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

Chapter 275 Gu Jun Dies, One General's Success is Built on the Bones of Ten Thousand (Seeking Monthly Tickets)

That's just how people are.

In fact, what Gu Rui did this time was to exploit the various desires in people's hearts.

Trust, ambition.
The various relationships between the Liao and Western Xia dynasties created this opportunity for him, giving him countless possibilities to do these things.

The news spread rapidly to all corners of the world.

In response to the various situations exhibited by the Western Xia, the Liao Dynasty naturally took further action.

The offensives launched by both sides against the Song Dynasty had ceased without anyone noticing.

Even though the rulers of these two countries still had countless questions in their hearts, they had no choice but to follow the overwhelming trend.

Actually, this is a very simple principle.

For the Liao and Western Xia dynasties...

They were all well aware that cooperation would be mutually beneficial in the face of the formidable Song Dynasty, but they could not achieve absolute trust.

This is human nature.

Neither of them had the guts to gamble.

Given the current situation, if we focus our elite forces on dealing with the Song Dynasty, we risk falling into an abyss if they launch a surprise attack.

Both sides are from the same country and have a long-standing feud, so who would dare to gamble?

—The situation reversed instantly.

As the offensives of both countries gradually subsided, the pressure on the Song Dynasty also lessened considerably.

This presented the Song Dynasty with its most precious opportunity.

—Handling the canal transport!
The Grand Canal system of the Song Dynasty was connected to far too many industries, and the number of people affected by it was countless.

Even though we are now seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, we must not let our guard down until everything is settled.

It's impossible to waste such an opportunity.

Time keeps passing.

And the subsequent developments by all parties were exactly as Gu Rui had predicted.

The first was Li Liangzuo's power grab against Meicang Epang.

No, it shouldn't be called a power grab.

Instead, it was about correcting past mistakes.

As the emperor, Li Liangzuo naturally wanted to seize every opportunity to reclaim all the rights that belonged to the emperor.

This also means that Mucang Epang has no choice but to take action.

Even if he had no intention of rebelling.

But faced with this overwhelming trend, he had no choice but to make every effort to protect his life and his family.

Almost instantly, the entire Western Xia was plunged into an unprecedented turmoil.

Mei Zang E Pang was indeed a capable person.

He controlled the government for many years.

With deep roots throughout the Western Xia, it was logically impossible for them to give Li Liangzuo a chance!
Unfortunately, Li Liangzuo now holds considerable power!
And he was the emperor!
This is an identity that no one can refuse, and similarly, throughout the entire Western Xia, there are bound to be many who dislike Mezang Epang.

These people acted either for their own benefit or to set things right.

But it was clear that the chaos in the entire Western Xia was out of control!

And this also includes the Liao Dynasty!

It is worth mentioning that the Liao Dynasty's commerce is now in complete chaos.

It wasn't just because the Song Dynasty severed trade ties with them.

There is also the issue of Gu Hong's sneak attack on Xijing Road.

Although such behavior was easily noticed and unlikely to directly cause a war between the Western Xia and Liao dynasties, the trade routes between the two countries were still greatly affected.

Li Liangzuo had no choice.

He needed to amplify the impact of this incident to incite the people's resentment towards Mekong Epang.

After all, Mucang Epang was the main person in charge of this battle.

Only in this way could he find an opportunity to overthrow the hidden envoy.
Time flies by.

The Song Dynasty did not pay much attention to the various events that occurred between the Western Xia and the Liao Dynasty.

No, perhaps it should be said that Gu Jun didn't pay attention.

Faced with this sudden change, many generals and young scholars naturally suggested that they should take military action to seize the opportunity to directly destroy the country between Western Xia and Liao, and completely lay the foundation for the Song Dynasty to unify the world.

Gu Rui shared this view.

However, Gu Jun completely suppressed the matter.

It wasn't out of fear, but because he was absolutely certain that now was definitely not the best time for the Song Dynasty.

The problem of canal transport has not yet been completely resolved.

Although the alliance between Western Xia and Liao is now showing signs of breaking down, he is also certain that as long as the Song Dynasty takes action, the other side will definitely calm down immediately, given the mutual dependence between them.

By then, no matter how you look at it, the Song Dynasty was putting in a lot of effort for little reward.

How could he possibly make such a decision?

In fact, this alone shows that Gu Rui is indeed a bit too young.

