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

Chapter 200 Manipulation Again, Gu Yi Makes a Move (Seeking Monthly Tickets)
[Do you want to take control of the character immediately?]

[Achievement Points Consumed: 300000]

Seeing the prompt flash before his eyes, Gu Yi made a decision in his mind without the slightest hesitation.

The next moment——

The scene before my eyes shattered instantly, and as darkness fell, the perspective I had gained after immersing myself in the character was finally revealed once more.

He had to step forward.

Although Gu Xuan's attributes will reach an astonishing 90 points after acquiring the Luo Shu Harmonizing Device, this only applies to internal affairs.

His other attributes are all quite ordinary.

It's clearly impossible for someone with this attribute to survive the great calamity to come.

—The An Lushan Rebellion.

This is a crucial juncture that the Tang Dynasty could not avoid in its original history.

It was as if a single stroke had severed the entire Tang Dynasty.

Before this came the glorious Tang Dynasty;

After that, the splendor of the Tang Dynasty could never be replicated.

Of course, Gu Yi's manipulation this time was not for the sake of the Tang Dynasty.

As a modern person, he, like many others, once greatly admired the splendor of the Tang Dynasty.

But now, after experiencing so much.

But after experiencing so much, he has long since let go of it all.

No dynasty can last forever, and various periods of chaos are also proof that the wheels of history are turning forward, representing the leap forward of the entire Kyushu culture.

But at the very least, he had to do something for the Gu family.

The An Lushan Rebellion was too tragic.

According to historical records, the An Lushan Rebellion devastated more than half of the population of Kyushu.

In the fourteenth year of the Tianbao era of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, the Tang Dynasty had a total population of 54 million.

However, just a few years later, in the third year of Emperor Suzong's Qianyuan reign, the population of the Tang Dynasty had dwindled to less than 17 million.

Admittedly, this figure may not be entirely accurate—after all, population statistics in feudal times inevitably contained omissions.

However, the degree of concealment was roughly the same during the reigns of Emperor Xuanzong and Emperor Suzong.

This shocking drop in household registration numbers is irrefutable evidence of the devastating damage caused by the An Lushan Rebellion in history.

But if it were in today's context...

All of this will definitely be even more tragic.

Now, after absorbing forces from all directions, the population of the Tang Dynasty has approached the 100 million mark.

The Gu family has already tied itself to the rise and fall of the Nine Provinces.

Whether it's solely for the sake of the Gu family or for the sake of the entire Nine Provinces, Gu Yi has no choice but to take action at this time.

Luoyang.

As the sun rose high in the sky, rays of sunlight streamed into the room through the cracks in the window.

Gu Yi acted in the same way he had when he manipulated Gu Ye last time.

It took me a good while to adjust to the completely different perspective.

He wasn't in a hurry to do anything.

At least in Gu Yi's view, An Lushan would never rebel now, simply because he was still in Hebei.

—The Gu family's roots in Hebei are too deep.

Not to mention the vast network of relationships formed between various families in Hebei and the Gu family, although this demonstrates the extraordinary nature of the Gu family in the eyes of the world, making those families flock to them.

But Gu Yi understood perfectly well that the true strength of the Gu family lay in the deep-rooted foundation in the hearts of all the most impoverished people.

Take, for example, the bodyguards who accompanied the Gu family members.

If one day someone were to actually conquer Julu, then the entire Julu region and even the entire Hebei province would become inhabited by such people. This is the foundation that the Gu family has built over hundreds of years.

Judge from the details in your memory.

At least in Gu Yi's opinion, An Lushan was indeed much smarter than the original historical figure.

This sacrificial ceremony to the ancestors of the Gu family in Julu was likely a test by him.

A man like him could definitely see that Hebei was not a place he could act on his own, unless he could get the support of the Gu family, otherwise he would surely die without a burial place.

He is still in Hebei now.

Then Gu Yi could be certain that, at least in the short term, An Lushan would definitely not take any other actions.

The emergence of the Gu family has already changed history.

Gu Yi wouldn't completely believe the original history.

Of course, Gu Yi wouldn't be thinking of changing Li Longji's opinion of the Gu family at this time, and then abandoning An Lushan to help the Gu family.

That's also impossible.

Li Longji is now like a gambler who has already fallen into a trap.

The gambler thought he could win back his losses, and Li Longji thought he could always control everything.

These kinds of people will absolutely not turn back until they hit a wall and experience the pain.

He certainly wouldn't waste his time.

What Gu Yi needs to do now is to accumulate leverage for the future. At least at the level of military commanders, he must make thorough preparations.

There was no way around it; Gu Xuan's martial arts skills were indeed too poor.

