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

Chapter 276 Inheritance and Unity, The Memorial to the Throne (Seeking Monthly Tickets)

Gu Jun has passed away.

This Grand Tutor, whose talent, though not dazzling, was of paramount importance to the Song Dynasty, ultimately succumbed to the passage of time once again.

He fell down, carrying with him his boundless ambition.

—The whole nation is in mourning.

In the Song Dynasty today, the significance of the Gu family to the court often transcends imperial power itself.

This applies to both actual power and far-reaching influence.

But time never stops for anyone.

No matter how much reluctance or pleading there is, the wheels of Kyushu continue to roll forward.

Time keeps passing.

Gu Rui succeeded Gu Jun in his position and immediately rose to the pinnacle of his career, gaining absolute control over the empire.

The transfer of power during this period was very orderly.

Everything went so smoothly that it even exceeded Gu Yi's expectations.

This is also related to Gu Jun's various arrangements in his later years. In his later years, he had already relinquished all power to Gu Rui, in addition to the fact that the key ministers of the Song Dynasty had not yet passed away.

These people already knew the inside story of the canal transport.

They would naturally help Gu Rui.

How could such a change of power not go smoothly?

And it was precisely because of this that Gu Rui's buried ambitions were rekindled, and he immediately demonstrated his abilities.

The first thing he did was to dismiss officials.

This was not just directed at the officialdom of the Song Dynasty.

This also includes the Censorate.

This was inevitable. As the Censorate's influence deepened and its power grew, it naturally led to a host of problems.

Gu Rui and Gu Jun have completely different personalities.

Gu Jun was somewhat hesitant, and even though he knew about some of the problems with the Censorate, he still had to make concessions.

Because the Censorate was the foundation of the Gu family.

To target the Censorate was, in his view, digging his own grave.

But Gu Rui saw things completely differently.

Whether for the Song Dynasty or for the Gu family as a whole, in order to maintain the momentum of progress, it is necessary to make decisive decisions.

The Censorate is of great importance.

He must nip all trouble in the bud.

Moreover, through this move, he also intended to continue eliminating potential enemies.

That's right, it's inside the imperial court!

He wanted to find all those who were hiding in the shadows and dissatisfied with the Gu family!

And things unfolded exactly as he had predicted.

When Gu Rui tried to reform the Censorate, the first thing that happened was a small-scale chaos within the Censorate. The censors and officials involved were instantly tempted by their own interests.

What followed were various rumors.

"All sorts of nonsense, like the Gu family harboring treasonous intentions, controlling the emperor, and plotting to usurp the country."

Various rumors quickly spread across the country.

This was naturally the work of many people.

This wasn't limited to the Song Dynasty; the Liao and Western Xia dynasties were equally unwilling to let this opportunity slip by.

They were all lured in by Gu Rui's appearance.

They thought Gu Rui was just young and intolerant of injustice, and wanted to take this opportunity to eliminate the Gu family's influence in the Song Dynasty!

In response, Gu Rui only did three things.

First, he formally submitted a memorial to the emperor detailing his actions.

Secondly, the rewards were distributed to soldiers from all directions, strengthening the connection between them and the Gu family.

Thirdly, it once again attracted a group of talented scholars!

And then——

A thorough purge swept in.

In the Censorate and the entire Song Dynasty officialdom, all those involved in plotting rebellion, forming cliques, or colluding with foreign powers were eradicated.

Faced with the Gu family, who held both moral authority and military power, these people were powerless to fight back.

Gu Rui is not a soft-hearted person.

Even Gu Yi had to admit that Gu Rui was probably the most ruthless Grand Tutor in the history of the Gu family's rule.

Of course, the heinous crime referred to was the purge within the imperial court.

Once this matter was over, the court was pacified.

Not only did the situation among the common people change, but the entire Song Dynasty officialdom also quickly gained new vitality. Subsequently, Gu Rui joined forces with a group of scholars to carry out various reforms in the court.

This reform is not a large-scale reform.

It's simply an innovation that adapts to the times on the basis of the existing framework.

Through these maneuvers, in less than ten years, Gu Rui transformed the entire Song Dynasty into his own shape.

With the blessing of the "Luoshu Harmonizing Instrument".

Gu Rui's understanding of human nature has reached a new level. During this period, he used various means to block everything that happened and even caught several big fish that had been hiding for many years.

This was arguably the biggest event since the founding of the Song Dynasty.

Gu Yi never interfered much with Gu Rui's actions.

Again.

He cannot control everything at all times.

The current situation requires him and his family members to deal with it together; he only needs to step in and intervene at crucial moments.

