Establishing a thousand-year family from the nobles of the Western Han Dynasty

Chapter 112: Killing the Child, the Imperial Star Dims
Today, the military power of the Han Dynasty's central imperial guards is firmly in the hands of Wang Feng. Important positions in the court are all held by the Five Marquises. This is also the confidence of the Wang family!

Even if Wang Feng died suddenly, they were not afraid of losing power. The reason why the Huo family, which was once powerful, lost power so quickly was because of the lack of successors.

Of course, the fundamental reason was Emperor Xuan's superb political skills, but the incompetence of his descendants was also a very important secondary factor. In the end, he quickly handed over power, and the Xu family became powerful again.

Wang Feng was of course worried too. The Xu family had always held the highest power for so many years, and their foundation was so strong that it was unimaginable. The attitudes of those doctors from the Imperial Academy alone could represent everything.

Xu Gong's influence was still terrifying. The reason why the doctors of the Confucian Academy were unwilling to accept him was fundamentally due to problems with their ancestors.

The only ones who can suppress them are the wise men of all ages. If Wang Si has a relationship with them, things will definitely improve greatly.

This legendary prime minister was also a very famous emperor of the Qingliu School, praised by later generations. Even the law school had no ill feelings towards him. He was truly a capable minister. Without him, the country would have been destroyed by the eunuch party like Shi Xian.

"Well... in that case, I will promote Xu Zhong to the position of Right General, confer him the title of Marquis of Wucheng, and add the title of Governor of Nanyang."

Seeing this, Liu Ao could finally confer the reward with peace of mind. If Wang Feng forced the ministers to refuse, he would have no way to deal with it.

This is what the emperor fears the most. Without his ministers speaking for him, even if you are the supreme ruler, you cannot act on your own, otherwise you will slowly lose control of the court.

This reward was also a pleasant surprise for Xu Zhong, as he was unprecedented in being both a governor and a prefect.

Originally, the biggest flaw of the governor was his low rank and high power. Now, this shortcoming has been perfectly made up for, not to mention that Nanyang is the base camp of the Xu family.

Liu Ao had selfish motives. He frequently granted military and political power to the two Xu regions in order to prepare for any eventuality.

If the Wang family really usurps the throne in the future, it will be considered an opportunity. The two Xus can support a new Liu emperor in the local area and create a glimmer of hope for the Han Dynasty.

The Right General already has the power to establish a government and lead the army openly. The number of border troops is now very small. The Huns have collapsed across the board, and the Han Dynasty has completely lost its opponent.

Military spending was also cut, and the army was concentrated in Guanzhong, which was promoted by Wang Feng.

"On behalf of my son, I thank Your Majesty for your grace. I will certainly advise him to rule the country and never let Your Majesty down." Xu Bo said respectfully.

He understood what the emperor meant.

"Good, very good. With General Xu here, I can rest assured."

Liu Ao laughed out loud. He hadn't been so happy for a long time, ever since Xu Ming was defeated and resigned. Wang Feng controlled the government, and even the emperor had little power left.

.........

Ten days later, the reward was sent back to Chenliu. Many powerful people were appointed generals and given titles of nobility. The rewards were quite rich. Of course, the one who got the most was Xu Zhong!

The appointments of Right General and Prefect of Nanyang were already unexpected surprises. Although he had already been in actual control of Nanyang, this time it was even more legitimate.

"Congratulations, second brother, on your promotion." The burly Xu Yuan congratulated with a big laugh.

He is Xu Bo's eldest son. In his early years, he followed Dong Xian in border battles and made considerable military achievements. Now he is Xu Zhong's most important right-hand man.

It was he who led the troops to suppress Wang Tong's rebellion.

"You are not bad, you will be a governor of 2,000 stones in the future. You can't bear the responsibilities of an official like before."

Xu Zhong was also very happy. Xu Yuan was appointed as the prefect of Nanjun. From then on, Jingzhou was truly "surnamed" Xu.

I don't know what your majesty is thinking to give such great governing power to your subjects.

In fact, one cannot be a prefect or a county magistrate in one's hometown, in order to prevent the place from becoming too powerful. In fact, it is because the Imperial College will not give the green light.

Even if the emperor agreed, he wouldn't want to do this. Well, in essence, the emperor acquiesced. If he insisted, even the doctor couldn't refuse, but he would inevitably get scolded.

But the Imperial Academy was quite generous to the Xu family, and the Wang family had to wait for several months to accept the appointment of officials.

But when he met Xu's son, he passed it in seconds, without even looking at it or checking it. This is absolute influence.

"Don't worry, second brother. From now on, father and elder brother will take care of the central government, and we brothers will take care of the local affairs."

Xu Yuan agreed very readily. Being responsible for the people is almost a family motto, which is also the fundamental reason why they are so loved.

The only group of officials who do not treat the people as leeks or consumables, but as human beings.

