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

Chapter 270 The Times Change in the Nine Provinces, the Crisis of National Extinction (Seeking Monthly Tickets)
Time flies by.

The people of Kyushu were completely unaware of the Gu family's activities overseas.

Although Kyushu Shipping has undergone another large-scale development due to corn, it is nothing short of wishful thinking for these people to catch up with the overseas foundation accumulated by the Gu family over generations in a short period of time.

The shipping routes of the Gu family fleet that traversed the four seas, the overseas trading posts and outposts they had established over many years, and their unfathomable financial and technological reserves remained their most solid barriers, leaving later generations to look on in awe.

The Great Song Dynasty.

More than sixty years have passed since the death of Duke Wu Xiang, Gu Jin. The landscape of China remains unchanged, but the atmosphere is quite different.

The seeds that Gu Jin planted in the past have now grown into towering trees.

Thanks to the unprecedented prosperity of maritime trade and domestic commerce, caravans flocked to the canals and official roads, the annual revenue of the Maritime Trade Office reached new highs, and the scale and prosperity of the city far exceeded those of decades ago.

The biggest change lies in the balance between the principles of literature and martial arts.

The influence of the system established by Emperor Taizu Zhao Kuangyin in the past, which bestowed upon the Gu family the title of "the leader of all martial clans under heaven," far exceeded the imagination of people at the time.

Over the years, the Gu family has instilled an independent and powerful spirit into the army through the "Wuzong" system.

Apart from the Privy Council and the Ministry of War, a military system centered on military families such as the Gu, Yang, and Zhong families had already taken shape. They shared the fate of the nation, yet maintained a certain degree of detachment.

The Yang Family Army of Tianbo Prefecture and the Zhong Family Army of the Northwest, among other elite forces, were nominally subordinate to the imperial court, but their core officers and soldiers mostly came from the Gu Family Martial Arts Academy or martial arts schools with Gu Family backgrounds. Their training, tactics, and even some equipment systems were deeply marked by the Gu Family.

They remain the sharpest blade of the Song Dynasty, defending against the Liao Dynasty in the north and the Western Xia in the west, protecting this beautiful land.

However, the world was not only progressing in the Song Dynasty.

The Liao Dynasty in the north, having laid the foundation laid by the capable minister Wang Yingchen, had deeply integrated the "agriculture-warfare system" into its very core.

The vast grasslands and military settlements served as both a cradle for warhorses and soldiers and a granary that sustained the protracted war.

The Liao emperor firmly sat on the throne in Zhongjing, and his palace troops, tribal troops, and Han troops trained in the style of the Song dynasty were well-equipped and their tactics became increasingly flexible.

Although they temporarily halted their southward invasion, they strengthened their military and kept a close eye on the actions of their southern neighbors. Their national strength steadily increased under an efficient militarized management system, demonstrating remarkable resilience.

Even more noteworthy is the Western Xia.

Li Yuanhao was indeed an unparalleled hero.

He not only thoroughly absorbed the Xijing Road he had seized in his early years, but also turned his military might towards the west and the Hetao region, annexing various Qiang tribes, and allying with the Uyghurs, thus acquiring valuable warhorses and strategic maneuvering space.

He followed the strengths of the Song and Liao dynasties and established a more centralized and efficient military and political structure. He built the "Iron Falcons" heavy cavalry and the "Infantry" mountain elites. Relying on the strategic passes of Hengshan, he transformed Western Xia into a hedgehog that was weak in offense but extremely vulnerable in defense.

He skillfully exploited the contradictions between the Song and Liao dynasties, playing both sides and enabling the Western Xia to not only survive between two powerful neighbors, but also to push its national strength to the peak since its founding.

And it is precisely because of the continuous development of the three parties.

Thus, the tripartite balance of power between the Song, Liao, and Xia dynasties presented a dynamic yet solid equilibrium.

Although the Song Dynasty was the richest country in the world and had a well-trained army and sufficient food, it was constrained by the predicament of fighting on two fronts. When it launched a northern expedition, the Western Xia would harass the border, and when it launched a western expedition, the Liao cavalry would advance south, making it difficult to exert its full strength.

