Chapter 289: The Mortal World
“Not disappointed.”
After a brief silence, a nostalgic smile appeared on Gu Dan's face.
He still remembered the scene when Mo Qiu sat at the stone table in the Gu family courtyard and talked about his ambitions and ideals.
At that time, he was still an unknown little doctor, the Mohist School had not yet been established, and Dayue had quietly reached the brink of collapse.
Everything seems so close at hand, yet so far away.
It took more than fifty years and the efforts of a group of people to change the original fate of the people of Dayue.
The hungry get food, the cold get clothes, and the tired get rest.
It is easy to say, just a few words, but to really do it requires countless days and nights of hard work.
From the perspective of the emperor alone, Wang Mang gave him a nearly perfect answer for this era. An emperor who does not deliberately show off himself will eventually be discovered for his abilities.
More than fifty years, the time of two generations.
Those who denounced him at the beginning are now very old. Perhaps some of them can still vaguely remember the jubilation when the Xia Dynasty was just established, and then the anger and sadness when they learned that the emperor was not the saint as people called him, but the unknown Wang Mang.
If we bring it up again now, it seems like a joke.
"Being an emperor is tiring."
Wang Mang also laughed. His spirits were slightly lifted. There was a lot of noise outside, but it was stopped by the guards. No one was allowed to come in. Wang Mang had given the order long ago.
"Brother Gu, let Xun Ke be the next emperor, right?"
On the bed, Wang Mang suddenly said.
"oh?"
Gu Dan was really surprised that Wang Mang could say such words.
In this era, family rule has always been taken for granted.
A dragon gives birth to a dragon, a phoenix gives birth to a phoenix, and a mouse's child will dig holes. All of this is deeply rooted in people's minds.
Especially on the throne, the matter of abdication has become a distant legend.
Although it has happened before, just look at the group of people who were "forced" to abdicate. Could they have beaten the emperor?
The twists and turns are all laughable.
Most of the time, because of this kind of behavior, abdication itself is not a good word.
But despite this, it is the right to look down on the world.
For people of this era, the highest right they can reach is hereditary authority!
"Xun Ke is very capable. I feel relieved to have him take over the Xia Dynasty. He is also a great master and has enough time to protect the Xia Dynasty. You don't need to work hard anymore.
When Xun Ke can no longer work, he will definitely seek someone who is capable of handling the situation to replace him. I believe in his vision.
If three generations of people all choose the wise and capable and pass the throne to the throne, perhaps the foundation of the country can be established."
Wang Mang's expression became serious. Even though he didn't even have the strength to stand up, he couldn't help but raise his voice slightly when he spoke, and he spoke seriously.
He had obviously thought these words over carefully.
When the Xia Dynasty was first established, Wang Mang actually did nothing worthy of praise.
It was only because Gu Dan nodded that he was lucky enough to ascend the throne.
From this perspective, Wang Mang himself can be considered an emperor who was abdicated.
Although he painstakingly built up the Xia Dynasty for more than fifty years, it does not mean that he truly won the throne by himself. It is a consensus in this world that he is not a master, and is not even worthy of competing for the world.
In Wang Mang's view, the safest way was naturally to hand over the throne to Xun Ke. Xun Ke was a disciple of Mozi, but he was not bound by the former. He had his own ideas and was a person who knew how to adapt.
With the strength of a grandmaster, he would have no problem protecting the Xia Dynasty for a few decades, not to mention another hundred years. In this way, how powerful would the Xia Dynasty be after a hundred years of peace and stability? Even if it was still far from the Great Harmony, it was already the most powerful country in the world, right? Everyone said that his child was the crown prince for fifty years, but in fact they seemed to have forgotten that Wang Mang had never officially appointed a crown prince.
This idea is by no means groundless.
Gu Dan's eyes showed a thoughtful look.
Wang Mang was chosen at the beginning because there were not many other options available.
Wang Mang did show corresponding talents.
Since the throne was handed over to him, Gu Dan would not interfere as long as Wang Mang did not make any serious mistakes.
However, if Wang Mang took the initiative to mention this matter, it would not be impossible.
As a disciple of Mozi and the leader of Confucianism, after Qin Lisheng led the vast majority of Mohists away from the Xia Dynasty to spread morality to more distant places, there was no one in the Xia Dynasty who could compete with Xun Ke.