"I'm afraid His Majesty has other plans." Xu Zhong looked out the window and understood what Liu Ao meant.

This is an attempt to make myself an external aid to the Liu family. Well, this is what my father meant back then. If I can't compete with the Wang family in the court, then I'll have to settle for the next best thing.

Managing the place well can also make them afraid to act rashly!
Time does not stop, it moves slowly like a surging sea.

Liu Ao was getting older, but he never appointed a crown prince because he had no son.

The two sisters Zhao Feiyan and Zhao Hede never had a child, and at the same time they persecuted the concubines in the palace, resulting in no one being able to conceive a son.

It has to be said that Liu Ao was extremely stupid. When the concubine Xu Meiren in the harem became pregnant, the emperor could only visit her secretly and gave her some precious medicinal herbs to protect the fetus.

Finally, Concubine Xu gave birth to a son. All the ministers, including the emperor, were overjoyed. However, Zhao Hede was not satisfied. She came to the Weiyang Palace and made a big fuss. She asked the emperor to give her poisoned wine and white silk when they disagreed with her.

The foolish Liu Ao was actually bewitched by evil spirits, and his relatives strangled his only son who was still an infant to death!
He is simply a traitor. His doting on the Zhao Hede sisters is almost to the point of being pathological.

As a result, the emperor had no more offspring, so he could only choose to pass the throne to his nephew Liu Xin, the successor of King Kang and the future Emperor Ai of Han! In the real sense, he was the king who lost his country.

"Alas, the sorrow of the country, the sorrow of the country!"

Xu Bo lamented, he always believed that His Majesty could be saved, but because of Wang Feng's autocracy, he chose to give up.

As long as the Wang family disappears, he is guaranteed to be an Emperor Yuan.

But now it seems that he was thinking too much. How could a person be so foolish? The only son, the only son who could inherit the throne, was strangled to death by his own hands!

The purpose was simply to please the evil concubine Zhao Hede.

Xu Bo privately advised Liu Ao more than once to depose Queen Zhao Feiyan and stop favoring the two sisters, but Liu Ao turned a deaf ear to him.

The mad Zhao Feiyan even wanted to attack Xu Bo. Fortunately, Liu Ao had some sense and did not listen, otherwise the Han Dynasty would have been completely finished.

Who else but the Xu family would be so determined to support the Han Dynasty? You know, the mainstream attitude of the Imperial Academy, especially the Confucian Academy, is for the Liu family to follow the example of Yao and Shun in the past and pass the throne to a virtuous person.

It can be said that authority has been weakened to a terrible extent.

"Oh, never mind. I hope the prince can take over Liu's destiny." Xu Bo also lost hope, perhaps he had lost hope in Liu.

You tell me that this is the descendant of the wise and powerful Emperor Gaozu Liu Bang? It can only be said that the successive generations of wise rulers in the early period have exhausted the vitality of the Han Dynasty, so that a lot of incompetent rulers emerged.

.........

In the second year of Suihe, Mars, the symbol of the Han Dynasty, actually lost its luster. For a time, the people of the Han Dynasty were in panic, and all the ministers felt that the Mandate of the Han Dynasty was weakening.

Liu Ao was the most panicked, because this meant that he, the emperor of the Han Dynasty, was about to die suddenly! How could he not be panicked?

The emperor is the person who fears death the most. It is rare to find someone as free and easy as Emperor Gaodi and Emperor Wen.

The General's Mansion.

Wang Feng summoned his staff and wanted to take advantage of this opportunity to do something big. His Majesty was so panicked, it was undoubtedly a good opportunity to operate. "The two people who are hindering this general now are the left prime minister Xu Bo and the right prime minister Chen Nian. Especially Chen Nian, he is extremely tough and often goes against this general."

"Xu Bo cannot die yet, otherwise the Imperial Academy will not be able to suppress him. In this case, we will have to start with Chen Nian."

"Killing Chen Nian will undoubtedly cut off Xu Bo's arm! He will no longer be able to oppose this general."

The person Wang Feng could not stand the most was the right prime minister Chen Nian. Chen Nian was a capable minister and a former favorite disciple of Wang Si. He was very much liked by those in the Imperial Academy.

He was able to climb to the position of prime minister with the support of the Imperial Academy. Because of this, Chen Nian was particularly fearless when he impeached him in the court. Even the great scholars of the Imperial Academy who were debating on the classics were unable to do anything to him.

Therefore, he could only start from other aspects. He absolutely could not bear this infamy, and even the Wang family could not bear it.

"General, I have a plan that can kill without spilling blood! Let Chen Nian be willing to die, and you don't have to bear the blame yourself."

An aide laughed.

"Oh? Tell me quickly..."

royal palace.

Liu Ao was very panicked and searched the entire Chang'an hoping to break the curse. At this critical moment, an official who was good at astrology came and said that he had a solution.

