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

Chapter 332 The Life of Emperor Xiaokang

The young man who Chen Wushi boasted about being a hero since childhood sat there with a shy look on his face.

Apparently he wasn't used to being praised like this.

Especially being praised so openly by his own great uncle.

"Uncle is joking."

He managed to maintain his composure and said with a smile: "I just studied for a few years."

Chen Wushi smiled, stood up with his hands behind his back, and walked out while saying, "Zuozhou, at your age, you have such a temperament and wisdom, which is already top-notch. You don't need to be too depressed anymore."

He said jokingly: "If you are not full of vigor and vitality at such a young age, when will you be able to be full of vigor and vitality?"

"Have you waited until I'm this old?"

Chen Zuozhou followed Chen Wushi and listened to his teachings.

He understood that his great-uncle was a master of political science and even more so of Confucianism. Apart from the late Dong Zhongshu, there was no other scholar in the world who could barely follow in the footsteps of his great-uncle.

Even Dong Zhongshu back then was some distance away from his great uncle.

As Chen Wu Shi walked, he explained the principles of life to his younger generation.

At his age, he prefers to impart some "philosophy of life" to his younger generations rather than something concrete like "knowledge".

Knowledge, when can it be learned?

The knowledge in Zhuoshen Building is enough for the younger generations of the Chen family to accumulate.

But the principles of being a human being cannot be learned at any time.

To learn skills, one must first be a good person. In Chen Wushi's opinion, before learning "knowledge", one must first learn how to be a good person, first learn how to be a person with a clear conscience, a person who is useful to the world, or at least useful to oneself.

Many years later, Chen Zuozhou, who has become a contemporary scholar, still remembers this afternoon.

The warm wind blew across his forehead, blowing the hair around his cheeks.

His world-famous great uncle was in front of him, answering his questions and solving his doubts. It was also in this afternoon that he learned the principles of being a human being.

People should be beneficial.

Whether it is beneficial to the world or to oneself.

Time always flies by without leaving any face.

When Chen Duobing sat up from the bed, he felt the traces of time passing on his body.

Everything seemed to be just yesterday, but when he opened his eyes again, his father, the great scholar, had passed away two years ago.

He sighed, and the maid helped him put on his clothes, and then went to the place where he was supposed to report.

Chen Wushi passed away in the seventh year of Longfeng, and now it is the ninth year of Longfeng.

The current emperor works hard to govern the country and nothing goes wrong.

The world also entered a period of "peace and stability" after prosperity. No matter east, west, south or north, all submitted to the iron hoof of the Han Dynasty.

He coughed lightly a few times.

He raised his head and looked at the Prime Minister's Office in the distance, with a natural yet unnatural expression on his face.

The emperor still trusts the Chen family, and the Chen family's power is still huge.

But Chen Duobing firmly drove the Chen family's magnificent carriage and continued to move slowly.

This carriage is over two hundred years old and will soon be three hundred years old.

But no one could doubt whether this carriage could still carry people.

Guandu City became bigger and bigger. Like his grandfathers Chen Qiu and Chen Pi, his father Chen Wushi continued to expand this already magnificent city after returning to Guandu City.

It's almost like a country.

Many people in the world were openly or secretly advising Chen to "become king".

There were many such letters, and even people from the Liu clan came to advise, saying that the Chen family was now qualified to be king. If they still did not do so, wouldn't it embarrass the other princes in the world?

If the Chen family is willing, they can write a letter to the emperor asking him to make them kings, and there is no need for the Chen family to do it themselves.

When he got up last night, Chen Duobing used some of the letters as toilet paper, and gave the other part to the embroidered robe envoy, asking them to give them to the emperor.

The Chen family could indeed claim the throne and found a kingdom, but there was no need to do so.

Chen also did not want to govern a huge country, because if Chen proclaimed himself king and established a country, then managing the world and governing the people of the world would be an act beyond the rules.

In the hearts of the Chen family, the common people of the world will always be more important than the so-called "becoming a king and establishing a country."

Pulling himself out of his memories, Chen Duobing sat in the Prime Minister's office to calm down. After reading two memorials, he continued to be in a daze.

He actually didn't need to read these memorials.

Due to numerous pressures, the emperor had no choice but to let him continue to serve as prime minister. After all, compared with Huo Guang and other powerful ministers, Chen was still the most trustworthy person.

