Chapter 1669: Illustrious Military Achievements

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, attempting to take the opportunity to rebel; although the people were settled, the trauma caused by years of war still needed time to heal. Gu Yi and Li Ru knew deeply that to protect 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 shone through the clouds onto the two of them, bringing a touch of warmth to the slightly heavy atmosphere.

"Brother Gu, although the world is now settled, hidden dangers still remain." Li Ru furrowed his brows slightly, his tone carrying a hint of worry. "How should we ensure that this newly born dynasty can remain stable?"

Gu Yi pondered for a moment, his gaze firm. "First, we must strengthen centralized power and weaken local forces. At the same time, implement 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 immediately raised a new question. "Although the imperial examination is good, I fear it will be difficult to see immediate results. At present, we also need to consider how to appease those former hostile forces and prevent them from causing trouble in secret."

Gu Yi smiled slightly, a flash of wisdom 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, and at the same time dispatch 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 missing a single 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 implementation of the imperial examination system caused a large number of talented people to flood into the imperial court, contributing their strength to the prosperity of the country. And the implementation of the policy of gentleness also successfully appeased those former hostile forces, causing them to gradually integrate into the new dynasty.

However, just when everything seemed to be on the right track, a sudden crisis broke the silence. It turned out that the border region had suddenly been 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 they could not repel this force in time, the fall 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 gaze was 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 immediately revealed a gratified smile. "Brother Gu, your personal arrival will definitely boost morale and repel the enemy army. But please be sure to act with caution; we cannot afford to lose you again."

Gu Yi nodded to show he understood, and immediately began to mobilize troops and generals, preparing for the expedition. He knew deeply that this battle not only concerned the safety of the border but also concerned the future of the entire dynasty. Therefore, he must go all out and never have any mistakes.

Under Gu Yi's leadership, the Xiliang Army quickly gathered and marched toward the border. They went through all kinds of hardships and finally arrived at the battlefield. Facing the fierce offensive of the enemy army, Gu Yi was not afraid at all, personally leading the team to charge into the battle and engaging in a life-and-death struggle with the enemy army.

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 utilized the terrain advantage to constantly launch counterattacks against the enemy army, causing the enemy army to suffer heavy losses.

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

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

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

One day, the two were strolling in the imperial garden; in the spring, the fragrance of flowers was overflowing, birds were singing, and flowers were fragrant, a scene full of vitality. Gu Yi stopped, looking at the busy craftsmen in the distance building a new palace, turned to Li Ru and said: "Brother Li, look at this scene of prosperity; 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 discovered that throughout 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 work hard on the hearts of the people."

Gu Yi nodded, his brows furrowed: "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 projects seems not enough."

Li Ru smiled slightly, 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, what propriety, righteousness, integrity, and shame are, and let 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 childhood, letting every child receive a good education, and becoming talented people with morality, culture, and responsibility."

The two chatted more and more congenially and decided to immediately start formulating an education reform plan. They summoned several knowledgeable people in the imperial court to discuss this matter together. After a fierce discussion, a complete education 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 presented this plan to the Emperor, it was opposed by some conservatives. They believed that education reform would shake the status of traditional Confucianism and trigger social turmoil.

Facing the questioning, Gu Yi did not shrink back; he spoke eloquently in the imperial court: "Everyone, education is a major plan for the country and a major plan for the Party. We are cultivating the pillars of the future, not puppets who stick to old rules. Only by letting the people's thoughts be open and their knowledge be rich can our country be more powerful and more prosperous."

Li Ru also added: "Moreover, education 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 glow with new vitality in the new era." ===== CHAPTER 1670 =====