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

Chapter 192 A Lone Warrior Defends the Nation, Developing Maritime Trade (Seeking Monthly Tickets)
No one could have predicted that in this rising Tang Dynasty, two emperors would die in succession within just a few years.

This is not a good sign.

This always brings to mind many precedents, such as the Former Han Dynasty.

Subsequently, the Former Han Dynasty experienced a period of great turmoil, eventually declining from its peak and ultimately perishing.

However, the only good thing is—

The Former Han Dynasty had Gu Xi, while the present Tang Dynasty has Gu Jing.

Compared to Gu Xi, Gu Jing also holds the imperial edict of Emperor Taizong, which is both a potential threat and a safeguard.

At least--

The events of the Former Han Dynasty cannot be repeated in the present Tang Dynasty.

Gu Jing completely took over the administration of the court.

There was no other way; Li Longji was simply too young, and Gu Jing had to take on this heavy responsibility.

Gu Jing had unknowingly become the pillar of stability for the Tang Dynasty.

Only he could win people's hearts.

It can suppress the thoughts of everyone else.

This is something Gu Jing has to do!
It is worth mentioning that Gu Jing did not change Li Hong's reign title, but simply continued to mediate affairs in all directions as usual, making his attitude clear to the whole world.

—He was temporarily in charge of the world, waiting for Li Longji to grow up!
No one was surprised by this.

By now, the Gu family's reputation needs no further proof.

It was precisely because of this that no chaos occurred within the Tang Dynasty, and at least within the court, a relative balance was maintained.

But that sense of unease still lingered over the entire Tang Dynasty court.

no way--

Gu Jing is indeed old.

On the other hand, Li Longji was still at that age where he was still very young and needed to be fed. How could this not make these old foxes have something to think about?
Gu Jing understood this as well.

As a true strategist, he did not give absolute trust to any ministers, let alone those in the imperial palace.

Instead, they very impolitely kept Li Longji in the Marquis of Champion's residence.

Anyone else would have faced immense criticism for this move, and even the Gu family was not entirely immune to it.

But Gu Jing didn't care at all.

He is flawless.

But Li Longji was too fragile; no matter who harbored evil intentions, Li Longji could run into trouble.

If Li Longji really has a problem
In order to seize the throne, the current balance will inevitably be broken. If Gu Jing's health deteriorates again at that time, then everything will be irreversible.

The ministers were extremely concerned about this matter and offered their advice on various issues, including etiquette and righteousness.

Who would want to see the Gu family continue like this?
The emperor lived in the Marquis of Champion's mansion from childhood.

To what extent will his feelings for the Gu family develop in the future?
Does the Tang Dynasty really still have a way out for them?

Everyone had to consider this matter and intervene.

But what Gu Jing didn't expect was—

Wu Zetian surprisingly chose to help him at this critical moment, and Empress Pei, Li Hong's empress, also chose to stand by Gu Jing's side and vouch for him.

Although neither of them held any real power.

However, since one of them was the Grand Empress Dowager and the other was the Empress Dowager, this influence could not be completely erased.

And so the matter was settled under these circumstances.

Time flies by.

Gu Jing did not carry out large-scale reforms, but continued the established practices of the past years, keeping the entire Tang Dynasty on the path of progress.

One by one, members of the Gu family entered the Censorate.

And from the Censorate they went to various places.

This was also a choice Gu Jing was forced to make. Faced with family members who lacked talent, Gu Jing could not entrust the heavy responsibility of the court to them out of personal considerations.

The Censorate was the best place for them, where they could not only supervise but also bring fame to the Gu family.

By now, almost everyone has come to accept that the Censorate is exclusively owned by the Gu family.

This illustrates the influence of reputation and the overall environment.

It's not because Gu Jing's power is too great now, but simply because the Gu family's reputation over the centuries aligns with the function of the Censorate.

The Censorate certainly wielded considerable power.

If it weren't for the Gu family's control, it would definitely have caused a bloody storm in the imperial court.

For the Tang Dynasty at present, handing over the Censorate to the Gu family was absolutely the best arrangement.

This is a reality that everyone acknowledges.

With the political situation stable, the implementation of various systems became more comprehensive over time, which in turn boosted the national strength of the Tang Dynasty.

When all industries flourish, the nation's strength experiences rapid development.

This is for sure!

By the ninth year of the Da'an era, the development of coastal cities across the country had reached a saturation point.

This is an absolutely astonishing change.

Gu Yi remembered very clearly that in the original history, it would have taken at least several hundred years for the Kyushu to experience such a grand occasion for the first time.

This situation only occurred for the first time during the Southern Song Dynasty, when the capital was established in Lin'an and the court had to develop maritime trade on a large scale in order to maintain its finances.

