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

Chapter 195 Killing the Chicken and the Monkey: A Bloody Cleanup (Seeking Monthly Tickets)
Winter of the twelfth year of the Da'an era.

The cold wind blows.

At the city gate of Luoyang, tens of thousands of people gathered.

Countless commoners and officials stood outside the city, gazing in a daze at the slightly hunched but upright figure standing on his warhorse.

Gu Jing has left the capital!
No one could have predicted that things would turn out this way in such a short time.

Without warning, Gu Jing revealed all his crimes and announced his upcoming trip to Mingzhou and other places, thus clearly stating his attitude towards the matter.

Shock, fear, and a host of other emotions surged up instantly.

Although the officials had speculated about this scene when Gu Jing mobilized the troops, they still felt it was somewhat like a dream when it actually happened.

How is this possible?
Has Gu Jing really gone mad?

How could someone make such a choice?
This is no longer about whether or not someone is involved; it's because this matter is so enormous that if it's messed up, it could affect the very foundation of the Tang Dynasty.

But no matter what they thought, they couldn't stop Gu Jing.

There was no other way; there was just too much evidence.

Furthermore, Gu Jing's expedition was not merely a unilateral decision; both the Empress Dowager Wu Zetian and Empress Dowager Pei, as well as the current emperor, all supported him.

He even brought with him the dragon bow that Emperor Taizong used in the past.

This is the overwhelming force at hand; who can stop it?

But how this matter will ultimately end is beyond their control.

"Grand Tutor, please remember to take good care of yourself!"

Outside the gates of Luoyang, the eastern capital, Li Longji looked solemnly at Gu Jing, his words full of concern, "No matter what, do not harm the foundation. I will wait here in the eastern capital for the Grand Tutor's triumphant return."

—As he grew older, Li Longji changed his self-reference on formal occasions.

This is Gu Jing's request.

Because this involves the emperor's dignity.

Li Longji felt his eyes welling up with tears as his gaze fell on Gu Jing's completely white temples.

He grew up in the Marquis of Champion's mansion and had a deep affection for Gu Jing, considering him both a teacher and a father figure.

Seeing that Gu Jing, who is already quite old, still has to travel far away from home, I feel a heavy weight in my heart and can't help but think of the stories of emperors and ministers recorded in history.

If I were to betray this respected mentor and minister, would I still be worthy of being the emperor?
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Gu Jing nodded slightly and bowed.

Without saying a word, he mounted his horse and rode away in a cloud of dust.

His purpose in coming here was very simple: to rely on the Gu family's powerful reputation to resolve everything.

same--

This also laid the groundwork for Li Longji to personally participate in politics. During this period, no matter what problems arose, as long as he was still alive and could return to Luoyang, everything could be perfectly resolved.

This was the last thing Gu Jing could do for the Tang Dynasty.

Although others might perceive him as still being in good health, Gu Jing himself knew very well that his body was deteriorating day by day.

If it weren't for Gu Yi secretly using the "miracle cure" talisman on Gu Jing several times...

He may have already passed away by now.

Watching Gu Jing's retreating figure, tears involuntarily streamed down Li Longji's face. Without uttering a single word, he bowed respectfully to Gu Jing in front of everyone.

As Li Longji made this move, all the officials behind him bowed and saluted Gu Jing.

Regardless of the true nature of Gu Jing's decision.

At least in everyone's eyes, no one would doubt Gu Jing's contributions to the entire Tang Dynasty.

Minnesota.

Although Minnesota started its development relatively late, it is now one of the major cities with the most successful maritime trade.

The reason for this is also quite simple.

That is because of the terrain of Mingzhou. Over the years, the continuous development of the canal has made the already thriving water transport in the Jiangnan region even more convenient.

Moreover, the journey to Jiangnan is shorter than that to places like Donglai and Panyu.

Under these favorable conditions, Mingzhou's development was naturally extremely rapid.

The Wu family's chamber of commerce is also based here.

At this moment, an invisible despair permeated the entire Mingzhou. Soldiers from all over the country had already been mobilized to this place. Although they had not yet taken action against them, it still made people uneasy.

This is also why Wu Sansi kept sending letters to Wu Zetian begging for mercy.

The Wu family had truly given up on power; all they wanted now was to live a life of wealth and comfort, relying on their relationship with Wu Zetian.

They thought that having caught the big ship of maritime trade, they would no longer need to worry about future development.

But I never expected it to develop to this point.

Although there is no explicit decree yet, who can't see that a knife is now at their throat?
Inside the Martial Academy.

Sighs echoed everywhere. Besides Wu Sansi, other members of the Wu family, as well as major merchants from Mingzhou, were all filled with sorrow at this moment.

