Thousand-year-old family: its rise began with Shang Yang’s reforms

Chapter 341: The Great River Flows Eastward and the Waves Wash Away All [End of this Volume]

In historical books, including those in later generations, the evaluation of the New Han Dynasty is very consistent.

He is not a continuation of the Han Dynasty, but a part of it.

Whether it is Liu Xiu's identity or his bloodline, they are all undisputed direct descendants of the Liu family.

In fact, in the beginning, people's judgment on Xin Han was controversial, which happened in the 1970s and 1980s.

At that time, the Ming Dynasty had already disintegrated and reorganized. When revising the history books, historians had some controversy about this period of history. Some people felt that the New Han Dynasty should be called the "Eastern Han Dynasty" because there was a clear gap between the two Han Dynasties.

In this way, "Emperor Guangwu" can actually be regarded as the founding emperor in a de facto sense.

However, another group of historians, or most historians, do not agree with this conclusion. They believe that Liu Xiu expelled Wang Mang and became the emperor again, which did not count as "founding a country" because Liu Xiu had another identity.

The crown prince of Emperor Xiaoshen.

But later on, the position of crown prince was abolished.

After studying historical materials and with the "help" of some unknown enthusiastic people, historians discovered that Emperor Xiaoshen deposed the crown prince largely because of the instigation of the then Empress Xiaojingci and Wang Mang.

The fact that Emperor Xiaoai later became the emperor further proved this point.

Liu Xiu's identity did not change, he was still the eldest son of "Emperor Xiaoshen".

After that, even if he became a "small clan" in terms of etiquette and law, it could not change his previous status. Such a status could not be regarded as "restoration of the country". Moreover, as evidenced by the original photo of "Wang Mang's Edict of Confession of Sins" provided by an unknown enthusiastic person, it could also be proved that the prince that Emperor Xiaoshen originally wanted to establish was Liu Xiu.

With the support of materials from various sources, this final period of history was called "New Han".

The name "New Han" is different from "Eastern Han".

In the historical community, the Eastern Han Dynasty and the Western Han Dynasty are actually two periods of history. Although both are called the Han Dynasty, there are obvious differences between them.

The New Han Dynasty and the Western Han Dynasty are just a difference in name; they essentially belong to the same stage.

The most obvious difference is that there are two historical books, "Book of Han" and "Book of Later Han" between the Eastern Han Dynasty and the Western Han Dynasty, but there is only one "Book of Han" that runs through the Han and New Han Dynasty.

During the Jianwu period, the world was at peace.

The Western Regions countries, which had been fighting endlessly during the chaos in Central China and intended to encroach on China, became obedient again.

Liu Xiu had wanted to take action against these ambitious guys long before he ascended the throne, but at that time the countries in the Western Regions neither revealed their ambitions nor put them into practice.

At that time, Liu Xiu was not yet the emperor of Han, so his handling of the countries in the Western Regions was a bit wrong.

After Liu Xiu ascended the throne, the countries in the Western Regions instantly became obedient. They knew that when the Chinese land was unified and stable again, and that great country stood between heaven and earth again, they would have lost their opportunity.

They hurriedly offered their loyalty, showing that they had always been the Han's loyal dogs and had no other thoughts.

Before, it was just because of domestic turmoil. Those who tried to usurp the throne had been subjected to the most brutal punishment. At this time, they had been wiped out and went to meet the king and ministers of Loulan.

But, will Liu Xiu care about these?
The answer is, he won’t.

After ascending the throne, Liu Xiu, the Emperor of the Han Dynasty, said in a very domineering tone: Don't say you didn't do it, you thought about it.

Don't ask me how I know. I just said if you think about it, then you think about it.

There was an envoy from a small country who was also considered a great noble in his country, and even his sister was the queen. When had he ever been treated like this?
So he asked angrily, "Can't I even think about it?"

"Is it illegal to think about it?"

What answered him was the imperial edict of punishment from the Emperor of the Han Dynasty and the imprisonment of the Embroidered Robe Envoy.

The Emperor of Han and his ministers proved this point with facts.

Yes.

There's no way to even think about it.

It’s against the law to even think about it!

After hearing about the trouble caused by his brother-in-law, the king of that small country was also very frightened. He then ordered the whole family of this man - including the queen he was favoring - to be killed, and their heads were sent to Chang'an City.

