Chapter 93: Liu Bei Falls, All Things Are Made New

Upon hearing the news of Gu Wei's passing, Gu Chen was overcome with grief.

Perhaps it was because of the different era.

This generation of the Gu clan disciples had far deeper bonds with one another than those before.

Each and every one of them carried far, far too much on their shoulders.

The expectations of the common people;

The last wishes of their forebears.

This made the bonds between this generation of the Gu clan disciples exceedingly deep—how could Gu Chen not grieve?

Yet he still did not leave Youzhou and return to Luoyang.

Gu Wei had been right.

For this generation of the Gu clan disciples, being able to fulfill Gu Xi's long-cherished wish was already the greatest blessing of a lifetime.

Time does not pause for anyone.

The man was gone; no matter how deep the grief in their hearts, the others could only inherit the will of the departed and press onward.

Having stationed troops in Youzhou for several years, Gu Chen had now fully come to appreciate the might of the foreign tribes.

This might even exceeded his earlier expectations.

This was also one of the main reasons Gu Chen had chosen to station his own troops in Youzhou.

The foreign tribes had now truly come to feel the terror of Gu Chen, and as time passed they gradually settled down a little.

But Gu Chen did not let his guard down.

He was certain of it.

This deterrence would completely collapse with his passing.

The struggle between the Great Han and the foreign tribes would by no means end so easily—only a great battle fierce enough to shake the sun and moon could thoroughly resolve this crisis.

Gu Wei's death made Gu Chen all the more aware of how precious time was.

He devoted himself even more wholeheartedly to training the officers and soldiers of the army.

Jiang Wei, Deng Ai, Guanqiu Jian, and several of the seventh-generation Gu clan disciples skilled in martial arts were all under his tutelage.

Gu Chen had originally thought he still had at least several years.

But urgent news传来 from Luoyang shattered Gu Chen's plans.

——Zhang Fei, grief-stricken over Guan Yu's passing, drank day after day.

His body finally could not bear the strain.

Critically Ill, he passed away.

This became the final straw that broke Liu Bei's back, and Liu Bei collapsed on the spot.

For an Emperor;

Liu Bei was indeed a touch too sentimental.

But this was also Liu Bei's virtue—without this kind of temperament, he absolutely could not have reached where he stood today.

Liu Bei's edict was swiftly delivered to Youzhou.

Others Gu Chen could afford to ignore.

But not Liu Bei.

The realm of the Great Han had only just been pacified not long ago; no matter what, there had to be someone capable of holding the realm in check stationed at Luoyang.

Gu Chen had no choice but to return to Luoyang.

Luoyang, within the Northern Palace.

The atmosphere was utterly Serious.

Liu Bei lay upon the bed, his face white as snow, his life hanging by a thread with only a single breath remaining, yet he kept on stubbornly holding on.

Beside him, Crown Prince Liu Shan and several of his other sons wore faces full of sorrow, tears falling unceasingly.

Ministers such as Zhuge Liang and Xun Yu were likewise grief-stricken.

At that moment, a flurry of urgent footsteps suddenly rang out.

Before the guards could even announce him, Gu Chen's figure had already burst straight into the Northern Palace, cutting through the assembled ministers and walking directly to Liu Bei's side.

Looking at Liu Bei's feeble, half-dead state upon the bed, a trace of complexity flickered through his eyes as well.

But the instant Liu Bei saw Gu Chen, a glimmer of light returned to his eyes.

"Ziyan!"

Before Gu Chen could speak, Liu Bei suddenly let out a low cry, instinctively trying to sit up.

But his body was simply far too weak.

That he had held on until today was entirely due to his tremendous will.

He had been waiting for Gu Chen.

As Emperor, how could Liu Bei fail to see clearly the state of the realm today?

Although everything seemed to have fallen into proper order.

Without someone capable of keeping the realm in check stationed there, the slightest misstep could send the Great Han back down the old path.

Most critically—

When it came to this Crown Prince Liu Shan, he truly could not set his mind at ease.

"Your Majesty."

Looking at the Liu Bei before him, a flash of sorrow instantly crossed Gu Chen's eyes; he strode swiftly forward, steadily supporting Liu Bei with both hands, heaved a heavy sigh, and said in self-reproach:

"This minister has come too late!"

"Ziyan." Liu Bei suddenly gripped Gu Chen's hand, his head turning急切ly from side to side, his expression utterly earnest. "I told you long ago—Ziyan, you are no ordinary minister."

