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

Chapter 285 Building upon the Legacy of Five Generations, Uniting the Nine Provinces (Part 2)

The situation in Kyushu changed almost instantly.

With the rise of the Song Dynasty.

The atmosphere was tense, but it was completely different from the previous battle atmosphere.

—That tense atmosphere has completely disappeared.

Almost all the people were ready to welcome the Song Dynasty's royal army.

This is what it means to go with the flow!

After five generations of management by the Gu family, the overall situation in the world was completely different from what it used to be.

Whether it was the Western Xia or the Liao Dynasty.

Both countries have lost the support of their people.

Even if their emperor personally led an expedition to resist, he could not stop the overwhelming public opinion.

The hearts of the people are with the Great Song Dynasty!
This was actually inevitable.

When the nobles of Western Xia and Liao turned their swords against the people under their command, their fate was already sealed.

The Gu family is present.

Almost all the people of Kyushu would lean towards the Song Dynasty.

This might not have been apparent in the past when there was still a chance to survive, but it is inevitable given the current situation!

June of the first year of Huanji.

The war was progressing faster than anyone could have imagined.

Even though both countries had taken swift precautions, the outer defenses were rendered almost useless by the overwhelming force of the Song army and were quickly overwhelmed.

Helan Mountain.

The young Western Xia emperor Li Qianshun personally led the expedition, which indeed stirred up the last wave of determination among the Tangut soldiers on the front lines of Shizhou.

However, in the face of an absolute disparity in strength, tragic heroism cannot be transformed into victory.

Song commander Wang Shao fought steadily, using heavy infantry in overlapping formations to resist the Western Xia Iron Falcon charges. Meanwhile, the Divine Arm Bow Battalion covered the battlefield with an unprecedentedly dense rain of arrows. The Western Xia's proudest cavalry suffered heavy losses under such a three-dimensional and brutal attack, and their charges were repeatedly thwarted.

At the same time, Liu Changzuo's 30,000 light cavalry bypassed all the fortified strongholds and, with their superior mobility, miraculously crossed the desert and suddenly appeared at the foot of Xingqing Prefecture.

This is the key to winning public support.

While almost all of the Western Xia's elite forces were resisting Shizhou, Liu Chang faced absolutely no obstacles.

Even the common people were helping the Song army cross the border quickly.

When the news of the siege of the capital reached the front lines in Shizhou, the morale of the Western Xia army collapsed instantly.

Even more fatally, the Uyghurs of Ganzhou in Hexi and some Tibetan tribes, who had already been secretly contacted by the Song court and promised great benefits, saw that the situation was hopeless and turned against the Song, declaring their allegiance to the Song Dynasty and sending troops to cut off the retreat route of the Western Xia to the west.

The shouts of killing were deafening.

Beneath the walls of Shizhou, the yellow earth was soaked with blood.

Li Qianshun stood on the dilapidated city tower, looking at the forest of Song army flags outside the city.

This seventeen-year-old young emperor truly understood the weight of the word "despair" for the first time.

After days of bloody fighting, more than half of the elite "Iron Falcons" of Western Xia have been lost, and the city's food reserves are only enough to last for ten days, with no hope in sight.

Now that the capital is besieged, all his options are cut off.

He couldn't think of any way to keep going.

Even maintaining morale is incredibly difficult now, and the fact that he has been able to hold out until today is only because of his status as the emperor.

Compared to the vast territory of the Liao Dynasty.

The situation that Western Xia is currently facing is indeed far too difficult.

The troops in the Western Regions, the troops of the Song Dynasty, and the rebels within the country.

All of this was so unstoppable.

do not forget--

The core power of Western Xia, the Qiang people, had a very special relationship with the Gu family.

In the past, they could avoid getting close to the Gu family because of their own interests, but now it's completely different. As long as the Gu family is willing to give them a chance, who would give up this path to survival?
Gu Lin will certainly give them this opportunity.

The Gu family never intended to cause a large-scale massacre, and this was the final blow the Gu family dealt to Western Xia.

When the core forces of the entire Western Xia began to rebel from within.

All of this was already beyond stopping.

Stone City.

Li Qianshun stood alone by the battlements, letting the hot, acrid wind blow against his blood-stained battle robe.

The campfires of the Song army below the city stretched like a galaxy, extending to the horizon.

The seventeen-year-old emperor gently stroked the arrow marks on the city wall. The rough texture under his fingertips reminded him of the mottled bronze ritual vessels in the Imperial Ancestral Temple, making his already complex expression even more complicated.

"Your Majesty, it's time for your meal." The eunuch's voice sounded from behind, trembling with barely concealed emotion.

Li Qianshun did not turn around, but only looked in the direction of Xingqing Prefecture in the south.

He remembered that on the day he left Beijing, his mother secretly slipped him a bag of soil from the foot of Helan Mountain, saying that if he missed home, he should smell it. Now he still had that bag of soil in his arms, but his hometown was already far away.

In fact, his relationship with Empress Dowager Liang had never been good.

The two sides have always been in a state of power struggle.

