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

Chapter 301 Crossing the highest mountain, though facing millions, I will go! (Seeking monthly votes)

This volume is precisely the alternative system that Gu Yu formulated after traveling thousands of miles and before reforming the Tang Dynasty.

—Its core is key.

This involved dividing the power of the Ten Directions Expeditionary Envoys and establishing a special department to curb imperial power.

In fact, there were many reasons why Gu Yu was able to come up with this system back then.

The Gu family was at its lowest point back then.

Due to the destruction of Yan Han, and the continuous ties between the Gu family and Yan Han, the Gu family was trapped in Julu, and its influence was constantly weakening.

And that is exactly the case.

The Gu family has experienced dramatic ups and downs in a very short period of time.

There was the peak when Gu Chen was alive, and there was also the subsequent trough.

Gu Yu was able to witness the changes in the world firsthand back then.

From the constant warfare during the conflict between the two Han dynasties, to the prosperity brought about by Emperor Wen of Sui, Yang Jian, after he rose to power and unified the country, and then to the great chaos caused by Emperor Yang of Sui, Yang Guang, after he ascended the throne.

Gu Yu traveled thousands of miles.

He witnessed all these rises and falls clearly, and it was precisely because of this that he was able to have a clearer understanding of the core of prosperity. In addition, his own abilities naturally led him to come up with this system.

But as I said before, at least in that era, such a system was impossible to implement.

Otherwise, the Gu family would definitely provoke a backlash from all sides.

This was something the Gu family could not afford at the time.

This is also why this item has been kept sealed within the Gu family.

But for Gu Hui now, this system is like a thunderbolt suddenly illuminating the darkness, instantly shattering all the confusion and chaos in his heart!
With trembling hands, he carefully flipped through the yellowed manuscripts, the handwriting still clear.

The more he read, the more profound the shock he felt.

In the manuscript, Gu Yu, with an extremely calm and even ruthless style, analyzed the root causes of the rise and fall of dynasties throughout history, pointing directly to "the unlimited concentration of power without effective checks and balances" as the core of all problems.

He did not intend to deny the existence of a monarch, but rather proposed an extremely precise and interconnected framework of "separation of powers and checks and balances, and rule of law".

Its core lies in the functional division of the power of governance that was originally concentrated in the hands of the emperor and a few powerful ministers.

For Gu Hui, who is currently in this situation, this is the key to unlocking his confusion.

certainly--

The things Gu Yu left behind in the past are naturally not applicable to the current Kyushu. After all, times change and the world changes, but this principle has never changed from ancient times to the present.

But Gu Hui doesn't need to follow Gu Yu's ideas completely.

He only needs a trigger, a trigger that will allow him to successfully take that step.

Gu Yi was also silently observing all of this.

At this moment, even his heart couldn't help but pound wildly. After so many years, he felt a sense of tension again.

This is absolutely a big deal!
Whether it's for the entire Nine Provinces or for the entire Gu family!
If Gu Hui were to actually take that step, the consequences would be immeasurable.

Perhaps it was out of caution.

Gu Yi's first thought was even to directly manipulate Gu Hui to stop the matter.

But after a moment, he suppressed the thought again.

As the saying goes, "No destruction, no construction!"
The Gu family has clearly reached a bottleneck in its development to this point. Unless there is a large-scale and rapid leap forward in its systems and productivity, it will be extremely difficult to expand and develop further.

The entire world, and indeed the entire nation, will try to curb the Gu family's development!
This is clearly contrary to the Gu family's goals.

And the most important thing is——

Gu Yi did not believe that the Gu family was in danger of being destroyed in an instant, which gave him the confidence to move forward.

Do not break or stand!

If the Gu family has developed to its current state, and with the efforts of generations of outstanding individuals, if the world were to continue along its original path, wouldn't everything the Gu family has done be a failure?

Perhaps it's because I'm still young, or perhaps it's because I've already witnessed too many ups and downs since I entered the game.

