Chapter 137: The Governance of the Kaihuang Era, the Second Son of the Li Family (Seeking Monthly Votes)

The world has suffered through chaos for too long; facing the Sui Army, which arrived with the momentum of a great trend, all directions have submitted in awe.

The tenth year of the Kaihuang era, the day of Renshen in the eighth month;

As the Sui envoy Wei Guang and others headed to Lingnan to pacify the various tribes, the final gap in the world was filled.

The world, which had been in chaos for many years.

At this point, it was finally unified once again.

Yang Jian fulfilled his promise.

Just after the world was completely stabilized, he immediately set out from Changancheng in person, leading his many heirs and subordinate ministers to personally travel to Julu to offer sacrifices to the ancestors of the Gu Shizi.

This was indeed a very clever move.

Sacrificing to the Gu Shizi.

It would absolutely increase the expectations of the common people of the world for this new dynasty.

This is the influence that the Gu Shizi can bring.

Unknowingly, "prosperous age" has already developed a great connection with the Gu Shizi.

The help this provides to this new dynasty is unimaginable.

After the sacrifice.

Yang Jian also invited the Gu Shizi to enter the court as officials, and even indicated that he had reserved a "Champion Marquis Mansion" for the Gu Shizi in Changancheng.

This time, the members of the Gu Shizi did not refuse.

In any case—

It is impossible for the Gu Shizi to remain on the sidelines forever; this is also something the Gu Shizi must address.

The current new dynasty has already been established.

It is impossible for the Gu Shizi to stay in Julu forever.

Of course, it is naturally impossible for the Gu Shizi to return to how things were before.

Where entering the court was enough to control everything.

The current Gu Shizi can hardly exert any major influence in the court and the public, and the best path is merely to go to the four corners of the land to serve as officials.

They have officially fallen from being a transcendent family.

However, the many descendants of the Gu Shizi are very excited.

For many years, the Gu Shizi had never emerged into the world, and too many ideals were hidden within this land of Julu.

And they must eventually carry the expectations of their predecessors and the burden of the family to move forward again.

The main branch;

The branch families;

The Gu Shizi currently faces many problems; the years of chaos in the world and the influence brought by the gradual decline of the Gu Shizi's power are equally fatal to the Gu Shizi.

Now that the world is unified, the Gu Shizi needs to move forward again.

But Gu Yu still insisted on his own judgment.

Julu, within the Gu Mansion.

"My child, are you truly unwilling to go to the imperial court?" Gu Can looked at this, his most outstanding descendant, his expression extremely complex.

"Father, my mind is made up." Gu Yu's expression was very firm, and he nodded earnestly.

Seeing this, Gu Can could not help but sigh.

He is no longer young now.

Although he is the current head of the Gu Shizi, he can only entrust all his expectations to the next generation.

For the Gu Shizi.

This path is destined to be very difficult, even more difficult than in the past.

Just like Gu Kang in the years of old.

They need to expand the influence of the Gu Shizi again and gain the recognition of the people of the world before they can return the Gu Shizi to its peak.

"You are the most outstanding descendant of our Gu Shizi in this generation; you must not waste your life."

He could not help but remind him.

Gu Yu bowed earnestly to Gu Can: "Father, rest assured, I understand the weight of the family."

"However, for me."

"If there is no wise ruler, it would not be a good thing for me to emerge into the world."

A wise ruler—

This is an important factor that is completely unavoidable in the feudal era.

As a descendant of the Gu Shizi.

Gu Yu also possesses the ambition of a Qilin.

But if he cannot meet a wise ruler, it would be more harmful than beneficial to him.

This is the fundamental reason why he is unwilling to emerge into the world.

Although Yang Jian seems to hold the Gu Shizi in high regard, in his eyes, this is merely a means for Yang Jian to soothe the hearts of the people of the world.

He has his own confidants, and he is also somewhat arbitrary in his conduct.

This kind of monarch is not suitable for him.

Of course, this is only secondary.

The most critical point stems from his judgment of the current Crown Prince Yang Yong and the Prince of Jin, Yang Guang.

He concluded that the Sui royal family is destined to have an extremely intense internal struggle.

And no matter who wins or loses.

Neither Yang Yong nor Yang Guang can be considered wise monarchs; if the world has not recovered by then, I fear chaos will arise again.

This is his judgment of the current situation.

Looking at the firm-faced Gu Yu, Gu Can fell silent for a moment and ultimately could not say anything more.

