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

Chapter 13 Emperor Gao Di's Death

It is now late March in the twelfth year of the Han Dynasty, and there is less than half a month left before the death of Emperor Gaozu of Han, Liu Bang. Soon it will be the time when Liu Ying will succeed to the throne and Empress Lu will rule the country. This day is very near.

At this time, all the kings of different surnames had been basically eliminated. The Huns on the grassland had been severely damaged in the Battle of Baideng and were fighting fiercely with the Donghu, so they had no time to look south.

It seems that everything has been arranged, but in fact, there are undercurrents in the Han Dynasty.

Crown Prince Liu Ying has always been cowardly, and Empress Lu is strong, so it will be difficult for the new emperor to suppress him. In order to consolidate his rule, another bloody storm will come.

After being appointed as the prime minister, Xu Zhen had become the true head of all officials. Before, he had been checked and balanced by the left prime minister Xiao He, but now no one can suppress him. In recent days, Madam Qi has come to beg for protection many times.

Everyone knew that Empress Lu would not allow Concubine Qi and Liu Ruyi to live, and the day Liu Bang died would be the day they died.

"Prime Minister, His Majesty invites you." The young eunuch stood outside the door and whispered.

"Okay, I understand. Go back and tell His Majesty that I'll be there soon." Xu Zhen put down the bamboo slips and walked out of the study slowly.

"You are looking for me at this critical moment... Your Majesty, are you going to entrust your son to me?"

He looked up at the sky, feeling inexplicably sad. It would be a lie to say that he didn't feel anything when his lord, whom he had assisted for many years, passed away. Moreover, Liu Bang had been very kind to him.

"Alas... Forget it, I'll just mind my own business this time. I'll protect Liu Ruyi." After a moment of silence, Xu Zhen made up his mind to save Liu Ruyi's life! This was Liu Bang's last wish.

"Father, are you going to the palace?" A man of about sixteen or seventeen years old with extraordinary conversation walked up to him respectfully.

"Yes, His Majesty has summoned you." Xu Zhen raised the corner of his mouth. This was his eldest son Xu Zhao, who had very high innate attributes.

"Father, be careful. His Majesty is now terminally ill and anything can happen." Xu Zhao was still worried about his father. Didn't Han Xin hide his bow after the birds were killed?

"Hahaha... Your Majesty, can you kill me in broad daylight?" Xu Zhen smiled and touched his head.

"It's better to be careful."

"Don't worry, I will be fine." Xu Zhen looked into the distance and said, "If you have a girl you like, tell me and I will propose marriage to her. In a few years, it will not be up to you to decide who she will marry."

"Yes, father..." Xu Zhao's eyes were obviously evasive when he heard this, and it seemed that he was really in love.

.........

Changle Palace.

After years of renovation, the emperor's bedroom has become very luxurious, with dragons and phoenixes flying, and looks very majestic.

Liu Bang, the Emperor Gaozu of Han who once conquered the world as a commoner and was full of vigor and vitality, was now lying on the bed. His face was old and weak. There was no trace of his former domineering aura.

Da da da

Xu Zhen slowly approached the dragon bed. Liu Ying, Lu Zhi, Xiao He and others stood at the head of the bed. Concubine Qi was sobbing and everyone looked extremely sad.

"Your Majesty, I, Xu Zhen, pay my respects to you."

He could see that the black air hovering above Liu Bang's head was getting thicker and thicker. This disease was much more serious than he had imagined.

"Zi Fu is here... ahem, come and sit down." Hearing the familiar voice, Liu Bang raised his head with his last bit of strength and asked the other party to sit down.

"Your Majesty, please take care of yourself. Your health is the foundation of our Han Dynasty!" Xu Zhen walked forward and said with concern.

"I know my own body. I probably won't survive this night." Liu Bang raised the corner of his mouth with a bitter smile. Everyone has to die, but he always doesn't want to accept it when the day really comes.

"Your Majesty is blessed by heaven and will surely live a long life!" Xu Zhen was a little shocked. He didn't expect that after the Huns were defeated, Liu Bang lived a shorter life.

It seems like there are no more worries.

Liu Bang did not answer, but shook his head: "Zi Fu, I have an important matter to entrust to you, are you willing to do it for me?"

Xu Zhen nodded heavily: "Everything I have was given by Your Majesty. I will obey your instructions!"

In fact, Liu Bang valued him very much, and giving himself the position of prime minister was actually very risky. Xiao He was able to become the prime minister because he was a pure civil servant and had no military power.