This naturally made Gu Yi's ambitions surpass those when he first entered the game.

Now, he not only wants to change the development of the entire Gu family, but also wants to change the whole world!

And now, it's clearly an opportunity!
Although this certainly carries a great risk.

But still the same sentence.

Haven't the Gu family experienced enough risks already?

It's simply a matter of starting all over again.

Over the course of a thousand years, Gu Yi has been able to develop the Gu family to its current state, making further progress nearly impossible. Why can't he try again in the remaining thousand years?
Young people, if they truly lose their drive and only know how to be content with the status quo, will suffer.

How could Gu Yi possibly live up to the sacrifices of his ancestors who followed one after another?
Amidst these complex thoughts, Gu Yi suppressed all his ideas and forcefully swallowed the words that were about to spill out.

In the days that followed, the overall situation in the world remained unchanged.

The Song Dynasty was gradually declining, yet no one noticed.

And in Julu.

Although things remained as calm as ever, in Gu Yi's eyes, an invisible storm, powerful enough to overturn a thousand years, was quietly brewing in Gu Hui's study!
Gu Hui was completely immersed in envisioning the future.

He worked tirelessly, using Gu Yu's manuscripts as a guide, the accumulated experience of the Gu family in governing the country over a thousand years as a foundation, and his profound insight into the current problems of the Song Dynasty as a basis, to begin constructing a new framework applicable to the present era, aimed at breaking the cycle of "rule by family".

He knew that directly abolishing the imperial system at this moment was nothing short of a pipe dream, and would immediately put the Gu family in a position to be attacked by the whole world.

His wisdom lies in "inheriting the past and innovating, and embodying change within the ordinary".

He skillfully drew inspiration from the existing systems of the current dynasty, such as the "deliberation of the Council of State Affairs" and the "Three Departments and Six Ministries," transforming and elevating them to ultimately outline an unprecedented blueprint for "co-governance by the cabinet."

That's right, it's the cabinet system.

In Gu Hui's vision, the emperor would remain the symbol of the nation and the representative of the highest ceremony, but the specific power to govern the country would be handed over to a permanent "cabinet" composed of many important officials.

The Grand Secretary is the de facto head of administration and is responsible for all national affairs.

Although still subject to the emperor.

However, by uniting the entire cabinet, they can create a check on the imperial power.

In addition, following Ku Yu's idea, relatively independent core departments such as the Ministry of Finance, the Military Affairs Office, and the Control Yuan were established under the Cabinet.

The heads of these departments may be cabinet members, but they all operate under independent regulations. The appointment and removal of department heads must go through certain procedures and cannot be decided unilaterally by the Grand Secretary or the Emperor, thus forming an internal check and balance.

This is just the basics, too.

It also included expanding the scope of "deliberation on state affairs" beyond high-ranking officials in the imperial court. It could include renowned scholars from various regions, retired officials, and even some representatives recommended by local authorities, forming an institution like the "Advisory Council."

Although the agency does not have the final decision-making power, it has the power to review major policies, propose bills, and supervise the cabinet's administration, ensuring that decisions are made in a way that allows for the voices of a wider range of people to be heard.

This is what multilateral checks and balances mean.

To ensure that no single entity holds absolute power forever, both imperial power and the cabinet need to be subject to checks and balances from different individuals.

"This is not treason, but rather a move to consolidate our foundations!"

"So that the power of the world is not attached to the wisdom or folly of one person, but entrusted to the wisdom of the masses and the constant system."

"The Zhao family can still enjoy ancestral temple sacrifices, and all the people under heaven can enjoy lasting peace."

"The cabinet's joint governance is not to seize the Zhao family's empire, but to prevent the Zhao family's empire from collapsing quickly, and even more so to ensure that the people of the world will no longer suffer from the turmoil of the cyclical upheavals!"

In the study, Gu Hui muttered to himself as he let his mind wander freely.