Even the current generation of the Gu family members are not suited to great responsibilities.

Although Gu Yi could sense that he had made considerable progress in overall planning, the battlefield was ever-changing, and when it came to matters of battle formation, he needed to be prepared.

Fortunately, the Gu family enjoyed a glorious period for several generations.

Moreover, throughout these generations, every emperor has given the Gu family absolute trust, which has given them a great advantage from the outset.

It allows Gu Yi to win over many people.

Gu Yi's first target was Gao Xianzhi and Feng Changqing, who were still in Luoyang.

That's right, both of them are currently in Luoyang and have intricate connections with the Gu family.

Although he was still recommended by Fumenglingcha.

But Fu Menglingcha had followed the Gu family's disciples, and the Gu family also provided them with a lot of help after Gao Xianzhi and Feng Changqing demonstrated their talents.

Their reason for staying in Luoyang was also quite simple.

The defeat of Gao Xianzhi was due to the sudden rebellion of the Karluks during the Battle of Talas.

Although the events did not unfold exactly as in the original history, Gao Xianzhi was still punished by Li Longji, relieved of his post as military governor of the Four Garrisons of Anxi, and sent to the capital to serve as the Right General of the Golden Guard.

The same applies to Feng Changqing.

Both men are truly capable, especially Feng Changqing, who is often used as a backdrop for Gao Xianzhi. His current military leadership style is quite similar to that of the Gu family.

He was even stronger than the original historical figure.

The same applies to Gao Xianzhi.

Although he still couldn't escape his "greedy" nature, Gu Yi used to care about such things, but now he has completely let go of them.

Human nature is the same; who can escape it?

It is most foolish to dwell on one person's character and expect everyone to be a saint.

With that thought in mind, Gu Yi directly controlled Gu Xuan to head straight for the Gao residence.

Although the Gu family's influence in the court has weakened considerably, it is still not difficult for them to meet with any minister using their name.

The Gao residence is a deep, secluded courtyard.

Gao Xianzhi, dressed in a smart outfit, was practicing his marksmanship in the courtyard.

Although he is currently trapped in Luoyang, Gao Xianzhi still firmly believes that he will be able to return to the battlefield one day, because Li Longji is extremely eager to expand the territory of Xiyuan.

Gu Yi even felt that this aspect of his work far exceeded the original history.

Although he gradually stopped this behavior as he got older, a man like Li Longji could never stay idle as long as he was alive.

“General,” the old steward of the manor quietly stepped forward and bowed, “a report has come from the gate that Gu Xuan, the young master of the Gu family, has sent a letter requesting an audience.”

Upon hearing this, Gao Xianzhi was momentarily stunned.

"The young master of the Gu family?"

He sheathed his spear, the tip pointing to the ground, his brow furrowed slightly, and after a moment's thought, he remembered Gu Xuan.

He didn't have much contact with the Gu family.

It's not for any other reason than that anyone with eyes can see the emperor's attitude towards the Gu family, and no one would think of offending the emperor at this time.

Even if there were some interactions, they were mostly with elders such as the family head Gu Hao, so his impression of younger generations like Gu Xuan was naturally vague.

"General," the steward added in a low voice, "Young Master Gu specifically asked me to convey that his purpose in coming here is to pay a visit to the General and to request that Doctor Feng also meet with him."

Gao Xianzhi's gaze sharpened, and her brows furrowed even more deeply.

He remained silent for a moment, then handed the spear to the guard standing beside him and ordered in a deep voice, "Lead him to the study and serve him tea."

"Immediately send someone to invite Doctor Feng to my residence for a discussion."

The fact that the Gu family suddenly contacted him must mean something important.

The fact that Gu Hao sent out Gu Xuan, a junior, was likely because he didn't want to be noticed too much, and Gao Xianzhi instinctively thought of this.

He sat upright in the study.

Before long, Gu Xuan walked steadily into the study.

Before Gu Yi could even form a thought, Gu Xuan had already calmly bowed, performing an impeccable salute, displaying dignified bearing and revealing the profound heritage of his noble family.

"Junior Gu Xuan greets General Gao."

Gao Xianzhi sat upright in the main seat, his gaze sharp and keen, observing the handsome young man from the Gu family before him with great interest. Seeing his refined manners and elegant demeanor, he couldn't help but nod slightly, a hint of approval on his face.
"I have often heard that the young master of the Gu family has a dignified and upright demeanor, which is quite in line with the style of his ancestors."

His voice was deep and resonant, yet his tone carried a perfectly measured air of detachment:

"Having seen it today, I realize that the world has not deceived me."

