I Can Control My Ancestors-Chapter 327 - 21: Rupture and Convergence, a Brand-New Golden Age
"Hmph!"
"If you were the Nuohu Great Ghost Master, that would be one thing. But where does a junior like you get such confidence?"
Gu Han didn’t avoid the sharp gaze of the elder from the Women’s Department at all. Instead, he met his gaze and asked, "I may not be enough, but what about the Great Han?"
"The Great Han?" The elder furrowed his brows.
"The elder probably doesn’t know yet." Gu Han didn’t waste words and directly revealed the news of the Northern Border conflict.
This was information he had just learned before officially stepping into the territory of Baiyue.
"The current Patriarch of the Gu Clan defeated the three Southern Barbarians in one battle; Wuhuan, Xianbei, Goguryeo surrendered successively."
"The Qiang Race, Xiongnu, and Southwestern Barbarians all surrendered at the mere sight...."
He carefully described the current situation of the Great Han and the military affairs in all directions.
The elder’s brows furrowed deeper and deeper.
Now, there are already too many differences from the original history, although Baiyue’s attitude towards the Great Han remains largely unchanged.
But the difference lies in the emergence of the Gu Clan.
The emergence of the Gu Clan intensified the Great Han’s influence over Baiyue.
At least—
The tribes are still quite wary of the Great Han, although they know the Great Han won’t wage large-scale wars against them.
"The world’s great trend has changed. In today’s imperial court, the ministers have long noticed the Shanyue."
"And today’s Emperor is truly a heroic ruler—"
"I want to ask the elder....."
"If one day, my Gu Clan leads the Han Army to invade Shanyue again, how should the elder respond? How should the Women’s Department respond?"
Gu Han had thought over these words for a long time.
Why did he choose the Women’s Department?
This was the result of his deep deliberation.
Because the Women’s Department is not weak, yet not particularly strong in Baiyue.
Tribes of this level are easily swayed under threats and temptations.
No matter what, he needed a transit stop.
Only after firmly establishing a foothold in the entire Baiyue could he lay a sufficient foundation for the Gu Clan in Shanyue.
"Are you threatening me?"
The elder’s eyes sharpened further, glaring tightly at Gu Han and shouted, "I can kill you right now and use your flesh and blood to appease the ghosts and gods!"
"The elder can certainly kill me."
Gu Han remained composed, calmly saying, "But the elder must consider the consequences when my Gu Clan Patriarch arrives."
"Of course...."
"This action would also mean giving up an opportunity, an opportunity for the Women’s Department to completely rise in the lands of Baiyue."
With threats come temptations.
Gu Han didn’t believe anyone wouldn’t be tempted by the cooperation proposed by the Gu Clan.
He then proceeded to outline Gu Ye’s various measures in the Northern Border, though much more succinctly.
Only highlighting the key points.
Including the privileges within the trade markets and the redivision of land identity.
Inside Baiyue, there is also conflict.
This conflict is even more frequent than the conflict with the Great Han.
Gu Han aimed to seize this core, proposing a redivision when the Great Han expanded here.
The elder immediately grasped the implication, and the sharpness in his eyes slightly diminished.
Gu Han guessed correctly.
If it were just the Great Han Army arriving, he wouldn’t care so much.
Because such things have happened many times throughout history.
Even if the Han Army really did invade, they would eventually withdraw, causing little lasting impact.
This is the fundamental reason why Baiyue has always been undaunted by the Great Han.
But the Gu Clan is ultimately different.
Gu Chen’s methods back then were cruel and immediate; his battle against the Shanyue in Dan Yang conquered everyone.
Although Gu Ye’s current prestige cannot compare to Gu Chen.
But merely holding the title of "Gu Clan Patriarch" is enough to make many Barbarians wary.
And the benefits that could come among them.
If everything is truly as Gu Han said, if one day the Han Army does come, the benefits to the Women’s Department are unimaginable.
With this thought, the elder from the Women’s Department also made a decision in his heart.
He gently waved his hand.
The warriors from the Women’s Department immediately sat down.
Soon, a smile appeared on his face, looking at Gu Han with a Barbarian’s expression and said, "Worthy of being a descendant of the Nuohu Great Ghost Master, truly courageous."
"Have a seat."
Gu Han’s expression did not change, but his eyes suddenly lit up at this moment.
It seemed that he had truly succeeded.
.....
