Control your ancestors and create an immortal family starting from the Eastern Han Dynasty

Chapter 99 Zhuge Liang Dies, Gu Ye Rises (Seeking Monthly Tickets)

Luoyang.

Under the bright moonlight, Gu Ye followed the servants of the Prime Minister's residence to the Prime Minister's residence.

Upon entering the mansion, Fang Fu saw Zhuge Liang processing court memorials by the dim candlelight.

His full head of white hair was even more striking in the candlelight.

Although he already knew Zhuge Liang's character and personality, Gu Yi's heart still sank when he witnessed this scene.

This is perhaps one of the charms of history.

Even when facing death at any moment, heroes and great men still held fast to their principles.

"Prime Minister."

Gu Ye quickly bowed and spoke.

Zhuge Liang did not look up, but simply waved his hand and said, "Zhaode, come here quickly and take a look at this memorial."

This has become the norm between the two of them over the past few years.

Gu Ye quickly stepped forward, took the memorial, and immediately saw its contents.

This is Zhong Hui's memorial to the throne.

He proposed a more specific strategy for evaluating officials in the Han Dynasty, intending to reform it.

Its content would still be considered an excellent work even by today's standards.

The only downside is that it's a bit too radical.

Just as Zhong Hui said, by forcibly stipulating certain subjects, the overall quality of candidates can be improved.

This behavior is too radical for the current Han Dynasty.

Gu Yi naturally wouldn't ignore it. After pondering for a moment, he shook his head and said, "Prime Minister, some of the strategies in this memorial are quite good."

"for example."

He began to analyze the pros and cons of each point.

Although Gu Yi did not control it continuously, it was perhaps because of his long-term observation.

Gu Yi felt that he had also grown in terms of political acumen.

Of course, the most crucial elements are the memory of posterity and the leading perspective of a modern person.

Zhuge Liang listened very attentively, and finally nodded, looking at Gu Ye with a complicated expression: "This matter can only be left to you, the people of later generations."

"Prime Minister."

Before Gu Yi could even make a move, Gu Ye spoke up, his face full of reluctance: "Why would you go to Yanzhou?"

"If the Prime Minister trusts this young man."

"I am willing to go to Yanzhou in place of the Prime Minister to oversee the disaster relief efforts."

He said this from the bottom of his heart.

Although they were not officially master and disciple, they were in fact master and disciple.

Gu Ye's feelings for Zhuge Liang are no less than those for his family.

How could anyone bear to see Zhuge Liang in such a state rushing to the front lines?
But Zhuge Liang simply shook his head.

His hands-on nature had already sealed his fate.

Even if the Han Dynasty had not suffered such a natural disaster, Zhuge Liang would still have fallen on the road to restoring the Han.

Liu Bei, Gu Chen, Gu Ze;
From the moment these three entrusted him with this heavy responsibility, Zhuge Liang's fate was sealed.

He didn't say much.

He simply handed the memorial to Gu Ye, instructing him to take it back and study it.

Gu Yi understood Zhuge Liang's thoughts.

Just like when Gu Chen handed over the reins of government to himself.

Zhuge Liang entrusted this matter to Gu Ye.

He had already seen the flaws in the Han Dynasty's official evaluation system, but he no longer had time to consider them.

Each generation has its own tasks to complete.

As Gu Ye left, Zhuge Liang slowly picked up the brush beside him and, by the dim light, wrote down the names he had already thought of on the paper in front of him.

May of the fifth year of the Yankang era;
Zhuge Liang led nearly a hundred people skilled in water conservancy, including the seventh generation of the Gu family, to Yanzhou.

On the eve of departure—

Liu Shan led his officials to see him off.

Looking at Zhuge Liang's increasingly hunched body and full head of white hair, his eyes unconsciously reddened.

At this moment, how similar it is to when Gu Chen left?
Liu Shan felt that being an emperor was too tiring.

Even with immense power, he could only watch helplessly as people who were very important to him left him.

How cruel this is!

Tears welled up in Liu Shan's eyes without him even realizing it.

Gu Ye was naturally among them.

However, compared to his sorrow, his gaze was even more resolute.

He seemed to want to do something.