But now, faced with this overwhelming trend, those grudges that were once so unforgettable seem insignificant.

“Listen,” the boy suddenly spoke, his voice so soft it was as if he were afraid of disturbing something.

The surviving defenders on the city wall pricked up their ears, and faintly heard bugle calls from the direction of Xingqing Prefecture in the wind—the signal for the Song army to launch a general offensive.

Several veterans couldn't help but turn their faces away and wipe their eyes with their tattered sleeves.

A gentle breeze blew by, carrying with it endless smoke and the stench of blood.

At that moment, Li Qianshun suddenly remembered the stories his teachers had told him about the Central Plains when he was a child.

It reminded me of those great rulers throughout history.

I was reminded of the Gu family members who carried endless legends generation after generation.

finally--

He then thought of those other monarchs who had lost their kingdoms and were also recorded in history.

He thought of King Zhou of Shang, the tyrant who piled up grain and treasures on the Deer Terrace, but in the end could only wear a jade robe and throw himself into the flames, turning to ashes along with his dynasty.

In his opinion.

Self-immolation may seem heroic.

In reality, it is a complete despair and escapism.

He also recalled Chen Shubao, the last emperor of the Southern Chen dynasty, who, when his country fell, hid in a well with his favorite concubine, only to be pulled out by a rope and become a laughingstock. How humiliating and pathetic that must have been.

These figures flashed through his mind one by one, some tragic, some humiliating, some ridiculous.

They were all rulers of fallen kingdoms, each bringing their respective dynasties to an end in their own way.

but--

Those were not the endings he wanted.

A strange power, mixed with the youthful resentment and the last pride in the bloodline of the Weiming family, suddenly surged from the bottom of his heart.

He did not want to perish silently in flames like King Zhou, that would be too lonely; nor did he want to live humbly under the mercy of his enemies like Chen Shubao, that would be more unbearable than death!

He is a descendant of Li Yuanhao!

The blood of the Tangut people, the eagle and the wolf, flows in his veins!
Li Qianshun suddenly stood up straight, the confusion and despair that had been lingering between his brows replaced by an almost burning determination.

He grabbed the long spear that was leaning against the edge of the battlement.

The gun barrel was covered with marks from being cleaved and chiseled; it was heavy, yet it gave him an unprecedented sense of security.

This is a weapon passed down through generations of the Weiming family.

It doesn't mean that the skill of using a single spear technique is passed down through generations, but rather that almost every generation of the Weiming family members uses spear techniques. The root of this is also due to the Gu family, or more simply, because of Gu Chen.

After Gu Chen.

The weapon, the spear, had already acquired a different meaning throughout Kyushu.

The Gu family members also used guns.

Those who had either followed Gu Chen or been conquered by him also chose to use guns to express their admiration.

The same applies to Li Qianshun.

Whether it was youthful chivalry or lofty ambitions, it was all part of their lives.

Li Qianshun's admiration for Gu Chen far exceeded that of ordinary people, and this also sealed his fate. Only a fight to the death remained!

This is destined to be a road of no return.

It has nothing to do with right or wrong.

Even now, Li Qianshun has no complaints about his ancestors.

The establishment of the Western Xia dynasty would have been considered a rebellion in the Song or Liao dynasties.

But this is unique to the Weiming family.

This is entrepreneurship.

Our ancestors worked tirelessly to build our foundation, surviving the conflict between the Song and Liao dynasties, which led to the great achievements we have today.

Now it is on the verge of collapse.

But what can be done about it?

As a descendant of Weiming, Li Qianshun has no regrets and will not disgrace his ancestors.

"The sons of the Weiming clan—!"

"Follow me—to kill—!"

He did not choose to commit suicide in the palace or on the city wall in order to preserve the so-called dignity of a monarch.

Instead, he was like an ordinary Tangut warrior, just as his ancestors had done countless times, holding his weapon and resolutely facing death, welcoming the end of an emperor's reign.

Even though he never held power.

Even so, he never truly became an emperor.

Gu Yi was also silently observing this scene, and felt a strange sense of melancholy in his heart.

The fall of a hero may stir the emotions of those around him.

That's how it is now.

Even he had to admit that Li Qianshun possessed the demeanor of a wise and enlightened ruler.

It's not just him.

This was true for many people within the Western Xia and also for many within the Liao Dynasty.

If given time to recover, this chaotic period will likely not end easily.

But when it comes to great undertakings, there is never a way back.

The tide of history rolls ever onward, never pausing for a moment for any individual's talent or tragedy.

What about Xiang Yu?

He possessed immense strength, was a peerless hero, yet ultimately met a tragic end at Gaixia and committed suicide at the Wujiang River.

What about Cao Cao?

A cunning and ambitious man who looked down upon the world, he ultimately failed to witness the unification of the land.

And then there are those heroes and valiant figures who once dominated the chaotic world and aspired to power, whether in the original course of history or in this time and space altered by the Gu family.

Who among them hasn't harbored ambitions to conquer the world?
Who hasn't shone brightly in that era?

However, one wrong step can lead to total defeat.

Opportunity, timing, internal integration, and external environment are all indispensable.