At that moment, he was like a dragon trapped in thorns, glimpsing the sky above the clouds in a flash!
After days of deep contemplation and countless revisions, the profound truths of ancient texts and the groundbreaking insights in the manuscript before him finally collided and merged in his mind. "Yes! Yes!" he muttered to himself, his voice trembling slightly with excitement, "The world does not belong to one person, but to all people!"

"The reason why order and chaos have alternated since the Three Dynasties is that the weight of the world has been tied to the rise and fall of a family or clan, and entrusted to the scheming of one person. This is to hope for ten thousand generations by chance, how can it last long?"

"To break this deadlock, we must not resort to violence, but establish rules that will never change and implement checks and balances through public opinion!"

"The monarch remains in his position as the symbol of the nation and the rock that stabilizes the hearts of the people."

"However, the power to govern the country should be modeled after the ancient system of virtuous ministers jointly governing the country. A cabinet should be established to oversee all important matters, and its members should be filled by people with both virtue and talent. They should jointly discuss national affairs, with the chief minister bearing overall responsibility. Major issues should be decided by the group, so that power is not concentrated in the hands of one person!"

His gaze sharpened, as if he could already see the outline of the new system unfolding clearly before his eyes: "Establish the Departments of Finance, Military Affairs, and Supervision, each with its own responsibilities, and maintain mutual support."

"The Ministry of Revenue manages the nation's income and expenditure; unless it is in accordance with the legally mandated budget, even the emperor may not arbitrarily take any funds."

"Military affairs, including campaigns and defenses, require the power to deploy troops through consensus to prevent the disaster of excessive militarism."

"The supervision is independent, and all matters heard are reported to the emperor. From the emperor down to the lowest clerk, everyone is subject to supervision, so as to serve as a warning to others!"

"We need to open up channels for discussion, establish an advisory council, and invite wise men from all directions and representatives from counties and prefectures to participate in consultations."

"So that those in high positions of power can hear the voices of those far and wide."

"So that the will of the people—scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants—can also reach the ears of the Emperor!"

"Only in this way can we gather the thoughts of the masses, broaden our understanding and benefits, fill gaps and omissions, and prevent government orders from becoming erratic and absurd!"

"The implementation of this law is not for usurpation, but for mending the heavens!"

"Use the wisdom of the masses to replace the arbitrary decisions of one person; replace daily decrees with constant laws and regulations."

"So that the Song dynasty could escape the cycle of rise and fall; so that all the people of the land could enjoy the blessings of long-term peace and stability!"

He was like a madman, expressing his thoughts.

And that brand-new system, as time passed day and night, gradually came to life on paper.

Gu Yi had been silently watching all of this, and the tension in his heart could no longer be controlled; he couldn't calm down no matter what he did.

This can absolutely be called a system that transcends time.

Although on paper...

What Gu Hui did this time was to bring the historical struggle between imperial power and ministerial power to the surface and give it a more detailed legitimacy.

But it is precisely because of this that this move can be called a groundbreaking achievement.

—It should be noted that the emergence of the Gu family has already brought about far too many changes.

The position of Grand Tutor was created because of the Gu family.

He has surpassed the position of prime minister.

This caused many of the power struggles between the emperor and the prime minister in history to disappear without a trace.

This can be both a good thing and a bad thing.

The good thing is that it spared Kyushu from many upheavals, allowing an era to be more glorious and reducing the turmoil that would result.

On the negative side, this move inadvertently reinforces the underlying ideology of a dynastic system.

Now, Gu Hui has broken free from that situation.

And beyond that.

What he did was to go into greater detail and lay the foundation for his rule over the entire Kyushu region.

This is not merely the birth of a system, but a change in the thinking of the entire Kyushu region.

They wanted to completely free the entire Nine Provinces from the rise and fall caused by the dynastic system.

But it is precisely because of this that we can understand the significance of this matter.