This son of his had indeed surpassed him.

Although he is still young, he has already surpassed him as a father; what more could he say?

Gu Yu is a very confident person.

This kind of confidence is different from "arrogance."

This is the confidence bestowed upon him by his "Gu Shizi" background and talent.

He is very certain of his own judgment.

Of course, Gu Yu also did not stay in Julu the entire time.

As for him.

He wants to go out and see the world, to see the people of the world.

Over these years, he had long since learned everything left behind by his ancestors, and beyond that, he was also coming into contact with everything within Julu.

But for the descendants of the Gu Shizi, the people of the Gu Shizi cannot ultimately represent the entire world.

He needs to go and see the world.

Gu Yi had been silently watching all of this, and he was also increasingly looking forward to Gu Yu's future performance.

This is an era full of variables.

A figure who will be extremely dazzling in history is about to emerge.

Gu Yi also does not know if Gu Yu will have any connection with him.

But based on Gu Yu's current performance.

He will absolutely become one of the greatest variables in the history and the Gu Shizi to come.

It did not exceed Gu Yu's expectations; it was impossible for Yang Jian to heavily employ the Gu Shizi.

He is an ambitious hero.

An ambitious hero who fought his way out of a chaotic world.

Such people generally have strong self-confidence; it is impossible for him to treat the Gu Shizi like Liu Bei did back then, nor is it possible for him to directly promote the descendants of the Gu Shizi.

What an emperor wants is not just "loyalty."

"Loyalty" is only the foundation an emperor wants; what he wants more is the unique power that belongs to the emperor.

This is an emperor!

Let alone the Gu Shizi, Yang Jian would not show mercy even to his most core Guanlong Group.

That's right, it is the Guanlong Group.

Although history has already changed greatly.

But in the years of chaos and under the influence of the situation, the Guanlong Group still appeared, unavoidable.

And its influence was not a bit less.

During the North and South Han periods, the Guanlong Group could sway imperial power.

Now that the world is unified.

Yang Jian naturally cannot tolerate the existence of the Guanlong Group any longer.

This is also the extraordinary aspect of Yang Jian.

Before the world was unified, he knew he was the emperor chosen by the Guanlong Group, and he was even willing to share power with them.

But now—it is different.

He will absolutely not tolerate the Guanlong Group controlling the military and official positions.

The "entry of the Gu Shizi into the court" and the emergence of the southern gentry were, for him, the perfect opportunity.

A grand and vigorous reform began with the Great Sui, a dynasty on the rise.

—Yang Jian was, after all, an ambitious hero.

His wisdom and methods were worthy of this title.

The first thing he had to thoroughly restore was, naturally, the imperial examination.

The world had been in chaos until now.

In the beginning, various systems were not in disorder; even during the times of Liu Yu and Liu He, the imperial examination system was the most useful tool used by both the Northern and Southern Han to win over people's hearts.

But as time grew longer and longer.

The imperial examination system also gradually developed to the point of existing in name only.

This was also the inevitability of a chaotic era.

Influential families controlled the majority of power, and those in power had to make certain compromises if they wanted to gain the support of these families.

The reason Yang Jian was able to rule the world so rapidly.

The root cause was that the Northern and Southern Han had already rotted to the core.

An imperial examination existing in name only;

The annexation of land by powerful clans;

Chaotic governance;

A chaotic era with no end in sight.

The influence brought about by long-term chaos destined these situations to appear.

What Yang Jian had to do now was to re-establish all of this, letting the people of the world see the intentions of the imperial court!

Of course, doing so was destined to cause internal turmoil.

But when the momentum had already been established.

All of this could ultimately not affect the grand trend.

Yang Jian was a very decisive person; just like when he decided to take that step, he had already made full preparations.

He first rectified the administration across the four quarters;

Then, in the eleventh year of Kaihuang, he formally established the regulations for the imperial examination.

It was not merely a complete inheritance of the policies from the Yan Han.

Within this.

He also made a series of adjustments based on the situation, the most important of which was the assessment of officials.

This was the key to it all.

To thoroughly resolve the current internal turmoil of the Sui Dynasty.

This was something he had to do.

Besides this, there was also the reform of the official system.

In fact, over these years.

As the situation in the world became increasingly volatile, the court structures within the Northern and Southern Han had already become different.

Yang Jian was reforming on this very foundation.

He decided to implement the—Five Departments and Six Bureaus system.

Redistributing all power to further strengthen centralized authority.

