Chapter 73

But no one listened to his explanation, the sky screen continued:

【In politics, enfeoffed the twenty-eight generals of Yuntai.

After Liu Xiu ascended the throne, his handling of meritorious officials can be called textbook level.

He neither killed meritorious officials nor let them hold real power.

He enfeoffed the twenty-eight generals of Yuntai, granted them titles and land, but invited them out of the core decision-making layer.

He also invented the operation of "retiring meritorious officials and advancing civil officials," letting civil officials govern the country and military generals retire.

History records "meritorious officials all kept their blessings and wealth, none were punished," which is simply a clear stream among founding emperors.】

Liu Xiu nodded slightly, he did a good job on this matter.

Deng Yu, Wu Han, Jia Fu... those brothers who lived and died with him, he didn't kill a single one, all were given wealth, letting them enjoy their old age.

Monarch and ministers having a good relationship, starting and ending well, this is what he is most proud of.

On the sky screen, another line of bullet comments floated by:

【Yang Jian (Emperor Wen of Sui): @Liu Xiu Brother Liu, I learned that not killing meritorious officials of yours!

I was also quite good to meritorious officials — although my son killed them... sigh, let's not mention it.】

Liu Xiu: "..."

Yang Jian? That stingy emperor?

His son killed meritorious officials? No wonder the Great Sui perished in the second generation.

【In economy, implemented the land measurement order and tax reduction.

After Liu Xiu became emperor, he implemented the land measurement order, checked the country's land and population, and severely punished powerful families who concealed them.

Restored the Western Han Dynasty's tax system of one-thirtieth, and repeatedly exempted land rent in disaster areas.

He took the lead in frugality, leaving only dozens of palace maids, and Empress Yin Lihua's skirt had no brocade decoration.

By the end of the Jianwu era, the national cultivated land increased from less than 3 million qing to 7.3 million qing, and the population recovered from 10 million to 21 million.】

The land measurement order, this is the key to Liu Xiu's economic rectification.

Powerful families concealed land and avoided taxes, and the people suffered.

He checked severely, punished heavily, although he offended many people, the people got benefits, it was worth it.

【In culture, commended fame and integrity and the Imperial Academy.

He highly commended the hermits who did not serve Wang Mang, Yan Guang (Yan Ziling) was his classmate, Liu Xiu invited him to come out of the mountains, Yan Guang slept with his feet on the emperor's stomach, and Liu Xiu didn't get angry.

He also established the Imperial Academy, promoting the spread of Confucianism, history calls it "the most beautiful style, the most prosperous Confucianism."】

【In territory, unified the world.

After 12 years of fighting, he successively eliminated the Red Eyebrows and separatist forces, and re-unified the world.

The territory "east to the Liaohai, west to the Western Regions, south to Jiaozhi, north to the desert," restored the Western Han Dynasty's map.】

Heroic spirit rose in Liu Xiu's chest.

Unifying the world, re-establishing the Han Dynasty, this is his life's work.

Although the process was difficult, with meteorite assistance, brothers fighting for their lives, and Lihua's company, it was finally done.

He was feeling proud, but the style of the sky screen changed suddenly:

【Fault Chapter: Perfect Emperor also has "BUGS"】

【In politics, excessive centralization.

He learned the lesson of power ministers usurping the throne (Wang Mang) at the end of the Western Han Dynasty, reducing the power of the Three Lords, and returning affairs to the Shangshu Terrace.

As a result, imperial power lost checks and balances, opening the bad precedent of eunuch and in-law power in the Eastern Han Dynasty.

Zhongchang Tong criticized him for "correcting the wrong too much, government not trusting the subordinates."】

Liu Xiu's face stiffened.

Excessive centralization? Eunuch and in-law power? This... where does this start?

He reduced the power of the Three Lords to prevent another power minister like Wang Mang, how did it become a bad precedent instead?

【In military, abolished local armed forces.

31 AD, in order to save money, he abolished the commandery captain and township soldier system.

Local areas had no soldiers from then on, and border defense was empty.

Fifty years later, the Qiang rebellion broke out, the Eastern Han Dynasty spent 36.4 billion coins to suppress it, and the northwest was withered.】

Liu Xiu's breath hitched, abolished local armed forces... he did do this.

