Chapter 135: The End of Han, Yang Guang Heads to Julu

The news spread in all directions like a tidal wave.

Although people had long since anticipated this.

Yet when they heard of it, it still had an unimaginable impact on the entire world.

—Sui!

Since the end of the Wang Mang usurpation of the Han.

For the first time on this land, a state name other than "Han" had appeared.

And as this matter was completely settled.

It was as if this were telling the people of the world that the Mandate of Heaven of the "Liu" family had completely ended.

First year of the Kaihuang era, eighth month.

Yang Jian held a sacrifice at the Luo River to honor the ancestors of the Gu Shizi.

He completely resolved the internal fragmentation of hearts and minds within the Northern Dynasty.

Although the Gu Shizi had not emerged into the world for many years, their influence in the hearts of the common people had not yet completely dissipated.

By doing this, Yang Jian intended to completely win over the hearts of the people.

His attitude toward the Gu Shizi was very clear.

It was precisely because of this silence over the years that Yang Jian had no estrangement toward the Gu Shizi.

On the contrary—

As he climbed higher and higher, and his focus shifted to the entire world.

He felt even more moved by a family like the Gu Shizi.

For an entire emerging dynasty.

If one could obtain the support of a family like the Gu Shizi, the help to the entire dynasty would be unimaginable.

This was the reputation that generations of Gu Shizi descendants had fought for over hundreds of years.

He gave the Gu Shizi many rewards.

He even released news that when he swept across the world, he would certainly visit the Gu Shizi in person.

This was a gesture.

Of course, as for whether there was any deeper meaning, no one else could know.

The influence of the Gu Shizi could not remain at its peak forever.

As the Great Han was about to reach its end, for the Gu Shizi, the peak reached within the entire Han dynasty was destined to gradually dissipate.

However, the only difference was—the interference of Gu Yi.

History had changed once again.

With the growth of the next generation of descendants, the Gu Shizi would eventually appear again and would not continue to decline like this.

The world was in great chaos.

As Yang Jian firmly established his footing, it was as if a sluice gate had been opened, completely throwing the entire world into chaos.

Warlords rose up together!

One by one, warlords of different surnames rose to power.

There was no need for Yang Jian to attack; the internal strife within the Southern Dynasty had already torn it apart.

Perhaps it was because they had been silent for too, too long.

Facing that supreme position, the various heroes acted as if they had lost their reason.

Division;

Chaos.

The fighting that erupted this time far exceeded the past.

Facing these warlords who were like starving wolves, the fragility of the Liu family warlords was completely revealed.

Everything was just as Yang Jian had evaluated them.

Looking across the north and south, there is not a single hero among them!

It was under these circumstances that Yang Jian led the Northern Army to attack the Southern Dynasty.

Chaos reigned throughout the world.

But compared to Yang Jian, who had taken the initiative, the other warlords were ultimately a step too slow and fell far short of him.

Under Yang Jian's personal command, the morale of the entire Northern Army was as high as a rainbow.

Second year of the Kaihuang era.

Yang Jian first destroyed three major warlords, and his power continued to expand.

And even so.

The internal strife within the Southern Dynasty still did not cease.

The Liu family had been completely abandoned, just like the Zhou dynasty of the past.

Warlords from all sides waged war.

And the Son of Heaven of the Liu family had become a mere figurehead, which naturally gave Yang Jian many opportunities.

His reputation grew louder and louder.

Likewise, so did that of his son, the Prince of Jin, Yang Guang.

Rumors about him were circulating everywhere, and his momentum far exceeded that of the Crown Prince Yang Yong; he could be said to be famous throughout the world.

Whether it was his appearance, his benevolence toward the soldiers, or his heroism on the battlefield.

There were all kinds of rumors.

The name of "Sui" became increasingly resounding.

Successive great victories made everyone in the world gradually sense something.

—The unification of the world!

There was not even a need for Yang Jian to go on a campaign himself; the increasingly powerful Sui army was enough to crush everything.

As the situation became increasingly clear.

In the seventh year of the Kaihuang era;

Yang Jian, in the name of "the decay of Changancheng," decided to rebuild a capital city on Longshou Mountain southeast of the city, naming it "Daxing."