The five secretariats included the Inner History Secretariat, the Gate Secretariat, the Secretariat of the Grand Minister, the Secretarial Secretariat, and the Attendant Secretariat.

Among them—

The Secretarial Secretariat managed books and calendars; the Attendant Secretariat was the agency for palace eunuchs; the Inner History Secretariat was the decision-making body responsible for drafting edicts; the Gate Secretariat was responsible for reviewing edicts and held the power of rejection; the Secretariat of the Grand Minister was the highest administrative body responsible for executing decrees.

Further down were the six bureaus.

The six bureaus were the Ministry of Personnel, the Ministry of Revenue, the Ministry of Rites, the Ministry of War, the Ministry of Justice, and the Ministry of Works.

The Ministry of Personnel was responsible for the selection and assessment of officials; the Ministry of Revenue, later renamed the Ministry of Household Affairs, managed finance and household registration; the Ministry of Rites was responsible for etiquette, education, and diplomatic affairs; the Ministry of War managed military affairs; the Ministry of Justice, later renamed the Ministry of Punishments, was responsible for the judiciary and prisons; the Ministry of Works managed engineering construction and handicrafts.

This move not only re-divided power but also improved the operational efficiency of the entire court.

A clear bureaucratic system.

It also avoided the situation where one person's excessive power could influence imperial authority.

Besides this—there was, of course, military power.

The current situation under heaven seemed to have returned to the state of the late Han chaotic era, where influential families held military power.

And what Yang Jian had to do now was to take back all power.

He also proposed reforms to the militia system.

Changing the militia system from "separation of soldiers and farmers" to "integration of soldiers and farmers," ordering the household registration of soldiers across the world to be incorporated into prefectures and counties, placing them under state jurisdiction alongside commoners, and severing the private ties between generals and soldiers.

At the time, twelve guard garrisons were established, with generals appointed directly by the Emperor and frequently rotated to prevent military aristocrats from holding long-term command.

Successive major reforms would naturally cause chaos.

When these decrees were issued, rebellions immediately broke out in various places.

But what could that do?

The smartest part of Yang Jian's move was that he was competing for the hearts of the people!

Whether it was welcoming back the Gu Shizi.

Or restoring the imperial examination, including the previous re-minting of currency, all helped him win over so, so many hearts!

This was the killing blow!

When the people who longed for a stable life felt the changes in the imperial court.

The hearts of the people became difficult to shake.

Facing the chaos in all directions, Yang Jian struck without the slightest hesitation.

He displayed the iron-blooded ruthlessness of an emperor to the fullest extent.

Regardless of how great one's previous merits were, or how deep one's connections to the Guanzhong Group were.

Anyone who rebelled—was on a path to certain death.

With the support of the people's hearts, the foundation of the Great Sui could not be shaken; rebellions in all directions were successively quelled, and various forces were successively eradicated.

Subsequently, Yang Jian began the rectification of prefectures and counties.

Yang Jian issued an edict to abolish all commanderies.

That is, changing from the previous three-tier system of province, commandery, and county to a two-tier system of province and county.

This not only simplified local administrative organizations but also stipulated that local officials were to be appointed and dismissed by the central government, with the power of appointment held entirely by the Ministry of Personnel, prohibiting local officials from hiring their own subordinates locally, thereby consolidating centralized power.

This was absolutely a policy that could revitalize the world.

The influence caused by years of chaos on the local level was unimaginable.

Not to mention anything else.

This move was a major advancement in the rectification of governance!

The four seas were in a ferment.

Implementing the "Kaihuang Code," recalculating household registrations, equalizing the land of the world, and reducing taxes.

In the past, one prosperous age after another had left Yang Jian with too many examples.

He only needed to carry out a series of reforms based on these examples to be enough to allow the entire world to recover rapidly.

The Reign of Kaihuang—arrived as scheduled.

After years of chaos, the appearance of Yang Jian was like a ray of dawn, piercing through the darkness of the Nine Provinces.

The foundation of the Nine Provinces was not bad; it far exceeded the original history.

As long as everything tended toward calm, the resilience in the bones of the Huaxia people would be able to write a new legend once again.

This was also the choice of the era.

But amidst all this light, chaos was also constantly spreading.

Gu Yi did not pay too much attention to the internal affairs of the Sui Dynasty.

He only occasionally paid attention to other Gu clan descendants, and mostly he was watching Gu Yu.

Over these years.

