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

Chapter 288 The Era of Leap Forward: Crippled Wings? (Seeking Monthly Tickets)
Compared to other trivial matters, this major decision concerning the relocation of the capital would naturally not be made so easily.

Even with Gu Lin mediating between them.

However, all parties will not give up their interests.

This is actually a drawback of the glorious era. When the ministers in the court are all capable enough, with the defeat of the foreign enemy, they will naturally act for their own benefit.

Human nature is inherently competitive, and even some members of the Gu family wanted to move the capital to Hebei.

Not to mention everyone else.

This matter is destined to be a protracted struggle.

Time flies.

With the successive conclusion of the suppression of rebellions in various regions, the whole country finally ushered in a rare period of stability.

The economic model of the Song Dynasty spread in all directions.

The Gu family has really prepared far too much.

The accumulated knowledge and experience over a thousand years, and the pervasive influence from generation to generation, have given the Gu family a thorough understanding of the situation across the entire world, making them even more adaptable to the arrival of the new era.

Thanks to the powerful foundation of the Censorate and the reputation of the Gu family.

Gu Lin could easily implement all sorts of systems quickly throughout the land.

"Workshop area" and "local characteristics" are integrated into business practices.

All of this can be described as a natural progression.

In this chaotic world, our ancestors have left behind far too much experience.

And with the reaffirmation of official schools.

The entire world quickly returned to normalcy.

Of course, there are quite a few troubles involved.

There were always some corrupt individuals among the various schools of thought who were unwilling to adapt to the tide of the new era. Under the guise of "righteousness," they chose to live in seclusion in the mountains. Many Confucian families were also unwilling to accept the arrangements at this time.

This was a huge blow to them.

Of course, the Confucian school is the most respected.

The status of the Confucius family is actually closely related to the status of Confucianism in the Nine Provinces.

Now that Gu Xue wants to completely abolish Confucianism, the impact on them will naturally be far beyond what others can imagine.

Unfortunately, they couldn't cause any trouble.

From any perspective, they are now unable to withstand this overwhelming trend.

The Gu family academy has already established a strong presence throughout Kyushu, and is now even expanding overseas. In addition, the actions of the Kong family over the years are no secret either.

He was the one who benefited the most.

Countless people want to share the cake left by the Kong family.

How could they possibly withstand this overwhelming force?
As time went by, and after a series of struggles, the decision to establish the capital was finally made.

It is not the separate capital city that Gu Yi originally envisioned.

Rather, it was the Four Capitals system that was developed after careful consideration by all parties.

Nanjing Yingtianfu was designated as the capital.

The three places of Tokyo (Kaifeng Prefecture), Xijing (Henan Prefecture), and Beijing (Daming Prefecture) were designated as secondary capitals.

This was not a compromise, but rather the most appropriate decision Gu Lin made after thoroughly understanding all the open and covert struggles and vested interests.

Remaining in Tokyo and Kaifeng was a necessary step to appease the old nobles and interest groups in the southeast.

This move clearly declares that it is not about abandoning the foundation built over centuries, but rather about expanding the empire's central network.

Kaifeng retained its prosperity and some political functions, allowing forces that relied on the Grand Canal and old industries to breathe and avoid desperate measures, thus greatly reducing the resistance to reform.

The establishment of Daming Prefecture in Beijing served as the de facto military and political hub of the northern frontier.

The northern grasslands, and even the entire Liaodong Peninsula.

These territories all need to be governed.

The present era is not the modern age of convenient information transmission. In order to properly control these territories, it is also necessary to ensure the tradition of information. The imperial court cannot rely on sea transport for everything.

And this is also the best way.

As for restoring the status of Xijing Henan Prefecture and Nanjing Yingtian Prefecture, it takes into account both historical tradition and geographical balance.

Luoyang, located in the center of the world, is protected by mountains and rivers, making it a stronghold for managing the western regions and Guanzhong. Shangqiu, the birthplace of the Song Dynasty, was honored to win over former officials and emphasize legitimacy.

Yingtian Prefecture was chosen because of its overall suitability.

Even Gu Yi could see this problem, so naturally those in the court who are destined to be remembered in history could also see it.

This is also the most suitable path for the Song Dynasty at present.

Gu Yi naturally wouldn't interfere with any of this; the person he was truly concerned about was Wanyan Aguda.

It is worth mentioning that--

Today, Wanyan Aguda is still in the northern frontier.

Gu Yi had considered leaving Wanyan Aguda in the Central Plains to completely cut off any future possibilities.

But after hesitating, he gave up on the plan.

Killing is of course out of the question.

Wanyan Aguda distinguished himself in this war of unification, and behind him were not only the various Jurchen tribes, but also many minority tribes.

And this person is innocent.

