Control your ancestors and create an immortal family starting from the Eastern Han Dynasty

Chapter 23: A Shocking Change in the Western Regions: What is Filial Piety? (Happy New Year)
The sudden death of any emperor would have unimaginable impact on the entire world.

What’s more, he is a wise ruler like Liu Zhuang who is respected by all the people?
The people are weeping and the mountains and rivers are mourning.

From that day on, the entire Han Dynasty seemed to be covered with a layer of haze that took a long time to dissipate.

But the biggest impact;

——It’s still the Western Regions.

Since Liu Zhuang reopened the Protectorate of the Western Regions, the entire Han Dynasty had already started a formal game of chess with the Northern Huns in the Western Regions.

Gu Sheng is a natural commander.

He would not waste any opportunity and continued to expand the Han Dynasty's influence throughout the Western Regions.

Especially after the news of the Han Dynasty's successful flood control spread.

This influence has increased exponentially.

In less than a year, several small countries have come to join.

Gu Sheng naturally would not refuse these people.

But under such circumstances, the foundation of the entire Western Regions Protectorate in the Western Regions will naturally become unstable in a short period of time.

In fact, if Liu Zhuang had not died, the Han Dynasty would have been able to send troops on time.

This is not a big problem.

Neither the Western Regions nor the Northern Huns could withstand the iron hoof of the Han Dynasty today.

But the sudden collapse of Liuzhuang completely changed everything.

Yanqi Kingdom.

When Gu Sheng heard the news of Liu Zhuang's death, he was stunned.

Astonishment and disbelief are followed by great sorrow.

Although Gu Sheng's political ability is far inferior to Gu Kang's, how could he not see Liu Zhuang's thoughts at this moment?
Years of training are spent just to be able to be entrusted with important tasks in the future.

Now the emperor is dead just like that?
Countless thoughts surged in his mind, and then Gu Sheng immediately realized the hidden danger of this matter.

How could the Northern Huns miss this opportunity?
During this period of time, the Northern Huns had been preparing for war, ready to meet the Han army.

During this period, there were constant minor frictions between the two sides.

If they knew this news, would they not come to besiege us?

And if the Western Regions Protectorate was breached.

In an instant, everything that the Han Dynasty had rebuilt in the Western Regions in the past few years would collapse!

In an instant, Gu Sheng's expression changed drastically.

"Send the order, deploy defenses immediately and prepare to meet the enemy!"

This news could not be concealed, so Gu Sheng had no choice but to prepare the army without delay.

Upon hearing this, the generals were stunned.

But they are not fools. Anyone who can get to where he is today under the rule of an emperor like Liu Zhuang must have some real ability.

In just a moment, they figured everything out.

Everyone's expression changed instantly.

"General!"

Dou Gu bowed to Gu Sheng and said, "Our army is in a precarious situation right now. Why not retreat to Cheshi, or even Yiwulu City, while the enemy remains unaware?"

That’s right, he has now become Gu Sheng’s subordinate.

But he had no complaints about this kind of thing.

After all, Gu Sheng had given him a chance.

Upon hearing this, the generals' eyes lit up instantly.

Withdrawal?

This is a good idea!
As long as we can retreat back to Yiwulu City, we will have reinforcements and no longer have to worry.

After these words were spoken, all the generals were somewhat moved.

Retreating is indeed a foolproof plan.

As long as they could retreat back to Yiwulu City, they would be safe and no longer have to worry about the risk of being besieged here.

But Gu Sheng just shook his head.

"Withdraw?" Gu Sheng glanced at the generals and said seriously, "We must not move before the imperial court's order arrives."

"If we retreat this time."

"What will the Western Regions think?"

"They will think that the Han army is afraid of the Northern Xiongnu."

"If this is the case, it will be extremely difficult for our Han Dynasty to regain control of the Western Regions in the future."

"How can we do this?"

Gu Sheng's expression was very firm.

What he said was indeed true. Today, the Western Regions is a battleground between the two major forces of the Han Dynasty and the Northern Xiongnu.

The method of one person taking over and the other taking over doesn't work here.

Only by continuing to be strong can we attract more countries in the Western Regions to be close to the Han Dynasty.

If you retreat directly.

The Northern Huns will definitely devour everything the Han Dynasty has now and eliminate all the pro-Han forces that have been cultivated within it.

If this matter is interrupted by the countries in the Western Regions, it will be difficult for anyone to be pro-Han anymore.

If you run away when something goes wrong, who will be willing to follow you?

This is a choice that concerns your life and property.

This is a burden that the Han people cannot bear.

"Everyone, this is an achievement we have worked so hard to achieve."

"What's more, the enemy hasn't arrived yet?"

"And are we destined to lose?"

Gu Sheng glanced at everyone and said seriously, "If the enemy comes, as long as we can hold on."

"By then, the imperial reinforcements will have arrived, and we will have made tremendous contributions!"

