Chapter 1015

However, the path to unification was not smooth sailing. Although the Xiliang Army had achieved a great victory, the newly established dynasty still faced many challenges. Remnant forces in various places were restless, trying to take the opportunity to rebel; although the people were already stable, the wounds caused by years of war still needed time to heal. Gu Yi and Li Ru knew deeply that to guard this hard-won peace, they still had a long way to go.

One day, Gu Yi and Li Ru had a long talk in the study of the royal palace. Outside the window, sunlight passed through the clouds and sprinkled on the two, bringing a glimmer of warmth to this slightly heavy atmosphere.

"Brother Gu, although the world is now settled, hidden dangers still exist." Li Ru frowned slightly, his tone carrying a trace of worry. "How should we ensure that this newborn dynasty can be stabilized?"

Gu Yi pondered for a moment, his gaze firm. "First, we must strengthen centralized power and weaken local forces. At the same time, push for the imperial examination system to select talented people for the imperial court; only in this way can we ensure the long-term stability of the country."

Li Ru nodded in agreement, but then raised a new question. "The imperial examination is good, but I'm afraid it's hard to see results immediately. Right now, we also need to consider how to appease those former hostile forces and prevent them from making trouble in secret."

Gu Yi smiled slightly, a trace of wisdom flashing in his eyes. "I have already considered this point. We can adopt a policy of gentleness, giving preferential treatment to those forces willing to submit, while sending envoys to lobby them, letting them understand that cooperating with us is their best choice."

The two continued to discuss in depth, from military and politics to economy and culture, not letting go of every detail. They knew that establishing a stable dynasty was not an easy task and required them to put in endless effort and wisdom.

As time passed, the rule of the Xiliang Army gradually stabilized. The push for the imperial examination system allowed a large number of talented people to flood into the imperial court, contributing their strength to the country's prosperity. And the implementation of the policy of gentleness also successfully appeased those former hostile forces, allowing them to gradually integrate into the new dynasty.

However, just as everything seemed to be on the right track, a sudden crisis broke this tranquility. It turned out that the border region was suddenly invaded by a powerful force; this force was powerful and acted cunningly, bringing great pressure to the border garrison.

After learning the news, Gu Yi immediately summoned the generals to discuss countermeasures. He knew deeply that if he could not repel this force in time, the loss of the border would directly threaten the safety of the dynasty.

"Everyone, the border is in an emergency, we must never sit idly by." Gu Yi's eyes were bright, his tone firm. "I have decided to personally lead the army to the border and fight this force to the death."

Hearing this, Li Ru's heart tightened, but then he revealed a relieved smile. "Brother Gu, you personally going will definitely boost morale and repel the enemy army. But please be sure to act carefully; we cannot afford to lose you again."

Gu Yi nodded to show he understood and immediately began to mobilize troops and generals, preparing to set off. He knew deeply that this battle concerned not only the safety of the border but also the future of the entire dynasty. Therefore, he had to go all out and must not have any mistakes.

Under Gu Yi's leadership, the Xiliang Army quickly gathered and marched toward the border. They endured thousands of hardships and finally arrived at the battlefield. Facing the fierce offensive of the enemy army, Gu Yi was fearless, personally leading the team to charge and fight the enemy army to the death.

The battle was exceptionally fierce, both sides going back and forth, fighting to a standstill. However, under Gu Yi's heroic command, the Xiliang Army gradually gained the upper hand. They used the terrain advantage to constantly launch counterattacks against the enemy army, causing heavy losses to the enemy army.

Finally, under Gu Yi's command, the Xiliang Army successfully repelled the enemy army and defended the safety of the border. This victory not only consolidated the dynasty's rule but also further enhanced Gu Yi's prestige in the hearts of the people.

After the battle, Gu Yi and Li Ru met again. They knew deeply that although this crisis had been resolved, the road ahead was still very long. They had to continue to work hard to ensure the prosperity and peace of the dynasty.

"Brother Gu, you have made great military achievements again in this battle." Li Ru looked at Gu Yi, his eyes full of admiration. "But we must also be vigilant; there may be more challenges waiting for us in the future."

One day, the two strolled in the Imperial Garden; in the spring, the fragrance of flowers overflowed, birds sang and flowers smelled sweet, a scene full of vitality. Gu Yi stopped, looking at the busy craftsmen in the distance building a new palace, and turned to Li Ru: "Brother Li, look at this scene of a prosperous age; have you ever thought about how to make this prosperity last for thousands of generations?"

Li Ru pondered for a moment, his gaze profound: "Brother Gu, I have been reading history books recently and found that through the rise and fall of dynasties, it often stems from the hearts of the people. Those who win the hearts of the people win the world; those who lose the hearts of the people lose the world. Although we have unified the world, to make the people sincerely support us, we still need to put effort into the hearts of the people."

Gu Yi nodded, his brows slightly locked: "Indeed, the direction of the people's hearts is the foundation. But how can we truly win the hearts of the people? Just relying on measures like reducing taxes and building water conservancy seems not enough."

Li Ru smiled slightly, a light of wisdom flashing in his eyes: "Brother Gu, the hearts of the people cannot be won in a day; it needs to be accumulated over time. I think we can start with education. Education is the cornerstone of shaping people's hearts; through education, we can let the people understand what loyalty, filial piety, benevolence, and righteousness are, and what propriety, righteousness, integrity, and shame are, letting them identify with our values from the bottom of their hearts, thereby consciously maintaining the stability of this dynasty."

Hearing this, Gu Yi's eyes lit up: "Good idea! But education is not a one-day achievement; we need to formulate long-term plans, starting from children, letting every child receive a good education and become a talented person with morality, culture, and responsibility."

The two chatted more and more congenially and decided to immediately set about formulating a plan for educational reform. They summoned several knowledgeable people in the imperial court to discuss this matter together. After a fierce discussion, a complete educational system was finally determined, including establishing official schools, encouraging private schools, selecting excellent teachers, and compiling unified textbooks.

However, reform is always accompanied by resistance. When Gu Yi and Li Ru reported this plan to the Emperor, they were opposed by some conservatives. They believed that educational reform would shake the traditional status of Confucianism and trigger social turmoil.

Facing the questioning, Gu Yi did not back down; he spoke generously in the imperial court: "My lords, education is a major plan for the country and a major plan for the party. What we are cultivating are the pillars of the future, not puppets who stick to old rules. Only by letting the people's thinking be open and their knowledge rich can our country be more powerful and more prosperous."

Li Ru also added: "Moreover, educational reform is not achieved overnight; we will proceed step by step to ensure stability. At the same time, we will also strengthen the study of Confucian classics, letting traditional culture radiate new vitality in the new era."