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

Chapter 300 Gu Hui's Enlightenment, Man Jiang Hong (Seeking Monthly Tickets)

The wheels of history will always keep rolling forward.

Julu remains calm.

No matter how much the Gu family loses power, it cannot change the fact that this place has become a sacred land of the Nine Provinces.

Compared to before, Julu is now completely transformed.

In particular, in order to cater to believers from all directions and overseas, the Gu family specially arranged pilgrimage routes for these people, so that everyone could quickly realize the vitality of the entire Julu.

As time went by, things did not develop as expected.

The flames of war were finally ignited.

Wanyan Digun united the various Jurchen tribes and raised an army in the Changbai Mountains and Heilongjiang River region, firing the first shot in the rebellion against the imperial court.

He did not recklessly rise in rebellion, but rather followed the ancient rites of the Central Plains, issuing a passionate proclamation that proclaimed to the world, listing three major crimes of the imperial court:

"Firstly, their crime lies in their excessive exploitation, cutting off my path to survival!"

"The officials appointed by the imperial court, colluding with unscrupulous merchants, treat our Jurchen people like cattle and horses. They forcibly seize the finest sable furs, fine horses, and ginseng at prices as low as dirt; while demanding several times the price for the salt, iron, cloth, and grain necessary for survival! Their exploitation is more ruthless than that of jackals and wolves, leaving our tribes freezing and starving, with no way to survive! This is not benevolent governance, but rather tyrannical extortion!"

"Secondly, the crime lies in the injustice of the law, which treats me like an outsider!"

"They claim to rule under the emperor, yet they practice discrimination. Han Chinese who break the law may be let off lightly; but if our people disobey even slightly, they are subjected to severe punishment and slaughtered at the slightest provocation! We are all citizens of the Great Song Dynasty, so why should we distinguish between us? The laws of the court have become a weapon to oppress our border people! This is not justice, but rather bias!"

"Thirdly, their crime lies in suppressing free speech and disregarding life and death!"

“Our tribe has repeatedly petitioned, but to no avail! Even though loyal officials like Lord Gu of Julu have conveyed our pleas to the emperor, our memorials have been ignored as if they had sunk without a trace! Your Majesty, deep within the palace walls, listens only to flattery and hears not the cries of blood on the frontier! The court is deaf and dumb, allowing corrupt officials and cruel bureaucrats to run rampant, leaving the people of our northern frontier in dire straits! This is not mere negligence, but a complete loss of virtue!”

At the end of the proclamation, Wanyan Digunai's voice, like thunder, resounded throughout the northern frontier.

"The court has lost its way and is no longer the parent of the people!"

"We, the Jurchen people, uphold the will of the Eternal Heaven. In order to survive and seek justice, we have no choice but to take up arms to defend our homeland. This uprising is not for seizing territory and becoming kings, but only to cleanse the court of corrupt officials, punish the treacherous ministers, and fight for a way to live for the millions of people in our northern frontier!"

The resounding noise from the white mountains and black waters completely shattered the superficial prosperity of the Song Dynasty.

—That's right, it's prosperity.

Despite the constant pressure from all sides, the tax revenue from commerce continued to rise steadily, giving people the feeling that the Song Dynasty was still thriving.

But for the poorest people, life is already far worse.

—The situation has suddenly changed!
It's important to understand that the Song Dynasty currently governs more than just the northern frontier!
What followed was the shouts from Liaodong.

Similar to the Jurchen tribes in northern Xinjiang, the land of Liaodong is now also suffering from layers of oppression, including the Tubo tribes on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

These are the lowest-ranking people in the Song Dynasty today.

Their status was even lower than that of the common people in the Central Plains.

Most importantly, their terrain dictates that they must rely on the existing commercial system to survive; otherwise, they can only resort to plunder as they have in the past.

Now that the flames have ignited in the northern frontier, these people naturally can no longer tolerate it.

—The flames of war have already begun to spread!

After nearly a century of peace, the world was once again engulfed in flames of war in a short period of time.

Even Gu Yi was somewhat shocked by this speed.

