I Can Control My Ancestors-Chapter 137 - 51: Pacifying the Southwestern Barbarians Again, Liu Zhi Passes Away (Part 3)
"Why!" Liu Zhi slammed the table, his expression twisted, roaring in anger, "Why isn’t he dead yet!"
Before the great battle even began, he persuaded the three-part coalition to retreat; he held no real power yet could govern local officials.
Any slight movement would draw the attention of the people across the land.
The thing he most dreaded had finally happened.
Gu Xi’s reputation had already far surpassed that of his as Emperor.
In truth, Liu Zhi still held feelings for Gu Xi.
But imperial power is ultimately selfish.
He could not gamble his imperial power on the future.
If he were to die, what would future emperors do? As long as the foundation is unstable, there is always a possibility that scholars could seize power.
Even if Gu Xi does not, what then?
Since ancient times, how many ministers like Gu Xi have appeared?
How could he not consider these things?
The most crucial thing was that Liu Zhi suddenly felt some fear.
Perhaps because he was overly addicted to pleasure, in the past two years, he gradually felt his body was becoming increasingly weak.
——It was a very distinct feeling.
The prolonged indulgence had completely drained his body.
And yet to this day, he still had no male heir.
Indeed, even with a harem numbering ten thousand, Liu Zhi still had no male heir.
Only three daughters.
The court was already abuzz with gossip about this.
Which forced Liu Zhi to take it seriously.
If he were to unexpectedly come to harm.
The balance he had painstakingly maintained in the court over the years would inevitably be overturned in an instant.
The eunuchs, without him as their shield.
How could they stand against the scholars?
As for Gu Xi... would he help the eunuchs?
Liu Zhi felt a bit panicked.
Besides having the Imperial Physician help nurture his health, he announced the changing of the era name to "Yongkang," trying in every way to improve his health.
But all of this was ultimately futile.
Perhaps due to psychological reasons, Liu Zhi felt his health worsening.
His temper grew increasingly violent.
The Imperial Physicians helping him nurture his health were successively executed.
Neither eunuchs nor scholars could ever see a smile on his face anymore.
In June of the first year of Yongkang, an edict was sent out from Luoyang to the four corners.
——Summoning the heirs of the local Vassal Princes to the capital.
The issuance of such an edict truly shook the world!
The signal sent by this decree was all too clear. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺
The Emperor seemed to be in decline!
Unlike before, the common people were not surprised by this.
After all, Liu Zhi’s failure to employ Gu Xi had long sparked public discontent, with many claiming he was receiving divine punishment.
But the courtiers could not ignore this matter.
Immediately, there were memorials to the throne stating that Gu Xi should be summoned back to Luoyang at once.
In the world as it was.
The Emperor’s death and Gu Xi’s regency had become common knowledge for everyone.
But how could Liu Zhi agree?
As long as Gu Xi entered the court, the political balance he had strived to build would be instantly shattered.
If Gu Xi then met with an accident.
The power would inevitably be seized by the scholars.
This was a burden he could not accept.
Because of this, Liu Zhi suppressed all voices, appointing a Crown Prince directly and independently.
Establishing Liu Hong, son of Marquis Jiedu Liu Shu, as Crown Prince.
And began helping him lay his foundations.
In this matter, Liu Zhi was indeed extremely experienced.
After many years, he became like Gu Xi in the past, escorting the Crown Prince Liu Hong.
All these years, not all scholars were in opposition to the eunuchs, and faced with such a foundationless new Crown Prince, no one would object.
Nevertheless, Liu Zhi did not forget the eunuchs.
He did not pass on the favored eunuchs to Liu Hong but instead had Liu Hong cultivate his own.
There was naturally someone who sent a letter to Gu Xi about all this.
But since Gu Xi was still in Yizhou, how could he receive the news directly?
Moreover, the most crucial thing was that Gu Xi no longer cared about these matters.
It seemed that what he had seen and heard on this journey made Gu Xi begin to ponder the essence of the current situation.
He began to slow down, observing the public sentiment in various places.
Through this series of explorations.
He thought of land consolidation.
And then he remembered the land-measuring policies implemented by Emperor Guangwu and Emperor Ming years ago.
He even thought of more detailed plans beyond that.
Including restrictions on prominent families and assistance to the common people.
He wanted to fundamentally solve the problems of the Great Han!
But this was not all; perhaps because he was thinking ahead, he even picked up the remark made by Gu Wei in his childhood.
Seriously deliberating the possibility of this matter.
This was a tremendous advancement!
Gu Yi was profoundly moved by this; for modern people, this might not be worth mentioning.
But for someone like Gu Xi, living within historical limitations.
To have such a cognitive breakthrough was like ascending to the sky!
Could Gu Xi save the Great Han?
That was uncertain.
Whether it was the land-measuring or the latter thoughts he had.
These were not things that could currently be achieved.
But if Gu Xi truly proposed this, might it not bring about a systemic revolution in future developments?
Everything remained unknown.
But clearly, everything he was doing now would certainly initiate fundamental changes.
And before Gu Xi could return to Luoyang.
In the second year of Yongkang, on the day of Dingchou in August;
——Liu Zhi passed away in Luoyang.
Crown Prince Liu Hong succeeded to the throne, changing the era name to "Jianning.".....
