Chapter 152: Xuanwu Gate — Gu Quan's Decision (Two-in-one chapter, begging for monthly votes)

Human nature is inherently contentious.

Especially when the contradictions at stake even involve life and death, nothing in between can be reconciled any longer.

The present situation is exactly such a case; this sensational reform can indeed bring benefits to many people.

Li Jiancheng, as the current Crown Prince.

Compared with Li Shimin, he did indeed hold the advantage.

Whether it was targeting the officials of the Qin Wang's residence or having his own people seize key posts, with more supporters behind him he naturally enjoyed an innate advantage.

For a time, this situation pressed Li Shimin until he could barely breathe.

After his talk with Gu Yu, Li Yuan seemed to gradually awaken.

He actually put forward an idea at this juncture.

Namely, to dispatch Li Shimin to Luoyang and carry out the policy of "divided governance at Luoyang."

Although he still did not bestow upon Li Shimin the title of Commander of the Ten Directions, the authority that came with it was in no way inferior; he merely required that Li Shimin could not proclaim himself Son of Heaven, nor could the title be passed down.

Once this matter came out, it could truly be called earth-shattering!

After such a long stretch of time, this was still the first time Li Yuan had openly expressed his own stance.

Still neutral.

He wanted his two sons to cease their struggle and return to the former overall arrangement, with Li Jiancheng handling internal affairs and Li Shimin handling external ones.

Li Shimin naturally would not refuse.

Although after such a long contest he had gradually given rise to the thought of contending for the throne, this notion was still built upon the foundation of a prosperous age.

For him.

So long as the Nine Provinces could welcome a prosperous age, so long as he himself and those who followed him had no worries for their lives, that would be enough.

But how could Li Jiancheng possibly agree to all this?

Setting aside the hidden dangers lurking behind such a move.

Given the current situation, he simply could not allow Li Shimin to leave Chang'an.

So long as Li Shimin did not leave Chang'an.

His so-called reputation and influence within the army would ultimately be hard to bring him any great assistance.

Through Li Jiancheng's efforts, in the end this matter still came to nothing.

Li Yuan's character had long since been set.

With the woman at his bedside and all the ministers at court refusing, he simply could not bring himself to be decisive.

And this move undoubtedly pushed this whole series of struggles once again toward a climax.

The Gu clan had never taken part in any of it.

Even after the reform was confirmed, Gu Yu began handling other matters.

He had to guard against the Turks.

Gu Yu could be certain that a battle between the Turks and the Great Tang was destined to come.

And given the nature of the Turks;

This great war was very likely to occur before the entire Nine Provinces had fully recovered.

He had always held fast to a principle that Gu Chen had upheld in years past.

—Peace exists only beneath the blade!

The so-called alliance between the present Great Tang and the Turks was, in truth, merely an exchange of interests.

But relying on interests alone could never satisfy a person's ambition.

As time went by;

These interests would breed more and more contradictions.

This was something he could be certain of.

Although Li Yuan was somewhat indecisive as a person, his judgment on the greater picture was still not poor.

Upon hearing Gu Yu lay all this out, he handed the matter directly to Gu Yu.

And Gu Yu did nothing more than have the Gu clan's younger members begin secretly training troops, preparing against unforeseen needs.

It is worth mentioning that Gu Yan and Princess Pingyang were married.

Li Shimin also supported this matter.

He naturally could not refuse.

Small Small Yugu Yi's view, the present Li Shimin had already undergone great change; although he was not a member of the Gu clan, he认同ed the Gu clan's ideals very deeply.

Were it not for his having helped Princess Pingyang block Li Yuan back then, Gu Yan and Princess Pingyang would not have reached where they were today.

Even so, however, Gu Yan also took part in it.

Everyone except Gu Quan.

Although nominally he was also among them, Gu Yu did not assign him any task; Gu Quan's state of mind was simply too obvious.

Needless to say Gu Yu, even his other brothers could sense his recent change.

That tug-of-war between family and brothers.

It had thrown his entire present state into a strange decline; he almost daily shut himself away inside the residence.

The entire Great Tang court.

Under such circumstances, the situation grew increasingly uncanny.

Just as Gu Yu had anticipated, upon hearing that the Great Tang was undergoing reform internally, the Turkic Khaghan would by no means let slip this opportunity, and began leading his troops to raid the Great Tang's periphery.