Liu Ao was very happy about this and went to invite him in person.

Langguan Benli bowed lightly.

"I wonder sir, what does this constellation mean?" He asked hurriedly, unable to hide his anxiety.

"The dimming of Mars indicates that the emperor's life is about to end. I dare to say that if the problem is not resolved, Your Majesty will not live for more than half a year." Ben Li said lightly.

"Then may I ask how we should solve this problem, sir?" Hearing this, Liu Ao became even more sad. Is he really going to die?

"No, this matter can be resolved. As long as Your Majesty chooses an important minister to sacrifice to the heaven, Mars will shine again, and Your Majesty's life can be restored to its original state."

Ben Li knelt on the ground and said respectfully.

Liu Ao fell silent for a long time before he asked, "How can one be considered an important official?"

"Prime Minister, General, only such important officials can complement Mars." Ben Li spoke without restraint.

He stopped talking. These ministers were all important officials of the country and could not be easily touched.

"Is there any other solution? Such a minister is the pillar of the country. If I kill him, I will be speechless in front of the people of the world."

Ben Li's tone was firm: "There is no other way! It is their honor to sacrifice themselves to save the emperor."

"...Forget it, let me think about it."

Liu Ao randomly ordered someone to invite him out. He had no doubt about this man. Ben Li was indeed proficient in astrology and the art of yin and yang. What he said was probably the truth.

"Huh... Is this really the only way I can do this?"

He fell into deep thought. He definitely couldn't touch Wang Feng. This guy controlled the government and had great power. If he wanted to kill him, it would definitely cause a counterattack.

Xu Bo is even worse. The Xu family is full of loyal people, and the local area is already his world. If he is killed rashly, I am afraid that the Liu family will be finished, and no one in the world will sincerely serve him anymore.

After much thought, the only person who can be killed is Chen Nian, who does not have much real power!
Although Chen Nian had a very high reputation and was highly recognized in the Imperial Academy, he ultimately had no real power.

"Well, don't blame me, Prime Minister Chen. I just want to live."

Driven by the desire to survive, Liu Ao was completely obsessed and planned to abandon Chen Nian in exchange for his own life. He never thought about any conspiracy.

Maybe what he needs is some psychological comfort.

"Come here, announce that Prime Minister Chen Nian is coming to the capital. I want to see him."

Chen Nian rushed here without stopping after being summoned by the emperor. Recently, the Han Dynasty has been increasingly unstable, with natural disasters such as solar eclipses, landslides, floods, and droughts never stopping.

The ancients actually relied on the weather for their livelihood. A drought could result in the loss of an entire year's harvest. Coupled with the tight financial situation and widespread famine, even they could not control it.

A good cook cannot cook without rice. Even if Chen Nian was a capable minister, he could not do it. He could only allocate food and fodder appropriately for disaster relief, but it was just a drop in the bucket.

Before, they had been relying on Xu's leadership in fundraising to barely make ends meet, but as time went on, Xu Zhong of Nanyang and Xu Min of Qinghe also refused to continue donating grain and money.

Because they found that their donations were in vain, and in the end the money was either embezzled or squandered by the emperor himself.

So they started to store food on their own, and after several years of accumulation, they had recovered a lot.

Qinghe and Nanyang were experiencing unusually good weather and good harvests, and no one knew why. Some said it was the manifestation of the spirits of Jinghou Xu Zhen and Saint Master Xu Gong.

Otherwise, how could such a coincidence happen?

When Chen Nian approached the Weiyang Palace, he saw Emperor Liu Ao with a solemn face.

He immediately bowed and said, "Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you."

Liu Ao raised his head, his face frosty: "Chen Nian, what crime should you be punished for?"

"I don't know, Your Majesty, please explain clearly." Chen Nian was a little confused.

If the national treasury is in a tight spot, go find Wang Feng! What's the point of looking for yourself?

Can he create food out of thin air?

"If the big man needs you, what should you do?"

Chen Nian immediately knelt on the ground, not knowing what to say.

"Are you willing to serve your country?"

These words completely shocked Chen Nian beyond words.

Your Majesty actually wants to kill him? I have always been diligent in governing the country. Could it be because of the dimming of Mars...

"Of course I am willing." Chen Nian did not hesitate, that was all he could say.

"Well... I feel relieved when I hear you say this."

A smile appeared on Liu Ao's face and he sent him back.

On the way, Chen Nian had a lot of thoughts. He had already anticipated His Majesty's thoughts, and it seemed that he was in great danger.

As soon as he returned home, imperial edicts from the court arrived one after another.

"Your Excellency Chen Nian has no way of governing the country. There are thousands of starving people all over the country, and the people are living in misery. Heaven has sent down a disaster. If your crime is extremely serious, you should know it yourself."

After the eunuch finished reading the imperial edict, he looked at Chen Nian silently.

(End of this chapter)