Chương 772: Have you not heard that time flies like a galloping horse, and the sunset is like fallin

This isn't written by the emperor; it must be the God of Literature descended to earth!

After they finished reading everything, the group of people all looked at Liu Chen, their eyes showing the exact same shock as Liu Chen's earlier: "Is His Majesty even human?"

Seeing their expressions, Liu Chen felt instantly at ease, even secretly pleased.

Hmph, I was just like that, now it's your turn.

comfortable.

He cleared his throat and repeated Liu Ce's instructions:

"His Majesty has instructed you to select and compile those suitable for inclusion in textbooks and the imperial examinations."

The rest will be published in the official gazette, nationwide, so that all the people of the land can read it.

The officials from the Ministry of Rites nodded hurriedly, each one extremely excited.

"Your Majesty, we obey! Your Majesty's masterpiece is truly a blessing to the literary world of our Great Han!"

"Rest assured, Your Highness, we will take care of it immediately! We guarantee it will be published in the national official gazette within five days!"

Within a few days, official newspapers in Luoyang and across the country published Liu Ce's poems page after page.

At first, the common people didn't take it seriously, thinking that the emperor's poems were probably just empty words and should be ignored.

When I read it, I was completely shocked.

"My goodness, this poem is absolutely wonderful!"

"The moonlight shines before my bed, I wonder if it's frost on the ground—that's such a perfect description!"

"... I hope His Majesty is truly a god... I can picture it so vividly!"

In the streets and alleys, in teahouses and taverns, everyone is talking about His Majesty's poems.

Scholars went even crazier, repeatedly reading newspapers aloud, copying them down, binding them into books, and studying them day and night.

These more than a thousand poems have been passed down through the ages, and all the literati of all dynasties combined may not be able to match them!

"Your Majesty is truly a genius! His achievements in both civil administration and military affairs are unparalleled throughout history!"

No one refuted this statement; everyone agreed with it.

Not long after it became popular, the Ministry of Rites compiled three hundred selected poems into textbooks for schools across the country, and poetry was also added to the imperial examinations, covering the poems written by His Majesty.

Now, students all over the world are truly "blessed".

In the past, I only had to memorize a few dozen poems. Now, I have to memorize three hundred imperial poems, understand their meaning, appreciate them, and be able to recite them from memory.

The students recited poems every day, swaying their heads back and forth, until their scalps tingled, and they even dreamed of reciting "The bright moonlight before my bed."

Even though they could recite it by heart, everyone still admired them.

But the sheer volume is overwhelming—three hundred poems, and you have to memorize every single one of them. There will be exams for them. Who can handle that?

After carrying the load for more than half a year, the students in Luoyang couldn't take it anymore and huddled together, whispering among themselves:

"Your Majesty writes so much! Three hundred poems! When will this ever end!"

"Who can argue with that? I used to think His Majesty was amazing at writing poetry, but now I think... it's truly amazing, but also truly difficult to memorize!"

"How about... we sign a petition together and ask His Majesty to stop writing? We really can't carry any more of it!"

"Forget it, you dare submit a memorial? Besides, His Majesty might still be writing poetry!"

"No, we must go and see His Majesty, have a 'friendly chat' with him, and ask him to show mercy!"

Without hesitation, a group of students wrote a petition and actually had it delivered to the Crown Prince's Palace.

Liu Chen received the petition, read it for a long time, and almost burst out laughing.

He thought about it for a moment, then quickly ran to the Ganlu Hall to find his father.

At this moment, Liu Ce was resting. Seeing Liu Chen enter, he casually asked:

"What's wrong? Why are you in such a panic?"

Liu Chen suppressed a laugh and handed over the petition:

"Father, I advise you to leave Luoyang now and travel all over the country... oh no, I mean, go on inspection tours for a year or two before coming back."

"Why?" Liu Ce asked, puzzled.

"I just got back, I haven't even had a chance to sit down properly, what are you going out to do again?"

