[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-controlling-my-ancestors-building-an-immortal-cl":3,"chapter-controlling-my-ancestors-building-an-immortal-cl-controlling-my-ancestors-building-an-immortal-cl-chapter-95":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Controlling My Ancestors: Building an Immortal Clan Starting from the Eastern Han Dynasty",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2285764,4471,"Chapter 95: Plowing the Courtyard and Sweeping the Alleys: The Curtain Falls on an Era","controlling-my-ancestors-building-an-immortal-cl-chapter-95",95,"\u003Cp>The second year of Zhangwu, the third month;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Chen led his army out once more, heading toward the various provinces of the world, continuing to forge ahead toward his goals with all his might.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In truth, it was not as if Liu Xiu had never suggested that Gu Chen return to Luoyang with him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, Gu Chen was no longer young.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And Gu Chen still had no heirs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was not just Liu Xiu; his older brothers, including Gu Wei and Gu Ze, had all spoken to urge Gu Chen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But a man like Gu Chen was destined to be unable to stop his pace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter what.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Chen had to finish everything that needed to be done within his lifetime;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this campaign, Liu Xiu’s trusted generals, such as Guan, Zhang, and Zhao, were also among the ranks;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During this time in Julu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guan, Zhang, Zhao, and the others had sought out Gu Chen one after another to spar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The result, naturally, was no surprise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All three lost to Gu Chen in the sparring; although it was merely an exchange of pointers and not a fight to the death, it still made the three of them feel Gu Chen’s extraordinary nature.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Never mind Zhao Yun and Zhang Fei, even the incomparably arrogant Guan Yu was finally thoroughly convinced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had originally held no grievances against Gu Chen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After this battle, they were even more convinced and submissive toward Gu Chen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone acknowledged it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at all the warlords and heroes of this chaotic era, Gu Chen was a presence in a league of his own; even Liu Xiu could not compare.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this mobilization, Gu Chen’s methods were far more ruthless than before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This included not only the provinces and commanderies he had not yet dealt with.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It also included the capital region, Bingzhou, and Jingzhou, which Liu Xiu had previously occupied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Chen intended to clear out every single fortified manor and draw up more detailed topographical maps to prepare for what was to follow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was like a more severe and meticulous redistribution of land.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And it could only be accomplished now that the chaotic era had just ended.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It could only be completed when the prestige of Gu Chen and Liu Xiu was at its peak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, this process was destined to be difficult.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if the great aristocratic clans dared not openly resist Gu Chen’s edge, they were destined to try every possible means to hide their strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, all these tactics were truly too immature in Gu Chen’s eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—The era had completely changed!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Chen did not need to consider the consequences of various matters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He only needed to use the most incisive methods to resolve the schemes that the aristocratic clans had racked their brains to devise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In a mere two months;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Chen directly cleared out all the fortified manors within Qingzhou;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He disbanded nearly fifty thousand private soldiers hidden by the clans and confiscated countless weapons and armors hidden by them;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And he forcibly reclaimed the land occupied by the clans for the imperial court.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To be held for final distribution.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tenth month;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Chen’s troops passed through Xuzhou, successively eliminating the fortified manors of the powerful clans in Xuzhou;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among them were naturally families of clan disciples who followed Liu Xiu and Gu Chen, but Gu Chen did not hold back;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He merely exempted them from their crimes;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he still destroyed the core foundations of the great aristocratic clans;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And he investigated the private soldiers the clans had hidden in the mountains and forests, punishing their clans;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Successively executing several hundred people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the news spread, the world was shaken!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same time, Liu Xiu also issued an edict in Luoyang to announce to the world the abolition of the Ling Emperor’s policy of provincial governors, the re-establishment of \"Gu Studies,\" and the re-setting of the examinations for the recruitment system.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aside from the candidates recommended through the recruitment system;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Anyone in the world with talent and learning could choose to participate in the unified examinations within the provinces and commanderies;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those who passed could go to the capital to take the examination again and receive different official positions based on their results.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This completely raised the curtain on the imperial examination system across the entire world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this matter did not overly attract the attention of the clans and the common people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The common people did not understand the key to this matter;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the clans were, at this time, mostly terrified by Gu Chen’s thunderous methods.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Subsequently, based on the topographical maps Gu Chen sent back, Liu Xiu first proclaimed the crimes of clans like the Xuan family for causing chaos in the state in Luoyang, and exiled these clansmen awaiting punishment, forcing them to reclaim land in various places.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The four seas were in an uproar!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The thunderous methods of Liu Xiu and Gu Chen could be said to have completely surpassed all the emperors of the past.