A son who doesn't resemble his father? Love you, old man, see you at Xuanwu Gate!

Chapter 81 Both Ways
As the year draws to a close, the fleeting days fade away.

An antique-style carriage drove out of the residence of the Minister of Ceremonies and the Marquis of Dangtu and into the residence of the Minister of the Imperial Clan.

As the current chief minister in charge of clan sacrifices, Wei Buhai and Liu Shou should have communicated frequently, as should the minister who had been in charge of clan affairs.

However, the frequent changes in the position of Grand Master of Ceremonies were something that officials in both the central and outer courts were well aware of. In addition, due to Liu Shou's nature, he never had any interest in the many visits and communications that did not involve official business.

When Liu Shou was in court, he was "single-minded and devoted to public affairs without regard for personal gain," a quality that even ordinary scholars did not possess, yet it appeared in a member of the imperial family and a high-ranking official.

Aside from necessary gatherings of the imperial clan, Liu Shou had almost no personal connections with anyone in or out of the court, and he was not even familiar with the new Grand Master of Ceremonies, Wei Buhai.

Upon hearing that Wei Buhai had come to visit, Liu Shou, though unaware of the reason, knew that as one of the nine ministers of the court, he would certainly personally go out to greet him.

"The presence of the Grand Master of Ceremonies truly brings honor to my humble abode."

"You flatter me, Minister of the Imperial Clan. Please forgive my sudden visit."

"Where! Where!"

Liu Shou and Wei Buhai greeted each other with clasped hands from the outside of the threshold, chatting and laughing as if they were old friends meeting again.

After exchanging pleasantries, Liu Shou invited Wei Buhai into his residence.

The Imperial Clan Courtyard was, after all, the residence of the clan head. This mansion was considered quite spacious in Chang'an City, with five bays, four courtyards, and a small side courtyard. The first courtyard had a gatehouse for guards, the second a small courtyard, the third the main hall, and the fourth a study.

Liu Shou led Wei Buhai through the houses and courtyards, explaining the layout as they went. Finally, after passing through a long corridor, they arrived at a quiet little courtyard.

There were a few plum trees, a bamboo grove, and a vegetable patch. At this time, the earth was covered by winter snow, so nothing was planted or grew. But in the summer and autumn, Liu Shou would occasionally go to the vegetable patch to water and fertilize it. Many times, the vegetables eaten in the mansion came from this vegetable patch.

Next door to the courtyard, there seemed to be quite a few chickens and ducks being raised, and the loud crowing of roosters could be heard.

Perhaps, as the ancients said, all things in the world have signs. Amid the loud crowing of the rooster, the crowing of the hen could be faintly heard.

There is a small stone pavilion in the courtyard, with a stone table and stone benches under it, making it a very nice place for quiet conversation and drinks.

Liu Shou and Wei Buhai sat down in the stone pavilion, as host and guest respectively. The elder brought over a brazier, but instead of tea, he brought over a jar of fine wine, two food cauldrons, and all the necessary utensils. After everything was arranged, he quietly left the courtyard.

With no one to disturb them, wine was being brewed on the stove, and the two gradually warmed up as they talked.

"We live so close by and have frequent interactions, yet I rarely come to visit. I must first apologize to the Minister of the Imperial Clan."

"Minister of Ceremonies, what are you saying? The duties of the Grand Master of Ceremonies are always numerous and busy, but I am lazy by nature and a mere idle person. You did not come to visit me, and I did not go to see you. What crime is there between us?" Liu Shou shook his head, felt that the temperature was right, and added some herbs.

He was not good at drinking, fearing that alcohol would harm his health. He believed that once the alcohol was heated, its harshness would subside and it would no longer harm his health. Instead, he added herbs to the alcohol, which would actually nourish his body.

As the wine heats up, a unique aroma of wine and medicine wafts from the stove.

Two earthenware bowls were poured and placed in front of the two men. Liu Shou raised his bowl and said with a smile, "Please!"

"Please!" Wei Buhai replied with a smile, raising his bowl.

Drink it all in one gulp.

As the effects of the alcohol took hold, a blush quickly spread across Wei Buhai's face, clearly indicating that he was not a person who enjoyed drinking heavily.

