Chapter 146: The Gu Family Emerges, Li Yuan Declares Himself Emperor (Seeking Monthly Votes)

—To manifest one's ambition!

For Li Shimin, the greatest harvest of this journey was undoubtedly the insights gained therein.

He was still too young!

At only eighteen, his judgment of a prosperous age was far too shallow.

Simply put, while he had always admired Gu Chen, he had previously only been able to see Gu Chen’s most glorious side.

He saw him pacify the world; he saw him strike awe into all directions.

But he had never seen the efforts Gu Chen had expended to achieve this.

All things have a price; Li Shimin needed this realization, and even more, he needed this manifestation of his ambition.

Although everything appeared unremarkable on the surface.

In reality, it was not so—

Li Shimin’s understanding of a prosperous age had been elevated; he would be more steadfast in his goals and continue walking along this path.

Many things are destined in the unseen.

It was different from all the other warlords who had come to the Gu family before.

Perhaps only someone like Li Shimin, who truly wished to establish merit and truly wished to forge a prosperous age, could have such a performance.

Over these years, the Gu family had seen too many warlords.

Generation after generation, countless warlords had wanted to obtain the Gu family’s help, win the hearts of the people, and ascend to that supreme position.

Some among them, like Yang Guang in his day, had done everything to the extreme;

Some, like Liu Bei in years past, would casually make promises to the Gu family;

Others would bring all sorts of rare treasures, hoping to entice them with profit.

But there had never been anyone like Li Shimin.

Even though he had arrived with the same purpose, he was more concerned with how to build a prosperous age.

And this happened to align with the Gu family’s current philosophy.

Ever since Gu Yi had taken control of Gu Ye, the entire Gu family had cared only for the rise and fall of the Nine Provinces.

Why had Gu Yu never emerged into the world?

The fundamental reason was that he felt there was no enlightened ruler in the world.

Under such men, even if he possessed heaven-defying abilities, it would not be enough to thoroughly revitalize the Nine Provinces.

And the Gu family could not abandon their centuries of reputation to take that step.

But now, this person seemed to have appeared.

Although Gu Yu also understood that people might always change.

But at least for now—

Li Shimin’s various actions all met the requirements of the Gu family.

The gears of fate had already begun to turn, unnoticed.

After years of living in seclusion, the Gu family finally seemed to be welcoming the person who could invite them out.

From this day on, the atmosphere of the entire Gu family seemed to have gradually changed.

There were still quite a few capable people in this generation of the Gu family.

In terms of martial prowess alone, there were a full three people who reached eighty points.

Among them, the most outstanding, Gu Quan, even reached eighty-three points; such attributes could absolutely be called those of a great general.

The most critical point was—

Because of the Gu family’s education, these three were also quite capable in commanding troops.

This could entirely be called a sharp weapon for a chaotic age.

If not for the examples of Gu Zhe and the others, plus Gu Yu’s restrictions, these young people in the prime of their vigor would likely have already gone off to conquer the world.

As for civil administration, the Gu family’s foundation was equally strong.

Especially under Gu Yu’s personal instruction, the goals of this generation’s descendants were also very clear.

They, too, wanted to build a prosperous age.

They wanted to restore the Gu family’s reputation to its peak.

That’s right, after years of silence, the Gu family had also ushered in an era of a fountain of talent.

A brilliant, great age was finally about to gradually unfold across the land of the Nine Provinces.

Gu Yu lifted the restrictions on the family descendants, though he did not deliberately demand that they follow Li Shimin.

He merely gave Li Shimin an opportunity.

He let him win over the Gu family descendants.

As for himself, he could not leave Julu.

As the current head of the Gu family, the political implications of such an act were simply too obvious.

Although he also thought very highly of Li Shimin, he could not use the entire family as a gamble.

Unless the world once again welcomed true unification.

If not, as the head of the Gu family, he could not leave Julu.

Li Shimin’s personal charisma naturally went without saying.

Whether it was Gu Yu’s actions, or the rumors from various places combined with Xue San’s accounts, the ambitious Gu family descendants would have no reason to hesitate.

Almost all of the nineteenth-generation descendants who had come of age were willing to enter the world.

—Change had descended once more.

With the emergence of the Gu family, the trajectory of history once again became obscure and unpredictable.

Gu Yi had been silently watching all of this, his heart devoid of ripples.

Perhaps it was precisely because he had experienced too much.

Gu Yi no longer felt any fear toward that so-called correction.

If the Gu family wanted to remain glorious, they had to face all of this; why should he be melancholy?

He only needed to continue walking along this path!

The news gradually spread.

With so many Gu family descendants emerging at the same time, it was impossible to keep the news hidden.

An unimaginable sensation began at Julu and spread continuously to all corners of the world!

The emergence of the Gu family once again awakened the common people’s expectations for a prosperous age.

Familiar scenes appeared once again in the land of the Nine Provinces.

Countless commoners bowed toward Julu, their tears falling uncontrollably.

And who did not look forward to a prosperous age?

