gnovel Chapter 53: Li Gan's Son, the Budding of the Wei-Jin Aristocratic Clan!
Chapter 53: Li Gan's Son, the Budding of the Wei-Jin Aristocratic Clan!
On the 18th day of the ninth month of the sixth year of Yuanding (111 BC), the day of Guihai.
Check-in!
"The main hall of the Crown Prince's palace," Liu Ju silently recited in his heart.
[Ding! Congratulations, host, on successfully checking in! Reward: The Timekeeping Calendar!]
*Whoosh!*
As the system's mechanical notification sounded, a scroll of silk appeared on the table.
When Liu Ju opened it, he saw that the "Shoushi Calendar" was the most outstanding calendar in ancient my country. It defined a year as 365.2425 days and marked the twenty-four solar terms and the synodic month cycle. It was very different from the current "Zhuanxu Calendar".
The Han Dynasty used the Qin calendar, namely the "Zhuanxu Calendar", from the beginning of its establishment. However, it has become significantly inaccurate. In the original history, Emperor Wu of Han ordered people to revise the calendar every few years and named it the "Taichu Calendar".
The Taichu Calendar was the first complete and clearly recorded national calendar in history. It was the first to incorporate the twenty-four solar terms into the calendar system, established the principle of "no intercalary month without a solar term", and set the first month of the year as the beginning of the year, which had a far-reaching influence.
However, the Taichu Calendar cannot be compared with the Shoushi Calendar. Although the Shoushi Calendar was promoted by the Yuan Dynasty, it was used in the Ming and Qing Dynasties and remained largely unchanged. It is the calendar that was implemented for the longest period of time in history.
The calendar held immense importance in ancient times, primarily guiding agricultural production and maintaining the legitimacy of the regime and social order.
Agricultural production is highly dependent on seasonal changes and climate patterns. The calendar accurately divides agricultural time through the twenty-four solar terms and the synodic month cycle. For example, proverbs such as "Sow melons and beans around Grain Rain" and "Busy during Grain in Ear, wheat is harvested" directly guide key agricultural tasks such as sowing and harvesting. The accuracy of the "Shoushi Calendar" directly improves the efficiency and stability of agricultural production.
Moreover, in ancient times, the reform of the calendar and the promulgation of new calendars were regarded as symbols of imperial power and divine mandate.
This "Shoushi Calendar" provided the most accurate data reference for the subsequent introduction of refugees from Guandong and the settlement of Shanglin Garden.
Once Liu Ju presents this item, the hearts of the people will be in turmoil, and they will all regard him as the embodiment of the Mandate of Heaven.
"Someone come here."
Immediately, Liu Ju summoned his attendants.
"What are your orders, Your Highness?"
The Crown Prince's attendant, Shi Zeng, was immediately appointed.
"Give this item to the family head and have one hundred copies printed in the shortest possible time."
"promise."
Shi Zeng carefully left the main hall, holding the "Shoushi Calendar".
"Your Highness the Crown Prince."
"Li Yu, son of Marquis Li Gan, is seeking an audience outside."
A eunuch hurried inside and quietly reported the news.
"pass!!!"
Liu Ju waved his hand in acknowledgment.
"promise."
The eunuch immediately went to make the arrangements.
A moment later, a tall young man entered the main hall of the Crown Prince's palace and bowed, saying, "Greetings, Your Highness!"
"Do you still use this kind of thing with me?"
Liu Ju shook his head slightly and made a teasing remark.
He and Li Yu grew up together. Li Yu's older sister was a servant in the Crown Prince's palace, and his father, Li Gan, was once a confidant of the Crown Prince. Their relationship was undoubtedly close, but due to that accident, they gradually drifted apart.
"Your Highness."
Upon hearing this, Li Yu was deeply moved.
"You may all leave. No one is to enter without my order."
Liu Ju immediately gave the order.
"promise."
The eunuchs who were serving him all left the main hall, and the hall doors were closed, leaving only Crown Prince Liu Ju and Li Yu.
"His Majesty's word is law, allowing the Marquis of Champion to enter the Crown Prince's palace for upbringing. This has brought great trouble to Your Highness."
Li Yu, being straightforward and ambitious, couldn't hold back and spoke directly.
"What do you know?"
Liu Ju narrowed his eyes, and an invisible sense of oppression spread out.
Li Yu's breathing became slightly sluggish. It was the first time he had ever seen the Crown Prince with such imposing power, which was truly astonishing. It took him a while to calm down before he hesitated and said, "My elder brother has always been resentful about the fact that the Marquis of Jingheng, the Champion, shot and killed my father. Recently, many of the servants in the manor have left."
"Oh?"
Raising an eyebrow, Liu Ju scrutinized him and asked, "What's your opinion on your cousin's killing of the Marquis of Guannei?"
"Your Highness."
Li Yu knelt on one knee and solemnly said, "My grandfather was greatly favored by the Champion Marquis Jingheng, and for his military achievements, he was granted the title of Marquis within the Pass."