Liu Shou smiled knowingly, poured wine but did not urge anyone to drink, "Why did you not build Qingyun Pavilion for no reason? Minister of Ceremonies, please speak frankly."

"The Minister of the Imperial Clan noticed it."

Wei Buhai showed no embarrassment and, without beating around the bush, asked, "What are the Minister of the Imperial Clan's views on state affairs?"

"I don't have any opinion."

As the aroma of wine and medicine began to dissipate, Liu Shou removed the fire from the stove and asked in return, "What is the opinion of the Minister of Ceremonies? Do you think it is good for the wise and mighty His Majesty to relinquish power, or do you think the exceptionally gifted ruler should continue to govern?"

"That's exactly what I wanted to ask Minister of the Imperial Clan."

"It's hard to say," Liu Shou said, shaking his head.

“Actually, we can all see that His Majesty and His Majesty are both domineering rulers. Whether His Majesty smoothly returns power or His Majesty continues to rule, they will personally handle everything,” Wei Buhai said helplessly.

The concept of "sharing the world" in the Han Dynasty is gradually disappearing with the passage of time and the succession of emperors. The decline of the founding merit group and the imperial family is a good example of this.

The positions of the Three Dukes were no longer held by marquises. The position of Grand Master of Ceremonies, which the first generation of marquises had demanded as hereditary succession during the reign of Emperor Gaozu, became a sword hanging over the heads of all marquises. Whoever the emperor wanted to kill, he could appoint as Grand Master of Ceremonies.

As for the Liu clan, they were originally supported to counterbalance the group of founding heroes. When the group of founding heroes became ineffective, they were naturally no longer needed by the emperor.

Since the reign of Emperor Xiaowen, efforts have been made to reduce the power and influence of the imperial clan and vassal kings. Emperor Xiaojing's Rebellion of the Seven States and the current emperor's Edict of Grace have gradually rendered the imperial clan and vassal kings powerless to resist.

The rebellions in Huainan and Hengshan were a reflection of the feudal lords and a tragedy for the royal family.

Your Majesty and the Supreme Ruler personally attend to all matters, and one day, the fiefdoms of the vassal kings and marquises will be completely removed from the map of the Han Dynasty.

"In the current political situation, regardless of whether Your Majesty or the Emperor wins or loses, they will spare no effort to purge each other's factions, causing the Han Dynasty to fall apart."

Liu Shou heard this clearly and felt a jolt in his heart. "So there needs to be a compromise, or someone, right?"

"Ah."

Wei Buhai nodded and smiled, "It also needs to be acceptable to both sides."

"Politics should not be domineering."

"Not domineering in character."

"Easy-going and approachable."

"The Empress Dowager, the mother of the nation."

"..."

It seems that only one person meets all the above conditions... Empress Wei Zifu!

However, the idea of ​​her ruling as regent sounds ridiculous, and worse, it is very difficult to do.

"I'm afraid His Majesty will not be able to accept this," Liu Shou said silently.

His Majesty has truly had a knack for dealing with women his whole life.

The transformation of Liu Rong from Prince of Jiaodong to Crown Prince and then to Emperor's ascension to the throne was the result of the combined efforts of five women: Empress Dowager Dou, Empress Dowager Wang, Consort Li, Princess Dou, and Chen Ajiao. Without any one of them, Liu Rong's position as Crown Prince would not have been abolished, and His Majesty would not have had the opportunity to ascend the throne.

However, His Majesty also faced numerous obstacles and constraints in the early years of his reign, and even his decrees were not issued by him. It was not until the Empress Dowager Dou and Empress Dowager Wang passed away that he was able to fully control the government.

The reason why Your Majesty hates the maternal relatives so much is because of the helplessness you feel towards women. If Empress Wei were to rule as regent, and the crown prince were not mentioned, Your Majesty's heart would not be able to hold on.

Any woman who is helpless is a curse from His Majesty.

"To persuade His Majesty, this is the best outcome." Wei Buhai sighed heavily, tears welling in his eyes, his voice choked with sobs. With neither His Majesty nor the Emperor in Chang'an, the very heart of the empire's power has become a battleground; if this continues, the nation will cease to exist.

