novelraw Chapter 387 - 4: Kyushu’s Blood and Tears, Moving Mountains
Chapter 387 - 4: Kyushu’s Blood and Tears, Moving Mountains
They even blamed the Gu Clan for the failure of the two expeditions.
But for Gu Yu, what Yang Guang thought no longer mattered.
The timing he was waiting for had arrived.
Neither Yang Guang as Emperor nor the entire Great Sui court was enough to quell the fury in the hearts of the people.
These two major defeats.
Had completely shattered the court’s authority!
...
Night.
Stars dazzling.
Julu, Gu Mansion.
This was the first time Gu Yu, since taking on the family burden, convened all the family members on a large scale.
Currently, there are quite a few family members within the clan.
Compared to the past, now their hearts have united once again.
Everyone was waiting, waiting for Gu Yu to lead them to overturn everything.
At this moment, their expressions were filled with excitement.
Obviously, Gu Yu’s serious summoning had led many to guess something.
But from beginning to end, Gu Yu said nothing more, he simply led them to a ancestral ceremony.
A ceremony entirely within the Gu Clan!
Gu Yu’s expression was extremely serious, and as the group of members stepped into the most important shrine of the Gu Clan, their expressions also grew more solemn.
The ceremony began.
Candlelights rose one after another, and in the flickering firelight, the statues in the hall suddenly opened their eyes—that was the most prestigious monument in the Gu Clan’s shrine.
From the sword-like brows of Marquis Zhongwu Gu Xiao, to the long beard of Marquis Jingxiang Gu Ye, each was gilded with a golden sharpness by the tongues of fire.
The group of members instinctively knelt down.
These were the most glorious figures of the Gu Clan.
From Gu Xiao’s beginning, to Gu Ye’s end.
Gu Yu didn’t leave out anyone but also included those ancestors whose names could not be preserved.
His movements weren’t fast, but no one felt impatient.
Everyone understood.
Everything Gu Yu intended to do today might concern the life and death of the entire clan.
Gu Yi was also watching all of this, thoughts continuously swirling in his mind.
The feeling of the passage of time reached its peak at this moment, unconsciously, so many generations of the Gu Clan had already passed away.
Actually, his heart was also surging at this time.
Gu Yu was finally going to take action!
The timing chosen was very appropriate!
In fact, for the Gu Clan, to really throw everything away, Gu Yu didn’t need to wait this long.
But he could never do it like that.
Otherwise, even if the Gu Clan could become prominent for a time, it would inevitably be slaughtered by the next Yang Guang in the future.
This was something Gu Yu, as Patriarch, must consider!
Finally, the rituals were completed.
Under everyone’s gaze, Gu Yu slowly walked forward to the front of everyone, knelt in front of the statues.
"Beginning with our ancestor, Marquis Zhongwu Xiao Gong, our Gu Clan began to rise."
He suddenly spoke, his voice resounding:
"Marquis Wencheng Kang Gong, managed the great river, fattened the fields of the world!"
"Marquis Huan Sheng Gong, pacified the Western Regions, swept the Barbarians!"
"Marquis Wenxiang Xi Gong, resolved the natural disasters in Kyushu, stabilized the dynasty!"
"Marquis Zhao Lie Chen Gong, eradicated all the thieves in the land, slaughtered the Barbarians, making none dare to claim supremacy."
"Marquis Jingxiang Ye Gong, opened markets, translated foreign texts, so all Baiyue children could read The Analects!"
"....."
He solemnly recounted the achievements of the ancestors, everyone present was moved!
This is the pride of the Gu Clan!
And even more so, their revered existence.
Why the Gu Clan could persist until now before showing signs of division was because of the glory of the ancestors!
But in the next moment, Gu Yu’s tone changed dramatically.
"I, the unworthy descendant Yu, tearfully report to the ancestors:"
"Today, the dragon boats clog the Bian River, Liao’s white bones pile up at Tong Pass!"
"The Emperor does not hear the cries of the people in Kyushu...."
He recounted the current situation, then spoke of Gu Zhe and those brothers who chose to face death courageously when they finally came down from the mountains!
Seventeen people!
A full seventeen people!
The atmosphere in the entire shrine changed completely, the faces of many Gu Clan members were full of anger.
When had the Gu Clan ever suffered such?
"Today’s ancestral ceremony, not for seeking shelter, not for expressing grievances!"
Gu Yu slowly raised his head, looking at those statues, as if swearing an oath, "Marquis Zhao Lie Chen Gong once said: ’Dare to be the first under heaven, even if dead, the fragrance of righteousness lingers!’"
"When Kyushu flourishes, so does my Gu Clan rise!"
"Now incompetent rulers loom like the Taihang, people live like ants enduring."’
His voice suddenly grew hoarse, like an old blade trembling before its sheath, but in its trailing sound bursting with the sound of metal and stone,
"Gu Yu is unworthy, willing to lead the sons and grandsons for the world and for my Gu Clan——"
"Move mountains!"
———Boom!
At this moment, it was as if something exploded in the hearts of all the family members.
—————————
"In the eighth spring month of Daye, the Emperor ordered the world’s troops to gather in Zhuojun, totaling twenty-four armies, the crafts and flags stretching for thousands of miles.
In July, the armies besieged Liaodong city, Goryeo several times falsely requested surrender, the generals did not dare to engage, and the city could not be taken after a long time.
Lai Huer led Jianghuai tower ships to cross the sea towards Pyongyang, fell into an ambush and the troops scattered.
Yuwen Shu and other nine armies, totaling 300,000, crossed the Yalu River, Eulji Mundeok feigned surrender, wearing down the troops, reaching Sasui River where food ran out, Goryeo pressed from all sides, more than two thousand cavalry fled, the provisions and equipment were piled like mountains.
In spring of the ninth year, the emperor again called the world’s troops to meet at Liaodong, personally supervising at White Stone Camp.
Building flying towers and ram cars, day and night without rest, the ramparts were about to collapse.
Coincidentally, Yang Xugan rebelled in Li Yang, seized grain transport, and threatened the Eastern Capital.
In June, Gengyin, the Emperor secretly ordered the army to withdraw at night, abandoning the siege equipment piled like hills. Goryeo pursued, several tens of thousands of Wang Rengong’s rearguard troops perished.
In the fall, the defeat in Liao was heard racing back to the central lands, rebels and bandits rose one after another, the world descended into chaos."
——— "The Book of Sui. Emperor Yang’s Annals"