Even so, at that time it was just a few coastal cities.

But things are different now—

Today, the Tang Dynasty is flourishing in all aspects.

Different coastal cities have different ports and shipping routes due to their different locations. Driven by huge profits, the influx of merchants boosted agriculture and handicrafts.

This has led more and more people to flock to various coastal cities.

This situation is far beyond what was ever seen in history.

Especially Panyu.

Since Gu Ye pacified Lingnan in the past, Panyu has actually undergone several expansions, the last of which occurred during the Yonghui era.

In just a few short years, Panyu has developed to its current scale.

This shows just how fast the development has been.

If it weren't for the numerous restrictions imposed by the Tang Dynasty on these matters, this situation would have occurred even faster.

This is what makes Kyushu so terrifying!
The entire court was paying close attention to this matter. Although the Tang Dynasty was indeed powerful enough at present, expanding the city was never a trivial matter.

This would allow for the expansion of several cities in one fell swoop.

The cost is astronomical, so they can't afford to be careless.

Inside the Luoyang Palace, the court officials gathered.

The young emperor sat on the dragon throne, and Gu Jing sat beside him, silently listening to the discussions among the officials below.

Minister of Revenue Di Renjie stepped forward first, holding his official tablet. His voice was steady yet carried an undeniable worry: "Your Majesty, Grand Tutor!"

"The coastal cities are prosperous, merchants gather, and goods are traded all over the world. This is truly an auspicious sign of the prosperity of our Great Tang Dynasty."

"However, expanding the city is no small matter!"

“Panyu has been expanded several times, and the Yonghui project is still in progress. Now it is in urgent need of help again. The speed of its expansion is beyond reason.”

"It is not that I do not wish them to be strong, but that I am truly worried about their urgent needs!"

"Where will the funds come from to suddenly expand several cities at once?"

His expression was extremely serious, clearly showing his deep concern about the current situation and his unwillingness to let the court take such a big risk.

No sooner had he finished speaking than Lou Shide stepped forward to retort, "What Lord Di said is indeed a mature and wise approach to governing the country, but it is perhaps a bit too cautious!" With that, he cupped his hands towards Gu Jing and said, "Your Majesty, Grand Tutor!"

"I believe that the prosperity of the coastal areas is not the prosperity of a single city or region, but the prosperity of our Great Tang Dynasty embracing the vast ocean and encompassing the world!"

"Merchants flock here, and people flock to it like moths to a flame; this is an inevitable trend, and how can mere restrictions stop it for long?"

“The Panyu port area is currently congested, with merchant ships having no place to dock and densely packed residential areas with hardly any room to stand. This is not conjecture, but my personal observation!”

"If we are fixated on 'taking things slowly,' we may miss a golden opportunity!"

"Maritime merchants are driven by profit. If they turn to other places because our port is small and our city is cramped, it will breed smuggling and illegal construction, which will become a festering sore. Expansion is not only to accommodate the people, but also to strengthen the foundation!"

"Your Majesty, I urge that we employ swift and decisive measures, comprehensive planning, and simultaneous development of multiple cities!"

The voices echoed throughout the main hall.

Xu Yougong then stepped forward, took a deep breath, and said, "Your Majesty, Grand Tutor."

"What you two gentlemen say is all reasonable."

"However, I believe that whether or not to expand, and how fast or slow, is secondary; the most important thing is to follow the law!"

“In the past, the expansion of Yonghui was already governed by regulations. Now, the new city far exceeds the old system. Are there any established rules regarding its planning, land use, construction standards, and ownership division?”

"."

The ministers expressed their opinions freely, and the entire hall resonated with keywords such as "people's strength," "opportunity," "laws and regulations," and "long-term vision."

Those who advocate for a gradual approach emphasize risk and order, while those who advocate for rapid progress focus on opportunities and national strength. Those who value the rule of law strive to ensure that restrictions are in place while vigorously developing.

Despite the heated debate, no one acted out of self-interest; all were acting from the perspective of the nation and the world.

This is the Tang Dynasty as it is today.

Even if there are some conflicts between them, they must unite against external forces when it comes to matters of principle; otherwise, they would not have been able to get to this point.

Gu Yi was also watching this scene and was not surprised by it.

The development of coastal cities goes without saying.

What truly caught his attention were the details: the merchant guild formed by the maritime merchants and the largest group of businessmen.

—The influence these people have now far exceeded Gu Yi's expectations.

The development of maritime trade attracted a large number of people.

This already elevated their status, and coupled with their ever-increasing wealth, it gave them influence both locally and overseas.

This is definitely not a good sign.

Although everything seems to be developing steadily, the foundation is actually built on the strength of the Tang Dynasty itself.

