I Can Control My Ancestors

Chapter 583 - 70: Turmoil in Court and Nation, Struggles Within and Without

Capital is shaking the very foundations of the court.

This sort of thing was unimaginable in the past.

If we look at history, the first occurrence of such a situation should be placed in the mid to late Ming Dynasty.

The fundamental reason is the emergence of commercial capital and its growing power.

Although the current Great Tang cannot be directly compared to the situations faced by the Great Ming, this alone is enough to show how remarkable the development of the current Great Tang is in certain aspects.

Gu Yi is also carefully observing all of this, fully understanding how severe the situation faced by the current Great Tang really is.

If it cannot be controlled—

The sprout of capital will absolutely descend upon Kyushu, and be difficult to shake.

However, he’s not particularly worried.

If it were someone else, opposing the court in such a dignified manner might have some effect.

But clearly, Gu Jing is not someone who would be so constrained. ...

...

Night.

The moonlight is as bright as a wash, and the stars are brilliant.

Luoyang, Champion Marquis Mansion.

Gu Jing sits silently in the study, carefully examining the reports sent by the Imperial Censors from various places by the oil lamp.

His expression is very calm, and there is nothing abnormal in his gaze.

As if he didn’t care at all about any of this, even though he was alone in the room, he didn’t show any emotions.

The entire room is exceptionally quiet, Gu Jing just sits there silently, pondering over something unknown.

Until he had read all the letters.

Only then did he summon someone.

"Transmit my order, instruct the Imperial Censors of the Imperial Censorate to investigate this matter thoroughly, regardless of who is behind it or what status they hold, they must be investigated."

Gu Jing gave the instructions with remarkable calmness.

He naturally understood that there must be someone of considerable status orchestrating it; otherwise, merchants from various places couldn’t have united like this.

He could even guess what else these people would do besides opening businesses.

But Gu Jing remained composed.

There was no need to panic; these people underestimated him and belittled him.

These actions posed no threat to Gu Jing but were rather a windfall!

The next day, at the royal court, the ministers engaged in heated discussions.

—All felt a great threat from the current situation in the realm and understood that no matter what, these matters must be suppressed.

Some proposed restoring the old systems, while others suggested taking drastic actions.

But Gu Jing remained silent.

He was indeed resolute.

But no matter how ruthless, he couldn’t possibly execute anyone without a crime; he represented not only the Gu Clan but also the credibility of the court.

Gu Jing needed to solve all of this with the most official methods to prevent impacting the grand maritime trade.

It was impossible to make a direct decision.

The ministers were all very tense about this.

Even those with differing opinions felt the same because everyone understood that this matter needed a quick resolution.

Otherwise, it could not only affect the maritime trade but could also potentially sever the flourishing path of the Great Tang’s development.

Returning home, Gu Jing, as usual, began teaching Li Longji again.

Li Longji was now eight years old.

And extremely intelligent.

Not only did the ministers speak highly of him, calling him a born emperor, but even Gu Jing often praised Li Longji’s abilities.

It wasn’t just how incredibly smart he was, but mainly because of his character.

Li Longji was extremely confident and regal.

He had his insights into everything, which is an exceedingly rare quality for an emperor.

In the study, Gu Jing, as usual, discussed state affairs with the Gu Clan progeny, still maintaining the educational style passed down by the Gu Clan.

Li Longji was also present, but today he remained silent most of the time.

After the lecture ended and the progeny dispersed,

Only then did he follow Gu Jing into the inner room, performing the courtesies and inquiring: "Grand Tutor, about the matters ministers have been discussing recently... Is there a strategy decided?"

"Your Majesty need not worry." Gu Jing replied with standard ministerial courtesy, his demeanor calm, "It’s nothing but some petty villains, not worth considering."

"With this old minister here, everything shall be pacified—"

"Once this matter is resolved... Your Majesty can return to the court residence."

Li Longji’s eyes instantly brightened, revealing a faint smile: "With Grand Tutor’s words, I can be at ease."

He indeed held Gu Jing in high regard.

In private, he never referred to himself as "I," and every time he inquired, he maintained courtesy, even though Gu Jing had mentioned it many times but never changed.

"Rest assured, Grand Tutor, I fully support you."

Li Longji watched Gu Jing, his gaze becoming ever more radiant: "These disloyal officials and traitors, daring to disobey the imperial court’s decrees, should all be executed!"

After speaking, Li Longji cupped his hands towards Gu Jing once more, then walked directly out.

Time passed quickly.

As Gu Jing had anticipated, as the situation developed, the shock from maritime trade grew larger, and a voice gradually rose from among the populace to the imperial court.

—Saying that Gu Jing’s actions were affecting the strategies set by Emperor Taizong in the past.

This was undoubtedly a grand accusation.

Under the court’s deliberate influence, Li Shimin’s reputation was incredibly good throughout the Great Tang, although the Gu Clan’s reputation was equally high.

But under the current circumstances, such remarks could not possibly be stopped from spreading.

What followed was a demand to restore the policies of the previous dynasty.

Various voices rolled in with overwhelming force.

Even the ministers were swayed by it, after several trials began proposing the restoration of previous policies.

But Gu Jing never backed down, showing no other emotions, nor did he consent to it.

Such behavior naturally fueled the ambitions of many people.

At least in their view, Gu Jing was just trying to hold on, and as long as they persisted, sooner or later, Gu Jing would agree.

There was no other way, the impact on maritime trade was too significant.

Not only were those merchants causing trouble.

More crucially, it seemed that because of the sudden market downturn, many pirates appeared on the vast sea.

They began plundering the few remaining merchants.

These merchants were middle and small merchants, and for anyone, being plundered once, once robbed, often rendered them bankrupt.

This was nothing short of adding insult to injury for the already struggling maritime trade.

In this critical situation, how could Gu Jing not yield?

This was the belief firmly entrenched in everyone’s mind.

Gu Yi was also silently observing all of this, showing no panic towards the current situation.

He could tell that none of this affected Gu Jing’s judgment; instead, it made him more determined in his internal decisions.

He was waiting—

Waiting for an opportunity to strike decisively and crush everything!

Time passed quickly, and the terrifying aspects of the Imperial Censorate were completely revealed in such circumstances.

There is simply no impenetrable wall in the world.

Various criminal evidence was successively sent to the Capital City.

Not only did it include records of major merchants evading taxes and concealing after maritime disasters, but it also implicated crimes like private silver smelting and counterfeiting currency.

Each of these pieces of evidence could be considered a major crime!

But even so, Gu Jing didn’t strike directly.

His targets weren’t just these merchants; they also included the people behind the scenes.

Gu Jing wanted to eradicate the parasites within the court!

He was already old.

This was a heaven-sent opportunity; Gu Jing intended to take advantage of this to do something more for the Great Tang, to prevent any unforeseen incidents!

And precisely because the Imperial Censorate had always been under the control of the Gu Clan.

No one knew the Imperial Censorate already had so many results, nor what Gu Jing’s real intentions were.

The entire court was thus more fiercely contested.

.....

(Ps: Begging for your votes, begging my brothers for your support, Fish is infinitely grateful!)