Control your ancestors and create an immortal family starting from the Eastern Han Dynasty

Chapter 111 The army arrives in Lingnan, and the flames of war ignite at Dayu Ridge (Seeking monthly votes)

Unlike when I left Luoyang last time, the passage of time made everyone feel the ruthlessness of time.

Gu Ye is no longer the twelve-year-old boy who could bring people countless hopes.

For many people in the court.

In this battle, what they longed for was not a great victory, but for Gu Ye to return safely.

Even Zhong Hui has changed somewhat.

He was older than Gu Ye, and was now approaching his wedding age, but his ambition remained undiminished as he continued to roam the court.

This is also the difference brought about by the emergence of the Gu family.

In the original history, Zhong Hui was loyal to Sima Shi, but his final fate was not satisfactory.

but now--

The Sima family had long since vanished under Gu Chen's iron hooves.

Even the prime minister died with a smile on his face.

The emergence of the Gu family ultimately changed far too much of history, and consequently, greatly altered the destinies of many people.

“Zhaode”.

At the Marquis of Champion's residence, Zhong Hui, whose temples were already gray, stared intently at Gu Ye, as if he had a thousand words to say, but in the end, they all boiled down to one sentence: "No matter what, you must come back!"

"Our great cause is not yet complete; you must return no matter what!"

"We must come back."

His eyes gradually reddened, and he kept repeating those four words.

Gu Yi watched this scene silently.

They did not interfere with Gu Ye too much.

Parting is always a somber experience.

Zhang Hua cared even more about Gu Ye's safety than Zhong Hui. He had been unable to sleep for days, trying to find ways to avoid the miasma from various records.

Although all of these methods are found in the Gu family.

But he also wanted to do his best to provide Gu Ye with an extra layer of protection.

He is no longer young.

Compared to his historical counterpart, he now works much harder.

This is a quality that is becoming increasingly rare in modern times.

He had to live up to Gu Chen's evaluation of him!

The farewell arrived in this quiet atmosphere.

August of the seventeenth year of the Qianji era;

—Gu Ye leaves Luoyang again after several years.

On the eve of parting.

Liu Chen, accompanied by the people of Luoyang and officials of the imperial court, saw him off.

This scene has happened many times, but each time it is just as moving.

Generation after generation of Gu family members have left this city for the sake of the world and their family.

An overwhelming atmosphere of sorrow permeated the entire city of Luoyang.

Among the crowd were elderly men with white hair, leaning on canes, their eyes filled with reluctance and concern;

A woman holding a toddler had her clothes soaked with tears, and the child in her arms seemed to sense the sad atmosphere and cried loudly.
The young men, though they did not shed tears, bit their lips tightly, their eyes filled with respect and worry.

Gu Ye slowly walked up to Liu Chen, bowed respectfully to him, and said firmly, "Your Majesty, we will fight to the death to kill the enemy, and live up to Your Majesty's trust and the people of the Han Dynasty!"

"My lords, you must be careful on your journey."

Liu Chen nodded slightly, slowly pulled Gu Ye up, his voice low but full of power: "I and the people are looking forward to your triumphant return!"

We look forward to your triumphant return!

A simple sentence, yet it contains a thousand words.

Gu Ye nodded, then turned and left.
This battle is destined to be incredibly difficult.

Its fatal flaw lies in the fact that the army must march in large numbers and also face changes in the environment.

This was also one of the most serious problems faced during the expedition to Lingnan.

High temperatures, miasma, acclimatization problems, dense population
There are simply too many factors that could cause the Han army to fall ill, leading to chaos within the army.

This is actually the biggest drawback of feudal dynasties' expeditions.

A large, densely packed army can become a breeding ground for bacteria, which can then spread throughout the military.

Gu Yi made many preparations for this.

He divided the entire army into three routes.

—The 30,000-strong eastern army marched south along the Gan River from Yuzhang County, passing through Luling and Nanye, crossing Meiguan Pass and entering Zhenshui, heading straight for Panyu.

Waterways are the primary mode of transportation.

This was further subdivided into multiple parts precisely to avoid large-scale injuries and illnesses.

—The central army of 30,000 men dredged the Qin Dynasty Lingqu Canal from Lingling County, connecting the Xiangjiang and Lijiang river systems, and reaching Cangwu.

The goal was to gain complete control of the Li River.

If we can control the Li River, we can completely cut off the retreat route of the Yue people to the west.

It can also form a pincer movement with the eastern route to suppress the Liao people tribe in Lingbei.

The 40,000-strong army on the western route marched along the Yuan River from Wuling County.

There are countless details involved.

Gu Yi had made thorough preparations, including the location chosen for camping; the requirement to boil and settle drinking water; and instructions on sleeping in hammocks to prevent snakes and insects.