Its meaning was self-evident.

This was the capital of the Great Sui, not inheriting the Changancheng or Luoyangcheng of the Great Han.

This would be a brand-new capital city!

Besides this—

Yang Jian's ability in governance was also displayed to the fullest; the first thing he began to rectify was the currency.

Although the world was not yet completely unified.

But for him, he had already treated the entire world as his own land!

The entire Great Sui court was flourishing.

For this dynasty that already showed signs of unifying the world, the hearts of the ministers in the court were also united against the outside.

No one did not want to unify the world.

It was precisely because the Great Han had lasted for so long that it invisibly intensified this point.

For all of them, this was an unimaginable opportunity.

The Gu Shizi were currently not in the court.

Why could they not become the Gu Shizi of the Great Sui?

Under these circumstances, the momentum of the entire Great Sui became increasingly strong.

And in complete contrast to this.

The chaos within the Southern Dynasty had never ended, which also caused the exhaustion of the common people.

The situation of the entire world became increasingly clear.

Eighth year of the Kaihuang era, on the Jiazi day of the tenth month;

Yang Jian again ordered the Prince of Jin, Yang Guang, the Prince of Qin, Yang Jun, and the Duke of Qinghe, Yuchi Gong, to lead their armies out.

They launched the final attack on the Southern Han.

The three men had different march routes, the purpose naturally being to make the most of the current chaos in the Southern Dynasty.

Yang Guang's original route was to march through Liuhe.

But he insisted on passing through Jizhou; he wanted to rush to Julu!

Julu.

For these years, the Gu Shizi had always upheld their ancestral teachings.

But as time gradually passed, the influence of the main branch became smaller and smaller, and this situation was also gradually changing with time.

This was also inevitable.

As descendants of the Gu Shizi, watching the influence of the Gu Shizi become lower and lower.

This was a form of torture for everyone.

However, this feeling gradually changed with Gu Yi's intervention once again.

Regarding the gradually maturing eighteenth generation of descendants, the current power-holders of the Gu Shizi all felt their extraordinary nature.

Within these few years.

They had placed almost all their hopes on the eighteenth generation of descendants.

Especially Gu Yu.

Although he was not even ten years old, he had already fully displayed his extraordinary nature; his calm temperament and judgment on matters of great importance far exceeded those of others.

Even Gu Yi was somewhat surprised.

Of course, having such talent was naturally due to the Luoshu Harmony Instrument.

Through these few years of observation, Gu Yi had already been able to roughly distinguish the limits of this Luoshu Harmony Instrument.

Its limit was the ability to distribute ten points of attribute values.

Gu Yu's attributes were not bad to begin with.

With the Luoshu Harmony Instrument, he could directly advance to a level comparable to the Gu Kang of the past.

Such attributes were something even Gu Xi could not compare to.

And the most crucial point was—

He was the same type of person as Gu Xi and the others, that is, someone who would show astonishing performance from a young age.

Yet his temperament was extremely calm.

Facing the rise of Yang Jian and the others, he would always provide very precise judgments; his various performances even left Gu Yi extremely surprised.

At this time, within the Gu Fu.

Hearing that Prince of Jin Yang Guang was actually coming to Liucheng, the contemporary head of the family, Gu Can, could not help but sigh deeply.

"Father, why do you sigh?"

Gu Yu, who was to the side, immediately looked over and asked in a crisp voice.

"The current Great Sui already shows signs of unifying the world."

"And Prince of Jin Yang Guang has a momentum that is transcendent, far exceeding Crown Prince Yang Yong. Coming to our Gu family at this time, I fear our Gu family will be drawn into the struggle for the foundation of the state."

Although Gu Yu was still young, Gu Can did not hide anything from him and said very earnestly.

The Gu family was already different from the past.

If they were forced to participate in the struggle for the foundation of the state.

Even if they made a slight mistake, even if the Gu family would not be wiped out, it would be incomparably difficult to rise again in the future.

Regarding the next generation of the family, Gu Can had great expectations.

He had placed almost all the ambitions that the Gu Shizi had restrained over these years onto them.