But after thinking about it carefully, he understood the changes.

The Gu family did indeed bring about tremendous changes to this land, including increased productivity, improved thinking, and continuous development in various regions. This inevitably led to an acceleration of the struggle for interests, which naturally resulted in the current situation.

In other words—

Today, Kyushu has reached its zenith under imperial power.

Conflict and war will inevitably continue!

This idea alarmed him.

Although he also understood that as times progressed and the era developed to a certain point, the existence of imperial power would naturally become a shackle.

But he didn't expect things to change so quickly.

We're only in the Song Dynasty now!
Compared to the original history, this day was brought forward by several hundred years, so how could he not be surprised?
Of course, this advance judgment is only based on Gu Yi's macro perspective and modern thinking.

If it weren't for the Gu family's interference.

For the entire Nine Provinces to truly break free from the era of imperial power, a very long and gradual process is inevitable.
Time flies by.

After the flames of war broke out, the entire Song Dynasty, like previous dynasties, fell into a cycle of evil deeds.

The good news is—

The Song Dynasty was indeed very powerful.

The foundation laid by the five generations of the Gu family was already a solid foundation for the entire Song Dynasty. Although various border regions were in turmoil, the strong foundation of the Song Dynasty could not be shaken.

But still the same sentence.

When an issue escalates to the level of an entire dynasty, it becomes insufficient to simply judge it as black and white.

The current situation is no different.

Although the four forces seemed unable to shake the rule of the Song Dynasty.

But don't forget, the commerce of the Song Dynasty was an integrated whole.

And this is precisely the core of the Song Dynasty.

If things go wrong and are not fixed in time, they will immediately cause even greater chaos.

In other words—

Once these people, who had always been at the bottom of society, were freed from oppression, the oppression would naturally increase. In particular, with the outbreak of war, the overall supervision of trade in the Song Dynasty would naturally weaken further.

And as the war drags on, this point will be magnified infinitely.

Faced with this situation.

Those in power will naturally choose to continue to relax regulations, exchanging benefits for more support to fund military spending.

This is the vicious cycle.

Fortunately, maritime transport was not greatly affected. After all, the Gu family was in charge, which was an unshakeable position. As long as Ryukyu and the Malay Archipelago remained under the Gu family's control, no one could shake them.

In many cases, this mitigated the overall decline of the Song Dynasty.

But, being weak means becoming weak.

Of course, during this period, many people will want the Gu family to step forward again, whether for public good or for private gain. Having the Gu family step forward is indeed a good choice.

But is all of this really that simple?

This is the struggle between the powerful group and the oppressed group.

The oppressed want the Gu family to step in, but the profiteering groups will naturally obstruct them.

And without exception.

These people are often the powerful figures in the imperial court.

Especially the one at the very top.

No one wants to relinquish the power they hold, especially after experiencing the taste of power; this becomes all the more obvious.

Throughout history.

How many people can truly do something for the sake of Kyushu with complete impartiality?

Now that the Gu family has voluntarily withdrawn, there are countless people who want to make the Gu family disappear into obscurity, so why would they easily give in again?
The Zhao family rules the world.

The one sitting on the dragon throne only remembered this sentence; he was unwilling to relinquish power.

This is especially true for the Deli Group.

Since it is the Zhao family's empire, what does its rise and fall have to do with them?

Of course, heroes will emerge in such times.

Amidst increasingly fierce partisan strife, the call for reform has finally been raised.

Although it was only a reform of the overall business system, it was unsurprisingly nipped in the bud, and its fate was extremely tragic, both in terms of reputation and its historical ranking.

Only the historical records within the Gu clan documented some of his deeds, leaving one with a sense of regret. Julu.

"My lord, I wish to join the army!"

Inside the Gu Clan Academy, Gu Hui looked at the tall, upright young man with a resolute air about him and sighed softly, "Pengju, why must you do this?"

“You study literature and martial arts in the academy. In the future, you may well be able to govern the country with good strategies, just like my ancestors. Wouldn’t that be far better than personally braving arrows and stones and risking your life on the battlefield?”

