I Can Control My Ancestors-Chapter 95 - 36: Disaster Relieved, Yuanchu Rejuvenated

Chapter 95: Chapter 36: Disaster Relieved, Yuanchu Rejuvenated

No matter what, this year must show results.

If this natural disaster persists, the turmoil in people’s hearts will quickly cease, and may even lead to greater despair.

Gu Xi is very aware of this.

Therefore, he does not dare to relax in the slightest, sending various officials to the four corners to supervise the people.

The entire Great Han is anticipating changes in the coming year.

From the court above to the common people below.

All silently praying in their hearts, hoping for change in the coming year.

—— In the sixth year of Yongchu, summer.

The locust plague persists.

But compared to the locust plagues of the previous two years, it’s significantly smaller.

Especially in Jizhou State.

Last year, Jizhou State still had some counties suffering from the disaster, needing manual extermination and other methods.

But this year, there are no signs of locust plagues at all.

Cheers sounded throughout the various states of the Great Han.

The gloom completely lifted.

But unlike when Gu Kang controlled water and enriched fields, making the people worship him as a deity.

Although Gu Xi is renowned across the world, most people regard him as someone sent from heaven to calm the disasters.

They connect his disaster relief efforts with his previous sacrificial act at the Luoshui River.

Some even say Lord Kang descended, appearing in his descendants to save the people.

Countless rumors abound.

It’s impossible for everyone to transcend the limitations of their era.

Gu Xi is entirely an exception.

Not only because of the thoughts left by Gu Yi in the past, but also due to the relentless natural disasters forcing him to emerge.

But how could Gu Xi care about these things?

Now with effective disaster relief, just before the decisive moment, how could he relax?

He restarted the locust extermination plan.

Wanting to completely end the locust plague spreading nationwide within two years.

This time, he sent out more personnel.

With the reduction of locusts, production has actually recovered somewhat, greatly reducing the pressure on the administration.

With such results in sight.

The people will be even more cooperative in this locust extermination effort.

Public opinion aligns!

The entire Great Han seems to have returned to the era of Emperor Guangwu, with people longing for peace and unification.

Now they hope to completely stop the locust plague.

In this situation of unanimous determination.

—— In the seventh year of Yongchu.

The locust extermination strategy finally succeeded triumphantly, and the locust plague finally ceased.

Although there are still some flying locusts in certain counties.

Compared to the previous disaster affecting all of Kyushu, it is now vastly diminished, even insufficient to be called a disaster anymore.

The locust plague has truly ended!

People across the land wept with joy, holding sacrifices in the fields.

Some thanked the heavens for finally withdrawing these disasters; some thanked Gu Kang for descending again to save the people.

And within the administration, the ministers are also exhilarated.

Especially Empress Dowager Deng.

Even her eyes turned slightly red.

Before Gu Xi left the capital, although she knew Gu Xi carried heavy responsibilities, she couldn’t fully empathize.

But after Gu Xi left the capital.

Despite having the plan set by Gu Xi long ago, the disaster relief still strained her heart and mind.

Now seeing the disaster has passed.

Her emotions are imaginable.

As for Gu Xi, he can finally relax and take a good rest.

The efforts he has put in over the years are unimaginable to others.

It was Gu Yi’s use of the Longevity Card on him.

Otherwise, such prolonged mental exertion would undoubtedly have a fatal impact on his health.

Looking at Yuan Chang and others.

Although they are about the same age as Gu Xi, they did not put in nearly as much effort.

Yet their condition is much worse than Gu Xi’s.

Under such pressure, everyone has white hair by now, showing just how difficult it truly was.

....

Luoyang.

When Gu Xi steps into the grand city once again, he immediately notices the change in Luoyang.

It’s not that the buildings are different.

But the people’s hearts.

The officials finally have smiles on their faces again, and the common people no longer have the same worried expressions as they did in previous years.

Clearly, the years-long gloom over the Great Han has finally been completely lifted.

"Grand Tutor!"

Liu Hu walked up with a face full of smiles. Before Gu Xi could pay his respects, Liu Hu directly grabbed his arm and said: "The Grand Tutor is a key minister of the Great Han’s prosperity."

"Meritorious to the world."

"How could I let you bow?"

The expressions of the ministers showed no change at all.

