Thousand-year-old family: its rise began with Shang Yang’s reforms

Chapter 331: Merits and Demerits
After the Thirty-Six Kingdoms in the Western Regions became the Nine Kingdoms in the Western Regions today, these small countries instantly became much more stable.

They began to call the Emperor of the Han Dynasty the Son of Heaven, and felt that the Emperor of the Han Dynasty was their emperor.

Suddenly, the world was peaceful and there was no more war.

Because of Loulan's "provocation", the Han Dynasty also learned a lesson and felt that they were bullied because they were too kind, so they decided to make a special mention of it in history books.

The writer was Sima Qian.

Sima Qian was a minister during the reign of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty. Before the events of Li Guang and others, he was a very famous historian.

And because he did not speak nonsense, Sima Qian was still a "perfect man" at this time and did not lack anything important.

As the official historian of the Han Dynasty, although he did not know the truth of the matter, the Han Dynasty had been provoked by the small country in the Western Regions. It couldn't be that the people of Marquis Bowang were the ones who hurt themselves, right?
Therefore, in such a "grand" masterpiece as Records of the Grand Historian, he wrote a "Biographies of Barbarians" specifically for Loulan.

Yes, it is still the super-standard "Biographies".

This is a "biography" which is longer than the chronicles of some emperors in ancient times. It is precisely for this reason that there are many poems about "Destroying Loulan" in later generations, and famous poets all use "Destroying Loulan" as an allusion.

The four years of Longfeng passed in an atmosphere in which people all over the world denounced Loulan.

But this year is destined to be an uneasy and very sad year.

That winter, at the end of the fourth year of Longfeng.

When the great general, the great marshal, and the Duke of Changping Wei Qing fell ill, the imperial physician was ordered to go and see him. Even Chen Wushi went to find Bian Que from the people, hoping to extend Wei Qing's life.

It's just that it's easy to know what's going on, but it's hard to go against it.

The fate of General Wei Qing has indeed come.

Liu Che sat by Wei Qing's window with tears in his eyes. He didn't understand why Wei Qing was in such good health but still hadn't lived longer than himself. He was also sad to see his old friends leaving one by one in the past few years.

"Wei Qing."

"You're gone too, what should I do?"

Wei Qing was lying on the bed, his lips were pale and his face was purple, it was obvious that he had reached his final moment.

He coughed lightly: "Your Majesty——"

"I will go down there and explore the way for you. Then you and I, the king and the minister, will rebuild the Han Dynasty under the nine springs."

Liu Che just had tears in his eyes.

Liu Ju stood aside, not knowing what to say.

He looked at his uncle with mixed feelings.

"uncle--"

Wei Qing just smiled, then coughed a few more times: "When the Queen Mother passed away last year, I felt that my fate was over, but I was worried about the battle of Loulan, so I endured for a year."

"I started my life as a horse slave, and now I am a marquis and hold military power. I am already content."

"Your Majesty, don't be sad for me."

"I'm just tired. It's time to rest."

He coughed a few more times, and this time he was obviously breathing in less and breathing out more.

Wei Qing looked at Huo Qubing and said, "Qubing, you have been relatively peaceful in the past few years, but you are still not careful enough. You must remember that a gentleman should be self-disciplined and cautious in his words and deeds. Don't be as reckless as you were when you were young."

The look on his face seemed very tired, and his eyes were staring blankly in the distance, somewhat lifeless.

"Your Majesty"

Before he could finish his words "Your Majesty", General Wei Qing left this world.

He slowly closed his eyes, which had never been closed in his entire life. Wei Kang and Wei Deng knelt on the ground, tears streaming down their faces. They looked at their father lying on the bed, and they felt as if the sky had fallen.

Princess Changyang stood there in a daze. She had been married three times in her life, and it was not until the third time she married Wei Qing that she lived a peaceful life and gave birth to two children.

Now Wei Qing is gone.

She seemed to have lost her soul.

Liu Che choked up in his voice, "Pass on my decree, Wei Qing's eldest son Wei Kang will inherit the title of Duke of Changping. After three generations, it will be demoted to a marquis, and then the title will be inherited by the next generation."

"Appoint Wei Qing's second son Wei Deng as 'Marquis Siqing' and let him inherit the title from generation to generation!"

Wei Kang and Wei Deng thanked Liu Che for his grace in sorrow. This is why when Wei Qing was dying, he only called Wei Kang and Wei Deng but did not say anything to them.

