Compared to the people of the world, the disciples of the Gu Clan grasped Gu Kang’s teachings more profoundly.
Gu Xi was the best among their generation.
He consistently maintained the belief that human will conquers heaven.
"The Grand Tutor speaks wisely."
Upon hearing this, Deng Sui nodded slightly but imdiately sensed sothing amiss, her expression changed subtly, "Could it be that the Grand Tutor thinks our Great Han will still face natural disasters?"
"I have studied the book left by my grandfather."
Without concealnt, Gu Xi sighed lightly, "Grandfather once said, after the floods and locust infestations, there may be a great epidemic."
"Though it may not be true, one cannot be unprepared."
"In recent tis, I have been gathering physicians from across the land, but I fear that if a great epidemic truly occurs, it will be just a drop in the ocean."
Deng Sui’s expression changed once more.
After all, this was the judgnt of Marquis Wencheng.
In today’s Great Han, from the imperial court to the common folk, Gu Kang has truly beco a figure of celestial stature.
His judgnts are rarely mistaken.
"If this is truly the case, does the Grand Tutor have any solutions?"
Deng Sui couldn’t help but ask again, her expression becoming increasingly solemn.
"As long as the hearts of the people are calm, our Great Han will not fall into chaos."
Gu Xi sighed lightly, "I ask the Empress Dowager not to worry too much about it; as for the rumors in court, I will handle them."
With that, Gu Xi said no more.
He bowed to Deng Sui and then walked straight out.
He didn’t have much ti to waste.
One could say that as the turmoil in court slowly rose, Gu Xi truly beca the pillar of the Great Han.
If not for Gu Yi using the Longevity Card on him.
Gu Yi would have worried whether his body could withstand such a level of exhaustion.
The foundation of the Great Han was incredibly solid at that mont.
Given that Gu Xi had already formulated a series of relief plans, these natural disasters did not indeed affect the national stability of the Great Han.
But it was not beyond Gu Xi’s prediction.
The floods and locusts had not ceased.
——A great epidemic followed closely.
July.
A great epidemic broke out in the Capital, Luoyang, Yan Province, Jizhou State, and other areas.
The people suffered from diseases, and the dead lay in the streets.
Even though Gu Xi had prepared in advance, he still appeared sowhat powerless in the face of such a large-scale epidemic.
Yet it was not over.
September.
In certain areas of Jing and Yang Provinces, a severe drought occurred, causing rivers to dry up and farmlands to crack.
On the day of the ’Yi Hai.’
Four teorites fell in Chenliu.
This incident seed to penetrate the last layer of defense of the court, even though Gu Xi and Deng Sui had tried their utmost to control the rumors and punished several ministers.
But when the news of the teorite fall spread,
The court, and even the populace, instantly exploded.
"Falling teorites" have always been considered by the world as an ominous sign, not to ntion accompanied by this series of natural disasters today.
The entire Great Han fell into panic.
Across the court, within the populace, rumors arose everywhere. .....
...
Luoyang.
Champion Marquis Mansion.
Dim candlelight flickered, casting shadows on Gu Xi’s face.
He was intently reviewing urgent disaster reports from various places.
The candlelight danced, delineating his tightly furrowed brows and extrely grave expression ever more clearly.
Suddenly, a flustered voice was heard from afar, drawing closer.
Gu Xi’s head imdiately lifted, instinctively thinking it was another ergency report on worsening disasters.
But in an instant, he sensed sothing different.
Though the voice was male, it was sowhat shrill.
Court eunuch?
Holding the report, Gu Xi frowned and quickly walked out of the mansion.
As soon as he reached the gate, he saw a group of eunuchs holding torches standing before it, each face marked with panic and urgency.
In an instant, an intense feeling of unease surged within Gu Xi’s heart.
He looked at the leading eunuch, frowned, and asked sternly, "What is the matter?"
"Grand Tutor!"
The eunuchs instantly knelt in unison, the leader speaking with a choked voice,
"His Majesty is ill and has already passed away."
"The Empress Dowager invites the Grand Tutor to enter the palace imdiately!"
With a "clang," Gu Xi’s entire body trembled fiercely, the report in his hand slipping uncontrollably to the ground.
On the day of the ’Geng Chen,’ during the first year of Yanping;
——Liu Long passed away within the Imperial Palace.
The news spread, shaking the world, and the previously unstable hearts of the people seed to have signs of collapse from this day on.
—————————
The first year of Yanping.
In April, on the ’Ren Chen’ day, earthquakes shook Huaiji, mountains and hills cracked, an image of yin overpowering yang.
In May, torrential rains battered Jingluo, the Luoshui River overflowed, flooding fields and hos.
In Hedong, Yuan Mountain collapsed, with nurous casualties, the historian reported: "The water loses its nature, this is the fault of yin pressuring yang."
In June, at the Northern Border, locust clouds covered the sky, all crops destroyed, with starving corpses in the wild.
The ’Poems’ say: "Remove the moth and locust, also the pestilent thieves." Indeed, a response to the harsh oppression of taxes and servitude.
July, a great epidemic spread across the land, especially severe in Yan and Jizhou, grief hung on house portals.
Autumn’s atmosphere was abnormal, due to the clash between tal and wood.
September, in the provinces of Jing and Yang, the earth reddened over a thousand miles, teorites like battles fell in Chenliu at night. People secretly discussed: "Mars guards the heart, the purple palace is unsettled."
On the ’Geng Chen’ day, the Emperor passed in the inner palace, celestial phenona and human affairs stirred violently.
———From ’Han Book·Five Elents’
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