I, Liu Bian, Sanxing Han Dynasty

Chapter 388 Reflection

After Zao Zhi left, Liu Bian asked Guo Sheng, "Did I show any signs of getting angry just now?"

Seeing Guo Sheng's smile, Liu Bian emphasized: "Tell the truth!"

Affected by his emotions, Liu Bian's tone of voice was inevitably a bit aggressive, which frightened Guo Sheng so much that he immediately knelt on the ground.

Now, even without Guo Sheng telling the truth, Liu Bian realized the problem.

"Mr. Guo, get up quickly!"

Liu Bian personally stepped forward to support Guo Sheng.

He didn't know since when Guo Sheng became so afraid of him?

Reflect, you must reflect!
"Let's go out for a walk!" Liu Bian said.

After walking for a while, they arrived at Zhuolong Garden.

Zhuolong Garden looked particularly desolate after the arrival of winter. Liu Bian walked to the recliner and lay down on it.

The fur cloak to keep out the cold was immediately spread on Liu Bian's body.

Liu Bian had long been accustomed to such treatments, but it was this accustomedness that suddenly made Liu Bian alert today.

He had to admit that he was a little angry after Zao Di answered his joke righteously. After all, what he said was not something that required admonition.

Liu Bian realized that he was becoming more and more accustomed to his lofty status as emperor, and was used to everyone revolving around him. The slightest dissatisfaction would arouse his anger.

Especially the constant natural disasters this year made him even more upset.

Liu Bian was somewhat worried that one day in the future he would get so angry that he would vent his anger on others.

Liu Bian suddenly understood why there were so many emperors in ancient and modern times "many of whom had a good start, but few who could finish well".

Perhaps, this is what happens when you stay on the throne for too long!
When Emperor Wu of Han heard the news of Liu Ju's death, and Emperor Taizong of Tang learned about Li Chengqian's rebellion, they must have felt regretful!
...Well, all of the above can be understood as the self-pity of our great Han emperor when he is comforting himself after having a little emotion.

However, after this reflection, Liu Bian decided to start again. He remembered that when he first served as regent, he had issued an edict asking all officials to write letters to discuss the mistakes of the government.

Because the late emperor was still alive at that time, many court officials did not dare to write letters to say anything more, for fear that the late emperor would settle accounts with them after his return.

It was through this memorial that Xun Yu came to the fore in front of Liu Bian.

Now that the plan has been completed, the court officials are idle anyway, so why not find them something to do...

So, just after the emo time, Liu Bian couldn't lie down anymore, so he lifted the cloak covering his body, stood up and went all the way back to Yuntai Palace, and ordered the Shangshu Tai to draft an edict - officials with an official salary of 600 dan or above in Beijing must submit a letter before the New Year, and officials with an official salary of less than 600 dan and the accounting clerks can also submit a letter!
Since we need to reflect, let’s reflect together!

Before the ministers' reflections were completed, official documents regarding Guan Yu and Lu Bu's battles outside the border had already appeared on Liu Bian's desk.

This made Liu Bian more convinced that his decision to send Guan Yu and Zhao Yun to Youzhou was correct.

Victory and defeat are common in the military, and Lu Bu did not lose anything in this battle, but he was indeed suspected of being greedy for merit and reckless.

If the timing wasn't wrong, Liu Bian would have wanted to summon Lu Bu to Luoyang for special training!

One of the reasons why Liu Bian became emo was the Chang'an earthquake, and post-disaster reconstruction work was progressing steadily at that time.

Compared with Huayin County four months ago, Chang'an has a much deeper foundation. Jingzhao Yin Tao Qian is also in charge personally like Wang Hong. On this day, Cao Song, who has been providing various supplies for the reconstruction of Chang'an, came to Chang'an in person.

Tao Qian welcomed this God of Wealth very much and personally went out of the city ten miles to welcome him, fearing that his petty officials or the rough soldiers in the army would covet the money and supplies brought by Cao Song.

Cao Song was very pleased to see Tao Qian's attention. After getting off the car, he walked up to Tao Qian, held his hand and talked about the past.

As the saying goes, what goes up must come down. The emperor often liked to hold people's hands to show his respect. Over time, this originally existing but not very popular social method was gradually promoted by officials like Cao Song.

During the conversation, Tao Qian noticed that on the carriage that Cao Song was riding in, there was a handsome young man who quietly lifted the curtain and looked over here.

Tao Qian had met Cao Cao and knew the appearance of Cao Song and his son. He immediately doubted the young man's identity.

But he was already face to face with Cao Song, so how could his estranged eyes be hidden from Cao Song who was holding his hand?
As soon as he turned his head, the boy immediately shrank back.

But the shaking curtains told Cao Song what had happened, and he immediately shouted, "Cao De, get off the carriage and come meet your uncle Tao!"

When Tao Qian heard this, he felt a little disappointed for some reason.

In fact, Cao Song could have stayed in Luoyang and not come back, but Cao Song didn't know who gave the emperor a bad idea, and actually required officials with an official rank of more than 600 stones to write a letter to point out the mistakes of the government.

Not to mention that Cao Song couldn't speak, even if he could, he wouldn't want to speak!
So he took this opportunity to come to Chang'an, preparing to hide until the New Year before going back.

At this time, the Chinese New Year was regarded as a day for reunion with family. Considering that Cao Cao would not be able to return home during the Chinese New Year, Cao Song brought his youngest son from Luoyang to Chang'an.

Cao De was the youngest son and because of his good looks, Cao Song thought he was similar to himself. For many reasons, he was the most favored by Cao Song and was brought up by Cao Song, and was very well-mannered.

After he got off the car and met Tao Qian, Cao Song and Tao Qian did not talk about any official business anymore.

The original victims and possible murderers instead chatted about family matters, the education of their children... and prepared to take a rest in the inn next door.

One of them wanted to stay longer in Chang'an, and the other wanted to make some money. It can be said that they hit it off immediately and had endless things to talk about.

The two men were talking in a cleaned-up room in the inn when they suddenly heard a few ducks raised in the inn quacking loudly, and the horses they brought also neighed continuously.

Cao Song and Tao Qian looked at each other, then immediately stood up and rushed out of the room.

Soon, they all felt the ground shaking.

Both of them looked at each other in shock, and they were no longer in the mood to chat.

In early December of the fourth year of Guangxi, the ground in Jingzhao shook again.

Tao Qian immediately rode back to Chang'an to find out where the epicenter was, while Cao Song immediately sent people back to Luoyang to request additional supplies.

Before people could recover from the October earthquake, another one came.

Misfortune never comes singly!
Cao Song felt that he seemed to have come to the right place by accident.

He understood without even thinking that, in response to the emperor's request years ago to write a memorial discussing the mistakes of the government, there would inevitably be people who would forget the lessons of the past and link the earthquake with the government.

How will the emperor react then?

Cao Song didn't know.

This had nothing to do with him. He was only concerned with mobilizing supplies and rescuing the victims.

This is enough to be his achievement!
Thinking of this, Cao Song pulled the frightened Cao De over and told him, "Don't panic, don't panic. Next, watch carefully and learn well... Whether you can inherit your father's legacy in the future depends on how well you learn!"

(End of this chapter)