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

Chapter 194 Sacrificing Family for the Righteous, the Purge Begins (Seeking Monthly Tickets)
Household Department.

A group of officials gathered here, all with solemn and serious expressions.

Gu Jing's silence, coupled with the escalating situation, has caused great anxiety among everyone.

Sighs rose and fell.

Many officials from lower-ranking backgrounds whispered among themselves, analyzing the possible direction of the situation and speculating about the deeper meaning behind Gu Jing's actions.

Gu Jing was by no means a silent man—a fact that the officials present were well aware of. At this critical juncture, his actions were bound to cause much discussion.
Amidst whispers, everyone's gazes turned in unison to the highest-ranking individuals in the hall.

"Lou Xiang, Di Shangshu," finally, a finance official in a blue robe couldn't contain himself any longer and stepped forward, his voice filled with barely suppressed anxiety, "The country is in turmoil, maritime trade has been cut off, the people are suffering, and grain prices have been soaring for days, almost out of control."
"Both of you gentlemen are trusted advisors to the Grand Tutor and enjoy his deep respect. In this perilous situation, why don't you lead us to jointly submit a memorial to the Grand Tutor and offer your direct advice?"

As soon as these words came out——

The officials in the hall, from the Vice Minister of Revenue, the Director of the Granary, and the Director of the Finance Department to the lower-ranking officials and clerks, all looked toward Lou Shide, the Attendant-in-Ordinary, and Di Renjie, the Minister of Revenue, who were seated on the throne. They all bowed and silently expressed their stance.

Given the current situation, many court officials are convinced that Gu Jing will restore the old system of the previous dynasty.

This is an inevitable choice.

In their view, this was the only way to quickly quell the situation.

After all, there are far too many people involved now, not only major merchants from various regions, but also countless ordinary people from all walks of life.

If the executioner's blade is wielded and cruel methods are used against those big merchants, it will definitely affect the very foundation of maritime trade.

The final impact on the entire Tang Dynasty was unpredictable.

At least in their eyes, this is the best option at present.

Di Renjie and Lou Shide exchanged glances and both saw a hint of helplessness in each other's eyes, and couldn't help but sigh softly.

How could they not offer advice?

The Tang Dynasty, which was just beginning to rise, has developed to this point in a very short time.

Under other circumstances, the courtiers might not have acted this way.

But given the current political climate, how could the court officials stand idly by? How could they not offer advice to Gu Jing?

Thinking it over, Di Renjie shook his head slightly, looked around at everyone, and gently advised, "My colleagues, please calm down."

"The Grand Tutor was entrusted with the care of Emperor Taizong and was a pillar of the nation."

"Since no conclusion has been reached yet, you must have your own plans. If we insist on a joint signature, we fear we might disturb the Grand Tutor's plans. This is indeed the case."

Before the words were finished, a cold laugh suddenly rang out from the train, and the Imperial Censor Xu Yougong stepped forward.

Xu Yougong's gaze swept across the crowd like lightning, "Disrupting strategy?"

"Hmph! The people are now filled with resentment, the nation is in turmoil, and every moment is a time of suffering for the common people!"

"Every day the Grand Tutor remains silent, the people suffer one more day!"

His voice suddenly rose, carrying a resolute air: "A minister's duty is to assist the king above and bring peace to the common people below!"

"It is my duty to pick up what is missing, make up for what is lacking, and offer advice and remonstrance!"

"Knowing there is a mistake, how can one remain silent out of fear simply to guess the superior's intentions? To hold a position without doing any work is no different from harming the country!"

Xu Yougong suddenly turned to Di Renjie and Lou Shide, his eyes sharp as knives: "As a censor, I only know the words 'to remonstrate to the death'!"

"Even if I offend the Grand Tutor and face execution, I will still speak my mind!"

—The air inside the hall froze instantly; you could hear a pin drop.

The officials held their breath and lowered their heads. Even the finance official who had just whispered had his fingers slightly curled up in his sleeve.

Say it.

