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

Chapter 144 As long as the Gu family's banners stand, the Turks cannot cross the Shuofang! (Two chapters combined, please vote!)
The news kept spreading.

The Gu family's reputation clearly still had some effect.

The weakest tribes quickly sent word to Gu Yu about Jieli Khan's autocratic rule.

The scouts that Gu Yu had arranged in all directions also gathered intelligence.

—The situation changed in an instant!
After experiencing so much, Gu Yi can now see through Gu Yu's arrangements.

He dared to make such arrogant and harsh remarks.

The intention was to provoke Jieli Khan and force him to follow the route he had set for him.

Given that it was already certain that Jieli Khan would attack.

This move was aimed at securing geographical advantages for the Tang Dynasty.

Besides that, they also use their power to intimidate others.

It was not the power of the Tang Dynasty.

It was the Gu family!

Gu Yu's target was not only Jieli Khan, but also other tribes within the Turkic Khaganate.

This is the inevitable outcome for a particular power.

Where there are supporters, there are bound to be opponents.

Although Khagan Jieli can now suppress all of this with his unparalleled prestige.

But as long as he can seize even the slightest advantage, this opposition will only grow stronger!

Gu Yu's goal is right here!
Its core strategy remains psychological warfare!

Anyone else would probably not have been able to accomplish this so easily.

But the Gu family was different.

Gu Yu dared to speak out as the head of the Gu family because he wanted to rekindle the fear these alien races had felt when they faced Gu Chen in the past.

This is the most crucial point!

For Gu Yu...

The core of this battle is to win the first battle, which is why he made so many preparations in advance!

Shuofang Camp.

Although it was his first time on the battlefield, Gu Yu remained completely calm and took control of everything within the camp.

Meanwhile, he continued to release information under the name of "the head of the Gu family".

Its content—

It is still the endless rumors about the Gu family among the foreign tribes of yesteryear, including many pronouncements against Jieli Khan.

"The invasion of the Gu family in the south led to the fall of the Golden Wolf."

"Those who despise the bloodline of the wolf-chasing-the-sun will surely face divine punishment."

"."

Various prophecies emerged one after another, spreading through those small tribes throughout the entire Turkic army.

Gu Yu's ability to control people's hearts is clearly extraordinary.

He was well aware that fear in people's hearts would gradually form as memories were awakened.

Even if Jieli Khan can control the surface, so what?

Even Li Shimin could not control people's hearts.

Let alone him?

Those arrogant remarks were a trap set by Gu Yu for Jieli Khan, designed to force him to continue pushing forward and gradually make him lose his mind due to anger.

As Gu Yu had predicted, things turned out exactly as he had expected.

The Turkic army was, in fact, a coalition of various tribes.

The problem of this coalition's inability to fully control the situation is unavoidable.

And compared to Kyushu;

The extent to which Turkic tribes valued prophecies and superstitions was even more astonishing.

Even before the great war began, all sorts of prophecies and superstitions had spread throughout the entire Turkic army, and the stories became increasingly outrageous.

Not to mention the lowest-ranking Turkic cavalry.

Even some tribal leaders were affected to some extent, and some even tried to persuade Khagan Jieli to withdraw his troops, but unsurprisingly, they were all rebuked by Khagan Jieli.
"If we avoid the Gu family as we fear wolves, who on the grasslands will fear my Golden Wolf Banner!"

This is what makes Gu Yu so terrifying.

From the moment Jieli Khan launched his attack, he was forced to follow the path that Gu Yu had designed for him.

As long as you show even a little bit of fear.

His prestige within the entire Turkic community would then be severely affected.

Jieli Khan was not a fool.

By now, he had begun to feel a sense of unease. He had not anticipated the fear that the soldiers of the various tribes had shown towards the rumors surrounding the Gu family.

But how could he possibly retreat?
If we return empty-handed today, the balance of power between the Tang Dynasty and the Turks will be completely reversed.

If he faces resource shortages again, his position as Khan will be threatened!
He had no way out!
In order to quell the prophecies spreading through the army, Khagan Jieli had no choice but to wield his hunting knife, intending to use violence to suppress everyone's dissent.

In addition—he also promised huge profits.

The one who first breaks through Shuofang;
Five thousand cattle and sheep will be given as a reward, along with a thousand slaves!
Under these various measures, although the influence of these prophecies still lingered in people's hearts, at least openly, no one dared to oppose Khagan Jieli anymore.