In fact, they wouldn't need to do this if the imperial court had given a clear order.

Even though I was unwilling.

But if things really come to the worst, these big merchants have the guts to go to sea. As long as they have enough money, they can use maritime trade to make a comeback anywhere.

Instead of being stuck in this limbo, neither here nor there.

They cannot make this choice without a clear answer.

It wasn't just because of maritime trade and adventure.

It was also because they looked down on life overseas. Even though they had never been to sea themselves, they could roughly tell how backward overseas was just by the news sent back one after another.

"What exactly is the Grand Tutor's intention in doing this? Is he planning to launch a massive purge?" A wealthy merchant with a Guanzhong accent couldn't contain himself any longer. His voice suddenly rose, and his eyes were like knives. "If that's the case, are we just supposed to sit here and wait to die?"

"Silence!" Before the words were even finished, someone hurriedly whispered, "If such words reach the ears of the Censorate, a serious charge of 'treason' will be imposed in an instant!"

"Treason?" The merchant scoffed, his face full of disdain. "Does Grand Tutor Gu think he's above the laws of our Great Tang Dynasty?"

Gu Jing completely blocked all news from Luoyang, leaving no room for leaks.

Trapped in the situation, the people gradually lost their composure under immense pressure.

"Although the profits from maritime trade originated from the Gu family, its application throughout the world is the intention of the Grand Master!"

"We have been operating for many years, and our taxes have never been short by even a penny!" Another person's voice trembled, filled with resentment and fear. "Gu Jing is now defying ancestral rules and treating us so harshly. What right does he have to do this?"

"Could it be that Gu Jing really dares to disregard the Gu family's reputation built up over hundreds of years?"

At this point, everyone fell silent again.

That was their original intention, which is why they dared to unite and try to use the general trend to oppose the central government.

But Gu Jing's actions have now completely exceeded their expectations.

Wu Sansi's expression was extremely complicated at this moment. Looking at everyone present, he sighed and asked, "How will you all answer the question 'Sir'?"

—The merchants who gather here are not just looking for wealth.

Wealth is just the most basic thing.

We also need to look at the people behind them.

That's how maritime trade works today: big merchants step in to make profits, and then use that money to share with those behind them.

To put it bluntly, they are just pawns being pushed out.

Upon hearing this, everyone present sighed again, then looked at each other and silently shook their heads. This was before Gu Jing had even mobilized his troops.

These people still maintained contact with them, telling them not to panic and so on.

But from the moment Gu Jing mobilized his troops, these connections were completely severed, and there was already a thought of pushing them out to take the blame.

This is obvious to everyone.

Even so, they had no other options.

Are you going to bite back?

They dared not, after all, they still had family members left in someone else's house. If they did such a thing, their entire family would be wiped out in an instant.

"Lord Wu, has the Empress Dowager given a reply?"

Seeing that everyone was doing the same, they couldn't help but look at Wu Sansi.

This is the most influential among them.

Although Wu Zetian did not become emperor directly as in the original history, the title of "Grand Empress Dowager" already carried considerable weight.

Looking at the expectant eyes of everyone, Wu Sansi pondered for a long time before finally shaking his head.

In an instant, the atmosphere in the study became even more tense.

The crowd just stared at each other, each with countless things they wanted to say, yet none of them could utter a word.

But even in this tense moment of secret discussion—

Bang! Crash!

A series of ear-piercing sounds of shattering objects and shouts suddenly rang out!

Immediately afterwards, the heavy clanging of armor and the rhythmic thud of footsteps, like muffled thunder, came from afar and shattered the deathly silence of the study.

Everyone in the hall paled and jumped up in shock!
Wu Sansi reacted quickly, grabbing several brothers beside him and growling, "Come with me!" The group rushed out the door.

Before he arrived, his voice preceded his arrival; Wu Sansi's stern shout had already pierced through the courtyard:
"How dare you trespass on the Wu family's premises?!"

This is leveraging existing trends, but more importantly, it's about survival!
Even though his aunt Wu Zetian had abandoned them, bringing up her name now was Wu Sansi's only lifeline.

In the courtyard, Gu Qun, dressed in military uniform, stood before the imposing armored soldiers, coldly watching the Wu family disciples file out, his face as calm as still water.

As a 20th generation descendant of the Gu family, he may be of average talent, but when it comes to family background and heritage, has Gu Qun ever been afraid of anyone?

Let alone a newly rich family like the Wu clan with such a poor background, even if it were a true member of the imperial family, he might not even flinch.

Once everyone from the Wu family had gathered, Gu Qun slowly raised his hand.

The guards behind him immediately handed him a thick stack of documents.

