I Can Control My Ancestors

He does not care about his reputation in later generations.

Similarly, he is not afraid of having no officials to use, as there are countless students in the Gu Academy willing to follow the Gu Clan’s leadership.

This gives him full confidence.

As for military generals, Zhao Kuangyin originally intended to reason with them.

But this time, Gu Jin stopped him.

Unlike civil officials,

in the case of military generals, a great victory is enough to win their sincere submission.

And this is precisely where Gu Jin excels the most.

With the support of the "Luoshu Harmonizing Device," his Martial Force and Command Value are as high as 80 and 81 points.

This makes him one of the top commanders of the era.

Looking through the entire historical record,

there are very few people who can reach the full value like Gu Chen, those exceeding ninety are rare.

He needs to personally subdue these people to truly secure his position as the head of the Martial Sect.

Moreover, for Gu Jin,

he always remembers this saying,

The Gu Clan has reached today without needing anyone’s support!

And his first target is Southern Tang, along with countries like Southern Han!

This coincides with Zhao Kuangyin’s plans.

Gu Jin and Zhao Kuangyin are not people who hesitate; after determining their target, Gu Jin personally led the army straight to the south!

...

In the fourth year of Qian De, November.

A great war suddenly erupted.

The eyes of the world focused on this.

Countries not only wanted to use this as an opportunity to gauge the true strength of Great Song but also to assess the Gu clan’s talent.

This was the Gu Clan’s first real foray after years of retreat.

How could it not attract the world’s attention?

Gu Jin is fully aware of this.

In this battle, he held nothing back, using the accumulated reputation and strategies of the Gu Clan to the fullest, intending to conquer two countries swiftly and completely restore the family’s prestige.

This was not out of Gu Jin’s personal interest.

Since the Gu Clan has allied with Zhao Song, it is already shaking the nations.

The Gu Clan’s fame is Zhao Song’s fame.

He does not, and cannot, waste time.

Now, countries are pushing for reforms, even Khitan has changed its name to "Liao," intending to renew itself in accordance with the trends of Kyushu.

All of this is a variable on the path to unification.

Gu Jin will not allow any accidents to occur in this unification process.

In this context, the outcome of this battle is almost without suspense.

The Southern Han Monarch Liu Chuang, upon hearing Gu Jin leading the Song Army, lost courage before the battle.

He had already lost the people’s support, and with the enemy at hand, he lacked the courage to lead the army himself and boost morale. Instead, he adopted an extremely foolish strategy:

He sent a letter to Gu Jin, boasting of being a "descendant of the Han Dynasty," and pleaded for the Gu Clan to join with the Liu family once more to restore the Great Han’s lands.

This was a plan suggested by the eunuchs around him.

Liu Chuang deeply agreed, seeing the historical connections between the Gu and Liu families as naturally surpassing the emerging Zhao Song.

He not only made promises similar to Zhao Kuangyin but also proposed to make the Gu Clan kings.

This move seemed clever, yet when Gu Jin made the letter public, the last bit of military morale in Southern Han collapsed entirely.

Even before the Song Army reached the city gates, turmoil erupted within the Southern Han court.

Liu Chuang was bound by his own ministers and brought out of the city to surrender to Great Song.

In less than three months, Southern Han fell under the might of the Song Army.

Of course—

Though this was the case, there were still some loyal to the royal family in the Southern Han.

Though rites and music were in disarray.

In Kyushu, there has never been a shortage of such heroes.

Towards these people, Gu Jin did not initially suppress with force but sent envoys to persuade them to surrender.

Only when persuasion proved ineffective did he personally lead the army to crush all potential resistance.

The news spread, shocking the world!

Even though the Southern Han was not strong and Liu Chuang was incompetent, this was still a country. Yet before the army could reach, internal chaos occurred and the monarch was bound and surrendered—such might could make nations hold their breath!

The Monarch of Southern Tang, Li Yu, almost immediately sent an envoy with a state letter.

Unlike Liu Chuang, although Li Yu was not an enlightened ruler, he was renowned for his poetic talent and was not a cruel leader, ultimately incapable of making foolish moves like Liu Chuang.

He was willing to abdicate the imperial title and be called "Sovereign of Jiangnan," even voluntarily proposing to send his brother and son to Kaifeng as hostages.

In the era of the Warring States, this would have been a significant concession.

However, in today’s world, it’s no longer the same as before.

Unification is the key!

Kyushu cannot have a second emperor!

In the fifth year of Qian De, June.

Gu Jin officially launched the campaign to pacify Southern Tang.

In truth, the real key to conquering the Southern Tang this time lay in the natural barrier of the Yangtze River, which was also one of the challenges that historically trapped the Song Army.