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the Guangwu Emperor, Liu Xiu, had not reached this point in his day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From ancient times to the present;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only Liu Xiu and Gu Chen could disregard everything to achieve what they had now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More and more clans fled toward Jiangdong;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By now, perhaps because they truly sensed the crisis, the Jiangdong clans had to abandon all grudges and begin to find ways to resist this rolling, monstrous momentum.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, Gu Chen was not in a hurry; he always proceeded step by step.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With people skilled in internal affairs like Xun Yu, Gu Wei, and Zhuge Liang;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Chen only needed to expand the territory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And they were sufficient to help Gu Chen handle all the aftermath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The third year of Zhangwu;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Chen stepped into Yu and Yang provinces once again;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In a few months, he thoroughly cleared out all the clans in Yu and Yang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The clans had exhausted every possible means.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether it was uniting to resist or secretly plotting, it was completely useless against Gu Chen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In fact, if they could have incited the common people to rebel, it would definitely have affected Gu Chen’s progress.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But in front of Gu Chen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How could they possibly incite the common people?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All that remained for them was extinction;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps because they truly experienced what real despair was, some clans even chose to flee to the barbarians, just wanting to preserve their entire family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Gu Chen remained unmoved, merely sending people to deliver a message to the barbarians on all sides.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those who cause chaos in the Great Han; those who help the rebellious clans;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Will surely face the blade of the Great Han;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To this day, even the barbarians on all sides could not ignore what Gu Chen said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The legend of the Gu family over several generations was now completely embodied in Gu Chen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were those willing to take the risk;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, to these backward tribes, a clan could ultimately bring them too much help.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this was, after all, a very small minority.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And to the clans of the world, they did not even look down upon the people of the Nine Provinces.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Let alone completely defecting to the barbarians.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was, after all, only a tiny minority among a minority.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was ultimately impossible to sway the overall situation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sixth month;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Chen thoroughly cleared out the two regions of Yu and Yang, and at the same time stepped into Jingzhou; besides clearing out the Jingzhou clans, he pointed his blade directly at Jiangdong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, only Jiangdong remained before the world was completely settled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How could he leave such a threat behind?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Chen first had people throw bamboo tubes onto the river to attack their morale;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His prestige was now too high.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It even surpassed that of Liu Xiu, the Emperor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although for these Jiangdong soldiers, they had long expected that this day would come sooner or later, and had always been mentally preparing themselves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But when all this truly happened, the morale of the Jiangdong soldiers was still greatly affected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one was not afraid of death;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially for those soldiers at the very bottom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They truly could not think of any reason now that could support them in fighting with their lives.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deserters appeared one after another in every camp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even more extreme, some even brought large ships from Jiangdong to surrender directly;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And Gu Chen’s second blade was aimed directly at the noble clans;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The current environment of the noble clans in Jiangdong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It could absolutely be called the most chaotic place in the world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There is an irreconcilable conflict between the local Jiangdong noble clans and the later Jingzhou noble clans.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That they are now able to suppress their conflicts and unite against outsiders is only because of Gu Chen’s existence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Chen now intends to stir up this storm once again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He sent people to meet with the Jiangdong noble clans.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He proposed a psychological offensive: as long as the Jiangdong noble clans followed his decrees, they could preserve their families;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If they chose to resist stubbornly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After he slaughtered his way into Jiangdong, not a single one would be left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was a pure, overt strategy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no deep-seated hatred between the Jiangdong noble clans and Gu Chen to begin with; under the current circumstances, being able to preserve their families while losing at most a bit of profit was absolutely a deal worth making.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was a very easy choice to make.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although they had joined forces once again, no one believed that relying on this bit of strength would be enough to block Gu Chen;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiangdong fell into great chaos once again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And this time, the struggle was far beyond anything in the past.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Quan naturally could not surrender.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the blood feud of his father’s death before him, the only thing left for Sun Quan was a fight to the death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But no matter how hard he tried, it was ultimately in vain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under the current situation where such a massive, overwhelming momentum was pouring down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking through history, only Gu Xi, who once reached the absolute peak, would have had a slight chance to stake everything on a single throw.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Quan indeed had his extraordinary qualities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But how could he possibly compare to the Gu Xi of the past?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The overall situation was already set.