[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-i-can-control-my-ancestors":3,"chapter-i-can-control-my-ancestors-i-can-control-my-ancestors-chapter-39":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","I Can Control My Ancestors",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":20,"prevChapterSlug":21,"totalChapters":22,"novelImage":23},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":17,"translator":18,"content_hash":19},1035237,1347,"Chapter 39 - 15: Return to Luoyang, Liu Zhuang Seeks Counsel (Part 3)","i-can-control-my-ancestors-chapter-39",39,"\u003Cp>\"Quickly, take your seat.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing the Emperor address him in such a manner, Gu Cheng’s tense expression relaxed slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Emperor directly addressed the minister by his courtesy name.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was always a sign of closeness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet Gu Kang remained composed. After formally saluting Liu Zhuang again, he walked to the seat and sat down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Zhuang focused intently on Gu Kang, and the expression on his face grew increasingly complex.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’ve long heard that you often show concern for the plight of farmers.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It seems now, those words are not false.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He said with a sigh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Gu Kang could speak, Gu Cheng, having relaxed, immediately revealed a slight smile, saying, \"Naturally, Your Majesty might not know that my elder brother’s knowledge of agriculture is in no way inferior to that of a farmer.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The fields he has personally cultivated over the years even yield more than those tended by experienced farmers.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh? Is this truly the case?\" Liu Zhuang showed great interest, looking at Gu Kang and asking, \"Does Jie Shi have any unique strategies?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I heard you’ve improved the plow, with results far exceeding the straight shaft plow; did you bring it?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Here it is!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Kang understood in his heart that this seemingly casual conversation was actually a probe by the Emperor into his talents.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It could very well directly determine the future status of the Gu Clan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet his expression remained unfazed. He bowed to Liu Zhuang and said, \"In response to Your Majesty, I have brought the curved shaft plow; it is currently outside the palace.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Fetch it quickly.\" Liu Zhuang was quite interested and immediately gave orders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, Gu Kang began to elaborate on his reforms in agriculture.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your Majesty, since childhood, I accompanied my father deep into the fields, observing agriculture, so I do know a thing or two about it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The foundation of agriculture lies in the land.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Now, the citizens across our Great Han are well aware of the importance of fertile land.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The methods employed vary, such as using manure, plant ash, oil dregs, and so on, each with its merits.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I based my improvements on these methods, for example, by adding river mud, pond mud, among others, to achieve better results...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Kang’s expertise in agriculture was profound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though he had not fully grasped all the experiences left by Gu Yi, his knowledge far surpassed that of his contemporaries.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In simple terms, this required generations of gradual exploration to gain such experience.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Gu Kang was ahead of his time!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And just as Gu Kang was explaining, the curved shaft plow was brought in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Kang did not stop; utilizing the curved shaft plow, he explained its intricacies to Liu Zhuang, such as how it conserved energy and its advantages over the current straight shaft plow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Zhuang was completely captivated by Gu Kang’s explanations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps influenced by Liu Xiu, he was similarly very attentive to the matters of the people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now seeing Gu Kang discussing significant matters concerning the livelihood of the people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How could he not take it seriously?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Kang’s steady and resolute character destined him not to falter, explaining everything clearly and orderly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The more Liu Zhuang listened, the more complex his expression became.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Today’s Gu Clan may not be at its peak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But having someone of Gu Kang’s stature so knowledgeable in agriculture was enough to demonstrate his uniqueness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He remained silent throughout until Gu Kang finished, upon which Liu Zhuang couldn’t help but sigh long, saying, \"If not for the late Emperor, I fear I would have lost a great talent in governance.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This shows that...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I am far from the late Emperor....\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His expression was full of reflection.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Gu Cheng momentarily did not know how to respond to the Emperor’s self-effacing words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Liu Zhuang did not mind, and his expression returned to normal instantly, seriously looking at Gu Kang and asking again, \"Jie Shi, I ask you once more.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"In the current situation of our Great Han.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How should the world be governed?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having confirmed that Gu Kang indeed had talent, it was then necessary to ascertain the limits of Gu Kang’s ability!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly, this was Liu Zhuang’s intention.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this question, Gu Kang’s expression did not change, but he also did not answer Liu Zhuang directly. Instead, he bowed to Liu Zhuang again, and then spoke:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"May I ask Your Majesty...in what manner do you wish to govern the world?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Kang was a person with a very flexible moral baseline, and his only likely insistence was to ensure the continued greatness of the Gu Clan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Determining the Emperor’s thoughts before offering an answer indicated his confidence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Zhuang was quite surprised by Gu Kang’s response, and after a moment of silence, his gaze sharpened, and he said emphatically:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I want to achieve the grand enterprise of the Middle Kingdom!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The grand enterprise of the Middle Kingdom, that was Liu Xiu’s grand ambition expressed after the Fengshan ceremony;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—to restore the national strength of the Former Han during the time of Emperor Xiaowen;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—appease the Western Regions, settle the Xiongnu;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—to leave an eternal foundation for the Great Han!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Kang immediately understood Liu Zhuang’s intentions, and his expression finally changed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A competent minister meeting a mediocre ruler has always ended in regret.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Kang had always been worried about this matter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To establish a great enterprise, he could not meet a mediocre ruler.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Liu Zhuang said these words, the weight that had been hanging in Gu Kang’s heart finally began to ease away...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>---------------\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"In the second year of Yongping in March, the Emperor summoned the Gu Clan to an imperial audience, inquiring strategies of Kang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kang responded with composure, his words incisive and his arguments well-organized.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Emperor, upon hearing this, was astonished and admired him, engaging in a close conversation with Kang until dusk.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—— \"Han Book. Annals of Emperor Xiaoming\"\u003C\u002Fp>",988,"2026-06-03T09:29:35.075Z","2026-06-03T09:29:44.262Z",1,"novelbin.me","85decc1f19dfba8fb35f85f046ec04dd19632b127957e86047fb93232f6112f8","i-can-control-my-ancestors-chapter-40","i-can-control-my-ancestors-chapter-38",517,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fi-can-control-my-ancestors-cover.jpg"]