The Liao Dynasty had a strong foundation, but there were still hidden worries about tribal conflicts within its borders. Moreover, it faced the Song Dynasty, which was still known for its martial prowess, and its attempts to expand southward were repeatedly thwarted.

Although the Western Xia was powerful, it was ultimately a small country with a small population, and was in a strategic defensive position, with the limits of its expansion already becoming apparent.

This chaotic world, due to the variables sown by Gu Jin back then, has deviated drastically from the original historical trajectory.

Freed from weakness and humiliation, the Song Dynasty stood tall in the East with overwhelming power.

However, the dawn of unification of the world was not yet visible.

The power struggle between the three kingdoms extended from overt warfare to covert economic contests, diplomatic alliances, and the waiting for a catalyst to disrupt the balance.

Kaifeng.

The current emperor of the Song Dynasty, Zhao Lihui, is the fourth-generation descendant of Zhao Kuangyin.

History has indeed changed too much, even to the point of the throne. However, in many ways, Gu Yi can still see many traces of the original history.

For example, Zhao Lihui's character is very similar to that of Emperor Renzong of Song in the original history.

He was kind and forgiving.

His attitude towards his subjects was very harmonious.

Of course, it also has its shortcomings.

That is, compared to Emperor Renzong in the original history, Zhao Lihui's character was much simpler.

Perhaps it was fate, or perhaps it was due to the influence of his father.

After Zhao Kuangyin passed away.

It seems that all the emperors of the Song Dynasty had this kind of personality.

Of course, the Gu family may also have played a role, after all, the Gu family truly shielded these emperors from all the storms, so these emperors of the Song Dynasty did not need to worry about the intrigues of the court.

The existence of the Gu family provided them with opportunities for pleasure.

This might still have some impact.

However, none of this is a problem at present. As long as the Gu family remains active in the court, these emperors will not be able to affect the foundation of the Song Dynasty.

It is worth mentioning that--

Today, a new intellectual wave is constantly rising throughout Kyushu.

Since the Hundred Schools of Thought revived in the early Song Dynasty, the ideas of the people of China have been constantly changing, especially now after a series of debates among various schools of thought.

This situation is becoming increasingly apparent.

Even in Gu Yi's view.

The impact of these centuries of chaos even surpassed the development of the entire Kyushu region over the previous nearly thousand years.

The vitality that arises from struggle can only be fully displayed in the present moment.

This is for sure!

Kaifeng.

In early spring, the Bian River should be bustling with thousands of sails and cargo ships, but this year, the section of the river east of Huainan has fallen into an unsettling stagnation.

Inside the Chuigong Hall, the atmosphere was even more chilly than the lingering spring cold outside.

Emperor Zhao Lihui, nearing forty, unusually suppressed his usual gentle demeanor, his brows shrouded in an unyielding sorrow. He held a urgent report from Huainan East Road in his hand, his knuckles turning slightly white from the pressure.

"My lords," his voice carried a hint of barely perceptible weariness, "the Huainan Transport Commissioner's Office has urgently reported that the main channel of the Bian River in the Sizhou section has collapsed due to the unusually cold winter last year, the ice blockage this spring, and the silt accumulated from last year's floods."

A suppressed gasp filled the hall.

The Bian River is the lifeblood of the nation!
Millions of bushels of grain and the wealth of the southeastern half of the country were transported annually through this river.

The collapse of the main channel means that the canal transport will be interrupted for at least a month, or even longer.

"More than 300 grain ships were stuck in the river, and 27 of them sank." Zhao Lihui's voice was heavy with grief. "Tens of thousands of bushels of military and civilian food were lost at the bottom of the river."

"The subsequent thousands of grain transport ships were all blocked in Huainan, unable to advance or retreat."

He raised his head, his gaze sweeping over the civil and military officials in the hall, finally settling on the middle-aged man with a composed demeanor at the head of the class—Gu Jun.

