I Can Control My Ancestors

As for the Great Song... it seems completely unaware of this.

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—The sudden outbreak of war completely shattered the peace across the land.

It was entirely different from the previous attacks.

With Western Xia and the Liao Dynasty formally launching their offensive, this war transformed from initial skirmishes into a true bloody grindstone.

Ren Duo Baozhong, the main commander of Western Xia, personally led the Iron Hawks as the vanguard, supported by a large number of infantry, launching a fierce assault like raging waves on the Song Army fortresses along Huanqing Road. Generals like Yeli Rongwang and Guiming A Wu each led a battalion to assist the main attack, with their forces directly targeting Qingjian City.

For a time, the beacons along Huanqing Road burned around the clock, and the sounds of battle shook the heavens.

Meanwhile, on the northern front outside Yan Sect Pass, under the supervision of Xiao Hui, the Liao Army launched the most ferocious attack since the war began along the Daizhou State line.

The elite Palace Army led by Yelv Dilu Gu repeatedly pounded the seemingly crumbling Song military defense line.

Xiao Yulu then led a detachment in maneuvers, attempting to cut off the Song Army’s supply routes and undermine their defensive foundation.

Reports of the battle flew into Kaifeng like snowflakes.

Inside Chuigong Hall, however, the atmosphere was not as chaotic as outsiders might imagine.

Zhao Lihui looked at the reports in his hand marked with "urgent" and "request for aid," sweat still on his palms, but his gaze involuntarily fell once more on the unshakable Gu Jun.

"Lord Gu... the front line is tight, Yan Sect and Qingjian are both in crisis, should... should we dispatch the Forbidden Army from the Central Capital Region for reinforcement?" The Emperor’s voice was probing, as he ultimately lacked sufficient security.

Gu Jun slightly shook his head, cupped his hands, and said, "Your Majesty, distant water cannot solve immediate thirst."

"Furthermore, if Di Qing and Zhong E cannot withstand even this first wave of fierce attacks, how can we talk about defeating the enemy in the future?"

He walked to the large territorial map, his finger tracing over Yan Sect and Qingjian, his voice steady: "This attack from Xia and Liao is the struggle of a cornered beast. Though the offensive is fierce, its strength will surely wane."

"Our army needs only to rely on strong fortress defenses to blunt their edge, and when their momentum falters, that will be the time for counterattack."

His gaze swept over the ministers in the hall, finally resting on the silent Gu Rui, his tone calm and without ripples: "Gu Rui."

"Present." Gu Rui stepped forward, still displaying a demeanor of gentle humility and thrift.

"The strategy you mentioned earlier can now be implemented. Notify the Imperial Secretariat and grant you the authority to act as you see fit."

"I follow the order." Gu Rui bowed, the corner of his mouth barely curling into an imperceptible arc, not of joy, but more like the cold satisfaction of a hunter finally seeing his prey step into a trap.

Without saying more, he saluted and quietly exited Chuigong Hall.

Most ministers in the hall, including Emperor Zhao Lihui, showed expressions of confusion, not knowing what methods the eldest son of the Gu Clan would employ, except for a few like Di Qing and Fan Zhongyan, whose eyes focused slightly, as if they sensed something.

They understood Grand Tutor Gu Jun too well.

For Gu Jun to remain as steady as Mount Tai in the current situation meant he must have anticipated it in advance, and he would have absolute confidence!

This was enough to reassure most people.

In their view, although Gu Jun was difficult to advance aggressively,

his ability to defend the city was beyond worry!

In this situation, Gu Jun’s character actually played a role in steadying the people.

Of course, this naturally involved the interference of Gu Yi!

Gu Jun himself could not completely trust the ideas proposed by Gu Rui,

but he was different.

In his view, the strategy proposed by Gu Rui this time had great potential!

Time passed quickly.

Gu Rui’s methods did not directly affect the battlefield.

Several days later, some information that seemed unrelated to the raging frontlines began to circulate quietly through secret channels in the rear of Western Xia and the Liao Dynasty.

In Western Xia’s Xingqing Prefecture and several important military prefectures, a rumor began to spread among the populace:

—The Song Army, due to the newly opened canal transport, is anxious to stabilize internally and is actually uninterested in border warfare. The reason why the front line is fiercely resisting is due to the final struggle by generals from the Zhong and Zhe families to preserve their own strength and territory.

There were even detailed rumors that the Song court had secretly dispatched envoys carrying large sums of money, intending to bribe the Prime Minister Mocang E’erpang to make Western Xia withdraw its troops, with the condition of allowing Western Xia to occupy the areas they are aggressively attacking, like Qingjian City.