Individual bravery and strategy sometimes seem so insignificant in the face of the overwhelming trends of the times.

Even the Gu family was no exception.

Instead of relying on the sudden emergence of a single genius, they chose the most arduous yet most steadfast path—five generations of painstaking effort and unwavering determination passed down through generations.

From Gu Jin's pioneering efforts, to Gu Jun's patient accumulation of strength, and then to Gu Rui's bold innovation and even his resolute decision to tarnish his reputation in order to clear obstacles.
Each generation lives in its own era.

They pushed the giant ship named "Unification" with all their might, even if it could only move it forward an inch.

Repairing loopholes in the system, accumulating vast wealth, innovating military technology, and more importantly, the accumulation of thousands of years was fully displayed in this chaotic world, including the expansion of the sea and the deep cultivation over the past few hundred years.

Given this trend, who can reverse it?
certainly--

If possible, Gu Yi would be willing to give Li Qianshun, a man who can be considered a hero, a chance.

As a modern person.

Especially after a thousand years, Gu Yi's vision is no longer limited to the internal affairs of the Nine Provinces. He wants to create an unprecedented golden age by uniting the Gu family with various powerful figures.

Even if this golden age may fade away, it will surely leave a dazzling mark on the long river of history.

But unfortunately—

Such outstanding individuals cannot remain subservient to others for long.

He had no way to interfere or stop it.

The war continued.

As the Song army continued its offensive, the garrison in Stone City began to crumble.

Li Qianshun had indeed made up his mind.

He kept screaming.

He wanted to use his status to inspire the defenders' resolve.

But what could this young emperor, who had only recently gained a little prestige, do in the face of life and death?

And just as Gu Yi had predicted.

When the last of his loyal followers begged him to help him break through the encirclement, Li Qianshun did not hesitate at all and once again charged into the enemy ranks.

Death is not scary; what is scary is having the courage to face death.

As for Li Qianshun...

Once you take this step, there's no turning back.

If it's really just about finding a way to survive.

Before he even reached that point, he had already surrendered; he was simply living in humiliation.

But this was not what he wanted!
Swords have no eyes!
Despite his special status, which made some Song soldiers hesitant, his fate was already sealed as he fought deeper and deeper into the encirclement.

It's unclear from which arrows came that pierced through the young emperor's armor first, and the subsequent exhaustion only exacerbated the heaviness in his body.

Finally, in the very end, this young emperor collapsed.

Thus, they were surrounded by the Song army and the rebel army, and there was no sound from them anymore.

The first year of Huanji, the sixth month, the day of Renzi.

The Historical April Campaign—

The Song army finally crushed the Western Xia, and Emperor Li Qianshun died on the battlefield.

The Western Xia dynasty fell.
------

"In the first year of Huanji, on the day of Renzi in the sixth month, the Western Army captured Shizhou."

Xia ruler Li Qianshun led his remaining troops in street fighting, but died from exhaustion at the age of seventeen.

Initially, Qian Shun defended the city, but Wang Shao used his divine crossbow to break through their iron hawk formation. Liu Changzuo then launched a surprise attack on Xingqing Prefecture.

When all the tribes in Hexi rebelled, the Qiang chieftain presented a map, leaving the Dangxiang forces isolated.

When Grand Tutor Gu Lin heard of the victory, he burned incense and reported to the Imperial Ancestral Temple, saying: "Since Wenzheng Gongjin recovered Yan and Yun, and Zhongsu Gongjun managed the grain transport, five generations of efforts have been made, and now we have finally achieved our goal."

That night, stars fell like rain, and the Helan Mountains echoed.

At that time, the Gu family inherited the legacy of five generations:

Wenzheng Gongjin led a small army to recover sixteen prefectures, establishing the foundation of the state;

Zhongsu Gongjun extensively cultivated land and facilitated the transport of grain, thus enriching the government treasury.
Duke Rui of Wuxiang reformed the military system, rectified the court, and forged a thunderous blade;
When it came to Grand Tutor Lin, he inherited the wealth accumulated over generations and united the strength of the four seas.

Sima Qian once said, "He carried forward the legacy of six generations and wielded his long-term strategies to govern the world."

The Gu family, now spanning five generations, is no different.

From Yanyun to Yumen, from Youdu to Helan, wherever the royal army went, the people vied for food.

This is not solely due to the advantages of military equipment, but also the result of a century of cultural and educational influence.

Looking at the fall of the Western Xia, it was not due to the flames of war in Shizhou, but rather to the loss of popular support.

While the Weiming clan held their strategic position, the Gu family's academy had already spread benevolence throughout the Hexi Corridor; while they oppressed their tribes, maritime trade routes had already spread benevolence and righteousness throughout the world. Five generations and a hundred years of hard work finally brought "unification of the world" back to the rightful rulership of China.

In the past, when Confucius wrote the Spring and Autumn Annals, rebellious ministers and treacherous officials were terrified; now, the Gu family establishes its own family history, yet division and fragmentation ultimately occur. Their intentions are the same.

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

(End of this chapter)