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fourth year of Zhangwu, the third month;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The internal chaos in Jiangdong could no longer be controlled; first, the Jiangdong noble clans became disloyal, followed by a continuous stream of deserters;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under these various circumstances.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Chen finally realized the time had come;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He utilized the large ships brought by the deserters to cross the Yangtze River and officially set foot on Jiangdong soil.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The people of Jiangdong lined the roads to welcome him, and the Jiangdong noble clans also joyfully greeted the royal army.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They handed over all their private soldiers to Gu Chen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And Gu Chen used this momentum to capture cities one after another.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was not that Zhou Yu, Lu Su, and others had not thought of blocking him, but they were ultimately unable to save the collapsing heavens; they were defeated by Gu Chen one after another and committed suicide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guan Yu beheaded Lu Meng;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Liao, Zhao Yun, Zhang Fei, and others also defeated the rebels one after another.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Taishi Ci and many other Jiangdong generals surrendered one after another;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Quan was unwilling to die in humiliation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He personally led a great army to meet Gu Chen in battle, but his formation was shattered by Gu Chen’s elite troops; unwilling to be humiliated by the enemy who killed his father, Sun Quan committed suicide before the battle lines!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiangdong was completely pacified.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And subsequently, Gu Chen once again brought down his butcher’s blade upon the Jingzhou noble clans who had fled to Jiangdong;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Compared to other provinces and commanderies in the world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The power of the noble clans in the Jiangdong region was indeed much stronger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those Jingzhou noble clans who had been resisting could not completely accept their fate and were still fighting a guerrilla war against Gu Chen in the Jiangdong region.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But all of this was ultimately futile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although these tactics caused Gu Chen to spend a bit more time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was ultimately unable to change the outcome.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tenth month;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Chen completely cleared out the resistance forces in Jiangdong, brought the entire Jiangdong region back into the territory of the Great Han, drew up detailed topographical maps, and completely stabilized the situation in Jiangdong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The core of the old Jingzhou clans were all executed by Gu Chen;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The rest, while spared from the death penalty, were also exiled by Gu Chen to reclaim land;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Subsequently, Gu Chen continued to leave Jiangdong to head to various places.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bing, Yan, Liang, Yi,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The noble clans of the four directions were liquidated one after another, and afterwards, Gu Chen did not rush back to Luoyang, but instead dispatched heavy-hitting generals to guard the borders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He himself headed to Youzhou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This completely exceeded everyone’s expectations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From Liu Bei at the top, down to the Gu family brothers and sisters among the court officials, everyone wanted Gu Chen to return to Luoyang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, Gu Chen still had no heirs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But without any surprise, Gu Chen refused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was destined never to stop his footsteps.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After ensuring that the Great Han was moving in the right direction, he turned his gaze to the foreign enemies he had once focused on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Chen trusted his own judgment very much.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, he did not act rashly, but instead let the rising stars of the Great Han gradually adapt to the fighting styles of the foreign enemies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This naturally included some Gu family descendants who were skilled in martial arts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was inheritance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Up until now—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the lowest-level commoners in the marketplace had sensed the changes in the entire world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The noble clan descendants who used to throw their weight around were gradually disappearing completely, and even those arrogant officials no longer acted as they once did.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This change was extremely obvious;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although the world had only just emerged from great chaos not long ago.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone could feel the difference between before and after; the population growth brought about by abolishing the private soldiers of the noble clans, including the distribution of reclaimed land to the common people based on population.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All kinds of changes made people feel that the Great Han had taken on a brand-new look.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the differences were not just these;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A stable political situation and clean governance were destined to trigger another explosion of thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Bei’s attention to the Imperial Academy was also not low;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Various literary works praising his achievements were transmitted from the Imperial Academy, the most notable of which were several odes written by Cao Cao’s son, Cao Zhi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s right, Cao Zhi was the other seed Cao Cao had left behind for the entire Cao clan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The main reason was Cao Zhi’s talent and learning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cao Zhi’s attainments in literature had indeed reached a level that made others despair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Gu Chen was moved when he saw his writings, and he specially collected the original copy of the \"Ode to the Goddess of the Luo River\" into the family archives and recommended him to the Imperial Academy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Bei naturally had no good feelings toward Cao Cao’s descendants.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he could not ignore Gu Chen’s recommendation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And now, Cao Zhi had not failed to live up to Gu Chen’s recommendation; he never asked about any political affairs, but only engaged in all kinds of imaginative creations through current events.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His several literary works were enough to make Liu Bei completely convinced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not only did he spread his articles throughout the world, but he also successively promoted him to be a lecturer at the Imperial Academy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under the influence of various literary works.