Today, Xu Zhen is in charge of both military and political affairs, and is the number one person under the emperor!
"Good, very good..." Liu Bang smiled with relief. This was the only important minister he could trust.

"Zi Fu, although our Han Dynasty has dealt a heavy blow to the Xiongnu, the trouble on the border still exists, especially the Donghu who often harass us secretly. However, due to the limitation of national strength, we can only put it on hold temporarily."

"Besides this, the meritorious officials and relatives are all internal troubles. I am very worried."

Liu Bang spoke without any regard for outsiders. Although Lu Zhi heard it, she could only hold it in. As long as His Majesty was alive, he would always be His Majesty. Even if she wanted to kill Xu Zhen, the Prime Minister, it would only take a word.

"I am a humble man, my ancestors were just minor officials, and it was because of your majesty's favor that I was able to sit in the high position of prime minister. If it weren't for your majesty's charity, I'm afraid I could only be a farmer in Wuyang for the rest of my life." "As long as you have an order, just give it to me, and I will dare not disobey!"

Xu Zhen quickly knelt on the ground and said with sobs.

"Well... since you said this, I feel relieved." Liu Bang helped Madam Qi sit up, his face pale: "Xu Zhen, listen to your order."

"The minister is here."

Everyone except Madam Qi also knelt on the ground.

"I appoint you as the Grand Tutor of my Han Dynasty. From now on, all military and state affairs, no matter how big or small, need to be referred to the Grand Tutor. You will teach the Crown Prince on my behalf."

"Besides this, I also allow you to do as you please and go to the palace with your sword and shoes!"

When Liu Bang said this, everyone including Xu Zhen was shocked.

This is not just an empty title, it is almost equivalent to the second emperor! The power is much greater than that of the prime minister!

"I obey your order and am willing to share your majesty's worries!" After a long time, Xu Zhen agreed tremblingly. He was not polite either. It seemed that Liu Bang was serious.

He had never had such a start before. The most he had been was Prime Minister, but he had never held such an official position before!

Remember that the most famous prime minister in the Han Dynasty was the powerful official Dong Zhuo.

"His Majesty!"

Both Lu Zhi and Lady Qi started crying.

"Don't cry, don't cry, there is still a long way to go." Liu Bang comforted the two of them softly. In his opinion, death was nothing, it was just going to be another place to continue drinking.

"Ying'er, come here quickly." Liu Bang called Liu Ying to his side.

"Father..." Liu Ying burst into tears. He was a very filial man, and his father's death was a great blow to him.

"Don't cry, you are the future emperor, how can you be so cowardly?" Liu Bang was powerless and finally scolded the prince.

"Zi Fu, quickly carry Ying'er on your back."

This is... carrying the king on one's back!
Only then did Xu Zhen realize how serious the other party was. The political intention was too obvious. There was no doubt about Liu Bang's trust in him.

Everyone's eyes shifted over here. Was this going to make him the Zhou Gongdan of the Han Dynasty?

Liu Bang looked at Xu Zhen again and said, "Zi Fu, remember to carry Ying'er and the world on your back like you did today!"

"Yes, I'll remember that!" Xu Zhen agreed.

After explaining all this, Liu Bang held Xiao He's hand and said, "From now on, you will take over the position of prime minister and take charge of the government."

"I will do my best!"

There is no doubt about Xiao He's loyalty. He has been handling state affairs diligently for so many years and has never complained.

After arranging everything, Liu Bang looked at Lu Zhi again and asked, "Do you have any other questions?"

"Your Majesty, may I ask who will take over after Prime Minister Xiao passes away?" Lu Zhi also asked the question that was confusing her.

"Cao Shen can take over after Xiao He."

"What about after Cao Shen?"

"Wang Ling can take over after Cao Shen, but Wang Ling's wisdom is limited, so Chen Ping can be his assistant. However, Chen Ping has more wisdom than he can make decisions, while Zhou Bo is loyal and honest, so he can be made the Grand Commandant."

Lü Zhi did not get the answer she wanted: "What about after Wang Ling?"

"You won't know after that, and Grand Tutor Xu Zhen is young, so why bother thinking so much." Liu Bang knew the other party's little thoughts.

After entrusting the orphan to his care, he lay down on the bed as if relieved of a heavy burden. He looked so relaxed, as if he would never wake up again.

.........

On March 28th, the twelfth year of the Han Dynasty, Liu Bang, the third emperor of China and the commoner emperor, died in Changle Palace at the age of 62.

(End of this chapter)