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

Chapter 287 Divine Items, Relocation of the Capital and Establishment of Schools (Seeking Monthly Tickets)

The era has come to a complete end.

After five generations of glorious reign, this unprecedented period of chaos finally came to an end with the annihilation of the Liao Dynasty.

This is of extraordinary significance to the entire Kyushu region.

Nearly three hundred years have passed.

This land has witnessed the deaths of far too many heroes, and countless grand ambitions have also been lost.

Time will eventually wash all of this away.

No matter how much resentment one may feel, it is ultimately impossible to influence the general trend of the world.

Gu Yi had been silently observing all of this.

Although the world is now unified, he is still not at ease at all.

on the contrary--

It was even more somber.

History has once again taken a turn for the worse.

The Great Song Dynasty has unified the world!

Ever since Gu Jin emerged from seclusion and Zhao Kuangyin unusually entrusted the entire country to the Gu family, everything began to develop in an uncontrollable direction.

Although Gu Yi had already prepared himself mentally.

But this always made him feel uneasy.

History has changed so much.

The Gu family has always been in a state of transition, relying on his micro-management to control the overall situation. It is only through the efforts of several generations that the family has achieved its current status.

This is already much worse than before.

Looking back to the late Han Dynasty, Gu Chen single-handedly swept across the entire land, turning the tide and saving the collapsing empire.

At that time, he didn't even have any achievement points.

The Gu family was even at risk of being wiped out, but Gu Chen wiped everything out in a short time.

Although Gu Chen's appearance was due to props.

But whether it was the end of the Han Dynasty or the end of the Sui Dynasty.

He didn't need to interfere too much with the chaos in the world; the family members would set things right on their own, make the right choices, and be able to join forces with the heroes of the era to sweep everything away in a short time.

And now?
This is the result of five generations of hard work!

Although the Gu family's influence and power are constantly expanding, the decline in talent has always made Gu Yi somewhat uneasy.

While pondering, Gu Yi naturally uttered two words silently in his heart.

"lottery!"

The next moment, a game notification popped up.

Without any hesitation, Gu Yi immediately chose to draw ten times.

Again.

Gu Yi is actually not lacking in achievement points now.

Despite years of hard work, no extraordinary talents have emerged from the family, but the sheer number of members and the achievements of past members have still provided him with considerable points of accomplishment.

Although he has also consumed a number of achievement points during this period of time by using the "Spirit Jade".

But now the achievement points are heading straight for a full two million!

This is an astonishing number.

Even if Gu Yi personally takes control, he still has nearly seven chances.

However, he didn't need to control the current situation. As for the lack of a large-scale lottery, Gu Yi had always been worried about it. After all, he wanted to save his achievement points for emergencies when there was a shortage of talent.

Natural disasters, man-made calamities, and even the pressure to correct existing history.

All of this requires Gu Yi's consideration.

But now that the world is unified, Gu Yi no longer needs to endure it.

The current lottery luck is already 90%, and only the last 10% is needed to guarantee a Heavenly or even Godly item.

Gu Yike has never forgotten this.

As for why I had been holding back all this time, the reason is also quite simple.

That means doing what needs to be done at each stage.

As time goes by, the changes in history will inevitably become greater and greater, which means that the Gu family will face more and more crises.

And the more this is the case, the more important the props become.

Gu Yi's vision has long since moved beyond just the present.

Rather, it's the next millennium.

If one were to draw an item like the Celestial Phenomenon Card again, it could potentially influence a war that affects the very foundation of the nation.

For the Gu family at present, this is definitely a life-saving tool.

[Giveaway successful.]

[Congratulations, host, you have obtained: Mortal-level item - Healing Talisman.]

[(All) Cures Illness Charm: After use, it can be used to treat the illness of a designated family member.]

【.】

[Congratulations, host, you have obtained: Mortal-level item - Qi Strength Talisman.]

[(Ordinary) Strength Talisman: After use, it can be used to increase the strength of a designated family member. Duration: one day. After the effect ends, the user will be in a short period of weakness.]

