I Can Control My Ancestors-Chapter 86 - 33: Luoshui River Sacrifice to Calm the People

Chapter 86: Chapter 33: Luoshui River Sacrifice to Calm the People
Luoyang.
Under the darkened sky.
Whether it’s the temples of the Great Han or among the common people, it’s as if a veil of gloom shrouds them, lingering for a long time.
The Emperor has passed away!
When this news spread from inside the palace, the world was shaken.
Even though he was just a child.
Not to mention bestowing grace upon the world like the emperors of previous dynasties, he never even had the chance to speak with the officials.
But he was still an Emperor.
Although the core of Gu Kang’s scholarly school is "Respect the gods while keeping them at a distance."
The principle of "divine right of kings" is also a part of it.
Moreover, the current Great Han is plagued with natural disasters, and Liu Long’s demise at this moment seems to confirm those rumors.
——The hearts of the people are dispersed!
But what Gu Xi has to face now is not just these issues.
The country cannot be without a ruler for a day.
Though Liu Long was young, he was still an Emperor and a mausoleum must be built for him.
These issues cannot be avoided by him as the regent.
In this situation, public criticism naturally continues without cease.
Petitions are submitted one after another.
Directly pointed at Empress Dowager Deng Sui.
And regarding who should be made Emperor, the attitudes between the officials and Deng Sui are starkly different.
The officials believe that Liu Sheng’s condition is not severe, suggesting Liu Sheng be made Emperor, and proposing that the Empress Dowager directly return power to the Emperor.
While Empress Dowager Deng wishes to make Liu Hu, the son of Prince Qinghe Liu Qing, the Emperor.
Liu Hu has been favored by Liu Zhao since childhood.
Adopting him directly to Liu Zhao and allowing him to inherit the throne would not be unreasonable.
In terms of lineage, Liu Sheng, as Liu Zhao’s eldest son, naturally has the advantage.
But the issue lies in his condition.
As for Gu Xi,
His considerations differ from others.
Compared to other ministers, the Gu Clan now stands independent; whoever is made Emperor will not affect the interests of the Gu Clan.
As long as Gu Xi remains, the Gu Clan will not be affected.
He truly needs to consider the realm.
Though Liu Sheng’s condition seems not severe, if any issue arises again,
If the Great Han were to face another Emperor’s demise in such circumstances,
What should happen?
Would this not lead everyone in the realm to believe that the court has lost divine favor?
After thorough consideration, Gu Xi agreed with Deng Sui’s proposal to make Liu Hu the Emperor.
The officials could only accept this decision.
Under these circumstances,
Liu Hu’s enthronement ceremony proceeded as scheduled.
Though somewhat informal, it was much better compared to Liu Long’s.
After all, Liu Hu was already thirteen, capable of handling many matters himself.
Yet precisely because of this, some immediately suggested that Deng Sui should return power to Liu Hu.
With only Gu Xi governing as regent.
Many ministers even approached Gu Xi,
Hoping he would lead as before, to help strip Deng Sui of her power.
But how could Gu Xi do such a thing now?
Empress Dowager Dou was different from Deng Sui.
Though Deng Sui also promoted a few members of the Deng clan, Deng Zhi and others were quite capable, unlike Dou Xian who abused power.
Moreover, Deng Sui never schemed against the Gu Clan.
This is crucial for the current Great Han.
The successive natural disasters cause instability among the people.
It cannot simply be endured to pass through safely.
The stable foundation laid by four generations of wise rulers is indeed solid.
But if infighting arises now, it could possibly shake the empire’s core.
If some unforeseen event happens to the Great Han,
Not to mention what title Gu Xi, the regent, would leave in history, the good name left by generations of Gu ancestors might be tarnished.
How could he allow such a thing to happen?
The court must not fall into chaos.
This is the bottom line for Gu Xi.
Only in this way can he better stabilize the realm.
Gu Xi sternly warned the ministers and then proceeded to arrange Liu Long’s funeral.
The repeated imperial demises have placed great corvée pressure on the people.
Without natural disasters, it might be manageable.
But now, everything must be simplified to the utmost.
Under Gu Xi’s directive, Liu Long was buried in Liu Zhao’s Shenling region.
Concerning this matter, the officials naturally raised no objections.
Liu Long’s presence as Emperor was too insignificant, being buried with the imperial status is already sufficient.
Next, Gu Xi focused on calming the people’s hearts.
The impact of the Emperor’s demise was too great.
Even Gu Xi himself was affected.
In such circumstances, to pretend to stabilize the people’s hearts directly was impossible.
Gu Xi had no choice but to increase disaster relief efforts, hoping to settle the populace.
In this situation, Liu Hu ascended the throne and announced a change in era to "Yongchu."
Hoping for renewal, that the Great Han might pass safely through these continuous natural disasters.
The administration remained in the control of Deng Sui and Gu Xi.
Despite the strong opinions of the officials, with Gu Xi’s warnings, they refrained from harboring dissent.
At least all emotions were suppressed.
Everyone hoped that this new emperor’s ascension would end these calamities.
——But in the first year of Yongchu, in January,
The land in Yingchuan Commandery sank;
Causing countless casualties.
In March,
First the sky changed, then great winds swept through the capital Luoyang, sending roof tiles flying.
In June,
The land in Hedong sank, and underground streams of black water rose;
In October,
In Yu Province’s New City, mountain waters gushed out, damaging fields, and springs emerged from the damaged areas, three zhang deep.
Earthquakes and heavy rains continuously caused mountain floods and wind disasters,
Disasters persisted in various regions, shaking the hearts of people across the Great Han.
Warlocks from various regions were drawn, spreading rumors, and even the old theories of the Modern Literature School were revisited.
This was indeed inevitable.
Superstitions from celestial and astrological theories had been prevalent for years, and in contrast, how long since Gu Kang’s concepts had been proposed?