Chapter 151: The Two Palaces in Conflict, Gu Yu

The curtain has fully risen.

In fact, reaching this point was unforeseen by both Li Jiancheng and Li Shimin.

In his youth, Li Jiancheng once worried about Li Shimin's safety on the battlefield.

Li Shimin had never once considered the title of Crown Prince or the throne; his goal had always been the Ten Directions Crossing Envoy.

They were blood brothers.

But power has always been this way.

Li Jiancheng had initially hesitated, but as those around him kept speaking, his mindset gradually changed.

He could watch his younger brother grow stronger, but those who had invested in him were unwilling to tolerate it.

This has always been a fight to the death.

Small Small Yugu Yi's view, regardless of what the original history was.

Under the current situation, if Li Yuan could manage the growing tensions between the two brothers, even without granting Li Shimin the position of Ten Directions Crossing Envoy, he could give him something else.

Let him assist Li Jiancheng in building the Tang Dynasty's golden age.

This was certainly achievable.

But unfortunately, Li Yuan was equally indifferent to all of this.

And as Li Shimin began his counterattack, his relationship with Li Jiancheng would become increasingly irreconcilable.

The entire Tang court plunged into an unprecedented internal struggle centered on the Donggong and the Qin Wang's Mansion.

Li Shimin's prestige was indeed too strong.

He need not do anything himself—merely by leveraging the authority to establish his own mansion, granted long ago by Li Yuan, he cultivated connections across Chang'an, drawing in numerous talents and supporters.

Li Jiancheng could not possibly compare.

The most critical point was—

Efforts to win over Li Shimin's core followers also met with little success; not even Gu Quan, let alone others, were willing to betray Li Shimin.

Gu Quan would never participate in the struggle for the imperial succession.

Even if Li Jiancheng had merely submitted a memorial mentioning Gu Yan's marriage to Princess Pingyang.

Even if Li Jiancheng did more, it could not sway his judgment.

Family is what Gu clan members care about most.

Especially after the events involving Gu Zhe in the past, all Gu clan members were extremely sensitive to this—impossible to join the struggle for the imperial succession.

Under these circumstances, Li Jiancheng gradually shifted his strategy.

If I cannot have it, then I will destroy it.

I will never leave these people to Li Shimin.

Li Jiancheng, after all, was Crown Prince, and now he had also won over Prince Qi Li Yuanji and several of Li Yuan's favorite concubines.

Under these circumstances.

Li Shimin's right-hand men, Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui, were successively targeted.

Li Jiancheng first had them falsely accused of inciting Qin Wang to rebel, but Li Yuan did not fully believe it; yet under the whispered influence of the palace concubines, suspicion gradually took root.

Finally, Li Jiancheng used a retreat-to-advance tactic, directly persuading Li Yuan to issue an order dismissing both men from Qin Wang's Mansion and banning them from military and political affairs.

Then came the military generals: Yuchi Gong, Cheng Yaojin, and others.

Li Jiancheng did not target Gu Quan.

Because offending the Gu clan would have too great an impact, and most importantly, after years of observation, Li Jiancheng knew the Gu clan would never join the struggle for the imperial succession—there was no need to target them.

For other military generals, his methods were far more direct.

—Treason!

This charge, punishable by death in any feudal dynasty, was immediately pinned on Yuchi Gong.

Before this, he had even sent assassins to kill Yuchi Gong, though the attempt ultimately failed.

This time, Li Yuan could no longer ignore it.

Unlike the civil officials, Yuchi Gong was a valiant general with considerable prestige within the Tang army.

Even if everyone knew it was a false accusation.

He had to investigate thoroughly.

Yuchi Gong was immediately imprisoned, while Cheng Yaojin was reassigned as Inspector of Kangzhou, steadily weakening Li Shimin's power within the capital.

This matter stirred up a huge uproar in the capital.

Only after Li Shimin's desperate defense was Yuchi Gong released—but he was immediately stripped of all rank and reduced to commoner status.

Others included Duan Zhixuan, Zhang Liang, and more.

Li Jiancheng exploited his official advantages to launch comprehensive attacks against Li Shimin.

Not only targeting Li Shimin's subordinates, but Li Shimin himself as well.

Whispered rumors; spreading false public opinion.

Using every possible means to undermine Li Shimin's reputation.

For Li Shimin,

The situation had become increasingly dire.

By now, he had no illusions left.

He could feel it—not only Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji, but even Li Yuan were deliberately targeting him, fearful of his unmatched prestige.

This was an utterly hopeless situation for Li Shimin.