The man known as "Pengju" was none other than Yue Fei.

He was from Tangyin, Xiangzhou.

He was also a talented student who studied at the Gu Family Academy in Xiangzhou and later came to Julu. He was also a good friend of Gu Hui.

Although he was young, his gaze was already as firm as iron. Upon hearing this, he bowed deeply to Gu Hui, his voice steady and powerful: "Young Master, Brother Hui!"

Pengju has always admired your scholarship and insight.

“However, mere theoretical discussions are ultimately superficial!” He raised his head, his eyes gleaming with concern for the country and its people. “Now, the northern frontier is engulfed in flames, Liaodong is in turmoil, and Tibet is also waiting for an opportunity to act.”

"The imperial court is not without soldiers and generals, yet the war has dragged on and suffered repeated setbacks. Do you know why?"

Before Gu Hui could answer, Yue Fei answered his own question, his tone filled with suppressed resentment and urgency: "It's not that the soldiers are unwilling to fight, but that there are too many constraints in the imperial court!"

"Military supply transport is often delayed due to obstruction from various parties."

"He commanded troops on the battlefield, yet was often remotely controlled by civilian officials who knew nothing of military affairs."

"Even worse, while soldiers on the front lines shed their blood and sacrificed their lives, some people in the rear were still secretly trading with the enemy and supplying them for their own selfish interests!"

"In this situation, even with the best strategies, when will we be able to quell the border troubles and relieve the people from their dire straits?"

He stepped forward, his expression earnest and resolute: "I, Pengju, am unworthy, but thanks to the teachings of Master Gu, I deeply understand that 'every man has a responsibility for the rise and fall of the nation'!"

"At this critical juncture, how can we sit comfortably in our studies and engage in empty rhetoric?"

"I hereby swear that I will follow Ban Dingyuan's example of abandoning his pen for the sword, personally go to the border, take up arms to defend the country! Even if I die on the battlefield, I will have no regrets, nor will I fail to live up to Gu Xue's teaching of 'practical application of knowledge'!"

He cupped his hands in a gesture of respect once more, his words resounding with an unwavering conviction: "My mind is made up!"

"I am not going here for fame or fortune, but only to use my spear to sweep away the border dust for my Great Song Dynasty and to bring peace to the northern frontier, Liaodong and all the suffering people of the world!"

"I hope you will grant my request, young master!"

Upon hearing this, Gu Hui shook his head, knowing he could no longer persuade him, and could only nod helplessly, but still couldn't help but say, "Pengju, your actions may be due to being forced by others."

"If there is any unexpected event, you can send someone to write to us."

--promise!
A promise from Julu!
In the current situation, this is definitely one of the most reassuring things.

Although the Gu family is no longer what it used to be.

But no one, regardless of who they are, is willing to easily provoke this behemoth.

"Thank you, sir!"

Without any hesitation, Yue Fei bowed to Gu Hui again, then turned and left.

But as she reached the door, she stopped again, turning her head with a complicated expression to look at Gu Hui: "Young Master, is the Gu family truly..."

"Pengju!" Gu Hui interrupted Yue Fei before he could finish speaking, "Wait a little longer."

As he spoke, a hint of confusion appeared in Gu Hui's eyes.

Yue Fei met with Gu Hui almost every day.

Knowing that Gu Hui seemed to have gone astray academically and had been studying the classics left by Gu's ancestors for some time, I didn't say anything more. I simply bowed again and left.

Gu Hui naturally flipped through the classic text in front of him again, his expression still the same, his eyes full of doubt.

He is indeed very intelligent.

Especially after Gu Yi bestowed the "Luoshu Harmonizing Instrument" upon him, his current abilities are now infinitely close to those of Gu Kang in the past, and he will naturally have many opinions on the current situation and changes.

I don’t know how much time passed.

Gu Chengsi quietly arrived here and saw his son frowning as he faced a room full of books. He slowly approached and asked softly, "Hui'er, what's wrong?"

He was well aware of his son's recent doubts.