Although he did not push deep into the Guanzhong region.

The trouble stirred up by this move was nonetheless no small matter.

The Turkic Khagan would not give up this opportunity — not only for the profit, but raiding could likewise bolster his rule within the Turkic tribes.

Moreover, the internal conflicts of the Great Tang were no secret to him either.

He was certain the Great Tang would not dare to fall out with them.

Faced with this, Li Yuan was utterly helpless.

He did want to have Li Shimin once again take command and face the Turks head-on, but the wrangling within the court began to drag the matter out.

How could Li Jiancheng allow Li Shimin to hold military power again?

He would rather propose moving the capital than let Li Shimin regain power.

Even Li Yuan himself entertained the thought.

Guanzhong had no terrain to rely on; under the Turks' constant threat, moving the capital was indeed a clear choice.

But Li Shimin firmly refused.

In his eyes, this move would amount to abandoning the people of all Guanzhong — the prosperous age he wished to build could never permit such a thing.

The matter once again stirred a monstrous uproar throughout the entire court.

In the end, even Gu Yu got involved, and only then was the matter held back.

This incident could be said to have deepened the conflict between the two palaces once more.

Li Jiancheng believed Li Shimin's move was merely to secure another guarantee of control over the military.

This made him all the more uneasy.

Even before Li Yuan, neither he nor Li Yuanji let slip a single chance, constantly attacking Li Shimin.

So-called brotherly bonds were finally snuffed out completely beneath the weight of interest and ceaseless conflict.

It seemed to be precisely because of Gu Yu's earlier reminder.

Li Yuan's attitude toward Li Shimin was not the disgust found in the original history — it had even grown much better than before.

He shielded Li Shimin from many attacks.

But it was precisely Li Yuan's attitude that made Li Jiancheng increasingly panic.

Under all these factors—

The relationship between the two palaces had already reached its absolute end.

Chang'an, Qin Wang's residence.

Li Shimin tottered into the residence; the moment Fang Fu stepped inside, his whole body instantly went limp, and he kept spitting fresh blood from his mouth.

"Your Highness!"

The sudden变故 instantly shattered the silence of the entire Qin Wang's residence.

Wang Fei Changsun hurried over, her face fraught with urgency as she ordered people to fetch a physician, while maintaining the lockdown of the residence.

She very much wanted to find some of Li Shimin's trusted confidants.

But by now, all those people of the Qin Wang's residence had long been barred by imperial edict from entering.

She was helpless.

A fierce sense of crisis kept surging over her.

Under such circumstances, Wang Fei Changsun held the hand of her eldest son Li Chengqian on one side, and gripped a short sword on the other, standing at Li Shimin's bedside.

For an entire night, Li Shimin remained in a coma.

Only at dawn did he slowly wake.

"Your Highness!" Wang Fei Changsun instantly dropped the short blade in her hand, threw herself onto him, and asked through tear-filled eyes: "Didn't you go to the Donggong for a banquet? How did it come to this?"

Her face showed obvious panic and exhaustion.

Though it was only one night, that night had felt like years to her — she had even prepared herself to die.

Li Shimin said nothing more, only slowly reaching out to gather Empress Changsun into his arms, his expression utterly calm.

The last glimmer of light in his eyes gradually faded.

What took its place was absolute coldness, and an unprecedented resolve.

Some things were not what he wanted to do—

It was simply that the situation was forcing him to make a choice.

This matter had an enormous impact throughout the entire Tang court, and even Li Yuan personally came to visit Li Shimin.

After learning the full story, although Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji acted as though they knew nothing, he still privately gave them both a fierce scolding, and even demanded that the two be forbidden from inviting Qin Wang to drink in the future.

But he could no longer mend the relationship between the brothers.

—Hearts were in turmoil!

The struggle between the two palaces at this point was no longer merely a matter concerning the two of them and the backers behind them.

This contention had already caused a certain impact on the stability within the entire Tang Ting.

But now that things had developed to this point, who could be blamed?

Li Jiancheng?

Or Li Shimin?

In the final analysis, it was simply that people's hearts had changed.

Li Shimin's uprising made too many people feel fear — whether Li Jiancheng or Li Yuan, neither made the most correct decision at the very start.