Once a family, now they had reached this point; he felt as if he had returned to the days in Taiyuan—advance or die.

Often, it is not a man who chooses to make a decision, but the situation forcing him to make one.

He too began to counterattack.

But from start to finish, he had never summoned Gu Quan.

Since returning to Luoyang.

He had met only once with a Gu clan youth—and that once, he had merely wanted to tell Gu Quan that he had regained his strength.

This act naturally left many puzzled.

Given the Gu clan's influence, coupled with the bond of shared hardship between Gu Quan and Li Shimin.

If Li Shimin could gain the Gu clan's support.

Then, beneath the overwhelming tide of the world, even if he could not become Crown Prince, he would no longer be so passive.

But Li Shimin's response was exceedingly simple.

"The Gu clan's centuries-old legacy—how could I ask it to stake everything on me?"

"Not involving the Gu clan—"

"Even if I die one day, this world will still enter an age of prosperity."

For this, none could say more.

This too was Li Shimin's personal charisma.

The situation grew increasingly dire.

Even Li Yuan could clearly sense the worsening conflict between his two sons and the growing division within the court.

Under constant whispers in his ear, he had indeed grown wary of Li Shimin.

But it was still far from the point of abandoning Li Shimin entirely.

Watching the court's situation slip further from his control, he seemed to gradually realize the gravity of the problem.

And under these circumstances—

To everyone's surprise, Li Yuan summoned Gu Quan.

Night, within the inner palace.

After passing through layers of palace gates, Gu Quan finally stepped slowly into the hall and met Li Yuan.

"Your subject pays homage to Your Majesty."

Gu Quan's expression remained as stern and serious as ever as he bowed with formal respect.

"Gu Gu Ziyuan," Li Yuan's expression was complex, his eyes shadowed with fatigue—he too had been worn thin of late. "The realm is now unified. Does your father, Lord Gu, have any wish to enter court as an official?"

"I have kept the post of Grand Tutor of Great Tang open for him."

—He mentioned Gu Yu once again.

Yet now, when speaking of Gu Yu, it was entirely different from before.

Previously, Li Yuan had wished to bring Gu Yu into court with no special motive.

But now, he sought to use Gu Yu to break the deadlock.

Court ministers had all aligned themselves with either the Crown Prince's Palace or the Qin Wang's Mansion, forcing Li Yuan to feel the need for someone who could control them all.

And Gu Yu was the best choice.

Though Gu Quan was more skilled in command and martial affairs than statecraft.

As the eldest son of the Gu clan, he was no fool—he understood perfectly what Li Yuan meant.

Yet his answer remained unchanged, as always: "Your Majesty, I truly do not know my father's thoughts."

Li Yuan gazed at him silently, paused a moment, then waved his hand: "Very well. I shall send someone to go in person."

As he spoke, he slowly sat up.

His gaze grew even more complex. "Gu Gu Ziyuan, what do you think of the matter between Qin Wang and the Crown Prince?"

The atmosphere in the hall shifted instantly.

Li Yuan looked at Gu Quan with utmost seriousness and said in a low voice: "Now, only you and I, sovereign and subject, are present. Gu Gu Ziyuan, you may speak frankly to me."

Before he could finish.

Gu Quan lowered his head at once and bowed again to Li Yuan—throughout, he uttered not a single word.

Seeing this, Li Yuan's voice fell silent.

He sighed helplessly, then waved his hand once more: "Enough, enough. You may go."

Li Yuan was still Li Yuan.

He had asked Gu Quan this question hoping, as before, that someone would give him a nudge at a critical moment, helping him make the right decision.

But the tragedy was precisely this—he remained who he was.

In facing his two sons, his hesitation surpassed all previous times.

Gu Quan would never involve himself in this as a Gu clan scion.

Though summoned privately.

Yet the matter spread gradually, spurred by various factions—but for the current Tang court, no one cared whether Lord Gu Yu would come to the capital.

The Gu clan existed outside the struggle between the two palaces; it need not be attended to.

No, not entirely unattended to.

Men like Pei Ji still cared deeply, for they feared Gu Yu's arrival would undermine their authority.

But sadly, they could not stop Li Yuan.

Li Yuan wished to use Gu Yu to maintain court stability and ease the tension between the two palaces.

This he must do.

Gu Yi had originally thought Gu Yu would not return to the capital at such a time.

After all, for Gu Yu—

He still understood well the internal struggles within the Tang court; no matter how he avoided it, he could not escape being affected by this event.

But what surprised Gu Yi was that Gu Yu had actually agreed!