Liu Chen laughed:

"It's all because of those poems you wrote. They're now included in the exams, and students around Luoyang are memorizing them until their scalps tingle. They've even signed a petition to visit you, and while they're at it, to 'show some 'kind concern' for you, asking if you can memorize less, or if you can stop writing altogether."

If we stay any longer, people will be blocking the palace gates.

Upon hearing this, Liu Ce was immediately shocked and blurted out:

"Damn it, why didn't you say so earlier!"

He never imagined that copying a poem would lead to trouble with students surrounding him!

It would be too embarrassing to be surrounded by a group of students demanding an explanation!

No, we have to run!

"Quick! Get someone to pack their bags!" Liu Ce stood up and walked out, speaking rapidly.

"I'm leaving now! I'll take the afternoon train! To Jiangnan! I'll say I'm on a southern tour to inspect the people's conditions!"

Liu Chen watched his father's flustered appearance from the side, and his shoulders were shaking from trying not to laugh.

"Dad, slow down, no one is chasing you."

"What do you know!" Liu Ce retorted defiantly while urging the eunuch to pack his things.

"I'm going deep into the countryside to understand the people's lives, not hiding from students! Do you understand!"

"I know, I know." Liu Chen nodded, suppressing a laugh.

"It is only right that Your Majesty is concerned about the people's plight."

That afternoon, Liu Ce secretly boarded a train and slipped out of Luoyang.

The train chugged along, and Liu Ce, sitting in the carriage, watched the scenery rushing past the window and breathed a sigh of relief.

Luckily I ran fast, otherwise I would have been killed.

He secretly decided: I will never copy poems casually again, it's too much of a rip-off.

... Hmm, I'll copy less next time.

..................

Liu Ce wandered off for several more years.

I came back twice in between, but I didn't stay long each time, afraid of being blocked by the students.

Before we knew it, it was the 39th year of Shenwu, early March.

Liu Ce was sixty-five years old and had just returned from Jiangnan a few days ago. He was resting when a palace attendant came to report: Lord Xun Yu requests an audience.

Liu Ce was taken aback for a moment, then smiled and said, "Please invite him in. Let him come to the side hall and serve him some tea."

Not long after, Xun Yu walked in slowly.

It had been several years since I last saw Xun Yu, and he had indeed aged.

His hair and beard were completely white, and his back was slightly hunched, but he was in good spirits and his eyes were still bright.

He bowed to Liu Ce with his hands clasped, his voice gentle and steady:

"Your Majesty, I wish you good health."

"Sit down, sit down quickly," Liu Ce said with a smile, gesturing for him to sit down and jokingly pointing at his beard.

"You old coward, it's been over a year, how come your beard has turned completely white?"

Xun Yu smiled, stroked his snow-white beard, and said slowly:

"Your Majesty, have you not heard that time flies like a galloping horse, and the sun sets like fallen flowers and flowing water? How can one not grow old?"

"I'm sixty-nine this year, and in another year I'll be seventy. How can my beard not turn white?"

Upon hearing this, Liu Ce also abandoned his joking thoughts and sighed softly:

"Yes, time flies, and we can't go back."

Back when you came to serve me by imperial decree, you were only in your early twenties, elegant and full of vigor.

Almost forty years have passed in the blink of an eye. We've all grown old.

"Over the years, I have traveled to many places, covering almost the entire country," Liu Ce said slowly.

"Seeing that the people are well-fed, warmly clothed, have access to education and work, that the railway has been built to the prefecture, and that factories have sprung up all over the country, and that their lives are thriving."

Our development over the past thirty years has not been in vain.

"We were ruler and subject together, and we built this empire together. It was worth it."

Xun Yu nodded, his face full of satisfaction:

"Yes, Your Majesty. The people's standard of living far surpasses that of any previous golden age."

No one picks up lost items on the road, doors are left unlocked at night, the elderly are cared for, and the young are educated—this is a true golden age.

"I have been able to assist Your Majesty in creating such a situation; my life has not been in vain."