Chapter 108: Treading a Path Never Walked by Our Ancestors

The eighth year of Yanxi, second month;

The imperial examination results were announced.

——This was no surprise to Zhong Hui; not a single candidate specializing in mathematics had passed.

Not even the sons of aristocratic clans had made the list.

Compared to Confucian classics, texts like the Nine Chapters on the Mathematical Art were simply too obscure.

Yet Gu Yi was not disheartened.

Every endeavor requires gradual progress, whether it be the ban on powdered elixirs or any other reform.

One day, all of this would sink deep into the people's hearts with the passage of time.

A descendant of the eighth generation of the Gu clan had also taken the examination.

This was Gu Yi's doing.

The greatest problem among the eighth-generation descendants was arrogance; their clan's overwhelming prestige, combined with their upbringing amid chaos and the complete collapse of their ancestral lineage, had fully bred this arrogance.

If they did not wish to pass down their legacy for ten thousand generations, this would not be a problem.

But as long as they wished to sustain their lineage.

This mindset must be eradicated.

In fact, Gu Yi was now beginning to suspect that Gu Chen's original decision to prevent Liu Shan from interfering with the Gu clan's descendants was precisely because of this.

With Gu Chen's keen insight into people.

He could not possibly have failed to notice the shifting attitudes within the Gu clan.

Of course, some resisted, but Gu Yi's stance was resolute: expulsion from the Gu clan, just as Gu Chen had been expelled long ago.

Gu Yi could let them live as wealthy landowners, but from then on, they would no longer be members of the Gu clan.

This was something Gu Yi had to do.

Time flowed like water, swift and fleeting.

Zhang Hua was no ordinary man.

Soon after assuming the post of Chancellor, he had already demonstrated his exceptional ability.

He successively suppressed all other voices in the court.

Although some still resisted his authority as Chancellor, on the surface, he had firmly stabilized the court's situation.

His ability to quell the forces from all directions was proof enough.

Gu Yi did not leave Luoyang immediately.

He still needed to wait.

He needed to wait until his newly established systems were fully implemented and the Han dynasty had sufficient time to fully recover.

Whether the "ban on powdered elixirs" or the measures concerning the imperial examinations.

All required his personal oversight.

If he left Luoyang now and these men later retaliated, disrupting the implementation of the reforms, it would be a costly mistake.

Of course, Gu Yi would not wait indefinitely.

In addition to drafting a completely new military training plan for the Han, Gu Yi also successively summoned several generals renowned in the original history.

——Such as Wen Yang.

Gu Yi assigned him a contingent of troops, ordering them to train together day and night, adapting to the environments of the Wuhuan and Western Xianbei tribes.

He gave no specific instructions regarding tactics or the like.

For a general like Wen Yang,

As long as coordination with his soldiers improved, immense combat effectiveness would follow.

July.

Gu Yi had been closely monitoring the "ban on powdered elixirs" — one of his top priorities.

The prevailing winds in the Han had gradually shifted.

The court's firm stance had changed many scholars' views; they no longer pursued the immortality fantasies of those who took powdered elixirs, but instead looked down on them.

There was also good news.

That Du Yu's revised calendar, after years of work, had finally made progress.

The Er Yuan Qian Du Calendar was finally completed.

Compared to the Tai Chu Calendar of the Former Han and the Qian Xiang Calendar of the Later Han, the Er Yuan Qian Du Calendar corrected many errors.

It also incorporated the multi-epoch method proposed in the Jing Chu Calendar.

It was a tremendous advancement.

In addition, the group of craftsmen Gu Yi had previously selected had also made progress.

Following Gu Yi's guidance,

Over the years they had successively developed several innovations, though the progress had been minimal.

But this time was different.

They redesigned the curved-plow's construction, adding auxiliary supports to the original single-curved shaft and creating a human-powered traction device.

This reduced the current dependence of the curved-plow on draft animals.

Although human traction could never match the speed of animal power, for the Han, which suffered from a shortage of draft animals, it was still a significant advancement.

Including ox-shoe iron and ox-nose rings.

In addition, there were innovations in textile production.

Though to modern eyes, their creations seemed overly crude,

Yet in this era—

This innovation can be called epoch-making.

After all, agriculture is the most core productive force of the current era.

Gu Yi did not hesitate and immediately promoted these things across the nation.

After many years of development.

Unlike before, this new curved-plow design was to be prioritized and deployed in regions lacking draft animals.

Such matters must also be pursued gradually.

In addition, Gu Yi turned his attention to the legal code.

The current "Yan Han Code," though already somewhat innovative compared to earlier versions, still fell short for a nation's legal system.

In its original history, our legal evolution was an extremely lengthy process.