Moreover, in his opinion, Gu Rui's actions were not entirely wrong!

Time flies by.

An era departs silently, and another era quietly arrives.

While Gu Rui was carrying out a series of reforms in the Song Dynasty, the Western Xia and Liao Dynasties were also busy with their own affairs.

This was indeed an extremely special era.

Not only is the Song Dynasty constantly growing stronger, but the Western Xia and Liao Dynasties have also shown no signs of decline to this day.

After Li Liangzuo assumed personal rule, he swiftly purged the power of the minister Mezang Epang, thus truly seizing control of the government.

Subsequently, he followed the Song system and vigorously promoted commercial development based on the trade routes in the Western Regions.

Camel bells rang incessantly along the Hexi Corridor, and warehouses lined the streets of Xingqing Prefecture, where treasures from the Western Regions and silks from the Central Plains converged.

Although its national strength was far inferior to that of the Song Dynasty, the tax revenue from trade had gradually filled the Western Xia treasury, allowing it to upgrade its military equipment and become a force to be reckoned with between the Western Regions and the Central Plains.

As for the Liao Dynasty, Yelü Zongzhen also recognized the potential danger of its economy being controlled by the Song Dynasty.

While maintaining the national policy of "cultivation and warfare," he implemented a series of reforms, established border markets, and encouraged herders to exchange furs for ironware; he also promoted water conservancy projects and reclaimed farmland in the southern border region, modeled after the Song Dynasty system; and he further supported handicrafts in the five capital cities to reduce dependence on Song goods.

While these measures did not shake the Song Dynasty's dominant economic position, they enabled the Liao Dynasty to gradually build a more independent economic system, injecting new vitality into this steppe empire.

Even Gu Yi was slightly surprised by all of this.

He instinctively assumed that this would be a correction to the original history.

But after thinking it over carefully, I silently suppressed the idea.

There are simply too many factors involved.

The emergence of the Gu family has completely led the Song Dynasty down a different path. With the Gu family's achievements as a precedent, it seems understandable that the Western Xia and Liao Kingdoms are becoming stronger by emulating the Song Dynasty.

But obviously
If the current situation continues, it is still unknown when the world will be unified!

However, someone like Gu Rui would clearly not give up so easily.

With Gu Rui's completion of the integration within the Song Dynasty.

And what follows is the external world!

Gu Rui will definitely do this!

He didn't want to end up like Gu Jun, wasting his life in China and taking all his ideals underground.

Even Gu Rui understood that he might not succeed this time.

But he must give it his all.

Gu Yi did not choose to interfere.

War between the three kingdoms was inevitable. Now that the Song Dynasty's strength had gradually reached its peak, he also wanted to see if the opportunity had truly arrived.

Kaifeng, Song Dynasty.

Tufu's Mansion.

As dusk settled, candlelight flickered in the study of the Grand Tutor's residence.

Gu Rui sat upright in the main seat, his figure as solid as a mountain in the candlelight.

Those seated at the lower end were all pillars of the court, each with an extremely serious expression. Han Qi's brows carried his usual prudence, Wen Yanbo, the Vice Chancellor, had a calm face, and Fu Bi, a veteran official of three reigns, though showing his age, had piercing eyes. Zeng Gongliang, the Privy Councilor, and Ouyang Xiu, the Associate Privy Councilor, were also present.

This lineup can be considered the core of the Song Dynasty's decision-making.

"Gentlemen," Gu Rui's voice broke the silence, clear and firm, "I have invited you all here today to discuss only one matter—to march north, sweep away all obstacles, completely end the Liao dynasty, and bring the southern and northern deserts under our rule."

"Then we will head west, pacify the Western Xia, and reunify this divided and fragmented world!"

—Let's get straight to the point!
Upon hearing this, even though everyone was already prepared, they couldn't help but frown, their expressions becoming increasingly serious, and even the air in the pavilion seemed to freeze a bit.

A war that destroyed a nation.

Such a goal was far too ambitious for the courtiers.

Indeed, after a period of purges, the Song Dynasty court is now teeming with talented individuals.

But as time goes by, this generation is no longer the same as those who followed Zhao Kuangyin and Gu Jin in the past.

The ongoing stalemate among the three kingdoms has made everyone realize the difficulty of unification, and their goals have naturally shrunk considerably. Now that Gu Rui has brought up the matter again, how could they not be surprised?

Han Qi and Fu Bi exchanged a glance. Fu Bi stroked his long beard and spoke first, his voice slow and steady with maturity: "Grand Tutor's ambition to bring peace to the world is something this old minister admires."

