Chapter 678: The Sun is Not Bright
In the blink of an eye, time turned back to the fifteenth year of Jian’an.

On the first day of February, there is a solar eclipse.

The examination is held every three years, and the second round of examinations is in full swing.

Since Da Sima moved into the shipwreck shipyard the year before last, he has stayed here for a full year and a half, except for routine inspections.

Because of the spring performance examination, the shogunate also moved to Chencang in the late first month of the year.

After the solar eclipse ended, Black Bear stood at the attic window and sighed, “It’s too much trouble again.”

Yang Jun stood by the side. As the sky outside the window began to brighten from darkness, he could see a workbench that was so huge that it was hard to describe.

It was a hollow bamboo platform built with bamboo and wood, fifteen meters high, nearly seventy meters long, and twelve meters wide.

There were flags planted everywhere on the bamboo platform, fluttering in the wind.

The airship frame has been assembled and is also secured inside and outside with thick silk.

Yang Jun knew very well that when he was sent out, just like Fa Zheng, he would also be able to ride on a new spaceship.

Yang Jun was unsure whether the spacecraft could take off smoothly.

Da Sima invested a lot of effort in building this magnificent structure.

Yang Jun was also aware of the public opinion wave that this sudden solar eclipse would trigger in Guanzhong.

The celestial phenomenon was a warning, clearly corresponding to the abnormal phenomenon that the country had no emperor.

Without waiting for Yang Jun to comfort him, Black Bear said, “Ji Cai stays here, I’ll go to Wuzhangyuan to practice meditation.”

“Your Majesty, I’m afraid this won’t stop Zhong Yuanchang and the others.”

This time, it was not only Zhong Yao who persuaded the emperor to ascend the throne, but also Ma Teng, Liu Qi, Liu Ye, Liu Ai, and Wei Duan; probably a series of princes including Sun Shao, Marquis of Wu, Xu Kun, Marquis of Jiande, etc. would also come forward to persuade the emperor to ascend the throne.

It is very likely that they will all run to the black bear and hold a sit-in demonstration.

“Wuzhangyuan is remote and sparsely populated, so they can come if they want.”

Black Bear turned and walked towards the stairs, then stopped and instructed: “The secretaries should also stay in Chencang, and all kinds of memorials should be withheld. The performance appraisal is related to the long-term development of the country, so Ji Cai should pay more attention to it.”

“Here.”

Yang Jun bowed deeply and watched the black bear leave.

Yang Jun didn’t care much about whether there was a nominal emperor or not.

Just as Black Bear led the guards away, they arrived at the Chang’an Sili Xiaowei Office.

Zhong Yao strode out, and the carriage had just stopped at the front door.

He stepped into the car and said, “Let’s go to the dock!”

Chencang is neither far nor near, and he prefers to take a boat.

Last year, in order to facilitate the water transport on the Wei River, Chencang Shipyard built three steam-driven transport ships in a row, two of which traveled between Chencang and Pingyang, and the other between Shaanxi, Tianjin and Pingyang.

We also plan to build three more ships this year to expand transportation efficiency.

Officials also like to travel by boat when traveling on official business. It is not only fast, but also saves animal power and makes the journey more relaxing.

There are some other benefits to coming to the pier.

As soon as Zhong Yao arrived at the dock building, he saw Ma Teng leading a dozen officials on horseback, and there were also carriages and horses in the distance.

In the afternoon, several officials from Chang’an boarded the ship and gathered in the restaurant.

Although Liu Qi was of a lower generation, he was also a local hero and a patriarch of the clan.

Although he declined, he had to sit in the main seat.

The attendant Liu Ai said, “Today’s signs are a warning, because they are dissatisfied with the state being without a leader. Grand Marshal Liang Hou was born in the State of Chen. He is a man of great talent, both civil and military. He is feared by the whole world and admired by all the people. In my opinion, Liang Hou should continue the Han dynasty.”

Weiwei Ma Teng nodded and said, “I think so too, but Marquis Liang hates the people of the Central Plains for betraying King Chen. If this hatred is not resolved, it will be difficult to persuade Marquis Liang.” Grand Minister of Agriculture Liu Ye then said, “The prefectures and counties in Guandong have rebelled against the court and are subordinate to the false dynasty. They should be wiped out. If so, Marquis Liang’s hatred can be alleviated.”

After Liu Ye finished speaking, everyone fell silent and exchanged glances.