Although he had profound insights into human nature and was quick-witted, his abilities were still far from those of his ancestors.

But this is enough.

After all, with Gu Yi around, and Gu Jun now fully accepting his son, he has begun to try to change Gu Rui's somewhat impulsive personality little by little.

And responsibility is undoubtedly the most important element in this process.

He started having Gu Rui do some things.

From small to large.

At the same time, she was also telling Gu Rui about her various thoughts.

According to Gu Jun's words.

"The success of one general is built on the bones of ten thousand soldiers; their talents are limited to this, so we must not act rashly."

"Each generation has its own tasks to complete."

"My grandfather, Jin Gong, laid the foundation for the Great Song Dynasty—"

"And he himself and his father were both people who worked to stabilize the foundation that Gu Jin had built."

"."

Whenever he said these things, his expression was very serious.

This is Gu Jun's truest thought.

He knew, of course, that with his talent, it would be difficult to catch up with his predecessors in this lifetime, but he had already set a goal for himself and established rules for the descendants of the Gu family.

If one generation can't finish it, then several generations will do it together.

As long as the direction is correct.

Then there must be an opportunity.

However, Gu Rui didn't seem to care much about what Gu Jun said.

Although he appeared to listen very attentively on the surface, Gu Yi could tell that Gu Rui clearly harbored considerable ambitions.

Gu Yi did not interfere much with all of this.

Whether it's personality or youthful arrogance.

He cannot completely interfere.

Even if you try to manipulate things on the field, it won't work.

This is something that Gu Rui can only change little by little. He can only ensure that he can influence Gu Rui at crucial moments, and that will be enough!

However, there is no need to worry about this.

Although Gu Rui was somewhat young and impetuous,
But at the very least, he would not do anything that would harm the family.

That's for sure.

The name Gu already carries too much glory, and what it can bring to the family's descendants is unimaginable, especially for those who grow up in an environment like Julu.

It can be said that every descendant held the name "Gu" in absolute esteem.
This sudden and intense battle ended quietly and imperceptibly.

As time goes by...

Faced with the chaotic situation at home, the Liao Kingdom finally had no choice but to turn to the Song Dynasty and prepare enough grain and supplies in exchange for the Song Dynasty reopening the trade routes.

They couldn't hold on any longer.

In fact, the problems facing the Liao Dynasty today are almost the complete opposite of those facing the Song Dynasty.

Although Wang Yingchen had decided to build a port years ago, it was no different from Gu Jin's judgment that these foreign tribes were far behind the Gu family in terms of navigation, not to mention the existence of Ryukyu.

Their maritime trade routes were simply impossible to open.

Furthermore, given the Liao Dynasty's existing agricultural and military system, it was already destined that Liao's commerce would rely on the Song Dynasty.

Now it seems Gu Jun has severed all business ties.

This was an unimaginable blow to the Liao Kingdom, forcing them to actively beg the Song Dynasty to reopen trade routes and even offer to provide them with provisions!

Gu Jun did not refuse.

He knew it very well.

This restriction on grain transport cannot continue.

After all, there are too many interests involved. Even if the Gu family has enough influence, in the face of absolute interests, some people will eventually take the risk!
The same applies to the Western Xia. The infighting in the court will eventually come to an end.

Regardless of who ultimately wins, it is impossible to continue cutting off trade routes.

Now we accept these grains from the Liao Kingdom.

For the Song Dynasty, this was definitely the best choice.

Even so, the current situation between the three kingdoms is still shocking to everyone!

Including those who were already famous in history!
In a short period of time.

The Song Dynasty went from being in chaos both internally and externally to its current state, and it has not even taken the initiative to attack from beginning to end, yet it has still gained benefits.

How could this not be shocking?
However, not a single detail about Gu Rui was revealed.

Gu Jun originally wanted to promote Gu Rui, but Gu Rui stopped him in the end.

A person with his personality is naturally suited to working behind the scenes.

Time flies by.

With the complete stabilization of the border regions, the issue of grain transport in the entire Song Dynasty was also handled more and more quickly.

Under the coordination of all parties.

All the problems will be solved as time goes by.

The newly opened waterway connects the waterways.
Under the analysis of Gu's group of experts, the canal transport network in various regions is also constantly being updated and iterated.

In sections of the Bian River where the water flow is unstable and silt is easily deposited, these people systematically promoted the combination of "graded water-saving dams" and "double-gate sluice gates".