"Although the current Liao emperor Yelü Hongji is no longer as valiant as his ancestor, he still has hundreds of thousands of archers, and the foundation remains."

"Moreover, the Western Xia are all cunning, greedy, and ruthless people. How could they sit idly by and watch our dynasty fight to the death with the Liao?"

"If our army is bogged down in the north, and the Western Xia suddenly launches an attack, striking directly at our Guanzhong or Hedong weak points, then the situation will be extremely precarious."

"How could they not know the principle of 'if the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold'?"

Wen Yanbo then added earnestly, "What Prime Minister Fu said is the wisdom of a seasoned strategist."

"A war that destroys a nation is no small matter."

“In the past, our ancestor Gu Wenzheng recovered Yanyun, a feat that was unparalleled in the world. However, he stopped there and did not complete the task.”

"It is not that we are not capable enough, but we know that to destroy two powerful neighbors in one fell swoop, we need the right timing, the right place, and the right people. If we make any mistakes, we may shake the foundation of our country."

"Although the Liao and Xia dynasties are no longer at their peak, they still retain some of their former power and should not be underestimated."

Zeng Gongliang, who was in charge of military affairs, spoke more directly. He pointed to the huge map hanging behind Gu Rui: "The Privy Council has been conducting simulations for days. If our army wants to break through the Liao capital, it will take the best troops of the whole country."

"However, along the Hexi Corridor, the Iron Falcons and the Bubazi are eyeing the region covetously."

"Once our main force is transferred north, even if there are strong cities on the western defense line, they may not be able to hold out alone."

"Even if we achieve a swift victory over the Liao Kingdom, our army will be exhausted, and our soldiers will be eager to return home. Whether we can then fight again and sweep away the Western Xia with overwhelming force is truly uncertain."

"If a prolonged stalemate occurs, the nation's strength will inevitably be dragged down."

As the others spoke in turn.

A chorus of agreement immediately followed.

The ministers were almost unanimously in agreement; they did not oppose Gu Rui's attempt to mobilize troops, as Gu Rui had indeed demonstrated his abilities during this period.

But Gu Rui can't take too big a step.

We must proceed steadily and surely!
Each word of advice came from a wise and experienced mind dedicated to the country.

Even Gu Rui couldn't say that their idea was wrong based on this.

He listened quietly, his expression calm and unreadable, revealing nothing of his thoughts.

Only after a moment, when everyone had quieted down again, did he speak again: "What you all said was a gem of wisdom, and all were golden words of wisdom."

"The dangers of the Northern Expedition and the Western Expedition are like standing on the edge of an abyss or walking on thin ice. How could Gu Rui not know this?"

His voice was initially low, but as he spoke, he slowly stood up and walked steadily back to the "Map of the Four Seas".

His finger did not point directly at the Liao or Western Xia, but instead pressed heavily on the territory of the Song Dynasty, from the prosperous Bianliang, across the recovered Yanyun, to the vast Central Plains and Jiangnan, and even Liaodong.

"I also know why my late father chose to be patient and keep his many ambitions hidden in his heart."

"It's not that I'm unwilling, but rather that my concerns are the same as yours."

As he spoke, he suddenly changed the subject, “However, have you all considered that since our ancestor, Duke Wenzheng, recaptured Yan and Yun, allowing our dynasty to stand a little straighter, decades have passed since then.”

"Over the past decades, our late father, along with all the gentlemen present here, and those virtuous ministers and generals who have passed away, have worked tirelessly day and night, devoting themselves wholeheartedly to reforming taxes, improving military equipment, and promoting innovation. What was the purpose of all this?!"

For an instant.

Everyone's expressions faltered slightly.

"It is by no means something we are content with merely occupying a corner of the country and guarding this half of the land!"

Gu Rui’s voice rang out again, his tone even more resounding: “The unfinished work of our ancestor, Wenzheng Gong, was not due to a lack of wisdom or strategy, but rather because the timing was not yet fully ripe, or it was necessary to consolidate the newly acquired territory.”

"But has his ambition to unify the nine provinces ever been extinguished even a little?"

"no!"

"It burned brighter and brighter, and it was passed down to my grandfather, and then to my father!"

"Now, this raging fire, this unfinished will, has been passed on to me, Gu Rui!"

He surveyed the crowd with a burning gaze, “Now, our Great Song Dynasty has an unstoppable new army outside, with strong armor and sharp blades.”

"The treasury's reserves can support ten years of war."

"The people are eager to achieve even greater feats."

