I Can Control My Ancestors-Chapter 35 - 14: The Loyal and Martial Posthumous Title, Imperial Sacrifice and Emperor’s Death (Part 2)

Chapter 35: Chapter 14: The Loyal and Martial Posthumous Title, Imperial Sacrifice and Emperor’s Death (Part 2)
"Your Majesty should not belittle yourself like this anymore."
Liu Xiu silently watched her, saying nothing more.
....
This burial ceremony can truly be said to embody what it means to be the "first meritorious subject."
The ministers put considerable thought into Gu Xiao’s posthumous title, but in the end, Liu Xiu decided on "Zhongwu."
"Zhong" stands for serving with dangerous loyalty, facing peril without turning back.
"Wu" signifies resolving chaos and disturbances.
The esteem of this posthumous title is unprecedented for a minister.
Never before had a minister received such a title.
The only other titled "Zhongwu" was the King of Shache, Yan, who wasn’t considered a minister.
Especially after deliberate promotion.
The moral influence within the Great Han even underwent some impact because of it, with the people’s ambitions gradually aligning with this ideal.
With Gu Xiao’s posthumous title finally settled, the matter came to a close.
Unexpectedly, Liu Xiu did not favor the Gu Clan’s descendants, nor did he show any intention of employing them, sending Gu Cheng back to Hebei.
However, everyone understood the underlying reason.
This was intended for the Crown Prince.
Unlike what the ministers speculated, Liu Xiu’s health showed no significant issues.
In fact, after this matter, he became even more diligent and focused on the national power of the Great Han Kingdom.
Jianwu, Year Twenty-Seven:
—— Marquis of Langling Zang and Marquis of Yangxu Ma Wu submitted a memorial, proposing to exploit the Xiongnu’s division by launching a campaign to eliminate them and establish "an everlasting achievement engraved in stone."
Liu Xiu rejected it in favor of sparing the people.
He merely accepted the allegiance of the Southern Xiongnu.
Jianwu, Year Twenty-Nine:
—— Sixteen states, including Shanshan and Cheshi in the Western Regions, once again offered to send their sons to serve, requesting a protectorate.
Liu Xiu also refused.
No one knew why Liu Xiu would reject these honors brought to his doorstep.
For an Emperor,
All of these could have been his accolades, ensuring he would be revered by future generations.
Yet Liu Xiu rejected them.
Moreover, Liu Xiu further advanced the various systems of the Great Han.
He frequently mentioned matters like "land measurement" and "emancipating slaves and servants," while weakening the Three Ministers and gradually transferring power to the Ministry of Personnel.
Allowing the Ministry to gradually become the political center, directly accountable to the Emperor.
He also vigorously reformed water management, expanded the enrollment of the Imperial College, and encouraged the establishment of private schools throughout the land, all benefiting the people.
Because of this, the national power of the Great Han increased day by day.
Under such circumstances, in Jianwu, Year Thirty, the matter of the Feng and Shan sacrifices was brought up once again.
At first, Liu Xiu did not express any opinion.
Not until having waited many days, seeing no celestial anomalies like before, and instead, auspicious signs appearing throughout the country, did he finally nod and approve the matter.
....
Gu Yi had been silently watching all this.
He was like a deity, able to go anywhere in the world with a thought, observing everything but unable to change anything.
He truly became a spectator.
In the vast darkness, he could only watch the world’s developments.
During this time, Gu Yi even exited the game briefly to ask if the old Gu family had left anything behind.
Gu Yi was hopeful about this.
After all, he had left so many things.
But unfortunately... nothing was left behind.
Everything he had done seemed to have vanished into the over two thousand years of history.
Well... it couldn’t be said to have completely vanished.
The Champion Marquis of the Great Han, the first minister in history to be posthumously titled Zhongwu, indeed had his name passed down.
But it was of no help now.
Clearly, the influence of the Gu Clan was insufficient to withstand over two thousand years of historical correction.
Once this was confirmed, Gu Yi devoted all his attention to the game, focusing on the Gu Clan.
Today’s Gu Clan was no longer what it once was.
One must admit that Gu Kang’s political acumen far exceeded Gu Yi’s expectations.
He keenly sensed the awkward position the Gu Clan held in Hebei and immediately set out to change it.
The previous Gu Clan was always regarded as outsiders in Hebei.
The major families in Hebei treated the Gu Clan with caution.
But this manner of conducting affairs clearly became unviable the moment Gu Xiao passed away.
——— The Gu Clan needed transformation!
Otherwise, should the Gu Clan one day truly lose the "Imperial favor," it would be devoured alive.
Gu Kang had clearly seen through this point.
So outwardly, he displayed an attitude utterly different from Gu Xiao’s.
At the same time, through the court’s policies of "emancipating slaves" and "land measurement," he quickly identified several major Hebei families.
He established connections and formed alliances with them.
He allowed the offspring of their families to enter the Gu Clan’s private school under supervision.
Indeed, this was a most wise strategy.
Although they were not families renowned nationwide, they still held substantial influence locally.
And with the Gu Clan not yet fully out of the limelight,
These people were willing to attach themselves.
They all hoped to gain a governmental position through the Gu Clan’s reputation, but Gu Kang’s attitude was ambiguous.
He would select those truly talented.
But mostly, he only gave hints.
In simple terms, he was making grand promises.
Gu Kang truly became someone with a remarkably flexible moral baseline, but these people all bought into it.
Of course, Gu Kang did not abandon the Gu Clan’s policies towards the common people.