—Though the words were polite, the intentions were distant. Gu Yi instantly saw through Gao Xianzhi's deliberate politeness; a truly reprimanding elder would never say such a thing to a junior.

However, he was not displeased.

Let's not even talk about Gao Xianzhi.

Throughout history, how many people have been able to resist the whims of a powerful emperor and treat someone with whom they have little connection?

Gao Xianzhi paid no attention to this, raised her hand in a gesture of invitation for Gu Xuan to sit down, and then got straight to the point:
"Young master, what brings you to my humble abode today?"

His gaze was sharp, and his words went straight to the point:

"Is it in accordance with the Grand Tutor's decree?"

With a slight thought, Gu Yi immediately controlled Gu Xuan to nod frankly: "It is indeed my father who has important matters to discuss with the general."

Using someone else's name to intimidate others is something that must be done.

The reputation that the Gu family has built up over hundreds of years is meant to be used by the family's members, and Gu Yi is not foolish enough to give up this opportunity.

Gu Hao is the head of the Gu family and also the Grand Tutor of the current dynasty.

In fact, on some levels, he already represented the Gu family.

Sure enough, Gao Xianzhi's expression suddenly turned serious!
He even glanced subconsciously at the closed door, and only after confirming that everything was alright did he lower his voice, lean forward slightly, and change his attitude completely from before.
"What are your orders, Grand Tutor? I am all ears!"

—Completely different from her attitude towards Gu Xuan!

He was an elder in front of Gu Xuan.

But in front of Gu Hao, he had to be formal.

"Let's wait for Doctor Feng to arrive before we discuss this further." Gu Xuan, controlled by Gu Yi, spoke calmly. After speaking, he lowered his eyes, sat upright, his face ashen, and said no more.

The more cryptic the conversation became, the more tense Gao Xianzhi's nerves became.

Although he did not know the specifics, the message that Grand Tutor Gu conveyed in such a secretive manner was of considerable importance.

He stood ramrod straight, his expression growing increasingly solemn, and the air in the study seemed to freeze.

Time slipped away quietly in the oppressive silence.

Finally, the sound of footsteps grew louder as they approached.

Feng Changqing, looking travel-worn, pushed open the door and entered.

The moment his gaze fell upon Gao Xianzhi, who sat upright, and Gu Xuan, whose face was ashen, this sharp-minded scholar-general instantly sensed the unusually heavy atmosphere in the study.

Gu Xuan was about to get up and bow.

"Young Master, please wait!" Feng Changqing moved even faster, gently closing the door behind him. He then strode forward, taking Gu Xuan's arm in his hand, his tone earnest yet filled with unquestionable respect:
"The Gu family has shown me great kindness in helping and supporting me!"

"Young Master is the eldest son of the Gu family, how dare I, Feng, accept such a courtesy?"

"Let alone today!"

His attitude was very firm, but even so, Gu Xuan still gave him a standard junior's greeting.

Feng Changqing was also helpless about this, so he could only sit down to the side.

Then, Gu Yi took control of Gu Xuan again, looked at Gao Xianzhi and Feng Changqing in front of him, and said seriously, "I wonder if you two generals are willing to trust my Gu family?"

—This abrupt question immediately made the two of them frown.

What is the Gu family trying to do?
Gao Xianzhi couldn't help but look at Feng Changqing, and Feng Changqing did the same.

Both of them noticed each other's confusion and tacitly remained silent.

Gu Yi did not wait for a response. He manipulated Gu Xuan, his expression becoming increasingly solemn, and said in a deep voice, "If my Gu family is certain that the world will descend into chaos, would you two generals be credible?"

——Boom!

It was like a thunderclap that exploded throughout the room.

As soon as the words were spoken, Gao Xianzhi and Feng Changqing's expressions changed drastically almost simultaneously!
The next moment, they suddenly remembered the edict of Emperor Taizong that the Gu family held.

Could it be because of His Majesty's attitude?

Is the Gu family planning a rebellion to depose and install emperors?

If it were any other family, the two of them would have confirmed it immediately.

But this is the Gu family!
From the Later Han Dynasty to the present, how could they not know how many opportunities the Gu family had given up to become emperor?
How could I possibly do such a thing now?

"What do you mean by that, young master?" Feng Changqing asked in a deep voice, his brows furrowed.

Without hesitation, Gu Yi looked at the two of them and earnestly told them about the recent situation in Hebei that the Censorate had found out.

"Generals, you may not know this, but An Lushan's recent actions, one by one, reveal his rebellious nature!"

"It possesses elite troops from three towns, and its armor, horses, and provisions far exceed the needs of the border towns, and even surpass the regulations set by the imperial court!"