His gaze burned bright, his eye-rim reddening as if with blood.

A thousand words surged up in his throat, but fearing time was short, they reached his lips only to be swallowed back. In the end he simply stared hard at Gu Chen, and said solemnly, word by word: "Ziyan's talent surpasses mine a hundredfold."

"On the verge of death, I have only one great matter to entrust."

Liu Bei gripped Gu Chen's hand even tighter, his knuckles going faintly white. "The Great Han—I entrust it to you!"

That brief sentence seemed to carry an endless weight, brimming with his earnest hopes and worries for the Great Han.

Gu Chen only felt a sudden heat in his eyes; his vision blurred at once.

Though his contact with Liu Bei had not been extensive—even after he later supported Liu Bei in claiming the throne, most of Gu Chen's time was spent abroad.

Yet this in no way hindered the feelings Gu Chen held for Liu Bei.

Liu Bei was indeed a magnanimous and benevolent Emperor.

To have given Gu Chen such vast authority, and never once thought to move against him, already spoke of his uncommon character.

Gu Chen said nothing more; he merely gripped Liu Bei's hand in return and nodded seriously.

Seeing this, the worry in Liu Bei's eyes dissolved like a wisp of smoke.

He laboriously turned his neck, casting his gaze toward the Crown Prince Liu Shan, who knelt nearby, and his voice rasped like sandpaper scraping: "Adou."

"Father!" Liu Shan answered at once, his voice weeping.

Liu Bei stared hard at him, then raised his hand to point at Gu Chen: "Once, by the banks of the Luo River, before all the people, I swore a vow to the world."

"I shall never betray the Gu clan."

"On the tripod of the Liu clan, the name of the Gu clan shall be inscribed."

"After I am dead, you shall treat the Grand Protector as a father. Never follow the example of the three Emperors—Emperor Jingping, Emperor Huan, and Emperor Ling—betraying the hopes of the people and throwing the Great Han's altars of state into chaos."

His voice grew ever weaker, yet he still forced himself to hold on, refusing to let his breath scatter, and looked once more at Gu Chen: "Ziyan."

"The Crown Prince is soft and untalented."

"If he cannot uphold the state, Ziyan may seek another to set up in his place."

"I desire only that the altars of state be at peace."

This was the first time Liu Bei had referred to himself as 'zhen' before Gu Chen.

Yet the words he spoke were utterly sincere.

—He may depose and enthrone the Emperor!

A simple sentence, yet it could be said to have handed the entire Great Han over to Gu Chen alone.

It granted Gu Chen supreme authority.

Although Gu Chen had always been capable of doing this, there was a fundamental difference.

Liu Bei was giving Gu Chen authority that was proper and legitimate!

Yet everyone present found it not at all strange—indeed, entirely to be expected.

Gu Chen's eyes too gradually reddened.

Looking at Liu Bei before him, whose life hung by a thread, he finally came to fully understand the meaning of what Gu Xi had once said about a wise ruler and a worthy minister.

He said nothing more, merely nodded seriously.

Then, for the first time, he performed the full prostration and kowtow before Liu Bei.

Liu Bei finally closed his eyes completely.

"Your Majesty!!!"

Voices of grief rang out one after another.

Gu Chen knelt before Liu Shan and the assembled ministers, and a tear could not help but slip from the corner of his eye.

In the seventh year of Zhangwu, on the guiyou day of the second month;

—Liu Bei passed away at the Northern Palace of Luoyang.

On his deathbed he entrusted his son to Gu Chen, granting him the authority to depose and enthrone the Son of Heaven.

Crown Prince Liu Shan ascended the throne.

His posthumous name was Emperor Zhaowu.

The passing of a founding Emperor like Liu Bei was bound to have an immense impact on the present-day Great Han.

Although Liu Bei had long ago issued an edict stating that the funeral should follow the example of past Emperors such as Emperor Guangwu and Emperor Xiaoming, with all simplicity.

Yet the rites that were due could not be omitted;

The national mourning arrived as scheduled.

But perhaps because Gu Chen had already returned to Luoyang, no disturbance arose anywhere in the realm.

Indeed, compared to when Liu Bei was alive, officials everywhere appeared even more cautious, as if treading on thin ice.

Liu Shan ascended the throne in stable circumstances.