Whether from the perspective of strength or reputation, it seems that Xun Ke is a good choice to succeed the throne.
But "let's wait until others come over."
Gu Dan thought about it and did not nod in agreement immediately.
Fortunately, the Grand Master is very fast.
Not long after, Xun Ke also came over, with another person on his back, Xiaoying.
Someone outside the door took advantage of this moment to peek inside, but was pushed aside by the guards.
"Uncle Gu."
Xiaoying and Gu Dan greeted each other.
In these years, she has really traveled far and wide, opening clinics in various places. In order to respond to Gu Dan's call, this female doctor who is currently the chief physician of the Imperial Medical Bureau has been very busy.
The medicine fields need someone to take care of them, the work of the female midwives cannot be neglected, and medical clinics from all over the country will also raise various issues. Fortunately, Xiaoying is no longer the ignorant little girl she used to be, and she handles these things very well.
But inevitably, due to various tedious matters, we rarely get together compared to when we were young.
Gu Dan nodded slightly.
After so many years, Xiaoying doesn't look old. Only her slightly gray hair tells everything. Her face is still pretty and delicate.
She had also taken the Feast Flower, an irresistible gift for women. Even if it did not have the power to smooth out the years, it could still leave behind a sense of beauty.
Only in this way, when she was with Xun Ke, she looked more like a peer, except that her hair was turning white a little faster.
Gu Dan nodded slightly. After all, this was not the place for a detailed chat, so both of them stopped talking in time.
On the other hand, Wang Mang and Xun Ke formally brought up the issue of abdication.
Xun Ke could not hide the surprise on his face.
He really didn't expect that Wang Mang could do this.
But after just a moment's thought, Xun Ke immediately shook his head and refused, saying, "The throne is of little use to me."
The throne is indeed a good thing, but it also depends on your identity.
He is the great master and the leader of Confucianism.
What's the point of having a throne, other than tying myself up in the palace?
If the new emperor is not a good person and wants to emulate Emperor Zong Ming, he can take him down without fear of what others say.
Many people only know about the Grand Master who protects the country, but they don’t know that the Grand Master also has the duty of supervising the country.
The reason why Dayue was in such a mess was not only due to natural disasters and man-made calamities, but also because the falling stars from the sky at night were really unreasonable.
On the other hand, isn’t it because Master Ji and Emperor Zong Ming had a long-standing grudge, Master Ji began to seek the path of innateness, no longer cared much about the world, and the other master had passed away?
If the time really comes when Xun Ke needs to step up, it will make no difference whether he abdicates or not.
This is the rule of this world itself. Personal force does have a place, and the higher the realm, the more obvious it is.
The Grand Master has reached a level that no mortal world can do anything about. When it comes to deposing or enthroning someone, Xun Ke can do it without anyone's consent.
Moreover, Qin Lisheng had the ambition to help the world, so did Xun Ke not have the ambition? The difference between him and Qin Lisheng was that Xun Ke had already started a family.
We really can't just go on a journey on a whim. Confucianism has only just flourished for a short time and still needs a solid leader to take charge.
The world is not actually limited to the Xia Dynasty.
It’s just because they were born on this land, so the people of this land are the first to get help, that’s all.
In the future that Xun Ke himself envisioned, he would inevitably leave the Xia Dynasty and expand his own morality and ideas to more distant lands.
"I didn't expect that I couldn't even give away the throne."
Wang Mang felt helpless and had mixed emotions.
The latest novel is published first on Liu9shuba!
What many people dream of is not so tempting to these people.
Perhaps only when one's position is high enough and one's strength is strong enough, can one let go of the extravagant hopes that many people long for, follow one's heart, and escape from the cage of blindly following others.
"Don't worry. Although I don't want the throne, I won't be polite if your descendants become incompetent rulers."
When it came to this matter, Xun Ke was merciless and did not beat around the bush just because Wang Mang was lying on the bed.
"That's what should happen."
Wang Mang was not angry, he just felt a little regretful.
These great masters have escaped from the shackles of the world one by one. This is of course a good thing for the world, but for the Xia Dynasty, it is a loss.
It is precisely because they are too powerful that they are looking into the distance.
Rather than adding icing on the cake, they want to provide timely help.
This is the luck of the common people.
