Abdication is a complicated matter and cannot be completed overnight.
Liu Zhao didn't tell anyone except Gu Jiu.
Gu Jiu also kept his mouth shut.
This matter is of great importance.
If the news leaks out beforehand, disaster may occur.
Now that you have decided to abdicate and give up the throne, you have to start making preparations.
Liu Zhao first issued two decrees, summoning Prince Rong Liu Heng and Princess Ruyang Liu Xiang to return to the capital with their families.
When King Liu Xun of Lu learned about this, he volunteered to go overseas to deliver the imperial edict.
"Father, Your Majesty, and Mother, please do not worry about your son's safety. I will travel by land, so I can inspect the construction of cement roads overseas for you."
Liu Zhao asked him, "What are you going to do on the way back? Your brother and sister are going back to the capital by sea, and you are going by land alone. Wouldn't that waste time?"
Prince Lu had already made up his mind. "On the way back, I will set off early and travel day and night. I will definitely be back before the New Year. A four-wheeled carriage is stable, and most of the road is cement. My son can live in the carriage and return without changing horses."
Gu Jiu said to Liu Zhao, "Let him go! He's been talking about going overseas to broaden his horizons for years. But he's afraid of water and doesn't dare to go out to sea, and he can't find a chance to go out. This is a rare opportunity, so let him go out and see the world."
You know his personality, he's a homebody. It's rare for him to want to go out on his own initiative, so we can't stop him. Besides, the eldest and second oldest have both gone on tours and studied abroad. Only the third oldest has never gone on a tour, so this trip will be a way to make up for it. At worst, we can arrange for more guards to keep him safe, and have the garrisons along the way send troops to escort him."
Prince Lu Liu Xun looked at his father eagerly.
Emperor Liu Zhao's heart softened immediately. "Forget it, let him go out to deliver the imperial edict and enjoy the scenery while he's there."
"Thank you, father!" Prince Lu Liu Xun smiled happily.
Liu Zhao reminded him, "Remember this, you must return to the capital before the New Year. I have something important to announce. If you miss the deadline, you will stay in the capital and not leave."
King Liu Xun of Lu agreed without hesitation and was overjoyed.
King Liu Yu of Qi also wanted to travel overseas.
But he couldn't leave.
His father was ill, and he was in charge of regulating the country and was busy with all kinds of affairs.
If he were to leave, the entire burden of government would fall on my father. Given my father's current physical condition, the consequences would be disastrous.
In late spring and early summer, King Liu Yu of Qi escorted King Liu Xun of Lu out of the city.
"Third brother, you are able to travel overseas and see the world. I envy you so much. When you return to the capital, you must tell me about the scenery along the way."
"Don't worry, brother. I will draw the scenery along the way and give it to you."
"That's great! Have a safe trip and come back soon!"
After seeing off his third brother Liu Xun, Liu Yu continued to be busy with state affairs.
My father, the emperor, did not interfere in state affairs, but suddenly issued several decrees, dismissing officials from three provinces and six ministries and making other arrangements.
A group of young officials were promoted shortly thereafter.
When Liu Yu got the promotion list, he was shocked.
He knew everyone on the list.
Not only know, but also be familiar with.
Because these young and middle-aged officials who were promoted suddenly were all his supporters.
Many of them had a life-and-death friendship with him, having traveled to Xiliang and fought on the battlefield together.
Liu Yu felt uneasy and hurried to Chang'an Palace with the promotion list to ask for a meeting.
…
Gu Jiu is applying plaster on Liu Zhao.
There have been heavy rains in the past few days, and Liu Zhao's old injury has flared up, causing him unbearable pain.
After applying the plaster, the pain gradually eased and Liu Zhao breathed a sigh of relief.
Liu Yu walked into the study with the promotion list. The couple understood everything after taking a look.
"Sit down and talk!"
Gu Jiu looked gentle.
"Is the emperor in good health?"
"Better!" Liu Zhao just wanted to lie down on the couch and make himself comfortable. But he didn't want to lose his dignity in front of his son.
So he said to Gu Jiu, "You talk to the boss, I'll go inside and take a break."