Of course, before the heads of these people arrived in Chang'an City, they were intercepted by the general of the Han Dynasty, who then stated that he would write a letter on his behalf.

Two months later, what awaited this small country was a Han general leading a large army.

Three months later, there was no such country left in the world.

The Western Region became quiet again.

When the other countries saw this scene, they all sighed in their hearts. They understood that this country was just a chicken that was killed for the monkeys to see.

Let these monkeys not have any other ideas.

Therefore, each country in the Western Regions had its own way of expressing its loyalty.

Countries that produced Ferghana horses and war horses increased the number of horses they supplied to the Han Dynasty, while other countries presented minerals and gems, and one small country even presented a geomancy map of a more distant western country.

The emperor of the Han Dynasty liked this geomancy map very much. He hung it in the Weiyang Palace every day to admire it. After the Western countries that he was concerned about learned about this through merchants, they were worried all day long, fearing that the emperor of the Han Dynasty would send troops to the west.
The world was peaceful during the Jianwu period, and Emperor Guangwu's policies were great, which needs no further elaboration.

During this period, although agriculture was still the main industry, Emperor Guangwu greatly improved the status of craftsmen, just like in the early Qin and Han dynasties. It was for this reason that many "inventions" appeared during this period.

The "papermaking technique" invented by Chen was improved again. The materials used were cheaper and the paper produced was more perfect and beautiful. Of course, most people in the folks still used the paper made by Chen.

After all, the new "papermaking technique" has not yet been widely spread.

By the 15th year of Jianwu, the world had once again entered a prosperous era of long-lasting stability. People indulged in pleasure and felt the joy of being citizens of the Han Dynasty.

This was discussed once in later generations.

In a confused period, all historians and writers were thinking.

What should this nation that occupied the Central Plains be called?
Later, a descendant of the Chen family at that time took out these records from the Book of Han, which further proved that in the distant western countries, they had always been called "Han". At that time, the people once again remembered the lives of many prosperous periods such as the Reign of Emperor Wen and Emperor Jing, the Prosperity of Emperor Yongyuan, the Prosperity of Emperor Guangwu, etc.

So this ancient nation finally had its own name.

"Chinese".

They are Han Chinese; they are of the Han ethnicity.

They named themselves after the country that, though destroyed, left many memories in their bones.

Later, even if an equally powerful country emerged, their habit had already been deeply rooted in their bones. Because in that period when the starlight barely condensed, they were already accustomed to this title.

Weiyang Palace
Liu Xiu looked at the geomancy map in front of him, with some emotion and regret in his eyes: "It's a pity that I can't lead the army to conquer the west."

"How can such a large piece of land be given to a group of barbarians?"

Chen Chong stood aside, holding his forehead helplessly: "Your Majesty, the land of the Han Dynasty is already large enough. It will be difficult to govern if there is more."

"Moreover, haven't you already accepted the surrender of the Western countries and announced that you would grant them the title of emperor?"

Yes, in the 23rd year of Jianwu, the western countries sent envoys to discuss matters with the Han Dynasty. At that time, because the attitude of the envoys from the western countries was very respectful, the emperor of the Han Dynasty was flattered.

So he bestowed the title of "Emperor" on the two Western countries and allowed them to become emperors in the West.

The emperors of the West were also very understanding and respectfully called the Emperor of the Han Dynasty "Emperor of Heaven", meaning that this emperor was above all their emperors.

The original historical trajectory was changed in this way.

In the original history, the title of emperor in the West was of course earned by oneself.

The title of "Emperor" is not something that anyone can use if they want.

It has to be "inherited" or "fought" out by oneself, which proves that "He" is the most powerful one in a sufficiently powerful cultural circle.

In the original history, there were only four real "supreme monarch titles": the first was the Emperor of the Chinese Empire, the second was the Emperor of the Roman Empire, the third was the Caliph of the Arab Empire, the fourth was the Great Khan of Mongolia, and the other one was barely the King of Kings of Persia.

But now, the supreme monarch titles of Roman Emperor, Arab Caliph and Persian King of Kings have disappeared in the long river of history along with the enthronement of Liu Xiu, the "Emperor of Heaven" as Emperor of the Chinese Empire.

Throughout the long river of history, only the two highest monarch titles remain: the Emperor of the Chinese Empire and the Great Khan of Mongolia.