They didn’t even need a prosperous age; for the millions of people in the Nine Provinces, their true wish was simply to be able to live in peace and stability.

Gu Yu’s words were not mere gibberish.

To be able to let the majority of the world’s people eat their fill was enough to be called a prosperous age!

Leshou.

Dou Jiande naturally received the news at the first moment, and his expression instantly became complex.

As for those under his command, they were filled with righteous indignation!

"The Gu family is truly too presumptuous; the Prince has always treated them with great respect, yet the Gu family dares to defect to that Li Yuan at such a time?"

"Could it be that the Gu family truly thinks we are easy to bully?"

"Prince, this general requests to march on Julu!"

"."

Cries of indignation were heard incessantly.

As a native of Hebei, Dou Jiande had gone to pay respects to the Gu family more than once over the years, hoping to invite them out of the mountains, but he had never succeeded.

Now, seeing that the Gu family descendants were actually willing to return thousands of miles with Li Shimin.

How could they not be angry?

Dou Jiande’s expression grew increasingly complex; looking at the indignant crowd before him, he frowned and shouted: "Do you wish for me to be reviled by the world?"

In an instant, the entire hall fell silent.

"The Gu family has been a family of officials for a hundred years; even if they are in decline now, their foundation remains."

The hall was deathly silent.

Dou Jiande coldly scanned the crowd, his eyes as sharp as knives: "If this Prince were to raise arms against Julu now, do you believe—"

His voice paused, and Dou Jiande slowly stood up, each word falling like an ice pick, "Within three days, the thirteen prefectures of Hebei would rise in rebellion, and the fires of war would spread across the land!"

—The fires of war would spread across the land!

Dou Jiande firmly believed this.

As a man of Hebei, he knew deeply just how great the Gu family’s influence was in the Hebei region!

It was precisely because of this that he did not want to take military action against the Gu family!

Not only that.

He even wanted to go to Julu again to perform rites of sacrifice, to show his sincerity.

Even if he could not win the Gu family’s help.

It would still be of great help to his rule in the Hebei region!

No matter what, at least for now, the Gu Shizi must absolutely not be touched!

Dou Jiande still held great prestige within the army; he quickly suppressed the anger in the hearts of his soldiers and immediately set out for Julu with great fanfare.

Even Gu Yi had to admit that Dou Jiande was a capable man.

He could restrain his anger and possessed his own principles.

In fact, if it were the Gu Shizi of before, Dou Jiande would have absolutely counted as a perfect candidate to support.

But now, things were different.

Dou Jiande was indeed extraordinary, but compared to Li Shimin, he was always lacking something.

And this was the fundamental reason why Gu Yu had never chosen to assist him.

At least for now, what he wanted was that position, not a golden age!

The Gu Shizi needed a golden age.

A golden age that would be inextricably linked to the Gu Shizi!

This move indeed had an effect, and even Gu Yu had to look at Dou Jiande with newfound respect.

And just as these various pieces of news were pouring in incessantly.

News from Jiangdu finally arrived as well.

——Yang Guang was dead!

The Great Sui had fallen!

This news was like a pebble dropped into a calm lake, instantly making the already turbulent world even more chaotic!

Especially since this news spread alongside the news of the Gu Shizi’s emergence, which instantly gave rise to even more prophecies.

"The Great Sui fell in two generations because the Yang clan did not make good use of the Gu Shizi."

"The Gu Shizi emerges, the dim-witted ruler receives the heavenly punishment of the Marquis of Zhaolie."

"."

There was no need for anyone to deliberately guide it; in this current era, the common people everywhere would think of many rumors on their own.

And this move undoubtedly pushed the Gu Shizi to the forefront of the storm once again.

Even some of the rebel kings across the land believed these rumors, feeling that a golden age was about to descend once more.

But at the same time—

The death of Yang Guang could be considered to have completely brought this chaotic era to its climax.

First was the land of Jiangdu.

Yuwen Huaji enthroned Yang Hao, the nephew of Yang Guang, as Emperor, wanting to use the remaining influence of the Sui court to conquer the world one last time.

This move undoubtedly pointed the way for quite a few people.

In this current chaotic world, not everyone possessed extraordinary ability.

One by one, the imperial clansmen of the Sui Dynasty were brought out and installed as puppet emperors by rebel kings in various regions; the entire land of the Nine Provinces actually saw a reappearance of the situation from the end of the Han Dynasty, where multiple emperors stood side by side.

The wars intensified once again!

With the death of Yang Guang, almost everyone’s goal fell upon that one unique position!

——The Sovereign of the World!

Changancheng.

After experiencing a series of storms, Li Shimin finally returned safely to Changancheng.

Compared to the journey there.

The difficulty of this return journey far exceeded the previous one.

There were too many people who wanted to kill Li Shimin to remove this arm of Li Yuan, and even more who wanted to block the path of the Gu Shizi descendants.

Fortunately, these people were all very valiant.

But even so, Li Shimin had taken countless detours along this road.