Each dynasty absorbed the experience left by its predecessor and formulated laws suited to its own era.

Gu Yi could not possibly enforce overly advanced laws directly.

The differing temporal environment.

The demands for legal codification also differed.

Gu Yi merely wished to improve the current legal format to be more efficient.

He proposed the structure of the "Northern Qi Code" and shared some ideas with Zhang Hua and others.

Only they could do this.

Although Gu Yi had personally immersed himself in management and observation for so many years, his fundamental thinking still belonged to a modern man.

He could propose suggestions and overall innovations.

But in details, entrusting them was the best choice for now.

This was destined to be an era of sweeping renewal.

Although all he had done seemed to bring little change to Yan Han at present.

Yet these reforms held profound significance for the development of the entire Jiuzhou.

Year Xianxi 10.

After years of persistent effort, the "Ban on Powder Consumption" gradually achieved phased success throughout the Great Han.

Those who consumed powder were forbidden from taking the imperial examinations.

This measure proved effective for most people.

Similarly, Gu Yi insisted that students criticize those who consumed powder.

This too took effect over time.

This year, the Great Han gradually recovered from its state of exhaustion.

The rise of various industries greatly stimulated market vitality.

Most crucially—

The Great Han's longstanding strict vigilance over official conduct greatly enhanced merchants' efficiency.

Although over time, problems inevitably arose in official administration.

But at least on the surface.

Now, no official in the Great Han dared violate the imperial iron laws.

But bad news would inevitably come; no matter how glorious an era, it was destined to end with time.

In the eleventh year of Xianxi.

Jiang Wei died of illness.

Of the great generals left behind by Gu Chen, only Deng Ai remained alive.

Liu Shan was deeply saddened by this.

But the Great Han must move forward.

For the appointment to be sent to Youzhou, Liu Shan wished to send Zhuge Zhan, son of Zhuge Liang.

Precisely because of Zhuge Liang's legacy.

Liu Shan held great expectations for Zhuge Zhan.

But Gu Yi blocked this and entrusted the responsibility of guarding Youzhou to Lu Kang and Wen Qin.

The era was on the verge of great change.

How could he send Zhuge Zhan, an inexperienced youth, to such a critical region?

If his suspicions proved correct and a battle was indeed inevitable,

this battle would concern not merely the Great Han.

But the entire Shenzhou!

The survival of the Gu clan was at stake—Gu Yi could not afford the slightest carelessness!

Although Liu Shan was greatly puzzled by this,

out of trust in Gu Ye, he still agreed.

From then on, Gu Yi cherished time even more and made a series of preparations for the future.

Night.

Guan Jun Hou Fu.

Gu Yi was controlling Gu Ye to draft his general strategy for developing Lingnan.

This had long been Gu Yi's settled idea.

In its original history, the development of Lingnan was an extremely lengthy process, involving many key factors.

Including population migration and advances in productive forces.

Yet it cannot be denied that Lingnan itself possesses inherent potential.

At that moment, a footsteps suddenly sounded.

Gu Ye looked up and saw his younger brother Gu Han enter.

Gu Han's face was filled with dejection.

As one of the direct-line descendants of the Gu clan, Gu Han had always been among the most arrogant of his generation.

The Gu clan's lineage had given them too much confidence.

They had always believed that even if they did nothing, they would still establish immortal achievements in court.

Just as their ancestors had done.

In truth, had Gu Yi not intervened, these men—even if utterly talentless—would surely have been favored by Liu Shan.

But now it was different.

A single imperial examination had utterly shattered their arrogance.

Even the most outstanding among the Gu clan's youths were now merely equal to ordinary aristocratic sons.

For other families, this might still be acceptable.

But for the Gu clan's youths, this was a clear decline.

And Gu Han, among them, had failed outright—his entire confidence had been shattered by the naked truth.

"Brother."

Before Gu Ye could speak, Gu Han bowed deeply to him: "I wish—"

"You want me to beg for you an official post again?"

Before Gu Han could finish, without Gu Yi's control, Gu Ye cut him off directly.

Gu Han was clearly caught off guard; he immediately lowered his head, unable to utter a word.

"Mo Qing."

Gu Ye shook his head, staring intently at Gu Han: "Brother asks you—if I could secure you an official post, what could you actually do?"

These words were entirely Gu Ye's own—he spoke them without Gu Yi's manipulation.

Regarding his younger brother,

he was deeply helpless.

"Brother."

Gu Han's eyes instantly brightened; without hesitation, he said: "I can do anything!"

He looked at Gu Ye with hopeful eyes.

To him, being a direct-line Gu clan descendant without an official post was deeply shameful.

"Anything?"

Gu Ye's brow furrowed deeper as he gazed at this worthless younger brother.