The title of Great Khan of Mongolia has never appeared and is unlikely to appear in the future.

In later historical research, Western historians have racked their brains to find some symbols about the origin of their country's "supreme monarch title" from the cracks in history.

But in the end they all failed.

They could only be called "Emperor" or "Emperor", which was a second-rate monarchical title, because it was bestowed upon them by the Emperor of the Chinese Empire.

In the 30th year of Jianwu, Liu Xiu finally succumbed to the disease and fell ill, but at this time the Han Dynasty had already formed a complete administrative system, so it didn't matter even if he fell ill.

He appointed his eldest son with Guo Shengtong as the crown prince, and then invited several of the thirty-six heroes of the Yuntai who were established in the early years to serve as regents, and asked Chen Chong to be the first minister of state to supervise the operation of the crown prince and the Han Dynasty.

This emperor, who was known in history as the "Grand Mage", finally collapsed after explaining and arranging everything.

The crown prince ascended the throne the following month after settling all the affairs of Emperor Guangwu.

On the first day of the first month of the 31st year of Jianwu, the reign was changed to Yongping.

In the first year of Yongping, the late emperor was posthumously named "Guangwu", and was known as Emperor Xiao Guangwu.

This is also the only emperor in the history of the Han Dynasty who had two posthumous titles, but neither the ministers of the time nor the people in later generations had any doubts about it.

There were even students in later generations who shouted out such slogans: "The Great Mage deserves it!"

A few years after Liu Zhuang ascended the throne, Chen Chong felt increasingly tired.

He began to miss how comfortable his life was in Guandu, so he wanted to return to Guandu City to enjoy his old age.

It is not known whether it was out of fear of the Chen family or out of respect for Chen Chong, but in any case, the emperor agreed to the regent's request to retire and allowed him to return to Guandu City.

Standing outside Guandu City, Chen Chong felt a little strange.

He left his hometown at a young age. Over the years, whether he was fighting in wars, governing the country, or accepting the Emperor Guangwu's will to assist in the administration and maintain national security, he never had time to return to his hometown to take a look.

This small town, which is not remote, is not far from Chang'an City, but it is nostalgic.

Chen Chong, with his hands behind his back and gray hair, walked towards the city tremblingly with the help of his students.

As early as the 25th year of Jianwu, Chen Chong handed over the position of the head of the Chen family to his younger brother, but his younger brother did not live as long as him and passed away in the 8th year of Yongping.

The current head of the Chen family is his younger brother's eldest son, a man who is still mediocre but will not make any mistakes.

Everyone in the Chen family, especially the eldest branch, knows that the position of the head of the family is not a "honey potion of power" but a cage filled with the power of shackles.

They will not compete for the position of head of the family.

But I won't escape.

"Cough-cough-"

After returning to the ancestral hall, Chen Chong stood in the hall, feeling the atmosphere inside, with a hint of pride on her face.

After founding the country, Emperor Guangwu granted fiefs to meritorious officials. When Chen Chong gave the position of head of the family to his younger brother in the 25th year of Jianwu, Emperor Guangwu said with emotion: "The throne of the Chen family is hereditary, so it is the title of stabilizing the country and protecting the country. Since you are not the head of the family, you should not have this title."

"I will confer upon you the title of 'King of Qin', but it cannot be hereditary. I will grant you the glory."

Therefore, after Chen Chong died, the tablet placed on the ancestral hall should be "the seat of my late father, King Qin Chen Chong", which is significantly different from the other seats of "King An" and "King Zheng".

He earned it himself.

In the 13th year of Yongping, Chen Chong, who had returned to her hometown three years ago, slowly sat down on the bank of the Yellow River with the support of her son.

Guandu City is very close to the Yellow River. When it was first built, it was even in danger of the Yellow River bursting its banks many times. But no matter how dangerous it was, the ancestors of the Chen family built Guandu to suppress the Yellow River.

Chen Chong looked into the distance, the surging waves of the river washed away everything in history.

He slowly closed his eyes: "The great river flows eastward, and the waves are countless, and they all contain the graves of heroes."

The thirteenth year of Yongping.

The only "King of Qin" in Chen's history died on the banks of the Yellow River.

The river flows eastward, and the waves wash away all the heroes of the ages.

History continues.

【End of this volume】

(End of this chapter)