Chapter 495: Chapter 37: Fame Like Smoke, Wealth Like Dust

...

Western Province.

This is a magnificent city located at the transportation hub of Yiwu and Qie Mo, and it is currently the most successful area in the dual-track policy development of the Great Tang.

The reason for this is also very simple.

——Gu Yan, the apparent Patriarch of the Gu Clan, is stationed here, and nations from all around fear his influence.

It is precisely because of this.

Today, Western Province has become the most prosperous city in the Western Regions.

Merchants coming from all directions choose to rest in Western Province, without worrying about any security issues, and the cultural atmosphere of the Kyushu is very rich.

However, these past few days, the atmosphere in the entire Yamen of Western Province has been extremely heavy.

Tap, tap, tap....

A hurried sound of footsteps continued to ring out.

Gu Quan, who was reading a letter from Li Shimin in his hand, slowly raised his head, only to see Gu Yan with a solemn expression approaching with a group of brothers.

As soon as they crossed the threshold, they knelt straight down in front of Gu Quan.

"Big brother!" Gu Yan looked up at the person on the seat, his expression as grave as iron, "No matter what, you must return to Chang’an immediately."

"If not, there’s no need for His Majesty to come personally to the Western Regions; we brothers will also have to take you back!"

Gu Yan’s expression was stern, and his tone was extremely serious.

The disciples of the Gu Clan behind him were also the same.

Gu Quan’s health was deteriorating.

Although on the surface, everything in the Western Regions was handled by Gu Yan, the Grand Tutor, it was actually Gu Quan who controlled everything.

Not only in battles but also in the implementation details of various systems.

The effect of the Luoshu Harmonizing Device gave Gu Quan the qualification to make adjustments.

He hardly ever had time to rest, and the dedication he poured into the Western Regions was unimaginable to others.

Li Shimin had already sent an imperial decree.

Gu Quan must return to the capital, otherwise, he said he would come to the Western Regions personally to tie Gu Quan and take him back.

Gu Yan and the others were evidently desperate.

They all understood very clearly.

With Gu Quan’s character, as long as he was in the Western Regions for a day, he could never truly rest.

The physician had long said that Gu Quan’s heart veins were like a leaking box, and if he continued to exhaust himself like this, he would eventually die from exhaustion.

Looking at the brothers in front of him and then at the letter in his hand, Gu Quan was silent for a moment before heaving a gentle sigh, saying softly, "You should understand."

His tone was very calm.

As he spoke, he slowly stood up, looking at everyone as he spoke again: "How many people from the Gu Clan have ever returned through the Jade Gate?"

"Now the matters of the Western Regions are unsettled—"

"The statue of Lord Sheng stands at the Jade Gate, how can I... leave at such a time?"

By the end, he couldn’t help but look eastward through the window, his eyes growing more complex.

——That was the direction of the Jade Gate.

He had always been like this.

From childhood to adulthood, he always chose to bear all burdens alone, and this had not changed now.

"Big brother!"

The eyes of Gu Yan and the others reddened completely; they understood Gu Quan’s thoughts, but how could they watch him bear everything silently?

In fact, over the years, Gu Yan had been trying hard to change, wanting to help Gu Quan bear some burden.

"We are also Gu!"

Gu Yan fixed his gaze on Gu Quan and shouted with effort, "You have done enough; the young eagles all soar, even more so for us."

"Even if the road ahead is full of dangers, how can we always live under our brother’s protection?"

The atmosphere in the hall grew heavier.

The expressions of the disciples of the Gu Clan were extremely earnest, as if they would directly act if Gu Quan didn’t agree to them.

Gu Yi was also watching it all, his gaze somewhat complicated.

Gu Quan’s character was indeed like this.

He was someone who valued emotions greatly and could give everything for the people he cared about.

Though he didn’t shelter them as the naive fledglings Gu Yan said, he made sacrifices for the whole clan that were substantial, even giving up everything.

Even Gu Yi had to admit.

After years of decline, Gu Yu and Gu Quan, this father and son, indeed played a decisive role in the resurgence of the Gu Clan.

