Controlling mountains and rivers since the Warring States Period

Chapter 513 Yin Lihua

In the twelfth year of Jianwu,
The Han army captured Chengdu, and Gongsun Shu, who had declared himself emperor in Sichuan, was killed in battle. The Han Dynasty thus reunified the Central Plains.

The earlier voluntary submission of Lelang Commandery meant that the Han Dynasty's territory at this time was basically only separated from its former boundaries by the Western Regions.

This was naturally a happy thing for the emperor and his officials in Luoyang.

"Now there is no place in the world that has submitted, except for the Yan Kingdom in Liaodong and Jiaonan, which dominates the Western Regions."

"Both of these places are sparsely populated and have shallow foundations."

"To eliminate them, we only need to send half the force that attacked and killed Gongsun Shu, and we will achieve our goal!"

The officials all volunteered for the campaign, hoping to add another glorious chapter to their record of achievements.

But Liu Xiu did not allow it.

He told his ministers:
"The country has been in turmoil for many years."

"In order to conquer all directions and restore the ancestral state, the treasury has been empty for many years."

"Now that the Central Plains are pacified, we should follow the example of our ancestors and implement a policy of recuperation and development. Once the treasury is full and the population has increased, we can then recover the Western Regions and attack the Yan Kingdom."

Upon hearing the emperor's words, the officials could only retreat in disappointment.

Subsequently,

Several families gathered at the palace of King Zhending, and amidst the wine, song, and dance, voiced their complaints:
"The Yellow Turban Army has withdrawn from the Central Plains and is blocked outside the Great Wall."

"When will the emperor give us the compensation we deserve?"

The reason why they supported the emperor's reforms back then, instead of hindering him as they did with Wang Mang, was naturally due to the threat of the Yellow Turban Rebellion.

The threat is now gone.
The sharp sword that had been hanging overhead was buried in the snowy wilderness.
They should relax a bit and enjoy the wealth they deserve.

After all, today's court assembly,

The emperor himself expressed his lack of regard for the Yan state, so how could those who depended on it continue to be on high alert?

In life and in work, one should always maintain a balance between relaxation and moderation!

"What does Your Majesty think?"

The man who spoke raised his wine cup and asked Liu De, the King of Zhending, for his opinion.

Upon hearing this, Liu De raised his head, his face flushed from drunkenness, and stared blankly at the other person.

then,

He let out a loud burp.

"cheers!"

Liu De also raised his wine glass, walked over unsteadily, and clinked glasses with the other person.

Most of the wine in the glass was spilled, and very little of it actually entered the mouth.

Seeing his condition, the man said helplessly, "The king is drunk."

"It seems that today's banquet can only continue to this point."

After subtly sensing from the emperor the meaning that "with the world at peace, weapons will be stored away,"

These powerful and influential families then conceived the idea of ​​uniting and demanding payment and interest from the emperor.

And the leader they had their eye on
That was Liu De.

His father, Liu Yang,

He was a key figure in supporting Liu Xiu's ascension to the throne and also the biggest investor in his quest for power.

The current Empress Guo Shengtong is Liu Yang's niece and Liu De's cousin.

Seeing this, one can understand the strength of the True Ding King's lineage.

Therefore,

Even though Liu Yang was reported for his rebellious intentions and died just before any action was taken, the emperor held his temper, let the matter slide, and allowed Liu De to succeed him as the King of Zhending.

"pity!"

"They have absolutely no idea what's going on!"

"They almost dragged me down with them!"

After the person left,

After drinking a bowl of hangover soup, Liu De, with a hot towel on his face, sneered, "Wealth and status, once given away, are hard to take back."

"Even the emperor can't do whatever he wants in this matter. These guys are treating it like a loan sharking operation, even calculating interest!"

It has been twelve years since the emperor ascended the throne.

They have the benevolence of distributing land to the people.

He possessed the martial prowess to unify the world.

It has a culture of peaceful production and reform of the official system...

