Controlling mountains and rivers since the Warring States Period

Chapter 567 Yan Yuan Yongchu
"It's really haunting!"

Luoyang in the Central Plains

Empress Dowager Deng Sui, who was ruling as regent, put down the memorial in her hand and frowned deeply.

That was a memorial criticizing the Empress Dowager for wielding too much power, to the point that the country was "overwhelmed by yin and weak by yang, leading to disasters."

In the last year of his reign, the late emperor adopted a policy of suppression against powerful local clans, which naturally aroused their dissatisfaction.

However, with the nation's strength and the Han dynasty's authority firmly established, unlike the "Mandate of Heaven" during the reign of Emperor Guangwu, which had just experienced turmoil,
The powerful clans dared not directly launch a rebellion like their predecessors.

They only temporarily tolerated it, wanting to see just how far the late emperor intended to go.

then,

Before the powerful families could even figure things out, the seemingly healthy late emperor suddenly passed away.

The one who succeeded to the throne was a baby who was only three months old.
The person in power was a woman who was not yet thirty.

This combination doesn't look aggressive at all.

If things remain peaceful afterward, then everyone can maintain the vibrant and prosperous state of the Han Dynasty and respect the orphans and widows left behind by the late emperor.

However, Empress Dowager Deng had the idea of ​​continuing the late emperor's will and did not stop her policies of suppressing powerful clans despite the change of emperors.

This displeased the powerful and influential families.

So they presented various memorials to Empress Dowager Deng, posing as humble gentlemen and upright old ministers, pointing out the irrationality of the government's policies.

"They are clearly threatening me!"

In response, Empress Dowager Deng, who had received guidance from the late emperor and possessed a talent for governance, immediately saw through the arrogance and rebellion of the powerful families hidden behind the divine warnings sent from various places about "meteorites falling to earth" and "constant natural disasters."

Discussions on meteorite impacts,

In fact, this is not a rare occurrence.

The stars in the sky are countless, and it's quite normal for some to fall and damage a house or two as they move about.

Records of this phenomenon are not uncommon in historical annals.

During the reign of Wang Mang in the Former Han Dynasty, the reason why people were frightened and terrified was simply because there were frequent falling stars and many huge rocks.

When the meteorite, mixed with torrential rain, appeared during the Battle of Kunyang, a pivotal moment in Emperor Guangwu's life, it was further embellished by later generations to proclaim Guangwu's "destiny."

As for the floods caused by torrential rains in spring and summer, that's even less surprising.
If the vapors in the world evaporate, causing an excessive and turbulent outpouring of water, resulting in disasters like those of the ancient goddess Nuwa and Yu the Great, then it has little to do with human intervention.

That's called "Heaven has forsaken me."

However, the floods reported in various places only mentioned that there was more rain than in previous years, and the winds blowing from the sea were stronger than in previous years, etc.

If such a disaster were to occur

The problem is simply that local water conservancy systems, due to their age, lose their ability to regulate rainfall when there is more rain than usual, causing overflows and flooding of farmland.

The solution was simply to report it to the court and send people and money to the local area for repairs. But they insisted on bringing up the matter of Empress Dowager Deng ruling as a female ruler.

The late emperor, while still alive, repeatedly instructed his subjects:
Avoid making unfounded claims and focus on the facts.

Even the auspicious omens that appeared in various places in the fourth year of Yongyuan were not collected by the Emperor.

More than ten years have passed, and these ministers who served Emperor He should have gotten used to it and become obedient.

Who knew that once Emperor He left, their attitude reverted to that of the scholars who studied Yin and Yang, the Five Elements, and the interaction between Heaven and Man, pointing to strange phenomena in the heavens and the disasters in various places and saying that this was a manifestation of "the ruler's lack of morality".

Deng Sui was almost laughing in exasperation at them.

Fortunately,

She was mentally prepared for these unpleasant things, so she wouldn't be provoked into inappropriate words or actions by certain comments, or step into a pit that others had dug and twist her own ankle.