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The progress of thought throughout the Great Han was also immense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And after the world was completely unified, under the advice of Gu Wei, Zhuge Liang, and others, Liu Bei also launched the first imperial examination across the entire Great Han world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To make this system of becoming an official through examinations deeply rooted in the hearts of the people was definitely a long process.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The current Great Han was also destined to be unable to fully implement this system.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this was also a brand-new attempt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether it was Liu Bei or Gu Chen, including some of the most critical ministers in the imperial court, all attached extreme importance to this matter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Zhuge Liang and Gu Wei, the two ministers with the highest status in the current court, decided to personally examine the candidates.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This matter was destined to affect the entire world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only by letting the common people of the world see that ordinary people could be selected as officials.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could they fully realize the difference in the current Great Han.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But for the current Great Han, this matter was destined to be difficult.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those selected were almost all descendants of noble clans.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the previous chaotic times, it was hard for ordinary people to even save their own lives, so how could anyone have the time to study?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, there were exceptions;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among the various prefectures and commanderies, children of humble families appeared one after another, their talents in no way inferior to those of the aristocratic families.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It is only a pity that there were no true commoners among them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although he was not in Luoyang, Gu Chen still had people send him all of their examination responses, and regardless of their status, he read through them carefully again and again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He took note of several people in succession;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Zhong Hui of the Yingchuan Zhong clan, Yang Hu of the Taishan Yang clan, Du Yu of the Jingzhao Du clan, and others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These aristocratic youths could be said to have displayed their talents to the fullest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everything they answered in their examinations, as well as their suggestions regarding the situation of the world, were extremely reasonable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for those from humble backgrounds, Gu Chen also noticed quite a few.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For example, Zhang Hua, Deng Ai, and others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those who could be sent to Gu Chen naturally all possessed extraordinary qualities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Yi was also paying attention to these people, and looking at those familiar names one by one, he suddenly discovered a problem he had previously overlooked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—The chaotic era has now ended;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If these people, who were once famous in history, were to work together to govern a country, what would the entire world become?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking this, Gu Yi suddenly felt a glimmer of anticipation for the future.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The talents of these people need not be spoken of.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Figures who could leave their names in history naturally possessed their own extraordinary qualities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This would absolutely allow the entire Great Han to reach an unprecedented height.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Gu Yi also understood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As these people emerged one after another, a truly glorious era was destined to finally come to a complete end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Time is like a blade; it will eventually take everything away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sure enough, Gu Yi’s prediction was correct.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was in the sixth year of Zhangwu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ma Chao suddenly fell violently ill in the land of Liangzhou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before the news could even reach Gu Chen, he passed away suddenly, leaving a final memorial to Gu Chen, entrusting his entire clan to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Regarding this, Gu Chen was extremely grief-stricken.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although there were no shortage of generals who had followed him along this journey.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ma Chao could definitely be called the greatest among them, and could be considered Gu Chen’s most important confidant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Chen immediately reported this matter to the imperial court.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Bei also remembered Ma Chao’s merits, gave him an extremely decent funeral, and posthumously titled him \"Wei.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—The whole country was in grief!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this seemed to be a signal announcing that the era had come to an end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the same year, in the eighth month;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Guan Yu fell gravely ill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guan Yu was the head of the military generals in the current Great Han, aside from Gu Chen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This point alone was enough to show just how much Liu Bei cared for this brother of his.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon learning of this, the usually diligent Liu Bei did not even have the heart to attend the morning court.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He directly handed state affairs over to Zhuge Liang and Gu Wei.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And he himself set off to visit Guan Yu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guan Yu was currently in Jiangdong, under Gu Chen’s orders to garrison the region to prevent further chaos.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although Liu Bei’s actions were extremely swift, it was a pity that heaven’s will is like a blade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These two brothers were ultimately unable to meet again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guan Yu could not hold on and passed away in the land of Jiangdong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing the news, Liu Bei instantly collapsed into a faint.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although his life was not in danger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man himself seemed to have aged significantly in an instant, no longer possessing his former high spirits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He returned to Luoyang and buried Guan Yu with the rites of a Prince.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was posthumously titled Zhaoyi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To eulogize the merits of Guan Yu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since the funeral, the aura of mourning on Liu Bei grew heavier and heavier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He gradually set aside many state affairs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He shifted his focus to the education of the Crown Prince, Liu Chan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the pity was that Liu Chan’s talent was indeed far too lacking; even the Gu family’s educational methods were not enough to bridge this gap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This truly made Liu Bei increasingly worried about the future.