Mainly, he observed Zhong Yao, who said without hesitation: “The country cannot be without a ruler for a day.”

Several people went to see Liu Qi, who was from Shanyang, Yanzhou. Liu Qi also agreed: “For the safety of the country, how can we be so concerned about family background?”

Seeing that the people from Guandong had no objections, Wei Duan would have no objections either.

He was getting a bit old, and he wanted to become one of the Three Dukes as soon as possible, recruit talents from all over the world, and lay a solid foundation for his family.

As long as the Grand Marshal does not advance to a high position, how can others be promoted to the Three Dukes?

The Three Dukes were extremely glorious, and although they had no real power, the special mechanism for recruiting talents in the government office was extremely influential.

The Yuan family’s foundation was entirely built on the accumulation of three officials over four generations.

After the brief meeting, they had a quick meal and returned to the cabin to rest and spend the night.

At the speed of the ship, we will reach Chencang early the next morning.

After the transport ship has refueled and received food supplies, and has been inspected by maintenance technicians, it can then depart from Chencang and head for Pingyang.

At night, Liu Ai invited Liu Qi to have dinner in the restaurant on the first floor.

After nightfall, the transport ship has a strict curfew and is not allowed to enter or leave the deck, but can only move around in the cabin.

But they were of noble status, and the captain did not dare to be too restrictive. Through the window, you can see the pilot towers on both sides of the Wei River at night.

The south bank and the north bank stand opposite each other, with a pair every ten miles.

When the transport ship sails, it sails along the center of the two towers.

Since the establishment of the Chencang and Pingyang routes, official documents from Youzhou and counties west of Taihang Mountains can be delivered to Chencang one day in advance, saving a lot of manpower in transporting official documents.

Official documents from these places were gathered in Pingyang and shipped to Chencang, and vice versa.

There was no one else in the restaurant, so Liu Ai asked, “Zongzheng has the closest relationship with Da Sima. I know it will be difficult to persuade Da Sima this time. I hope Zongzheng can use his personal relationship to persuade Da Sima.”

This is not just Hei Xiong’s business, nor is it just about Liu Ai and Liu Qi. It concerns the political treatment of clan members in various places.

Liu Qi took a drink and pondered for a long time: “If we change the name of the country, what do you think, Minister of the Court?”

Liu Ai was stunned. He was obviously prepared for this. “Then would the Grand Marshal be willing to announce the family tree? It is also OK to worship the ancestral temples of Gaozu and Shizu as usual. It is also time to replace the twenty-four emperors of the Han Dynasty.”

This was Liu Ai’s bottom line. If Hei Xiong was willing to change his name to Liu Hei Xiong, then changing the country’s name and exempting the Liu family in various places from their political privileges would be a good thing for the new dynasty and would help it get rid of countless heavy burdens.

So many existing royal princes and dukes have been stripped of their kingdoms, and there is no need to restore the titles of the founding heroes of the Han Dynasty… In other words, they can get more now.

This change surprised Liu Qi: “Sir, isn’t this a bit rebellious?”

“What I am troubled about is the name of the new dynasty. Liang and Wei are both fine, but they are the names of the old country. With the achievements of the Grand Marshal, the new dynasty will not fail the spirits of our ancestors.”

Liu Ai was holding a wine glass. He had followed the previous emperor to the east and had experienced the darkest times. Now that light was before his eyes, why bother making further troubles?
It’s just to let Da Sima take a small step back and release the resentment accumulated in his childhood, and then things will naturally get better.

Liu Qi nodded slowly and raised his head to drink. “When there is a chance, I will discuss it in detail with the Grand Marshal. If Liang and Wei are not appropriate, we can choose a new name for the country. Nowadays, the ancient and new schools of thought seem to be two different schools, but they are actually the same. Choosing a new name for the country is also in line with the call of the scholars and the people.”

After putting down his wine glass, Liu Qi asked, “What does the Minister of Agriculture think?”

Even though Liu Ye has been sidelined, he will definitely be an important official when he is sent out after this round of performance evaluation.

Whichever direction Liu Ye goes will determine where the war will start first.

Apart from the Battle of Hehuang, Guanzhong had been recuperating for almost four years.

It has reached the point where it is difficult to suppress it, and a fight is necessary.

Liu Ai smiled when he heard this and said, “Is the Minister of Agriculture someone who sticks to traditional customs?”

(End of this chapter)