At the Imperial Academy, led by Zheng Xuan, Cai Yong, Qiao Xuan, and others, more than 5,000 young students gathered in the square and took an oath together.
Not to be outdone, the Imperial Guard also erected two stone tablets in front of the camp gate, engraving the emperor's words of youth and the oath taken before the palace on them, which became the camp motto that everyone had to memorize!
The same applies to the engineering, agriculture, and medical colleges on the other side!
Under the leadership of Liu Hong and his followers, all the teenagers were working hard and striving in that direction!
Before the Deyang Hall, the two elderly men, Chen Fan and Hu Guang, arrived hand in hand, their faces beaming!
"This servant greets the Grand Tutor and the Minister of Works!"
Song Dian, who was standing in front of the hall, also hurriedly bowed to greet him.
"No need for formalities. Is Your Majesty inside the hall?"
Chen Fan smiled and looked up into the hall.
Song Dian's lips curled up, and he respectfully replied, "Reporting to the Grand Tutor, His Majesty is currently practicing Dr. Hua Tuo's (Five Animal Frolics) in the palace!"
"Oh? Your Majesty has finally learned to exercise...!"
Upon hearing this, Chen Fan and Hu Guang exchanged a glance, and both of them smiled happily.
Song Dian laughed and said, "Yes! Ever since His Majesty woke up from his coma, he has been practicing for a while every day!"
Chen Fan nodded with a smile, "Alright, alright!! Go in and see if His Majesty has finished practicing. The Minister of Works and I have something to discuss with His Majesty!!"
"Yes! Please wait a moment, you two!!"
Then Song Dian turned around and tiptoed into the hall.
Upon seeing the emperor practicing the Five Animal Frolics with concentration, Song Dian stood quietly to the side. After Liu Hong finished practicing the last move, Song Dian bowed and walked over!
"Your Majesty! Grand Tutor Chen Fan and Minister of Works Hu Guang request an audience before the palace!"
"Hmm~, please let them in!!"
After stretching his muscles, Liu Hong turned around and sat back down at the table.
"Your Majesty, we, your humble servants, pay our respects!"
"No need for formalities, please sit!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
"As the saying goes, 'A person is in high spirits when good things happen.' I wonder what good news the Grand Tutor and the Minister of Works have brought me today...?"
After the emperor and his ministers exchanged greetings, Liu Hong saw the two elderly men looking radiant and couldn't help but smile.
"Nothing can escape His Majesty's discerning eyes!" Chen Fan smiled demurely.
"Your Majesty, three months have passed since the completion of the Shrine of Loyal Martyrs. The day after tomorrow is the auspicious day for the deceased loyal ministers and virtuous men of our Great Han to be enshrined in the shrine. This is the list of those to be enshrined that I and the Minister of Works have prepared! Please take a look, Your Majesty!"
As they spoke, Chen Fan took out a list and handed it to Liu Hong.
When Liu Hong took the list, he found that famous ministers of the Han Dynasty, such as Zhang Liang, Xiao He, Chen Ping, Chen Tang, Ban Chao, Jia Yi, Chao Cuo, and so on, were all on it!
By the end, Liu Hong couldn't help but frown!
"Your Majesty, is there anything wrong with this list?"
Seeing Liu Hong's appearance, Hu Guang couldn't help but ask in a suspicious tone.
Liu Hong shook his head slightly, then said, "I feel that there are too few people, so I think it's a bit inappropriate!"
"Oh? Please enlighten me, Your Majesty!"
Chen Fan and Hu Guang were somewhat puzzled. The people on this list were all discussed and drafted by them and a group of ministers, without any personal feelings involved, so it was quite fair!
It is worth noting that when someone suggested that their friends, Li Gu and Du Qiao, be enshrined in the ancestral temple, the two refused, believing that they were simply incomparable to those famous ministers.
Liu Hong did not speak, but instead picked up a pen and wrote down the names of some people, and then handed it to Chen Fan.
"Please look, you two!!"
"this.....!"
When Chen Fan received the list from Liu Hong, he was stunned to see names such as Qu Yuan, Shang Yang, Guan Zhong, Lin Xiangru, and Li Si. He was puzzled that the emperor had added people from the Former Qin Dynasty to the list. For a moment, he was not quite sure what the emperor meant.
“Distinguished ministers and righteous men are not only found in our Great Han Dynasty, but should also not be forgotten from previous dynasties! If our Great Han Dynasty wants to stand at the pinnacle of all ages, it must embrace all things!”
We must ensure that future generations remember the achievements of our predecessors, and then transform that admiration into motivation to contribute to the future of our great Han Dynasty!
Seeing their surprised expressions, Liu Hong explained with a smile.
"Your Majesty is absolutely right! We will revise it immediately upon our return!"
Chen Fan was truly impressed by the emperor's magnanimity!
Liu Hong smiled and nodded, "Very well!! Urge those below to complete it as soon as possible! When the sages are invited to the ancestral hall the day after tomorrow, I will personally attend the sacrificial ceremony!!"
"promise!!"
Soon after Chen Fan and Hu Guang returned to their office, they summoned everyone and drafted a new list, adding all the famous ministers in history who had devoted themselves to the country and made great contributions.
With Liu Hong's consent, the list was made public. At the same time, a group of craftsmen were gathered to erect monuments and write biographies for the famous officials who were invited to the Martyrs' Shrine, and place them in the square in front of the Martyrs' Shrine for future generations to admire.
Two days later, Liu Hong, dressed in the magnificent robes he would wear only during sacrificial rites, led his civil and military officials to the Shrine of Loyal Martyrs located southwest of the Southern Palace!
At this time, the square in front of the Martyrs' Shrine was already filled with scholars and students who had come after hearing the news.
Inside the Martyrs' Shrine, Liu Hong led officials of the court with ranks of 1,000 shi or above to pay homage to a huge stone tablet engraved with the names of famous historical officials, according to the highest sacrificial rites!
"Gentlemen, you are all of the same lineage as the Yellow Emperor. You have all devoted yourselves to your country and nation, and your spirit is admirable."
We, their descendants, should remember them! May their spirit constantly inspire us, and may it live on forever!
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