In the end, it was only with Li Yuan’s support that he returned safely to Changancheng.

However, it was precisely because of this.

The group of Gu Shizi descendants who had emerged also gradually became familiar with Li Shimin, and even developed a rare bond forged in adversity.

The situation in Changancheng was also very grim now.

Li Yuan had never made a choice.

Everyone knew what he was waiting for, but there was still no avoiding the disputes over it.

Not everyone dared to be the first to take that step.

Especially under the current situation where multiple emperors stood across the world, most people wanted Li Yuan to play it safe, first installing a Yang clan puppet and then planning slowly.

Under this influence, even Li Yuan gradually became hesitant and found it difficult to make a decision.

But with the return of Li Shimin, this matter was finally going to reach a conclusion.

"Your son requests that Father ascend the throne as Emperor, to accept the Mandate of Heaven and rule over the world!"

The Council Hall.

Just after learning the situation, Li Shimin said these words directly in front of everyone.

The entire hall instantly fell silent.

Li Yuan was also stunned; his face had originally been full of deep smiles because Li Shimin had truly brought back the Gu Shizi descendants, but his expression instantly turned serious.

——Urging him to ascend!

There was no one who did not want to be Emperor.

Including Li Yuan himself; the reason he had not made a choice until now was precisely because of this.

But he also could not ignore the benefits of inheriting the Sui court.

Whether it was the remaining prestige of the Sui Dynasty;

Or winning the support of those in the world who firmly believed that the "Sui Dynasty is the orthodox line," inheriting the Sui court could bring many benefits!

But who wouldn't want to be Emperor sooner?

The support of the Gu Shizi indeed gave Li Yuan confidence.

The entire hall was silent.

Li Shimin ignored the gazes of the crowd, and without waiting for anyone to speak, he continued loudly: "You all say we must inherit the remaining prestige of the Sui house, but this prestige—"

His voice rose abruptly, "Can it stop the old women north of the Wei River from cooking bones for food? Can it keep the children of Hedong from being sold into slavery?"

As he spoke, he sighed softly, looking at Li Yuan earnestly: "Your son has traveled eight hundred miles from Changancheng, and all I saw were starving corpses covering the fields and refugees clogging the roads!"

"With the common people pillowing their heads on the bones left by Yang Guang’s tyranny, where can one still see any majesty of the Sui house?"

"Now is the time for all things in the world to be renewed."

"Even the Gu Shizi are willing to assist our Li clan; if Father were to succeed the Sui court, wouldn't that make the people of the world equate Father with that dim-witted ruler?"

Li Shimin slowly knelt, bowing to Li Yuan: "Now that Guanzhong is settled, the hearts of the people are with us! If Father ascends the throne at this time, it is a declaration to the four seas—"

"That tyrannical and oppressive rule ends here."

"A golden age where farmers have their land and the hungry have their food will be rebuilt by our Li clan in alliance with the Gu Shizi!"

The sound echoed in the empty hall, and the officials looked at each other in dismay.

Only Li Shimin remained kneeling, his straight spine like a long sword about to be unsheathed.

The voice faded completely.

Whispers of discussion could not help but rise again; clearly, these words alone were not enough to convince everyone.

In any era, there would always be a batch of stubborn people.

But as long as Li Yuan listened, that was enough.

The fact that he had not made a choice until now already explained his attitude.

He was just waiting for a reason.

And now—

Li Shimin had given him that reason.

He did not need to inherit the Sui court.

He was going to tell the world that he would personally create a brand-new golden age.

As for whether he could do it, who would care?

For him, he only wanted to sit in that position first!

"Good!" Before anyone else could speak, Li Yuan’s voice rang out immediately, "What Erlang says is exactly what I think!"

Under the astonished gazes of the officials, Li Yuan stood up abruptly, his eyes sweeping over the officials like torches:

"The fate of the Sui house is exhausted; this magnificent land should take on a new appearance!"

He slowly stepped down from the dais, his expression extremely firm, "Pass on my decree—"

The atmosphere in the hall shifted imperceptibly.

Although there were still those who felt resistance in their hearts, when it truly reached this step, the gazes of the crowd could not help but become fervent.

"Immediately prepare for the enthronement ceremony and announce it to the world—"

"I shall ascend the throne and become Emperor on an auspicious day!"

The last four words of Li Yuan were like the tolling of a great bell.

The moment the words fell.

As Pei Ji was the first to kneel toward Li Yuan, almost everyone present knelt toward Li Yuan without any hesitation!

The fourteenth year of Daye, the Yi-Si day of the fifth month.

Li Yuan ascended the throne as Emperor in Changancheng.

The name of the state was Tang;

The era name established was Martial Virtue.

An imperial decree was issued to proclaim to the world the ambition of joining with the Gu Shizi to revitalize the Nine Provinces!

Ps: (There is one more update later, I beg for monthly tickets!!! I ask that you brothers do not be stingy, please cast many monthly tickets!)

(End of this chapter)