"Brother Gu, I'm a little sleepy."
After a brief silence, Wang Mang looked at Gu Dan and spoke softly.
His eyes were very calm, without any struggle. There was only calmness in those old eyes.
I have been to this world, I have struggled, and I have completed my mission.
"If you feel sleepy, just take a good rest."
Gu Dan said as calmly as possible.
It was a similar yet somewhat different scene. No matter how many times he watched it, he would always feel the loss of his own existence.
Wang Mang did not close his eyes. He struggled on the bed and tried to sit up. Xiaoying wanted to support him, but Wang Mang shook his head and sat up by himself.
Then he took out a edict that had been written long ago from under the pillow and handed it to Gu Dan.
Gu Dan reached out and took it.
Wang Mang smiled, leaned against the bed, and looked forward.
A happy smile appeared on his face, as if he saw the person he hoped to see.
His tired body became light, his blocked thoughts were cleared, and his body suddenly had strength.
But he had nothing more to say, he had already done what he was supposed to do.
"Brother Gu, I'm leaving."
Wang Mang did not look at Gu Dan, as if it was just a simple farewell.
“.”
Gu Dan said nothing, but just held the imperial edict in his hand, and unconsciously tightened his grip a little.
Wang Mang's eyes closed.
An indescribable silence permeates here.
After a long while, no one moved.
Gu Dan opened the imperial edict in his hand and saw familiar handwriting on it.
[I heard that all things in the world sprout and grow, and death is the common sense of the world and the law of all things. What is there to be sad about?
My virtue is shallow and I am unable to support the people. Now that I have passed away, if I still let people mourn and suffer from the scorching heat, and let other people's fathers and sons grieve for me, making my virtue even shallower, how can I explain to the people of the world?
I have been able to rule the country and have been held high by the people of the world for more than fifty years, relying on the power of heaven and earth and the well-being of the country to ensure peace and tranquility in the country without any war.
I have often worried about doing something wrong and afraid that I would not have a good end. Now that I can live out my life to a ripe old age, what is there for me to be sad about?
Therefore, an order was issued that excessive mourning was not allowed throughout the country. Everyone should mourn for three days and then return to normal. This was especially true in the palace. Those who were supposed to mourn should cry fifteen times in the morning and evening and stop after the ceremony. All concubines in the harem, from the ladies to the maids, were sent back home to live a good life.
Bury me in Yuzhou, and do not change the surrounding mountains and rivers. 】
In the 53rd year of the Xia Dynasty, the Emperor Xia, who had worked hard to govern the country and had also been in power for 53 years, passed away in the Weiyang Palace.
This edict was the last order he left to the Xia Dynasty as the Emperor of Xia.
Generous and kind.
Emperor Xia, who reigned for fifty-three years, abolished the crime of criticizing the emperor on the day he ascended the throne. Any citizen could scold him without being punished.
During his reign, he always held himself to the standards of the Mohists. Although he was an emperor, he did not wear fancy clothes, and even did not allow his concubines to wear clothes with many patterns.
He was very stingy and refused to repair the dilapidated and collapsed palace; he was also very generous and never slacked off in the governance of Yuzhou.
He loved his people like his own children, abolished the harsh criminal law of Dayue, adjusted taxes, encouraged farming, and listened to advice with an open mind. During his 53-year reign, the people under his rule were given the opportunity to recuperate and develop for two generations.
As an emperor, he was a very good emperor.
Gu Dan handed the imperial edict to Xun Ke.
Xun Ke read it once, and he was speechless, but tears suddenly flowed out of his eyes. He was no longer as indestructible as when he said "I won't be polite either" not long ago.
Gu Dan pushed open the door of the palace, and there was a bustling crowd of people standing outside.
Countless eyes were focused on him.
Gu Dan didn't say anything. He pushed his way through the crowd and looked back. In the palace that seemed somewhat familiar, there was no longer anyone familiar.
Gu Dan suddenly found it difficult to breathe.
It felt like something was stuck in my throat, causing a dull pain.
Now, there is only one of his descendants left.
A lifetime in this mortal world is filled with misery.
How long will immortality last? He turned away from the crowd behind him that seemed to have sensed something and were crying loudly.
Walking forward alone and lonely, with no one around.
I wish you all a happy Dragon Boat Festival.
(End of this chapter)