【.】

A series of notifications popped up one after another.

It was still mostly ordinary-grade and profound-grade items that were already popular, but Gu Yi was not disappointed at all.

Although these items are of low quality, they are extremely useful.

To alleviate the severity of the illness and increase strength.
These items played a crucial role in this chaotic period.

Of course, his gaze would immediately fall on the last one.

Current luck level: 100%

(Once the luck stat reaches 100%, you are guaranteed to obtain a Heavenly or Divine-level item.)
[Congratulations, host, you have obtained: Divine Item - Xie Li Edict]

[The deity Xie Li decreed: to hold the balance of Yin and Yang and to govern the order of the four seasons.]

After use, it can be used to adjust the weather and climate on a small scale within a designated area for up to one year.

The rise and fall of winds and clouds, the thunder and rain, all happen in the blink of an eye.

However, the ways of Heaven are balanced; each use of this power requires the loss of some achievement points. Within its reach, the decree can summon an east wind to fuel a fire, conjure dense fog to conceal one's presence, and gather thunderclouds to cut off food supplies.

The series of prompts was enough to make one's scalp tingle.

It was completely different from the "Celestial Phenomenon Card" that I had drawn the first time.

Although this edict of celestial control can also manipulate celestial phenomena, it has considerable limitations and obviously cannot create a scene as large as that of the celestial phenomenon card. However, it has a significant improvement in terms of time.

The key is--

This prop can be made entirely based on Gu Yi's idea.

"Are all god-level artifacts capable of influencing celestial phenomena?"

Gu Yi couldn't help but say that he was both satisfied and somewhat disappointed with the item he had drawn.

—Human greed is like a snake trying to swallow an elephant.

Gu Yi is no exception to this.

He was hoping to draw a tool that would solve everything once and for all, but that was obviously impossible.

For the Gu family today...

This time, the edict of reconciliation is quite a suitable prop.

At the very least, this will become one of the Gu family's trump cards!

"Unfortunately, this tool can only be used once."

With a soft sigh, Gu Yi swept away the complex thoughts in his mind and once again looked at the world.

Time flies, the years are like a shuttle.

—Although the nine provinces are unified.

However, it is clearly not easy to fully restore people's livelihoods and stabilize public sentiment in a short period of time.

The displaced people urgently needed resettlement, the land needed to be redistributed, and the nearly three hundred years of separation between the north and south had resulted in vastly different customs, conflicting knowledge, and even mutual contempt and hatred. All of this needed to be carefully settled.

Fortunately, the Gu family had planned for all of this in advance.

Kaifeng, Chuigong Hall.

A grand meeting concerning the future development of the entire Kyushu region has now commenced.

Gu Lin's expression was extremely serious. Looking at everyone present, he broke the silence first: "Your Majesty, gentlemen."

"Now that the territories are united, scholars from the south mock the northerners for being uncultured, while Confucian scholars from the north criticize the southerners for being frivolous. Some even regard our royal army as an enemy."

"This is a knot that cannot be untied by weapons."

"I believe that if we want the people to truly be of one mind, we must first unify our learning and establish a foundation." He looked around at the important ministers present and continued, "The Gu family academy has studied for many years, integrating the essentials of Confucianism, Legalism, military strategy, agriculture, and even various crafts, and has refined and perfected them into the twelve chapters of the 'Gu Studies'."

"Its core lies in practical application and the shared ancestry of Chinese and barbarians."

"Your Majesty, I humbly request that the 'Gu School' be established as the official school of the empire, and that all schools and academies in all prefectures and counties teach it, and that the imperial examinations be based on it."

—Directly addressing the core and key issues.

This is what Gu Lin has been busy with, and it is also the biggest problem facing the world right now.

The free exchange of ideas is indeed conducive to the leap in thought.

However, in an era where information is still limited, this constant academic conflict is bound to lead to another situation: an irreparable rift in thinking.

In a long period of peace, such things would be overlooked.

It's not that difficult to solve.

But now, the world has just emerged from a period of chaos.