"The hatred for killing one's father is irreconcilable, and as his son, I can never forget it."
"But now, champion Jing Henghou has been gone for many years, and everything has vanished like smoke."
"The feud between the Li family and the Huo family ended in the previous generation."
"Um."
Seeing that his expression didn't seem feigned, Liu Ju said calmly, "Even you are unwilling to pursue the past, so why does Li Ling insist?"
"I don't understand what irreconcilable hatred exists between the Li family and the Huo family."
"The reason why my cousin shot and killed the Marquis of Guannei was because the Marquis of Guannei had injured my uncle. If we're talking about hatred, the three sons of the Wei family should have sought revenge on the Li family first."
"I am the Crown Prince, the heir apparent of the Han Dynasty. Both are my flesh and blood, and I cannot favor one side."
Do you understand?
"Your Highness."
Li Yu was torn, but in the end he chose to be honest: "The head of the Li family has been succeeded by the eldest son's branch for generations."
"After my eldest uncle and second uncle passed away one after another, my grandfather took over the Li family."
"Everyone knows about my grandfather's deeds, and the Li family's reputation has been completely ruined."
"Grandpa understood all of this, but the clansmen in the ancestral land of Longxi did not, and they were relentless, which led to the situation eventually spiraling out of control."
"After my grandfather passed away, the clansmen in the ancestral land supported the eldest son's lineage to regain control of the Li family.
"Over the years, my elder brother has maintained close ties with our ancestral homeland, and my repeated attempts to persuade him have been to no avail."
"The ancestral home of the Li family of Longxi!"
Upon hearing this, Liu Ju's eyes turned cold; it turned out that these were the people causing trouble.
After the fall of Qin, the remnants of the six states vanished, replaced by powerful and influential families. Among the five surnames and seven noble clans of later generations, the oldest, the Taiyuan Wang clan and the Longxi Li clan, rose to prominence during this period. The Taiyuan Wang clan were descendants of Wang Jian, while the Longxi Li clan were descendants of Li Xin.
The powerful and influential class underwent an evolution from the powerful clans of the Western Han Dynasty to the powerful landlords of the Eastern Han Dynasty, and then to the aristocratic clans of the Wei and Jin Dynasties.
These people acted arbitrarily in their hometowns, entered the bureaucratic system through recommendation and recruitment, transformed into powerful clans and influential families, and became the prototype of the aristocratic families of later generations.
The peasant uprisings that broke out repeatedly at the end of Emperor Wu of Han's reign ultimately stemmed from the land annexation by these powerful and influential families.
"I heard that His Highness is recruiting guards, I..."
Li Yu looked at Liu Ju with hopeful eyes. The Li family already had Li Ling who inherited the legacy of Li Guang and Li Gan, so this was the only path he could choose if he wanted to enter officialdom.
"The positions of the Crown Prince's Left and Right Guards, Military Commanders, and Chieftains have all been decided."
"You will serve as my attendant, and one day you will have the opportunity to lead troops into battle."
Liu Ju did not grant Li Yu's request and offered another arrangement.
"Thank you, Your Highness."
Li Yu replied with satisfaction.
Although being a prince's attendant is not a formal military position, it is a position held by the prince's trusted confidants, and not everyone can attain it.
"I have something I need you to do."
"Please give your orders, Your Highness."
Li Yu's expression turned solemn, and he stepped forward.
"Go and find someone for me."
"Zhao Chongguo was originally from Shanggui County, Longxi Commandery, but later moved to Lingju County, Jincheng Commandery."
"This man is skilled in riding and archery, well-versed in military strategy, brave and resourceful, and familiar with the customs of the Xiongnu and Di-Qiang peoples."
"After finding him, I told him that I had recruited him as a servant of the Crown Prince, and gave him ten gold pieces. His whole family moved to Chang'an."
Liu Ju gave instructions.
Zhao Chongguo was a general who emerged in the later years of Emperor Wu of Han. He was a famous general of the Western Han Dynasty and was listed as one of the eleven meritorious officials in the Qilin Pavilion.
After Emperor Zhao of Han died, Zhao Chongguo, along with Huo Guang and others, supported Emperor Xuan of Han and was granted the title of Marquis of Yingping.
This is the most outstanding talent he can currently recruit, and he may become a border general in the future.
"promise."
Li Yu quickly wrote it down and turned to leave the main hall of the Crown Prince's palace.
After watching him leave, Liu Ju summoned a eunuch: "By my decree, Lady Li, a member of the Zhongjia family, is virtuous, talented, and beautiful; she shall be granted the title of Lady Jin."
"promise."
The eunuch withdrew from the main hall.
Soon after, a third lady appeared in the Crown Prince's palace. She was the daughter of Li Gan, the Marquis of Guannei, and her brother Li Yu was a servant of the Crown Prince. Anyone with discerning eyes could see that she was one of the people most trusted by Crown Prince Liu Ju. Li's position in the Crown Prince's palace was second only to Consort Shi.