He did not hesitate.

He put down his brush, rose, and grabbed Gu Han's arm, dragging him toward the ancestral hall.

This time, what he showed Gu Han was not the few ancestors who had always received ancestral worship, but rather he took out a register from the side and threw it at Gu Han.

"Look!"

Gu Ye spoke no idle words—only coldly ordered.

Gu Han was utterly stunned.

Staring at the register in his hands, he could not even recall what it was.

Until he slowly opened it—

Only then did he recall fragments of childhood memories.

What it recorded was none other than generations of Gu clan youths.

Yet compared to those few enshrined ancestors, their achievements were minuscule, utterly insignificant.

The most illustrious among them had merely been a provincial governor.

The register listed each person's name, life, and official posts.

Simple, yet steeped in profound historical weight.

Gu Han was completely frozen.

He stared intently at every name—until he saw the names of Gu Wei and Gu Ze on it, and his pupils dilated sharply!

"Look! How many lives built the Gu clan's present!"

Gu Ye's voice rang out, his gaze fixed on Gu Han: "Our ancestor, Marquis Zhongwu, cast his own younger brother out of the clan for its sake."

"Marquis Huan. Marquis Wencheng. Marquis Wenxiang."

"Do you truly believe"

"that these ancestors' glory was won by their own strength alone?"

"Even our grandfather, Marquis Zhaolie—"

Here, Gu Ye's tone paused slightly; he shook his head faintly: "Even our grandfather's rise was paid for by the deaths of several brothers."

The ancestral hall fell utterly silent.

Gu Han stared intently at every name on the register.

Though he remembered most of them not at all,

he still knew the deeds of a few.

Sacrificing ideals for the clan. Sacrificing posthumous titles for the clan.

Fragments buried deep in memory flashed one after another; his expression grew increasingly complex.

"How much blood and tears of our ancestors brought the Gu family to today."

"My grandfather carried on the will of our great-grandfather, waging war his entire life to secure today's peace and institutions of Great Han."

"Now you want me to break this very system for you?"

"Do you even feel you deserve your own surname?"

Gu Ye's tone gradually grew calm.

But the calmer he became, the greater the blow to Gu Han.

He wanted to say something.

But the words stuck in his throat and could not be spoken.

Gu Yi watched this scene and could not help but shake his head.

The break in education had changed the Gu family; this transformation could only be corrected generation after generation through forceful means.

Gu Ye said no more, paid no further attention to Gu Han, and walked away immediately after speaking.

For the entire night, Gu Han remained inside the ancestral hall.

He was lost in thought about something.

At dawn the next day, as Gu Yi's vision just brightened, he heard a knock at the door.

"Elder brother."

—It was Gu Han!

Gu Yi furrowed his brow slightly as he watched Gu Ye slowly open the door.

The next moment, he saw Gu Han kneeling before the door, his expression solemn: "I have a request, and I beg Elder Brother to grant it."

"Moqing."

Gu Ye was about to speak, but Gu Han shook his head directly: "I do not ask Elder Brother to aid me."

Hearing this, Gu Ye was slightly stunned.

Gu Han spoke without hesitation, his gaze fixed intently on Gu Ye: "I wish to lead men to Lingnan."

Huh?

In that instant, even Gu Yi was startled.

He never expected Gu Han to say such a thing.

Lead men to explore Lingnan?

A flood of thoughts instantly flashed through Gu Yi's mind; he could not help but consider the feasibility of this plan.

The era is destined to move forward.

No matter how Gu Yi interferes, he cannot change Lingnan's geographical advantages.

This terrain ensures Lingnan will one day shine brightly in the modern age.

Could this be the Gu family's chance to establish roots?

Thinking this, Gu Yi's eyes brightened involuntarily.

He could not help but summon the "Family Interface" to check Gu Han's attributes.

【Internal Affairs: 53; Diplomacy: 57; Politics: 62; Command: 58; Martial Power: 55】

Very average attributes.

But if one truly wished to go to Lingnan now, attributes mattered little.

Willpower might be the key.

As thoughts passed through him, Gu Yi considered briefly, then directly took control of Gu Ye, looking earnestly at Gu Han and asking: "Moqing, have you truly decided?"

Gu Han nodded without hesitation, meeting Gu Ye's gaze: "I will not bring shame to the Gu family."

A simple sentence, yet it revealed his resolve.

Perhaps it was not only for the Gu family.

It also stemmed from his unwillingness to accept mediocrity.

But clearly, at least now, Gu Han's determination was very strong.

"Good."

After a moment of silence, Gu Yi did not refuse.

This was an experiment.

The Gu family has always defied heaven's will; now it may tread paths never walked by its ancestors.