Although this was not an unprecedented ingenious technique, with similar prototypes already existing in the Tang Dynasty, Gu's experts standardized and systematized it, densely deploying it in key navigation segments.

As the cargo boats passed through, it was as if they were climbing a series of gentle water steps. The treacherous sections of the river that used to frighten boatmen had been transformed into safe and manageable passageways.

This may seem like just an improvement in efficiency, but in reality it fundamentally reduces shipping risks and losses, making large-scale, regular canal transport scheduling possible.

With the complete opening of shipping routes.

As a result, the Song Dynasty naturally ushered in another wave of economic recovery.

Merchant ships sailed along the canal.

In addition, based on the change in the waterway, Gu Jun also planned new towns in various places.

This was, of course, Gu Yi's idea. The Grand Canal was the most advantageous tool for the Song Dynasty at present, and the economic potential behind it should be well developed.

Of course, Gu Yi was only suggesting the idea.

The specifics still require careful analysis by Gu Jun and the ministers in the court.

This is not about blindly building a new city, but about carefully considering the terrain and various surrounding factors.

This is a comprehensive reform of the canal transport system.

With the efforts of the ministers, these issues were quickly resolved through discussion and a plan was formulated.

First, the nodes such as Zhenzhou, Chuzhou, and Sizhou, which had already prospered due to the transfer of warehouses, were given a more specific positioning.

Resources were mobilized to build more wharves and expand warehouses in these areas. In accordance with the system of Bianjing, government-run markets were established to stabilize prices and manage the market, gradually transforming these places into regional commercial centers.

Secondly, at the confluence of tributaries where shipping conditions had been fundamentally improved and the location was crucial, Gu Jun, in the name of the imperial court, offered preferential policies to attract merchants from all directions to settle down, set up workshops and shops.

All of these methods were extremely natural.

Under a mature trade system, people and merchants in various regions will make the most appropriate choices.

And with the successive implementation of these measures.

The entire Song Dynasty seemed to come alive again, and the heavy atmosphere dissipated into nothingness, replaced by a brand new vitality.

This new vitality did not originate from the imperial decree.

Instead, it sprouted naturally from every nourished town wharf and every bustling river.

Even Gu Yi had to admit it.

Even though he has witnessed countless prosperous eras over the past thousand years, the current prosperity of the Song Dynasty is still the greatest among them.

Of course, there are many factors involved.

The territory currently occupied by the Song Dynasty was, after all, a wealthy land, and with the addition of various reforms and commercial development, this was already predetermined.

However, this also made Gu Yi somewhat expectant.

Given the current state of development in all aspects of the Song Dynasty, if it were to truly unify the world, how much development would that drive?

Will it allow the entire Kyushu region to climb to a new level?
By then
Furthermore, given the Gu family's current development efforts in Tuohai, could this usher in a new era ahead of schedule?

This is highly likely!
Time flies by.

It is worth mentioning that the conflict between the Western Xia and Western Xia has come to an end.

Under the overwhelming circumstances, Li Liangzuo ultimately destroyed Mezang Epang and seized control of the entire Western Xia.

As Gu Jun said, immediately after taking power, Li Liangzuo reaffirmed the alliance with the Liao Kingdom and even sent congratulatory gifts.

This move has undoubtedly further exacerbated the current stalemate in Kyushu.

All three kingdoms entered a period of relative calm.

The Liao and Western Xia dynasties were licking their wounds.

The Song Dynasty was also constantly recovering from the various losses caused by the loss of control over the Grand Canal.

Gu Jun returned to his previous life and began to focus on dealing with various domestic issues.

The balance of interests between the Grand Canal and the central government.

He needs to personally oversee all of this.

If there's any difference, perhaps it's only in the way Gu Rui is taught.

And it was under this exhaustion that...

As time went by, Gu Jun also reached the end of his journey.

Before his father's sickbed, Gu Rui, whose youthful innocence had faded and whose brows now bore a more somber expression, tightly held his father's withered hand, tears streaming down his face.

Gu Jun's face was ashen, but his eyes still held the same clarity and prudence as ever.

“Rui’er.” His voice was weak, but every word was clear, “Your father is afraid he must go to see our ancestors first.”

Gu Rui's throat tightened, and he forced back his tears, only gripping his father's hand even tighter.

Gu Jun's gaze slowly swept over the huge geomantic map hanging on the wall, a map he had gazed at his entire life but never dared to take a single step outward from.