Gu Jiu agreed, but did not forget to remind him, "No candy!"
Liu Zhao was dissatisfied. How could he say that he ate candy in front of his son?
He doesn't care about face!
He deliberately kept a straight face and said, "I don't eat candy!"
A real man should never eat sweet candies.
Even if you want to eat, you can only eat it behind people's backs.
You must never lose your dignity as a father in front of your children.
He held his head high and chest out, and walked away!
Liu Yu lowered his head and smiled secretly, not daring to laugh out loud.
Gu Jiu was also at a loss whether to laugh or cry, secretly complaining that Liu Zhao was too concerned about his reputation.
Only mother and son were left in the study.
Gu Jiu got straight to the point and asked him, "Are you here for the list?"
"Exactly! I don't understand."
"What's not clear?"
"Why are you suddenly promoting these people, who are all people I know well?"
Gu Jiu put down the teacup and asked, "What do you think is the reason?"
Liu Yu shook his head, "I dare not think about it."
"Why not? You can think boldly."
Liu Yu still shook his head.
Some things cannot be thought about too deeply.
Gu Jiu said softly, "In fact, you already have the answer in your heart. Your father promoted these people for you."
Liu Yu frowned, "Why would Father do this? Could it be that Father's body..."
He didn't dare to continue.
He was a little afraid, afraid that what he said might become a proverb.
Gu Jiu continued his words and said, "Your father's health is very poor. He can't work hard or worry."
Liu Yu said solemnly: "A son can share his father's worries, and this is what he has always done."
Gu Jiu smiled and said, "It is precisely because the government cannot do without you, in order to make you more competent and at your command, your father believes that some officials who can cooperate with you should be promoted."
Liu Yu frowned. Is it really that simple?
Gu Jiu added, "Don't think too much! With me guarding your father, he will be safe."
Liu Yu breathed a sigh of relief, "I understand! Thank you for your hard work, mother."
"Young couples grow old together, and being able to stay together until old age is also a blessing."
…
The weather was getting hotter, so Gu Jiu took Liu Zhao to Xiaozhu to escape the summer heat.
Liu Zhao was thinking about the changes in the Jing Camp, so he had to ensure that Liu Yu could ascend the throne smoothly.
"The Northwest will remain untouched for now! For the overseas headquarters, wait until the Second Brother returns and assign someone else to take charge."
"You decide!" Gu Jiu said decisively.
"Aren't you worried at all?" Liu Zhao snorted twice to express his dissatisfaction.
Gu Jiu laughed. "For now, the situation is relatively stable. Military changes at this time will be determined by you. Ultimately, no matter how personnel changes occur, the strategy of advancing westward and southward will not change! Boss, we share the same idea."
Liu Zhao said "Oh" and continued to ponder.
"I'm destined to be a hard worker. Even after leaving the palace, I still can't help but pay attention to state affairs and worry about everything. Back then, my father didn't teach me step by step. I had to figure everything out on my own."
Gu Jiu asked curiously, "Are you resentful?"
Liu Zhao shook his head. "Of course I don't feel resentment! I've thought it through a long time ago. Every parent has their own way of educating their children. My father has his way, and I have mine."
Gu Jiu laughed. "From Emperor Wuzong Kaiyao onwards, the emperors of the Great Zhou Dynasty have become more rational and gentle with each passing generation. I still remember that Emperor Wuzong Kaiyao treated his children like animals. The previous emperor was able to endure this for decades, which shows how strong he was. The previous emperor rarely insulted his children by calling them animals. When it comes to you, although you are strict with your children, you won't insult them without reason. There's progress! Each generation is better than the last!"
Liu Zhao's mouth twitched, and he felt so embarrassed.
Gu Jiu asked him to lie down and massage him with medicated oil.
"Let the eunuch do it. This job is too hard." Liu Zhao said.
Massaging with medicated oil requires a lot of strength. It is definitely a strenuous job.
Gu Jiu said, "I'll massage you for a quarter of an hour first."
Liu Zhao stared at the clock. "Then it's settled. I'll only massage you for a quarter of an hour. I'm worried you'll get tired."
