Controlling mountains and rivers since the Warring States Period

Chapter 563 Hidden dangers
Time continues to move forward into the unknown.

Not long after returning to Luoyang, Ban Chao's old illness relapsed due to the relief of the pressure on his shoulders, and he died in the sixteenth year of Yongyuan.

The emperor sent someone to comfort his wife.

Ban Chao's wife said with emotion, "Being able to enjoy my last days in Luoyang is already thanks to the Emperor's grace."

"I really dare not accept any more pampering."

Not long after Ban Chao entered Luoyang, Empress Deng, thinking of her minister's advanced age, suggested sending some physicians to recuperate his health.

The emperor agreed to her suggestion.

After all, in recent years, in order to solve the problem of having offspring, the emperor had summoned famous doctors from all over the country to the capital.

Although some fundamental issues still cannot be cured,

But offspring are a matter of national importance.
For an emperor like Liu Zhao, as long as he had a breath left, he would fight to the death.

So he insisted on taking medicine, and the concubines in the harem also insisted on taking medicine.

This ensured that renowned doctors in Luoyang had no shortage of employment opportunities and also fostered a trend among the powerful and wealthy to maintain their health.

Ban Chao's lifespan was thus extended.

He originally thought that he would die soon after returning to Luoyang.

After all, the Western Regions were too windy and sandy, and resources were not as abundant as in the Central Plains. Ban Chao also had many campaigns there.

Over the decades, his body has suffered from countless chronic ailments.

Before he died,

Ban Chao once wrote a memorial to the emperor, expressing his concerns about the future of the country:
One,
It was on his way to Yumen Pass that he mentioned to Gan Ying the future of the Han Dynasty in the Western Regions.

both,
These were the many barbarian tribes in the north of the Han Dynasty.

Previously, the Han Dynasty had shown great favor to the Xianbei and Wuhuan people for the sake of the Yan state. As a result, after the fall of the Yan state, these two groups of Donghu descendants became a new problem for the Han Dynasty.

Although the Xiongnu have been allied with us for a long time, "those who are not of our kind will surely have different hearts," so we must not be complacent about them.

Unlike the Qi state, the Southern Xiongnu did not have a significant amount of Han Chinese ancestry. They had adopted Han surnames, spoken politely, and worn Han clothing for many years, and had long since become part of the Han Chinese.

The former still followed the tradition of herding and was led by the Chanyu, and did not directly obey the orders of the Han emperor.

The three,
It was the pervasive extravagance he experienced while retiring in Luoyang.

The nation is at peace, and the world is prosperous.
Extravagance and laziness are natural occurrences.

Human nature inherently contains an element of laziness and aversion to work, and no one can stop it.

However, for a country, if both the ruler and the people are extravagant, the treasury will be empty and the people's hearts will be unstable.

This will cause a big problem.

Even though prosperity and decline are inevitable, and order and chaos cycle, this is an inherent principle of human existence.

But as rulers and ministers, we always hope that the country and its people can last longer.

"How could I not know such a principle?"

When Ban Chao's funeral ended, only his descendants remained, still dressed in mourning clothes, grieving and weeping for their father.
The emperor took out Ban Chao's last memorial and said with emotion.

In fact, the emperor had already noticed the extravagant trend since the time of Dou's dictatorship.

As the last Duke of Yan, who was already enjoying himself in Luoyang and had forgotten all about Yan, said:
"Even the air in the Han Dynasty smells sweet!"

How could this not make an emperor who aspired to be a wise ruler, and who was capable of being one, wary?

Over the years, he has used the power of eunuchs to suppress powerful officials in the court, with the aim of diminishing their power and, consequently, the power behind their families.

unfortunately,

It was indeed a bit late.

He showed more leniency towards those who had served him in the past, unlike Emperor Wu, who, taking advantage of his youthful fearlessness, used the power of the emperor to launch a comprehensive and indiscriminate attack on the long-established noble families and meritorious officials in the court.