But what can we do about it?
How could someone like Gu Yu not have thought of these things?
He's not Gu Chen, how could he possibly be able to look down on enemies from all sides just based on prophecy?
This battle was destined to begin.

The end of July, the ninth year of the Wude era;

After suppressing various criticisms, the Turkic army finally arrived at Shuozhou.

When I set foot on this land once again.

That feeling unique to the invaders quickly rose in the hearts of all the Turkic soldiers.

aggression--

It can bring people so much excitement.

Whether it was the provisions or the slavery and women, the scenes from the past flashed through their minds once again as they stepped onto this land.

When they recalled all of this, even the influence of the Gu family's prophecy seemed to have faded somewhat.

Greed has always been an inescapable root of evil for humankind.

Khagan Jieli noticed the change in morale among his troops and was overjoyed.

He certainly wouldn't give up this opportunity.

He immediately ordered his men to lead an army of 20,000 to launch a rapid attack on Shuozhou!

The battle has begun.

Faced with the surging Turkic army, the garrison of Shuozhou was extremely panicked, and even seemed to be on the verge of collapse without a fight.

Even Khagan Jieli was somewhat stunned when he heard the news.

In the tent.

Everyone's expressions were extremely solemn.

If it were someone else, they certainly wouldn't have this feeling.

But now the head of the Gu family is in Shuofang, so how could it be so simple?
"Great Khan, could there be a trap here?" Zhishi Sili stared intently at Jieli Khan and asked seriously.

Upon hearing this, everyone present couldn't help but nod in agreement.

“There must be a trick. There are old legends about the Gu family in our tribe. The Gu family are all treacherous and cunning people who are very good at sowing discord among us. They are definitely playing a trick!”

"Indeed! How could the bloodline of the Azure Wolf Sun Chaser be so worthless?"

"Great Khan, you must not fall for our trap! Let us retreat!"

"."

Everyone spoke amongst themselves, their eyes filled with wariness.

so easy!

It's absolutely impossible for a place guarded by members of the Gu family to collapse without a fight!

Listening to everyone's words, Khagan Jieli's brows furrowed even more deeply.

How could he not sense something was amiss?
But how could he back down!

Moreover, Khagan Jieli was thinking much more than they were. He was currently considering whether Gu Yu was deliberately putting on an act.
Is the goal to force them to back down?

Problems have already emerged within the Tang court, and he is well aware that the main force of the Tang army is not currently in Shuofang, and Gu Yu only has tens of thousands of troops under his command.

Under this circumstance.

It's possible that Gu Yu deliberately feigned weakness to warn them.

The contents of the military treatise and the legends of the Gu family kept replaying in Jieli Khan's mind.

The more he thought about it, the more likely it seemed.

One very obvious detail about the Gu family's sons leading troops is that their soldiers are all extremely united and have the will to die for their cause!

Logically speaking—

It is absolutely impossible for a situation like the one we are in now, where the enemy collapses without a fight.

Now that it has appeared, there must be something sinister going on!
Thinking of this, Khagan Jieli waved his hand, silencing the crowd.

Under the solemn gazes of everyone.

Jieli Khan took a deep breath and slowly said, "What if this is the treacherous scheme of that Gu family son?"

The atmosphere inside the tent suddenly changed.

The corners of Jieli Khan's mouth curled up slightly, revealing a disdainful smile: "The Tang Dynasty is currently undergoing internal changes, and its elite troops are not in Shuo. What means can he possibly use to stop my hundreds of thousands of mighty lions?"

"I think—"

"Only such a treacherous scheme can save us!"

The more Jieli Khan spoke, the more confident he became. In the end, he even stood up, a confident smile on his face: "I understand!"

"No wonder the prophecies about the Gu family have spread so quickly these days."

"No wonder the Gu family head didn't show any humility like people from Kyushu, and kept saying so many arrogant things."

"He—is trying to make us all wary."

"I'm worried he'll use a treacherous scheme to force us to retreat immediately."

"If the Tang Dynasty had recovered and sent its elite troops, we would have missed this golden opportunity!"

—It's connected!

It's completely clear!

After saying these words, Jieli Khan felt that all his doubts had been resolved.

All of this was Gu Yu's treacherous scheme.

This is to force them to withdraw their troops.

The expressions on everyone's faces grew increasingly complex at this moment, as they pondered the words spoken by Jieli Khan.