The different ideas of students from different regions will inevitably cause a lot of trouble, and it is imperative to reach a consensus.

Of course, this is not to restrict the free exchange of ideas.

Instead, we need to establish an official school!
For the Song Dynasty today, the most suitable approach is naturally the "Gu School" that Gu has always upheld.

In fact, over the years, Gu Xue has undergone several iterations and changes, and has changed significantly compared to when Gu Kang established the school system. It has even involved various aspects of ethnic integration.

However, the key point is...

However, it still prioritizes practicality over keeping away from ghosts and gods.

These words caused a slight commotion in the hall.

The ministers were not particularly surprised by this, and after discussing it among themselves for a while, they all spoke up.

"What you say is absolutely right, Master Gu!"

Li Gang stepped forward and echoed: "The contention of a hundred schools of thought is indeed a magnificent sight, but at the beginning of the nation's establishment, a mixture of ideas will lead to a loss of public support."

"Gu Xue (Gu's Studies) is inclusive, not discarding the strengths of various schools of thought, but able to condense the core and guide people toward good governance."

"If this can be implemented, it will have a subtle and gradual effect, making scholars across the land know where to go and what to do. After ten years, the people will surely be drawn to it."

"good."

Zong Ze, who was standing to the side, nodded slowly: "If people's knowledge is not consistent, then laws and regulations will be difficult to enforce."

"Instead of letting various regions cling to old learning and foster sectarianism, it would be better to establish the 'Gu School' as the sole authority, clearly defining the meaning of loyalty to the emperor, patriotism, pragmatism, and progress."

"This is a foundation for an enduring legacy."

A chorus of agreement rang out.

The courtiers naturally would not refuse this matter.

Gu Xue was originally the official school of the Song Dynasty, and most importantly, with the continuous rise of the Song Dynasty, Gu Xue has become increasingly popular throughout the country in recent years.

This matter will not affect anyone's interests, so who would refuse it?
But then something else happened that was different.

This matter concerns the interests of almost everyone.

—Move the capital!
This is also a matter of urgency.

The problem with Kaifeng's terrain had already become apparent during Gu Jun's time. Although there were some improvements made afterward, now that the entire country has been unified, it is natural to consider moving the capital.

Sure enough, as soon as the matter was mentioned...

The murmurs among the officials immediately grew louder.

Li Gang spoke first, his brows furrowed and his tone heavy: "Lord Gu! In the current situation, Kaifeng is indeed overburdened."

"Since the unification, the population of the capital has become increasingly bloated, and the pressure on the grain transport has increased day by day. Every year, millions of bushels of grain are transported upstream from the southeast. The losses and conscription of laborers during this process have become a major problem for the country's finances."

"This is an economic ill."

No sooner had he finished speaking than a minister in charge of criminal justice immediately added, "Moreover, Kaifeng is located in the heart of a plain, without any natural barriers of mountains or rivers."

"In the past, in order to resist the Liao Kingdom, it was necessary to station the Imperial Guards permanently, which cost a huge sum of money."

"Although the world is now unified, the northern frontier is vast, the grasslands have recently been incorporated, and potential enemies still exist."

"Placing the nation's central hub in this battleground means that any alarm will shake the entire country!"

"This is a military crisis."

Another official from the north also spoke up: "Your Majesty, Lord Gu!"

"Your humble servant dares to presume!"
"Kaifeng's status is ultimately that of a capital city in the Central Plains, not a capital city of the entire country!"

"The court has been residing here for a long time, and its vision is inevitably limited to the traditional Han lands. It often feels that it is unable to reach the newly incorporated Hexi region and even more distant territories."

“If this continues, it may create estrangement and hinder integration.”

"This is a weakness of politics!"

The ministers spoke almost non-stop.

However, dissenting voices also arose.

An elderly official, a long-time resident of Kaifeng, stepped forward tremblingly: "Lord Gu! Gentlemen!"

"Kaifeng is the capital established by Emperor Taizu. It has been prosperous for a hundred years, and the ancestral temples and altars of the state are all located here. How can we give it up so easily?"