By now, everything could no longer be changed.

Inside the Gu residence.

Gu Yan and all the others who had once followed Li Shimin and fought alongside him were all enraged.

They set out at once to go find Li Shimin.

Gu Yu did not interfere with this, but in the end they were still stopped by Gu Quan.

"Brother!" Gu Yan's voice cracked with trembling. "Qin Wang has shown us such grace. Now that even His Highness's life is threatened, how can we sit and wait for death?"

Gu Quan stood in the shadow of the corridor, expression utterly unchanged as he blocked the others. He swept a calm gaze over the brothers present, his Adam's apple bobbed, yet he only uttered two words: "Go back."

"Brother!!!" Gu Yan stepped forward half a pace, his face full of incomprehension. "Qin Wang's side—"

Before the words had fallen, Gu Quan suddenly raised his head, a flash of anger crossing his face.

The remaining brothers fell silent as cicadas in winter; beneath the corridor only the whimpering of wind remained.

Gu Quan gazed at these brothers who had grown up alongside him since childhood; the righteous fury burning in their eyes was like a flame, searing pain through his chest.

But he knew that if he took this step now, the entire Gu clan would have no path of retreat left.

"Go back!"

Gu Quan repeated the words once more.

The brothers fell silent in an instant. Though they too understood Gu Quan's thoughts, the stirrings brought on by years of old affection still tormented them.

But what could they do?

If it were some other matter that would not affect the clan, they might have sparred with Gu Quan as they did in childhood.

But now… in the end they could do nothing, and could only turn and go back.

Once the brothers' footsteps had faded into the distance, Gu Quan raised a hand and beckoned Xue San over: "Lock the side gates. Without my order, no one may enter or leave."

As he turned, the hem of his robe swept past a corridor pillar, shaking loose a few withered leaves that had been on the verge of falling, and he headed straight for the study.

In the study, Gu Yu was grinding ink; the wolf-brush traced tiny ripples across the inkstone.

"Have you decided?"

Hearing the familiar footsteps, Gu Yu did not even raise his head — clearly he had long since seen through his son's thoughts.

Gu Quan dropped to one knee and nodded seriously: "Father."

As he spoke, he drew from his sleeve a three-inch short blade, its sheath wrapped in gold thread — one of the rewards personally bestowed by Qin Wang back in those years. "Your son cannot stand by and watch Qin Wang face danger, but neither will I betray the clan."

The scent of ink filled the air. Gu Yu set down his brush; candlelight etched the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes in sharp relief.

He gazed at this son of few words yet stubborn as stone, and suddenly let out a soft laugh: "Go."

"To have encountered Qin Wang — this is your good fortune."

"Think back on the ancestors of generations past and the various enlightened rulers — it was ever thus."

Gu Quan rose to his feet, the hem of his robe sweeping across the "Border Defense Map" on the desk: "If my judgment is not wrong, Qin Wang will forge an age of great prosperity."

"At the morning court today, I shall submit a memorial to Your Majesty, leading the Gu clan's sons to garrison Shuofang. Your younger brothers — you need not worry about them."

His tone was no longer the usual calm it had been.

How could Gu Yu, in his heart, have no judgment of Li Jiancheng and Li Shimin?

It was simply that he could not speak of it.

In truth, Li Jiancheng's talent was truly not lacking; over this period, every time he had come to seek Gu Yu's counsel, he had gained full harvests and progress.

But compared with Li Shimin, in the end he still fell short by a measure.

This was not because of talent.

It was because of character.

Even now, at this stage, from beginning to end Li Shimin had never once taken the initiative to visit or summon any son of the Gu clan.

Compared with Li Jiancheng—

The opportunities he had to win over the Gu clan were far, far too many, yet the fact that he had never done so already said everything.

He understood the Gu clan's difficulties, and likewise was leaving talent intact for the sake of all under heaven.

On this point alone—

Gu Yu could see that Li Shimin possessed a heart of benevolence and righteousness — a quality exceedingly rare in any ruler.

"Father."

Gu Quan's eyes instantly reddened, his chest heaving more visibly. Looking at Gu Yu, who now had streaks of white in his hair, he nodded firmly once more, yet in the end could not bring himself to say anything further.