They also had to admit that Khagan Jieli's analysis was correct.

All of these things can be connected.

Moreover, it perfectly aligns with the psychological warfare tactics that generations of the Gu family have always been adept at using, allowing them to repel the enemy without a fight.

Even so, they still felt uneasy.

What if they're wrong?

However, Khagan Jieli was unwilling to care about their thoughts at this moment. Perhaps because he had been having too smooth sailing all these years, Khagan Jieli was very proud of his own abilities.

Kyushu is his life support.

This has always been the case over the years.

As for the so-called Gu family, what difference does it make?

From the time the Gu family rose to power until now.

Over the centuries, how many members of the Gu family have been able to defeat any force in their territory and make it bow down, just like Gu Chen did back then?

Such people are not so easy to find.
"Send the order!"

Without the slightest hesitation, Jieli Khan's gaze suddenly sharpened: "Attack Shuozhou immediately!"

Seeing that everyone still looked hesitant.

He suddenly changed the subject, "Could it be that you don't want the grain and slaves from the Central Plains anymore?"

The atmosphere changed abruptly after these words were spoken.

Many people's eyes lit up instantly, and they all nodded.

Self-interest is a drug that can make people lose their rationality.

When there are enough benefits, any other thoughts will be quickly extinguished when faced with all of this.

A major battle suddenly broke out.

As the Turkic army officially launched its attack, the entire garrison of Shuozhou had no will to resist and chose to abandon the city and flee.

Perhaps they truly believed in their own judgment, or perhaps they wanted to establish an indestructible prestige among the Turks by conquering the Gu clan;
Under these circumstances.

Without the slightest hesitation, Khagan Jieli immediately led his troops in pursuit!

Ambition grows as circumstances change.

Now that things have come to this point, the same is true for Jieli Khan. He has seen through the Gu family's treacherous scheme, which has indeed given him far too much confidence.

He had even imagined that after conquering the Gu family, he would directly attack Chang'an and take over the entire Guanzhong region, at which point he would be able to occupy the entire Central Plains.

But all fantasies must eventually face reality.

The Turkic army pursued the Sanggan River valley.

The first cavalryman fell into the trap that Gu Yu had prepared for them.

The situation changed in an instant!
The Tang army, which had already prepared for the enemy, quickly surrounded the entire canyon.

Accompanied by a dense barrage of arrows and rolling stones.

At that moment, the entire canyon instantly transformed into a meat grinder, and the cries of agony echoed across the sky through the canyon.

Chaos ensued!
The sudden change threw the 20,000-strong Turkic army that had come to pursue them into complete chaos. In addition, their warhorses, wounded, instinctively fled, and the traps that Gu Yu had prepared beforehand also came into play at this moment.

This is the first battlefield that Gu Yu has chosen!
Everything done before was to lure the Turkic soldiers into a trap.

His judgment of human heartbreak has been exceptionally profound since childhood, let alone now that he has reached this age.

Gu Yu was certain that Jieli Khan would not give up this opportunity, much less give up conquering the Gu clan!

And the Sanggan River Canyon;

This was the only geographical advantage that could limit the Turkic cavalry!

Red banners fluttered in the air between the cliffs, the characters "Tang" and "Gu" reflecting each other like two sharp blades hanging in the sky.

Gu Yan, clad in black armor, stood atop a precipice, with corpses strewn across the valley floor beneath his feet.

He gazed at the blood-stained riverbank, his brows furrowing slightly. Suddenly, he raised his hand to summon a messenger. A biting mountain wind swept across his tightly pursed lips, and his resounding words carried a chilling undertone: "Gu Yan, a descendant of the Gu family, is here—"

"As long as this flag stands, the Turks will not be able to cross the northern frontier for ten years!"

Those who pass through Shuofang—

"die!"

As the messengers roared in unison, the sound waves exploded like thunder.

The echoes reverberated through the steep canyon, causing rocks to tumble down from the cliff edge.

Under the blood-red setting sun.

These deafening sounds truly felt like divine punishment, hurling wrath upon these Turkic cavalrymen who dared to offend the divine.

panic;

pain;

Fear of death;

Countless soldiers fell one after another within the canyon. Although the defenders were finally breached by the arrival of Khan Jieli and his army, the remaining troops were able to retreat.

But nearly ten thousand people perished within this canyon.