Wei Qing was very intelligent.

He had never had such experience in his life, and he was even more cautious in his words and actions, which won the emperor's favor.

He walked in front of the emperor, and whenever the emperor saw his son, he would remember him and would definitely give him a higher title for his sake.

Moreover, Wei Qing knew that Liu Che would not allow only his eldest son to inherit the title while not giving any additional titles to his second son, because Liu Che would not have the heart to see his two sons turning against each other after his death.

Chen Wu Shi stood aside, watching the scene like Chen Duobing and Chen Qulu.

Wei Qing's political wisdom not only moved Chen, but also made the three of them understand that this was the emperor's kindness.

Therefore, Chen Wu Shi became more determined to retreat while the going was good.

Chen Qulu sighed secretly.

Chen can retreat, but he cannot.

After Wei Qing died, who else could take the position of Grand Marshal except him?
Huo Qubing?

Whether in terms of military achievements, family background, or the emperor's favor, he is superior to Huo Qubing, so only he can be the Grand Marshal.

Chen Duobing didn't think much about it and even yawned secretly.

Chen is already very familiar with the matter of "retreating at the peak of one's career".

The Chen family retired during the reign of Emperor Qin Shihuang, and then during the reign of Emperor IV. Later, during the reign of Emperor Wen, the Chen family also retired at the right time.

Chen always chooses to "retire at the peak of his career" when the opportunity arises.

It is precisely because of this that the Chen family has been able to maintain its status as the number one family from the time when its ancestor Chen Ye founded it until now.

But - this has nothing to do with Chen Duobing.

The Honglu Temple was not a powerful government office. Even if Chen Wushi and Chen Qulu had left, he could and should stay in the court. After all, if all the Chens left, the emperor would be really worried.

Keep a simple person in the court, and this person is the head of the Chen family.

What else is Emperor Liu dissatisfied with?
If you are still dissatisfied, that would be too much.

Dragon and Phoenix five years.

Spring is here and flowers are blooming, but it seems like God is dissatisfied with the man.

Chen Wushi, the Prime Minister of the Han Dynasty, the head of the Chen family, and the King of An, fell ill. The imperial physician came in a hurry and said that Chen Wushi was old and could not withstand the alternation between winter and spring. Therefore, it was not a disease, but he needed to be well taken care of.

When the Han emperor heard the news, he came in a hurry and stayed in the Prince An's palace.

The emperor also came in a hurry, followed by the crown prince.

The queen also came quietly.

A group of people crowded in the room. Chen Ming just glanced at Chen Wushi on the bed, curled his lips, lowered his head, pretended to have red eyes and said nothing. The emperor and the emperor were both sad.

Chen Wushi held Liu Che's hand in a sickly manner and said, "Your Majesty, this is enough of my life. I don't know how many more years I can live."

"There is just one thing. I have spent more time in Chang'an City than in Guandu City in my life."

"I want to go back to Guandu to retire."

"I think Huo Guang is a very capable person for the position of Prime Minister, so why not let him take over?"

Liu Che sighed and said nothing, while Liu Ju nodded quickly.

After all, behind him, the queen had already started pinching his waist, asking him to agree quickly.

Chen Ming sighed and wiped away tears: "Your Majesty, Father, now that my father is gone, I don't know when we will be able to meet again. I'm afraid I won't be able to see him in this lifetime."

"Therefore, I beg Your Majesty to allow me to stay in the mansion to take care of my father until the day he returns to Guandu."

Liu Ju and the other man had no objection to this.

After everyone in the room left, Chen Ming stopped being sad and sat down beside the bed: "Father, what's going on?"

Chen Wu Shi, who was lying sick in bed just now, coughed, and then the surroundings became quiet instantly.

"The Chen family is too powerful, so it's time to back off."

He closed his eyes, as if he had no strength left.

"The next emperor will have Chen blood in his body. The empress is from the Chen family, the general and the commander are also from the Chen family. Can the prime minister also be from the Chen family?"

"That would make the emperor and the crown prince wonder, does the world belong to the Chen family or the Liu family?"

Chen Wushi patted his daughter's hand and said, "Your Majesty and the Emperor have seen it too. We were just acting just now."

"After I am gone, Chen's disciples and former officials will go down to the counties and prefectures. This is the principle of great people hiding in the city."

“By then, even if the Chen family encounters something, the Chen family will be able to quickly take control of this force and then clean up the bureaucracy.”

He said calmly: "The so-called first family is like a target."