"This is precisely the time to carry on the legacy of our ancestors, respond to the aspirations of hundreds of millions of people, and complete this final step in accordance with the will of Heaven and the people!"

"How can we hesitate and not move forward because of fear of difficulties? How can we fail our ancestors because of fear of danger and stop at this false sense of security?"

"As for your concerns..." Gu Rui paused slightly, his gaze becoming sharp and deep, "I understand, but if we hesitate in everything and place all our hopes on the enemy becoming weaker on their own."

"Then what will become of the world?"

His words, like the resounding toll of a great bell, struck the hearts of everyone present.

In fact, Gu Rui's current relationship with these veteran officials in the court is the most realistic picture of the Song Dynasty at present.

The veteran's prudence and the newcomer's ambition.

Behind each of these individuals are countless others.

This is why Gu Rui is doing this now.

He must unite all forces and get everyone working together to do this.

The entire pavilion grew increasingly quiet.

The ministers looked at each other, their eyes revealing a struggle.

Actually, regarding the matter of unifying the world...

How could they not want that?

However, their long-standing habits and their gradually deteriorating health made them hesitant to take this step.

Even though Gu Rui has already said so much.

The same applies to them.

Of course, they will also make the most appropriate choice.

"Your Majesty, I am old and my health has deteriorated recently. I have already decided to submit a memorial to Your Majesty tomorrow, requesting that you retire."

Fu Bi broke the silence first, offering his own answer.

He still can't take that step.

However, he also made it clear that he would not stand in Gu Rui's way.

Of course, there was some personal motive involved. For someone of Fu Bi's age and status, whether he achieved unparalleled success or brought about his downfall, his reputation in historical records would remain largely unchanged.

His achievements are already enough to leave a strong mark in history. His silence and lack of obstruction at this moment are both a matter of assessing the situation and a way to protect his own political influence.

Those present were all seasoned officials, and they understood the meaning behind the music immediately, thus comprehending Fu Bi's considerations.

As his words fell, several other senior officials spoke in succession, deciding on the matter of his execution.

The others did not continue to object.

Seeing this, the rest of the group knew that the situation was settled, and despite their many thoughts, they said no more.

As night deepened, the ministers departed in silence one after another.

The library returned to silence, with only the crackling of the candlelight.

Gu Rui stood alone before the enormous "Map of the Four Seas," gazing at the vast landscape depicted on the map with a sharp yet complex expression.

He now truly understands Gu Jun's feelings from back then.

This final step toward unifying the world, though seemingly within reach, carries immense weight.

If it weren't for such difficulties, why would the Gu family have hesitated and lingered here for two generations, spending their entire lives only able to entrust their endless aspirations to gazing at this small map?

But he was different.

With this thought in mind, the last trace of hesitation in Gu Rui's eyes vanished, replaced by a resolute determination to burn his bridges.

He turned around, sat down at his desk again, spread out the Xuan paper by the flickering candlelight, picked up his brush, dipped it in ink, and the brush tip hovered for a moment before falling steadily, producing a line of powerful characters that seemed to penetrate the paper.

"Emperor Taizu passed away before completing his great undertaking. Our ancestor Wenzheng was entrusted with the mission during the crisis and rectified the state. However, the tripartite division of the world has not changed. Although Youyun has been restored, the northern deserts and Hexi are still beyond our reach. This is truly a regret for generations, and it is the reason why Your Majesty and your ministers cannot sleep peacefully or eat heartily."

"Today, our Great Song Dynasty is well-governed, its treasury is full, its armor and weapons are strong and sharp, and its morale is high. This is truly a blessing from our ancestors for their accumulated virtue and benevolence, and a gift from Heaven to Your Majesty for unifying the country!"

"."

"Therefore, I dare to request to follow the legacy of my ancestors, lead the three armies north across the Yin Mountains to plunder the Liao court, and west beyond the Xiao Pass to pacify the Hexi Corridor."

"We will do our utmost, however feeble our strength, to eliminate the treacherous and wicked, and accomplish the great cause of unification, so that the world may be united and China may regain its glory. This is how the Gu family repays the kindness of the founding emperor, fulfills the long-cherished wish of the entire family, and completes this task!"

"Tears stream down my face as I write this, and I know not what to say."

With the final stroke, the ink gleamed deeply in the candlelight. Gu Rui slowly put down his brush, his gaze sharp as he scrutinized the memorial before him. Then, he solemnly wrote three powerful characters at the end—

The Memorial to the Throne on the Eve of the Expedition!
(P.S.: I'm begging for monthly votes! I'd be incredibly grateful for your support, brothers.)
(End of this chapter)