A sudden and devastating defeat shattered Jieli Khan's illusions and also brought the others to their senses.

The key is--

They then discovered that even in the abandoned city of Shuozhou, Gu Yu had left them nothing.

Forget about grain, fodder, gold, silver, and treasure.

There were no men who could be enslaved, nor women to vent one's frustrations on.

An unprecedented panic instantly arose within the Turkic territory, along with the prophecies about the Gu family, which were even more intense this time than before.

The various prophecies had reached a point where even Jieli Khan could no longer control them.

In particular, Gu Yu had a stone tablet carved in the Sanggan River Canyon, inscribed with the words "Gu Clan Slayed Wolves Here" in both Kyushu and Turkic languages!

The wolf was the totem of the Turks!

This move has undoubtedly caused panic among many people.

Suddenly, calls for retreat resounded once again among the Turks.

But how could Jieli Khan retreat?

It might have been okay before, but he was unwilling to give up his pride.

But now that there has been no gain and so many people have died, if he retreats now, his so-called Turkic Khanate will truly be over!

He has to fight!
At the very least, we must gain something!

Shuofang.

Tang army camp.

“Jieli will not back down.” Gu Yu looked calmly at the group of Gu family members present and instructed them: “On the battlefield, victory and defeat are not everything. You must remember that people’s hearts are also a key factor.”

Just like any other head of the Gu family, he did his best to teach the family members.

This not only explains why it was impossible for Khagan Jieli to withdraw his troops.

This also includes why Qaghan was fooled and ended up where he is today.

All the disciples listened very attentively.

Gu Yu's expression remained calm, showing no joy or sorrow over the great victory. After speaking, he instructed, "Submit a memorial to the court."

"It is said that the Turks suddenly led their army to invade."

"Although Quan'er repelled the enemy and killed more than 10,000, he died in the Sanggan River Gorge."

These words immediately created a heavy atmosphere in the camp.

The joy on Gu Yan and the others' faces vanished instantly, replaced by grief.

Although they all understood.

After Gu Quan made that choice, he was already dead.

This was merely the burial site that Gu Yu had chosen for him.

But when the moment actually arrived, the sorrow in my heart was still unavoidable.

Wasn't Gu Quan doing this also for the sake of his family?
Gu Yu noticed the unspoken emotions in everyone's eyes and waved his hand again, urging them, "Go on, get ready, I still need to see Jieli."

"Father!"

Upon hearing this, Gu Yan's eyes sharpened, and he immediately said, "Our army has just won a great victory, and morale is high. On the other hand, the Turks are in turmoil. Why don't we take this opportunity to launch a counterattack against the Turks?"

"That's when."

"It can also bring more merits to my brother."

He wanted to fight for Gu Quan again, and he also didn't want to let this opportunity slip by.

"People's hearts are in turmoil?" Gu Yu shook his head directly: "When they are truly forced into a desperate situation, these people will always abandon everything."

"That's when."

Have you ever considered what would happen between the Nine Provinces and the Tang Dynasty?

As he spoke, he paused slightly, then sighed softly and said, "Everyone has ambition, but the difficulty lies in how to control it."

"This is indeed a warplane."

"However, the world is currently exhausted, and the government and the people are not at peace."

“If any mistake is made, the Gu family will become sinners in the Nine Provinces. Have you considered this?”

His tone was very calm, yet it still struck a chord with everyone.

Kyushu is definitely not a place we can fight anymore.

Once war breaks out, its effects will spread throughout the entire Kyushu region in an instant.

How long had the Tang Dynasty just unified the country?

The palace coup had just ended.

If war breaks out again at this time, and turmoil occurs once more in Kyushu, then everything will inevitably spiral out of control.

How could he not harbor ambitions of achieving great things?
But it's that one sentence—

Everyone has ambition, but the difficulty lies in how to control that ambition.

The great war between the Tang Dynasty and the Turks was not yet over.

Everyone fell silent instantly.

Today, the name "Gu Family" has brought both convenience and burden to its members.

For the sake of their family, they cannot act recklessly or go crazy.

In fact, they all understand this.

If it weren't for Gu Quan, they wouldn't feel so resentful.

Who wouldn't want to bring Gu Quan more fame?

Seeing that no one was making a move, Gu Yu shook his head slightly and finally had to pick up the pen and paper himself.

He explained the situation of the battle to the imperial court;

A detailed account of the battle situation and the strategy employed.

