I Can Control My Ancestors-Chapter 87 - 33: Luoshui River Ceremony to Soothe the People’s Hearts (Part 2)

Chapter 87: Chapter 33: Luoshui River Ceremony to Soothe the People’s Hearts (Part 2)
In the current circumstances.
Even someone like Gu Xi, the Regent Grand Tutor, has gradually faced criticism.
Left with no alternative, Empress Dowager Deng ultimately issued an edict, admitting her faults.
She claimed, "The administration has lost its balance, leading to frequent disasters," and granted amnesty across the realm.
This was indeed a clever strategy.
The court has many ways to prevent the collapse of people’s morale.
After all, the Great Han has just undergone four generations of wise emperors.
But to truly stabilize the people’s minds under these conditions, is it possible to do so with just these measures?
The oldest and strongest emotion of mankind is fear, and the oldest and strongest kind of fear is fear of the unknown.
Only through unknown means of the same nature can the people’s hearts be truly calmed.
....
Changle Palace.
When Deng Sui heard that Gu Xi intended to personally go to the Luoshui River to lead the disaster victims in worshipping Gu Kang, she was taken aback.
Immediately, she shook her head repeatedly without hesitation, staring intently at Gu Xi and anxiously declared:
"Absolutely not!"
"The epidemic is relentless now."
"How can the Grand Tutor personally go to the Luoshui River with the disaster victims for worship?"
"If the Grand Tutor is affected, leaving aside the disgrace towards Emperor Xiaohe, our Great Han Kingdom will be destabilized!"
Deng Sui’s attitude was firm.
She was a naturally wise woman, clearly understanding Gu Xi’s importance to the Great Han now.
If Gu Xi truly met with misfortune, the Great Han would surely descend into chaos.
Even if it wouldn’t threaten the state.
It would inevitably lead to widespread discontent.
Gu Xi was not surprised by Deng Sui’s reaction.
He did not say any extra words, but simply cupped his hands towards Deng Sui and said, "Empress Dowager."
"Regarding disaster relief, I have arranged everything."
"All the granaries in various places have been set in order, but the disaster relief officials still need the Empress Dowager’s supervision."
"I have thoroughly examined the ancient books left by my grandfather, noticing that the land in Jiangnan is fertile, yet uncultivated, and suggest relocating the disaster victims to Jiangnan to help them settle."
"If this matter can be accomplished."
"The pressure on the various states will be considerably reduced."
"Also, granting land to the people, exempting disaster-stricken areas from taxes."
"The foundations left by the former emperors of the Great Han still remain, although subjected to natural calamities repeatedly, they are not enough to fully shake the foundation of our Great Han Kingdom."
"I have prepared everything."
"But the ease of people’s minds truly worries me."
"Being the Regent Grand Tutor."
"No matter what, I must go personally."
Gu Xi’s expression was extraordinarily serious.
Deng Sui fell into silence for a while.
She naturally understood the significance of Gu Xi’s last two statements.
Gu Xi undertaking this would certainly yield far better results than a woman like her.
Because Gu Xi bears the surname Gu!
In today’s world, Gu Kang has become a saint in the hearts of the people.
Who does not know that their prosperous days were brought by Gu Kang?
Currently, in every place where sacrifices are offered to the heavens, they include Gu Kang.
And Gu Xi is none other than the grandson of Gu Kang.
His presence at this time will undoubtedly exceed her in effect.
With this in mind, Deng Sui felt a sense of helplessness and gently sighed, saying, "Since the Grand Tutor’s mind is made up, I will not stand in your way."
"But no matter what."
"Please take care of your health, Grand Tutor."
Gu Xi nodded, then cupped his hands towards Deng Sui: "In that case, I shall speak no further."
"Empress Dowager need not worry."
"I cannot just stand by and watch the prosperity of our Great Han collapse in my hands."
"If I were to let that happen."
"I would not be able to face Emperor Xiaohe after death, nor face the ancestors of my Gu Clan."
"I ask the Empress Dowager to take care of the court and the Emperor as well!"
Some matters are always above life.
For Gu Xi, the prestige of his ancestral clan and the realm of the Great Han are precisely such matters.
With that, Gu Xi hesitated no longer, turned around, and left directly.
....
When the news spread across the court and the common people that Gu Xi would personally go to the Luoshui River for the sacrificial ceremony, it caused a great stir!