How could it be like Emperor Cheng and Emperor Ai of the Former Han Dynasty, who were controlled by powerful families and relatives of the emperor and were unable to govern effectively?

How could he be the young general who had to gather a large number of forces to gradually rise to the top?
He was already an excellent monarch!

He clearly understands his position, can distinguish between his enemies and friends, and has the strength and will to use appropriate methods to achieve his goals.

This kind of people,

It's not something that can be swayed by a few words or a show of force from powerful families.

As for the aristocratic families...
They were inherently compromising and weak, yet they were also arrogant and did not understand that after the Yellow Turban Rebellion, their foundation in Hebei and Shandong had become shallow and weak.

He serves as a subject of the present Han dynasty, yet he still longs for the treatment he received during the former Han dynasty.
"I'm not going to join their nonsense!"

Liu De removed the cloth from his face, which had grown cold, and told his servant, "From today onwards, tell them that I am ill and cannot be exposed to the wind."

"Any outsiders who wish to visit must be refused!"

……

"King Zhen Ding is still a pragmatic man."

royal palace,

When Liu Xiu arrived at Yin Lihua's palace, after inspecting his beloved son Liu Yang's studies, he couldn't help but discuss the state of affairs with Yin Lihua.

Yin Lihua simply smiled quietly and remained silent.

Seeing her like this, Liu Xiu felt sorry for her and hugged her tightly, gently stroking her hair.

"Lihua, you've really suffered all these years."

"For the sake of the country and its people, how can I disregard national affairs for my own selfish reasons?"

Yin Lihua leaned against Liu Xiu's chest, her beautiful face pressed against his.

Seeing this, their eldest son, Liu Yang, sensibly led his younger brothers out of the palace, leaving the space for his parents.

Only after Liu Xiu left and the carriage headed towards Empress Guo Shengtong did Yin Lihua call her eldest son to her side and instruct him not to become complacent or arrogant because of his father's praise that day.

"From now on, you will be my only support."

Yin Lihua spoke to her son in a gentle and kind voice.

Looking at Liu Yang's face, which resembled Liu Xiu's, she recalled the harmonious relationship she had with her husband when she first married.

I recall the reluctance and sorrow that Liu Xiu showed when he married Guo Shengtong and demoted his wife to a concubine;

Then he recalled that after securing the throne, the emperor had privately promised to restore her title, yet he had shown affection for Guo Shengtong, which is why he had delayed fulfilling his promise to replace the empress and the crown prince...

Her hand, which was on Liu Yang's head, couldn't help but move, and she pulled out a strand of her son's hair.

Liu Yang didn't notice his mother's unusual behavior and obediently nodded in agreement.

Yin Lihua stopped thinking about her husband and Guo Shengtong, took her son's hand and led him to the table to enjoy their meal.

She gently cared for everything about Liu Yang, making him feel absolutely safe and warm.

such,

Only then can he dedicate all his talents to the affairs of the world without any worries.

Yin Lihua knew,
So-called "admiration" and "guilt" cannot allow her to reclaim what originally belonged to her.

Liu Xiu was a very capable and clear-headed ruler.

He would not act as capriciously in matters of state as Emperor Cheng and Emperor Ai, regarding his "true love" as something above the country and its people.

Therefore,
He would rather pretend to be mute about his past promises and occasionally show a guilty and heartbroken expression to Yin Lihua than give up on Guo Shengtong and her eldest son Liu Jiang.

Because Empress Guo Shengtong was innocent, she had the support of many powerful and influential families.
Because Liu Jiang was a crown prince without any faults, although his talent could not be described as extraordinary, he was perfectly capable of being a ruler who maintained the status quo.

in this way,

How could Liu Xiu possibly risk igniting a crisis over the very foundation of the state to satisfy his own lust?

Unless Liu Yang demonstrates a talent in state affairs that will surprise Liu Xiu.

No great and ambitious founding emperor could refuse an excellent successor!