He was not willing for the Gu family to encounter problems at such a time.

Hearing this, Gu Yu could not help but smile and said without the slightest concern: "Father need not have this worry."

"Hmm?" Gu Can frowned and looked at Gu Yu, "What thoughts does my son have?"

"Father."

Gu Yu slowly stood up, looked at Gu Can, and said with a very serious little face: "I believe that the so-called struggle for the foundation of the state has nothing to do with our Gu family."

"Over these years, our Gu family has always been in Liucheng, and we have never forbidden the various feudal lords from all directions from coming to pay their respects."

"This point alone already indicates our Gu family's attitude."

"Now, even if the Prince of Jin has deep intentions in coming here, what can he do?"

"If the Crown Prince truly had ability, how could he not come?"

"Father need not worry too much."

"Everything can just be as it was when the Liu family feudal lords came to offer sacrifices in the past; there is no need for any other changes."

Gu Can was silent for a moment, then nodded: "What my son says is correct."

"It is I who worried too much."

He looked at Gu Yu before him and sighed helplessly: "I only lament that our Gu family has been silent for too long; if not for that, with my son's talent..."

Before he could finish speaking.

Gu Yu directly bowed earnestly to Gu Can: "Father need not mind."

"I, on the contrary, believe that our Gu family's silence until now is not a bad thing."

"Our Gu family was previously tied too deeply to the Great Han."

"Now the Han mandate is about to end."

"If not for our Gu family's silence until now, I imagine our Gu family's fate in the future would not be half a step better than the Liu family's."

"Although it now appears that our Gu family is increasingly declining..."

"But the hearts of the people of the Nine Provinces remain."

"This is our Gu family's greatest reliance."

As he spoke, a trace of admiration actually appeared in his eyes: "I have recently read the legacies of our ancestors and have become increasingly admiring of our Gu family's ancestors."

"There are no immortal dynasties in this world."

"Our Gu family rose at the beginning of the Han, and after Emperor Zhaowu, we were completely tied to the Han house; this is a tribulation our Gu family must endure."

"As the saying goes, there is no breaking without establishing."

"If the world can truly be unified in the Kaihuang era, I would actually like to see this Prince of Jin."

Gu Can looked earnestly at his own descendant.

His entire expression was extremely complex.

Is this what a genius is?

He could not help but think again of the records in the ancestral genealogy regarding the ancestors of each generation, and then he could not help but shake his head.

Before, they were still thinking about how much talent one must have to be able to emerge into the world.

After all, no matter who it was, there were times of youthful arrogance and extreme pride.

Regarding the records of the ancestors.

Even among the Gu Shizi, some doubts had gradually arisen.

After all, the Gu family had had mediocre descendants for several consecutive generations, and they simply could not compare to them.

But looking at it now...

Those records were absolutely true.

This is the gap between a genius and an ordinary person.

Time passed in a hurry.

Yang Guang arrived even more quickly than Gu Can had imagined; his journey could be described as full of sincerity.

Ever since leaving Daxing, he had been observing fasting.

Before approaching Liucheng.

He even gave up riding a horse and chose to walk here to demonstrate his sincerity.

He did not even bring many troops.

He displayed his sincerity to the fullest.

The most crucial thing was that these matters gradually spread.

Regarding this move of the Prince of Jin to worship the Gu family with such sincerity, the common people everywhere praised his benevolence and virtue.

Moreover, after arriving in Liucheng, Yang Guang did not show any lack of etiquette whatsoever.

The Gu family currently held no official position.

And looking at Yang Guang, he was the Prince with the greatest momentum in the current Great Sui.

Yet Yang Guang was still very polite.

Under the gaze of the Liucheng commoners, the moment he saw Gu Can and the others, before Gu Can could even speak, he took the lead and bowed to Gu Can and the others: "Greetings, Lord Gu."

"Prince of Jin, you must not."

Gu Can's expression changed slightly, and he hurriedly tried to stop Yang Guang: "How can a commoner like me bear the courtesy of His Highness the Prince of Jin?"

"Ah~" Yang Guang's expression did not change, and he insisted on performing the courtesy: "Lord Gu is an elder, and the Gu family has even more grace toward the Nine Provinces."