"I remember hearing my father say when I was young that when Emperor Guangwu was in Kunyang, he faced an army of hundreds of thousands without fear."

"It was even said that a true man cannot be afraid of death."

"Now that we are here, how can we retreat?"

"Rest assured, everyone! If the Han army were ever to suffer a crushing defeat, this general would surely die before you!"

There was silence throughout the camp.

The soldiers looked at the serious Gu Sheng, without any doubt about the truth of the last sentence.

If they were really defeated, Gu Sheng would definitely die before them.

Because he always leads by example.

The people present were all men who had been on the battlefield. Since things had already come to this point, they naturally stopped hesitating and nodded in agreement.

Gu Sheng’s arrangements were more than that.

Then, he asked all the generals to take the initiative to tell the soldiers under their command the news of the emperor's death.

But tell them that the court will still send troops.

Moreover, everything in the military camp remained the same as before, and there was no need to wear mourning clothes.

In this tense situation, his ability to judge the overall situation was fully demonstrated.

Since the news can't be concealed.

Then we can't let it affect the morale of the army.

The soldiers must be made to believe that they are not fighting alone. Otherwise, even the central army with only more than 800 people left will lose their morale.

But the soldiers were a little hesitant about the last thing.

No mourning cloth allowed?
Everything remains the same?
The emperor’s death is a national mourning!

If this gets out, the imperial court may even directly accuse you of rebellion based on your behavior.

Even if you are a descendant of the Gu family and your brother is in a high position in the court, you will still have to face impeachment.

this.
But Gu Sheng's attitude was very firm.

"This general not only needs to stabilize the morale of the troops, but also to make sure the enemy cannot figure out our movements!"

"I will personally lead people to look for the enemy later."

"Act immediately, or you will be executed!"

Although Gu Sheng is usually carefree, he is completely different when he arrives at the military camp.

After hearing this, the generals no longer dared to say anything more and quickly bowed and retreated.

Gu Sheng took a deep breath and waited for everyone to leave.

He first wrote a letter and had it sent back to Luoyang, wanting to ask Gu Kang's opinion.

Then he called the captain of the central army who had been following him and said in a deep voice:
"Send someone to inform Zhong Sheng immediately that he is in a very dangerous situation and ask him to return immediately."

"Here!"

The captain left without hesitation.

Afterwards, Gu Sheng walked out of the tent and led more than a thousand troops to attack!
Ban Chao is indeed a bit far away from the Han Dynasty now.

After pacifying the Kingdom of Khotan, he immediately rushed to the Kingdom of Shule.

He used the residual power of his conquest of Khotan and the news of the Han Dynasty's successful flood control to quickly control the entire Shule Kingdom.

He even directly deposed the King of Shule, who was originally pro-Xiongnu.

A new king was re-established, and everything went smoothly.

But when he heard the news, he was still stunned.

"Your Majesty passed away?"

"Brother, let me return immediately?"

Ban Chao looked at the soldier in front of him with some disbelief. If he had not been in the central army for several years and had seen this man before, he would even begin to doubt his identity.

But how is this possible?
How long has it been?

Ban Chao was silent for a moment, and then he immediately realized the urgency of the matter.

He immediately planned to pack his luggage and leave with the soldiers.

But, the moment he walked out of the room.

The whole person was stunned for a moment.

Now, the Shule King Zhongzheng led the Shule officials and people and blocked the gate of his mansion.

"If the Han envoys leave us, we will surely be crushed and destroyed by the Northern Xiongnu once again."

"I really can't bear to see the Han envoy leave."

"If the Han envoy leaves, I will commit suicide in front of you today."

The person who spoke was a man, and Ban Chao recognized him.

It was the commander Li Yan.

After saying that, he actually wanted to draw his sword and commit suicide.

Ban Chao quickly stopped him.

At this time, Shule Wang Zhong also spoke with tears in his eyes: "We have received the news that the emperor of the Great Han Kingdom has passed away."

"Could it be that the Han envoy really wants to abandon Shule at this time?"

"My Shule Kingdom sincerely wishes to be affiliated with the Han Dynasty."

"How can the Han treat us like this?"

At this moment, sobbing sounds gradually began to be heard, from the elderly and children.
The faces of this group of people were full of fear.

Looking at the scene in front of him, Ban Chao was stunned for a moment.

In a trance, he seemed to see two people appear in the dark.

Gu Ji and Zhang Qian.

These are the two people he has always admired greatly.

I thought about their experiences, and then I thought about the boy who felt that he shouldn’t just hold a pen.

In an instant, his tense heartstrings suddenly relaxed.

"What are you doing? Get out of the way!"

The soldiers from the central army who came here to deliver the letter immediately wanted to clear a path for Ban Chao.

But Ban Chao simply stretched out his hand to block him.

"Sir, you..." The soldier was stunned.