The Luoshui River has long been called the Divine Water.
Among the people, countless legends circulate about it.
In these times of unending natural disasters, nearly every day, there are countless people performing sacrifices by the Luoshui River.
But how many among them are sufferers of the epidemic is unknown to anyone.
It is heard that Gu Xi intends to personally go to the Luoshui River, and immediately many came to dissuade him.
But Gu Xi’s attitude remained unwavering.
Upon realizing that persuasion was useless, some ministers even showed willingness to accompany Gu Xi, suggesting that perhaps the Emperor and all officials should go as well to show sincerity.
But Gu Xi refused without exception.
Does having more people show sincerity?
Is the blood and tears of the masses not enough?
Gu Xi was deeply influenced by Gu Kang’s philosophy of revering the spirits while keeping a distance.
After the experiences of these two years, he became even more disdainful of the so-called superstitious prophecies.
His actions were not about praying for the heavens to spare them from calamities.
Gu Xi intended to be a sliver of light breaking through the gloom.
To bring peace to the hearts of people across the land!
After making all the necessary arrangements, Gu Xi left Luoyang directly.
Sure enough, when the populace heard that Gu Xi, the current Grand Tutor and the grandson of Gu Kang, was personally leading the people to the Luoshui River for sacrifice, emotions surged!
Gu Xi erected a sacrificial altar by the Luoshui River.
He led the disaster victims in an exceptionally grand sacrificial ceremony.
Countless refugees followed.
The cries and wails echoed between heaven and earth.
In this grand ceremony, countless people expressed the emotions in their hearts.
Gu Yi silently observed all of this, his heart also felt heavy.
The natural disasters of the Great Han, following the original history, remained unchanged.
No, the casualties might have been even greater.
This is perhaps an instance of cause and effect.
Gu Kang’s emergence brought the national strength of the Great Han to a peak, unreachable in original history.
The population far exceeded historical numbers.
The increase in population and the sudden natural disasters naturally resulted in greater casualties.
Gu Yi couldn’t change all of this.
If he could draw another Divine Level item like the Celestial Phenomenon Card, affecting the entire realm, perhaps things might change.
But to expect Gu Yi to gamble all his achievement points during this time period, how could that be possible?
Whether such an item could even be drawn is another question.
According to original history.
The beginning of natural disasters in the Eastern Han is a significant dividing line for the entire dynasty.
The day of great chaos is not far.
He must be thoroughly prepared to help his entire family survive the forthcoming day of great chaos. ...
.....
Things did not go beyond Gu Xi’s expectations.
As the news of the sacrifices gradually spread, the uneasy hearts of the people indeed began to improve.
The fear of the unknown needs to be resolved with another unknown.
The power of faith sometimes works wonders beyond imagination.
This is one such occasion.
The court never abandoned relief efforts.
The unease among the populace all stemmed from the fear of the unknown.
Resolving the populace’s emotions in this regard is enough to appease the hearts of all people.
This event even affected the temples and the court.
Once it was confirmed that Gu Xi was really not ill, even the gloom within the court seemed to dispel somewhat.
Although the disaster was clearly not yet over, the atmosphere appeared less oppressive.
Gu Xi returned to the court once again, coordinating efforts from all directions and managing the relief work across the land.
The foundation of the Great Han is indeed very strong.
Even when facing such calamities, with proper coordination, the core of the nation remained unaffected.
Especially now that the public sentiment is settled.
Gu Xi could devote more energy into the efforts.
For a moment, it seemed as though the dark cloud over the Great Han had slightly dissipated.
Yet, as if targeted by the heavens, the trials for the Great Han had far from ended.
———In the third year of Yongchu, great famine occurred in Bingzhou State and Liangzhou State; people resorted to cannibalism;
The waters of Hedong turned red.
This event, in the end, pressured the grain reserves in various regions of Great Han.
Gu Xi had to make adjustments and put more detailed plans for disaster relief in place.
But this was not yet over.
The South Xiongnu’s Chuci Chanyu believed that the Han people were perishing due to natural disasters, and decided to seize the opportunity to attack the Han.
Wuhuan’s Wang Wuhe, Xianbei leader Qiulun, and others joined forces with the South Xiongnu’s Marquis Gudu to mobilize troops.
The Han forces in Wuyuan Commandery suffered a major defeat and the Governor was killed in action.
With the internal strife unresolved and external threats rising. .....
...
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