"Even my ancestors once received the grace of the Gu family."

"How could Lord Gu not accept this courtesy?"

As he spoke, he bowed deeply to Gu Can.

Seeing this, Gu Can had no choice but to lead the Gu Shizi in returning the courtesy.

Behind the crowd.

Gu Yu had been paying attention to Yang Guang, and it was unknown what he was thinking in his bright eyes.

Subsequently, Yang Guang followed Gu Can to the Gu family ancestral hall.

Along the way, he behaved very humbly, chatting and laughing with Gu Can and the others.

He also claimed that he had admired the Marquis of Zhaolie, Gu Chen, since he was young.

This was a grand sacrifice.

The Gu family ancestral hall was completely different from other families; because the Liucheng commoners often came to worship the Gu family ancestors, the incense in this ancestral hall could be said to be constant.

Yang Guang did not have the airs of a Prince at all.

Regarding this sacrifice.

Everything he displayed could be said to be full of sincerity, even more earnest than the Liu family feudal lords who had come before.

Especially when worshipping the statue of Gu Chen, Yang Guang's expression was even more incomparably earnest.

Before the statue, he expressed his reverence for Gu Chen without any avoidance.

He wanted to be like Gu Chen and establish immortal achievements.

This move undoubtedly won him an even louder reputation.

If one were to ask which people in the world today hold the Gu Shizi in the highest esteem?

It is undoubtedly these people of Julu.

This series of actions by Yang Guang even gave the people of Julu a feeling that his attitude toward the Gu Shizi was just like that of the founding Emperor Zhaowu of the Han Dynasty in years past.

Even Gu Can and the others were influenced by this.

Since the influence of the Gu Shizi had been waning, and they had already completely declared that they would not participate in any struggles.

The Gu Shizi had already forgotten how long it had been since a feudal lord had performed sacrifices with such sincerity.

This current behavior of Yang Guang.

Even caused the people of the Gu Shizi to gradually develop a favorable impression of him in their hearts.

Gu Yu had followed the Gu Shizi descendants to accompany Yang Guang from beginning to end, watching every move Yang Guang made, and had not said a word from start to finish.

This sacrifice lasted for several full days.

Yang Guang naturally would not stay in Julu for too long; after the sacrifice ended and a brief rest of one day, he immediately decided to leave.

"Lord Gu."

At the moment of departure, facing Gu Can and the others who were seeing him off, he still did not lose his etiquette and bowed to Gu Can: "The current chaos is about to end, and the world will surely be unified."

"Now is the time when everything is waiting to be rebuilt."

"I have often heard my Imperial Father speak of the governing abilities of the Marquis of Wencheng, the Marquis of Wenxiang, and others."

"I know the ancestral teachings of the Gu Shizi and dare not force the Gu Shizi to do anything."

"But if the Gu Shizi truly produces great talent."

"I am willing to invite them on behalf of my Imperial Father; I ask that the Gu Shizi must come to Daxing."

As he spoke.

He even knelt down before Gu Can right in front of everyone.

This kneeling could be called earth-shattering.

Yang Guang's expression was so sincere, as if he were truly thinking for the entire world.

"Your Highness!"

Gu Can was completely shocked; he hurriedly pulled Yang Guang up and returned the salute earnestly, saying: "Your Highness must never do this. If the Gu Shizi truly produces great talent, they will certainly emerge into the world."

"Good!"

Yang Guang immediately revealed a smile and nodded earnestly: "Since that is the case, I shall take my leave."

From beginning to end.

Yang Guang never referred to himself as the Prince.

His various displays left no room for anyone to find any fault.

Seeing this, the people from all directions bowed to Yang Guang one after another, all of them sighing at Yang Guang's benevolence and virtue.

The smile on Yang Guang's face grew even wider.

He mounted his horse and rode away slowly, looking at the scenery of Julu, and suddenly laughed aloud: "The world says that Julu is the holy land of the Nine Provinces; it seems this saying is not false!"

"The land of Julu is truly a place of outstanding people and divine spirits!"

He said this with high spirits, and after speaking, he cupped his hands toward the people in all directions: "Fellow villagers, farewell!"