The 34-year age gap between father and son greatly reduces the possibility of a conflict arising from "the father being young while the son is old, leading to a struggle between father and son."

The deeply entrenched power and influence of powerful clans was a major problem that existed as early as the Former Han Dynasty.

Even though the Yellow Turban Rebellion greatly weakened their power, it was not something that could be resolved in one generation. When Liu Xiu was with Yin Lihua, he would occasionally reveal his expectations for consolidating his power, ensuring the continuation of the ancestral temple, and bringing prosperity to the country.

therefore,

Yin Lihua would not complain about being a person of high status.
She would not be swayed or infatuated by Liu Xiu's guilt or the preferential treatment he gave to her family.
All she needs to do is nurture her exceptionally talented child.

"Mother."

"Will you tell me the story of Emperor Wu again today?"

"Ah."

Yin Lihua sat beside her son's bed and tucked him in.

"Emperor Wu possessed achievements that later generations admired and emulated."

"I truly hope that such achievements can be restored in the future, so as to spread the power and virtue of the Han Dynasty to all corners of the world."

"Oh."

Liu Yang replied, "Then I will try my best."

……

"This is how you should properly teach children!"

"How can you raise a healthy child if you constantly pressure them to study and beat or scold them if they don't do what you want?"

beside,

Led by Lü Jiao, the onlookers inexplicably began discussing parenting experiences—

After Lü Jiao died,

After enjoying a period of carefree living, God assigned him an important task.

"I want you to explore the path of the Underworld Sea and connect it to the land of the East!"

As God's domain continues to expand, the gloomy underworld is no longer limited to mountains, weak waters, and scattered cities.

The unseen, cold seawater
After the Yangtze River flowed into He Bo's arms, it surged and washed over the edge of the underworld.

He Bo curiously circled this sea area belonging to the underworld and found that its size was similar to that of the East China Sea.

in this way,

On the other side of the sea,
It naturally belongs to the underworld of Japan.

The Central Plains and the Eastern Sea, which had always been separated by the sea, finally united in the underworld!
just,

The sea route from Yangshi to the islands of Japan has been open for many years.

People traveled back and forth between the two places in an endless stream, and the natural ocean currents also helped the seafarers reach even more distant places.

But not in the underworld.

Many things that appear beautiful in the mortal world often present a completely opposite appearance in the underworld.

The rivers of the mortal world flow on, carrying our ancestors who carried driftwood back and forth between the two banks and up and down in ancient times.

It is a natural road and a "mother" that nourishes countless living beings.

But once the river flows into the underworld and travels across the netherworld, it will find it difficult to float and will mercilessly devour the spirits of many dead ghosts, making those who come into contact with the river muddled and confused, and even eroding their souls.

This caused the boats built by the dead, which were guided by ghosts and gods and could float on the Weak Water for a period of time, to become very different in form from those in the mortal world.

Covered boats are extremely rare.
Most of the boats were more like open boxes, with only two oars sticking out from small holes on the sides to paddle through the cold and terrifying Weak Water.

of course,

Through the efforts and wisdom of the Mohist disciples, the number of paddles that swayed back and forth gradually decreased, and they were replaced by hand-cranked propellers. Transparent glass was also installed on the front of the ship to shield it from the splashing water, so that the dead on board could easily determine their direction.

The fact that the dead ghost was hesitant and timid before the Weak Water shows that...
How great was the harm that the "Eastern Sea," which shook the underworld, to the deceased?

But it's there.

Japan is right across the street.
How can the virtuous men of the Chinese nation, who aspire to educate the entire world, back down?

then,

He Bo pulled Lü Jiao out, threw her a nautical chart he had drawn himself, outlining the general currents of the Underworld Sea, and said to her:
"I've made up my mind, you'll be the Pirate King!"

Recalling her past experiences, Lü Jiao was unwilling to take on this task.

But God's mouth is sealed with divine authority; how can He take back what He has said?