Gu Yu could truly be said to have traveled ten thousand miles.

Although he saw the changes of the entire world in his eyes, he also firmly insisted on his own judgment.

He did not become anxious because of his increasing age, always persisting on his own path.

Even Gu Yi could not be sure if this was "self-confidence" or "stubbornness."

However, it was not without gains.

From beginning to end, he never changed his name or surname, doing small things within his power while increasing his knowledge through the common people.

For him, this also seemed to be a unique tempering.

Gu Yi could feel his progress.

The most critical thing was that precisely because of this, although Gu Yu never served in court, he still left a bit of a reputation in various places.

Even Yang Jian had heard of Gu Yu's name.

But regarding Gu Yu.

The Gu clan descendants in the court all had a unified stance, which was that Gu Yu had no intention of becoming an official.

Regarding this, Yang Jian also did not care much.

After all, the Gu Shizi had long since ceased to be what it once was; what need was there for him to care?

The arrival of a prosperous age also made Yang Jian increasingly confident.

Yet the gears of fate had already turned in the invisible void.

The eighteenth year of the Kaihuang era, the day of Wuwu in the twelfth month;

Wugong.

The tributaries of the Wei River had frozen into thin ice outside the city, reflecting the ochre-red rammed-earth walls; the icicles on the battlements hung like jade curtains, shimmering with cold light under the weak noon sun.

A carriage slowly drove into the city.

The next moment, a dark-skinned young man walked straight out of the carriage.

He first let out a breath, and then a trace of a smile appeared on his face.

This person was naturally Gu Yu.

Now, he no longer had the air of a young nobleman; his skin was dark, much like Gu Kang in the past, with only a hint of nobility remaining about him.

He got off the carriage and walked along the street.

Before long, he saw the bustling commoners all heading in one direction, each of their faces extremely excited.

"Hmm?"

Gu Yu was surprised, and without much thought, he stepped forward to stop an old man and bowed: "Old sir, what are the villagers doing?"

"Oh my!"

The old man had been walking slowly, and now he was exasperated, saying urgently: "Why are you stopping me? The Inspector has had a son and has already released the news; today, every household can receive five dou of millet!"

As he spoke, the old man bypassed Gu Yu directly and followed the crowd forward with all his might.

The Inspector has had a son?

Gu Yu was stunned for a moment, then a look of interest appeared on his face.

He immediately followed the crowd forward.

At this moment, the open space in front of the county office was already packed with people, and the sound of discussion was constant.

When the gold thread on Li Yuan’s black brocade robe flashed in the morning light, the crowd suddenly quieted down.

"Thank you all for praying for my wife these past few days." Li Yuan cupped his hands, the jade belt at his waist gleaming with a warm light in the snow-reflected glow, "Since my little son was born in Wugong, he is a subject who has grown up eating the water and soil of Guanzhong."

"Fellow villagers, rest assured, I, Li Yuan, will never break my word!"

Having said this, he waved his hand to order the servants beside him to go and distribute the grain.

"Li Yuan?"

"The Duke of Tang?"

Gu Yu stood behind the crowd, watching this scene with interest, and the corresponding information flashed through his mind instantly.

Although he had never been to the imperial court.

He was still clear about the major events of the world and the basic news within the court.

In this chaotic era, the Gu Shizi had long since had its own intelligence channels.

A trace of surprise could not help but flash across his face; he had never expected a figure of Li Yuan's level to do such a thing.

At this moment.

Li Yuan also noticed Gu Yu.

Although Gu Yu’s attire was very ordinary and his skin dark, Li Yuan, who was born into a noble family, still immediately noticed Gu Yu’s extraordinary temperament.

"Hmm?"

Li Yuan frowned subconsciously, then immediately walked through the crowd toward Gu Yu, cupped his hands and said: "I am the Inspector of Qizhou, Li Yuan, courtesy name Shude. May I ask who you are..."

"Greetings to the Duke of Tang. My surname is Gu, given name Yu, courtesy name Yaozhi." Gu Yu also hurriedly returned the salute.

In an instant, Li Yuan’s expression changed slightly.

"Gu Yaozhi? A descendant of the Gu Shizi?" He stared closely at Gu Yu, as if he had heard of some of Gu Yu’s reputation.

Seeing Gu Yu nod, a look of joy flashed across his face: "Good!"

"I have long heard that you were traveling and seemed to be passing through my Qizhou. I was wondering if I would have the chance to meet you."

