Wait, please don't call me Emperor Zhaolie

Chapter 487 (Extra) Emperor Guangwen
There was dense drizzle in many places in Sili, but Luoyang was immersed in the deafening sound of bells, and everyone who heard it was panicked.

The emperor's eldest relative had already passed away, and the rapid ringing of bells in the palace at this moment might mean something big has happened.

Not long after that, the central army entered the city and took over Luoyang. Martial law was imposed in the counties of Henan and Hanoi. All officials and civilians were not allowed to enter or leave the city at will. The imperial edict was issued to all relay stations and post offices within 300 miles around Luoyang. Anyone who forced their way in without following the imperial edict would be immediately captured and imprisoned, regardless of their status.

When many ministers in Luoyang received the imperial edict, they first stood there in disbelief, and then burst into tears.

Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun, Jian Yong, and Qian Zhao cried so hard that they could not speak, and it took them a long time to come to their senses. They forced themselves not to faint, and prepared to put on plain robes and enter the palace to stabilize the court.

The most urgent task now is to let the prince quickly succeed to the throne and then stabilize the world as stated in the imperial edict.

"Brother, brother, my elder brother is gone...my elder brother is gone, what should I do?"

"Brother, I just want to kill someone right now, but I don't know who to kill?!"

On his way to Beigong, Zhang Fei met Guan Yu, whose hair and beard were all white. He felt like he had found his backbone. He immediately dismounted and hugged Guan Yu tightly, letting the rain mix with his hot tears.

He just wanted to kill people to vent his anger, and then ask the evil God, the Emperor means the Son of God, why can't he live for thousands of years, even a hundred years will be fine.

"Yi De..." Guan Yu also hugged Zhang Fei with his arms. At this time he was also heartbroken and crying.

After a long while, he finally held back his tears and said sadly: "Yide, human life has an end, and all saints and sages in ancient and modern times are not immune to this. However, my elder brother's life's efforts are nothing more than reviving the Han Dynasty, turning back the tide and supporting the collapsing edifice."

"At this moment, we must not allow the scoundrels to abolish the new system of the Han Dynasty. Come with me to the palace to support the prince!"

Although Guan Yu was grief-stricken, he understood the situation in the world better than Zhang Fei. His elder brother abolished the theory of correspondence between heaven and man, and used natural disasters as an excuse to open up the Western Regions, promote navigation, and expand the southern territory. During this period, he continuously suppressed the powerful families and gentry who refused to obey the laws.

Once the news of the emperor's death spreads throughout the world, there will be undercurrents in many places.

……

Guan Yu and Zhang Fei stayed outside for a while. The square of Beigong Palace was already crowded with people.

All the ministers who rushed to the scene after hearing the news were dressed in white robes and mournful belts. They fell to the ground and cried to the sky, their voices exhausted and their tears bleeding. Their followers were like a wall, and all of them wept bitterly, with tears pouring out like fountains.

Even if some people secretly criticized the late emperor, they still had to pretend to be loyal at this time.

Otherwise, if the officials of the Imperial Censorate saw it and reported it to the new emperor, not only would his career be over, but his clan might also be implicated, and he would either be exiled thousands of miles away or imprisoned and executed...

Thinking of these horrible consequences, some officials cried even more sadly.

"Oh, your majesty! Alas!"

A few hundred steps away in Deyang Palace, Crown Prince Liu Yong had ascended the throne in front of the coffin as the new emperor of the Han Dynasty. At the same time, he knelt in plain clothes in front of the coffin to mourn for the late emperor.

Taichang Cui Yan was discussing with the other nine ministers, as well as the six ministers, Shangshu Ling Zhuge Liang, Zhongshu Ling Fa Zheng, Wei General Zhao Yun and other important officials about the drafting of Liu Bei's temple name and posthumous title.

"Your Majesty... the late emperor's virtues were as great as the heaven and earth. He restored the lineage, praised the virtuous and rewarded the meritorious, and made peace with the nine clans. All the meritorious officials were granted titles, many were granted large territories, and some even had counties annexed to them."

"He built ancestral temples, supported the country, put an end to the chaos in the world, and restored order. He also encouraged agriculture and mulberry planting, and cared for the people. It can be said that he was a good government with great merits and virtues!"

"According to the Zhou Li system, posthumous titles are a mark of one's conduct, and titles are a mark of one's achievements. In ancient times, those who had made great contributions should be referred to by their titles."

"According to the posthumous title law, the merits and virtues of the late emperor are to be carefully examined by you all..."

"Zhou Gongdan once said: "A person of high merit is honored; one who can carry on the legacy of his predecessors is honored; one who is humble in a high position is honored; one who has outstanding achievements is honored."

"The criterion of heaven and earth is called Wen, the criterion of morality and broad knowledge is called Wen, the criterion of benevolence and love for the people is called Wen, and the criterion of bestowing titles on the people is called Wen."

"The second revival of the Han Dynasty was Emperor Guangwu, the founder of the Han Dynasty. In recognition of the merits of the previous emperor, he was posthumously named Emperor Guangwen."

Cui Yan couldn't help but stop here and take a breath. He is now in his sixties and can't even finish his words. It seems that he can't refuse to accept his old age.

He glanced and saw that all the ministers were nodding slightly, acknowledging the late emperor's achievements, which were worthy of being called "Glorious Literature".

He was also delighted in his heart. The late emperor had shown great favor to him by giving him the posthumous title of "Wen", which was better than any other.

