I Can Control My Ancestors-Chapter 260 - 1: Liu Bei’s Death, The World Renewed
At the same time, Gu Chen was also striving to advance the grand undertaking started by Gu Xi in the past.
The practice of woodblock printing had never ceased over the years.
As the strength of the Great Han gradually recovered.
Gu Chen successively established library pavilions in various places, and ordered that students from the Imperial College, before taking official positions, must teach in these library pavilions for at least half a year.
His actions during this teaching tenure were included in their evaluations, thus spreading the knowledge monopolized by the noble families across the land.
This matter was destined to require a gradual process.
For the bottommost people,
Their first task was not to learn the highest knowledge, but to start with basic literacy;
To this end, Gu Chen even established a special department.
Called "Elementary Learning".
To hire teachers to enlighten the people.
It was stipulated that males under ten could attend Elementary Learning for enlightenment.
Such a thing, in any era, is bound to cause a great stir.
Only Gu Chen could personally carry it out, making the task easily accomplished.
Yet, even then, one could only progress carefully, without taking too large steps.
It had to start from Luoyang, from the slightly affluent areas in the Capital Region, and slowly expand outward.
As for the method to attract common people to participate, Gu Chen’s approach was straightforward.
He simply told the people everywhere: "Study well, and you can become officials."
To the bottommost people,
Only such a simple statement could capture their attention.
Upon first hearing this, the people’s initial reaction was disbelief.
After all, for them,
Becoming an official was something they had never dared to dream of.
But learning that it was personally decreed by Gu Chen, they fell silent.
This was followed by thunderous shouts.
——A great upheaval in the Capital Region!
People from all over the place acclaimed him, bowing towards Luoyang.
Even though not a single person from the bottommost has yet become an official,
Because of their trust in Gu Chen and the Gu Clan,
These generations living at the bottom finally began to nurture hope for the future.
For humans, as creatures with complex thinking,
——Hope is the most precious.
As long as there is hope.
Then these people’s hearts will remain firmly bound to the court.
The rigidity of class thinking ultimately began to loosen.
Gu Yi continued to observe everything, his heart filled with complexity.
In fact, in hindsight,
The system set by Gu Chen and the others still had many flaws.
But why does that matter?
How could there ever be a perfect system in this world?
There are only systems suitable for different eras.
Compared to the original history, this progress in the system was already remarkably advanced.
Progress in thought is the most difficult and precious, it will surely have significant effects on the overall development in later generations.
Gu Yi is increasingly looking forward to the development of the Great Han.
Even though he understands,
There is no such thing as an eternal dynasty in this world.
But he faintly feels that this time, the Great Han might become the dynasty that influences the feudal era of the entire Kyushu the most.
And the name of the Gu Clan will always be carved on it.
To become an indelible existence in the annals of history.
...
Zhangwu ninth year, April;
Gu Ze passed away in Julu.
Thus, aside from Gu Chen, all of the sixth-generation members of the Gu Clan had passed away.
Although Gu Ze had never left Julu,
As the teacher of Zhuge Liang and the family head of the contemporary Gu Clan, Liu Shan even held a grand funeral for Gu Ze and considered posthumously honoring him with a noble title.
However, Gu Ze seemed to have anticipated this.
He had long sent a message to Gu Chen and Zhuge Liang, especially requesting not to give him such a title.
Even Gu Liang, who once served in the court but failed to achieve significant merits, refused a noble title, fearing it would tarnish his forebears’ name.
How could Gu Ze covet a mere name in history?
For him,
From the moment he returned to Julu,
He had completely abandoned all ideals and ambitions, devoting himself solely to the family.
Even though he held the aspirations of mountains in his heart, he returned smiling to the earth.
This matter greatly impacted Gu Chen.
Although he was the youngest of the sixth generation of the Gu Clan, after years of struggles, he had never imagined he would become the longest-lived among them.
An uncontainable loneliness filled Gu Chen’s heart.
For the first time since the uprising, Gu Chen laid everything aside and secluded himself in his residence for three full days.
After he emerged again, everyone could clearly feel a sense of agedness clinging to him.
Gu Chen seemed to become like Gu Xi of the past.
The authority in him grew even stronger.
Even ministers familiar with him could feel the evident pressure when facing him.
From then on, Gu Chen became even more driven.
Besides his usual governmental duties, Gu Chen also began selecting officials for the Great Han.
He not only considered the officials’ abilities,
But also their character,
And whether they supported the new policies.
Of course, Gu Chen never forgot the education of the Gu Clan’s descendants.
Now, the abilities of the Gu Clan’s seventh generation are not considered weak, whether in internal affairs or in martial prowess, talents have emerged.
This is indeed a vibrant and powerful trend;
Though it might not match the era of past heroes and geniuses, this era is bound to be dazzling.
Zhang Hua, Yang Hu, and others were successively promoted by Gu Chen.