Meanwhile, in Liao’s Central Capital and Nanjing Road, a different version circulated:

—The Western Xia people have ambitions like wolves and are feigning war with the Song, while in fact, they intend to weaken the power of the Great Liao.

Their real goal is to wait until the Great Liao and Song Dynasty are both weakened, then join forces with the Song to attack from east and west and divide the Southern Desert pastures of the Great Liao! The rumor even detailed that Western Xia envoys had made secret contact with the Gu Clan of the Song Kingdom and reached some sort of secret agreement.

This series of rumors accurately targeted the biggest flaw between Western Xia and the Liao Dynasty.

—Trust!

The situation between countries is just like this.

Not to mention the innate hatred between Western Xia and the Liao Kingdom.

Of course, this alone is not enough to thoroughly affect the current big picture.

But why rush?

The dike of a thousand miles, destroyed by an ant’s nest; the hundred-foot room, burned by a wisp of smoke.

The essence of a scheme is the silent, subtle approach!

The so-called "interdependence" between nations is so fragile in the face of absolute interest suspicion and accumulated grudges over the years?

Gu Rui’s move was not to expect rumors to immediately repel the enemy, but to chisel a tiny yet deadly crack on this seemingly solid foundation of alliance.

Almost simultaneously, another hidden piece laid by Gu Rui began to take effect.

He cleverly maneuvered the developed commercial network of the Great Song, implementing precise strikes based on the distinctly different mentalities of the Xia and Liao countries.

In the territory of Western Xia, those Song merchants who kept close ties with the Dangxiang nobility showed not panic, but a peculiar generosity.

Under the pretext of "resuming water transport, new goods arriving, the old inventory needed to be cleared urgently," they offered great discounts to their old clients, actively selling silks and other practical goods, even willing to accept trade-offs with furs, livestock, showing eagerness to close deals and recuperate funds.

Such scenes, falling into the eyes of the Western Xia monarchs and ministers whose minds were swayed by rumors, just confirmed the rumors of Song people’s "lack of strength, wanting to exchange Western benefits for peace."

These tangible goods flowing into their hands not only failed to make them vigilant but greatly stimulated their greed — The Song people indeed showed weakness! If not attack forcefully now, then when?

The call for battle under the command of Ren Duo Baozhong thus grew even louder.

On the other side, however, the scene was entirely different, exuding a chilling atmosphere.

The Song merchants, initially in good relations with the Liao nobility, not only refrained from selling but abruptly halted most dealings as rumors rose, especially cutting off strategic supplies like ironware, tea, salt, and cloth.

The merchant convoys swiftly withdrew from the trading posts, not even leaving an explanation.

One should know that the commerce of the Great Song was inherently the most developed.

And the unity of Kyushu had never dissipated.

This destined the commercial intertwinement among the three countries to be unavoidable.

This situation caught almost everyone off guard.

Even after the Liao merchants exerted great effort to inquire, they acquired only one piece of information — the superior state commanded, "the Northern court breached trust, cease all trade."

This resolute commercial cutoff, colliding harshly with the rumors of "Western Xia’s intention to betray the alliance and unite with the Song," stirred great waves in the hearts of Liao’s monarchs and ministers.

—— The market was almost entirely in chaos!

Almost all Liao merchants couldn’t help but think of those rumors!

The Song people showed such confidence, daring to completely tear the facade, if not for having already formed a solid alliance with Western Xia, and the pinch from east and west was imminent, whence could they have such courage?

Merchants pursue profit, this must be the case.

Otherwise, why would they act so decisively?

Not being of the Great Song, they ultimately don’t understand the control of the Imperial Censorate over the Great Song.

Especially concerning prominent local merchant families and tycoons.

They would never expect Gu Rui to manipulate these people, for such things have never happened from ancient times to now.

But Gu Rui did!

As for why focus on the Liao Kingdom?

The reason is equally simple, because Western Xia till now is actually still a vassal of the Great Song!

Yes, it was during that time Li Deming submitted to Gu Jin.

Although it was always nominally without substance.

But what of it?

From the moment the wind rose, even if wise men could see it was manipulated by someone, under the overwhelming trend, they couldn’t possibly stop it!

The poison in Gu Rui’s strategy lies in this.

He didn’t rely on singular rumors but let real strategic movements become solid evidence of the rumors.

Towards Western Xia, he offered benefits, enticing them to step deeper into the trap of greed;

Towards the Liao Kingdom, he showed might, forcing them to bind themselves in the battle situation.

And when this gale fully rises, the balance of this situation will begin to slowly tilt towards the Great Song. ......

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(Ps: Sincerely asking for monthly tickets, begging for brothers’ support, Fish is exceedingly grateful!)