Cui Yan considered his words again and continued, "As for the temple name, according to the Zhou ritual system, those who have made great contributions to the founding of the country can be called ancestors, and those who have great virtues can be called ancestors. The late emperor, in his plain clothes, wielded a three-foot sword to pacify the world, and his achievements can be compared to those of the Taizu Gaohuangdi."

"Since the 31st year of Jianxing, the country has been in great order, the rivers are clear and the seas are calm, the country is peaceful and the people are safe, and the benevolent spirit spreads all over the world. In addition, the territory has been expanded for thousands of miles, and the West Sea and the East Sea have been exhausted to search for agricultural products. It took 17 years to compile the "Han Ji". The merits of the late emperor far exceed those of the emperors of previous dynasties." The late emperor was really a warrior. His contributions to the people's livelihood and civil governance, the grain harvest brought by the agricultural seeds found from overseas alone, can suppress the civil governance of the emperors of the Han Dynasty, including Emperor Xiaowen...

What's more, he also compiled the "Han Ji" with more than 30,000 volumes, which is a huge work that covers everything in the world since ancient times.

Coupled with his diligence, love for the people, and compassion for the common people, if you only list the achievements of the previous emperor, you will feel that the other emperors' civil and administrative efforts are no more than this.

If you think carefully about the military prowess of the late emperor, he actually surpassed Taizu and Shizu. After all, the Second Ancestor at that time had not conquered the barbarians south of the desert and the Western Regions, as well as Goguryeo in the east.

The rulers of the four barbarians have now come to the palace to worship the late emperor as the Heavenly Khan. All matters of attack must be approved by the Han family before they can be implemented.

"In Yi's opinion, the late emperor had the merit of creating a revival of the country, and he deserves the temple name Zhongzu, on par with Taizu and Shizu."

Sima Yi stood out among the ministers, first knelt down and kowtowed in front of the coffin, then bowed to the new emperor, and finally bowed solemnly to all the ministers.

Ever since the Sima family of Henei served the previous emperor, the eight Sima clans had served as officials one after another. Especially Sima Zhongda, who was the most trusted by the emperor, some officials even criticized him for having ulterior motives, being vicious, jealous, greedy and lustful.

Only the emperor once said to his ministers with a smile: "Zhongda is a loyal minister of the Han Dynasty. I hope you will not doubt him."

From then on, he never calculated anything he did, and only wanted to serve the public, using his words and actions to refute those scholars who liked to use empty words and tricks.

Oranges grown in the south of the Huai River are oranges, while those grown in the north of the Huai River are tangerines. Their leaves are similar, but their tastes are different. Even though he has the look of a wolf, Sima Yi will always be a loyal minister of the Han Dynasty!
Since the late emperor did not adopt him into the lineage of Guangwu, Sima Zhongda had to step forward and raise the late emperor to the temple name of Zhongzu to repay the kindness.

Upon hearing this, Zhuge Liang could not help but look at Sima Yi. This was what he originally wanted to say, but he did not expect that Zhongda had beaten him to it.

"Your Majesty knows how to use people well. This is truly incomparable to ordinary people!" Zhuge Kongming sighed with grief in his heart.

At this moment, a cheer suddenly rang out.

"Good! Zhongda said it very well. My brother and I also think that the late emperor should be enshrined in the temple to show his contribution to the restoration of the country."

Zhang Fei and Guan Yu stepped in, inspected the ministers with their hands on their swords, then fell to their knees and kowtowed deeply in front of the coffin.

Only when his forehead turned red did he stand up and bow to the new emperor again.

Liu Yong immediately bowed in return and called them second uncle and third uncle.

Guan and Zhang not only had the power to establish their own governments, they also had the privilege of wearing swords and shoes into the palace, not having to bow when entering the court, and being praised and worshipped without being named.

After being glanced at by the two men, the officials dared not to speak out against them. They thought that General Zhang Yide might really dare to kill someone in the palace.

All the ministers bowed their hands in agreement and said, "The late emperor had great achievements and lofty accomplishments. The ancient emperors could only hear of him but could not reach his level. He can be posthumously named Emperor Zhongzu Guangwen."

Seeing that no one in the palace had a different opinion, Liu Yong slowly spoke: "What the ministers said is very much in my heart. The merits and virtues of the late emperor can be recorded on bamboo and silk. I will order the historians to write a 'Ode to the Sacred Virtue' so that it will be recorded by the world. His military achievements will be recorded on bamboo and silk, and his literary virtues will be taught to future generations, so that they can be seen by all generations!"

"In addition, this year's reign title will not be changed, and it will remain the 31st year of Jianxing. However, the Han system will not be changed, and all government offices will remain as usual."

"When the mourning is complete, the ministers will escort the late emperor's coffin back to be buried in the Huiling Mausoleum in Mount Li!"

"During this period, anyone who reports anyone who behaves improperly will be rewarded with a 10,000-dollar reward. If the person reported is found to be innocent, his entire clan will be exterminated!"

Liu Yong faced his ministers with a solemn and murderous look.

"As ordered!"

"How dare you disobey the Emperor's order?!"

"I will obey your command!"

Hundreds of officials in the palace, as well as officials outside the North Palace who were not qualified to enter, all felt a shudder in their hearts after being reported by palace servants. A bad premonition came to their minds.

After the new emperor ascended the throne, why did he look a bit like Emperor Xiaoming...

Wouldn't this mean decades of suffering?
But life only has a few decades...and it’s so painful!
Zhuge Liang and other important officials who were concerned about the country were not so worried. Seeing this scene, they were delighted and bowed respectfully, saying: "The country is wise, long live the Han Dynasty, and long live the emperor!"

(End of this chapter)