Xu Yougong suddenly turned around, his robe sleeves billowing in the wind, as if he really intended to walk straight out of the Ministry of Revenue's main hall, clearly heading straight for the palace!

"Wait a minute!"

A deep, resolute shout rang out, not loud, but carrying an undeniable weight, instantly freezing Xu Yougong in his tracks.

It was none other than Lou Shide, the Chamberlain!
He slowly rose, his gaze calm, sweeping over the assembled officials with their varied expressions, finally settling on Xu Yougong's tense back. His tone was reassuring, yet also carried an undercurrent of authority:
“I am well aware of Xu Zhongcheng’s loyalty and integrity, and his concern for the country.”

"However, this matter is of great importance, affecting the very foundation of the nation. We cannot act rashly, nor can we put the Grand Tutor in a difficult position."

He paused briefly, turned his gaze to Di Renjie, then looked around the room, his voice steady and powerful: "Before the court session ends today, I will report this matter to the Grand Tutor and ask him for a plan."

"Gentlemen—"

Lou Shide's voice became more serious, carrying the prime minister's instructions, "For now, return to your posts and perform your duties."

As he spoke, he looked at Di Renjie and said, "The Ministry of Revenue should pay special attention to grain prices and people's livelihood."

"Don't be impatient, just wait for news."

He's actually used to it.

In recent days, as chaos has increased among the people, the infighting among the court officials has reached its peak.

He's gotten used to this situation.

The only thing to do is to stabilize the court and prevent any chaos that could affect Gu Jing's strategies.

He didn't believe Gu Jing was without means.

As one of Gu Jing's trusted close advisors, he knew Gu Jing's character very well and could not believe that Gu Jing would remain indifferent to this.

The hall was silent except for the soft popping of the candlelight.

Xu Yougong pursed his lips and stared straight at Lou Shide, the Attendant-in-Ordinary, whose expression was solemn.

His chest heaved slightly, clearly indicating his turbulent emotions, but faced with the unquestionable solemnity of the current prime minister, he finally suppressed his inner turmoil and slowly nodded.

Seeing that the official had calmed down, Lou Shide glanced at the officials below the hall and calmly waved his hand.

Needless to say.

From the Vice Minister of Revenue to the various department heads and even the lower-ranking officials, they all respectfully bowed to Lou Shide, the Attendant-in-Ordinary, and Di Renjie, the Minister, in turn, and then filed out, their footsteps gradually fading away in the empty hall.

Only after the last official disappeared beyond the vermilion gate did Minister of Revenue Di Renjie let out a long sigh.

He walked to Lou Shide's side, gazing at the empty hall, his brow furrowed with deep worry, and his voice was extremely low:

"Lord Lou, if the Grand Tutor does not provide further guidance, the current state of the court and the morale of the people may not be able to hold up."

Upon hearing this, Lou Shide did not respond immediately.

He slowly turned around, his gaze lingering intently on the equally worried official in charge of the Ministry of Revenue, a barely perceptible, yet deeply meaningful, bitter smile playing on his lips:
“Huaiying,” Lou Shide’s voice was deep and calm, carrying the vicissitudes of life he had seen through, “we have followed the Grand Tutor for many years, surely we can understand his temperament?”

Di Renjie was slightly taken aback and looked up at Lou Shide.

Lou Shide gently shook his head, his gaze fixed on the deep twilight outside the window, as if trying to see through the movements deep within the palace: "If the Grand Tutor were to act swiftly, things would be much simpler."

"That means that in his eyes, this matter is nothing more than a minor ailment that can be easily resolved."

He paused slightly, and when he spoke again, his voice carried a chilling and solemn tone: "But now it's like this..."

Lou Shide withdrew his gaze, looked directly at Di Renjie, and spoke each word clearly and heavily:
"I fear that a colossal wave is about to sweep through our Great Tang Dynasty!"

"It's not just about patching things up, it's about—"

"Blood transfusion and bone cleansing!"