Gu Yi had been watching all of this in silence the whole time.

In truth, as he saw it, Gu Yu had long since guessed the choice his son would make.

Ever since taking over the training of the new recruits, he had been making preparations for this.

Gu Quan could go to aid Li Shimin.

But he could not do so in the name of the Gu clan.

Whether this battle ended in victory or defeat, in truth it brought the Gu clan no benefit at all.

For what the Gu clan needed was not the glory of a single reign; no matter what, Gu Yu had to ensure that on the surface the Gu clan was completely severed from this affair.

And this move was the best pretext.

This matter drew no particular attention at court — after all, Gu Yu had already been training the new recruits for some time, and with the Tujue's repeated incursions, deploying defenses now was entirely within reason.

Li Yuan naturally agreed to it.

He was, as a person, a man who Highly Values family matters.

Throughout all under heaven, who could surpass the Gu clan?

Entrusting all of this to Gu Yu, Li Yuan was quite at ease.

He even personally led the hundred officials to see Gu Yu off.

Li Shimin likewise came.

His body had not yet fully recovered; these past few days he had not even attended the morning court, yet he still chose to come and see off Gu Yu and the brothers.

Upon seeing Li Shimin again, the emotions of Gu Yan and the others were incomparably complex.

In truth, if they could, every one of them would be willing to go and aid Li Shimin — but alas, they could not do so.

Gu Quan was also among the departing party.

Seeing Li Shimin's expression was still a bit off, he furrowed his brow, stepped forward, and asked in a low voice:

"Your Highness, are you alright?"

"I'm fine." Li Shimin gave a faint smile, then stepped forward, raised his hand, and pressed it onto Gu Quan's shoulder, his gaze burning: "Ziyuan, this battle must strike the might of our Great Tang!"

"Just as when you and I, brothers in arms, campaigned together back then — do not let the Turks look down on the men of the Central Plains!"

His tone gradually deepened, a layer of frost gathering between his brows:

"The Turks have repeatedly violated the border, the common folk displaced from their homes — if even the Grand Tutor and you cannot hold the situation steady…"

"Then His Majesty's proposal to move the capital will likely no longer be able to be stopped."

"When that day comes, the million common folk of Guanzhong will all become meat on the Turks' blades."

"This battle absolutely cannot be lost!"

His voice was low, yet every word was like iron; though his complexion was pale, his gaze was sharp as a blade.

Gu Quan kept a taut face, was silent for a long while, and finally slowly spoke, uttering only one word:

"No!"

He looked Li Shimin straight in the eye, his voice hoarse yet firm:

"This general — awaits Your Highness together."

In an instant, Li Shimin was suddenly stunned.

Although Gu Quan had only said one very simple sentence, given his understanding of Gu Quan, he still faintly heard the deeper meaning within it.

"Ziyuan—"

Li Shimin immediately furrowed his brow, about to say more.

But Gu Quan had already cupped his fist and taken his leave.

Beside Li Yuan, Li Jiancheng watched this scene, the wariness in his eyes growing even thicker.

Li Yuan clearly also attached great importance to this military campaign; after conversing with Gu Yu for a long while, Gu Yu and the others only then slowly departed under the gaze of Li Yuan and the assembled ministers.

The situation in the capital grew increasingly turbulent.

Although Li Shimin had only casually chatted with Gu Quan in public, his unmatched prestige within the army still stung Li Jiancheng.

From that day onward, Li Jiancheng's attacks grew ever fiercer.

He even took the initiative to have people spread rumors, using them to have someone secretly memorialize Li Yuan that Li Shimin seemed to already harbor rebellious intentions.

Even if this move could not shake Li Shimin.

He only needed to keep planting seeds of doubt in Li Yuan's heart.

Those seeds of doubt would make Li Yuan not employ Li Shimin, and one day would ultimately erupt completely.

But how could Li Shimin just sit and wait for death?

For him.

In truth, on that day when he saw that his wife all faced threats to their lives, everything had already been decided.

He had no retreat whatsoever — he could only strike back.

And seeing that Li Yuan still had not completely given up the thought of stripping Li Shimin of his position, on Li Yuanji's suggestion, Li Jiancheng finally once again raised the intent to kill.

Right within the Donggong.