Even Gu Yi had not anticipated this, let alone the ministers within the court.

——The court and realm were shaken to their core!

When this news gradually spread from Julu to all four corners.

Whether within the Tang court or among the common people across the land, it was truly a earth-shattering event!

How many years had passed!

How many years had it been since the head of the Gu family last appeared?

Although Gu Yu had done nothing yet, merely his appearance had already won the hearts of the people across the land and intensified their anticipation for the Golden Age's Era.

Of course—if the Golden Age's Era never arrived.

This might well be the Gu family's final glory.

Yet Gu Yu remained utterly calm from start to finish, showing not the slightest worry.

Li Yuan held a grand welcoming ceremony for Gu Yu.

Both Li Jiancheng and Li Shimin accompanied Li Yuan to greet Gu Yu.

This matter was simply too monumental.

Even the conflict between the two of them paused for a moment.

Though it was bound to be fleeting, it still brought Li Yuan great joy.

At least in his eyes, a variable had appeared.

This scene was destined to be recorded in the Gu family's ancestral chronicles.

After years of silence.

The Gu family had finally stepped out of Julu once more, returning to the court.

Li Yuan had truly made up his mind.

Though Gu Yu had just entered the court, he immediately bestowed upon him the position of Grand Tutor.

The Grand Tutor of today was entirely different from the one in original history.

It was no longer a nominal post.

It had become a peculiar chancellorship; though officially unable to command the court officials, it could intervene in every department.

This was a choice Yang Jian had been forced to make.

At the time, he could not strip the Grand Tutor of his authority, or else the people across the land would turn against him.

Today's Tang inherited the Sui system, and the Grand Tutor position remained the same.

——The variable has arrived!

Gu Yu's arrival had utterly shattered the balance within the Tang court, further influencing the struggle between the Donggong and the Qin Wang's mansion.

The situation within the entire Tang court instantly grew far more complex.

And as Gu Yu raised the matter of comprehensive reform.

Gu Yi finally understood why Gu Yu had chosen to emerge at this moment.

For him, this was undoubtedly the perfect timing.

The two palaces were in conflict;

The court and realm's factions were in utter chaos;

Li Yuan himself also needed him to restore balance.

All these conditions could aid his reforms.

Beyond that, it was also because of the Xiongnu.

Though many used Li Shimin's dealings with the Turkic Khagan to impeach him, they still highly valued the treaty with the Turks.

Now Li Yuan, as Emperor of Tang, had already established the Dingxiale Alliance with the Turks.

But in Gu Yu's view, Tang and the Turks were destined to go to war.

This so-called trade route could never satisfy their appetite; the Nine Provinces and they were destined to clash.

He had to prepare in advance.

This was Gu Yu's most important reason for leaving seclusion.

The court instantly erupted.

As Gu Yu formally proposed reform in court, all eyes instantly turned to him.

At this moment, even the struggle between the two palaces had become less important.

Reform was bound to affect everyone's interests.

This was the urgent priority!

Taiji Hall.

Gu Yu stood within the hall, explaining to the ministers and Li Yuan the reform methods he had conceived over the years.

First—

The current Tang system of Three Departments and Six Ministries.

This had been established at the very beginning of Li Yuan's ascension to the throne; Gu Yu's reforms to it were not extensive.

He merely defined each ministry's authority more precisely and set clearer benchmarks.

The only true advancement was the embryonic form of the "Hanlin Academy"—Gu Yu advised Li Yuan to establish a dedicated department to select talented individuals to draft confidential documents within the palace.

This was undoubtedly drawing on the foresight of the ancient Han dynasty.

This move primarily aimed to prevent the Guanlong aristocracy, who had risen with Li Yuan, from monopolizing all power.

For Li Yuan, this also offered benefits.

Truly sweeping reforms were aimed at the entire realm.

Gu Yu proposed abolishing the "Governor's Offices" that had been set up indiscriminately since the early Wu De era, eliminating redundant administrative tiers, and restoring the Sui Dynasty's "Zhou-Xian System," clearly stipulating that officials at the Zhou and Xian levels be appointed directly by the imperial court.

The faster imperial edicts could be implemented.

The more beneficial it would be to the people.

This was also the scene Gu Yu had witnessed during his ten-thousand-li journey years ago.

But everything differed from the Sui Dynasty's system.

Gu Yu suggested each Zhou appoint three officials: Inspector, Vice-Inspector, and Chief Secretary, none subordinate to the others, each reporting directly to the corresponding imperial department.