Gu Yi could clearly feel the progress he had made compared to the last time he took control.

nothing else
He may not yet be able to match the judgment of those historically renowned generals in the overall battle situation, but he already has the ability to grasp the big picture.

This is Gu Yi's progress!

The key is--

Gu Yi possesses a perspective they lack, and through modern knowledge, he minimizes the risks they might face.

His decision to march in August was based on his own judgment.

As the saying goes, the autumn sky is high and the air is crisp.

Spring and summer are the rainy season in the Guangdong and Guangxi regions. Mobilizing troops at this time would be a disaster for the soldiers of the Han Dynasty.

As for the troops led by Wen Yang, Gu Yi also gave him unique arrangements this time.

He abandoned the armor used by the Han army and instead had them adopt rattan armor made by the southwestern barbarians.

This was also a result of Gu Yi's comprehensive considerations.

The environment in Lingnan was vastly different from that in the Central Plains, and the heavy armor of the Han army might have become a burden for these elite troops under such circumstances.

But rattan armor is different.

Moreover, the rattan armor is sufficient to defend against the arrows of the Yue tribes.

These people are all elites.

Gu Yi had to ensure that he could unleash his full fighting potential.

The army marched forward.

Gu Ye was stationed at the main force of this battle—the Eastern Route Army.

Although Gu Yi has already reached the limit of this era.

But as the army continued its advance...

Various problems continued to arise among the army.

Injuries are unavoidable.

Long marches inevitably lead to injuries and illnesses, which is an inherent part of expeditions. Gu Yi could only try to prevent the injuries and illnesses from worsening.

October;

As the army approached Lingnan, the unusual environment eventually caused disease.

Gu Yi immediately went into quarantine.

In addition, Gu Yi took out three "Miasma-Avoiding Pills" from his hand, dissolved one of them in water, and made the soldiers drink it.

Although he didn't know whether the "malaria-avoiding pill" would still work after such dilution.

After all, this miasma-avoiding pill is just an ordinary item.

But no matter what, he had to give it a try.

As for the remaining two...

He has to keep it.

One was for Gu Ye, and the other was for generals like Wen Yang.

This is a choice he has to make.

Gu Yi could only do his best to minimize the casualties.

As for the casualties on the Chinese and Western routes, they would only be greater.

Although Gu Yi had already imparted some basic knowledge to the generals of these two armies, this was inevitable.

The news continued to spread.

News of such a large-scale attack had naturally spread long ago.

Whether it's the Han Dynasty or the Gu family, they would make the Shan Yue people extremely wary.

Facing the Han army that had already charged forward.

The Shanyue tribes immediately sent envoys, wanting to meet Gu Ye.

After all, for them.

The policy between the Han Dynasty and the Yue tribes has been in place for so many years. They don't understand why Gu Ye would suddenly mobilize troops.

I'll say it again!

"You will have no choice but to surrender completely and obey the laws of the Great Han Dynasty, or else you will face the mighty army of the Great Han!"

In the main account.

Looking at the envoy sent by a tribe in front of him, Gu Yi controlled Gu Ye and spoke in a cold voice.

"General"

The faces of all the envoys were extremely grim; they had never expected Gu Ye's attitude to be so resolute.

“Our tribes have maintained a friendly alliance with the Han Dynasty for over a hundred years and have never experienced any trouble.”

"Why is the General treating us like this? Is this the etiquette of the Han Dynasty?"

Everyone was talking to each other.

They all emphasized the improved relations between their tribes and the Han Dynasty over the years.

Faced with the fierce Han army, no one wanted to start a direct battle.

But how could they possibly be fully integrated into the Han Dynasty?

These envoys were very knowledgeable about Han culture.

They wanted to use Han Chinese etiquette to restrain Gu Ye.

This method might work on others, but how could it possibly affect Gu Yi?
He simply couldn't be bothered to waste words.

He didn't bother to give examples to refute when these tribal envoys had betrayed the Han Dynasty; he simply waved his hand and ordered them to be driven out.

This battle was destined to be unavoidable.

Facing the domineering Gu Ye.

As in previous years, these mountain tribes once again formed an alliance.

They cannot surrender.

So many years have passed since the events in northern Xinjiang, but they are no longer a secret in Lingnan.

It can be said--

If they were to surrender to the Han army, the actual rulers of these tribes would be affected.

With them around, a peaceful ending was impossible.

And for these people...

They didn't believe the Han army would stay in Lingnan forever. Even if they lost the battle, the Han army would leave just like they had before.

If that's the case, what do they have to fear?

The entire Yue-Shan coalition immediately deployed defenses along the southern section of the Meiguan Ancient Road.

This was also one of the gateways for the Han army to enter the area north of Lingnan.

Although the Yue people were generally inferior to the Han people.

However, through years of contact, they have also gained an understanding of some of the Han army's combat methods.