Li Yuanji even put out word that he would personally slay Li Shimin with his own hands.

When Li Shimin received the news delivered by his eyes inside the Donggong, the very last trace of lingering feeling in his heart finally vanished completely at this moment.

Wu De ninth year, sixth month, third day.

The Qin Wang's residence.

The night water-clock dripped.

Candlelight flickered on and off within the bronze sparrow lamp, casting Li Shimin's shadow upon the wall, swaying unsteadily with the night wind — as if his heart at this moment, wavering yet resolute.

He was waiting for his trusted confidants.

Just now he had already issued a secret order, summoning those confidants who had once held important posts in the Qin Wang's residence's Tian Ce Fu.

Although many of them had long since been won over by Li Jiancheng and cast out of the Qin Wang's residence.

Li Shimin still believed they would come in the end.

Time hurried by.

Within the silent Qin Wang's residence, one figure after another appeared in succession.

Some wore Daoist robes, some wore the garb of ordinary commoners — nearly every one of them had made some sort of disguise.

This could not be blamed on them; many of them had long since been issued an imperial edict by Li Yuan, forbidding them from entering the Qin Wang's residence again — to enter the Qin Wang's residence again would be a capital offense.

But today they had no choice but to come.

Because Li Shimin had already made his decision in his heart.

"Your Highness!"

"Your Highness!"

"Your Highness!"

Greeting after greeting kept ringing out throughout the entire hall; Li Shimin's expression remained grave throughout, and from start to finish he never spoke.

Until everyone had arrived—

Only then did he slowly rise, his sharp gaze sweeping over those present, and slowly speak: "Today I received news that the Crown Prince and the Prince of Qi have already decided to kill me."

"Things have come to this; more words are useless."

He slowly picked up his personal sword, drew it before the candlelight, and said lightly: "Brothers, will you follow me, Li Shimin, to death?"

—Follow me, Li Shimin, to death!

A sentence without the slightest ripple, yet it exploded through the entire hall like thunder!

Without the slightest hesitation, everyone present dropped to their knees almost immediately, every face solemn beyond measure.

They had long since advised Li Shimin more than once.

But Li Shimin had kept hesitating.

Now that they saw Li Shimin had already made his decision, what was there to fear?

"When the Qin Wang draws his bow, we shall follow with our halberds — though a million stand against us, what can they do to us!" Yuchi Jingde once more shouted the very words Li Shimin had spoken years ago when facing Dou Jiande.

Every face among them was ablaze with fervor.

Li Shimin's expression grew ever more serious. He raised a hand to signal for quiet, his gaze sweeping over every person in the room, and said in a low voice: "This operation concerns both life and death, and the Jiangshan of the Great Tang."

"Once we act, there will be no road back."

"."

His expression remained as cold as ever as he laid out the strategy he had already worked out to those present.

His current power within Chang'an was extremely weak.

He couldn't even match Li Yuanji, let alone Li Jiancheng.

The most critical point was—

Li Shimin still had to consider the Imperial Guard.

But he still had a fallback: Cheng Yaojin was currently outside. Even if the matter failed, so long as he could fight his way out of the city, he could rise again through Cheng Yaojin.

Li Shimin had long since prepared himself for a bare-knuckle fight.

Everyone listened with great attentiveness, occasionally offering a few suggestions of their own.

But just at this moment—

The sound of footsteps suddenly rang out.

Li Shimin did not hesitate for an instant. He immediately cut off his words, seized his sword, and headed straight for the door: "Who is it!"

"Your Highness!"

A familiar voice instantly came to mind.

Immediately after, Gu Quan's figure stepped out from the darkness. He looked nothing like before — his whole body was filthy, and his clothes were ragged and worn.

"Ziyuan!" Li Shimin was completely stunned, utterly shocked. "What happened to you?"

As he spoke,

he also, without the slightest hesitation, pulled Gu Quan straight into the room.

The tension instantly dissolved.

Those present had never expected the newcomer to be Gu Quan, and were all utterly astonished.

"Your Highness, this general will go into battle alongside you." Gu Quan wasted no words at all, fixing his gaze squarely on Li Shimin as he spoke.

A simple sentence, yet it laid bare his resolve.

Sneaking back this time had not been easy for him.

