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

Chapter 218 Swift and Decisive Measures, Reform and Revitalization of the Tang Dynasty (Seeking Monthly Tickets)
Gu Yi was completely unconcerned about Li Heng's sudden change in attitude.

Again.

For the Gu family now, court intrigues are no longer of any concern.

Since he held the reins of power, Gu Yi was still willing to spend his time on serious matters.

On that very day, Li Heng formally finalized the matter in the imperial court.

With an emperor in the public eye and the Grand Tutor, who held a unique position in the court, the situation suddenly became unstoppable.

The courtiers were horrified!
Even the old foxes were caught off guard by this sudden change.

But no matter what they do, they can only accept this reality.

They could contend with an emperor like Li Heng, who lacked prestige, and even against the Gu family, they could seize power from them if they could find the right opportunity.

But they were no match for the Gu family and the imperial power.

Especially since Gu Xuan also holds a significant position of power!

This alone sealed their fate.

Under these circumstances, an unprecedented reform was officially launched throughout the Tang Dynasty.

It must be said that Gu Xuan's ability in domestic affairs is indeed extremely strong.

Regarding this reform.

Gu Yi only came up with a general outline, while Gu Xuan directly and completely transformed it into a system that conformed to the current Tang Dynasty. Many of these ideas were even conceived by Gu Xuan himself.

The first priority is to streamline the official system.

The incompetent Emperor Li Longji indeed made a series of mistakes, not only creating the military and political power of the Jiedushi (military governors), but also causing significant changes in the official system.

This is also the key to the implementation of the new policy.

It is worth mentioning that Gu Yi once again elevated the status of the Censorate, deciding to replace the old practice of selecting officials based on family background or literary talent.

The efficiency of tax collection by local officials and the growth of the household population will be included as core performance indicators.

This unified assessment was then incorporated into the Censorate.

Gu Yi was not afraid of the Censorate's excessive power.

To reiterate, as long as the Censorate remains in the hands of the Gu family, there will definitely be a lower limit to its authority, and overall, it will absolutely drive the entire country upward.

However, if the Censorate were to fall into the hands of others, given the political system of a feudal dynasty,

It is impossible for one person to control the entire Censorate.

After all, not everyone is a member of the Gu family.

If that day has truly come, it will be enough to show that the dynasty's fate has completely run out.

In addition, this was aimed at reducing the power of the military governors.

Gu Yi decided to separate civil affairs and finance from the military, and to separate the military and civilians, so that the money and weapons could not be handed over to one person.

Then there's the more detailed system, which is the two-tax system that Gu Xuan came up with. Its specific content is not much different from the two-tax law proposed by Yang Yan in the original history.

This is perhaps a common trait among intelligent people.

These two tax laws are indeed suitable for the current situation of the Tang Dynasty.

In addition, it also includes military reform.

The most basic task was to reorganize the Imperial Guards. Whether in the original historical period or in the present, the central army of the Tang Dynasty was too weak.

Gu Yi could not possibly ignore this point.

This also includes the issue of rotating border military commanders.

Given the current extremely slow speed of information dissemination, Gu Yi cannot completely avoid all problems and can only do his best.

However, this is only the most basic reform.

The biggest changes brought about by Gu Yi's reforms were to the salt and iron monopoly and restrictions on temple mergers.

Prior to this, the Tang Dynasty had always adopted the system of the Sui Dynasty, which allowed the people to purchase goods freely, and the central government would only collect taxes from them.

However, the commerce of the Tang Dynasty was simply too prosperous.

This is bound to give rise to many problems.

After all, salt is a basic necessity, and iron is the most important commodity exported to external forces through maritime trade.

These are also the people who have made the biggest fuss about the obstruction of maritime trade.

With the support of maritime trade, these two items have even begun to form an industrial chain, and it's hard to imagine what the future will be like if this continues unchecked.

Control measures must be implemented regardless.

As for the issue of temple mergers, there is no need to elaborate. Although under the influence of the Gu family, Buddhism's influence in Kyushu is now far less than in its original history.

However, it also has a considerable number of followers.

The annexation of land by these people was a reality that no dynasty could avoid.

In the original history.

These temples even engaged in usury, and if the tenants couldn't repay, they would simply seize their property, making it difficult for the children of ordinary people to survive.

Gu Yi cannot target all land acquisitions.

This was unavoidable in the current feudal dynasty, where agricultural production was the primary productive force.

Gu Xi had already tried it in the past.

This move will only provoke resistance from the entire world.

