Shuhan

In the summer in Luoyang City, the sun is scorching hot. The scorching sun mercilessly burns the earth. Even the air seems to be on fire, filled with a burning smell.

The secret agents of the Jianjunsi shuttled through the streets and alleys, their figures were hurried and secretive. They were shouldering the heavy responsibility of uncovering the mystery of the assassination in the palace. However, as the investigation deepened, the situation became more and more complicated.

"Commander, we found that the clues of the assassination in the palace vaguely point to the various dukes' mansions."

A young spy, his face exhausted and his clothes soaked with sweat, hurried into the room of the commander of the military department, knelt on one knee, with a hint of anxiety and confusion in his voice.

Upon hearing this, the commander of the Jianjun Division twisted his tightly furrowed brows into a deep "川" shape. He slowly stood up and paced back and forth in the room, with a solemn look in his eyes.

"We must not make hasty conclusions on this matter. The dukes are all the most loyal ministers of our Han Dynasty. How could they do such a treasonous thing?" He murmured to himself, his voice low and hoarse, as if he was having a conversation with himself.

Soon, this shocking news was presented to the Han Emperor Liu Chan.

Liu Chan sat in the imperial study, wearing a simple casual suit, his face was calm, but his eyes were filled with worry.

He gently put down the memorial in his hand, leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes slightly, and fell into deep thought.

"Your Majesty, this matter is quite strange. In my opinion, this must be a frame-up by someone with ulterior motives." An old official with white hair, leaning on a cane, said tremblingly. Although his voice was weak, it was firm.

Liu Chan nodded slightly and opened his eyes. A sharp look flashed in his eyes: "I know this too. Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun and other dukes have been through life and death with the late emperor. They are loyal to me. How could they want to assassinate me? The person behind this is cruel and cunning. He wants to stir up civil strife in the court. He deserves death!"

There was anger and unwillingness in Liu Chan's voice. He slammed the table so hard that the pens and ink on the table began to vibrate.

At this time, there was silence in the imperial study. The ministers looked at each other and dared not speak.

They knew very well that the conspiracy behind this was like a huge black hole, unfathomable.

"Your Majesty, the most urgent matter is, how should we deal with it?" Fei Yi asked bravely.

There was tension and anticipation on his face, and his eyes were fixed on Liu Chan.

Liu Chan pondered for a moment and said, "Continue to investigate in depth, leaving no clues behind, and make sure to find out the mastermind behind the scenes. At the same time, pay close attention to the movements of the various dukes' offices, and do not alert the enemy."

Liu Chan's voice was steady and powerful, and every word seemed to carry a tremendous amount of force, pointing the way for everyone.

However, just as the imperial court was troubled by the assassination, in July of the first year of Yanxing, a huge disaster quietly descended.

In the Guanzhong region, the earth suddenly shook violently, as if a sleeping giant beast was roaring angrily.

Houses collapsed one after another, making dull sounds and raising a cloud of dust.

The people were in panic and fled in all directions. Their cries and shouts for help mixed together and echoed throughout the Guanzhong area.

At the same time, the Yellow River seemed to be enraged, with the water surging and bursting out.

The turbid waves rushed down like a wild horse, instantly submerging large tracts of farmland and villages.

Crops were destroyed, houses were submerged, and people lost their homes and could only struggle to survive in the flood.

"Your Majesty, something terrible has happened! There was an earthquake in Guanzhong and the Yellow River burst its banks, causing serious damage!" A herald rushed into the palace breathlessly, knelt on one knee, and cried in his voice.

When Liu Chan heard this, his face turned pale instantly, and his eyes were full of shock and worry.

"Quick, pass on my order and send people to provide disaster relief immediately! Make sure the lives of the people are safe and do not allow any major unrest to occur!"

Liu Chan's voice was rapid and firm, as if he was racing against time.

Soon, the imperial court organized a large disaster relief team, carrying large amounts of food, clothing and medicine, and rushed to the Guanzhong area.

Liu Chan personally came to the city gate to see off the relief team.

He looked at the officials and soldiers who were about to rush to the disaster area, his eyes full of expectations and instructions.

"My dear ministers, this disaster relief is a heavy responsibility. The people are the foundation of our Han Dynasty. You must do your best to help the people overcome the difficulties. I am waiting for your victorious return!"

Liu Chan's voice was passionate and powerful, echoing at the city gate.

The relief team set out in a mighty procession. The sounds of horse hooves and wheels intertwined together, raising a cloud of dust.

Liu Chan looked at the receding troops and prayed silently in his heart, hoping that the disaster would pass as soon as possible and the people would be able to resume their peaceful lives as soon as possible.

In the disaster-stricken area of ​​Guanzhong, relief officials quickly took action.

They set up temporary tents to provide shelter for the disaster-stricken people; distributed food and clothing to prevent the people from starving and freezing; and organized doctors and military doctors to treat the injured people and alleviate their suffering.