Why is it that the emperor's nature is not as domineering and forceful as Emperor Wu, but rather more gentle like Emperors Xuan and Yuan?
Who made the emperor think that he would live a long life and that there was no need to rush into breaking ties with these people? He could slowly boil them down and deal with them gradually.
His illness has now damaged his very foundation.
He only has one son, who has been recuperating for many years but remains weak and frail, and who occasionally suffers fainting spells.

He felt an overwhelming sense of regret, and a strange gloom hung over the future of the Han Dynasty.

External barbarians are not a problem.
As long as the Central Kingdom does not perish on its own, nor loses its ideals like the Yan Kingdom, the barbarians will never have the chance to set foot in the Central Plains.

Extravagance and indulgence are permissible.
It will always wear down your spirit and weaken your foundation.

"How much time do I have left to solve these problems?"

The emperor asked himself this question in his heart, then drank the bitter medicine and went to the Jiaofang Palace with the lingering scent of herbs in his mouth.

He met Empress Deng Sui.

I also met the two children she was raising.

The thin and small Liu Sheng sat on the soft cushion, because his body was not strong enough to support kneeling for a long time.

Even with heel support, the endurance is still insufficient.

So Deng Sui allowed him to choose a comfortable sitting position.

Upon seeing the emperor arrive, Liu Sheng wanted to pay his respects, but his father stopped him.

The emperor looked at his sparse, slightly yellowish hair and a hint of sadness crossed his face.

Compared to his healthy nephew next to him, it really broke the father's heart.

"Please sit down, it's just a family gathering."

As the emperor spoke, he sat down next to Deng Sui.

He examined the two children's studies, then called them to his side one after the other, reached out and squeezed their arms, and gave them some instructions:
"You need to eat well and grow stronger."

The two children obediently agreed.

He then did not allow the two children to leave, and directly spoke with the Empress about recent state affairs.

"The number of famine victims in the local areas is increasing, and famines are occurring more frequently than in previous years. I don't know how long the imperial treasury can provide relief."

Deng Sui knew what the emperor was implying—

The calmer the water surface, the more whirlpools are hidden beneath.

The land annexation and rise of powerful clans brought about by the peace and prosperity of the Former Han Dynasty were replicated in the Modern Han Dynasty.

Even with Emperor Guangwu's land survey and Emperor Ming's restrictions,

But things in the human world always go through cycles.

No matter how vigilant or restrictive we are,
It's also impossible to prevent certain things from happening.

Just as a high-pressure boulder can be lifted up by the vegetation underneath.

Human desires are always rising.

Even if some people uphold the precepts of their ancestors and maintain the demeanor of gentlemen, how could a family with a long lineage not expand its ancestral business?

During times of peace,

As long as the family's power and position do not decline, its wealth will accumulate generation after generation.

Not to mention that with such a vast territory and numerous officials, there are always places and people that the emperor cannot control.

Luoyang is a very large city, the most magnificent and majestic city in the world.

Luoyang is very small, just a corner of the world, tucked away on the banks of the Yellow River, standing on the Yi-Luo Plain.

"First, we should use frugality to correct the extravagant trend, and at the same time select suitable talents to consolidate our foundation."

"Only then can we solve those problems."

The relationship between the government and the public is complex and difficult to unravel.

But the only thing that is certain is...
When news spread that the emperor intended to follow Emperor Guangwu's example and re-establish land reserves, it would certainly provoke opposition from many people.

Even the founding emperor had to face uprisings in various regions and needed the help of the Ming emperor to bring the matter to a close.

What about the current emperor?

He was indeed intelligent and possessed extraordinary talent, but how could his prestige compare to that of Emperor Guangwu, who restored the Han Dynasty?

Imagine being like Emperor Wu of Han, who used his achievements in defeating the Xiongnu in the north and expanding into the Western Regions to intimidate everything in the world, but there are no rivals left around him!
The Han Dynasty is too powerful now.
Even if there is a need to be vigilant against external enemies, they are not a threat at present.