To avoid being discovered, he had made many preparations.

Had his martial skills not been exceptional, and had Xue San not lent a hand, he wouldn't even have been able to climb over the prince's residence wall.

In an instant, everyone was stunned once more, and what followed was wild joy.

They all knew well how fierce Gu Quan was.

How could they not be overjoyed?

Only Li Shimin furrowed his brow at that moment, immediately seized Gu Quan's hand, and said earnestly: "Ziyuan, how could you—"

He was still somewhat worried—

Although Li Shimin was full of confidence in himself,

at this very moment he also had to consider leaving capable men for the realm.

But before he could finish speaking,

Gu Quan did not hesitate in the slightest. Right before his face, he drew that short blade and slashed it straight across his own face.

One cut;

two cuts;

three cuts;

This sight caught everyone completely off guard.

Before the others could react, Gu Quan had already slashed himself three full times.

His martial skill was already exceptional to begin with.

This act was only meant to wound his face, so he did not strike too heavily.

But watching the blood drip down without cease, everyone was still dumbfounded.

"Your Highness, this general cannot abandon his clan, yet neither can I stand idly by and watch you walk into peril. Today this general disfigures himself to march with you. Whether we win or lose, the Gu Quan of years past has already died upon the battlefield."

Gu Quan still did not stop, and even the tone of his voice did not change in the slightest.

Not until this very moment.

Li Shimin finally came to his senses. He hurriedly seized Gu Quan, his eyes bloodshot, and said in a trembling voice: "Ziyuan, how could it come to this?"

"I did not go to see you — could Ziyuan still fail to understand my heart?"

The eyes of the others present also gradually reddened.

As Li Shimin's trusted confidants themselves, they naturally understood just how much Li Shimin valued Gu Quan.

And precisely because of this,

they had all harbored some resentment over it.

After all, Gu Quan had offered no help during the many times Li Shimin faced threats.

But now, that feeling had completely dissipated.

Compared to them, Gu Quan truly had far, far too much more to struggle with.

Before Gu Yu had come to the capital.

As the eldest son of the Gu clan, he represented the entire Gu clan.

After that, he could not betray the entire family either.

"Your Highness need say no more. This general believes that Your Highness alone is the lord of a prosperous age!" Gu Quan broke free, then immediately raised the blade again and slashed at his own face.

Drip after drip of fresh blood fell continuously.

Gu Quan had clearly long since made extensive preparations for this. Once his face was thoroughly ruined, he directly took out the medicine he had prepared long before from his bosom.

Until this very moment—

His breathing only became a little Heavy and Coarse.

This kind of pain was something others could hardly imagine.

One scar might not matter, but after ten or a hundred it would be a different story.

Everyone's expression was complicated, and Li Shimin had even shed tears.

They only knew that at this moment.

They truly understood what the loyalty of the Gu clan meant.

This family's ability to reach where it is today was not talked up out of thin air. They truly could do what others would not dare to think of, let alone dare to do, using all of this to contribute to the family.

Gu Quan had indeed died—

But as long as the great matter could succeed, they all dared not imagine what Li Shimin's temperament would make his attitude toward the Gu clan become.

How was this not also for the sake of the family?

The Gu clan was continuously declining.

Now Gu Quan, as the eldest son of the Gu clan, was using everything he had to add bricks and mortar to the family, and likewise for his own heart.

"Huu~"

Li Shimin exhaled a deep breath, reached out once more to pull Gu Quan to him, snatched the medicine bottle from his hand, and personally applied the medicine to Gu Quan.

Everyone watching this scene felt not the slightest dissatisfaction in their hearts.

At the very least—

If they were put in Gu Quan's position, they absolutely would not have the courage to carry out such an act.

Because no matter who won or who lost.

The Gu clan's position would not be affected in the slightest.

——————

"《Chinese Dictionary · Scarred Face, Preserved Writ》

—Definition: To refer to willingly destroying one's appearance and identity in order to guard a conviction more important than life (such as cultural inheritance, or the great righteousness of family and country).

The allusion originates from the Tang dynasty Gu Shizi disfiguring himself to aid Li Shimin. Literally it means 'burning away the face to preserve the bamboo slips,' extended to mean 'sacrificing the surface to guard the root.' "

(End of chapter)