Moreover, after the five altars along the Wei River, auspicious omens appeared frequently, and the Crown Prince's brilliance completely overshadowed His Majesty's. His Majesty is now the weaker party, refusing to accept the ministers' suggestions and continuing to fight with the Crown Prince. The story of King Wuling of Zhao may be repeated.

"We once joined forces to eliminate the Lü clan..."

Liu Shou showed hesitation and struggle. He didn't finish his sentence, but his meaning was very clear: the marquises and members of the imperial clan had worked together to exterminate the Lü clan decades ago, but now they were to support Empress Wei together.

It's hard to say whether we've done right by our ancestors.

"Times have changed. His Majesty is still alive, and the Emperor is no longer Emperor Xiaohui. The three emperors ruling together cannot change the world."

"Ah, the human world."

……

If we were to name a place that held immense importance during the Qin and Han dynasties, Hangu Pass, the place where the fate of the world was decided, would undoubtedly be the answer.

For a long time, the area east of Hangu Pass was called the East, and entering Hangu Pass meant entering the Hexi region.

During the Warring States period, the mention of "Hexi" might immediately evoke images of the long and protracted wars between the Qin and Wei states, a strategic pass that buried countless young men.

If we talk about the current dynasty, nothing surpasses the covenant between Emperor Gaozu and Xiang Yu, the Hegemon-King, that "whoever enters Guanzhong first shall be king." When Xiang Yu arrived at Hangu Pass, Emperor Gaozu had already entered Xianyang and sent troops to garrison Hangu Pass. However, he ultimately failed to stop the Hegemon-King. Even a formidable pass can be breached. Afterwards, Xiang Yu's army arrived in Xianyang and carried out massacres and destruction, killing the Qin prince Ziying, burning the Qin palaces, and announcing the demise of the Qin Dynasty.

The Hexi region, a strategically vital area, is actually the western bank of the Yellow River in its north-south direction. The southern part roughly includes the Taolin Highlands and the Xiaoshan area, extending to Mount Hua, spanning over 300 li from east to west. The central part roughly includes the middle and lower reaches of the Luo River, as well as the fortresses such as Shimen, Shaoliang, and Puban. The northern part roughly includes Diaoyin, Gaonu, Fushi, and even further north to Yunzhong. Together, these areas constitute the so-called Hexi region, all of which belonged to the Qin territory.

There are differences between the Qin regions. Even if they are separated by a river, some places are the heart of the empire, flat and fertile plains, while the other side is a pitted and endless saline wasteland.

The Wei River is wide and its clear waves roll, but the two banks present completely different worlds.

Liu Ju was walking on a bumpy, dirt road on the south bank of the Wei River, barely wide enough for vehicles to pass each other.

Zhuang Xiongbi, the governor of Linjin County, submitted a memorial to the throne, requesting that a canal be built to divert the Luo River to irrigate the fields. If a canal of the Luo River could be built, it would irrigate the land east of Chongquan, turning tens of thousands of hectares of saline-alkali land into fertile fields.

If there was a Zheng Guo Canal during the Qin Dynasty, then this is the "Zheng Guo Canal" of the Han Dynasty.

But it's not that simple.

The soil here is loose, and the banks of ordinary canals are prone to collapse. In addition, since the Luo River is diverted to irrigate the Linjin Plain, it is necessary to dig a canal in Zheng County, upstream of Linjin.

However, a long and narrow mountain, Shangyan Mountain, stretches between Linjin and Zheng County.

The canal could not bypass Shangyan Mountain, but could only pass through it. Prefect Zhuang Xiongpi initially led the people of Linjin to try to dig the canal through the mountain by excavation, but because the mountain was more than 40 zhang high and covered with loess, it collapsed as soon as the canal was dug.

Like the Zheng Guo Canal, this canal was not something that could be solved by a single prefecture or county; it was an imperial-level project, and Zhuang Xiongbi submitted a memorial to the throne requesting assistance.

Upon seeing the memorial and the map, Liu Ju immediately thought of the "artificial river in the sky," the "Great Water Wall of China," and the "Eighth Wonder of the World" that would become famous in later generations.

That is a memory of an era.

