Chapter 1671

The two armies met, like dragons and tigers fighting, and the battle was inseparable. Gu Yi and the enemy leader fought even more evenly; the long spear and the big sword collided in the air, emitting a deafening sound. Every clash sparked a burst of fire, as if to ignite the air.

However, Gu Yi was experienced in many battles after all. He spotted an opportunity, and suddenly, the long spear was like a dragon going out to sea, stabbing directly at the enemy leader's chest. The enemy leader could not dodge in time and was pierced by the spear, falling heavily to the ground. With the death of the enemy leader, the enemy army's morale greatly decreased, and they surrendered one after another.

The battle finally ended. On the battlefield, there were corpses of soldiers and warhorses everywhere, and blood stained the earth red. Gu Yi stood on high ground, looking at this tragic battlefield, feeling a thousand emotions in his heart. He knew that although this battle was won, the cruelty of war made him feel deeply pained.

He ordered the soldiers to clean up the battlefield, bury the fallen soldiers, and dispatched envoys to the enemy camp to persuade them to submit to the new dynasty. At the same time, he also knew deeply that to prevent similar crises from happening again, he must strengthen border defense and improve the combat effectiveness of the army.

After returning to the royal palace, Gu Yi and Li Ru gathered again. They reviewed the course of this battle together and summarized the lessons learned. Li Ru expressed appreciation for Gu Yi's heroism and wisdom, and at the same time proposed specific measures to strengthen border defense.

"Brother Gu, your ability to personally lead the army to defeat the enemy this time is truly a blessing for the country." Li Ru said, "But we must also realize that border defense cannot rely solely on the victory of one battle. We need to establish a long-term defense mechanism to ensure the safety of the border."

Gu Yi nodded to show agreement. "You are right. I have already been considering this issue. We not only need to strengthen the deployment of troops at the border but also improve the training level of soldiers and enhance their combat effectiveness. At the same time, we also need to establish good relations with surrounding countries and maintain border stability through diplomatic means."

The two continued to discuss in depth, contributing wisdom and strength to the stability and prosperity of the dynasty. They knew that although the road ahead was still full of challenges and unknowns, as long as they worked together, they would definitely be able to overcome all difficulties and protect this hard-won peace.

In the process of the new dynasty gradually stabilizing, the governance concepts of Gu Yi and Li Ru were also constantly deepening and perfecting. They knew deeply that the prosperity of a country does not only depend on the strength of military power but also lies in the cohesion of the people's hearts and social harmony. Thus, in a late-night long talk, the two began to explore how to further promote the country's internal affairs construction and how to resolve potential contradictions through dialogue and communication.

"Brother Gu, I have been thinking recently that although we have selected a large number of talents through the imperial examination and implemented a series of policies to appease the hearts of the people, there still seem to be some local people who have doubts about our rule." Li Ru gently stroked the books on the table, a hint of worry revealed in his eyes.

Gu Yi heard this, set down the teacup in his hand, and gazed out the window with a solemn expression. "Brother Ru's words are very true. Our dynasty has just been established, and it is only natural that the people still harbor doubts in their hearts. The key lies in how we win their trust and support through concrete actions."

"Dialogue is perhaps the best way," Li Ru said slowly. "We can send officials deep into the local areas to communicate with the people face-to-face, understand their needs and difficulties, and then formulate targeted policies to solve their practical problems."

Gu Yi nodded in agreement, a glimmer of light flashing in his eyes. "Dialogue can not only solve immediate problems but also bridge the distance between us and the people, letting them feel the court's care. We can establish 'People's Sentiment Forums' and regularly invite representatives of the people from all regions to the capital to reflect on problems and offer suggestions directly to us."

"A great idea!" Li Ru clapped in praise. "This way, we can discover problems in a timely manner and let the people feel that their voices are valued, thereby strengthening their sense of identification with the court."

The two talked more and more congenially, and without realizing it, the night had grown deep. Yet their hearts were filled with longing and anticipation for the future. They knew that through dialogue and communication, the new dynasty would surely become more stable, and the lives of the people would surely become better.

The next morning, Gu Yi summoned the high-ranking officials of the court and proposed the "People's Sentiment Forum" plan he had discussed with Li Ru the night before. Upon hearing this, the officials expressed their agreement one after another and actively offered strategies to perfect the details of the plan.

Soon, the "People's Sentiment Forums" were unfolding in full swing across all regions. Officials went deep into the fields to have heart-to-heart talks with the people and listen to their inner voices. The people also opened their hearts one after another, telling of their joys, sorrows, and expectations for the future.