From that day on, after abandoning his daily routine of studying, Gu Ye began to carefully study the current official selection policy of the Han Dynasty.

He seemed to intend to finalize the matter while Zhuge Liang was still alive.

Just like Zhuge Liang back then.

While Gu Chen was still alive, she submitted a satisfactory answer through the imperial examination.

This was naturally a difficult matter for him personally.

Reforms to core systems;
Only those who are truly outstanding in their time can achieve this through long-term contemplation.

Even Gu Xi, in his prime, spent decades deliberating before finalizing the system.

But don't forget, Gu Yi is still here!
In fact, Gu Yi did not intend to make a move so quickly.

Because he had to consider the impact on the eighth generation of the Gu family.

This generation of Gu family members is already somewhat impetuous, and if they see their contemporaries quickly becoming famous, it will probably exacerbate this mentality.

However, since Gu Ye himself had already made this plan.

Gu Yi didn't care anymore.

There will be many more opportunities to deal with the family, so why not take this opportunity to accomplish this? At the very least, it will allow Zhuge Liang to pass away in peace.

The emergence of the Gu family, besides improving themselves, also had other benefits.

Isn't it all about making up for the regrets of history little by little?
Gu Yi did not take too big a step.

If the current system for selecting officials in the Han Dynasty was only in the rudimentary form of the imperial examination system, Gu Yi simply elevated it to the newly formed imperial examination system.

As an institution that covered most of China's feudal history, the imperial examination system underwent numerous changes in its formation.

Systems need to evolve gradually with the times.

Taking too big a step can only backfire.

The situation might even spiral out of Gu Yi's control, and Gu Yi certainly didn't want that.
Yanzhou.

——Chidi Qianli!
Frequent natural disasters have dealt a fatal blow to the ecology of the entire Yanzhou region.

If it weren't for the imperial court's massive disaster relief efforts, Yanzhou would probably be a dead land by now, devoid of any life.

Although the disaster in Yanzhou had been anticipated long ago.

However, when Zhuge Liang personally arrived in Yanzhou, he still felt a sense of melancholy.

How many people have perished in these years of natural disasters?

Even Zhuge Liang didn't know.

All he could do was make the most of his time and try to resolve this dire situation as quickly as possible.

The current flood control situation is different from the one Gu Kangshi faced back then.

Zhuge Liang had many things to consider, not only designing the specific excavation route, but also ensuring the health of the construction workers.

Water is the most important thing right now.

To ensure the smooth progress of the project, this point must be taken into consideration.

Although a considerable number of people were brought this time.

However, Zhuge Liang's personality dictated that he still needed to conduct on-site investigations.

In this kind of weather.

This is a very painful thing.

It took him almost a month to finally settle the matter.

—It was decided to start with the main stream of the Yellow River, first constructing water diversion canals and reservoirs to ensure a sufficient water supply.

At the end of July, the project officially commenced.

This is destined to be a momentous event that will go down in history.

It was precisely because of the emergence of the Gu family.

The people have also transformed from being helpless in the face of natural disasters to being so courageous in defying fate.

Zhuge Liang always remained at the forefront of disaster relief efforts.

No amount of persuasion from anyone could stop it.

Most importantly, while overseeing disaster relief, he was also keeping an eye on the Han Dynasty's court.

He seems to have gotten used to being tired and can't stand being idle.

This matter is destined to be extremely difficult.

From a scientific perspective, high temperatures and dense populations create an environment where bacteria can easily grow and spread.

In fact, Gu Yi has already brought many improvements to the Han Dynasty this time.

The methods currently available include boiling water for drinking and lime sterilization.

But when it comes to epidemic prevention and sterilization—

Under the current circumstances, it is impossible to achieve perfection.

Especially given the current situation in Yanzhou.

The disease continued to rise gradually.

Zhuge Liang was well aware of the seriousness of the matter and immediately initiated a large-scale quarantine.

But once this starts, it's not easy to stop, especially in densely populated areas like canal digging.

Diseases are becoming more and more prevalent.

Most importantly—although Zhuge Liang had been extremely cautious.

But his health seems to be really bad.

A weak immune system will inevitably lead to many problems.