"The Chen family doesn't want to be the target, so they have to leave and hide in this vast world. By then, other first-class families will stand above the Chen family."

"but"

Chen Wushi smiled and said, "But, to the Chen family, those are nothing but chickens and dogs!"

He explained to Chen Ming: "Just like the Shangdang Zhao family and the Guanzhong Qin family, aren't there many Qin and Zhao officials in the court now? The emperor doesn't care about these two families, nor is he worried that the Qin and Zhao families will want to restore their country."

"Because Chen is here."

"In the dynasties after the Chen family, there will only be one person who is publicly ranked as one of the Three Dukes or the Nineteen Ministers, but the Chen family has countless children, disciples and former officials on earth."

"Now, the Han Dynasty has sixty counties, and there are five states with descendants of the Chen family as governors, and eighteen counties with disciples of the Chen family as county governors. As for the county governors, there are even more county secretaries."

"That's enough."

After listening to Chen Wushi's explanation, Chen Ming sighed quietly: "I know what my father is worried about, but I don't think Your Majesty is that kind of person. Why do you do this?"

Chen Wushi waved his hand: "It has nothing to do with whether His Majesty is such a person. This is Chen's choice. No matter who the emperor is today, he cannot influence Chen's decision."

"My daughter, where is there a family that will last forever?"

"There is no need for me to tell you about the principle of prosperity and decline. The Chen family is just keeping a low profile for the time being."

“Don’t worry about it.”

The father and daughter talked for a long time, and it was a long time before Chen Ming left the Anguo Palace.

In the Pepper Room
Liu Ju and his son sat in the Pepper Room waiting for Chen Ming to come back. After Chen Ming came back, he repeated Chen Wushi's words.

Liu Ju then sighed: "Why does father-in-law need to do this?"

"But since my father-in-law has said that it is a good idea to retreat while the going gets tough, then we must do it."

Liu Jin scratched his head: "What does this have to do with anything?"

"Will it affect the status of the Chen family if my grandfather is no longer the prime minister?"

Chen Ming and Liu Ju were stunned for a moment when they heard this, and then burst into laughter.

Yes.

Would Chen Wu Shi's return to Guandu affect his status?

Of course not.

The fifth year of Longfeng, autumn.

Chen Wushi reported illness, resigned from his post and returned home. The emperor conferred the title of "King of Zhenguo" on him and the title of "King of Anuo" on his son. This has become an old tradition.

When the previous head of the Chen family left the court, he was conferred the title of King Zhenguo, and the next head of the Chen family was conferred the title of King Anuo.

If you take a look at the Chen family's ancestral hall, you will find that the people with the lowest titles in the Chen family are actually a few second-generation ancestors, but they were later given higher titles.

It’s just that posthumous titles are different from titles bestowed before death.

In the sixth year of Longfeng, the emperor often brought the crown prince to the court to handle government affairs.

The court officials did not say anything about this. After all, the power belonged to the emperor, and it was a good thing for them to be able to hand over government affairs smoothly.

Since it’s not a bad thing, what is there to be afraid of?
In this year, the emperor who lived a very long life, even longer than in the original history, passed away.

His posthumous title was "Wu".

Everyone felt that the posthumous title of Wu was a perfect match for the retired emperor. After all, the retired emperor's martial arts skills were so high that he even accomplished what the Qin Dynasty had failed to accomplish.

Before his death, the retired emperor once told the people around him that there was no need to erect any stone tablets to commemorate his great achievements.

He himself knew his merits and demerits. Even without this stone, he, Liu Che, would still be Liu Che.

Let future generations judge his merits and demerits.

In the sixth year of Longfeng, Chen Qulu became the Grand Marshal, but he was sickly all day and slept all day.

After Chen Duobing declined the position of prime minister, Huo Guang finally stepped onto the stage of history and became prime minister.

Jin Midi and others also became one of the Nineteen Ministers one by one, but unlike the original history, even "Huo Guang" did not have the original power.

Because Chen Wu Shi is not dead yet.

Because the current emperor is not Liu Fuling.

Also because Chen Duobing, Chen Qulu and Huo Qubing are still alive.

Huo Guang could only be a loyal minister.

This year is the sixth year of the Dragon and Phoenix.

It was also the sixth year that Liu Ju became emperor, and it was also the sixth year when the original trajectory of history was changed.

Guandu
Chen Wushi looked at the young man in front of him with admiration on his face: "It is true that heroes emerge from youth!"

(End of this chapter)