"Furthermore, building a new capital would be a waste of manpower and resources, and would undermine the foundation of the nation. It is absolutely unacceptable!"

“Your Highness is mistaken!” Zong Ze retorted immediately, his voice booming. “It is precisely because we care about the nation that we must plan for lasting peace!”

"How can we stick to old ways and sit idly by while the problems persist without making changes?"

"When Emperor Taizu established his capital in Kaifeng, it was out of necessity."

"Times have changed, and we should have the courage to surpass our predecessors!"

"Not bad!"

Some people chimed in, "In my opinion, it would be better to move the capital to Hebei. Julu is a sacred place in the Nine Provinces, and the Gu family has been managing it for a thousand years. With the Gu family around, the country will surely be safe and sound!"

The hall immediately erupted into an even more heated debate.

All sides quoted classical texts and exchanged words, seemingly all planning for the country, with every word concerning the nation's stability, military, and economy.

But in reality, it's all about self-interest.

Although the relocation of the capital may seem simple, it was in fact tantamount to uprooting and redistributing the power and wealth structure that had sustained the empire for centuries.

For the old nobles and officials who had lived in Kaifeng for generations and owned countless fields, houses, shops and connections, moving the capital meant that their geographical advantages centered on Kaifeng, accumulated over the past century, would vanish in an instant.

Their vast industrial assets in Kaifeng will plummet in value, and the political networks they cultivated in their homeland will also become much less effective.

This was tantamount to cutting off the very foundation upon which they lived, making their resistance the most intense.

For the aristocratic families and related bureaucratic groups in the southeast who profited from the Grand Canal, once the capital moved north, their dependence on grain transported from the southeast would be greatly reduced.

Once this economic lifeline flowing with gold and silver shrinks, their abundant wealth and the political influence gained from it will dry up.

Therefore, whether openly or covertly, they must also be staunch opponents of moving the capital.

For officials from the north or those with influence in the north, as well as ambitious individuals eager to establish themselves in the new dynasty and break the old order, moving the capital was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

With the capital moving north, the political center of gravity shifted accordingly, highlighting their advantages of being familiar with northern affairs or having a foothold in the north.

On a deeper level, this is also a struggle between homeland and new territory.

That's just how people are.

Once external threats cease to exist, internal power struggles within the court will naturally begin.

For a time, the Chuigong Hall was filled with a constant cacophony of noise.

Gu Yi was also silently watching this scene.

He certainly understood what these people were thinking, but he was also very clear that moving the capital was inevitable.

As for the suggestion to move the capital to Hebei...
This is obviously impossible.

In fact, Gu Yi originally did not understand the various changes that terrain could bring, but after growing up over this period of time, he was able to see some of the situations.

The land of Hebei has neither strategic value in guarding the northern frontier nor connecting the north and south, nor is it conducive to the transport of grain.

This is clearly contrary to the current Kyushu.

Someone wanted to use the Gu family's name to seek their own interests, but he certainly wouldn't do that.

In other words—

Does the Gu family of today still need the capital of a dynasty to increase their own interests?
This matter is entirely detrimental and offers no benefit whatsoever!
But when it came to actually moving the capital, he was still somewhat hesitant.

In fact, what Gu Yi really wanted was Yingtianfu, which is now Nanjing.

The reason for this is also quite simple.

That is, establishing the capital in Yingtianfu aligns with the current trends of the Song Dynasty.

Whether it's canal transport or sea exploration.

The Jiangnan region has its own advantages.

Of course, there are risks involved, but how can everything be entirely beneficial without any drawbacks?

In front of the capital of a country.

This is obviously impossible.

However, Gu Yi did not intend to directly interfere. The people of the Song Dynasty were quite capable. Although they were competing with each other from all sides, as long as Gu Lin was there, they were unlikely to make any wrong choices.

Moreover, compared to these people, Gu Yi doesn't feel that he has grown to a point where he surpasses them.

This is not something he should interfere with!
(P.S.: It's the end of the month, so I'm begging for monthly votes. I'd be extremely grateful for your support.)
(End of this chapter)