Yang Guang flicked his horse whip.

Under the gaze of the crowd, he left directly.

"The Prince of Jin is extraordinary."

Watching Yang Guang's back, Gu Can's expression was also very complex, and he could not help but sigh: "It seems the momentum of the Great Sui's unification can no longer be stopped."

"Indeed."

The group of brothers behind him could not help but nod one after another.

Yang Guang's performance over these few days had thoroughly made them feel his extraordinary nature.

From start to finish, he was always so polite;

He did not touch a drop of alcohol.

He had absolutely no airs of a prince and practiced frugality to the extreme.

In their eyes, Yang Guang already possessed the qualities of an enlightened monarch of a generation.

But just at this moment—

Gu Yu's youthful voice rang out.

"The Prince of Jin is an ambitious hero."

The crowd immediately looked over upon hearing this; if it were any other family, they would certainly have scolded the younger generation for speaking nonsense.

But the Gu Shizi were different after all.

Regarding Gu Yu, these elders all knew his talent and had great expectations for him.

"What does my son mean by this?"

Gu Can even walked up directly to ask.

"This man's schemes are as deep as an abyss; all his performances these days indicate that he has the heart to seize the throne." Gu Yu made his judgment directly.

Hearing this, the crowd could not help but frown, but they did not feel it was anything unusual.

The moral bottom line of the Gu Shizi had always been flexible.

Since he is a great hero, it is normal to have the heart to seize the throne.

But immediately after, Gu Yu's voice rang out again: "This person's ambition is so strong, far exceeding that of ordinary people."

"Although he presents everything perfectly..."

"But as I carefully observe his words and deeds, I always feel that his words do not come from his heart."

"Father, uncles."

"I believe that if someone truly has such a heart, there is no need to make everything look so perfect. I always feel that the Prince of Jin's visit was a bit too deliberate."

While speaking, Gu Yu was also slightly frowning.

Hearing this, the expressions of everyone present could not help but become complex.

Gu Yu was right.

Yang Guang's performance was just too perfect.

Compared to those enlightened monarchs of the past, he had absolutely no flaws; Gu Yu's judgment was not wrong.

Gu Yi had been silently watching all of this, and hearing Gu Yu's judgment, he was also startled in his heart.

This Gu Yu's ability to judge people is somewhat extraordinary.

Regarding this person Yang Guang, Gu Yi had actually initially thought about using the Spirit-Connecting Jade to influence Gu Yu.

There was no help for it—

Yang Guang's performance before ascending the throne was indeed too much like an enlightened monarch.

He did not want the Gu Shizi descendants to be deceived; Yang Guang's hidden disposition and character were not suitable for the Gu Shizi descendants.

But now it seems... it seems there is no need for that!

Regarding Gu Yu's judgment, the crowd did not continue to chat further.

At least for now, the Gu Shizi did not need to worry about these things.

Julu became peaceful once again.

And as time passed, the three armies sent out by Yang Jian also began their journey.

Perhaps it was truly because the influence of "Sui" was too great, or perhaps because the world had been in chaos for too long, the people everywhere also gradually had a heart for unification.

The offensive of these three armies was extremely rapid.

The ninth year of Kaihuang, the Bingzi day of the first lunar month;

The walls of Jiankang City were shrouded in lead-gray morning mist.

The black banners of the Sui army spread over the sky from the Zhuque Ferry, and the sound of metal clashing as armor met crushed the silence of the cold winter.

When the vermilion paint of the Zhuque Gate crumbled under the battering ram, the situation was completely sealed.

Batches of Sui soldiers poured into the city.

The puppet Emperor of Southern Han, Liu Yong, was captured alive by Yang Guang.

In despair, it reflected the final silhouette of this dynasty.

The Yangtze River water still flowed majestically eastward, but it was hard to reflect the prosperous scene of "the beautiful land of Jiangnan, the imperial state of Jinling."

The "Great Han" that had stretched for over eight hundred years;

With the locking of the Jiankang palace walls, it was forever frozen on the yellowing pages of the history books of the Nine Provinces.

The Han ends.

(End of chapter)