Chapter 75: Father and Son Meet, Liuche Makes a Decision

Since the last parting in the Northern Frontier, Liu Ju has not seen Emperor Wu of Han for half a month.

In fact, if we count properly, since Emperor Wu of Han's feigned death, it has been several months without seeing him; moreover, Liu Ju rarely went to the Never-ending Palace before, and Emperor Wu of Han also did not really want to see him.

He was either carrying out construction in All Yang or staying in the Broad View Garden farming; over these twenty years, the two have rarely met.

The imperial family is ruthless, and this is even more evident in the case of Emperor Wu of Han, Liuche.

On his way to the Wusun Palace, Liu Ju's mind was continually filled with conflicting feelings.

He felt both gratitude toward Emperor Wu of Han for his upbringing and dissatisfaction, but more so a sense of bewilderment and helplessness.

Emperor Wu of Han was like a stubborn old father, and there were all kinds of generational gaps between them, making communication basically impossible.

This, to some extent, has nothing to do with being born into an imperial family; it is merely a gap between two worlds and two generations of different ages.

When Liu Ju entered the palace and saw the wounded, extremely weak Emperor Wu of Han lying in bed, he froze for a moment, and then all his previous emotions vanished.

Yeah, what was I agonizing over?

After all, Emperor Wu of Han is ultimately my biological father, just a frail old man.

Having realized this, Liu Ju strode forward, knelt with a thud, and said in a trembling voice, 'Father Emperor, your subject has come to see you.'

Emperor Wu of Han looked at Liu Ju before him, his heart also filled with mixed feelings.

He saw Liu Ju's growth; once a somewhat immature and unlearned crown prince, he has now grown into someone capable of standing on his own and shouldering responsibility, which brings him pride as well.

But thinking that Liu Ju might overturn the policies he had pursued for years, a hint of dissatisfaction inevitably welled up in his heart.

But ever since he decided in the Northern Frontier to go far to Wusun, he had actually already let go.

Emperor Wu of Han has never been a stingy person, and moreover, in his love for the Great Han, he is certainly no less than anyone else.

Whether dealing with the Wei, Huo, and Li clans, or other meritorious officials,

In that era of eliminating old abuses and pioneering innovation, he had no choice but to act that way!

He, Liuche, has a clear conscience!

But he also has to admit that the current Liu Ju, especially in his treatment of the Great Han's commoners, does a better job than he does!

This is also the main reason why he wants to let go of everything.

Liuche looked at the dignified and imposing son, whose speech was just like his own back then, now the master of the Great Han, and he suddenly laughed heartily, saying consolingly, 'Ju, you've done well.'

Liu Ju raised his head, his eyes showing a hint of determination and sincerity, and said, 'Father Emperor, your diligent governance of the Great Han has given the people of this land a common ethnic designation, the Han people;'

'It has given our writing a common name, Han characters; our common language is called Han language.'

'Our clothing is called Han attire, and the men here are called real men.'

'It is you who expanded the territory of the Great Han, giving people all under heaven a sense of identification with it.'

'Without you, there would be no Great Han today, and thus no me at this moment.'

'What I have done is not even a fraction of what you have achieved; you are truly the one emperor of all ages!'

Emperor Wu of Han, listening to Liu Ju's account, became increasingly excited, trembling slightly as he said, 'One emperor of all ages, do you really see me that way?'

Then he looked at Li Guang and Huo Qubing beside him and asked, 'Do you also see me that way?'

'Your Majesty, your diligent governance and enterprising spirit truly make you a model for emperors throughout history; you will surely go down in history.'

Li Guang and Huo Qubing knelt together, expressing heartfelt respect.

'One emperor of all ages, ha ha, good! Good! Good!' Emperor Wu of Han laughed with relief, slowly sat up, but the pulling of his wound made him wince in pain.

Liu Ju hurried forward to support Liuche, looking at the wound on his arm, feeling heartbroken.

He quickly took out the carefully prepared wound medicine from his bosom and said, 'Father Emperor, you are wounded; I have specially sought this excellent wound medicine for you—let me apply it for you.'

Saying so, he gently treated Emperor Wu of Han's wound, each motion delicate and focused.

At this moment, Emperor Wu of Han felt the long-lost parent-child affection.

Seeing Liu Ju's earnest demeanor, the ice in his heart quietly melted.

Liu Ju softly said, 'Father Emperor, I hope you can return with me to Perpetual Peace; that is truly your home, with your court, your people, and also your wife and sons.'

Liuche fell silent, gazing at Liu Ju for a long while, then shook his head, his eyes turned toward the distance, revealing a lofty ambition.

'You have said it all—I am that one emperor of all ages, and now I am in my prime; how could I simply return to Perpetual Peace to become a retired emperor and waste my days? I have decided to venture farther into the Western Regions, continue expanding the borders, and secure an even vaster territory for the Great Han.'

Upon hearing this, Li Guang immediately clasped his fists and said, 'Your Majesty, this old subject wishes to follow you, no matter to the ends of the earth; I will surely charge forward for you.'

Huo Qubing also wore a determined expression and loudly said, 'I, Huo Qubing, also wish to accompany Your Majesty, to win further merit on the battlefield of the Western Regions.'

Liuche excitedly looked at the two ministers who had followed him all his life, the pillars of the Great Han; his soft heart was moved, and any previous grudges with them dissolved completely.