"Don't worry about me. If I feel tired, I will stop and rest without you reminding me. Unlike you, who keeps trying to hold on with your broken body."
Liu Zhao chuckled twice to express his dissatisfaction.
Gu Jiu's massage technique was very gentle and not very forceful.
Liu Zhao felt very comfortable and enjoyed himself so much that he fell asleep unknowingly.
Cover him with a thin blanket.
Gu Jiu washed his hands, stood up and left the study.
We have arrived in Renqiu.
Waiting in the flower hall.
When he saw Gu Jiu, he bowed first, "Greetings to Her Majesty the Queen!"
"No need to be polite!"
"What the Queen ordered has been done. These are pills that were remade by the medical school. They are much more potent than the previous ones."
After a pause, Renqiu continued, "As the imperial physicians say, this is a medicine for tigers and wolves. Using this medicine is risky."
"I understand the risks involved. But without this medicine, how much longer do you think His Majesty's body can hold out?"
Renqiu looked solemn.
He thought for a moment and said, "This pill can be taken in two doses. I have found dozens of veterans who have tried this medicine. As long as they can survive the first course of treatment, they will see significant improvement. However, many veterans cannot survive the first course of treatment."
"Have you brought all the drug trial data?"
Renqiu nodded.
A basket of data is the medical record of every veteran who volunteered to go to medical school for drug trials.
These veterans were tortured by old injuries and were in excruciating pain.
When they learned that the medical school had launched a treatment that could alleviate pain, they all volunteered to test the drug.
Even though they know the risks and that they may not survive the first course of treatment, these veterans are willing to give it a try.
It hurts so much!
It's torture every day and every night.
I want to die, but I don’t have the courage.
Living with no quality of life at all.
I can’t eat or sleep well.
Every month I receive relief funds for disabled soldiers, but the money is spent on medicine.
There is an opportunity in front of me now. If I succeed, it means I can live for several more years and live a quality life.
Failure means death! Finally I can be free.
Whether we succeed or fail, everyone is prepared.
Dozens of medical records were read one by one.
Gu Jiu personally wrote a statistical table to intuitively judge the effect of this medicine.
"What are you busy with?"
Liu Zhao woke up and felt in good spirits.
When he learned that Gu Jiu was in the small study, he rushed over immediately.
"Are you awake?" Gu Jiu put down the work at hand.
Liu Zhao nodded and looked at the basket of information. "What is this?"
Gu Jiu did not hide it from him, "This is the medication report."
Liu Zhao picked up a copy and flipped through it. He couldn't understand a lot of the content, but he understood the basic content.
He frowned and flipped through the books one by one, "Do these people have the same illness as me?"
"They are all veterans of hundreds of battles. Some have more wounds than you, some have fewer."
"What drug are you testing on him?"
"It's all voluntary, and the risks are explained to them honestly. Many of them come to medical school with the idea of either living a few more years or being free."
Liu Zhao sighed, "I understand their perspective. If I weren't the emperor, with access to the best medical treatment and the finest medicinal herbs, I would probably have decided to try some medicine to find relief. They don't have the best herbs to use, and no imperial physicians to examine them. They're suffering ten times more than I am, and the pain is ten times greater."
"You don't have to! Half the people here made it through."
"really?"
Gu Jiu nodded. "Those who have made it through these years, some are older and some are younger, but what they all have in common is a strong desire to survive, and their physical fitness is barely good among everyone else."
Liu Zhao asked her, "Is this medicine effective?"
"Yes! For those who survived, the pain was significantly alleviated and it is now tolerable and does not affect their lives."
"You want me to take this medicine?"
"I'll have to think about it."
Gu Jiu couldn't make up his mind, after all, this medicine was risky.
No one dared to guarantee that Liu Zhao would be able to get through it.
"What are you still hesitating about! Since the medicine is effective, take it out quickly and I want to take it. These days are really tormenting, I can't wait even a day."
"No! Even if you want to take it, you have to prepare for it a few days in advance. This medicine is a tiger and wolf medicine, you can't take it immediately if you want to."
"I'm at your service. Just tell me what preparations to make."
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