In an instant, Di Renjie's body trembled slightly.

The Marquis of Champion's Residence.

Gu Jing learned of what had happened at the Ministry of Revenue immediately, but made no comment.

He could not possibly expect everyone to believe him unconditionally.

After all, his age is a factor, and as some people in the court have said, "The Grand Tutor is old and senile," which is entirely possible.

Of course, Gu Jing wouldn't be so petty as to harm these people.

Even though these people are behaving very strongly now, Gu Jing cannot label them all as treacherous officials.

This is how the world has always been.

Whether a minister is capable or treacherous, it is impossible for them to always view things from the same perspective.

This is also the current situation in the imperial court. The ministers all want to quickly resolve the immediate problem and restore the Tang Dynasty to its previous prosperous state, but they have no idea how much commotion it would cause if the court were to back down this time.

They failed to see the threat posed by business capital.

But under Gu Yi's influence, Gu Jing has now completely seen through it.

He is taking a long-term view of this matter, which is why he has been enduring it.

Gu Yi had been silently observing all of this.

Gu Jing's actions were not surprising; in the midst of this era's tides, Gu Jing needed to seize the best opportunity.

In short—

Gu Jing has now become a reformer, a figure that few and far between will appear in the entire long history of Chinese history.

He now faces the challenge of reforming the foundation laid by the Tang Dynasty since the Zhenguan era.

This is the core of the Tang Dynasty.

He needs to ensure that everything continues to develop as usual, while also managing the capital that arises from it.

This is the most difficult part.

In addition, Gu Yi also felt that Gu Jing was intentionally trying to purge the corrupt officials in the court.

He has indeed grown old.

Li Longji is still so young, and no one knows what the future holds. But for Gu Jing, it is enough for him to do his best, just like his ancestors.
Time flew by, and the struggles in the imperial court became increasingly fierce.

Just as this situation was about to reach a critical point, Gu Jing finally made some moves.

—He's mobilizing troops!
Gu Jing, in the name of the Regent Grand Tutor, mobilized troops from various regions, including the imperial seal of Emperor Li Longji and even a handwritten letter from Empress Dowager Wu Zetian.

Although it's not a large amount, it's still earth-shattering under the current circumstances!
Turn over the table?

This was the first thought that came to everyone's mind.

An invisible shadow instantly enveloped the entire Tang Dynasty, and merchants and chambers of commerce immediately felt an endless sense of fear.

This is what they fear most.

If the imperial court is truly determined to overturn the table at all costs, they are indeed powerless to stop it.

But how is this possible?
Where did Gu Jing get the audacity to do such a thing?
It's important to understand that by now, it's no longer just these businessmen and chambers of commerce that are involved!

There was widespread dissent about this in the imperial court!
Lou Shide and others could no longer suppress these voices and brought the matter to Gu Jing's attention.

The ministers all advised Gu Jing to remain calm!
After all, no matter how you look at it, this is not a good thing for the entire Tang Dynasty.

But Gu Jing's attitude was very firm.

The entire Tang Dynasty was shrouded in gloom, and as people from all sides headed straight for the coastal cities, the invisible gloom grew ever stronger.

It's like a butcher's knife that could fall at any moment.

They are constantly putting pressure on those people.

Under these circumstances, the investigation of various pieces of evidence progressed more and more smoothly, and traces of one prominent figure after another were found in the investigation.

Luoyang, Taichu Palace.

Gu Jing followed the palace maid in slowly, his expression utterly calm.

He was well aware of Wu Zetian's purpose in summoning him at this time; if it were someone else, he would have thought it was to plead for mercy.

But when it comes to Wu Zetian, it's a completely different story.

Taichu Palace, Zichen Hall.

The air was filled with the fragrance of sandalwood.

Wu Zetian revered Buddhism and Taoism, and although she was restricted by Gu Jing, she did not build temples on a large scale as in the original history.

But within this Primordial Palace, her personal mark of faith still stubbornly persists.

Gu Jing followed the palace maids and slowly entered the hall.

