Chapter 621: Chapter 86: The Gu Clan’s Name Strikes Fear Across the Land, Offense and Defense Reversed

Under the deliberate promotion of Gu Yi, news of the battle at Tong Pass spread instantly.

— Kyushu trembles!

Luoyang.

Li Heng was the first to receive the news, and he immediately breathed a sigh of relief, quickly ordering the news to be disseminated.

He needed to calm the public sentiment, which was what Li Heng had to do at the moment.

Honestly, saying Li Heng is a very competent emperor might not be entirely accurate.

But fortunately, he was at least better than the muddle-headed Li Longji in his later years.

He was acutely aware of the current situation and constantly reminded himself, fearing any mistake that could trigger turmoil again.

Now, he could finally breathe a sigh of relief.

The news quickly spread throughout the city of Luoyang, bringing countless citizens to the Vermilion Bird Avenue in tears.

Though many predicted that everything could be resolved the moment the Gu Clan intervened, people couldn’t help but feel lingering fears when it truly happened.

Though the chaos has not yet been entirely quelled.

To these people, who always feared the rebels would break in, hearing that Gu Xuan had dealt with the rebels meant a narrow escape from death.

After many years—

The people once again enthusiastically sang praises of the Gu Clan, with scholars using poetry and prose to extol the virtues of the Gu Clan and marvel at their service to Kyushu.

Ordinary people’s thoughts were more straightforward.

They voluntarily went to the Luoshui River to hold sacrifices for the Gu Clan’s ancestors.

Such a scene had indeed not been seen for many years.

Although people voluntarily went to the Luoshui River for sacrifices over the years, as the Gu Clan shifted its development path, the impact of these events also continued to diminish.

But now, the Gu Clan had returned.

Ganlu Hall of the Tai Chi Palace.

Since returning to Luoyang, Li Longji had been placed under house arrest here by Li Heng.

Though he had expressed his stance and even issued a decree to blame himself.

Clearly, Li Heng still did not trust him.

It is worth mentioning that Yang Guozhong had already been taken down by Li Heng, and even Yang Yuhuan was expelled from the harem.

This move was against propriety.

But to stabilize the hearts of the people, Li Heng had no choice but to make such a decision.

Before leaving Luoyang, Gu Yi personally manipulated Gu Xuan to meet this historically famous beauty.

With no other thoughts, having seen many historically famous beauties over the years, Gu Yi had no ulterior motives.

He met Yang Yuhuan just to witness this controversial historical figure in person.

Yang Yuhuan indeed had significant controversy in the original historical trajectory.

Some criticized her as a demon consort who brought disaster to the country, while others saw her as a victim of political strife.

Yang Yuhuan’s response to Gu Xuan was equally straightforward: Not all families, like the Gu Clan, can remain above worldly concerns, indifferent to personal gains and losses.

As a woman caught in the situation, she often had no choice.

Gu Yi did not comment on this response.

He agreed to Yang Yuhuan’s request, allowing her to go to Julu to live an ordinary life and to see the now-famous "Yunshao Pavilion" in person.

There were also some personal interests involved.

Yang Yuhuan’s extraordinary artistic achievements could certainly bring considerable impact to Yunshao Pavilion.

However, Yang Yuhuan’s departure indeed made Li Longji even more reticent.

The Ganlu Hall was now deathly silent.

Li Longji no longer displayed any of his former splendor and was no longer indulgent in pleasures, remaining in the deep palace in silence.

It was only today that there was some difference.

Hearing the eunuch report the battle affairs of Tong Pass, he couldn’t help but tremble, tears constantly rolling down from his eyes.

He finally realized his mistakes.

He failed the responsibility of being an emperor and also the painstaking teachings of Gu Jing from years past.

But no matter how much he regretted, what use was it?

Just like the reprimands Gu Yi delivered through Gu Xuan that day.

From the moment he lost his original aspiration, the path of return was gone for him.

....

Long Mountain, Tubo Camp.

"What?!"

"An Lushan is dead? Another act of the Gu Clan?!"

Tsri Songtsen Gampo stood up abruptly, staring at the scout kneeling in front of the tent, his voice full of disbelief: "How is that possible?!"

"Didn’t An Lushan have a full army of two hundred thousand under his command?!" he asked urgently, "How could they...be defeated so easily?!"

He was familiar with the dire situation of the Great Tang’s central hub, and this sudden change was truly beyond his comprehension.

Could it be that the Gu Clan... truly had otherworldly abilities?

"Zanpu," the scout bowed lower, his voice trembling with fear, "nowadays, rumors are rife, and it’s hard to tell truth from falsehood. But the most prevalent saying is—"

"The current patriarch of the Gu Clan, inheriting the legacy of his grandfather, Marquis Zhongxiang Gu Jing, commands troops with unpredictable strategies."

"An Lushan... was simply no match for the Gu Clan.

The scout reported all the information gathered from various sources.

— And this was precisely the effect Gu Yi hoped to achieve by exaggerating deliberately.

The goal was not merely for fame.

The Gu Clan was not lacking in reputation—what they truly targeted was these foreign races.

After all, since Gu Cheng, and especially after the generation of Gu Chen, the Gu Clan had caused countless nightmares for foreign races over the centuries.

This was a factor that the Gu Clan could naturally exploit.