However, Gu Hui had always been ambitious and rarely required much of his attention, so he didn't ask any further questions.

But since it hasn't been resolved after so long, he naturally had to ask about it.

Gu Hui looked up at the sound and saw that it was his father. He quickly stood up and bowed, but the confusion between his brows did not disappear.

He pondered for a moment, but finally could not suppress the question that had been churning in his heart for so long, and said, "Father, I have recently read through many historical records, especially the history of my Gu family and the rise and fall of each generation. There is a question in my heart that I cannot help but ask."

"Oh? Tell me more." Gu Chengsi sat down beside him, gesturing for him to speak frankly.

Gu Hui took a deep breath, his gaze burning, and his words becoming sharp: "My Gu family, since our ancestor Xiao Gong, has been passed down for thousands of years, experiencing both chaotic and peaceful times. We have always upheld the ambition of 'being loyal to the country and benefiting all people,' and have never had the intention of usurping the throne. This heart is as clear as the sun and moon!"

"However, even if the Gu family, with all its might, has ruled for five generations, creating a unified world and a golden age rarely seen in history, why, why, in just a few decades, has the world once again been engulfed in war and plunged into a cycle of turmoil?"

His voice carried a hint of resentment and confusion: "Is it really impossible to break the cycle of rise and fall of this system of divinely ordained imperial power and the rule of one family and one surname?"

"My Gu family has poured our hearts and souls into this cause, as if it were only to prolong the life of the Zhao family's empire for a short time. Once my Gu family is exhausted and withdraws, everything seems to have returned to square one, and may even have collapsed faster due to the deeper entanglement of interests!"

"Father, what is the meaning of such assistance, such a 'prosperous era'?"

"I study 'practical application of knowledge,' but is its ultimate application merely to delay the collapse of a system destined to decay?"

This series of questions struck Gu Chengsi's heart like a heavy hammer.

He remained silent for a long time, and the only sound in the study was the faint popping of the lamp wick.
.
Looking at her son's face, which was slightly thin from overthinking, she felt both relief and complex emotions.

What's gratifying is—

Gu Hui had already surpassed him. Instead of focusing on the current situation, he began to ponder the essence of prosperous and chaotic times.

The complicated part is that he couldn't answer that question.

Because his abilities were inferior to Gu Hui's, he wouldn't have even thought about this aspect if Gu Hui hadn't said those words.

He remained silent for a long time, then finally shook his head helplessly and sighed softly, "Even I, your father, do not know."

Hearing this, Gu Hui was not discouraged.

He bowed again and spoke at length with Gu Chengsi about the current situation. Afterward, he went back to reading the classics left behind by generations of people.

He can only try to understand these issues by looking at the experiences left by his predecessors.

It's not about finding a complete and clear answer.

Rather, they wanted to explore the doubts in their hearts by combining what they left behind with the circumstances they faced at the time.

Time passed day by day.

This is an astonishing and enormous amount of work.

Almost every generation of the Gu family leaves something behind, and this is something that only Gu Hui can do personally; no one else can help him.

Fortunately, he was clearly extremely patient.

Not in a hurry.

We never ignore what a generation left behind just because they are unknown; we pursue the answers little by little.

Gu Yi was also silently watching this scene.

Looking at Gu Hui's increasingly composed appearance, he understood perfectly well.

—The situation has changed once again.

Moreover, this upheaval is likely to far surpass all previous ones, just as Gu Yu set the tone for the Gu family in the past. Now, the Gu family has once again produced a second true reformer.

And things unfolded exactly as Gu Yi had predicted.

Just over half a month later, Gu Hui finally saw all the things Gu Yu had left behind.

Looking at his experiences and his thoughts;

And in the very end—

Gu Hui finally looked at the handwritten book left by Gu Yu in the past. It wasn't a scroll meant for the world to see, but one that had been hidden in the secret vault of the Gu family in Julu and never shown to anyone.
(P.S.: I'm begging for monthly votes! Please support me, brothers! I'd be extremely grateful.)
(End of this chapter)