately took the books and began reading them intently.

Looking at the clear ink impressions upon them.

Not only Gu Wei, but even Gu Chen, whose will had always been as iron, could not help but be stirred.

Countless thoughts flashed through his mind.

Though he understood this task would by no means be easy to accomplish,

it was not only a matter of printing speed;

it also required the land to fully recover, and at the very least, the people to have enough to eat, before the desired effect could be achieved.

But for Gu Chen, merely seeing this hope was enough!

As long as this hope existed, he could keep moving forward.

Countless thoughts surged through him as Gu Chen discussed at length with those present, just as Emperor Xiaoming Liu Zhuang had once discussed with Marquis Wen Cheng Gu Kang.

From the Han system;

to the capital;

to the next round of planning.

All spoke freely, outlining the future path of the Han dynasty in every aspect.

A new dynasty rose slowly that night.

Though still bearing the name Han, it was now profoundly different.

Gu Yi had silently observed all of this, listening to every word spoken, his heart filled with profound complexity.

The emergence of the Gu clan had accelerated the original course of history.

From fundamental institutions;

to productivity;

to technological levels and every other aspect, development had been greatly elevated.

None of this had yet been fully implemented; if it were, it would leave an indelible mark on all of history.

The discussion lasted until dawn.

Even so, all felt unsatisfied.

But how could matters of state be settled in a short time?

—This must be pursued gradually.

One by one, the others departed, leaving only Gu Chen and Liu Bei.

Liu Bei watched the retreating backs of the others, his expression deeply complex, eyes slightly reddened, voice low: "Ziyan, even until today…"

He paused, as if steadying his emotions, and said, "Only now do I truly feel that the great Han has once again shown signs of renewed vitality."

Gu Chen nodded silently, sharing the same feeling in his heart.

In the past, he had often heard Gu Xi describe the situation during Emperor Xiaohe's reign, and now he had finally gained some firsthand understanding of it.

"Ziyan." Liu Bei's gaze turned to Gu Chen, his expression growing increasingly Serious, as he opened his mouth to ask, "Tell me, do the two of us still have a chance to bring this realm back to its former prosperity?"

"We certainly can!"

Gu Chen did not hesitate. He first cupped his hands in a bow toward Liu Bei, then looked beyond the hall, his voice clear and firm: "Your Majesty is sagacious, and all you lords are worthy ministers. Under the governance of a wise ruler and worthy ministers, how could the realm fail to flourish?"

Having spoken, Gu Chen also turned his head to look at Liu Bei.

Liu Bei stared fixedly at Gu Chen, his gaze never wavering in the slightest, and nodded solemnly..

——————

"In the fifteenth year of Jian'an, tenth month.

Liu Bei, at Julu in Jizhou, accepted the abdication of Emperor Xian of Han, Liu Xie, after being thrice declined and thrice yielded, and ascended the imperial throne.

The dynasty name remained Han, with the capital set at Luoyang, and the era name changed to 'Zhangwu'.

Because Gu Chen, courtesy name Ziyan, had rendered meritorious service too great to conceal amid the chaos, and because Han belonged to the fire virtue, it is historically known as the 'Yan Han' (Blazing Han)."

——"People's Education Press History Textbook (Grade 7, First Volume)"

(End of this chapter)