Although he had taken the isolation measures to the extreme, he still contracted the disease.

The various problems arising from years of extreme control over the court fully erupted under these circumstances.

Before the project was even halfway complete, Zhuge Liang collapsed.

This was an unexpected turn of events that no one had anticipated.

Fortunately, Zhuge Liang brought many people with him on this trip, including a seventh-generation descendant of the Gu family.

Although these people were not as well-regarded as Prime Minister Zhuge Liang, they were still able to shoulder the heavy responsibility of stabilizing disaster relief efforts.

But a strange gloom still appeared in everyone's hearts.

Many people wanted Zhuge Liang to return to Luoyang.

But given Zhuge Liang's personality, how could he possibly leave?
Let alone whether he can hold on.

If he were to bring this disease back to Luoyang, he would become a sinner against the Han Dynasty.

How could he do that?

The news was quickly relayed back to Luoyang.

Upon hearing this, Liu Shan panicked completely.

He dispatched almost all the imperial physicians to Zhuge Liang, sparing no expense in trying to cure him.

But Gu Yi knew very well that this was destined to be in vain.

Even with that level of isolation, infection is still possible.

This is enough to show just how poor Zhuge Liang's health was.

Years of hard work had already taken a toll on his body. This illness was merely a trigger, which would cause the hidden ailments in Zhuge Liang's body to fully erupt.

This situation would be a difficult problem even in modern times, let alone in the Han Dynasty.

How could it possibly be reversed?

The Marquis of Champion's Residence.

Looking at the newly completed "Memorial on Reform" before him, Gu Yi couldn't help but murmur softly:
"Oh, heavens, how have you treated me so cruelly?"

He manipulated Gu Ye to shake his head.

He immediately picked up the memorial and went straight out.

There are many differences over time
It's time to give the mighty Han a real shock!

An invisible giant wave rose up in Luoyang almost instantly.

Within a single day, the news had spread throughout Luoyang. Given the current state of the Han Dynasty's court, how could these people not have noticed the loopholes in the official evaluation system?

And don't forget, Zhong Hui had already gotten involved long ago!
The shock that Gu Ye's proposed reforms brought to the entire court was unimaginable!

The ministers immediately began to discuss the matter.

And this time——

Gu Yi even manipulated Gu Ye to participate, using him to answer various questions.

Listening to each and every answer.

The court officials immediately grasped the core of the matter and were astonished by it.

Although Gu Ye had already reformed disaster relief before this.

But everyone instinctively assumed that Zhuge Liang must have had help and guidance in this.

But this time is different!
Zhuge Liang had no descendants of the seventh generation of the Gu family living outside the area!
Although I didn't see it with my own eyes, it still tells a lot!

Gu Ye's name immediately resounded throughout Luoyang.

Of course, such a thing won't be decided easily.

Although Liu Shan had matured somewhat over the years, he wouldn't make decisions on his own directly; instead, he immediately sent the matter to Yanzhou.
Yanzhou.

Zhuge Liang's illness was getting worse.

A profound sense of weakness tormented Zhuge Liang, leaving him with no strength to even get up.

The key is--

To avoid infection, Zhuge Liang forbade anyone else from visiting him.

Only one servant was willing to die with him and take care of him at all times.

Even at this point, he was still keeping an eye on the current situation and using other people's words to convey the progress of disaster relief.

"Prime Minister."

After finishing discussing disaster relief once again, the servant looked at the dying Zhuge Liang lying on the bed, his face filled with grief, and immediately knelt down: "Let's go back to Luoyang."

His face was filled with grief, and tears kept streaming down his face.

Upon hearing this, Zhuge Liang slowly opened his eyes.

His eyes were bloodshot, and he was in extremely poor condition, as if he would burn out at any moment.

"Back to Luoyang?"

Zhuge Liang murmured softly, then shook his head slightly: "I can't go back."

In that instant, he suddenly recalled the scene when he went to see Gu Chen.

But unexpectedly, many years later...

He actually said the exact same thing as Gu Chen.

"Prime Minister." The servant's face showed even deeper sorrow, as if he wanted to offer some more words of advice.

