Chen Cheng gazed at the distant sky, which was filled with dust, making one feel a sense of gloom and unease at first glance.
The Lü Clan Rebellion is not the name of a single event, but rather a general term for a timeline, specifically the period from Lü Zhi's rise to power until the Lü Clan was completely eradicated by Zhou Bo and other meritorious officials; this entire period is collectively referred to as the Lü Clan Rebellion.
The instigator of the Lü Clan Rebellion was Lü Zhi, but as the Lü Clan Rebellion gradually developed, it was no longer solely decided by Lü Zhi.
Members of the Lü Clan also began to participate, even more so than Lü Zhi.
When a person gradually gains power, he forgets many of his initial intentions and transforms into a power-hungry monster. The Lü Clan members were no longer content with being marquises or Kings; they wanted to become the co-ruler of this world.
This is also why Lü Zhi found it difficult to completely control the Lü Clan in the later stages—after all, she was married out of the clan.
Initially, Lü Zhi wanted to use the Lü Clan's influence to resist the power of the court's meritorious official group, but in the end, both forces developed to a degree that Lü Zhi could no longer control.
Subsequently, there was the matter of the meritorious official group clearing out the Lü Clan Rebellion.
Chen Cheng shook his head slightly. In this period, the most innocent were actually the Qian Shou. Even if Chen Cheng wanted to establish a thousand-year aristocratic family, he would not stand idly by like this.
How innocent are the Qian Shou?
Should they suffer turmoil because of these ambitious individuals?
Moreover, after being able to "descend" upon his ancestors, minor changes to history would not affect the future—after all, his process of changing his own family and establishing a thousand-year aristocratic family was itself a form of historical correction.
So…
Chen Cheng's eyes held a hint of determination.
After Liu Bang's death, he would no longer be able to conceal his brilliance and remain as leisurely as he was now—such a period would not be long, as he could once again conceal his brilliance after Emperor Wen ascended the throne.
Thinking of this, a slight smile appeared on Chen Cheng's face.
"Better to be straightforward" is this very principle. He doesn't need to use any schemes or tricks to gain the power of a thousand-year aristocratic family; he only needs to use open and legitimate strategies!
A true man acts with integrity and uprightness.
....
In the winter of the ninth year of Emperor Gaozu, heavy snow fell to the ground. Bo Ji sat in the carriage, quietly lifting the curtain, looking at the falling snow outside, a hint of composure on her face.
This bustling and lively capital, she was about to leave it.
But this was already the best outcome.
The Emperor was willing to let their mother and son leave for their fiefdom, and the Empress no longer pursued their issues. Instead, because of the Emperor's permission and the support of the "King of Wei," even the requirement to marry a Lü Clan daughter was removed.
After all, if the Emperor and the King of Wei did not wish for such a thing to happen, then even if the Empress had immense power, she would be unable to facilitate it.
Outside the city gate in the distance,
Chen Cheng stood there in plain clothes, his expression gentle and refined. He looked at Liu Heng, who stood before him, and said, "Dai Prince, as you go to Dai, you must continue to maintain your original intention and fulfill the mission you are meant to complete."
At this point, Chen Cheng frowned slightly: "Remember not to be tyrannical like the King of Huanan and the King of Wu, who used cruel punishments on the Qian Shou in their territories and tormented them."
His face and brows were alight with anger.
When the inhumane actions of the King of Huanan and the King of Wu in their respective fiefdoms reached the capital, Chen Cheng was the most enraged. He repeatedly submitted memorials requesting the Emperor to deal with these two Kings, and Liu Bang indeed dealt with them by reducing their fiefdoms.
But was it effective?
No, it wasn't.
These two Kings merely conducted their affairs more covertly within their own fiefdoms.
Chen Cheng sighed again. This was still when Liu Bang was alive. After Liu Bang's death, the world would become even more chaotic.
Neither the Lü Clan nor Emperor Hui had any consideration for the Qian Shou.
Lü Zhi thought about how to secure her son's imperial throne, how to torment Consort Qi, and how to kill Zhao Prince Liu Ruyi, while Liu Ying thought about how to protect his brothers.
They were engrossed in political intrigue and forgot about the vast populace.
But the populace was the most pitiable and innocent.
However, during this period, due to "Xiao He's Rules, Cao Can's Follow" and the practice of Huang-Lao Daoism, which is "governing by non-action," by Liu Bang, Lü Zhi, Xiao He, Cao Can, and others, the Qian Shou were able to recuperate.
It's just that… the reduction in laws made the cost of crime much lower during this period, so in fact, criminal behavior increased during this time. But because of Huang-Lao Daoism, this was not within the scope of governance.
Liu Heng looked at Chen Cheng, who had a melancholic expression, mistakenly thinking that Chen Cheng was sighing for him. He immediately said, "Teacher, you don't need to sigh and grieve for your disciple."
"This is my disciple's choice."
His face showed determination and composure: "Actually, I know that my Imperial Father did not change the heir not because he didn't want to, but because the Crown Prince made no mistakes, and I also did not display enough talent to firmly convince my Imperial Father. But what does that matter?"
"The position of Crown Prince of a nation is of vast importance; it's not something that can be deposed just like that. If the former Crown Prince were deposed, how would my elder brother live?"
"When my Imperial Father was still in obscurity, he was already by his side. Because of my Imperial Father's actions, he truly suffered a lot. As the eldest legitimate son, this imperial throne rightfully belongs to him."
Liu Heng softly said, "Furthermore, my elder brother is inherently kind and benevolent. It is impossible for him to commit a mistake that would enrage my Imperial Father enough to depose his position as Crown Prince."