The idea of ​​ruling the country through family has persisted throughout the entire Nine Provinces for far too many years. Although the Gu Family Academy has caused several ideological shifts, allowing various systems of thought to undergo iterations and become increasingly adapted to the present.

As expected.

—All ideas are based on the system of monarch and subject, and imperial power!

Even though Gu Xue advocated "the unity of knowledge and action, and practical application to the world," his fundamental purpose was still to "assist a wise ruler and stabilize the world." He had not yet escaped the old shackles of "making the ruler like Yao and Shun, and restoring the purity of customs."

No matter how profound the thoughts and considerations of the sages of the past were, their ultimate aim was still how to do better and last longer within the framework of this "family-run empire".

What Gu Hui realized and envisioned at this moment was an attempt to shake the framework itself!

What he wanted to do was not to repair and patch up the old house and whitewash the situation, but to lay a brand new foundation for all the people of China, a foundation called "the world belongs to all"!

He wanted to subtly shift the source of legitimacy for governing the country from the bloodline inheritance of "divine right of kings" to "public opinion and public opinion" and "the constancy of the system".

This is no longer a simple difference of political views or a power struggle.

This is a seismic shift in the realm of ideas!
The resistance will come not only from the supreme imperial power, but also from the countless scholars and even hundreds of millions of ordinary people who have been immersed in this ideology for thousands of years.

The concept of "loyalty to the emperor" has long been etched into their bones and integrated into their blood.

Upon suddenly hearing these words of "no ruler and no father," even if the original intention was to "protect the country and bring peace to the people," to the vast majority of people, they were nothing short of a raging flood and a monstrous beast, words of rebellion!

This is about trying to climb the highest mountain.

How could he not be nervous?

Gu Yi could even imagine that if this matter were to be spread directly, the Gu family would face countless dangers in an instant.

But this is also an unprecedented opportunity!
If it can truly break out of the current pattern, its impact will extend far beyond the Nine Provinces—it will not only enable the Gu family to achieve another leap forward, but will also drive the entire Nine Provinces, and even the entire world, into a large-scale iteration!
Although Gu Yi had long been prepared for the adventure, when the moment came, a trace of hesitation still crossed his mind.

This situation, which was completely out of his control, made his long-dormant heart jump into suspense once again.

And at that very moment, dawn broke.

As rays of morning light streamed through the study's glass, Gu Hui seemed to sense something, slowly put down his pen, and got up to go outside.

He walked into the ancestral hall, bathed in sunlight—the place where the Gu family worshipped their ancestors.

Gazing at the statues of his ancestors, his eyes were clear and resolute, as if he were whispering, or as if he were conversing with them and with Gu Yi: "Even if there are a thousand difficulties and dangers, Hui is willing to follow the example of his ancestors—though there are thousands of people, I will go!"

He was well aware of the perilous road ahead.
To climb the highest mountain, one must accept the risk of falling from it.

But in Gu Hui's view, each generation has its own mission.

Especially considering he was a member of the Gu family.

At a time when the world was on the verge of chaos, he finally decided to do something.

Of course, he could also, like his ancestors, sweep away the turmoil once again and bring glory to the world.

This is nothing to someone with such abilities.

Although the Song Dynasty was in constant decline.

But the foundation remains, and the Gu family's reputation among other ethnic groups remains.

But he could also see the end of that road—it was only a temporary peace before chaos reigned again.

He didn't want it to be like that.

He has found himself and his purpose in life.

"Though there be thousands, I will go!"

Looking at Gu Hui, who was bathed in the morning light and looked like a god, Gu Yi murmured something, and the thought of interfering gradually subsided.

Our ancestors were like this.

As a descendant of the Gu family, he devoted everything he had to create all of this.

Why should he be afraid to take a gamble?
(P.S.: I'm begging for monthly votes! Please support me, brothers! I'd be extremely grateful!!!)
(End of this chapter)