What’s more - the prince has to call the head of the Chen family uncle!
Such a relationship is definitely more trustworthy than outsiders, right?
Huo Guang served as an internal clerk in the Prime Minister's Office. This unknown official position played a role that had not been played out before after Huo Guang came.

He almost controlled the entire Prime Minister's Office.

Of course, this was with the tacit consent of Chen Duobing. If Chen Duobing had any opinion about Huo Guang at this time, Huo Guang would instantly fall from the clouds to the quagmire.

Huo Guang himself was aware of this situation.

Chen Duobing pounded his waist, feeling that he had been sitting for too long and was even a little stiff.

The sound of hurried footsteps was heard not far away, and Huo Guang walked in with a respectful look on his face.

"Prime Minister Chen, this is the cost of the various academies this year. Please check it out."

Chen Duobing took it and looked at Huo Guang with a smile: "How is the health of Guanjun Hou?"

He said as if complaining, "My man asked me to deliver a letter early this morning, asking me to ask you how the Champion Marquis is doing."

Huo Guang also smiled, with some helplessness on his face.

Ever since Chen Wushi passed away the year before last, Chen Qulu and Huo Qubing have stayed at home and rarely go out, but the two seemed to be holding their breath, and both announced to the outside world that they would wait until the other died before dying.

Some people in the world believed that the two generals of the Han Dynasty seemed to be in harmony, but in fact they were in conflict.

This also led to a series of ridiculous "temptations".

However, Huo Guang and Chen Duobing both knew that this was just the awkward concern of the two old men.

"No doubt?"

"Considering your age, it's time for you to go to court, right? Or should you join the army?"

Huo Guang frowned and said, "Buzhi has always wanted to join the army and make achievements like his elder brother. However, the Han Dynasty has no external wars now. It is probably difficult to get promoted through military merit."

Chen Duobing is quite open-minded.

"Is the emperor of today the kind of person who can sit idle?"

There seemed to be some deep meaning in his words, but it also seemed like he was just saying it casually: "Since the child likes it, let the child go."

"I think Bu Yi has some of the courage of a champion."

"It should be able to achieve great things."

After hearing this, Huo Guang thought about it for a moment, and finally nodded in agreement. He decided to go back and ask his elder brother about the situation.

He originally thought that his boss was a playboy with no talent, who only sat in this position by relying on the reputation of the Chen family, and was supported by the emperor like a clay Buddha.

But after spending all these years together, he slowly discovered one thing.

Chen Duobing has never made any mistakes.

Everyone makes mistakes, especially a playboy like this.

But Chen Duobing is like a precise puppet, every step is exactly the same and absolutely correct, he is a playboy when he should be a playboy, sober when he should be sober, and speaks when he should say something. Is such a person really a clay Buddha?
A year ago, he had just taken charge of the Prime Minister's Office and acted a little recklessly, and the memorials he submitted were rejected by the emperor twice.

He didn't dare to write a letter the third time.

He still understands that you can do it once or twice, but not three or four times.

I knew in my heart that if I was beaten back for the third time, I would really lose all my face.

At this time, it was Chen Duobing's seemingly casual words that made him instantly understand the emperor's thoughts, and then he was finally not beaten back for the third time.

Since then he has always respected this "clay Buddha".

Champion Mansion
Huo Qubing sat there, with an air of gloom about him. He was already very old.

He slowly opened his eyes: "It's Huo Guang."

He whispered, "What's the matter?"

Huo Guang relayed all his concerns and what Chen Duobing had said today to Huo Qubing, and then waited for Huo Qubing's decision.

After a long time, he only heard a light laugh.

"That's it."

He sighed deeply and said, "Since Buyi wants to join the army, let him go."

"Everyone in the Huo family is very stubborn. We can't stop them even if we want to."

Huo Guang wanted to say something, but Huo Qubing just waved his hand and said, "Go back and take a good look at the memorials of the past two years, as well as the various transfers of the Shaofu, the Agricultural Bureau, and the Taxation Bureau!"

"Think again about what King An said to you today!"

Huo Guang left in a daze. After Huo Guang left, Huo Qubing opened his eyes and said with some emotion: "Old man, are all the people in your Chen family so talented?"

"He is both civil and martial, and yet he is able to remain patient and refrain from expressing his feelings."

"Are you willing to be a "clay Buddha" despite your great talent?"