Subsequently, he wrote many things to Li Shimin in this memorial.

Its content is about ambition and restraint in making great achievements, and it talks about the questions about "original intention" that he and Li Shimin had discussed in the past.

Isn't this also his end?
Although Gu Yu's body is not yet at its worst, he is already in his twilight years.

Defending the Nine Provinces against external enemies was the end he chose for himself, and the last thing he could do for his entire family.

In fact, there were still many things that Gu Yi failed to see.

Why did Gu Yu keep emphasizing his identity as the head of the Gu family throughout this battle?

His goal was to firmly establish the connection between the Gu family and the rise and fall of the Nine Provinces.

At the same time, we must also make the name of the Gu family resound throughout the land once again.

The memorial was sent to Chang'an.

At the same time, Gu Yu did not stop his targeting of the Turks.

He continues to spread various prophecies.

However, this time it was different from before, as the rumors spread this time also included nursery rhymes from various Turkic tribes.

There are also various rumors about their hometown, such as "Why don't the men of the grasslands return home!"

The morale of the Turkic army was greatly boosted!

In fact, at this point, even Jieli Khan no longer had the will to continue the war.

But for the sake of his dignity as Khan, he had to suppress all his emotions and continue leading his army forward.

This time, compared to his previous reckless behavior, he was clearly much more cautious.

However, Gu Yu did not continue to target them.

There was no ambush.

The entire Turkic army finally crossed the Sanggan River Gorge and headed straight for Shuofang.

But just then——

Gu Yu's message finally came again; he wanted to meet Jieli Khan in person.

Upon hearing that the Gu family head wanted to meet the Khan in person...

The entire Turkic territory was in an uproar.

Even the Khan of the Three Kingdoms was astonished.

No matter how indifferent he acted, those childhood rumors still resurfaced at this time.

He had no choice but to go see him.

And we can't let the Turkic Khan lose face!
The two sides met not far from the outside of the Sanggan River Gorge, not far from Shuofang and the Turkic camp.

Gu Yu did not bring any guards.

Only Gu Yan and a group of Gu family members remained.

On the contrary—

Jieli Khan did indeed bring many trusted confidants with him.

When he saw Gu Yu, his whole body trembled inexplicably, especially the strands of white hair on Gu Yu's head, which kept stimulating his thoughts.

According to rumors—

The Wolf Chaser is a man with a full head of white hair, but his bravery remains undiminished, and no one can rival him.

That's the feeling Gu Yu gives him now.

However, as the Turkic Khan, Jieli Khan would not lose face so easily. Instead, he spoke first, saying, "I never thought that I would meet two people from the Gu family in my lifetime."

"When I met the Prince of Qin of the Great Tang Dynasty years ago, I was accompanied by a member of the Gu family."

"you"

"Are you really not afraid that I, the Khan, will kill you outright and take advantage of the Tang army's morale being thrown into disarray to seize Chang'an?"

He's trying to bolster his courage!
Gu Yu didn't say anything unnecessary, he just waved his hand.

Gu Yan, who was behind him, immediately benefited and shouted a few times, and in an instant, clouds of dust rose up not far away.

"Khan, you can guess how much I've prepared," Gu Yu said calmly.

Upon seeing this, Khagan Jieli frowned immediately, and anger inevitably arose in his eyes. "Are you threatening me?"

"Do not--"

Gu Yu shook his head and said calmly, "I have come here today to persuade the Khan to withdraw his troops."

"Hmm?" Jieli Khan frowned.

Ignoring his words, Gu Yu continued, "The Khan's withdrawal not only spares his people from casualties, but also ensures the continuation of trade between the two sides."

"."

He mentioned the alliance that Li Shimin and Jieli Khan had made years ago.

In reality, Gu Yu was simply giving Jieli Khan a way out, a way for him to withdraw his troops safely, nothing more.

And Jieli Khan had no choice.

Although he still needs to maintain a strong presence on the surface.

But when Gu Yu said he was willing to return the supplies they had lost in the previous battle...

The leaders under Jieli Khan, who had long intended to withdraw their troops, naturally began to persuade him.

And Jieli Khan, of course, readily agreed to the offer.

Both parties left.

Gu Yu watched the retreating figures of Jieli Khan and his entourage, his expression calm and serene.

In contrast, Gu Yan and the others had a cold glint in their eyes, and their fingers unconsciously gripped the hilts of their swords, clearly unable to hide their resentment.