Liu Ju remembered the spirit more, but he also remembered that before the canal was dug, it was affected by the terrain and lacked a good and stable water-proof layer, which led to a large amount of surface water loss, low groundwater storage, and great difficulty in mining.

Since the surface irrigation canals are impassable, we might as well try underground irrigation canals. If open channels don't work, we can use culverts. We can then connect them by digging vertical shafts to form the tunnel's exit and ventilation openings, thus creating a continuous canal.

Looking at the vast white beach, Liu Ju recalled the details and told them to the officials of the Imperial Household Department and the disciples of the Mohist school who had come with him.

After traveling for several days, this place was estimated to be two hundred li away from the Northern Army's camp. After entering Linjin County, and traveling for another half day, the population increased, and we finally arrived at our destination.

Liu Ju dismounted from the carriage and walked toward the villagers who looked wary in the field not far away. Zhao Chongguo, the commander of the imperial guards, wanted to persuade him, but before he could speak, Liu Ju shook his head and stopped him, then followed the crown prince alone.

But like an eagle watching over unscreened villagers, it will take action at the slightest sign of trouble.

Liu Ju could understand but was also quite helpless. "The common people aren't that bad. This place is safer than Chang'an. Give me the leather bag."

"Fellow elders, come and rest a bit," Liu Ju called out, shaking his leather bag.

The farmers in the field looked at each other, and a few of them, as if leading the way, climbed onto the ridge covered in mud. "Sir... what can I do for you?"

Liu Jun could tell that the old man hadn't said the word "life," so he smiled and took out a stack of earthenware bowls from the farmers' drinking water on the ridge, filled them with water one by one, and said, "Uncle, have some water to quench your thirst."

As he spoke, he handed a bowl to the old man with both hands, and then handed water to the others. Everyone accepted the bowls with fear, holding them but not daring to drink.

Liu Ju poured water and invited, "Come on, drink!"

After the farmers drank the water in the bowl, they thanked them in unison before finishing their own bowls.

Liu Ju continued pouring water, and asked with a smile, "May I ask, elders, why are you scooping water from the ditch at this freezing time?"

Winter soil is frozen soil, hard and solid, making it difficult for people to dig.

“It was assigned by the government,” the leading farmer replied.

Liu Ju's eyes subtly shifted. "There's no farmland here, so what's the point of dredging the ditches? Was this done intentionally or accidentally by the government?"

"You've misunderstood, sir."

The farmer's lips moved slightly, but he dared not say that Liu Ju was lazy, ignorant of the five grains, and did not understand farming. He pointed to the vast white beach and said, "This salt flat on the south bank of the Wei River only grows grass, not grain. Don't be fooled by the clear water on that beach, my lord. It's all bitter water. It's melted snow. Because it fell on the saline-alkali land, it became salty and bitter. It can neither be eaten nor used to irrigate the fields."

Normally, the soil here is too loose to drain the brackish water. Taking advantage of the frozen ground, we dig several small ditches and canals to allow the brackish water to flow out. Then we bring in the clear water from the Wei River to the fields. This reduces the amount of salt deposits in the spring, allowing a few small plots of land to be cultivated on the riverbank. Even if little grain grows, it's still grain.

"And what was the harvest?"

"Whoever does it, it's theirs." The leading farmer pointed to himself, then to the farmers around him, and to the farmers in the ridge.

How much can each person get?

"If each person can get a bushel of seeds after the harvest, we'll be blessed by heaven."

"Then should we still plant it?"

“If we don’t plant it, the salt will return every spring. Not only will we lose this little bit of land, but if we burn the little bit of arable land, these people won’t even have any food to eat.”

A farmer chimed in, "The new prefect ordered the canal to be dug, but it hasn't started yet. We're just hoping that one day the Luo River will irrigate our fields. We're just waiting! We're just waiting!"

With tears streaming down their faces, the farmers said nothing more and got up to go back to work in their ridges.

"My lord, the farmers have such deep feelings for this saline-alkali land."

"The farmers have no feelings for this saline-alkali land, but rather a sense of helplessness."

Liu Ju glanced at him, looking at the farmers who had toiled all year but had earned very little. The empire was like this saline-alkali land, abandoned for too long, and action had to be taken.

(End of this chapter)