The Inspector held administrative authority;

The Vice-Inspector held supervisory authority;

The Chief Secretary held military authority;

In plain terms, this was the "Separation of Powers" system.

This could certainly be called a generational reform, and Gu Yu's sudden insight had played no small role, enabling him to deduce these fundamental reforms from surface phenomena.

This move might seem to increase the number of officials.

But the benefits it would bring to the court and the realm were unimaginable.

All three reported directly to the court.

It would not only accelerate the implementation of imperial orders but also strengthen central authority and control official corruption through the Separation of Powers.

In truth, Gu Yu's ideas went far beyond this.

Gu Yi had seen Gu Yu even consider dividing the authority of the "Ten Directions Crosser" into a dedicated department to curb imperial power.

But this idea was impossible to implement at present.

It would even bring ruin upon the Gu clan.

That was why Gu Yu had retreated to a secondary option and changed his approach.

Yet the progress here was still astonishing.

Separation of Powers.

In the original history, the rudimentary form of this system did not emerge until the Song Dynasty; the leap from the original system to the Separation of Powers required changes that were unimaginable.

Put most directly:

The gap spanned hundreds of years.

Clearly, the impact of this matter was immense!

Beyond this were some military ideas, but compared to local governance, Gu Yu had not been especially bold.

The Gu clan was no longer what it once was.

Although under the influence of Gu Quan and other Gu clan members, the Gu clan now wielded considerable influence within the Tang court, this influence was still insufficient.

Gu Yu would not provoke too many interests and make the Gu clan the public enemy of all.

Additionally, there were reforms to specific systems, including the imperial examination.

But the most critical point remained the localities!

The Gu clan needed a golden age right now!

And the localities were the key!

Even so, this matter stirred a massive upheaval within the court.

The Tang Dynasty indeed needed reform.

With the entire realm now fully unified, reform had become urgent.

After all, Li Yuan had not inherited the Mandate of Heaven from the Sui Dynasty—he had seized it himself; he could not indefinitely maintain the Sui's original systems.

The entire court began a series of discussions on this matter.

This was certainly not something that could be settled in a single day.

Gu Yu was not in a hurry; after proposing these ideas, he made no further moves.

Yet this also helped Li Yuan ease internal court tensions.

But how long could this last?

Li Yuan was well aware of this; though he understood the Gu clan would not involve itself in these affairs, he still secretly met Gu Yu to ask his opinion on the Crown Prince's Palace and the Qin Prince's Mansion.

Chang'an Imperial Palace sleeping quarters.

This was unquestionably the most central place in the entire palace; Li Yuan had even dismissed all servants, leaving only Gu Yu.

"Grand Tutor, in this sleeping chamber, only you and I, sovereign and minister, remain."

"I can guarantee—"

"What we say today will be known to no one else. Grand Tutor, could you enlighten me? How should I handle the Crown Prince's Palace and the Qin Prince's Mansion?"

Li Yuan stared intently at Gu Yu, his expression utterly serious.

This was an extraordinary level of trust.

Only the Gu clan's centuries-long reputation could have led Li Yuan to make such a decision.

Gu Yu's expression showed no change; he first bowed to Li Yuan, then softly replied: "That depends on what kind of realm Your Majesty desires."

"What kind of realm?"

Li Yuan immediately frowned, puzzled: "What do you mean?"

"Does Your Majesty truly believe the Tang realm is already at peace?" Gu Yu did not answer directly but posed another question.

Li Yuan's frown deepened; he said nothing.

Gu Yu waited a moment, then explained: "In my view, within a few years, the Tang and the Turks will surely engage in a great war—this is one the Tang cannot possibly avoid."

"Your Majesty should imagine—"

"If we go to war with the Turks, and there is no one with Qin Wang's ability, who in the Great Tang could serve as commander-in-chief?"

Gu Yu spoke very directly.

He had nothing to hide about all this.

As the current head of the Gu clan, he only needed to ensure that he did not directly take part in the struggle over the very foundations of the state.

Li Yuan had already done this much; if he still kept up the pose of an outsider, that would be a bit too brainless.

Hearing these words, Li Yuan's expression also shifted slightly at once.

"The Crown Prince and Qin Wang are both men of ability; this is Your Majesty's good fortune. Your Majesty only needs to handle the situation well. Whether it is the Crown Prince, or Qin Wang, either one can bring the Great Tang into a prosperous age."

"."

Gu Yu spoke again, telling Li Yuan some of his own judgments about the two men, yet he never once offered a choice.

Li Yuan listened very attentively.

As for these two sons of his, he too was now quite helpless.