"Fellow villagers, don't panic. The court has sent us to help you. With us here, you will definitely get through this difficult time." A young official, standing on a high place, shouted loudly.

His voice was firm and warm, bringing a glimmer of hope to the people affected by the disaster.

The people gathered around, tears in their eyes, and said gratefully: "Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Their voices were full of trust and gratitude to the court.

However, disaster relief work was not smooth sailing.

Due to the large area affected and the large number of people affected, there was a shortage of material supplies at one point.

Moreover, public security in the disaster-stricken areas also faces severe challenges, as some lawless elements take the opportunity to loot supplies and disrupt order.

"Sir, we can't go on like this. There are not enough supplies to distribute and the people are about to riot. And those lawless criminals are too rampant!" A subordinate said anxiously to the disaster relief official.

The disaster relief official frowned and said after thinking for a moment: "Immediately send someone back to the court to request support. At the same time, strengthen public security management and severely punish those lawless people who looted supplies!" His eyes showed determination and decisiveness.

With the strong support of the imperial court and the efforts of disaster relief officials, the situation in the disaster-stricken area of ​​Guanzhong was gradually brought under control.

The lives of the surviving people gradually returned to normal.

Liu Chan, in Luoyang City, kept a close eye on the situation in the disaster area. He was pleased with every piece of good news, but also worried about the difficulties that still existed.

He knew that although the disaster had been temporarily alleviated, the challenges facing the Han Dynasty were far from over.

The atmosphere in the court of the Luoyang Imperial Palace was so solemn that it seemed as if water could be squeezed out of it.

The sunlight shone into the hall through the tall windows, but it could not dispel the tension that filled the air.

Liu Chan sat upright on the dragon throne, wearing a gorgeous dragon robe, a crown on his head, his face was cold, and his eyes were full of majesty and anger.

Not long ago, Liu Chan had just sent a large number of officials and supplies to the disaster-stricken areas in Guanzhong to provide disaster relief, and he was deeply concerned about the safety of the people affected by the disaster.

However, before he could recover from the busyness and worries of disaster relief, officials from the Censorate jointly submitted a petition, causing an uproar.

"Your Majesty, we have a memorial to submit!" A thin, serious-looking imperial censor, wearing a scarlet official uniform, held the memorial in both hands, strode to the center of the court, knelt on one knee, and spoke in a loud voice with a hint of unquestionable toughness. Liu Chan frowned slightly, and a bad premonition surged in his heart, but he still said calmly: "My dear minister, please speak."

"Your Majesty, the weather is strange today, and the yin and yang are out of balance. The earthquake in Guanzhong is a sign of 'the earth dragon turning over'; the Yellow River bursting and causing floods is a sign of 'water not moistening the ground'. All this symbolizes that the monarch has lost his virtue, causing the yin and yang to be out of harmony. The root cause is that Your Majesty has implemented the policy of measuring land. The act of measuring land has disturbed people's livelihood and offended the majesty of heaven, which has led to such a disaster. I beg Your Majesty to stop measuring land immediately to reassure the people and follow the will of heaven!" The censor spoke impassionedly and sharply, and every word seemed like a heavy hammer, striking the hearts of everyone in the court.

As soon as these words came out, there was an uproar in the court.

The ministers were whispering to each other. Some had worried looks on their faces, as if they were touched by the censor's words; others had frowned, with a thoughtful look in their eyes, and were skeptical about the remarks.

"Your Majesty, I second the proposal!"

Another official stepped out, cupped his hands and said, "It is said in ancient times that 'when the traditional moral principles are broken, earthquakes and rivers dry up'. The frequent disasters now are a warning to our Han Dynasty that its current actions are inappropriate. The land measurement has already caused a lot of dissatisfaction. I hope Your Majesty will think twice and suspend the land measurement to ensure the stability of the country."

For a time, voices of approval were heard one after another, and many officials stood up and begged Liu Chan to stop measuring the land.

There was anxiety and sincerity on their faces, as if farming had really become the root of all evil, and that as long as farming stopped, all disasters and chaos would disappear in an instant.

Liu Chan listened quietly, his face becoming increasingly gloomy.

His hands were tightly gripping the armrests of the dragon throne, his knuckles turning slightly white from the force.

He knew clearly that there must be someone behind these officials of the Censorate, trying to use the name of natural disasters to obstruct the implementation of the land measurement policy in order to protect the privileges of those vested interests.

"Hmph!" Liu Chan snorted coldly, breaking the noise in the court.

Although his voice was not loud, it revealed a frightening majesty that instantly quieted the court.

"My dear ministers, have you ever thought that although this disaster is a natural disaster, the countermeasures are the manifestation of the monarch's virtue. I promoted the land survey to check the land, equalize the rich and the poor, and let the people have land to cultivate and food to eat. What's wrong with that? Now that Guanzhong has been hit by a disaster, I sent people to provide disaster relief as soon as possible, just to take on the responsibility of the monarch and comfort the people. But you are here, using the astronomical phenomenon as an excuse to try to stop the land survey. What is your intention?"

