I will be the master of Xuande

Chapter 808: Final Chapter Today
The next day, the snow stopped a little, and Liu Jian brought Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun, and Zhuge Liang to the tombs of Liu Bei and Guan Yu.

In fact, neither Liu Bei nor Guan Yu died in Zhuo County, but their last wish before death was to be buried in their hometown after death.

People of this generation still have a strong sense of homesickness.

Liu Jian and his entourage prepared the offerings and came to the tombs of Liu Bei and Guan Yu. The prefect of Zhuo County also came in person, but according to Liu Jian's instructions, he did not make a big fuss. He just carefully took care of everything for the emperor.

Liu Jian, Zhang Fei and Zhao Yun personally helped Liu Bei and Guan Yu wipe the tombstones clean and placed incense and fruit offerings on them, not allowing anyone else to interfere.

Afterwards, everyone began to pay tribute to Liu Bei and Guan Yu.

Liu Jian stood quietly in front of Liu Bei's tombstone, feeling filled with emotion.

"Time is always man's greatest enemy."

"No matter if you are a commoner or a prince, no matter if you have the most power in the world, you will eventually become old."

"Xuan De, you and Yun Chang may not know that the Han Dynasty is now in great shape."

"There are pastures everywhere on the grasslands in the north, ports everywhere along the coast, textile factories everywhere in the south of the Yangtze River, and industrial chains belonging to each state and county. Our shipping routes have already taken shape in the East China Sea and the South China Sea."

"Rice is grown on a large scale in Jiaozhou and Jiangdong. The grain output of the Han Dynasty has increased many times compared to before. Everything is changing with each passing day."

"It's just that the old people are gone. The old people are gone."

When he said this, tears appeared in Liu Jian's eyes.

Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun, and Zhuge Liang behind him also had tears in their eyes.

"Time flies so fast. In a blink of an eye, even Kong Ming has retired and returned to his hometown. Most of us of the older generation have left... Only I, Yide, and Brother Zilong are left. We are waiting to meet you over there."

Zhang Fei couldn't help but laugh when he heard this. "To be honest, I couldn't wait any longer, but my brother insisted that I live a few more years so that when I leave, I can tell you more about the Han Dynasty. I can't disobey the king's order, so I have to do this."

Zhao Yun said, "Xuan De, Yun Chang, the emperor has built two new tombs in Zhuo County. When we die, we can move here. Then we brothers can be reunited again."

"But the emperor himself can't do that. After he passes away, he must be buried with his wife in the Chang'an Imperial Mausoleum. But the emperor said that although we can't be neighbors, if we want to meet, it's just a matter of time!"

In this way, several old men chatted for a long time in front of Liu Bei and Guan Yu’s tombs, and left near noon.

"The Great Emperor!"

The governor of Zhuo County came to Liu Jian and paid him great respects.

"What's the matter?"

"There is a letter from Chang'an that arrived at the government office last month. The cabinet has issued a strict order that the lower officials must wait until the emperor pays homage to Duke Zhaolie before handing it over to the emperor."

"This kid..."

Liu Jian shook his head and said with a smile: "You can actually figure out my route of action. Good, you have made progress."

Zhao Yun and Zhang Fei looked at each other, seemingly confused.

Only Zhuge Liang said calmly: "Your Majesty is a wise and tenacious leader, and the relationship between the Emperor and Lord Xuande is deep, so it is reasonable for the Emperor to guess that the Emperor came to Zhuo County to pay homage."

Liu Jian opened the letter from his son Liu Ji and couldn't help but sigh after reading it.

Zhuge Liang asked, "Your Majesty, do you want to ask the emperor to go back?"

"Well, they said I was old and it was not appropriate for me to be out on private visits all day, so they advised me to go back."

"What does the Emperor mean?"

Liu Jian was silent for a while, and suddenly said, "I want to go south again, take a look around, and take a look for my children and grandchildren to see what problems the Han Dynasty has while I am still able to move."

Zhang Fei asked, "So...what does the emperor mean?"

Liu Jian smiled and said, "Do I have to listen to him if he says so? When his mother was alive, I listened to her. Now that she's gone, he still wants to control his father?"

After hearing this, Zhang Fei and Zhao Yun smiled helplessly.

Zhuge Liang gently waved his feather fan and looked at Liu Jian meaningfully.

Zhuge Liang has assisted Liu Ji over the years and can be said to be the right-hand man of the current emperor.

He knew best what the current emperor Liu Ji was thinking, and he also understood what Liu Jian was thinking.

I remember one time, when Emperor Retired Emperor Liu Jian was inspecting Yizhou, Zhuge Liang, who was in charge of the Grand Council, and Liu Ji were in the capital city planning the construction of several strategic cities in Inner Mongolia.

It was already late at night and there was no one around. Liu Ji spoke a few words from his heart to his confidant Zhuge Liang about the matter of the retired emperor.