But Zhuge Liang interrupted him directly, his voice weak as he instructed, "Tell them to make all necessary preparations and never let the disaster victims go hungry."

"We must pay attention to the maintenance of the water storage tank and the isolation of patients."

This was practically a detail that Zhuge Liang had to explain every day.

But before he could finish speaking...

Just then, hurried footsteps suddenly came and stopped outside the tent.

"Prime Minister, an urgent report from Luoyang!"

Upon hearing this, Zhuge Liang's expression changed instantly, a hint of panic flashing in his eyes: "Has something happened in Luoyang?"

The servant dared not hesitate and quickly got up, walked to the camp gate, and asked, "What is it?"

The armored soldiers outside didn't say much, but simply handed in the memorial.

The servant took the memorial to Zhuge Liang and read it aloud.

"The current system for selecting officials is complex and multifaceted."

"I think we can set up separate examinations for Xiucai (a lower-level scholar), Mingjing (a higher-level scholar), Jinshi (a higher-level scholar), and temporary special examinations."

"The examination for the Xiucai degree focused primarily on current affairs strategies and classical theories."

"The Mingjing examinations should primarily focus on Confucian classics, emphasizing memorization and commentary."

The Jinshi examination should focus primarily on strategies for governing the country.

The servants carefully read the contents of the memorial.

Zhuge Liang's expression was initially very tense, but as he listened, his expression completely changed!
His expression suddenly turned serious.

While listening to the specific details, I started to think about its feasibility!
To put it simply, Gu Yi's reform this time was to specifically classify the chaotic subjects of the Han Dynasty, making the whole system simpler.

Zhuge Liang's expression grew increasingly serious.

Just as the servant finished reading and looked at Zhuge Liang, he was suddenly stunned!
Zhuge Liang's complexion even turned slightly rosy.

His expression changed instantly, and he instinctively thought that this might be a final burst of energy before death, and tears welled up again.

But in the next moment, Zhuge Liang's voice suddenly rang out.

"Heaven will not forsake our mighty Han!"

The voice was exceptionally powerful, completely unlike anything Zhuge Liang could have uttered in his current state.

"Prime Minister——"

The servant was completely stunned, and even his voice was trembling.

But Zhuge Liang didn't give him a chance to ask questions. He stared intently at him and quickly said, "Quick! Pick up the pen for me, quick!"

Looking at the anxious Zhuge Liang in front of him.

The servant didn't dare hesitate and quickly went to the side to pick up a pen.

As Zhuge Liang looked at the memorial, he instructed his servants to take notes.

He highly praised the reform strategy and gave it his full support!

Zhuge Liang understood Liu Shan too well.

Faced with such a major event, Liu Shan would definitely hesitate to act if he did not give absolute support.

The memorial was sent to Luoyang on the same day.

Whether it was due to psychological factors or not, Zhuge Liang's health suddenly improved significantly after that day.

In addition, a group of imperial physicians took action.

Zhuge Liang's overall condition has visibly recovered.

After he was able to stand up again, Zhuge Liang suppressed everyone's suggestions that he should rest and recuperate, and returned to the disaster relief front.

At the same time, after receiving Zhuge Liang's memorial.

Liu Shan finally made the decision.

The most important thing is——

He followed Zhuge Liang's advice and entrusted the matter entirely to Gu Ye, officially allowing Gu Ye to enter the Han Dynasty's officialdom.

The news shocked the entire government and the public!

Although this reform was proposed by Gu Ye.

But Gu Ye is still too young.

Entrusting such an important reform to Gu Ye, how could it not be alarming?

Immediately, many ministers submitted memorials to dissuade him.

These people were certainly not targeting the Gu family.

Liu Shan did not die.

The Gu family's position in the imperial court was unshakeable.

They were genuinely worried that Gu Ye would mess things up, after all, the performance evaluation of officials was one of the core systems of the Han Dynasty.

But Liu Shan's attitude was extremely firm.

He already had a natural affinity for the Gu family members, not to mention that it was Zhuge Liang who took the initiative to bring this up.

Gu Yi would naturally not refuse such a request.

From the moment he chose to let Gu Ye gain momentum, he could only keep moving forward.