Gu Xi’s accomplishments were too significant.

Everything he had done over the years was seen by everyone.

No matter the era, there is always a kind of person that, even if you don’t like him, you have to admire him.

Gu Xi is such a person now.

His achievements can no longer be viewed merely as a subject’s endeavors. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

"His Majesty speaks with reason." Deng Sui also stepped forward.

Looking at Gu Xi, whose complexion had become rather dark, she lightly sighed: "The Great Han is truly fortunate to have the Gu Clan among its ranks."

Her tone was no less solemn.

But precisely because of this, it made people feel her sincerity when speaking these words.

Who could doubt it?

Gu Xiao was the first minister designated by Liu Xiu for founding the nation;

Gu Kang, known for fertile fields and water governance, was deified among men;

Gu Cheng, pacified the Northern Xiongnu and stabilized the Western Regions.

Even the most mediocre, Gu Liang, had the merit of assisting Liu Zhao during his reign.

And now, Gu Xi.

With such accomplishments laid before them, who could question?

Gu Xi did not say much.

His character had already undergone significant change.

Because of being overly tense over the years, he had become entirely pragmatic, even more so than Gu Kang initially was.

Once back within the palace, he revealed his thoughts.

"Empress Dowager, Your Majesty!"

"Natural disasters are gradually ceasing, yet the Great Han remains weary."

"The current strategy is to change the era’s name to correct the world, and follow the past strategies of Emperor Ming and Marquis Wencheng to rejuvenate and rest."

"....."

Although he couldn’t surpass Gu Kang,

he benefited from the abundance of resources Gu Kang left behind, and after years of traveling across the nation, Gu Xi had gained deeper insights into the local terrains.

Grant titles to the people to align their hearts...

Improve water resources; facilitate water transport; reduce taxes; call back displaced population.

These were all summarized from the old canons left by Gu Kang.

Everyone listened attentively, nodding in agreement.

Compared to the detailed disaster relief efforts,

this broad approach to governance was indeed much easier.

Furthermore, with the precedent of Gu Kang in the past, all ministers quickly understood Gu Xi’s ideas.

"Good! Good!"

Liu Hu nodded with a smile, "What the Grand Tutor says is on point."

"The people are weary, it is indeed time to govern."

"Mother..." he looked toward Deng Sui, "What do you think?"

Nowadays, Liu Hu no longer feared Deng Sui as he did in the past.

It wasn’t just because he was growing older, but also because of the gradual change of perspective that Gu Xi’s words had brought him regarding Deng Sui.

"This matter should be entirely entrusted to the Grand Tutor." Deng Sui nodded directly.

At the end of the year, accompanied by Deng Sui and Gu Xi, Liu Hu conducted the ancestral rite for past emperors and simultaneously announced the change of era to "Yuanchu."

Afterward, Gu Xi once again began implementing a series of measures to restore national strength.

The people had always held natural expectations for the governance of Gu Clan descendants, especially Gu Xi.

In such times, the Great Han’s population advantage became fully evident.

As long as there were no major disasters, the Great Han’s national power would recover rapidly.

Moreover, Gu Xi adopted Gu Kang’s method in repairing canals, and while repairing water systems, he could also reclaim additional farmland.

Under such conditions, the speed of recovery far exceeded the ministers’ expectations.

Until the third year of Yuanchu.

The Great Han had truly emerged from several consecutive years of natural disasters!....

—————————

"In the fifth year of Yongchu, the locust plague in Jizhou State gradually dissipated.

Grand Tutor Gu Xi issued the ’Locust Extermination Order’ to command the counties and states, decreeing ’In places where locusts appear, appoint a Captain for catching locusts to specialize in locust matters, and patrol annually.’

He untied his jade belt to make tokens, dispatched urgent directives from the Ministry of Personnel, and prefects across the land kept vigil with lit candles awaiting the edict.

Xi personally patrolled the states and counties, with calloused feet and a darkened face, and struck the crowns of lethargic officials with his staff.

By the seventh year, the locust plague had vanished.

He then constructed ponds and drainage channels, recruited the displaced, remitted taxes, established the Changping Granary to aid widows and orphans, and dug transport canals to facilitate shipments.

The nation’s exhaustion was completely remedied in three years." — "Later Han Book. Biography of Gu Xi"