I Can Control My Ancestors-Chapter 40 - 16: Wise Ruler and Virtuous Minister, Benefiting All Under Heaven

Chapter 40: Chapter 16: Wise Ruler and Virtuous Minister, Benefiting All Under Heaven
The impact of the Emperor re-employing the Gu Clan this time is vastly different from the influence it caused when he first summoned them.
No one knows what Gu Kang and Liu Zhuang discussed that day.
However, from that day onward;
The Gu Clan seemed to have instantly regained its past glory, once again shining brightly, as if the times when Gu Xiao was still alive had returned.
As Gu Yi had anticipated, the characters of Gu Kang and Liu Zhuang were remarkably compatible.
Liu Zhuang is someone who has extremely high demands on his subjects.
And Gu Kang is a pragmatist.
When both have the same aspirations, they can exert an effect greater than the sum of their parts.
In the face of a grand enterprise, any obstacles would be broken through by these two.
Liu Zhuang did not hide his favoritism towards Gu Kang.
From the start, he appointed Gu Kang as Yilang, allowing him to directly participate in court discussions.
This kind of career start.
Can be said to have set a precedent, leaving people astounded.
And after assuming the position of Yilang, Gu Kang demonstrated his political abilities perfectly.
He was never some novice entering the court, but a natural politician.
With a flexible moral bottom line, Gu Kang, upon entering the court, presented a great gift to everyone.
The Gu Clan was not left with nothing!
At least among the founding meritorious officials who are still alive today, many were once beneficiaries of Gu Xiao’s kindness.
In this era that emphasizes virtue, this is a natural weapon for the descendants of the Gu Clan.
Helping Liu Zhuang concentrate power;
aligning with the royal family and meritorious officials, they definitively restored the crown-wearing system.
Suppressing the Consort kin.
Don’t say the Emperor favors the Gu Clan as if he has intentions of reusing the Consort kin.
The Gu Clan is the Gu Clan, and the Consort kin is the Consort kin!
Gu Kang, using his innate political acumen, helped Liu Zhuang achieve political goals one after another, making everyone understand this principle.
Precisely for this reason, in just a few months, Gu Kang was promoted from Yilang to the position of Minister.
This is the level of a favored minister by the Emperor.
As a Yilang, one can engage in court discussions, while as a Minister, one can conduct practical operations.
Assist the Emperor in drafting court edicts.
With the rising status of the Ministry of Personnel, this position has long been the hot spot in the court.
Reaching this position, as long as no accidents occur, future achievements will at least be at the level of the Three Ministers.
This event caused an upheaval in the court.
Although everyone had already seen the Emperor’s favor towards Gu Kang.
The speed of Gu Kang’s promotion nevertheless left people speechless.
At least let Gu Kang get some experience in localities first.
He just started his career, and yet he has advanced so quickly, what if he achieves more meritorious deeds in the future?
Could it be that the Gu Clan is truly destined to rise?
After Gu Xiao, can his son reach the level of the Three Ministers?
This sudden change caught everyone off guard.
Of course, there are also those who oppose the Gu Clan.
In today’s court, many do not want the Gu Clan to rise again.
But without needing Liu Zhuang’s help, Gu Kang, with 90 points of political attribute, would directly teach them a lesson.
It seems that due to Gu Yi’s teaching, Gu Kang seems to have seen through the core of the great families of his era.
Fragile political alliances... various issues within their families.
Once Gu Kang seizes any issue among them, all the attacks against him would be resolved effortlessly, and instead, some would face punishment.
Simply put, Gu Kang dares to flip the table.
The issue of the Gu Clan’s lack of foundation, at this moment, has instead become his asset.
He can overturn others, but others cannot overturn him.
And after such occurrences happened two or three times, no one made futile efforts anymore.
The Gu Clan’s resurgence seemed to be a foregone conclusion, and many even worried about Gu Kang seeking revenge.
But Gu Kang had no interest in fighting them.
After firmly establishing himself and proving his abilities beyond mere rhetoric, he began what he excelled at most.
— Farming!
After the conversation that day with Liu Zhuang, both agreed that achieving such a grand enterprise required restoring the national strength of the Great Han Empire.
In fact, Liu Xiu’s numerous policies had already laid the perfect foundation for the Great Han.
He perfectly allowed the empire to recuperate from great chaos.
By the second year of Zhongyuan, the Great Han Empire had over four million households, and the population had reached over 21 million.
Now, several years later, the population had made another breakthrough.
This laid the foundation for a flourishing age.
Liu Zhuang deeply agreed with this.
When Liu Zhuang ordered Gu Kang to also assume the post of field inspector, these two directly began large-scale reform of the fields.
Of course, such a task cannot be achieved overnight.
Lack of knowledge; limitations of productivity; and the varying nature of fields across different regions;
Various issues destined this task to progress gradually.
Gu Kang obviously understood this point well, so right from the start, he suggested to Liu Zhuang.
This agricultural reform should begin with Hebei, to establish a good precedent.
As for the reason, he explained it clearly.
As the influence of the Gu Clan in Julu Commandery grew, the grain yields of the peasants there increased, and the surrounding commoners could see that.
Many had already begun to follow suit.
The resistance to fully implementing this policy would not be too great.
Moreover, having been in Julu for many years, he was already very familiar with the lands of Hebei.
As for other regions, each commandery could be ordered to implement pilot programs first.