But now, things are completely different.

——The development of the Jiangnan region has far surpassed what was recorded in history.

Trade is such a thing.

Even in tumultuous times, it is not completely affected.

Although not as glorious as during the peak of the Tang Dynasty,

it far exceeds what history could have achieved originally.

All the countries rely on the huge profits brought by trade, which fundamentally ensures their continued prosperity.

And the merchant ships on which this trade depends have now played an unexpected role.

The shipbuilding industry in Kyushu has been steadily developing.

Although Gu Yi did not directly promote it, its rate of progress has not been epoch-making yet, it has been gradually perfected.

Do not forget, cargo ships are born to carry goods.

Even though they are not as capable of navigating as warships, their capacity is by no means ordinary.

And Gu Jin has not forgotten the inherent advantages of the Gu Clan’s descendants.

It is this surging trend!

He continuously used various means to stir unrest in the hearts of people within Southern Tang, inciting domestic turmoil.

No one is not afraid of death!

Not to mention that the common people naturally have a fondness for the Gu Clan.

Under such circumstances, Gu Jin personally led the army across the river, even though the Southern Tang had early precautions.

But under the current situation, it was ultimately insufficient to turn the tide.

There was no need to concern themselves with other matters.

Gu Jin’s only target was Jinling!

Whether it was to expand this victory or to besiege and strike reinforcements,

this was the best tactic currently!

The army gathered, and Jinling was besieged.

Ultimately, it was different from the predicament faced by Liu Chuang; although the officials appointed by Li Yu were not particularly capable, their loyalty was undoubtedly.

They were willing to die for the Southern Tang.

In history, it was also the same; Li Yu surrendered to Zhao Kuangyin at the last moment.

But this time, it was different.

Perhaps it was because of the ideological changes brought about by the Gu Clan over the years, or because he realized that he could never be the wise sovereign to unify the world.

Li Yu only held out for three days before choosing to surrender with his ministers.

He even sent letters to the troops coming to rescue him across various territories.

He only made one request to Gu Jin.

If he could live, he hoped to go to Julu and reside in the Yunshao Pavilion.

To Li Yu,

the path that suited him was one of a literary sage, not that of an emperor.

And Gu Jin agreed to this.

Li Yu’s actions this time indeed surprised him. Even though it was well known that Li Yu was not a material for governing, from any perspective, he could be considered a gentleman.

In the fifth year of Qian De, November.

The Southern Tang was formally included into the territory of the Great Song.

In just one year, two nations were conquered.

Once news spread, Kyushu was shocked!....

——————

Gu Jin, styled Huaiyu, was the twenty-fifth descendant of the Gu Clan.

He was well-read in classics and history from a young age, especially adept at military strategies, graduated from the Gu Academy, and emerged during the fourth year of Qian De with the Great Ancestor.

He was appointed as the Grand Tutor and commanded all the army forces of the realm.

The Great Ancestor bestowed upon him the Pale Red Iron Certificate, decreeing, "The Gu Clan shall inherit the Grand Tutorship for generations, oversee the Forbidden Army, and forever be the chief of the Martial Sect under heaven."

The court officials were in an uproar, some advised, "The authority is too great, not a blessing for the state."

The Great Ancestor pressed his sword and shouted, "Having the Gu Clan is like a fish in water for me; how can one speak rashly!"

Jin also declared with resolve, "I shall repay the recognition with my three-foot sword, why need it be a hereditary honor?"

In November, he was ordered to campaign south.

At that time, the Han Monarch Liu Chuang was dim-witted, upon hearing of Jin’s arrival, he sent an envoy with a letter, wishing to persuade him with the "restoration of the Han Dynasty."

Jin publicly burned the letter and declared loudly, "The Gu Clan assists the new dynasty; how could we follow false usurpers?"

The Han Army collapsed upon hearing this.

Before any fighting occurred, Chuang was bound by his ministers and brought in a coffin to surrender.

Jin marched orderly into the city, not harming a single bit, only executing over thirty eunuchs, and thus Lingnan was pacified.

He then turned to attack the Southern Tang, whose emperor Li Yu, in fear, renounced his imperial title, referred to himself as the Sovereign of Jiangnan, and proposed to send hostages.

Jin reported, "There cannot be two suns in the sky, nor two kings on earth; may Your Majesty unite the four seas."

The Great Ancestor permitted this.

Jin then stationed troops at Caishi Jetty, crossing the Yangtze River by night, setting fire to hundreds of tower ships.

For three days, Jinling was besieged, and Yu, clad in plain clothes, surrendered, presenting the Jade Seal at the military gate. In two campaigns, they gained forty provinces and a million households."

——"The Song History, Biography of Gu Jin"