And regarding this new Emperor, Gu Chen had finally formed some judgment.

Setting aside his talent for the moment.

Liu Shan was obedient—truly obedient.

He had not the slightest desire to wield power; whenever faced with any matter, great or small, his only response was: "Let the Royal Father decide."

Moreover, Gu Chen could be certain that Liu Shan was not putting on an act—it came entirely from his true heart.

This struck Gu Chen as quite remarkable.

For an Emperor.

To possess such a temperament was exceedingly rare.

Even if his talent were lacking, so long as he had ministers devoted to aiding the Han, Liu Shan's temperament would absolutely qualify him as a worthy ruler who could preserve what had been built.

This gave Gu Chen a clear judgment of the Great Han's future.

Although his fame across the world came through warfare.

But Gu Chen, this nearly perfect hexagonal warrior, had no weaknesses whatsoever.

Especially now, the Great Han still had many capable men.

Capable figures like Zhuge Liang, Xun Yu, Pang Tong, Fa Zheng, and others could provide Gu Chen with tremendous assistance.

Often, once Gu Chen laid out a preliminary plan, these men would discuss and refine the specific details, then implement them effectively.

This directly propelled the Great Han's administrative speed to an unprecedented scale.

The realm remained utterly stable.

As the only Gu clan member to have traversed the entire world so far, Gu Chen now pushed the Gu clan's traditions to their utmost extreme.

For land reclamation across the provinces, the disgraced scions of ancient clans now found purpose.

Gu Chen gave them a glimmer of hope.

As long as they reclaimed a certain amount of land, they would be pardoned.

Moreover, drawing on the notes left by Gu Kang in years past, Gu Chen undertook water control projects across the realm and lent grain seeds to the people of all directions.

He abolished the head tax, which had sharply increased since Emperor Wu's time, and restored the light taxation of the early Western Han.

To stimulate population growth.

In fact, within this feudal dynasty system,

whether the common people could live in prosperity,

depended not only on natural disasters and chaos, but also on the clarity of governance.

The Great Han was now a time of renewal in every aspect.

The clarity of governance far surpassed anything before.

The population's foundational strength now played a crucial role.

Under all these factors, the Great Han's national strength rapidly began to recover.

Of course, although Gu Chen had returned to Luoyang, his attention to the frontiers remained undiminished.

Warfare along all four frontiers never ceased.

The nomads' way of life inevitably forced them to raid for survival at intervals.

This was an irreconcilable core factor between both sides.

While governing the realm, Gu Chen also established granaries along all four frontiers, preparing for the coming great war.

He did not know how much time he had left.

But given Gu Chen's nature, as long as he could stand one more day, he would never cease moving forward.

The ministers had not the slightest doubt about his judgment.

This might well be one of the Great Han's most critical advantages today.

The court ministers worked in unison;

they placed absolute trust in Gu Chen, and each possessed exceptional talent in their respective fields.

How could such a Great Han possibly descend into chaos?

Successive victories arrived from all four frontiers.

Jiang Wei, Guanqiu Jian, Deng Ai, and others defeated the bandits, thwarting the nomads' raiding ambitions.

At the same time, Gu Chen was vigorously advancing Gu Xi's former grand project.

The woodblock printing technique had never ceased its expansion over the years.

As the Great Han's national strength gradually recovered,

Gu Chen established libraries in various regions and ordered Imperial Academy students to teach for at least six months in these libraries before assuming office.

He made their conduct during teaching part of their evaluation, thereby spreading knowledge, long monopolized by the aristocratic clans, across the realm.

This was bound to be a slow process.

For the lowest-class commoners,

what they needed to learn first was not the highest knowledge, but literacy and启蒙.

For this, Gu Chen even established a dedicated department.

He named it "Chuxue."

To hire Mr. to provide启蒙.

He decreed that boys under ten years old could attend Chuxue for启蒙.

In any other era, this would have caused an uproar.

Only Gu Chen himself could make this happen so easily.

But even so, it could only be pursued gradually, never with overly large steps.

It could only begin slowly, spreading from Luoyang and the slightly wealthier capital regions outward.

As for how to attract commoners to participate, Gu Chen's method was simple.

He simply told the people of all directions: "Study well, and you can become an official."

For the lowest-class commoners,

only this simplest statement could capture their attention.

When first hearing this, the people's first reaction was disbelief.