This is the current representative of the Gu family in the imperial court, and also the person in charge of both the military and political affairs of the Song Dynasty.

Then, as was his habit, he asked that question.

"Lord Gu, what should we do about this?"

By the end, his voice was trembling slightly.

This is also the current practice in the Song Dynasty.

If it were a trivial matter, it wouldn't be brought up in the imperial court. Anything that is brought to the forefront must be a matter of great importance concerning the foundation of the nation.

For example, the canal transport was disrupted this time!
For the Song Dynasty at that time, the Grand Canal was a matter of great importance, affecting everything from the smallest detail to the entire system. It was not just about the supply of provisions for the border troops.

It also concerns various aspects of business, and even people's livelihoods.

Any one of these points would be fatal, let alone when they are put together.

Just as it was in the original history.

The city of Kaifeng still relies on grain transported by the Grand Canal for its livelihood. The reason for this is related to the terrain, which no one can change. In fact, the problem in Kaifeng today is far more serious than it was in history.

From the prime minister to the imperial guards, from merchants to ordinary people, the daily consumption of rice was a figure that could drive any local official to despair.

The vast majority of this grain was transported northward from Huainan and Jiangnan by canal boats.

Whether the canal transport was smooth or not directly determined the stability of grain prices in Bianjing (Kaifeng), which in turn affected the stability of the people's hearts and the social order of the capital.

In fact, this kind of problem has always existed in the Song Dynasty.

And that is precisely why—+
Almost every generation of the Gu family members has been responsible for the repair and maintenance of the canal, and the management of this aspect is also very strict.

But still the same sentence.

In this day and age, even if the Gu family has achieved comprehensive leadership, it is impossible to be 100% certain.

For example, in this case, the collapse of the entire canal transport system was caused solely by abnormal celestial phenomena.

This is simply unavoidable.

A chorus of voices immediately rose up.

Everyone understood what this meant, and their expressions changed drastically.

Gu Jun met the emperor's gaze, which was filled with dependence and fear, but did not answer immediately. He frowned slightly, his eyes lowered to the tablet in his hand, his mind racing as he considered all the possibilities and consequences.

Compared to Gu Jin back then.

Gu Jun's abilities have arguably dropped another level.

Even with the help of the "Luoshu Xielu Instrument", he still finds it difficult to understand the various problems at first glance. Otherwise, he would not have brought this matter up to the entire court, but would have resolved it directly within the Censorate.

As for Gu Yi, he was also powerless to do anything about it.

Even if he were a modern person, there was nothing he could do.

The Grand Canal system of the Song Dynasty was too complex. The various water conservancy knowledge involved could only be solved by professionals, and he was just a recent college graduate.

It is well known that the knowledge reserves of today's college students are even less than those of high school students.

Seeing that Gu Jun did not speak.

Zhao Lihui's expression grew increasingly grim, and the atmosphere in the entire hall seemed to become much more tense at this moment.

Seeing this, Gu Jun's brows furrowed even deeper.

Seeing that the expressions of the courtiers were growing increasingly grim, he had no choice but to step forward, cup his hands in a respectful gesture toward the emperor on the dragon throne, and say earnestly, "Your Majesty, the matter has arisen suddenly, but it is not without a solution."

"In my opinion, the most urgent task is to act swiftly, steadily, and with caution."

Actually, he was the first to receive the message.

I've been thinking about this for a long time, but I've always felt there are some problems.

But now that things have come to this point, he naturally has to step forward to reassure people.

He carefully recalled the strategy he had devised, and his gaze gradually turned to the people present. He said seriously, "The quickest to act is to clear the river; there is no time to lose."

"The Ministry of Works must immediately select the most skilled water conservancy craftsmen, carry their equipment, and rush to Sizhou overnight."

"At the same time, we conscripted local laborers and soldiers, coordinated them in a unified manner, cleared the silt, and repaired the collapses. Every minute saved increased our initiative."

"Stability means internal stability, especially in the capital."