For him, this was just the beginning.

Gu Yi has no intention of holding back this time.

Whether in academics or martial arts, he was determined to accomplish everything he had already planned.

Liu Shan was also a very good emperor to him.

At least--

Gu Yi no longer needs to worry about the water overflowing as he did before!

Of course, this matter is bound to take time.

The key issue for the Han Dynasty now lies in the disaster situation in Yanzhou.

Liu Shan was genuinely worried about Zhuge Liang.

He knew how much Zhuge Liang valued Gu Ye, and even went so far as to find Gu Ye, hoping that Gu Ye would go to Yanzhou to persuade Zhuge Liang to return.

But Gu Yi refused.

He understands Zhuge Liang.

From the moment he left Luoyang, Zhuge Liang could not return to Luoyang unless he had achieved complete success!

Going to see Zhuge Liang would be pointless except to distract him.

In fact, the fact that his body was able to recover to some extent was already beyond Gu Yi's expectations. At this time, it would be better to wholeheartedly support Zhuge Liang.

He merely suggested that Liu Shan issue an edict to provide greater support to Yanzhou.

Liu Shan would naturally not refuse such a request!
September of the fifth year of the Yankang era;
The construction work in Chenliu County was completed.

With the imperial court's entire focus on Yanzhou, the construction progressed much faster.

More and more people are getting involved.

Liu Shan even mobilized some generals and soldiers to help Zhuge Liang!
Finally, in November.

The fortifications are completed.

As cheers rang out, Zhuge Liang, as if he had completed some kind of mission, collapsed once again.

This serious illness is far more severe than the last one.

In just one day.

Zhuge Liang was on the verge of death, and he didn't even have the strength to speak.

But the only difference is—

The worry that had been on his face was finally gone.

On the contrary, he was quite calm.

As far as Zhuge Liang was concerned, he had done everything he could.

The rest can only be left to future generations.

At least for now, the court officials he retains are those he knows, and there are also those he values ​​in the future.

He has taken over the heavy responsibility from Gu Chen for so many years.

He always felt like he was walking on thin ice.

Now, it's time to take a good rest.

This day came sooner than I had imagined.

The very next morning, Zhuge Liang passed away peacefully in Rencheng.

November of the fifth year of the Yankang era;
Zhuge Liang, the Chancellor of the Han Dynasty, died in Rencheng.

On his deathbed, he followed Gu Chen's example and advised Liu Shan not to favor his family members.

Funeral arrangements should be kept simple.

Do not exceed the proper etiquette for Gu Ze;

If possible, I wish to be buried in the land of Julu, so that I may rest in peace with Gu Ze.

When Gu Yi heard the news, he was silent for a moment, feeling both surprised and unsurprised.

Surprisingly, Zhuge Liang was willing to be buried in Julu.

Unsurprisingly, it was his last piece of music.

But after thinking about it carefully, Gu Yi felt relieved.

As far as Zhuge Liang was concerned
Perhaps the most carefree and unburdened time of my life was during my years of study in Julu.
------

"In the eleventh month of winter in the fifth year of the Yankang era, the great calamity that afflicted the world began to subside."

At that time, Chancellor Zhuge Liang was ordered to quell the famine in Yanzhou. He worked tirelessly day and night and died in office due to illness.

Liang was orphaned at a young age and received the teachings of the Gu family on poetry and propriety. At the age of twenty, he was specially favored by Emperor Zhaowu.

Entrusted with the heavy responsibility by Gu Chen, he worked tirelessly day and night to safeguard the Han dynasty.

He served as prime minister for decades, clarifying laws and regulations, maintaining order in the court, encouraging agriculture and sericulture, and ensuring abundant granaries.

As a result, peace and tranquility prevailed throughout the land, and people from afar admired its righteousness, with tribute envoys arriving in droves.

On his deathbed, he wrote in his handwritten memorial: "My family has planted 800 mulberry trees and 15 hectares of meager land, enough to provide my descendants with gruel. On the day of my death, I will have no surplus silk within my home and no extra wealth without, so that I may not have failed Your Majesty."

—From the Biography of Zhuge Liang in the Book of Yan Han

(End of this chapter)