They could not be molded by the emperor and become the resources for him to implement policies that conformed to his own wishes.

Furthermore, once war begins, there is a possibility of defeat.

A victory like the one Dou Xian inscribed on Yanran Mountain back then is even less necessary.

After much deliberation, the emperor decided that he could only proceed cautiously.

"If we had taken advantage of the power gained from eliminating the Dou family back then and dealt with those powerful clans, we wouldn't be in this mess today."

The emperor raised his head and let out a sigh.

Deng Sui comforted him, saying, "Your Majesty was young at the time, yet you were able to accomplish such things. You are already a man of extraordinary talent. We cannot ask for more." There is precedent for a young man seizing power and assuming personal rule, such as Duke Dao of Jin.

What examples are there in the vast annals of history of young people who innovate and reform?

King Cheng, who had the Duke of Zhou as his advisor, is not worthy of consideration!
The emperor still did not smile.

He could only pray to God to grant him more years of life.

……

"In any case, they should live a little longer than me!"

In the underworld, Emperor Zhang, who had only lived to be in his early thirties, also performed similar prayers.

He repeatedly asked the underworld officials to examine Liu Zhao's life force and predict his lifespan.

But the results were not very good.

The ghost officials advised him to prepare for a reunion with his son, and then started promoting properties in Fengdu or Haoli for him.

“There are many dead ghosts in the underworld, and the two capitals are even more difficult to live in.”

"You should first find a suitable piece of land and prepare the house!"

Since the father and son have such a deep bond, it must be a good location; it would be hard to find a house nearby!
Emperor Zhang was so angry that he cursed the devil behind his back.

"I have already reunited with my father, there is really no need to rush to reunite with my children!"

and,

If an early death is truly unavoidable, Liu Zhao must at least pull himself together and leave behind a few healthy children!

He had eight sons!

"There aren't many who can truly be considered healthy!"

Passing by Emperor Zhang's tomb and overhearing his complaints, the old physician Zhong and Zhou Jian casually replied.

Influenced by the emperor's gathering of renowned doctors from all over the country in order to have children, these two old ghosts became somewhat curious about the laws of reproduction and established related research topics.

They are currently conducting research on the dead from places like Xinxia and Xihai.

The renowned physician Lao Yizhong, a master pig farmer and considered the "ancestor of Taihang wild boars," told Emperor Zhang, based on his experience of caring for countless generations of piglets, that "offspring will inherit certain traits from their parents."

"Considering that many of your descendants died young, I'm afraid Liu Zhao's current youngest son will be implicated in your case!"

Zhou Jian also shared his long-standing experience in in-depth communication with people, saying, "Symptoms can indeed be transmitted through bloodlines."

Emperor Zhang never expected that his complaints at home would attract two old ghosts to peek out from the wall.

He was immediately surprised:
"What are you trying to stir up now?"

Why did this suddenly involve me?

Zhou Jian, perched atop the wall of Emperor Zhang's residence, stroked his beard. Instead of answering the question, he began to recount the circumstances of Emperor Zhang's eight sons.

His eldest son, Liu Kang, had already passed away in the fifth year of Yongyuan, shortly after helping his younger brother Liu Zhao regain power.

The second son, Liu Quan, died in the same year he was granted the title.

Although the third son, Liu Qing, was still alive, he was bedridden, emaciated, and looked like a sickly ghost.

Emperor Liu Zhao was his fourth son.

Consort Shen's fifth son, Liu Shou, and sixth son, Liu Kai, inherited their mother's good fortune and are still healthy to this day, without any signs of illness.

The seventh son, Liu Shu, also died young in the sixth year of Yongyuan.

Liu Wansui, the eighth son, died in the fifth year of Yongyuan.

"Your sons keep coming down from the house, haven't you noticed any problems at all?"