"With the canal transport disrupted, people's hearts are most easily unsettled. We must immediately stabilize grain prices in Bianjing and severely crack down on hoarding and speculation to prevent a collapse before chaos even begins."

"Doubt is used to mislead the enemy and buy time."

"The news of the border troops' temporary shortage of food and supplies must not be known to Liao and Xia. In fact, we should make them suspect that this is a strategy by our dynasty to feign weakness and lure them into a trap."

Gu Jun's voice was very calm, but it did not improve the atmosphere in the hall much.

Unfortunately, while his ideas hit the nail on the head, they didn't translate into many concrete rules or regulations.

This is a matter concerning the very foundation of the nation.

We must have specific strategies to deal with this.

But this is only the opinion of a minority. The Song Dynasty court today is not full of mediocre people like those at the end of the dynasty.

Gu Jun is the team leader.

For him, simply pointing out the direction was enough!
Sure enough, in the next moment.

Prefect Bao Zheng of Kaifeng suddenly brightened up, as if he had thought of something. He immediately stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, "What Lord Gu said is absolutely right!"

"Your Majesty, I request that the Kaifeng Prefecture and the Palace Guard be ordered to immediately conduct joint inspections of all grain shops and rice stores in the capital. Anyone found to be taking advantage of the situation to raise prices by more than 30% of the usual amount should be arrested and their responsible personnel arrested, and their grain confiscated and sold to the people at a fair price!"

"At the same time, notices were posted at each city gate to reassure the people, stating that the imperial court had made every effort to deal with the situation, and anyone who dared to spread rumors would be punished for disturbing the peace of the people!"

"This is a fundamental strategy, and I will execute it with swift and decisive action!"

Bao Zheng's addition transformed "stabilizing the internal situation" from a principle into a strict and actionable law.

And as his voice fell.

Immediately afterward, Vice Chancellor Fan Zhongyan stepped forward, his expression extremely serious: "Your Majesty, Gu Gong's quick-thinking method is a life-saving remedy."

"However, I believe that while repairing the main river channel, we should immediately survey the old tributaries and abandoned waterways around the Bian River and try to open up a temporary auxiliary waterway, even if its capacity is limited. Alternatively, we can take multiple approaches and use land routes to transport the most essential supplies."

This is what is meant by "using two approaches simultaneously, not relying on just one method".

"In addition, the money, grain, and labor required for the emergency repairs need to be handled on a case-by-case basis. The three departments and the Ministry of Works should establish a temporary canal transport response office to coordinate and allocate resources, so as to avoid local shirking of responsibility and delays caused by back-and-forth official documents!"

As the two spoke, the atmosphere inside the Chuigong Hall instantly improved somewhat.

This is the fundamental reason why Gu Jun brought this matter to the forefront of the imperial court.

This matter cannot be kept secret.

The Censorate was not a place that gathered all the capable people in the country.

on the contrary--

Those who truly possess the ability to govern the world cannot be confined to the Censorate forever, just like Bao Zheng and Fan Zhongyan in this case.

Of course, they're not the only ones.

Indeed, there are many talented ministers in the Song Dynasty court today.

They came from different backgrounds and had different experiences, but they all had one thing in common—they had all studied at Gu's Academy. Gu Jun was well aware of their abilities, which became another source of confidence for him to "know people and appoint them well".

Sure enough, after Bao and Fan offered their suggestions, the hall seemed to come alive again.

Based on the strategy proposed by Gu Jun, more specific and detailed countermeasures gradually took shape amidst the discussions of the ministers.

The suffocating sense of oppression that had been there before gradually diminished.

After a moment, a kind smile finally reappeared on Zhao Lihui's face. He glanced at the assembled officials with satisfaction, and finally fixed his gaze on Gu Jun, saying gently, "It seems that this matter still needs to be entrusted to Lord Gu for overall planning."

Upon hearing this, Gu Jun bowed and replied without hesitation:

"Your subject obeys the decree!"
(P.S.: I'm begging for monthly votes! Please support me, brothers! I'd be extremely grateful.)
(End of this chapter)