If they were killed directly, it would surely alienate these people from the Central Plains.

Moreover, doing so would also make the Gu family appear to be incapable of rewarding or punishing.

It even lowered the reputation of the Gu family.

As for why he didn't stay in the Central Plains, it's quite simple: Gu Yi didn't want to worry unnecessarily.

In fact, this was a decision made by Gu Yi after careful consideration.

If he really imposed various restrictions on people who made a name for themselves in the original history because of the various things in the original history, then why would the Gu family have developed for a thousand years?
In other words-

If he were to worry unnecessarily because of his own concerns, then why would he have changed so much history?
There is no doubt about Wanyan Aguda's abilities.

Moreover, Gu Yi had carefully observed this person, and this person's judgment of the situation was very accurate. Now he was also promoting the integration of the tribes in the northern frontier into the Nine Provinces. Why wouldn't he use such a person?
Perhaps it is the growth during this period, or perhaps it is because the Gu family's strength has become stronger and stronger.

Gu Yi is no longer the same person he was when he first entered the game.

His ambition;

His lofty ambitions;

It is no longer the wealthy place it was originally envisioned to be.

Gu Yi aims to transform the entire Gu family into a truly towering clan, becoming the core of the entire Nine Provinces and one of its symbols.

Even in modern times, this remains true!

If that's the case, why would he deliberately restrict a talented person who hasn't done anything?
It was precisely because I understood this point.

Gu Yi then refrained from forcibly interfering in all of this and remained remarkably calm.

Not to mention anything else.

At least for now, everything is moving in a positive direction, and he is even certain that the Nine Provinces will usher in an unprecedented golden age!
That's for sure!

Things unfolded exactly as Gu Yi had predicted.

Although the internal competition within the Song Dynasty was intensifying, under the leadership of the Gu family, the entire Nine Provinces were showing signs of prosperity.

Whether from the perspective of people's livelihood;
Or perhaps it's the technological changes in the relevant core industrial chains that have created a very positive cycle.

The canal transport has become increasingly efficient and a related system has been formed.

The stability of the regime.

This allowed the Nine Provinces, which had been accumulating strength for hundreds of years, to finally unleash their full potential once again. The technology that the Gu family had accumulated over the years was being put to good use in the current world.

Especially the elites trained by Gu's Academy.

It is worth mentioning that the Gu Academy is no longer solely focused on academic discussions; practical technologies have also been incorporated into its curriculum.

This provides another option for many people.

The imperial examination system was not the whole story.

And there will be a day when they can rise to prominence.

This can definitely be called one of the greatest acts of public virtue during this grand event.

Unlike previous prosperous eras, this current era truly benefits ordinary people. The economic development driven by commercial growth will greatly improve people's living standards.

The trade surplus generated by maritime transport has become a key factor in this.

Kyushu is way ahead!

Silk Tea
This includes various technologies.

These things have now become something that overseas nobles are fervently pursuing.

The Gu Family Academy, too, is spreading at a visible rate.

The major ports along the southeastern coast, such as Guangzhou, Quanzhou, and Mingzhou, are bustling with ships year-round, their masts like a forest. This alone is enough to demonstrate just how formidable the current power and influence of Kyushu truly is.

And most importantly—

All of this is not just talk.

Merchant ships arriving from overseas were always awestruck by the grandeur of Kyushu.

Especially the giant deer!
This holy city, nurtured by countless legends, has finally come to live up to its name after a century of development.

Almost every year, there are pilgrims coming from overseas.

Moreover, this is only a very small number of people who successfully reach Kyushu. Most of these people come alone in their homemade small boats, making it extremely difficult for them to reach Kyushu.

But that's precisely why.

Each time a wave reaches a destination and successfully returns, it will cause an even bigger wave.

There's no way around it, at least not in this day and age.

Everything in Kyushu was too advanced, and everything about it was something they longed for.

It is worth mentioning that--

Today, Japan and the Malay Peninsula have become an important link in Gu's maritime transit routes, and some mineral resources within Japan are also currently being developed.

Of course, this was Gu Yi's idea.

He has never forgotten this matter.

I hadn't done it before simply because I felt the timing wasn't right.

After all, navigation capabilities were not yet mature at that time. Rather than risking mining, it was better to leave these things for future generations. In any case, what the Gu family wanted to fight for was something for all ages, so there was no need to rush.

But things are different now.

The Nine Provinces have weathered the chaos of war, and various navigation technologies have gradually matured.

Although it is still far beyond our reach compared to modern times.

But for now, it's enough.

This naturally led to its development.

Unlike other places, Gu Yi would consider whether to include this place in Kyushu.

But he had absolutely no such thoughts about Japan.

