I Can Control My Ancestors-Chapter 79 - 30: All Nations Pay Tribute, the Prosperity of Yongyuan

Chapter 79: Chapter 30: All Nations Pay Tribute, the Prosperity of Yongyuan
Although everything seems to have not changed much, it has completely transformed.
This might be due to the influence of the Gu Clan’s existence.
It caused Liu Zhao to seize power two whole years earlier and protected many esteemed ministers.
Moreover, Gu Kang’s thoughts have now been spread throughout the entire Great Han.
The majority of scholars in the world pursue the pragmatic spirit like that of Gu Kang, significantly enhancing the administrative efficiency of the Great Han.
And now the Great Han is far stronger than it was in history.
Under such circumstances.
When the entire court began to return to the right track, and the Emperor intended to continue benefiting the people.
The whole Great Han would usher in a rapid period of explosive growth.
....
"His Majesty has the demeanor of Emperor Ming."
This was the evaluation of Liu Zhao by the ministers after the court returned to the right path.
He can be said to have completely inherited Liu Zhuang’s diligent governance.
Even more diligent than Liu Zhuang.
He personally reviewed memorials.
Moreover, he reformed the Ministry of Personnel, establishing the "Six Ministries of the Personnel," detailing the central administrative division of labor, thus further increasing efficiency.
He also improved the evaluation system from Emperor Ming’s era.
Not only did he order the ministers to recommend virtuous talents, he personally evaluated, and was extremely focused on the talents of those recommended.
Liu Zhao and Gu Xi, both were like the model of Liu Zhuang and Gu Kang.
And both also shared the goal of pursuing their ancestors’ targets.
They retained Emperor Zhang’s lenient governance.
Focusing more on governance, sending Imperial Censors successively to inspect localities, severely punishing corrupt officials.
This caused the atmosphere throughout the court to gradually change.
The increase in administrative speed completely swept away the outdated atmosphere that gradually emerged in the Great Han court after Gu Kang’s death.
Of course, the struggle within the temple will not be less.
——After Yuan An’s death in the fifth year of Yongyuan.
The Gu Clan’s highest-ranking ally in the court passed away, and Gu Liang faced considerable targeting.
Gu Liang had been an official for many years.
The ministers knew what kind of person he was and did not want to see the Gu Clan return to the era of Guangwu and Emperor Ming.
But they eventually underestimated Gu Xi.
Even at his current age, even Gu Kang was not necessarily better than Gu Xi, not to mention others.
Moreover, crucially, compared to Gu Liang’s temperament of seeking stability, Gu Xi has edges.
Perhaps due to youthful spirit.
Gu Xi’s sharpness was even more acute than Gu Kang’s when he first entered the court.
Gu Kang would hold back.
But he would not.
And Gu Xi’s political methods were equally extraordinary.
He seemed to learn some experience from Liu Zhao, adept at winning the hearts of lower servants within his political enemies’ houses.
Dismantling adversaries’ offensives from within and delivering a lethal blow.
Gu Xi’s moral baseline was also very flexible.
He was adept at leveraging the reputation of the Gu Clan and the world, seizing his opponents’ weaknesses.
After several such incidents.
The entire court gradually quieted down.
Everyone felt the terrifying aspect of Gu Xi and also realized Liu Zhao’s regard for him.
After all, in temple politics,
No matter what means are applied, the decision is only made by the Emperor.
"Imperial Favor" once again descended upon the Gu Clan.
These bouts of struggle made everyone aware of this, so no one dared to draw fire onto themselves anymore.
Amid the increasingly stable court situation.
In the last few years of his life, Gu Liang felt unprecedented ease.
He never thought that the flames he had to work carefully to face every day had been shouldered by his son.
Under these circumstances, Gu Liang rarely felt relaxed.
——In the seventh year of Yongyuan, in August.
Gu Liang passed away.
Compared with the previous two generations of the Gu Clan, Gu Liang’s achievements were much less.
So it did not cause much commotion.
But perhaps wanting to bestow a favor upon Gu Xi, or because Gu Liang had opposed Dou several times, Liu Zhao still wanted to grant Gu Liang a posthumous title.
Even if it were a modest one.
But this matter was opposed by not only the ministers but even by Gu Xi and other Gu Clan members.
The current Great Han had not fallen to the point where posthumous titles were given casually.
And the Gu Clan members were guided by Gu Liang’s last words.
Gu Liang did not want to lower the achievements of his two predecessors in the Gu Clan because of himself.
In this regard, Liu Zhao was also helpless.
However, he still held a grand funeral for Gu Liang, expressing acknowledgment of Gu Liang’s life.
The Emperor having conceded, the ministers naturally did not oppose anymore.
And compared to the time of Gu Kang,
The ministers’ attitude towards Gu Liang was actually much better, with many going to pay tribute.
But Gu Xi, after this, only became more diligent.
He seemed to have remembered this in his heart.
He wanted to let Gu Liang shine in the annals of history in the name of a son.
Just like Gu Kang back then, he proposed various policies with Liu Zhao and implemented them.
Both were deeply influenced by Gu Kang’s teachings.
Naturally prioritizing national governance.
——Promoting land reclamation in the frontier;
Reducing business taxes, facilitating trade between the Central Plains and the Western Regions;
Reducing taxes in disaster-stricken areas;
Continuing to expand the Imperial College, even setting up official schools in various places;
Lending plows and oxen to impoverished households for farming;
Every one of these policies thoroughly revitalized the national power of the Great Han, and it seemed as if time truly returned to the era of Emperor Ming, with the nation once again rapidly rising in power.