She'll stay calm.

The late emperor entrusted the affairs of state to her, so she absolutely could not act willfully and recklessly, lest she disappoint the ancestors of the Han Dynasty and its millions of subjects.

Once she has been able to maintain the young emperor Liu Long until he is healthy, able to speak, walk, and understand things, she can then set free and do things that she has wanted and should have done since the time of the late emperor.

But before that...

Thinking of the infant emperor still in the harem, Deng Sui frowned and finally only wrote a few lines on the memorial, a common order to deal with disasters, instructing local authorities to open granaries for relief.

She skipped over the sentences that implied accusations.

Subsequently,

Empress Dowager Deng got up and went to visit Liu Long.

The young emperor was cared for day and night by several wet nurses, and a large group of palace servants surrounded him, diligently serving him.

The most noble person in the world

The most powerful person in the world
At this moment, she was wrapped in swaddling clothes and handed to Deng Sui by her wet nurse.

Empress Dowager Deng gently embraced him and inquired in detail about the emperor's condition that day.

Even something as sordid as the cycle of the five grains was not overlooked.

After all, this is the bloodline that the late emperor desired.

After the wet nurses answered all her questions, Deng Sui touched Xiao Liulong's hands and feet, feeling the warmth she received, and then felt relieved.

As the female ruler of the Han Dynasty,
She held a position equivalent to the emperor, and could refer to herself as "朕" (Zhen, meaning "I" or "the Emperor") in imperial edicts, so she naturally had to bear the corresponding responsibilities.

Furthermore, due to the restless ministers below her, the recent political situation has become heavy and complex, making it impossible for Deng Sui to keep Liu Long by her side at all times to raise him.

Initially,

Empress Dowager Deng also placed Liu Long in her palace, with a small bed set up next to his couch.

Unfortunately, the three- or four-month-old baby always liked to cry in the middle of the night, forcing Deng Sui, who was busy with political affairs during the day, to serve the emperor at night with sleepy eyes.

This really shortens the lifespan of young people.

Therefore, after several such experiences, when she looked rather haggard, Deng Sui gave up her goal of becoming an excellent foster mother and devoted herself to taking care of Liu Long's daily life.

After meeting the emperor...

Deng Sui then went to another palace to check on the studies of her two sons, Liu Sheng and Liu Hu.

After Liu Long was chosen as the successor...

Deng Sui did not drive him out of the capital.

first,
The emperor was far too young and needed them to stay by his side in case of unforeseen circumstances.

Secondly,

Liu Hu was only twelve years old, and Liu Sheng was physically weak; there was really no need to put them through any more trouble.

When Liu Long grows up and they also grow stronger, it will be fine for them to leave the palace to live or to be enfeoffed as princes.

"Just focus on your studies and don't worry about what some people say."

afterwards,

When Deng Sui was having a meal with the two children, she said this to them.

The inner palace and the outer court have always been intertwined; there's no reason to completely separate them.

When the winds and waves rise outside, even the most majestic and towering palace walls cannot prevent the mist from seeping into the interior.

Unfortunately, both of these children were young and quick-witted.

They were not like the late emperor, a transcendent and brilliant figure with an innate keen sense of power struggles, and therefore could not understand the meaning behind certain words.

Born into royalty and receiving excellent education from a young age, with exceptional talent even among ordinary people, he couldn't help but overthink things after hearing rumors and gossip.

Unable to ignore everything and only knowing how to obey the foolishness of elders,
The wisdom to not be able to know everything, to clearly define one's own position, and to understand one's responsibilities.
It's stuck in this limbo, neither here nor there.
This inevitably required Deng Sui to spend more time and effort teaching them.

"knew."

The young men spoke up one after another, echoing the Empress Dowager's words.

Then Liu Sheng cautiously asked, "May I visit His Majesty?"

Although he was the eldest brother

Although Liu Long is the youngest brother
Although there is a significant age difference between them,

But the difference in their social status is like an insurmountable chasm.