It's just a tiny place.
Being able to use them is already a huge favor to them. To bring them into the Nine Provinces and make them respected throughout the world along with the Nine Provinces?
Don't even think about it!

Gu Yi felt no psychological burden whatsoever regarding this matter.

Under these circumstances, the entire Kyushu region was thriving.

But as time goes by...

Various problems gradually emerged.

Ying Tianfu.

This place has now become the capital of the Song Dynasty. With the support of the wealth of the Jiangnan region, it is no less prosperous than Kaifeng, which has been developing for a hundred years, and is even more prosperous.

The Marquis of Champion's Residence.

Indeed, after the unification of the world, the Gu family finally regained this title.

In fact, back when Gu Jin had just left Julu, Zhao Kuangyin had intended to bestow upon him the title of Marquis of Champion, but Gu Jin ultimately refused.

In his words—

At that time, Kyushu was still in a state of chaos.

As a member of the Gu family, having failed to restore the glory of his ancestors, he naturally could not inherit their titles.

And that's exactly why.

More than a hundred years have passed before the Gu family has finally regained the title of Marquis of Champion.

At this moment, in the study.

The newly appointed Imperial Censor Zhang Shuye stood solemnly below the hall, his face grave, holding a scroll of memorials in his hands. He reported in a deep voice, "Lord Gu, the Censorate recently received a secret report from the northern border concerning Marquis Wuwei and the Guo family."

Gu Lin paused slightly in his writing, but without looking up, he simply said, "Speak."

"Yes." Zhang Shuye unfolded the memorial, "When assisting in pacifying the newly annexed tribes in southern Mongolia and establishing settlements, the Guo family members, under the authorization of the court, actually carried out expansion."

"Although their methods did not involve violence, they used inferior goods to replace superior ones and exchanged less for more, thus encroaching upon and annexing large areas of high-quality grassland that should have been allocated to the herders who had submitted to them. According to investigations, this amount has exceeded one thousand hectares."

“Even worse, some herders were forced to become tenant farmers and pay half of their cattle and sheep as rent every year.”

Zhang Shuye paused, then lowered his voice even further: "Local officials, either out of fear of the Guo family's military achievements and prestige, or because of their past relationship with them, mostly tacitly approved or even protected them."

"This matter has already caused undercurrents among the various tribes in the southern desert, and complaints are rising everywhere. If this continues, it may undermine the court's policy of appeasement and damage the court's reputation in the northern frontier."

His expression was extremely solemn.

After all, the Guo family's status is not something to be taken lightly.

Their origins lie in the descendants of nobles who rose up with Emperor Taizu Zhao Kuangyin. They made outstanding contributions in this war of unification, and their patriarch, Guo Xin, was enfeoffed as the Marquis of Wuwei, guarding the northern frontier. His disciples and former associates were scattered throughout the army.

Most importantly, these military families are considered to be the wings of the Gu family, since the founding of the Song Dynasty, the Gu family has been known as the foremost martial arts clan in the world.

The study fell silent for a moment.

Gu Lin had already put down his memorial, and his knuckles habitually tapped lightly on the rosewood tabletop, making soft sounds.

Uncle Zhang held his breath, waiting for Gu Lin's decision.

This incident may seem like a common act of corruption by frontier military officers, but it actually reveals a deep-seated conflict between the meritorious group and the court's laws, as well as between core interests and frontier stability, in the early days of the new dynasty.

This is something every newly established empire must face.

Throughout history, there has never been any unexpected event.

After a long while, the knocking stopped abruptly.

Gu Lin's gaze remained fixed on the unfolded memorial, his tone calm and even, yet carrying an undeniable power: "Guo Xin is old."

Those four simple words made Zhang Shuye's heart skip a beat, but he dared not reply.

Guo Xin is the current head of the Guo family.

What did Gu Lin mean by that?
Could it be that the court is truly going to clean up all the current problems?
He thought of this problem almost immediately.

As a minister renowned in the original history, Zhang Shuye's abilities are beyond question.

As the core of the Censorate, he would not doubt the character of the Gu family either.

Even so, he still found it hard to believe.

Could it be that the Gu family would really target their own allies?
But what can we do if we don't take action?

This matter must be addressed no matter what!
Otherwise, he wouldn't have had the chance to personally discuss this matter with Gu Lin.

In fact, this involves more than just the Guo family, and even more than just military families. This is extremely important for the current situation of the Song Dynasty, and this matter must be resolved thoroughly no matter what.

To put it bluntly—this is about drawing a line.

Just like Emperor Guangwu of Han and other emperors like Li Shimin, they put a shackle on everyone!
(P.S.: It's almost the end of the month, so I'm begging for monthly votes! Please support me, brothers, I'd be extremely grateful.)
(End of this chapter)