Zhuge Liang still remembers those words and the situation at that time vividly...

"Kong Ming, the emperor has been so old for so many years. Do you know why he is so determined not to return to Chang'an?"

"Your Majesty, I think that the Emperor should travel around the country to investigate the bad policies that Your Majesty cannot investigate, and inform Your Majesty from time to time, so that Your Majesty can eliminate the paralysis virus tumor of the Han Dynasty as soon as possible!"

Liu Ji smiled when he heard that, and he turned to look at the dark night sky outside the window.

"This is just one of the reasons. Kong Ming, although you are very wise and resourceful, you still don't know my father very well."

"You are half right. The other half is that the emperor does not want to share my power by staying in Chang'an."

When Zhuge Liang heard this, he remained silent.

He is so wise that he naturally understands the reason behind this.

Although Liu Ji was an emperor and was wise and powerful, he was still far behind Liu Jian. If Liu Jian was still in Chang'an, even though he was no longer the emperor, he would still be like an emperor. His every move and every word could influence the situation in the world.

As long as he is in the court, the greatest power in the court will still be in his hands.

Of course, this is what every emperor aspires to.

He never gave up power until his death.

However, this was the biggest obstacle for Emperor Liu Ji.

Officials in the capital would involuntarily bow down before Liu Jian. Although they were ostensibly assisting the emperor's subjects, in their hearts, the person who could truly be in charge would always be the emperor emeritus.

If the time is short, maybe it’s okay, but what about if the time is long?

History has proven that the relationship between father and son is sometimes very fragile in the face of power.

It can even be said to be vulnerable.

Liu Jian was able to take on responsibilities and let go of them. In the end, he chose to delegate power completely and transfer all power to his son in his own way.

When he said this, there were even some tears in Liu Ji's eyes.

"My father, even at this age, still cares so much about me..."

"I really want my father to return to Chang'an and stop wandering around outside, but every time I write to him, he won't agree. Although he is the emperor of the Han Dynasty... he is still my father."

"I really hope he can come back so I can stay by his side and fulfill my filial duty."

……

"Kong Ming, what are you thinking about?"

A voice suddenly brought Zhuge Liang back to reality from his reverie.

Liu Jian looked at him puzzledly: "Why are you distracted?"

Zhuge Liang did not answer anything. He just clasped his hands and bowed to Liu Jian respectfully.

When Liu Jian saw Zhuge Liang showing him such great courtesy, he was stunned at first.

Then, he seemed to understand something.

Liu Jian sighed deeply and said, "Kong Ming, did the emperor tell you something? Don't think I am so noble. Although I am doing this for my son and for the world, I am still selfish."

"The Han Dynasty has been developing Jiangnan in recent years, and I have ordered people to build a palace in Jiangnan. I have actually thought that at my age, it is not suitable for me to live in the north. The south is like spring all year round, with a mild climate. There are no strong winds and sandstorms like in the north, and no cold winters. After my inspection in Jiangnan this time, I plan to retire in Jiangnan, so that I can live longer!"

Zhuge Liang said: "That being said, I still think that the emperor should return to Chang'an before going south again."

Liu Jian was stunned when he heard this, and then he narrowed his eyes and looked at Zhuge Liang seriously for a while, then smiled.

"Okay, I'll do as you say."

……

In spring, Liu Jian and his party arrived in Chang'an.

The emperor led all the officials to welcome him outside the city of Chang'an.

Emperor Liu Ji walked three hundred steps to the front of the emperor's carriage to greet him.

Liu Ji waved his hand to dismiss the guards around him, and crouched under the carriage.

He said aloud: "I will carry my father back to the palace."

Liu Jian shook his head and said, "No, you are the emperor, how can you betray others?"

"What about the Son of Heaven? The Son of Heaven also has a father."

Liu Ji did not stand up straight, and said: "Now I am between heaven and earth, carrying my father on my back, which is an act of respecting heaven, protecting earth and fulfilling filial piety. Why not?"

Hearing this, Liu Jian chuckled.

After a while, he said softly, "Okay, that's enough. You can't do this in front of all the officials today. When you accompany me to your mother's grave in the future, you must carry your father a hundred steps in front of your mother."

After hearing this, Liu Ji's eyes showed some tears.

"Here."

"Son, do you still remember the words your father taught you?"

"remember."

"Recite it for me."

Liu Ji followed Liu Jian, supporting him and whispering as they walked:

"The scenery of the north is covered with ice for thousands of miles and snow for thousands of miles. Looking inside and outside the Great Wall, there is only wilderness; the great rivers are no longer surging. The mountains dance like silver snakes and the plains run like wax elephants, trying to compete with the sky. It must be a sunny day to see the red dresses and white snow, which are particularly enchanting. The mountains and rivers are so beautiful that countless heroes compete to bow down..."

Liu Jian laughed when he heard this.

He walked forward step by step, silently saying: "To count the heroes of the day, look no further!"

(End of this chapter)