However, Gu Yi was somewhat confident in targeting specific individuals, and believed that restricting Buddhism would have some impact.

That's the key point.

The role of the Censorate is fully demonstrated at times like these.

Even without Gu Yi's intervention, Gu Xuan's court tactics were clearly quite good. The tactic of pulling one group and attacking another was common, but it was particularly effective.

There were simply too many potential officials in the Tang Dynasty.

As for who to target, the answer is obvious.

Those officials who were able to rise to high positions during Li Longji's senile later years had already demonstrated their integrity and character.

Centered on Luoyang, the reform officially began.

In an instant, the cries and curses of countless vested interests resounded throughout the court and the country.

Faced with Gu Xuan's dominance, even knowing they were no match, no one would choose to give up so easily.

During this period, various tactics were employed to coerce scholars into violating rituals and laws.

There were even instances where scholars surrounded the Marquis of Champion's residence.

Faced with this situation, not only those officials who chose to believe the Gu family, but even members of the Gu family couldn't help but feel worried.

But Gu Xuan remained calm throughout.

To coerce scholars?

How many scholars in the world could be swayed by these people?

Besides, doesn't the Gu family have such a person under their command?
Don't forget, Li Bai always served under the Gu family.

His poems not only enjoyed great fame in later generations, but were also highly sought after by scholars in the Tang Dynasty during his time.

Scholars all share a common flaw—they care excessively about their reputation.

No one wants to be scolded by Li Bai.

For these scholars, such an infamous act, which would leave them with eternal infamy, was even more important than life and death.

As for ordinary people, there's even less to say.

The Gu family is no longer what it used to be.

The Gu family's extensive efforts to reach the grassroots over the years have been of immense help, not to mention that Gu Xuan had just quelled a major rebellion. All of this pales in comparison to the Gu family's efforts. In the imperial court, cries of agony rose and fell, and the atmosphere was one of turmoil.

From the highest officials to the lowest-ranking clerks, countless people suffered.

Although Gu Yi wouldn't kill all of them, he wouldn't leave too many parasites behind either.

Just as Li Fuguo had predicted, Li Heng seized this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, promoting officials according to the list provided by Gu Xuan while simultaneously placing his own confidants in key positions.

And it was precisely because Gu Xuan's methods were too direct.

Previously, court officials who waited for the best offer had no choice but to align themselves with the emperor under these circumstances.

Lee Hyung could be said to have a satisfied smile on his face every day.

With the implementation of the new policy—

He could even clearly feel that the throne beneath him was becoming increasingly secure.

But less than a month has passed.

The Censorate then set its sights on his most trusted confidant, Li Fuguo.

Inside the Luoyang Palace, candlelight flickered.

Li Heng's gaze was piercing, fixed intently on Gu Xuan, his voice filled with barely concealed tension and questioning:

"Grand Tutor! What crime has this servant committed to warrant such a punishment?!" He paused briefly, then his tone suddenly turned stern. "Moreover, he is one of my inner court officials!"

"Even if there are sins, they shall be handed over to me for judgment!"

"Where does the Grand Tutor's behavior place me?"

"Where do you put the laws and regulations of the imperial court?!"

The atmosphere suddenly turned icy.

Li Heng was genuinely furious, never expecting that this fire would actually spread to his trusted confidant.

"Your Majesty, calm down."

Gu Xuan remained calm and cupped his hands in a gesture of respect towards Li Heng. “The Censorate’s duty to investigate illegal activities is a power and responsibility granted by the laws of the dynasty, and is not the personal will of this subject.”

"Li Fuguo—"

Gu Xuan paused slightly, his expression growing increasingly serious: "This scoundrel's transgressions are not merely a matter of personal moral failings, but also a grave enemy of the new policies and a malignant tumor on the nation!"

"His crimes are so clear that the term 'eunuch' cannot cover up his guilt!"

"."

He did not back down at all, and listed Li Fuguo's crimes in front of Li Heng.

Nothing else——

The key points all point to Li Fuguo's acceptance of bribes and his attempt to seize power by installing his cronies.

Compared to the original history, under the influence of the Gu family, Li Fuguo's crimes were actually much fewer, but he was still someone that Gu Yi had to eliminate.

The Gu family has already paid far too high a price for this trip.

We must fight for a century of development, not only for the sake of Kyushu but also for the sake of the Gu family.

Of course, he couldn't let a parasite like Li Fuguo stay.

"Your Majesty!" Gu Xuan's voice carried a heavy weight, "The new policies aim to eliminate long-standing abuses and revitalize the Tang Dynasty."