Unable to resist, Lü Jiao could only recite two lines of poetry: "What my heart desires, though I die nine times, I will not regret."

He Bo was quite surprised at the time, "How did you become so eloquent?"

He can even recite poetry now!
Lü Jiao smiled shyly and said, "I've been seeking advice from Dr. Sanlu a lot these days."

He Bo then suddenly realized.

He then encouraged Lü Jiao, patting her on the shoulder and saying, "Master Sanlu is an excellent swimmer; he could become the Pirate King's man!"

Lost in wine and women, Lü Jiao rubbed her hands and continued to laugh. Then she boarded the prepared ship and began to explore along the edge of the underworld.

after all,

You need to figure out the roads around your home and accumulate some travel experience before you can go to farther places!

And in these past few days,

Just then, the governor of Lelang Commandery came to Luoyang to report on his duties.

Lü Jiao also frequently traveled between the Central Plains and the East China Sea.

see,

She then followed the people of Lelang County to Luoyang, using the excuse of "learning about the current situation in Lelang" to arrange a vacation for herself. She traveled with some dead friends she knew and admired the prosperous scene of Luoyang.

As we strolled around...

He accidentally entered the palace and came to Yin Lihua's side, where he witnessed this scene of motherly love and filial piety.

This reminded her of Lü Yu, and she sighed with emotion.

Empress Dowager Xuan and others around her echoed her sentiments, and then they began to talk about the Sui Dynasty.

"If the child hadn't been raised so badly, the Sui royal family wouldn't have been in internal strife!"

The previous struggle for the throne in the Sui Dynasty,
The cause is very similar to Yin Lihua's experience.

The daughter, raised in seclusion, married the Crown Prince of Sui, and in the midst of their deep affection, they made vows of eternal love, regarding them as an inviolable and absolutely true truth.

As it turned out, a few years later...

After the crown prince ascended the throne and had countless concubines, he gradually forgot his initial love.

This caused the empress great distress.

But she did not complain to the emperor, nor did she show any dissatisfaction in public. She would only grumble about her child behind his back, believing that his birth had caused her to lose her former favor and appearance.

This even made Emperor Taizu of Sui in the underworld unable to tolerate it, "How can there be a mother in the world who doesn't love her own flesh and blood?"

Emperor Taizu of Han, who was passing by, exclaimed in surprise, "Wait, why are you playing the true love card here?"

Aren't you the empress?

Isn't your son the crown prince?

The Sui emperor only favored other women; he didn't depose you and your son together...

Why are you so mournful?

Just bear with it, wait until the old man dies, and wouldn't it be better to raise a few fresh and pitiful male concubines yourself?
"Luckily, your mother is much smarter than her!"

After his initial surprise, Emperor Taizu of Han said this to Liu Ying beside him.

But when Emperor Sui truly grew old...

Having been instilled with too many negative emotions by his mother, the crown prince ascended the throne and, following the empress dowager's teachings, began to persecute his brothers.

Those feudal lords would naturally not obediently accept the executioner's blade falling on their own necks.

The Clash Royale thus began.

Even God, holding a melon, said, "If it's not bitter, you have to endure it; if it's not difficult, you have to do it!"

"Too much comfort is no good!"

The terrain of Xinxia was so enclosed that it deprived the rulers of the various Xia states of many opportunities for trouble.

Their excess energy then needs to be channeled elsewhere.

"Just get a couple of beatings from the State of Qi and you'll be fine!"

After finishing his melon, God wiped his mouth and glanced at the general of the Qi Kingdom who was pursuing the fleeing enemy and attacking Kangju and destroying Dayuan. He felt that such sharpness could definitely bring great surprises to the Sui people.

"Just right!"

"The State of Qi is still the old Xia!"

The conflict between the old and new Xia people—whoever wins is the rightful heir!
"Alas?"

"But wouldn't that turn it into another struggle for the crown prince position?"

God, who hadn't thrown away the melon rind, belatedly realized that the problem had returned to square one.

(End of this chapter)