At that time, the world was just settled, everything was waiting to be done, raising soldiers was too expensive, he thought about cutting the army, letting the people rest and recuperate.

But he didn't expect that it would leave such a big hidden danger for later generations.

【In society, side effects of commending fame and integrity.

He advocated "fame and integrity," the original intention was to encourage loyalty.

As a result, scholars began to show off for fame — some mourned for twenty years, some pretended to give up titles, some killed enemies to gain fame.

In the late Eastern Han Dynasty, "hypocrites were everywhere," Liu Xiu started this.】

【Liu Xiu in his later years, superstitious about prophecy.

He was obsessed with prophecy books in his later years, using prophecy to decide national affairs, and even abolished the crown prince because of it.

This superstitious thought influenced the entire era of the Eastern Han Dynasty.】

Liu Xiu's face turned red and white.

Commending fame and integrity led to hypocrites everywhere?

Prophecy superstition influenced national politics?

These... these he really didn't expect.

He was in a mess, and on the sky screen, the bullet comments started to flood the screen again:

【Zhao Kuangyin (Song Taizong): @Liu Xiu Brother Xiu, you invited a wine feast, I invited a wine feast plus money, who saved more money?】

【Li Shimin (Tang Taizong): @Liu Xiu I observe that the masters of restoring order from chaos in ancient times were all over forty, only Guangwu was thirty-three.

This youth and promise, I admire!

Also, your "retiring meritorious officials and advancing civil officials," I borrowed it, the twenty-four meritorious officials of Lingyan Pavilion, I use them and guard against them, but not as thoroughly as you. High!】

【Zhu Yuanzhang (Ming Taizu): @Liu Xiu Only Han Guangwu Emperor, who has the virtue of ruling the world and the merit of peaceful ages!

I, Old Zhu, admire most that you can fight the world, rule the world, and start and end well!

Although I also killed some people, compared to you, I am ashamed!】

Liu Xiu looked at these bullet comments, feeling a bit better.

At least, later emperors recognized his achievements and recognized his character.

He took a deep breath, just wanting to say something to the sky screen, suddenly, a glaring bullet comment floated by:

【Wang Mang (New Dynasty Emperor): @Liu Xiu Liu Xiu! You hacker!

I worked hard to reform, implement new policies, and you summoned meteorites to smash me!

Do you want face or not, if you have the ability, fight a real battle, playing dirty is not a hero!】

Liu Xiu: "???"

Wang Mang? That rebellious thief who usurped the Han? And he dares to post bullet comments?

He hadn't reacted yet, and another line floated on the sky screen:

【Liu Bang (Han Taizu Gao Emperor): @Wang Mang Who are you? Dare to scold my Xiu'er?

Wait, Wang Mang? This name sounds familiar... are you the rebellious thief who usurped the Han?

@Liu Che Che'er, come and recognize, is this grandson the one who usurped our Great Han?】

【Liu Che (Han Wudi): @Wang Mang It's you! It's you! Usurped my Great Han empire!

@Liu Bang Gaozu, it's him! Wang Mang! New Dynasty Emperor! Tossed our Great Han quite a bit!】

Liu Bang (Han Taizu Gao Emperor): "Good boy! Dare to usurp my Liu family's empire!

@Xiao He @Zhang Liang @Han Xin listen to me!

Pass my decree, search for everyone surnamed Wang nationwide!

Especially those named Wang Mang, see one and cut one, if you can't cut them to death, cut them to death for me!"】

Xiao He silently posted a bullet comment: "Your Majesty, Wang Mang is a person from the end of the Western Han Dynasty, more than two hundred years later than us..."

Zhang Liang calmly added: "Your Majesty, even if you cut all of Wang Mang's ancestors for eighteen generations now, it won't affect the later Wang Mang."

Han Xin was eager to try: "Your Majesty, how about I lead the army, catch all those surnamed Wang, and interrogate them one by one?"

Liu Bang calmed down: "... Forget it, I forgot this."

@Wang Mang wait for me! When I die, I won't let you go even as a ghost!"】

Wang Mang jumped: "@Liu Bang you are unreasonable, my reform was for the people of the world, it was your Liu family that was no good, so I ascended!

Besides, @Liu Xiu he hacked! If I had his luck, could I lose?!"】