If the Gu family truly could take root in Lingnan—

With Lingnan's geographical advantages—

Never mind the impact it might have on the modern age; as productivity continues to grow, perhaps in the future the Gu family could use this place to expand outward.

Extend the entire Gu family's influence beyond the Nine Provinces!

Regardless, this was a necessary experiment!

"Thank you, Elder Brother!"

Gu Han bowed deeply to Gu Ye, his tone sincere.

Gu Ye stared intently at Gu Han, his eyes filled with complex emotion.

Yet he said nothing more, only helped Gu Han to his feet.

Unlike other contemporary members of the Gu family, Gu Ye had long since resolved to sacrifice everything for the clan.

The news spread instantly.

The court, from top to bottom, and even Emperor Liu Shan, were utterly shocked by the Gu family's move!

Develop Lingnan?

To the current officials of Han, this matter was no less than a fantasy!

Ever since Emperor Wu of Han pacified Nanyue, the Lingnan region had nominally belonged to Han territory.

But after so many years, to the people of the Central Plains, Lingnan remained a place of exile.

There were many reasons for this.

The long journey, the utterly different climate of Lingnan compared to the Central Plains, and the vastly distinct cultures of the local tribes—all these factors created this impression.

Now, hearing Gu Ye propose developing Lingnan, and even that a direct heir of the Gu clan would lead the way,

how could they not be astonished?

The Northern Palace of Luoyang.

Liu Shan stared intently at Gu Ye, his face filled with astonishment, cautiously saying, "Zhao De, you cannot be joking about this."

"How can we send a Gu clan heir to Lingnan?"

"Wouldn't this make the whole world say I have betrayed my father-in-law?"

Saying this, Liu Shan immediately shook his head: "Absolutely not!"

"Zhao De, I am willing to have you send others, but no Gu clan heir—Han still needs Gu clan heirs."

By the end, Liu Shan's face showed a rare hint of resolve.

Gu Yi remained utterly calm.

First, he had Gu Ye thank Liu Shan, then spoke of the deeds of past Gu ancestors like Gu Xi.

To tread paths others dare not walk—that is what a Gu clan heir does!

Just as no one believed Gu Xi would risk his life returning to Luoyang to restore Han's fallen dragon throne,

just as no one imagined Gu Chen would die to eliminate every threat.

Liu Shan fell silent at once.

He stared hard at Gu Ye, as if wanting to say much but not knowing how, finally sighing with profound helplessness: "Gu clan heirs are abroad."

"Who then will help me govern the realm?"

Though he was deeply unwilling, he ultimately agreed to this matter.

The matter was swiftly settled.

The court ministers naturally would not oppose a Gu clan heir going to Lingnan, for this brought them no harm.

As for those close to the Gu clan,

such as Zhang Hua, Zhong Hui, and others,

they mostly trusted the Gu clan's judgment—there must be reason behind it.

The Marquisate of Guanjun once again grew lively.

After all, this was a direct heir of the Gu clan, and now he was departing for Lingnan—officials across the court naturally came to pay their respects.

Many brought along various "Anti-Miasma Pills" and similar medicines.

Some even brought experience from having traveled to Lingnan.

Though the Gu clan lacked none of these things, Gu Ye still expressed his gratitude.

As for his younger brother,

he still felt affection for him.

He wanted to do everything perfectly, even personally selecting the attendants and physicians to accompany Gu Han.

Gu Yi did not interfere with any of this.

He did sense some change in Gu Han's character, but he had no certainty about the success of this journey.

If Gu Han performed well enough, he would indeed lend him aid.

Leaving other matters aside,

at the very least, he could use the "Cure-All Talisman" to heal physical ailments.

But if Gu Han could not endure the hardship, he would not waste the clan's resources to protect such a person.

The success or failure of this matter rested entirely on himself.

Time passed swiftly.

In the eleventh year of Yanxi, sixth month,

Gu Han made all his preparations and departed Luoyang on the thirteenth day of the sixth month.

The farewell scene was not grand.

After all, Gu Han held no official post in court.

Yet some officials close to the Gu clan still came to see him off with Gu Ye—even Liu Chen came to bid Gu Han farewell.

Zhong Hui greatly admired Gu Han.

Gu Han's noble birth and fearless actions perfectly embodied the conduct of a renowned scholar.

Just before departure,

he even bowed deeply to Gu Han's retreating back.

This matter caused no great stir across all of Han, but its significance to the Gu clan was unimaginable.

Gu Ye showed no sign of parting sorrow, remaining focused on court affairs.

But this calm did not last long.

In October,

urgent reports arrived from Youzhou.

Indeed—

With Jiang Wei's death once again, the Wuhuan and Western Xianbei could no longer contain their ambitions—they had moved!

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(End of Chapter)