After all, for them,

becoming an official was something they had never dared to imagine.

But upon learning it was personally decreed by Gu Chen, they fell silent.

Then came a thunderous roar of shouts.

——The capital and its environs trembled!

Common folk across the four directions raised shouts of "ten thousand years" toward the people in every region, one after another bowing toward Luoyang.

Even though, until now, not a single commoner from the very bottom had ever become an official.

Yet, out of trust in Gu Chen and in the Gu clan.

These common folk, who had lived generation after generation at the very bottom, finally began to nurture hope for the future.

And for human beings—creatures possessed of such complex thoughts;

——nothing is rarer or more precious than hope.

So long as they could have hope.

The hearts of these common folk would be bound tightly to the court.

The rigid grip of class thinking finally began to loosen.

Gu Yi had been watching everything all along, his heart a tangled mass of emotions.

In truth, viewed through the lens of a later age;

The system Gu Chen and the others had now set up did indeed still have very great loopholes.

But what could be done about it?

When has the world ever possessed a system utterly flawless and complete?

There are only systems suited to different eras.

Compared with the original course of history, this kind of institutional progress was already extraordinarily ahead of its time.

Progress in thought is the hardest and rarest kind of progress, and it would absolutely exert an enormous influence on the overall development of later ages.

Gu Yi now grew ever more expectant about the development of the entire Great Han.

Though he understood.

No eternal dynasty existed in this world.

Yet he could also vaguely sense that this Great Han would likely become the dynasty with the greatest influence on the entire feudal era of the Nine Provinces.

And the name of the Gu clan would forever be inscribed upon it.

Becoming an existence that could never be erased from the annals of history.

Zhangwu ninth year, the fourth month;

Gu Ze passed away at Julu.

At this point, all of the Gu clan's sixth-generation children, save for Gu Chen, had departed this world.

Although Gu Ze had never, from beginning to end, set foot outside Julu;

Yet as Zhuge Liang's Mr. and as the contemporary head of the Gu clan, Liu Shan likewise held a grand funeral for Gu Ze, and even wished to bestow upon him a fine posthumous title.

But Gu Ze, it seemed, had thought of this.

He had long ago sent word to Gu Chen and Zhuge Liang, expressly stating that they must on no account bestow a posthumous title upon him.

Even Gu Liang back in those years, who had served at court yet merely failed to establish any great merit, had refused a posthumous title, fearing he would disgrace the names of his forebears.

How then could Gu Ye covet a fine name upon the annals of history?

For him.

From the moment he had returned to Julu all those years ago.

He had already, in this life, completely abandoned every ideal and ambition, living solely for the clan.

Even though a will like mountains and ridges lingered in his heart, he still smiled and returned to the yellow earth.

This matter exerted an enormous influence upon Gu Chen.

Although he was the youngest among the Gu clan's sixth generation, after years of constant struggle and fighting, he had never imagined that he would become the longest-lived among the Gu clan's sixth generation.

An unconcealable loneliness welled up within Gu Chen's heart.

This was the first time, since Gu Chen had risen to action, that he had set everything aside, withdrawing into his own residence in utter silence for a full three days.

After he once again emerged from his residence, everyone could clearly sense that a暮氣 likewise had appeared upon him.

Gu Chen seemed to have become the Gu Xi of those years.

The majesty about him grew ever denser.

Even ministers well acquainted with him could feel an obvious pressure in his presence.

From then on, Gu Chen threw himself even more desperately into his work.

Apart from his former governmental duties, Gu Chen also began selecting officials for the Great Han.

He looked not only at the officials' talents.

But also at their character.

And whether they supported the new policies.

Of course, Gu Chen likewise would not neglect the education of the Gu clan's children.

The abilities of the Gu clan's seventh-generation children were by no means weak; whether in civil administration or in Wu Gong, outstanding figures had emerged among them.

This was indeed a vigorous and flourishing great trend;

Even if it could not compare with that former age of heroes and mighty lords, this era was nevertheless destined to shine dazzlingly.

Zhang Hua, Yang Hu, and others were successively promoted by Gu Chen.

Gu Chen, drawing upon his judgment of human nature, swiftly forged within a short span of time a young cadre centered on the new policies, gradually taking up the burdens from the hands of the elders.

Zhangwu tenth year, the sixth month;

Xun Yu passed away with a smile.

This man, who could be called the very first to choose to follow Gu Chen, had finally reached the end of his life.