When thirteen-year-old Liu Sheng talked about his younger brother, who was less than two hundred days old, he could only respectfully address him as "Your Majesty".

There's already a thick barrier between them!
but,

This did not diminish Liu Sheng's curiosity about his brother.

He was often ill, and before the age of five, he mostly lived in seclusion in the inner palace and rarely saw outsiders.

The brothers born after that were also sent outside the palace in order to grow up healthy, but the outcome is self-evident.

Therefore,
Little Liu Long was the only brother Liu Sheng could visit and touch.

He had no other thoughts; his heart was filled only with pure familial affection. But Empress Dowager Deng refused his request.

She didn't suspect that Liu Sheng would treat his younger brother, who had usurped her throne, with malice; she was only worried that he might pass on some of his illness to Liu Long.

Moreover, the emperor is young and inexperienced. What if some problems arise when Liu Sheng meets him?

Let's cut it off now and talk about it later.

Upon hearing this, Liu Sheng lowered his head in disappointment and remained silent.

The sun gradually set.

Deng Sui had lamps lit and continued reading the documents presented below.

Some say that those studying at the Imperial Academy recently...
There were also reports from Zhang Heng, who was sent out to investigate the soil and water conditions in various places and to inspect the water conservancy situation.

As Deng Sui looked at the table, his eyes grew tired, and he soon fell asleep.

In dreams,
She met the late emperor, who had escaped the heavy burden of state affairs through death.

Liu Zhao said to her gratefully, "You've really worked hard."

Deng Sui said, "I am your wife, and even more so, your subject. Having accepted your dying wish, how could I dare to neglect it?"

"But Your Majesty, how are you doing in the afterlife?"

"not bad."

Liu Zhao recalled the days after his death, and overall, they were to his liking.

Emperor Zhang, who paid little attention to the harem during his lifetime and left it to Lady Dou, showed immense tenderness towards Liu Zhaozhan after their reunion in the underworld.

He even followed the recommendation of the underworld officials and used his own wealth to buy Liu Zhao a house in Haoli, not far from his own underworld dwelling.

unfortunately,

Liu Zhao did not accept his father's offer and instead turned and walked towards his mother.

On Consort Liang's side,
The mother and son, who had never met before their deaths, were finally reunited.

Liu Zhao also learned why, in the final days of her life, the mother who always liked to visit her child in her dreams would have her traces erased.

Because Consort Liang was also preparing properties for him in the underworld, hoping that her untimely child would receive comfort from his mother as soon as he came down to earth.

What is there to hesitate about?
Emperor Zhang, this father,

no need!

Empress Dowager Dou disapproved of him, and when discussing the affairs of the world, she couldn't help but mention Liu Zhao's entrustment of state affairs to Deng Sui:
"How is this any different from Liu Da?"

"What Deng Sui does in the future might not be as good as what I do!"

The emperor was young, and the empress dowager ruled as regent.
How is this different from how she was when she was alive?
That kid Liu Zhao,

He managed to turn things around, but then he turned around and things started to repeat themselves.

Fortunately, Liu Zhao didn't hold it against her.

He was no longer concerned with anything that happened during his lifetime.

Now all you need to do is enjoy the peace after death.

"That's it."

"It's also very good."

After hearing Liu Zhao's words, Deng Sui felt a pang of envy.

But she still has a lot to do.
Liu Zhao's achievements have earned him a place in history, making him a truly wise ruler.

Aside from his children, he had no other regrets.

However, Deng Sui's ambition has not yet been realized.

"Then you should keep up the good work!" Liu Zhao said with a smile, patting her shoulder.

Then the thick fog of the dream dissipated.
Empress Dowager Deng opened her eyes.
A new day has begun.

A new struggle has begun.

As time goes by...
As she became more and more adept at handling government affairs, she gradually revealed a personality even more forceful than that of the late emperor.

As a woman from a martial arts family, she had even harbored ambitions of leading troops into battle when she was young.
Unlike Empress Dowager Dou of the previous dynasty, who appeared tough but was actually softened by a few kind words from close friends and family and whose decisions were altered accordingly, Empress Dowager Deng Sui was not like her.