In fact, after hearing what Gu Yu had said, he was already feeling a bit of regret. If he had known it would be like this, he might as well have simply given the title of "Ten Directions Conquest Commissioner" to Li Shimin.

Continue maintaining the arrangement of Li Jiancheng handling internal affairs and Li Shimin handling external affairs.

As long as he placed restrictions and set constraints on Li Shimin, it might have been enough to resolve everything.

But now, in the end, it was already a little too late.

Under his silent attitude, whether it was the conflict between the two men, or the conflict between the people under them, everything had gradually risen to a point that could no longer be reconciled.

He could not reconcile it either.

But Gu Yu would not say any more.

Afterwards, the two of them chatted in detail about the matter of reform once more. Gu Yu explained to him the benefits it could bring, and then left the palace directly.

The atmosphere throughout Chang'an grew ever more complex.

Over the next several days, quite a few people came to visit Gu Yu.

Among them was naturally Li Jiancheng.

He did not show any intention of trying to win Gu Yu over, only asking Gu Yu's advice on the matter of reform, including various ideas on governing the realm, and the like.

Li Jiancheng was indeed a capable man.

In fact, in Gu Yi's view, if Li Jiancheng became Emperor, even if the Great Tang could not achieve the later "Zhenguan Prosperous Age," it would absolutely usher in a different prosperous age.

Gu Yu naturally held nothing back.

Only after personally conversing freely with Gu Yu did Li Jiancheng fully comprehend why Wei Zheng had evaluated Gu Yu as "immeasurably deep."

Gu Yu's insights on the rise and fall of the realm far exceeded what ordinary people could imagine.

His foundation was already not poor, and with the addition of the two props "Sudden Inspiration Card" and "Luoshu Harmony Regulator."

After truly witnessing the realm go from decline to prosperity and then from prosperity back to decline, Gu Yu's insights had already completely surpassed this era.

Although it was only a simple discussion.

Li Jiancheng's attitude toward Gu Yu was also one of complete admiration.

As for Li Shimin, the two of them spoke about much the same; only within it Gu Yu likewise told him of the various costs required to build a prosperous age.

This likewise benefited Li Shimin greatly.

During this period, Li Shimin also met Gu Quan again.

The two had not seen each other for a long time.

Since the struggle between the two palaces began, Li Shimin had never gone to see Gu Quan again.

Even this meeting, neither of them said much.

The two seemed to have grown a little distant; how could outsiders know of the feelings between them?

The Gu residence.

Watching Li Shimin leave, Gu Quan's expression grew ever more complex, struggling amid countless emotions.

"Wanting to go help Qin Wang?"

Gu Yu looked at him calmly and spoke indifferently.

"Father!" Gu Quan instinctively shook his head at once. "Your son is the eldest son of the Gu clan; I would never place the family in danger."

Before Gu Yu could speak, he emphasized once more: "Never!"

Looking at Gu Quan before him, Gu Yu could not help but shake his head.

How could he not understand his own son?

What Li Shimin had said back then was right—Gu Quan was a person who was cold on the outside but warm on the inside.

Within the clan.

He would shield his brothers from wind and rain.

Outside, he would likewise give everything for those he deemed worthy.

Gu Yu did not say more.

He trusted that his son would make the right decision, and would not let down the entire family.

The discussions within the court did not last long.

This was where Gu Yu's cleverness lay—even though he had never once appeared at court from beginning to end, he had still grasped the interests and demands of everyone.

This reform would fundamentally not directly affect everyone's interests.

This destined the reform's success.

The most crucial point was—

The true beneficiary of this matter was likewise the imperial house. As long as Li Yuan made his attitude clear, the rest would naturally be greatly influenced.

The seventh year of Wu De, the third month;

The sweeping reforms officially began across the entire Great Tang.

Before this, Li Yuan had even held a sacrificial ceremony, after which the adjustments of various edicts spread rapidly outward from Chang'an to all under heaven.

Changes arose on every side without cease.

Sudden reforms are bound to trigger a series of upheavals — this is the same in any era.

But under the present might of Great Tang, all such upheavals ultimately could not impede this reform.

Wherever rebel forces appeared, they were swiftly quelled the moment they emerged.

The common folk across all the realm held great expectations for the times to come — this was the rolling tide of the age!

But—

With the reforms formally set, the struggle between the two palaces flared up once more at this very moment; and to seize the chance to vie for interests amid this reform, this round of fighting was even fiercer than before!

(PS: Begging for monthly tickets, brothers please support me, Fish is on his knees begging, ten thousand thanks!!!)

(End of this chapter)