Liu Chan's eyes were as sharp as torches as he glanced coldly at the officials in the court. Every look seemed to be able to see into people's hearts.

The leading censor was trembling in his heart when Liu Chan stared at him, but he still pretended to be calm and said, "Your Majesty, we are all concerned about the country, and everything we said is true. The celestial phenomena are warnings, and we must pay attention. The land measurement has indeed caused many chaos, and I hope Your Majesty will understand."

Although his voice was still firm, there was a barely perceptible flash of panic in his eyes.

"Shut up!" Liu Chan slammed the dragon chair, stood up, and shouted angrily, "You keep saying you are doing this for the country, but in fact you are doing it for your own selfish interests. I think you have been blinded by those powerful families and have become their mouthpiece!"

Liu Chan's voice echoed in the court, full of anger and determination.

The officials in the court were so frightened by Liu Chan's thundering wrath that they knelt on the ground, not daring to breathe.

They had never seen the usually calm emperor so angry, and they couldn't help feeling fear in their hearts.

"Come here!" Liu Chan shouted loudly, "Charge these censors who submitted the memorial for treason and arrest them immediately!" His voice was firm and decisive, leaving no room for negotiation.

"Your Majesty, this is absolutely not possible!" Several officials knelt on the ground. Leading them was an old minister with white hair and a beard that trembled slightly as he shouted anxiously.

He raised his head, his face full of pleading, the wrinkles on his forehead deepened a little, and his eyes were full of pleading.

"Although their words were extreme, their crimes do not deserve the death penalty." The old minister's voice trembled slightly and echoed in the empty court, carrying a hint of despair.

Liu Chan glanced coldly at these officials who were begging for mercy. His eyes were as sharp as knives, as if he could see through their thoughts.

The corners of his mouth rose slightly, revealing a hint of sneer, "They attempted to disrupt the court, obstruct my implementation of policies that benefit the country and the people, and colluded with rebels behind the scenes with evil intentions. What else could this be but treason? If I tolerate them, how can I convince the people and govern the world?" Liu Chan's voice was low and powerful, and every word he said was like a hammer, striking the hearts of every official.

There was a bone-chilling coldness in his eyes, as if he could instantly freeze those with evil intentions.

There was a dead silence in the court. The officials dared not breathe and lowered their heads to avoid Liu Chan's sharp gaze.

Their bodies were shaking slightly, some because of fear, while others were worried about their future.

"Someone come!" Liu Chan shouted angrily, his voice echoing in the hall and making people's eardrums hurt.

Just as he finished speaking, there was a burst of hurried and orderly footsteps outside the hall.

A group of guards, dressed in black armor and holding spears, entered one after another.

With steady steps and determined eyes, they quickly surrounded the imperial censors who had submitted the memorials.

Only at this moment did the censors truly realize the seriousness of the matter, and their faces turned pale in an instant.

Some of the imperial censors felt their legs go weak and could barely stand. Their bodies kept shaking and their eyes were filled with fear, as if they had seen the god of death coming.

Some of the censors had remorseful expressions. They bit their lips, and their eyes revealed a hint of unwillingness and self-blame, as if they regretted being easily taken advantage of.

"No, Your Majesty, I am innocent!" A young censor suddenly shouted loudly, his voice filled with tears, "I am just..."

However, before he could finish his words, the guards covered his mouth and dragged him out of the court.

The other imperial censors were also escorted out of the court one by one.

Their figures cast long shadows on the ground of the hall, making them look particularly embarrassed.

The other officials in the court felt mixed emotions when watching this scene.

Some of them were secretly glad that they were not involved, some felt sad for their colleagues, and others were pondering the changes in the court situation.

But no matter what they felt in their hearts, they dared not make any sound. The entire court was so quiet that one could hear a pin drop.

After this incident, the court seemed to be shrouded in an invisible frost.

Officials act more cautiously, weighing every word and every action carefully.

Liu Chan's thundering measures made them deeply realize that the emperor's majesty was inviolable, and also forced those who attempted to obstruct the land measurement policy to re-examine their positions.

The emperor is serious this time, and the policy of measuring land is imperative.

Liu Chan sat down slowly, took a deep breath, and tried to calm himself down.

He looked at the ministers in the court who were silent as a mouse, and said: "I am promoting the land measurement for the long-term stability of the Han Dynasty and for the welfare of the people. Anyone who attempts to obstruct it will be severely punished. Now that disasters are imminent, I hope that you, my dear ministers, can work with me to overcome the difficulties, rather than being used by people with ulterior motives."

There was both majesty and a hint of expectation in Liu Chan's voice.

"Your Majesty is wise and we are willing to serve you!" The ministers shouted in unison, their voices uniform and loud.

However, Liu Chan saw both awe and some complicated emotions in their eyes.

He knew that the road to land measurement was still full of difficulties and obstacles, but he did not back down and was determined to carry out the land measurement policy unswervingly and open up a bright road for the future of the Han Dynasty. (End of this chapter)