"However, these treacherous officials have seized control of the central government, and have even used His Majesty's trust to cultivate confidants and plot for power while still being eunuchs!"

"Does Your Majesty still remember the disaster caused by the Ten Attendants at the end of the Former Han Dynasty?"

"The weight of the nation outweighs personal relationships; the authority of the new policies must not be desecrated!"

"This villain is extremely wicked, and the evidence is irrefutable!"

"Only severe punishment can rectify the new legal system, appease public anger, bring peace to the country, and stabilize the world!"

His final words were resolute and deliberate: "This is not my decision, but a judgment based on law and regulations, and is necessary for the great cause of national revival!"

As he spoke, Gu Xuan took out one letter after another.

—These are all evidence of Li Fuguo's crimes!
Gu Yi had been eyeing this eunuch who would be remembered in history for a long time.

In an instant, the entire hall fell into a deathly silence.

Li Heng's face turned from red to purple, his eyes widened as he stared intently at the stack of glaring letters on the imperial desk. His Adam's apple bobbed violently, but he couldn't utter a single word!
He stared intently at Gu Xuan.

After a long silence, he asked a question in a soft voice.

"Grand Tutor..." Li Heng began with difficulty, "...how about handing this man over to me for personal disposal?"

Even with all this evidence laid bare before him, how could he possibly abandon Li Fuguo, his absolute confidant?

Li Fuguo was one of the few people he could trust.

Moreover, he considered these things to be trivial matters.

Even if Li Fuguo places his own people in the mix, so what? In any case, it's still better for him than those old foxes who are waiting to be sold.

"His Majesty!"

Without any hesitation, Gu Xuan bowed deeply to Li Heng, his movements impeccable, yet his tone was firm and resolute: "The new policies concern the very foundation of the nation, and are national policies personally determined by His Majesty!"

"Your Majesty cherishes our past friendship; how could I not know? Yet—"

His gaze was intense as he looked directly at Li Heng, each word carrying immense weight: "Your Majesty, as the Son of Heaven, rules over all realms!"

"At this time when the great chaos has just been quelled and everything is in need of rebuilding, all the people of the world are eagerly awaiting His Majesty's arrival to sweep away the long-standing problems, implement new policies, and restore a bright and clear world for them!"

"The hopes of the people are heavier than Mount Tai!"

"How can we betray the trust of all people for the sake of one person's personal feelings?!"

That's how scholars speak—the greater good is always with them.

Especially since it was Grand Tutor Gu Xuan, who already held considerable power, who spoke, his words alone were enough to block everything.

What can Lee Hyung do?
Using one's status to exert pressure?
The Gu family possessed Emperor Taizong's last edict, and generals from all directions were stationed elsewhere.

And his popularity with the people goes without saying.

In just over a month, Li Heng experienced that feeling of powerlessness again.

This feeling made him, the emperor, feel extremely helpless and distressed.

He clenched his fists tightly, his knuckles turning white from the force, but he didn't utter a word.

Gu Xuan was not in a hurry. He simply stood calmly in the hall, waiting for the dust to settle.

Time slipped away quietly in the oppressive silence.

After an unknown amount of time, Li Heng's tense body finally relaxed slightly. He didn't say much, only letting out a soft sigh:
"Grand Tutor, your words truly awakened me from my dream."

He paused, his voice carrying a barely perceptible hint of weariness and resignation:
"I almost made a grave mistake."

Li Heng slowly stood up and wearily waved his hand: "Then, let it be as you have suggested."

After saying that, he turned around and left without waiting for Gu Xuan to do anything.

—Still, endure!
If he could endure so many years of walking on thin ice when he was the crown prince, then he can continue to endure it now.

This is a sentence that Li Heng constantly tells himself and reminds him of.

"Your Majesty, Holy Might!"

Gu Xuan remained respectful and bowed respectfully to Li Heng's retreating figure until Li Heng disappeared from sight, at which point he turned and headed out of the palace.

Gu Yi was completely calm at this moment.

He was naturally able to guess what Li Heng was thinking.

But as I said before, from the moment the Gu family chose to tie themselves to the Nine Provinces, the practice of mending and patching up the body for a tyrannical emperor, like that of Gu Xi during the Former Han Dynasty, completely disappeared.

There are ways to deal with a tyrannical ruler and there are ways to deal with a wise ruler.

The Gu family is no longer something that can be controlled by one person or one dynasty.
(P.S.: I'm begging for monthly votes! I'm begging you guys for your support! I'd be extremely grateful.)
(End of this chapter)