Most importantly, they were very familiar with the local terrain.

The Han army was indeed going to break through the Meiguan Ancient Road.

Their guess was correct, but the only thing they overlooked was the existence of Gu Han.

Gu Yi did not expect Gu Han to be of much help to him on this trip.

For him.

Gu Han has already done enough.

He maintained the tradition of the Gu family and sent Gu Yi a geomantic map of Lingnan.

Having this is enough!

November of the eighteenth year of the Qianji era.

Gu Yi officially launched his attack on the Meiguan Ancient Road.

Ling Wenyang was ordered to lead the vanguard in a frontal assault on the city, drawing the attention of the defending troops.

Meanwhile, they secretly dispatched surprise troops.

Carrying hooks and ropes, they circled around the woodcutter's path to the back of the Yue village and created chaos.

Gu Yi must be decisive in this battle.

Just like the war in the northern frontier, they wanted to decide the outcome in one battle.

The Gu family still enjoyed a high reputation among the Yue people.

If he can break the will to resist these people, he will be able to completely control the entire Lingnan region in a short period of time.

As for dragging it out...

That would be utterly self-destructive for the Han army.

The resistance of the Yue people was highly tribal.

Faced with Wen Yang's attack, they only resisted for a few waves before they fully realized how brave Wen Yang was.

Knowing that one cannot directly confront its strength.

They then immediately took advantage of the local resources, using the bees kept by the tribe to harass the Han army while resisting.

This was indeed a tactic that Gu Yi hadn't anticipated.

When the dense swarm of bees rushed out of the hive, even Wen Yang found it difficult to exert his full strength.

The dense swarm of bees will always find a gap in the vine armor.

Gu Yi immediately came up with a solution.

He ordered his soldiers to light fires and create smoke to scare away the bees, and to continuously tighten the encirclement, creating opportunities for the surprise attack force.

These tribes certainly employ all sorts of bizarre methods.

For the contemporary world, it may be unsolvable, and it is equally perplexing.

They can easily make people think they can control wild beasts if they are not careful.

However, these methods were simply insufficient to affect the overall situation for Gu Yi, who possessed modern knowledge.

As for the morale of the Han army?

Gu Ye is here.

How could the morale of the Han army possibly waver?

This battle was destined to be utterly hopeless for the Shanyue tribes.

Their various methods were completely useless against the Han army. Due to their backward technology, their weapons and arrows could not penetrate the rattan armor at all.

The casualties caused were even less than those of soldiers who died from disease.

January of the nineteenth year of the Qianji era.

A massive fire brought the entire battle along the Meiguan Ancient Road to an end.

The Han army officially broke through the gateway to Lingnan.

They marched into Lingnan.

At the same time, the central army also encountered the enemy.

The two sides engaged in a major battle at Huazui on the Qin Dike.

The Yue tribes threw poisonous herbs into the Lingqu Canal in an attempt to cause the Han army to collapse from within.

Fortunately, Gu Yi had taught the soldiers filtration methods beforehand, including boiling the water.

This method cannot completely filter out all toxins.

But don't forget, the Han army originally had its own methods.

After discovering the problem with the drinking water, the Han army added alum to remove impurities, building upon a series of existing methods.

Under these various methods—

The toxin, which was not even considered lethal, had no effect whatsoever.

When this method becomes ineffective.

The advantages of the Han army were fully demonstrated, although the Han army was still unable to overcome the disadvantages caused by environmental factors.

But what can we do about it?

The overall strength of the Han Dynasty far surpasses that of the Yue people!

This is a disadvantage that the Shanyue people cannot overcome.

March;

The western army ambushed the enemy at Crocodile Pool in Chenxi.

The entire southern border was shaken by the overwhelming Han army.

Since the reign of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, the entire southern border region has once again welcomed his conquerors.

And this time—

We need to be even more determined than before!
Gu Yi wasn't after temporary achievements; what he wanted was for Lingnan to be completely integrated into the Nine Provinces!
At the very least, we can't be like we are now, so out of place with Kyushu!
------

"The Han Dynasty was one of the most fascinating dynasties in the history of my country's feudal dynasties."

It is not only because of its unique political characteristics, such as the "Ten Directions Expeditionary Envoys" who could accompany the monarch's power, but also because of the formation of the imperial examination system.

It was also due to the ethnic integration policy implemented during the Qianlong reign.

This move completely reversed the historical antagonism between the Han and the non-Han peoples in my country and laid a solid foundation for the development of national unity.

Undisputedly—

Looking at all the dynasties that followed, one can see some traces of the Han dynasty's system.

And pacify the northern frontier and Lingnan
This also definitively demonstrates that the overall strength of the Yan Han dynasty has completely surpassed that of all previous dynasties.

—The Rise and Fall of the Han Dynasty

(End of this chapter)