Extra 4: "Old Minister Gu Zhao"
In the study of the prime minister's residence, the night is as cool as water.
Gu Zhao dismissed his attendants and sat alone on the rosewood armchair that had accompanied him for nearly twenty years. On the desk, a celadon oil lamp burned steadily, illuminating the old man's wrinkled yet clear eyes.
Two documents were spread out before him.
On the left was a copy of a memorial, annotated in red ink, concerning the trial implementation of the new policy of "taxes converted into silver" in Hedong Province. The handwriting was clear and powerful, the arguments detailed, and the red ink comments were clear and insightful. This was the final draft finalized today by the occupant of the Phoenix Throne in Chuigong Hall after repeated discussions with him and several core cabinet ministers.
On the right, a private letter from an old friend who had retired and returned home. Besides greetings, the letter expressed concern and confusion about the current political situation. "...Brother Zhao, a hen crowing at dawn is not a sign of a long-term national prosperity. The constant stream of new policies threatens to destabilize the nation. What is the point of us studying the books of sages? We should uphold our integrity and uphold the righteous path..."
Gu Zhao's eyes moved slowly between the two documents. The dim light cast deep and shallow shadows on his face, making it impossible to see his expression.
Be loyal to your duties and uphold the right path.
He silently recited these six words in his heart. What is loyalty? What is the right path?
Should they cling to the ancient motto of "men govern external affairs, women govern internal affairs," turning a blind eye to, or even secretly resisting, a ruler whose ability, courage, and vision rivaled any male monarch? Or should they remain loyal to the Xiao dynasty and the people of this world, assisting a wise ruler who could truly bring peace and prosperity to the country?
He thought of Xiao Jingche. The young emperor he had placed such high hopes on, intelligent and decisive, yet also suspicious and harsh. Especially in the latter part of his reign, his obsession with power reached an extreme, even acquiescing in a conspiracy against his first wife... At that moment, a crack began to form in his mind about the "righteous path."
And Lu Qinglan... everything that had happened since she took over the government emerged in his mind.
She was diligent and it was common for her to review memorials until late at night; she accepted advice and would adopt it as long as it was beneficial to the country, even if the words were as sharp as Han Mingyuan's; she was decisive and faced the counterattack of the remnants of Prince Jing and the obstruction of the old forces with drastic measures to leave no future troubles; she also had a vision that transcended the times, and she established women's schools, repaired water conservancy projects, rectified the grain transport system, and established border cities... Everything she did seemed to be unorthodox, but upon closer inspection, they were all for the purpose of consolidating the foundation of the country and benefiting the people.
Especially that day in the Daqing Hall, when she faced the opposition to women's education, she quoted from classics and incorporated "educating women" into the path of "cultivating oneself, managing the family, and governing the country". Her calmness and wisdom made him, an old minister who had read the books of sages all his life, secretly admire her in his heart.
"A hen crowing at dawn..." Gu Zhao shook his head slightly, a barely perceptible wry smile playing on his lips. If the crowing at dawn could bring in the dawn and dispel the darkness of night, what difference did it make whether the hen was a hen or a rooster?
He reached out and brought the private letter from his old friend closer to the flame. The flames licked the paper, quickly reducing it to a small pile of ash. Some commitments are unspoken; some choices require a clear conscience.
He didn't fully agree with all the new policies. Some, he thought, might be too swift. But he chose a more pragmatic approach—not by stubbornly opposing them in court, but by using his extensive experience to bridge gaps, mitigate issues, and make corrections during the implementation process, ensuring a smoother implementation. Perhaps this was the true "righteous path" and "loyalty" of this veteran minister in the new dynasty.
He picked up the copy of the memorial regarding the "tax-to-silver" policy, took a sheet of plain paper, and began writing furiously. He wasn't writing a memorial, but rather sorting out his insights and preventative measures for the implementation of this policy in Hedong Road, such as clerk fraud, silver quality, and transportation losses. These subtleties required the insight of someone with years of experience in state affairs.
After writing, he carefully dried the ink, sealed it in an ordinary letter, and called the old butler.
"Tomorrow, deliver this letter to Miss Fuyu at Chuigong Hall," he instructed, without specifying its contents. He knew the thoughtful queen would understand his intentions. This was a silent act of support, a mature and responsible act for the state.
The old butler bowed and accepted the order, then quietly retreated.
Silence returned to the study. Gu Zhao slowly leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes. His old body felt a little tired, but his heart felt strangely peaceful.
Times are changing, and the tide is surging. He, Ye Laozhou, can no longer lead the trend, but perhaps, with his years of experience, he can still help this ship, which is breaking through the waves, to see the reefs ahead and slightly stabilize the direction of the voyage.
That's enough.
Outside the window, the long sound of the night watchman's clapper came, it was already the third watch.
The candlelight jumped slightly, casting the old man's steady figure on the rows of bookshelves filled with classics behind him, as if he had merged into one with the piles of old papers that carried thousands of years of wisdom.
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