As Fang Fu entered the hall, before Gu Jing could make a move, the gentle voice hidden behind the plain curtain rang out instantly: "Grand Tutor, there's no need for such formalities."

"Give me a seat."

Upon hearing this, Gu Jing merely nodded slightly in acknowledgment, without declining.

After the palace maid placed a sandalwood stool covered with brocade under the imperial couch, he calmly sat down, his posture dignified, and his gaze serenely turned towards the curtain.

Behind the curtain, Wu Zetian seemed to take a deep breath before slowly speaking, "I summoned the Grand Tutor today for matters of state."

"As the Empress Dowager, I should be living a peaceful and quiet life in the deep palace, and not concern myself with external affairs."

"However."

She sighed deeply: "I am entangled in national affairs and family matters, and my relatives are constantly pleading for help. I have tossed and turned and thought about it again and again, and finally I understand that this is a situation that I cannot avoid by closing my eyes and ears alone."

"Today, we have no choice but to hand this hot potato over to the Grand Tutor for a wise decision."

After saying this, a palace maid immediately took out the letter that Wu Zetian had prepared and respectfully handed it to Gu Jing.

Gu Jing didn't say much, and immediately opened a peek.

It was Wu Sansi who, in the name of his imperial bloodline, tearfully pleaded with the Empress Dowager for help.

The other letters were much the same.

Clearly, Gu Jing's sudden mobilization of troops put them under great pressure.

Gu Yi was also watching this scene with great interest, showing no surprise at Wu Zetian's actions.

This is Wu Zetian.

She had clearly realized just how resolute Gu Jing's mind was this time.

Even her status as Empress Dowager might not be enough to protect her.

She naturally wouldn't care about any so-called clan or relatives.

Gu Jing slowly picked up the letters, without saying a word from beginning to end. He simply bowed to Wu Zetian again before walking out of the hall.

Looking at Gu Jing's somewhat hunched back, Wu Zetian's expression was extremely complicated, but in the end she could only sigh softly.

Luoyang Palace.

"Grand Tutor! You've finally arrived!" Li Longji's voice carried the excitement unique to a young man, yet he tried his best to maintain the demeanor of an emperor. "The ministers have presented their proposed new era name. Please review it, Grand Tutor, and make the final decision for me!"

As he spoke, he eagerly presented the scroll filled with candidate reign titles to Gu Jing with both hands.

The change of reign title marked a symbolic moment when the emperor officially assumed power and ushered in a new era.

Li Longji has reached this age.

Gu Jing remained calm as he accepted the memorial, his gaze slowly sweeping over the numerous candidates whose names were covered in ink: "Jingyun," "Taiji," "Yanhe," and "Xiantian." Each word, brimming with auspiciousness and expectation, leaped off the page.

His gaze finally settled steadily on two words—

Kaiyuan.

“Your Majesty,” Gu Jing’s voice was not loud, his fingertip lightly touching the two ink characters, “perhaps these two characters can be chosen as your pen name.”

He did not elaborate on the reasons. This was already explained in detail in the memorial.

Upon hearing this, Li Longji quickly took the memorial, eagerly found the explanation and annotation under "Kaiyuan," and began to read it carefully with burning eyes, even reciting it softly to himself:

"'Kai' means initiating, creating, and initiating means 'Yuan' means beginning, greatness, and origin."

His voice gradually deepened with the meaning of the classics: "The Book of Changes says: 'Great indeed is the Qian principle, from which all things originate, and which governs all under Heaven.'"

The hall fell silent for a moment, with only the young emperor's focused whispers echoing in the air.

He repeatedly pondered the magnificent spirit contained in the two characters "Kaiyuan"—to usher in a new era, to establish the imperial foundation, and to rule over all nations!
This perfectly matches his youthful aspirations!
After a long while, Li Longji slowly raised his head, his eyes flashing with excitement and determination. He looked at Gu Jing, nodded heavily, and said loudly:

"good!".
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(End of this chapter)