I Can Control My Ancestors-Chapter 39 - 15: Return to Luoyang, Liu Zhuang Seeks Counsel (Part 3)

Chapter 39: Chapter 15: Return to Luoyang, Liu Zhuang Seeks Counsel (Part 3)
"Quickly, take your seat."
Upon hearing the Emperor address him in such a manner, Gu Cheng’s tense expression relaxed slightly.
The Emperor directly addressed the minister by his courtesy name.
This was always a sign of closeness.
Yet Gu Kang remained composed. After formally saluting Liu Zhuang again, he walked to the seat and sat down.
Liu Zhuang focused intently on Gu Kang, and the expression on his face grew increasingly complex.
"I’ve long heard that you often show concern for the plight of farmers."
"It seems now, those words are not false."
He said with a sigh.
Before Gu Kang could speak, Gu Cheng, having relaxed, immediately revealed a slight smile, saying, "Naturally, Your Majesty might not know that my elder brother’s knowledge of agriculture is in no way inferior to that of a farmer."
"The fields he has personally cultivated over the years even yield more than those tended by experienced farmers."
"Oh? Is this truly the case?" Liu Zhuang showed great interest, looking at Gu Kang and asking, "Does Jie Shi have any unique strategies?"
"I heard you’ve improved the plow, with results far exceeding the straight shaft plow; did you bring it?"
Here it is!
Gu Kang understood in his heart that this seemingly casual conversation was actually a probe by the Emperor into his talents.
It could very well directly determine the future status of the Gu Clan.
Yet his expression remained unfazed. He bowed to Liu Zhuang and said, "In response to Your Majesty, I have brought the curved shaft plow; it is currently outside the palace."
"Fetch it quickly." Liu Zhuang was quite interested and immediately gave orders.
Meanwhile, Gu Kang began to elaborate on his reforms in agriculture.
"Your Majesty, since childhood, I accompanied my father deep into the fields, observing agriculture, so I do know a thing or two about it."
"The foundation of agriculture lies in the land."
"Now, the citizens across our Great Han are well aware of the importance of fertile land."
"The methods employed vary, such as using manure, plant ash, oil dregs, and so on, each with its merits."
"I based my improvements on these methods, for example, by adding river mud, pond mud, among others, to achieve better results..."
Gu Kang’s expertise in agriculture was profound.
Though he had not fully grasped all the experiences left by Gu Yi, his knowledge far surpassed that of his contemporaries.
In simple terms, this required generations of gradual exploration to gain such experience.
But Gu Kang was ahead of his time!
And just as Gu Kang was explaining, the curved shaft plow was brought in.
Gu Kang did not stop; utilizing the curved shaft plow, he explained its intricacies to Liu Zhuang, such as how it conserved energy and its advantages over the current straight shaft plow.
Liu Zhuang was completely captivated by Gu Kang’s explanations.
Perhaps influenced by Liu Xiu, he was similarly very attentive to the matters of the people.
Now seeing Gu Kang discussing significant matters concerning the livelihood of the people.
How could he not take it seriously?
Gu Kang’s steady and resolute character destined him not to falter, explaining everything clearly and orderly.
The more Liu Zhuang listened, the more complex his expression became.
Today’s Gu Clan may not be at its peak.
But having someone of Gu Kang’s stature so knowledgeable in agriculture was enough to demonstrate his uniqueness.
He remained silent throughout until Gu Kang finished, upon which Liu Zhuang couldn’t help but sigh long, saying, "If not for the late Emperor, I fear I would have lost a great talent in governance."
"This shows that..."
"I am far from the late Emperor...."
His expression was full of reflection.
Even Gu Cheng momentarily did not know how to respond to the Emperor’s self-effacing words.
But Liu Zhuang did not mind, and his expression returned to normal instantly, seriously looking at Gu Kang and asking again, "Jie Shi, I ask you once more."
"In the current situation of our Great Han."
"How should the world be governed?"
Having confirmed that Gu Kang indeed had talent, it was then necessary to ascertain the limits of Gu Kang’s ability!
Clearly, this was Liu Zhuang’s intention.
Hearing this question, Gu Kang’s expression did not change, but he also did not answer Liu Zhuang directly. Instead, he bowed to Liu Zhuang again, and then spoke:
"May I ask Your Majesty...in what manner do you wish to govern the world?"
Gu Kang was a person with a very flexible moral baseline, and his only likely insistence was to ensure the continued greatness of the Gu Clan.
Determining the Emperor’s thoughts before offering an answer indicated his confidence.
Liu Zhuang was quite surprised by Gu Kang’s response, and after a moment of silence, his gaze sharpened, and he said emphatically:
"I want to achieve the grand enterprise of the Middle Kingdom!"
The grand enterprise of the Middle Kingdom, that was Liu Xiu’s grand ambition expressed after the Fengshan ceremony;
—to restore the national strength of the Former Han during the time of Emperor Xiaowen;
—appease the Western Regions, settle the Xiongnu;
—to leave an eternal foundation for the Great Han!
Gu Kang immediately understood Liu Zhuang’s intentions, and his expression finally changed.
A competent minister meeting a mediocre ruler has always ended in regret.
Gu Kang had always been worried about this matter.
To establish a great enterprise, he could not meet a mediocre ruler.
When Liu Zhuang said these words, the weight that had been hanging in Gu Kang’s heart finally began to ease away...
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"In the second year of Yongping in March, the Emperor summoned the Gu Clan to an imperial audience, inquiring strategies of Kang.
Kang responded with composure, his words incisive and his arguments well-organized.
The Emperor, upon hearing this, was astonished and admired him, engaging in a close conversation with Kang until dusk."
—— "Han Book. Annals of Emperor Xiaoming"