He took a few hard breaths before continuing, "The reason why the Gu family is where it is today is not due to the efforts of one person, but to the hard work and meticulous planning of generations of sages."

"Remember this! Remember this!"

"The success of one general is built on the bones of ten thousand soldiers. We must not start a war lightly because of a momentary urgency or anger, and ruin this hard-won situation."

He turned his gaze back to his son, looking deeply into his bones as if pouring his last strength into him: "Your intelligence far surpasses that of your father, and that is a good thing."

"But with greater ability comes greater responsibility."

"Whether it is maintaining the status quo or expanding, one must act in accordance with the trend and plan carefully before taking action."

"From now on, the fate of the Song Dynasty and the Gu family's legacy will be entrusted to you."

"Father." Gu Rui's voice trembled, a thousand words stuck in his chest, but in the end, they all turned into a promise: "Your son will remember your teachings!"

Gu Jun looked at him, his eyes still full of worry.

But the sudden feeling of palpitation interrupted his thoughts, leaving him speechless.

In an instant, an unprecedented weariness finally appeared in his eyes.

He slowly looked at the map of the Nine Provinces again, raised his hand as if unwilling, yet helpless, and with his last strength said once more, "Do not bury me in Julu, lest you disgrace your ancestors."

As he spoke, his hand unconsciously clenched into a fist, and his body slowly leaned forward.

But he used up all his last bit of strength.

However, they did not encounter the geomantic map that was so close at hand.

Just as he never truly took that step in his life, he closed his cloudy eyes completely, carrying all his aspirations with him.

------

In the spring of the seventh year of Tianyou, ice blocked the Bian River in the Sizhou section, causing the waterway to collapse and the canal transport to cease.

Twenty-seven grain ships sank, and several thousand were stranded in Huainan, causing great alarm in the capital. The Emperor, his face showing his worry, consulted Grand Tutor Gu Jun.

At that time, the Liao dynasty was spying on the border, and beacon fires were frequently lit. The country was beset by internal and external troubles, and the court and the people were filled with anxiety.

Jun replied, “There are different levels of urgency in matters, and the strategy is divided into three parts. The first is to quickly dredge the river; the second is to stabilize the price of grain; and the third is to use feints to confuse the enemy.”

Bao Zheng was then appointed to inspect the capital and prohibit hoarding, while Fan Zhongyan was tasked with opening up the auxiliary roads to facilitate land transport.

He then distributed grain from the Ever-Normal Granaries to feed the people. Some advised against this, saying it was dangerous. He replied sternly, "The people are the foundation of the state. Empty granaries can be replenished, but scattered hearts cannot be won back."

Therefore, a plan was decided.

At that time, the Xia ruler Liangzuo was young and inexperienced, and the powerful minister Mozang Epang held power. They allied with Liao to invade.

Jun Zirui devised a plan to sow discord, secretly allowing merchants to establish a trade route between the two countries: promising profits to Western Xia to demonstrate its weakness, and cutting off trade with Liao to show its intention to punish them. He then sent his brother Hong to impersonate Liao cavalry to raid the Western Capital Road, shouting "Reclaim our lost lands" before fleeing. Suspicion grew between Xia and Liao, and their military offensive gradually weakened.

Jun, the supervisor of the construction department, used "concrete mortar" to build the dike. The method involved taking porcelain gravel slag, mixing it with glutinous rice mortar, and making it more solid when it came into contact with water.

Within ten days, the blockage was completely cleared, and the grain transport boats resumed their frequent passage.

The Xia people were in internal strife, and Liangzuo confiscated the power of the Zang clan; the Liao envoy presented a letter requesting an alliance, promising to double the annual tribute.

The commentary states: Jun inherited the achievements of his ancestors. Although he lacked the shrewdness to expand the territory, he possessed the steadfastness to maintain the existing order. When the canal collapsed and the two barbarian tribes invaded, he was able to keep the people at home and refrain from foreign invasion, thus bringing peace back to the nation from peril. He was truly a wise and capable minister to the state!

Judging from his use of his sons and nephews' schemes and his implementation of Yin-Yang strategies, even the ancient Zhang and Chen were no less capable.

Yet he never lightly provoked border conflicts throughout his life, demonstrating maturity and wisdom in governing the country, embodying the spirit of the Gu family.

—From the History of the Song Dynasty, Volume 1, "The Gu Family"

(End of this chapter)