Having obtained such ministers, what more could he desire?

'My resolve is firm!'

Emperor Wu of Han said this with heroic vigor.

Liu Ju looked at Emperor Wu of Han's resolute gaze and knew he could not be dissuaded.

He gave a slight nod and said, 'Father Emperor, since your decision is firm, I will not stand in your way; I only wish you safety and an early triumphant return in the Western Regions.'

Liuche gave a slight nod, pondered for a moment, then asked, 'I have always had a knot in my heart: why did you, when you first implemented the new policies in All Yang, keep it hidden from me?'

Liuche had actually asked this of Dongfang Shuo more than once, and also asked himself, but from his perspective he still could not understand.

Liu Ju thought to himself, 'Am I not doing this for self-preservation? Anyone who knows a bit of history knows that your later years of militaristic aggression and obstinacy, as well as my previous incarnation, were the biggest victims of the witchcraft catastrophe.'

But he could not possibly say these things to Emperor Wu of Han.

Liu Ju could only say, 'Back then I, too, was told by an immortal in a dream; I originally thought those things were mere frivolous tricks not worth mentioning, and I also did not want to trouble Father Emperor unnecessarily, so I just looked for something to do.'

'An immortal's dream message?'

Emperor Wu of Han automatically dismissed the 'frivolous tricks' remark; if it were before, he might have believed it, but seeing Liu Ju's decisive and capable conduct after ascending the throne, such a notion is utterly useless!

But the four words 'immortal's dream message' aroused his great interest.

He muttered, 'Why do I revere immortals so much yet receive no response or favor? Could it be that I am not truly the Chosen One?'

No matter how wise and martial Emperor Wu of Han may be, he cannot escape the era's shackles of reverence for spirits and gods.

Liu Ju earnestly replied, "Father Emperor, I'll tell you a story."

In the previous dynasty, there was a commoner whose hometown suffered a flood; he was trapped in the water, constantly praying to the immortals to save his life. In order to wait for the immortals to come to his rescue, he repeatedly missed the drifting logs, the help of his fellow villagers, and the court's relief efforts, and ultimately drowned in the water.

After he died and met the immortals, he questioned why they did not favor him; what do you think the immortals would say?

Emperor Wu of Han stroked his beard and said, "This immortal is so cold-hearted; he even asks the harmed believers, 'Not worshiping is fine too!'"

Liu Ju shook his head and said, "Father Emperor, you're wrong. In fact, the earlier driftwood, fellow villagers, and the court's relief were all directed by the immortals; the immortals' care is everywhere, so how could you say they didn't lend a hand? It's just that people don't perceive it."

Emperor Wu of Han suddenly understood, then asked again, "Then what does that have to do with my worship of the immortals?"

Liu Ju said, "Father Emperor, you expanded the borders and pioneered innovations; the vast Han territory you won for your servant is not the immortals' favor? Now that I and you have let go of past grievances and pacified the Xiongnu and Wusun, is that not also the immortals' favor?"

"Do the immortals really watch over me?"

Liuche excitedly grasped Liu Ju's hand, then sighed, "It's me, I was foolish; hearing you say that, it truly makes sense."

"Actually, you yourself are a god!"

Liu Ju looked at the devout Emperor Wu of Han and thought to himself.

Liuche and the immortals' knot was finally untied; he then continued to ask Liu Ju:

"What about your new policies, and the novel things I don't even know about? The Han realm has just been put in order by me, with clear seas and tranquil rivers, an unprecedented prosperity; why do you seek to overturn my series of reform measures?"

Liu Ju rose, hands behind his back, gazing into the distance, and said, "I too act for the great Han, for the lasting peace of the Han people; your series of measures are merely drinking poison to quench thirst, and now the decline is fully evident—don't you realize that, Father Emperor?"

"You!"

Liuche's face slightly changed; he never expected Liu Ju to openly call himself 'Zhen' before him, while completely rejecting his reign's actions, somewhat unwillingly said, "Isn't my Han considered a golden age?"

Liu Ju slowly turned, earnestly looking at Emperor Wu of Han and said, "Father Emperor, a true golden age is not the emperor and meritorious nobles enjoying their bells and feasts, but rather that everyone in the Han realm can eat their fill and stay warm, with no refugees starving to death; have you achieved that?"

Emperor Wu of Han stared blankly, murmuring, "I have done my best in this era... I truly have done my best!"

"I can do it!"

Liu Ju gazed at Emperor Wu of Han with a burning stare, and spoke resolutely.

Liuche's gaze flickered a bit, but after a moment it became firm.

"I don't believe it, I am not wrong, I will watch you and prove myself again!"

He clenched his fist stubbornly, then waved his hand and said, "I'm tired, you all retreat now!"

Having said that, he closed his eyes to rest and said no more.

He knew that after this parting, he might never see Liu Ju again in this lifetime, but he had no lingering affection like a daughter's love; this was not what he desired.

Liu Ju also said nothing more, but turned, knelt down, and solemnly kowtowed three times to Emperor Wu of Han before turning and leaving.

"Take good care of your mother empress!"

Liu Ju had just stepped out of the hall when he heard Emperor Wu of Han's voice faintly coming from afar.

"Your Majesty, I hereby take my leave!"

Li Guang and Huo Qubing bid Liu Ju a sorrowful farewell.

Liu Ju did not linger, striding away swiftly.