Gu Yi, naturally, was completely unaware of everything happening in the Shanyue territory.
He could only see that Gu Han was still alive.
To know how everything progresses, we can only wait for it to be delivered.
However, Gu Yi currently doesn’t have the mind to pay too much attention; he continues to wander the lands, keeping an eye on the barbarians of the four directions.
Liu Chen sits in court, with him outside;
This dual supervision, both internally and externally, unexpectedly rectified Great Han’s governance once more during an unnoticed period.
As time slowly passed.
Finally—
After the natural disaster, Great Han once again welcomed an era of prosperity.
How can this prosperity be described?
It was unlike any of the previous periods of prosperity.
A variety of new policies, including trade markets, greatly stimulated the commercial development of Great Han, and as merchants traveled across the land, results of cultural integration emerged one after another.
In just a few years, the Northern Border now even has different nursery rhymes.
"The moonlight in Chang’an City half illuminates the Zuo Zhuan, half reflects the wolf god totem....."
"The Han family’s bright moon shines on the wolf court, reading The Analects in front of the king’s tent....."
Although these include the handiwork of Gu Yi, they also have their own nursery rhymes sung by them.
Compared to their previous way of life.....
It is evident that this stable lifestyle where they won’t starve is so much more than they were used to.
And when these nursery rhymes started to appear—
They already thoroughly proved just how glorious Great Han is currently.
Han Dynasty architecture appeared successively in the Northern Border;
Xiongnu children began to inscribe The Analects;
Qiang Race students drew the Map of the Yu Gong Region on sheepskin;
Gu Yi’s initial decision to let them participate in the imperial examination proved to be correct.
Though the barbarians’ level is much lower than that of the Han people, to them, it is an invaluable opportunity.
The current Great Han, although not yet receiving tributes from all nations.
But compared to the traditional so-called tributes from all nations, this cultural tearing and integration are even more challenging.
As long as this situation continues.
One day, these lands will fully integrate into Kyushu.
Becoming a part of it.
And with the stability of the borders, the economic effects brought by commercial development, and the absence of large-scale natural disasters in recent years in Great Han.
Various factors have resulted in the national strength of Great Han growing at an astonishing pace.
Great Han has truly entered a peak period.
And for the Gu Clan—
The situation that Gu Yi had always envisioned is gradually taking shape, and it is far better than he could have imagined.
Inherently, the Gu Clan has become a symbol of "prosperity" in people’s hearts.
The importance of this to the Gu Clan is unimaginable.
The twelfth year of Qianji, July.
With the stabilization of the four directions, Gu Yi finally arranged for Gu Ye to return to Luoyang.
Liu Chen attached great importance to this matter.
When Gu Ye arrived in Luoyang again and saw the scene in front of the Luoyang city gate.
Not to mention Gu Ye.....
Even within Gu Yi, there arose an indescribable emotion.
How many years has it been?
How many years has it been since the Gu Clan witnessed such a scene?
Although the influence of the Gu Clan remains.
Such a feeling of unity between ruler and subject has been absent for far too long.
Gu Ye even had slightly reddened eyes.
"This minister, greets Your Majesty!"
Without waiting for Gu Yi to direct him, Gu Ye hastily stepped off the carriage to pay his respects.
"Zhao De, what do you mean by this?"
Liu Chen immediately came forward to stop Gu Ye: "You and I are brothers, don’t do this!"
"Zhao De, you returned at the perfect time!"
"I was just about to have someone send you a message...."
As he spoke, Liu Chen directly took Gu Ye’s hand: "I wish to go with you to Mount Tai for the sacrificial ceremony."
Mount Tai sacrificial ceremony?
In an instant, Gu Ye froze completely.
Even Gu Yi couldn’t have predicted that Liu Chen would say such a thing......
——————
"Gu Ye, a renowned military strategist and politician in the early Yan Han period, held the position of Grand General, the eighth generation of the Gu Clan.
As a significant advocate for the revival of Great Han, Gu Ye, with his outstanding military talent and visionary ethnic policies, consolidated the territory of Great Han.
He accelerated the sinicization process of border ethnicities, laying an important foundation for the multi-ethnic integration and national unity of Huaxia civilization.
His achievements were praised by later generations as the ’premise of opening the integration of Hua and Yi.’
———— People’s Education Edition History Textbook. Seventh Grade First Semester (Unit of National Integration)