Looking at the brothers in front of him, Gu Quan fell silent again.

He ultimately did not agree.

And Gu Yan and the others, while saying it, ultimately did not dare to lay hands on Gu Quan, not for any other reason but for fear of harming Gu Quan’s body.

But Li Shimin would not give up so easily.

He didn’t just send one letter.

Upon hearing of Gu Quan’s illness, he sent nearly ten letters one after another, urging Gu Quan to return to the capital immediately.

In the following days, a letter from Li Shimin arrived every day.

Finally——

Li Shimin even made the decision to tour the Western Regions!

He wasn’t a heartless Emperor, he couldn’t just watch Gu Quan die.

During this period.

Gu Yan and the others seemed to have gone mad, directly intervening in the governance of the Western Regions, just wanting Gu Quan to see that they could handle everything, to have him leave with peace of mind.

Finally——

Gu Quan relented; he sent a letter to Li Shimin, deciding to return to the capital.

However, before that.

He still did a lot, though he didn’t directly intervene in the governance of the Western Regions, he helped Gu Quan and others with future planning.

——There has to be kindness... not just power.

To ensure the interests of the Western Regions trade routes, this is the core of it.

...

He wrote down one by one the future development strategies for the Western Regions, marking every detail clearly from military and governmental reforms to livelihood planning.

When the last red ink note dried, he solemnly handed the scroll to Gu Yan, turned around, and embarked on the journey back.

On the day of departure, there was no grand ceremony with flags obscuring the sun, just five riders and two camels accompanying him.

He completely concealed his face, taking only a few of his most trusted guards, just like an ordinary passerby.

No one knew his identity;

Nor did anyone know about his dedication and achievements over the years; he left all the glory to the Gu Clan.

He even refused the farewell offered by Gu Yan and the others.

Even though he also knew——

This could very well be the last meeting between the brothers, but he couldn’t let the clan bear the reputation of participating in foundational struggles.

No one could change his mind.

And Gu Yan and the others could only kneel far away behind a sand dune unnoticed by no one, watching that thin figure gradually swallowed by the yellow sand, unable to stop their tears.

Gu Quan wasn’t in a hurry on the road; when he reached the Jade Gate once more, he honored Gu Cheng and Ban Chao as he did when he first came killing into the Western Regions.

In fact, considering his achievements, Gu Quan could well become the third statue here.

But this was a path he chose.

The so-called fame and fortune couldn’t compare to his peace of mind.

"Young Master....."

Under the statue, Xue San supported Gu Quan, his eyes red, as if he had a thousand words to say, but before he could, Gu Quan directly laughed freely,

"Fame is like smoke, wealth like dust, as long as I stand upright before heaven and earth, it is enough."

——Without regret!

Being without regret for the entire clan, helping Li Shimin by cutting his own face was also without regret, bearing pressure for his brothers was also without regret.

This was the path Gu Quan adhered to.

Tears continued to fall, Xue San fixed his gaze on Gu Quan, ultimately not speaking those unspoken words.

Li Shimin didn’t cancel his journey.

He, too, came with only trusted followers, leaving the governance to Li Chengqian.

This was actually Li Shimin expressing his own attitude.

Of course, the most important thing was that he wanted to come to fetch Gu Quan personally.

He couldn’t give Gu Quan too much glory, but with their relationship, this was enough.

Shazhou.

When Li Shimin met Gu Quan again, his eyes instantly reddened.

The vision of that Gu Quan who charged and broke through the enemy ranks in battle years ago flickered in his mind, as he looked at the now white-haired, even hunchbacked Gu Quan.

Tears couldn’t help but flow from his eyes.

"Minister.... greets His Majesty." Gu Quan still tried to bow.

But before he could do anything, Li Shimin directly grabbed his hand, without any nonsense, just looking at Gu Quan with determined eyes, seriously saying:

"Let’s go, home!"....

...

(Ps: At the beginning of the month, asking for monthly votes, hoping brothers help Yu out, the calm phase is about to pass, next is the double-line action internally and externally!...)