If any unforeseen circumstances arise in the future, these people could very well become local separatist forces.

Even if there are no helpers inside.

Their own financial resources, coupled with their overseas influence, will bring about significant instability.

In a moment of thought, Gu Yi immediately took out the "Spirit Jade" from his backpack, without conveying any crucial information.

Gu Yi merely used the Spirit Jade to inspire Gu Jing with the idea of ​​"building a city using maritime trade."

With Gu Jing's talent, he is absolutely capable of figuring out the connections involved.

Inside the palace.

Gu Jing listened attentively to everyone's thoughts, while also constantly considering the gains and losses involved.

It must be built.

Lou Shide's analysis is correct. If the imperial court does not intervene in this matter, maritime trade will definitely be affected.

Nowadays, maritime trade accounts for an increasingly larger proportion of the Tang Dynasty's fiscal revenue.

It has even surpassed the benefits that the Silk Road could bring, and this is a piece of fat meat that the Tang Dynasty absolutely cannot give up.

But the real challenge is how to build it—

Countless thoughts flashed through his mind, and suddenly, an idea struck Gu Jing, pointing all the questions to a single core issue—

The Great Merchant!
This is the magic of the Spirit Jade; it can give rise to a thought in the unseen realm.

In an instant, Gu Jing felt as if he had suddenly understood.

He had already taken notice of maritime merchants; the Censorate was currently most concerned about the Western Regions and various coastal ports.

Gu Jing was well aware of just how astonishing the profits these maritime merchants had amassed over the years truly were.

He almost instantly thought of the disaster relief strategy that Gu Ye had provided to Zhuge Liang years ago. Although the two situations were not the same, they actually had a great deal in common.

—Merchants can be used to their advantage!

Various thoughts exploded in my mind.

The next moment, Gu Jing waved his hand, instantly silencing all the sounds in the hall, and then he spoke out his thoughts.

The hall suddenly became silent.

Many ministers' expressions changed at this moment. As a group of people standing at the pinnacle of the Tang Dynasty, it was hard for them not to associate themselves with the current highly profitable maritime trade.

Gu Jing's idea would naturally implicate them.

Immediately, some people raised objections.

But that's how things are in the imperial court; where there are opponents, there are also supporters.

Although the matter could not be finalized in a short period of time, it was eventually settled with Gu Jing's support.

—When the news spread, it shook the government and the public!
Maritime trade is of paramount importance in the Tang Dynasty at present, and such a major change will naturally have a significant impact.

There was no other way; Gu Jing simply couldn't grant these investors special privileges.

Gu Yi was right.

For a strategist like Gu Jing, once his mind is opened, it's easy to see the potential hidden threats.

In response to this move, he could only appropriately increase taxes and follow the strategy Gu Ye had used in the past, promising merchants empty promises.

Even policies that raise taxes are extremely complex.

We should try our best to avoid affecting small business owners and focus our efforts on large business owners and chambers of commerce. This will minimize the negative impact of this matter.

Of course, the imperial court couldn't possibly contribute nothing; it was simply limiting the costs involved.

This incident caused a huge stir.

Merchants from all over the country resisted the matter, but fortunately Gu Jing had made thorough preparations and sent people to explain to the small merchants in various places that the matter would not affect them.

Otherwise, it would definitely cause an even bigger commotion.

Even so, it is not easy to completely resolve and settle this matter.

Taichu Palace.

"Get out!"

"The policy set forth by the Grand Tutor is the national policy of our Great Tang Dynasty."

"Don't say I can't stop it; even if I could, how could I abandon national affairs for the sake of my own family's interests?"

"roll!"

A sharp shout rang out like thunder.

Wu Sansi's face was deathly pale as he staggered out of the Taichu Palace, his eyes filled with despair.

He never expected that Wu Zetian would be so ruthless.

Now, what he desires is no longer to hold power, and the same goes for the rest of the Wu clan. However, since it concerns the fundamental interests of the clan's survival, how could Wu Zetian be so ruthless?
In his view, if Wu Zetian could just talk to Gu Jing about this trivial matter, the censors of the Censorate would let go of Wu's current assets.

Thinking about it, Wu Sansi couldn't help but sigh again, but his eyes became even more determined.

He certainly couldn't possibly give all of this up.
Human nature is what it is.

For the Wu family now, failing to seize power is already a compromise; what's wrong with pursuing some interests now?
In the blink of an eye, Wu Sansi had already made up his mind.

"This maritime trade was decided by Emperor Taizong years ago. I don't believe the Grand Tutor would dare to affect the very foundation of this matter!"

Silently reciting a phrase to himself, Wu Sansi walked out of the palace without any hesitation.
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(End of this chapter)