"The number of Hu generals under his command is increasing daily, while the number of Han generals is decreasing daily."

"."

"Look at the court! Yang Guozhong and An Lushan are like oil and water, and he has repeatedly slandered An Lushan, saying that he will surely rebel."

"But the emperor was infatuated with the imperial concubine and misled by An Lushan's clever words and flattery, so he trusted him completely and instead accused Yang Xiang of framing him."

"Isn't this situation just adding fuel to the fire?"

“An Lushan held a large army and dominated Hebei. He was plagued by the unpredictable influence of the emperor and the ever-growing threat of Prime Minister Yang. How could he not harbor rebellious intentions?”

The sound of his voice echoed throughout the study.

Gu Yi didn't make anything up; he described the current situation exactly as the Gu family had gathered information about.

This instantly put their minds at ease, but their expressions grew even more serious.

They understood perfectly well—

It wouldn't be difficult for the Gu family to find out this information.

Then these must be true!

Even after Gu Xuan finished speaking, the two remained speechless for a long time, staring intently at Gu Xuan, lost in thought.

Why doesn't the Grand Tutor offer this advice to His Majesty?

After a long while, Gao Xianzhi asked the question again.

"Your Majesty does not see my father." Gu Yi said quite naturally, pausing slightly before smiling with relief, "Even if he did see him, he would never have believed these things before they happened."

"Generals, don't forget how An Lushan got to where he is today."

Upon hearing this, the two instantly understood the meaning behind Gu Xuan's words.

Li Longji was the emperor.

It's impossible for someone to easily contradict themselves.

If he were to admit all of this, wouldn't that be telling the world that he was bad at judging people?
How could someone as arrogant as Li Longji possibly admit it?

The study fell silent once again.

Both Gao Xianzhi and Feng Changqing had very complicated expressions, one of worry stemming from believing Gu Xuan's words, and the other of complex feelings towards Li Longji.

The two received too many rewards.

This is called imperial favor.

They instinctively suspected that the Gu family was now trying to use Emperor Taizong's edict to depose and install emperors.

Gu Yi naturally noticed their worries.

His growth over this period was no joke; he instantly saw through their thoughts and then bowed again, saying, "Generals, rest assured, the Gu family would never commit treason."

"This move—"

"Only to save the world."

The three words "save the world" weighed a ton, carrying an almost tragic sense of mission, and struck the hearts of the two men hard.

Feng Changqing's taut jawline relaxed noticeably, and the sharp scrutiny in his eyes transformed into deep contemplation.

He leaned forward slightly, staring intently into Gu Xuan's eyes, and asked in a deep voice, "Grand Tutor, what exactly do you intend to do?"

"What do you want me to do with Gao Shuai?"

"It's simply about being loyal to the emperor and serving the country."

Gu Xuan smiled, then bowed to the two men again and asked, "Do the two generals have any intention of leaving Luoyang again?"

"Step out of Luoyang!"

These five words, like a muffled thunderclap, suddenly exploded in the minds of Gao Xianzhi and Feng Changqing!

In an instant, it was either Gao Xianzhi or Feng Changqing who...

Both of their expressions froze simultaneously.

How could I not want to?
Being confined to Luoyang, far from the battlefield, was like a tiger with its claws pulled out or an eagle with its wings broken for these two once-renowned generals!
For them, Luoyang was a cage!

Not to mention that Gu Yi has already warned them about the crisis to come.

Seeing the change in their expressions, Gu Yi felt instantly at ease.

——The greater good cannot bind everyone.

Gu Yi could not possibly use the fate of the world to coerce these people; he had to offer them tangible benefits.

This is the iron law of politics.

Although the Gu family's influence has diminished considerably, it wouldn't be too difficult to get these two out of Luoyang and regain military power.

This is also one of Gu Yi's strengths!

A moment later, just as Gu Yi had expected, both of them made their decisions.

Whispers began again.

It wasn't until noon that Gu Xuan left the Gao residence and returned to the Marquis of Champion's residence.

Gu Hao was not in the mansion.

Gu Yi hadn't noticed this at first, but after a series of panicked noises and Gu Xuan rushed out, he realized it.

—Gu Hao went to see Li Longji again.

And so he knelt outside the palace from dawn until noon, until finally he collapsed from exhaustion.

Looking at Gu Hao, who was pale and barely breathing, she saw him.

Gu Yi couldn't help but control Gu Xuan to look towards the palace, as if he could see Li Longji frolicking with Yang Guifei through the palace walls.
(P.S.: I'm begging for monthly votes! Please support me, brothers! I'd be extremely grateful!)
(End of this chapter)