He calmly unfolded his gaze, which swept over Wu Sansi and the others like an icy blade. His voice was not loud, but every word was like a hammer blow: "The Wu family has embezzled government funds, concealed the truth about the shipwreck, colluded with wealthy foreign merchants, and evaded taxes from the imperial court..."

Each and every one of the crimes was clearly stated and unequivocal.

"By the Grand Tutor's decree," Gu Qun closed the document, his voice suddenly turning stern, "Take him down!"

The air froze instantly!

"Slander! This is a frame-up!!" Seeing the armored soldiers pounce like wolves, Wu Sansi's eyes widened in fury as he roared hoarsely, "I demand to see the Grand Tutor! I demand to see the Empress Dowager!!!"

Looking at his almost frenzied state, Gu Qun shook his head slightly, a hint of barely perceptible pity flashing in his eyes.

He reached into his robes again, took out a letter, and began to read it aloud clearly and slowly in front of Wu Sansi.

Every word in the letter was a plea for mercy that Wu Sansi and the others were all too familiar with!
Everyone's faces turned deathly pale, and they were drenched in cold sweat.

After reading it, Gu Qun raised his eyes, and the last sentence, like a poisoned icy sword, pierced Wu Sansi's heart with precision: "The Grand Tutor said that the Empress Dowager is a person of great wisdom and righteousness. This act of putting righteousness before family is truly a blessing for the country and its people."

"Plop!" "Plop!"

Several people on the spot could not withstand the fatal blow, their vision went black, and they collapsed unconscious.

Even Wu Sansi, who had always been regarded as the pillar of the Wu family, was struck as if by a heavy blow and staggered. He subconsciously grabbed the door frame, turned his head with difficulty, and looked in the direction of Luoyang Palace, his eyes filled with disbelief, despair, and resentment.

He couldn't understand it, he just couldn't understand it!
Why, why could his high and mighty aunt be so heartless!

Could it be that she is truly so afraid of the Gu family?
The past affection between aunt and niece, the boundless grace of the emperor—all those praises he received are now completely disregarded.
They even actively sold them out.

He clenched his fists tightly, but he couldn't say anything more and could only let the armored soldiers take them down one by one.

Chaos reigned throughout the entire Martial Academy.

Gu Qun stood silently in front of the gate, waiting, when suddenly another armored soldier came to report: "Reporting to the Imperial Censor, there are outsiders inside the Martial Mansion."

He recited the names he had learned during the interrogation.

Gu Qun listened, a smile gradually appearing on his face: "Oh?"

"An unexpected surprise?"

"Take them all!"

Meanwhile, this scene was unfolding throughout Minnesota, with various decrees being issued to different regions.

Donglai, Panyu and other important ports.

Gu Jing showed no mercy this time, but the others did not rush to the scene.

They were just a group of businessmen, and Gu Jing never put all his attention on them.

Gu Jing's purpose in mobilizing troops out of the capital was for the sake of those behind them, including many officials in various ports.

These are the people he needs to deal with.

There was no way around it; once the central government issued its decree, the long-standing problems in maritime trade were exposed like a burst dam.

As soon as the Censorate thoroughly investigated the tax records, it discovered that there had been no fewer than ten cases of "accidental" water leaks in government offices across the country!

This is just the most obvious one; there are countless other shady dealings going on behind the scenes, but Gu Jing is too lazy to think about them.

That's what he needs to focus on.

It wasn't that the Tang Dynasty's bureaucracy was corrupt.

Rather, it was negligence.

In the past, the Censorate mainly targeted corrupt officials who disregarded the people, but it did not investigate the collusion between officials and merchants.

This is the flaw in the system.

Maritime trade greatly stimulated the economy, leading to the rise of merchants and naturally giving rise to a new relationship.

This is exactly the kind of person Gu Jing needs to deal with now.

His grand departure from Beijing was also a strategic move.

Firstly, it serves as a deterrent to all sides, forcing all forces to see the winds clearly and proactively "cut their losses and seek survival," handing over those who should be handed over.

Secondly... this also leaves room for maneuver.

Gu Jing was well-versed in the ways of governance. If the Gu family were to rely solely on their own strength to support the world, it would be tantamount to draining the pond to catch all the fish.

This restraint is the wisdom of a politician, and also a necessary concession.

And besides that——

Regardless of whether it was a powerful family behind it, a foreign conspiracy, or a small country in exile, he personally led a large army to nip this scourge that was rampant with plunder and undermining the foundation of the nation in the bud!

At this moment, on the vast waves, Gu Lang stood atop the ship, holding Gu Jing's secret order, and sailed forward through the waves.

The destination is pointed at Ryukyu!
(P.S.: Please vote for me! I'd love for your support, brothers!)

(End of this chapter)