But he smiled immediately and said, "But the people in my Huo family are not bad either."

"Huo Guang, don't let me down."

Weiyang Palace
Chen Duobing lowered his head, while Liu Ju in front of him looked old and tired.

"You, what have you been doing all these years?"

Liu Ju said with some regret: "Could it be that your brother-in-law still doubts you?"

Chen Duobing just lowered his head.

At this time, Liu Ju did not call himself "I", but called himself brother-in-law, which showed the helplessness in Liu Ju's heart.

Chen Duobing sighed: "Before the old man died, he told me to be a clay Buddha and not do anything else. What can I do?"

"If the Chen family wants to keep a low profile and retreat bravely, someone has to sacrifice."

"I am the eldest son of the Chen family and also the head of the Chen family. Who else could be the candidate other than me?"

He smiled carefreely: "But brother-in-law, don't worry about me. I think this kind of life is pretty good."

"If I have any strategy for governing the country, I'll let you tell it to me, and then the Han Dynasty's machinery will run slowly, isn't that good?"

“All people can still benefit.”

"Your reputation can also be higher."

Over the years, whenever Chen Duobing wanted to implement any national policy, he would discuss it with Liu Ju, and then Liu Ju would propose it.

It’s not that his talent was not displayed, but when it was displayed, his name was not left behind.

Chen Duobing didn't mind this.

Liu Ju sighed helplessly.

He shook his head: "It's just that even if you want to continue to keep a low profile, it will be difficult."

Liu Ju was silent, and then said unwillingly: "My father has lived too long, and has been on the throne for too long. My body can't take it anymore."

He is now in his forties, which is not old compared to his father, but also not young compared to emperors of all dynasties. It can only be regarded as an average.

Chen Duobing frowned: "What did the imperial physician say?"

Liu Ju said softly, "One more year."

"This is after I abdicate the throne to the crown prince and complete the transfer of power."

"If I continue like this, I'm afraid I won't live for half a year."

Chen Duobing was stunned for a moment, looked at Liu Ju, wanted to say something, but stopped himself.

Liu Ju was more open-minded: "You don't have to be sad. I just want to go find your sister. Jin'er is getting more and more adept at handling court affairs now. It's time for him to ascend the throne."

He jokingly said, "Being a prince for too long will make you feel annoyed."

“It’s time to give way.”

Chen Duobing's mood was even more complicated.

He never thought that the emperor's health was so bad.
Chen Duobing couldn't help but think of it.

The late emperor indeed lived too long.

The winter of the ninth year of Longfeng had not yet passed, and the Han Dynasty fell into sorrow.

The reason was that two pillars of the Han Dynasty, Chen Qulu, Duke of Lin'an, and Huo Qubing, Marquis of Guanjun, both closed their eyes on the same day, or even at almost the same time.

The two old men who had been strong all their lives ended up with no winner.

What makes the world even more sad and confused is that the current emperor wants to abdicate the throne and let the crown prince ascend the throne.

A small number of people know what this means.

The transfer of power usually only takes place when the emperor is about to die. However, the emperor is only forty-five years old. How could it have come to this?

In any case, the transfer of power went smoothly.

Crown Prince Liu Jin ascended the throne.

An emperor with the combined blood of the Chen and Liu families appeared.

People from the Zhao family of Shangdang and the Qin family of Guanzhong actually had some minor opinions about the new emperor, but these opinions were not directed at the Chen family or the Liu family, but at their ancestors.

Why didn’t our ancestor think of marrying Chen’s daughter back then?

Otherwise, wouldn't Qin and Chen be merging?

Would the Qin Dynasty still be destroyed at that time?
After the new emperor ascended the throne, he changed the era name to "Yuanshi", so the tenth year of Longfeng was the "first year of Yuanshi".

This reign title reflects the new emperor's ambition.

Very big.

The retired emperor followed his father's example and recuperated in Ganquan Palace. The emperor came to see him several times and was extremely envious.

He said that even after he abdicated, he would stay in Ganquan Palace to recuperate.

The emperor just waved his hand and smiled.

Standing in the court, Chen Duobing raised his head silently as he listened to the court officials deciding the posthumous title "Kang" for the emperor. The days when he was joking with the emperor seemed like just yesterday.

Time flies and never forgives anyone.

Now, it is the winter of the second year of Yuanshi.

(End of this chapter)