The old physician waited for Zhou Jian to finish counting, then raised his head and called out to Emperor Zhang.

"Your seeds are really not very good!"

Emperor Zhang immediately turned red with anger. Following the example of the First Emperor, he grabbed a wooden stick and used it to knock the two lecherous old devils off the wall. He then declared that he would go to the underworld to sue them for defaming his innocence.

When Empress Dowager Dou heard about this, she immediately took advantage of Emperor Zhang's misfortune.

She told her best friends, "That guy thinks he's so powerful and strong!"

"Don't you ever think about it? If you were really that capable, why haven't I had any children? And how could you have been secretly colluding with Guo Ju?"

The experienced Zhao Ji immediately burst into laughter.

The air is filled with joy.

This joy, accompanied by Emperor Zhang's anger, reached the mortal world.

As the cold air from the northern desert moved south, causing snowflakes to fall even in Luoyang,

The emperor received very good news:
One of his concubines finally became pregnant again.

Although the month is still very small
But this shows that his energy is indeed recovering.

Regardless of whether it will result in a miscarriage like before,

Regardless of whether the baby is a boy or a girl, or what their physical condition is,

As long as you can give birth, that's good.

If he sows more seeds, at least one sturdier seedling will grow!

He was so happy that he selectively forgot about his physical condition.

Unlike the emperor, Deng Sui was not full of hope.

She recalled the previous miscarriages or deaths of imperial heirs and felt some worry about the unborn child.

In order to ensure that the somewhat frail concubine could receive better care, and also in the hope of praying for a healthy prince through the ceremony,

Deng Sui persuaded the emperor to send his concubine to a scenic detached palace to rest and prepare for childbirth.

That is a newly built palace in recent years.
Small and exquisite

Compared to the Luoyang Imperial Palace, which had been used by four generations of emperors and endured decades of wind and rain, it was more comfortable to live in.

The emperor naturally wouldn't refuse.

He then pulled Deng Sui aside, wanting to have a legitimate son with her.

For so many years, there was still no news of Deng Sui's pregnancy, which was a great regret for the emperor.

After all, both he and Deng Sui were exceptionally intelligent.
The result of selecting the best of the best shouldn't be too bad.

in this way,

Even if his and Deng Sui's children were also in poor health and would die young like him,
However, as long as one is in power for a long time, one can continue and implement the policies for governing the country.

His father, Emperor Zhang, reigned for thirteen years.
His grandfather, Emperor Ming, reigned for nineteen years.
And counting from the fourth year of Yongyuan when he took personal power, it has been twelve years since then.

Compared to previous monarchs, his reign was neither long nor short.

but,

All of this is based on the premise that

They must all be successors, as precocious as themselves.

Deng Sui knew the emperor's desire for an heir.

Although Liu Hu entered the palace early to receive training.

But as the emperor, who wouldn't want to pass the throne to their own bloodline?

From a deeper perspective,

She and the emperor had already reached an agreement on policy.
To ensure the smooth implementation of the plan, having a child who combines the bloodlines of both individuals would indeed be better.

then,

Deng Sui also cooperated by taking medicine to regulate her body, hoping to meet the emperor's expectations.

No matter how hard the emperor tried, he could not bring about a miracle.

Spring arrived in the seventeenth year of Yongyuan, the winter snow melted, but there was still no good news in the palace.

The emperor gradually recovered from his excitement and realized that he could only cultivate this much, so he shifted his limited energy to the Imperial Academy.

He hoped to cultivate the talents he needed through the Imperial Academy, and then let those who obtained official positions through the Imperial Academy challenge the tightly woven network formed by the centuries-old recommendation system.

The study of things was merely a "skill," and not enough to make those aristocratic families value it.

However, there have always been many people in the Han Dynasty who rose to official positions through their "skills".

Even though most of them are of low status and not noble enough to be admired,
But once the number of people increases, some things become much easier to do.

(End of this chapter)