Perhaps because those who had departed were simply too many.

Gu Chen felt only numbness at this.

On his deathbed, Gu Chen went to see him and asked what he desired.

But Xun Yu merely smiled and shook his head.

For him, preserving his family's lineage, witnessing the revival of Han, and sparing his family from harsh condemnation in the historical records was more than enough—what more could he ask for?

He did not even ask Gu Chen to care for his descendants.

As one of the core figures in court, Xun Yu understood well the current changes in Han.

For his family to sustain its glory, only their own efforts could achieve it—he had long come to terms with this.

Gu Chen bestowed upon him the posthumous title "Xianyi Marquis."

And shortly after the funeral.

Gu Chen gradually transferred state affairs to Zhuge Liang.

He wished to use the time he had left to eliminate further threats to this bright world!

Beigong.

Sandalwood incense curled gently.

Liu Shan looked at Gu Chen with obvious anxiety and said reluctantly, "My Lord, are you truly going to lead the army out?"

"At your age, I am truly worried."

"I cannot bear to lose you."

Though he had been Emperor for years, Liu Shan still remained as he had been—before Gu Chen, he imitated Liu Bei and never dared call himself "I."

At this moment, Zhuge Liang also arrived upon hearing the imperial summons.

As soon as he stepped into the hall, he immediately sensed the unusual atmosphere.

He glanced at Liu Shan's face, filled with reluctance, and instantly guessed what was happening—his expression subtly changed.

"Grand Master has come."

Liu Shan did not think deeply; before Zhuge Liang could bow, he urgently spoke: "Quick, help me persuade My Lord—not let him risk himself!"

"Kongming, sit."

Gu Chen's expression did not change; he merely pointed to a seat already prepared beside him.

Hearing this, Zhuge Liang quickly bowed.

Then he sat down and asked solemnly, "Is Lord Gu planning to launch a campaign against the barbarians?"

With his intelligence,

he had long suspected as much.

Gu Chen nodded slightly and said solemnly, "Even if this campaign cannot eradicate the barbarians, it must break their momentum."

"To secure ten years of peace for Great Han."

Gu Chen's tone was utterly calm, as if speaking of a trivial matter—but no one would ever think he was boasting.

This was a plan he had long devised.

Great Han still needed time to recover.

At all costs, the peace of the realm must be preserved.

Hearing this, Zhuge Liang sighed softly; though he knew it was futile to dissuade Gu Chen, he could not help asking, "Why must Lord Gu lead the army personally?"

"The Four Generals are in the field."

Before Zhuge Liang could finish, Gu Chen cut him off: "In my grandfather's day, at nearly ninety, he still rode into battle and slew enemies."

"I am only sixty—how could I retreat?"

"What worth is a man who dies peacefully on his bed?"

He paused, shook his head slightly, his gaze resolute: "I will not tolerate any threat to this world!"

"Not at all!"

In an instant, both Zhuge Liang and Liu Shan fell silent.

This was Gu Chen's nature.

His will was iron. Once he decided on something,

no one could stop him!

——————

"In the second month, Guiyou day of the seventh year of Zhangwu, the Emperor passed away in Beigong, Luoyang.

As his condition worsened, an urgent imperial messenger galloped eight hundred li to summon Gu Chen into the palace, handed him the Son of Heaven's sword, and said: 'The Crown Prince is unworthy; if he cannot be guided, you may depose or install a new ruler.'

After assuming power, Gu Chen abolished state monopolies on alcohol, reduced head taxes, and dispatched Embroidered Robe Envoys to inspect corruption in the provinces and commanderies.

In the first month of summer in the eighth year, he established the 'Chongli Primary School' in the capital region to enlighten the common people.

He decreed that all Imperial Academy students must spend half a year studying in local schools before appointment, taught by the 'Gu Li.'

His examination system had three categories: those proficient in classics were appointed as Doctors; those skilled in administration were assigned as Clerk-Officials; those adept in exegesis were promoted as Academic Officers.

He reformed the 'Yuedan Evaluation' system, ordering provinces and commanderies to rank scholars by virtue, talent, and merit.

At the time, students of the Luoyang Imperial Academy struck their zithers and sang: 'Lord Gu established rites and order; humble cottages gave rise to phoenixes.'

——The Book of Yan Han, Biography of Gu Chen

(End of Chapter)