"I did not expect us to meet like this, and just in time for the birth of my second son."

"Please, come with me to the residence for a chat."

Li Yuan was very enthusiastic toward Gu Yu; this was the benefit that the Gu Shizi background brought to its descendants.

"Then I thank the Duke of Tang." Gu Yu bowed.

He then followed Li Yuan into the residence.

The environment inside the residence was not luxurious.

Li Yuan was very enthusiastic, chatting with Gu Yu while leading the way, speaking of his respect for the Gu Shizi, and even mentioning that he wanted to send his children to the Gu Shizi to study.

It was only because he currently only had one eldest son that he dared not do so.

Regarding this, Gu Yu naturally did not say much.

He could hear Li Yuan’s intention to win him over, but this ultimately did not fit his path.

In the end.

Li Yuan even wanted Gu Yu to see his newborn second son.

Gu Yu had originally been very casual; this was something he would do from time to time.

The moral bottom line of the Gu Shizi descendants was extremely flexible; they would not be foolish enough not to use the advantages their status could bring, which would only cause them unnecessary trouble.

Gu Yu stepped on the snow under the veranda, followed Li Yuan through the hanging flower gate, and saw the newborn baby.

The child’s dark, fine birth hair was stained with tiny beads of sweat, curled into soft, fuzzy arcs.

As soon as Gu Yu’s gaze touched the swaddling clothes, the baby’s eyelashes suddenly trembled, and his pitch-black pupils shone like cold stars in the Wei River.

The little body twisted to break free from the brocade quilt, first staring at the top of the canopy, then landing on Gu Yu, meeting his gaze, and suddenly giggling.

"This..." Gu Yu subconsciously took half a step forward, a flash of surprise in his eyes.

The first feeling this child gave him was that he was extraordinary!

At this moment, Li Yuan took the baby from the wet nurse and walked toward Gu Yu with a smile.

The breeze stirred by his walking blew the candlelight.

As the firelight flickered, it illuminated the pale blue lines on the baby’s palm; the crisscrossing lines faintly revealed the shape of the character "King," which echoed the coiled dragon pattern on the jade belt at Li Yuan’s waist.

Although it was only for a brief moment, it still caused Gu Yu’s expression to change.

The disciples of the Gu Shizi were never particularly superstitious people, let alone Gu Yu, the most talented descendant in the clan.

But the scene just now still caused his long-dormant heart to stir slightly.

"This child is extraordinary." Before the words fell, Li Yuan had already stepped forward, a bright light flashing in his eyes: "Does the young master truly think so?"

Gu Yu’s Adam’s apple moved slightly, his gaze still locked on the baby’s tender palm, and after a long while, he said in a deep voice: "Judging by his bearing, he is indeed no ordinary creature."

Li Yuan could not hide his joy, the fragrant breeze stirred by his sleeves wrapped in expectation: "Then would the young master be willing to stay in my residence and teach my second son?"

Gu Yu lowered his eyes to hide the surging emotions, finally shook his head, and bowed to Li Yuan: "The Duke is too kind. Gu is of shallow learning and truly cannot shoulder such a heavy responsibility."

"But if the Duke is willing, you may send this child to Julu when the time comes."

This was not the path he wanted to take.

Moreover, he did not believe in the so-called mandate of heaven; this was a principle left behind by generations of ancestors in the clan.

Li Yuan’s expression dimmed; compared to sending his offspring to Julu, having a Gu Shizi descendant come to his residence was the true honor.

That was also what he wanted.

Just then, the baby in his arms suddenly let out a crisp laugh again, his lotus-root-like little hands grasping in the air, waving toward Gu Yu.

Gu Yu’s heart trembled, and an inexplicable vibration spread from his fingertips throughout his entire body.

This was the first time he had ever had such a feeling.

It was not superstition, but simply the feeling that this child was different from ordinary babies and would have a deep connection with him.

"Has your son been named?" His voice softened unconsciously.

Li Yuan looked at Gu Yu’s changing expression and could not help but smile again, saying loudly: "To save the world and bring peace to the people, hence the name Shimin!"

"My Li family’s second son—Li Shimin!"

"Shimin..." Gu Yu could not help but repeat it, looking at the baby who was gradually calming down in his arms, his expression finally returning to calm.

Ps (It will be double points after twelve o'clock tonight, brothers, don't forget your monthly ticket firepower, it's the end of the month, it's a waste if you don't use it!!)

(End of chapter)