As Gu Yu turned around, he noticed the expressions on everyone's faces and suddenly chuckled, "Are you still unwilling to accept this?"

He raised his hand and pressed it on Gu Yan's shoulder, his fingertips tracing the patterns on the other's armor, his gaze fixed on the distant mountains tinged with twilight: "Then remember this bloodlust well."

"The unfinished business of today."

He released his grip, his fingertips tapping lightly on the jade pendant at his waist, his voice carrying a hint of melancholy and vicissitude, "One day, it will rest on your shoulders."

The wind whipped up sand and grit, sweeping past everyone's faceplates.

Gu Yu's words seemed to be etched into everyone's bones, making everyone's eyes become more and more determined.

The very next day—

The Turkic army eventually retreated.
Changan.

The urgent battle report was sent back immediately.

When I heard that the Turks were marching south.

The entire Tang Dynasty court was instantly set ablaze.

An unprecedented sense of panic instantly gripped everyone's hearts; clearly, they had developed a fear of the Turks.

But then came the news of the great victory in the Sanggan River Gorge and the death of Gu Quan.

Regardless of what the courtiers were thinking, at least outwardly, they were all extremely shocked, overjoyed, and ultimately fell silent.

And who doesn't know the relationship between Gu Quan and Li Shimin?

Although the Gu family did not help Li Shimin, they also did not help Li Jiancheng. How could this relationship be severed so easily?

Immediately, someone in the imperial court brought up the idea of ​​giving Gu Quan a posthumous title.

Li Shimin did not refuse the offer.

However, in addition to this, he directly bestowed the title of "Champion Marquis," which belonged exclusively to the Tang Dynasty, back upon the Gu family.

He specifically pointed out that his position was on par with that of the "Founding Duke".

This matter sparked a discussion in the court, but the officials did not resist it too much.

It's not just because of Li Shimin's current power.

This was also because of the Gu family.

It seems that the "Champion Marquis" and the Gu family have become inextricably linked.

But Gu Quan would not agree to this, let alone the Marquis of Champion would not allow Li Shimin to give him a posthumous title.

At least in his heart.

He felt he didn't deserve a posthumous title.

But Li Shimin's attitude was very firm, his burning gaze fixed on Gu Quan: "Don't forget, you're still alive!"

"And remember this—"

"As long as you're still breathing, then fight alongside me in the future!"

"I will absolutely not allow you to be buried in the annals of history."

"At least here with me—"

"Your contributions are no less than those of the Marquis Zhongwu and Marquis Wencheng of yesteryear!"
------

In the seventh month of autumn in the ninth year of Wude, the Turkic Khagan Jieli heard that there was a change in the Tang court. He secretly rallied various tribes and led 100,000 troops to attack the border and invade the south. His banners covered the fields and he declared that he would take Chang'an directly.

Grand Tutor Gu Yu, a descendant of the Gu clan of Julu, was well-versed in border affairs. He observed their plans and commanded the Shuofang army to resist them.

Yu first sent assassins disguised as merchants to infiltrate the enemy camp and spread a prophecy: "The snow on Yinshan Mountain is red, and the golden wolf's head falls off."

When the Turkic people heard this, they were all filled with doubt and fear.

General Gu Quan, the eldest son of Yu, led 5,000 elite troops to the Sanggan River Gorge.

The Turkic vanguard advanced lightly, waiting until they were halfway across the river before unleashing a barrage of crossbow bolts and stones, cutting off the flow of water and killing over nine thousand enemy soldiers. Their blood stained the river, and their corpses blocked the waterway.

When the enemy reinforcements arrived in force, Quan held the strategic pass and fought to the death. From dawn till dusk, when his arrows were exhausted and his sword was broken, he still fought with his short weapon until he finally died in the gorge at the age of thirty-six.

Upon hearing this, Emperor Taizong remained silent for a long time before issuing an edict: "Quan, with his isolated army, held off the enemy in a perilous situation. His loyalty and courage are as solid as metal and stone. Even the most valiant warriors of the past could not surpass him!"

His posthumous title was Wulie.

Marquis of Biaoguan and his younger brother Gu Yan.

The Turks, intimidated by the prestige of the Gu family, withdrew their troops northward and dared not again covet the northern frontier.

—From the Biography of Gu Quan in the Book of Tang

(End of this chapter)