Ban Chao looked at him calmly and asked calmly, "Did my brother withdraw his troops?"

The soldier shook his head instinctively, a hint of admiration flashing in his eyes, "General Po Lu has not withdrawn his troops and will fight the enemy to the death."

"Since this is the case, how can I lose face for my brother?"

Ban Chao smiled faintly, his eyes extremely clear.

He turned his head and looked at the people kneeling on the ground, his eyes becoming more and more determined.

Upon hearing this, the soldier was stunned for a moment.

But looking at Ban Chao's back, he could no longer say anything.

"Han Envoy, you're really not leaving?"

Shule Wang Zhong looked at Ban Chao excitedly and asked, even his hands were shaking slightly.

no way.

For him, the only person he can rely on is the big man.

If Ban Chao left, the forces within Shule might have been able to devour him directly without even the influence of external forces.

Although Ban Chao now has only more than 30 people, this is also a support for him.

"Don't go."

Ban Chao nodded with a faint smile on his face.

In an instant, surprised smiles appeared on the faces of the people.

For them, Ban Chao's identity as a Han envoy surpassed everything!
"Does the Han envoy know whether the Han will send troops?"

Shule Wang Zhong asked with excitement and anticipation.

"I don't know." Ban Chao shook his head.

"Then how should we fight the enemy? I am Shule."

Before Shule Wang Zhong could finish, Ban Chao interrupted him and asked loudly, looking at everyone: "How should we fight the enemy?"

"Since we are enemies, there is only one choice!"

He paused, glanced at the people present, and slowly drew the knife from his waist:

"beat!".
Luoyang.

Gu Kang hasn't attended court for many days.

Since Liu Zhuang passed away, he seemed to have aged a lot.

Although there was nothing wrong with his body, the aura that emanated from him was completely different.

In the past, Gu Kang was calm and confident, as if everything in the world was under his control and there was no difficulty he could not overcome.

But now Gu Kang can clearly feel that he is old.

Gu Yi was helpless about this.

Just like Gu Xiao and Liu Xiu back then, the relationship between a wise monarch and a virtuous minister is hard for others to imagine.

As Liu Zhuang's funeral gradually came to an end.

The ministers naturally reported the matter of sending troops.

In fact, Liu Zhuang had already made preparations a long time ago, and all he needed to send troops was an imperial edict.

If he were still there, the ministers would naturally not be able to stop him.

But now that Liu Zhuang has passed away, things are different.

Facing Liu Lun, the emperor who was only fourteen years old, the ministers gave him a huge gift.

They submitted memorials one after another, urging Liu Zhuang to completely suppress the plan of sending troops on the grounds of filial piety.

This time, Gu Kang came.

"What is filial piety?"

above the hall.

Gu Kang stood tall and straight in the middle of the ministers. His deep eyes scanned everyone like cold stars, and his voice was loud and resounding:

"Emperor Guangwu revived the Han Dynasty and restored the Liu family's country. This is filial piety."

"The late emperor inherited the great cause of Emperor Guangwu and devoted his life to the people and the Han Dynasty. This is also filial piety!"

"When the late emperor was still alive, he spoke of his ambitions many times."

"Now that the late emperor has passed away, his great cause remains unfinished."

"And the high-ranking officials in the imperial court actually want to persuade Your Majesty to withdraw the troops."

"Are you trying to make His Majesty an unfilial person?"

The clanging sound resounded throughout the venue.

The expressions of the ministers suddenly turned ugly, but no one spoke in the end.

Although Liu Zhuang is dead now.

But Gu Kang still made them extremely wary in the court.

There is no way. After all, Gu Kang’s contribution is there, and they are all beneficiaries of it.

The most important thing is that they have served in the same court for so many years, and they are still clear about Gu Kang's methods.

It can be said that over the years, no one who wanted to attack the Gu family had a good ending.

No one wants to offend Gu Kang.

For a moment, the entire hall fell silent.

Liu Lun looked at everyone present and was still a little hesitant.

He is a bit indecisive by nature.

But thinking back to everything Liu Zhuang had told him before he died, he looked at Gu Kang again, thought about it, and then made a decision.

"What the Great Situ said makes sense."

"I believe that the late emperor would also like to see me accomplish the great cause he had in mind."

"In that case, then let's send troops."

Although Liu Lun's voice was still a little childish, it did not affect his final conclusion on the matter.

The ministers were silent, with different expressions.

Only Gu Kang bowed to Liu Lun.

"Your Majesty is wise!"
　Today is New Year’s Eve. First of all, I wish my brothers a happy new year, good health and prosperity in the new year!
　　In addition, the author will not rest during the Chinese New Year and will try to save as many manuscripts as possible. I hope my brothers will support me by giving me monthly tickets and recommendation votes!

　　There is no need to worry about the plot as the author's ideas are exceptionally clear.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)