Her will is worthy of the title of Empress of the Han Dynasty!

But for some people, this is not good news at all.

Therefore, in the eighth month of the Yanyuan era,

The young emperor Liu Long, who was about to turn one year old, passed away due to a sudden childhood illness.

There were no traces of poisoning in the palace. It was perfectly normal for a young baby to be in danger at any time and lose his life.

Deng Sui, who was privately preparing a gift for her adopted son's first birthday celebration, was very sad.

She recalled the softness of Liu Long when she held him as he ascended the throne when he was over a hundred days old.

I remember the joy this child felt when he learned to roll over, sit up, and crawl in front of me.

Although they were not related by blood, Deng Sui felt that she was his mother and could not empathize with Empress Dowager Dou at all.

Sadly, her child left her.

Could that have been an accident?

Maybe.

Deng Sui thought to herself:
She hoped it was an accident.

This way, she could comfort herself.
That child, like his father and brother, was destined to die young.

Instead of having a strong body, built on the foundation of their ancestors' bloodline, only to have it destroyed by some secret schemes.

after that,

Deng Sui purged the people in the palace.
Even the eunuchs who were trusted and relied upon during the reign of the late emperor were relegated to the desolate Southern Palace or the mausoleums of the late emperors.

Liu Long, who was posthumously honored as "Shang", had such a short reign that he did not have time to build his own mausoleum. Therefore, he could only be buried in a plot of land within the mausoleum of his father and the emperor.

Empress Deng Sui ordered a reduction in related expenditures, not wanting to burden the people with the successive deaths of emperors.

After that,
Unwilling to see the emperor die again, she chose Liu Hu to succeed to the throne.

Deng Sui discussed with Liu Hu's father, Liu Qing, and decided to have Liu Hu adopted by the late emperor, while Liu Huwei, the second son of the emperor, was made the heir apparent to the Prince of Qinghe.

"That's for the best, after all, you were once Emperor Zhang's crown prince..."

Deng Sui said this to Liu Qing.

Like Liu Sheng's nephew, Prince Liu Qing of Qinghe suffered from a qi ailment and occasionally experienced convulsions. He turned pale and waved his hand, saying:
“The Mandate of Heaven belongs to the Emperor He; I have no affinity with Him.”

"Liu Hu was raised in the palace by the late emperor when he was very young. Now that he has become his son and continues his family line, it is a good thing."

He spoke sincerely and was not carried away by the fact that his son was going to become emperor.

Recalling the brotherhood between Emperor He and himself, Liu Qing couldn't help but sigh.

When will the King of Pingyuan get married?

After lamenting, Liu Qing suddenly asked a question.

Deng Sui said, "His health was poor and his vital energy was very weak. The doctor told him to take care of himself for a few more years and accumulate enough yang energy before getting married."

“Then after he has a child…” Liu Qing nodded first, and then spoke.

Deng Sui interrupted him before he could finish speaking, saying, "Let's talk about the future later!"

There is really no need for any further turmoil to affect the throne of the Han Dynasty.

Liu Qing then fell silent and returned to his fiefdom by carriage.

He did not meet with Liu Hu, but instead sent Wang, Liu Hu's wet nurse from his childhood, to Luoyang to take care of his daily life.

quickly,

The Han Dynasty ushered in a new era name.

Three years,

From Yuanxing to Yanyuan, and then from Yanyuan to Yongchu,

The historians who were recording history were almost bewildered by this speed.

Such changes of imperial power, along with frequent disasters among the common people, also suggest that there are serious problems within the Han Dynasty.

When will it occur?
The historian did not know,
Historians were only responsible for recording.

Only in the first year of Yongchu, before Emperor Liu Hu had even warmed his seat on the throne...
When Empress Dowager Deng saw the memorial jointly signed by the court officials, demanding that she return power to the emperor, she was once again amused and exasperated.

(End of this chapter)