"In such a situation, your disciple has no future or way to survive in the capital. Once truly involved in the succession struggle, the Empress would instantly seize control of your disciple's life, and your disciple would merely be a sacrifice in this struggle for succession."
He closed his eyes: "Going to a fiefdom to be a King is quite good; at least your disciple is already content."
Liu Heng bowed slightly and said, "Please, Teacher, do not sigh for your disciple anymore, otherwise, it would be my disciple's fault."
Chen Cheng looked at Liu Heng's expression and listened to Liu Heng's words, feeling even more satisfied with this disciple. He gently patted Liu Heng's shoulder and then said, "Fortune is hidden in misfortune, and misfortune is where fortune relies. Who knows if your departure from the capital this time is not a good thing?"
His words carried a hint of suggestion, but Liu Heng at this time did not understand, only thinking that his teacher was comforting him, and immediately bowed respectfully again.
The sound of carriages slowly began, and the carriage heading to Dai on this winter day finally started its journey.
This was the winter of the ninth year of Emperor Gaozu, and also the beginning of the tenth year of Emperor Gaozu—and the magnificent beginning of history's rolling wheel.
....
"Book of Han, Annals of Emperor Wen of Han": "In the ninth year of Emperor Gaozu, Emperor Wen departed from Emperor Gaozu to return to his fiefdom. At that time, the King of Wei said: 'Fortune and misfortune are intertwined; how do we know that this departure is not a hidden dragon entering the sea, achieving the leap over the Dragon Gate?' This one statement became a prophecy, and Emperor Wen attained great freedom. Two years later, within his fiefdom, he was benevolent to the people and enjoyed farming, accumulating virtue and fame throughout the four seas. Everyone praised his benevolence."
——————
The tenth year of Emperor Gaozu.
In a blink of an eye, it was the autumn of the tenth year of Emperor Gaozu. The autumn of this year was very similar to the autumn of the previous year; at this time, disputes continued within the Great Han court.
The struggle for succession between Zhao Prince Liu Ruyi and the Crown Prince had reached its final stage.
Liu Ruyi, in fact, at this time, did not have the ambition to become Emperor, but both ritual law and the meritorious official group obstructed him, preventing him from advancing. So, he pretended not to want the imperial throne to mislead Liu Ying.
Sometimes, when Chen Cheng attended court, he would see Zhao Prince Liu Ruyi acting cautiously, as if he didn't want to be Emperor, which made him feel a subtle sense of nausea.
Lü Zhi finally invited the Four Graybeards of Mount Shang and had Crown Prince Liu Ying study Confucian culture under them. Because of this, the Four Graybeards of Mount Shang now strongly supported the Crown Prince.
In the current world, Huang-Lao Daoism was widely practiced, almost squeezing out the living space of Confucianism.
Confucianism did not become the sole ideological orthodoxy of the new empire, as they had secretly planned to overthrow the Qin Dynasty through public pressure; instead, they were suppressed by Huang-Lao Daoism.
They were greatly disappointed.
They were also greatly angered.
But… the Emperor of the nascent empire was not as reasonable as the First Emperor; he was like a rogue, completely unscrupulous. He didn't care about what the Confucian scholars said. If they angered this Emperor, he would even urinate in a Confucian scholar's cap.
Confucian scholars could deal with so-called tyrants, but they couldn't deal with this kind of completely unreasonable rogue.
So, they placed their hopes on the next generation of Han emperors, and it was precisely for this reason that they agreed to Lü Zhi's request to come out of seclusion and support Liu Ying.
They wanted to carve out a share in the nascent empire, to become the ideological orthodoxy of the new empire, to become… the ruling class of this world.
Of course, besides power, they also genuinely wanted Confucian thought to become the orthodoxy.
This was also the thought of many within the Confucian tradition.
In the struggle for orthodoxy, there is no retreat: either win or die!
In a blink of an eye, it was already the spring of the eleventh year of Emperor Gaozu. It was in the spring of this year that Emperor Gaozu, who had always been in good health, fell ill. This illness made Emperor Gaozu feel as if he had lost all his vitality, able only to lie on his bed.
The Tai Yi Ling, after examining him, dared not even speak, fearing to provoke this Emperor whose days were numbered.
In Weiyang Palace,
Emperor Gaozu lay on his sickbed, looking at the several Tai Yi Ling kneeling on the ground, his face showing indifference and unconcern. He even waved his hand, telling his attendants to bring some money.
"Alright, I know what's going on."
"Just tell me directly, how much longer do I have to live?"
The Tai Yi Ling looked at each other, none daring to speak.
Liu Bang looked at them with a sense of helplessness. After having his Inner Attendant distribute the money to these Tai Yi, he said nonchalantly, "Never mind, matters of life and death are destined by Heaven; how can you decide them?"
"But after I die, you will certainly be executed for ineffective treatment. This is something the new Emperor and Empress will inevitably do."
"While I am still alive, take this money and run!"
"Go as far as you can, don't let the Empress find you, and don't speak of your reputations again."
The Tai Yi Ling, holding the money, each knelt on the ground, their eyes filled with gratitude. One of the Tai Yi Ling closed his eyes, hardened his heart, and said directly, "Your Majesty, the spring of next year is beautiful; you may yet see it."
The spring of next year?
Liu Bang was startled, and immediately understood that he probably wouldn't live through this winter!
He sighed immediately and ordered the many Tai Yi Ling to quickly flee for their lives.
....
The last day of the eleventh year of Emperor Gaozu, the spring of the twelfth year of Emperor Gaozu.
Liu Bang lay on his bed, so ill he was almost dead and had no strength. He sighed deeply and said, "Summon the King of Wei to the palace!"