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the current situation, the Great Han appeared to be flourishing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But in reality, all this stability was built on the foundation of Gu Chen and himself still being alive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, old friends were withering away one after another.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How many days did he have left?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How many days did Gu Chen have left?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If, after they passed away one after another, could someone with Liu Chan’s talent really shoulder the entire world?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the most direct problem placed before Liu Bei, and it had even become a knot in his heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Bei absolutely could not tolerate any further problems arising in the Great Han.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under these circumstances.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Bei even had the thought of wanting to replace the Crown Prince.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, Gu Wei and Zhuge Liang persuaded him, and after speaking of the Gu family’s support, Liu Bei’s hanging heart finally settled a little, though he still could not be completely at ease.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps this is a common human failing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For Liu Bei, he truly valued the Great Han state far too much.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The passing of old friends he could trust one after another gradually made his heart increasingly restless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sixth year of Zhangwu, eleventh month;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Wei fell ill;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The lifespan of the sixth generation of the Gu family was also gradually coming to an end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Bei was also immensely grief-stricken by this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Wenyao.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the Champion Marquis Mansion, Liu Bei stood blankly by the bed, his eyes staring straight at Gu Wei, whose face on the couch was as pale as paper, his eye sockets red as blood, his voice trembling:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Are you also going to leave me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhuge Liang’s eyes were also moist at this moment, tears swirling in his sockets.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although Gu Wei had only become acquainted with them after the Great Han had flourished once more, this friendship had not diminished in the slightest; it was sincere and profound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Time is like a blade, impossible to resist; Your Majesty, please do not grieve excessively.\" Gu Wei looked toward Liu Bei, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly to reveal a faint smile, his expression extremely calm as he said slowly, \"That I could reach this day...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"To witness with my own eyes the grand ambition of my grandfather from those years being realized in the Great Han world, my heart is already full of satisfaction, with no more regrets.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I am now going to meet my grandfather.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was not a shred of fear of death in Gu Wei’s eyes; instead, they revealed a sense of relief, as if a burden had been lifted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How he longed to see Gu Xi soon!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the Gu family member whom Gu Xi had valued most in the past, although Gu Wei had long been silently managing affairs behind Gu Chen, his importance was self-evident.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With Gu Chen’s personality, only someone like this, whom he could trust without reservation to guard the rear, could allow him to campaign in all directions without distraction and achieve such great feats today.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now that all matters of the Great Han were on the right track, he could not wait to tell all of this to Gu Xi in the netherworld.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sadness on Liu Bei’s face grew heavier, like a layer of haze that could not be dispelled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stared fixedly at Gu Wei, his lips opening and closing slightly, as if he had a thousand words he wanted to pour out, yet he did not know where to begin, and only tears fell uncontrollably.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Gu Wei’s smile grew even gentler, and looking at Liu Bei, he said softly: \"Your Majesty is a wise monarch of the age.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If I am fortunate enough to see the former Emperors of the Great Han in the netherworld, I will certainly tell them of Your Majesty’s sagacity one by one.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I pray that the former Emperors will protect Your Majesty with long life and blessings, that our Great Han state may be as firm as a rock, and that the people of the world may live in peace and prosperity.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, Gu Wei’s breathing became increasingly rapid, his chest heaving violently, and his entire face grew even paler, like frost.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had truly reached the end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But there was still not a hint of fear of death on his face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He used all his strength to sit up, his gaze turning toward the north.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His eyes seemed to pierce through layers of mountains and rivers, landing on Gu Chen, who was far away in the land of Youzhou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His lips parted slightly, and he murmured a few words, but his voice was too weak for anyone else to hear clearly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A moment later, he slowly closed his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His whole body instantly collapsed onto the bed, and he no longer had a breath of life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this scene, Liu Bei’s expression changed drastically.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His entire body shuddered, and he instantly fainted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your Majesty!!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The expressions of everyone present changed drastically, and shouts rang out instantly throughout the Hou Fu of the Champion Marquis.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, Gu Yi also received a notification from the system.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He cast his gaze over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His mood was also inexplicably heavy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was not only because of the passing of Gu Wei.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was also a sense of regret for an era that was about to come to an end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>PS: Begging for monthly tickets!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of this chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",4535,"2026-06-20T03:16:01.192Z",1,"Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite","c915766d36ecc5a941773bc2777fc747e8d3e2a2f6ecceac854d0fc988ccf3c7","controlling-my-ancestors-building-an-immortal-cl-chapter-96","controlling-my-ancestors-building-an-immortal-cl-chapter-94",167,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fcontrolling-my-ancestors-building-an-immortal-cl-cover.jpg"]