I Can Control My Ancestors-Chapter 36 - 14: Posthumous Title "Zhongwu", Fengshan Ceremony, the Emperor’s Demise (Part 3)

Chapter 36: Chapter 14: Posthumous Title "Zhongwu", Fengshan Ceremony, the Emperor’s Demise (Part 3)
Under such mutual reinforcement, in just a few years, without Gu Xiao as the backbone, the status of the Gu Clan not only didn’t decline, but instead, it firmly established its footing.
Gu Yi was utterly dumbfounded by all this.
Is this the terrifying power of nearly maxing out political attributes?
Don’t even mention replacing Gu Xiao.
Even if it were him, a modern person, it wouldn’t be easy to achieve.
After all, he had never been involved in politics.
And what mattered most to Gu Yi was that Gu Kang did not waste the efforts he had initially put in.
He actually followed the direction Gu Yi had hinted at in the past.
He managed to craft the curved plow and waterwheel.
Although they were not ready for widespread application, having this start meant the future was promising!
When the news came that Liu Xiu was heading to Mount Tai to perform the ritual, the Gu Clan was equally shaken.
After all, for the people of that era, this was indeed a significant event.
However, Gu Yi knew clearly that Liu Xiu... was about to reach his end.
After ensuring that the Gu Clan would face no short-term problems, he too turned his attention to Liu Xiu.
He wanted to see for himself what such an imperial ritual looked like.
....
——The Mount Tai ritual has a long origin.
It is said that ancient emperors began the Mount Tai ritual with the Huai Clan, followed by Fu Xi, Shennong, Emperor Yan, Yellow Emperor, and others who also performed this ritual.
Precisely because of this.
Mount Tai holds a very sacred position in the hearts of people today.
Everyone believes Mount Tai is the highest mountain in the world, the best place to communicate with the Celestial God.
And only the ruler of a peaceful and prosperous era has the qualification to come for the ritual.
That’s why the ritual is considered one of the highest honors for an Emperor.
Liu Xiu’s purpose for this ritual was very simple.
He needed to prove to the world that he was the Emperor chosen by the Celestial Mandate!
Moreover, he needed this act to tell the world that the Emperor is supreme and inviolable, to correct the influence from when Wang Mang usurped the throne!
This ceremony was arguably the most important one since he rebuilt the Great Han.
Its scale was unprecedented.
Jianwu 32nd year, February;
——Liu Xiu led his ministers from Luoyang to Mount Tai.
Upon reaching Mount Tai, he first held the ritual by building an altar with earth at the foot of the mountain in the east.
Then, he sealed his jade records of his deeds—receiving the Celestial Mandate, pacifying the chaotic world, revitalizing the Great Han—into a jade coffer, and cast them into a square altar.
He then ascended the mountain peak to worship the heavens and the earth.
Lastly, he performed the ritual in the south of Mount Tai, worshipping the God of the Earth.
After completing all these, Liu Xiu’s prestige undoubtedly reached the pinnacle of his life.
He seemed to be influenced as well, as he regained the youthful vigor he once had after years of sternness.
He announced his grand ambitions in public.
He aimed to restore the Great Han’s national power to that of Emperor Xiaowen’s era.
Afterward, he planned to pacify the Western Regions and settle the Xiongnu, thus leaving an everlasting foundation for the Great Han.
He announced a change to the era name "Zhongyuan."
It seemed he wanted to use this as a starting point to lead the Great Han to the heights he envisioned.
However.... he was destined not to fully realize his grand ambition.
Time has always been the fairest force in the world.
No matter one’s status, they ultimately cannot withstand the passage of time.
In the second year of Zhongyuan, Liu Xiu’s health suddenly deteriorated.
This time, it was unlike before when he always managed to recover.
His condition quickly worsened, and he remained in long periods of unconsciousness, rarely regaining clarity.
Everyone understood.... that this Emperor who rebuilt the Great Han had also reached the end of his life.
Zhongyuan second year, February, on the day of Wuxu;
——Liu Xiu passed away in the front hall of the South Palace.
In his will, he said: "I have done nothing beneficial for the people. All future affairs are to follow Emperor Xiaowen’s regulations; make sure to be frugal.
The Inspector and senior officials of two thousand dan rank may not leave their cities, nor should officials or post riders be dispatched to send condolences."
The Crown Prince, Liu Zhuang, succeeded him.
....
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