I Can Control My Ancestors

Chapter 401 - 10: The Strategy of Surprise Attack, Li Shimin and Gu Quan

With the emergence of the Gu Clan, history has changed once again.

The Gu Clan is like railroad tracks.

Allowing the wheels of history to take a different path once more.

As this news gradually spread.

— Kyushu trembles!

No one could have anticipated that Li Yuan would be the first to take this step at this time.

Forsaking the lingering influence of the Sui Court;

Forsaking the stubborn support of the people;

Relying on the name of the Gu Clan, he declared to the entire world his determination to create a flourishing era.

Li Yuan is definitely a competent emperor.

Establishing his eldest son Li Jiancheng as Crown Prince to stabilize the national foundation, enfeoffed Li Shimin as King Qin, appointed as Minister of the Secretariat, and Grand General of the Right Imperial Guard.

Thoroughly setting the foundation of his regime.

Similarly, he also knew very well what his subordinates desired.

For those under his command—

He was not at all stingy with his awards and promises, giving various rewards.

Of course, this inevitably included the Gu Clan.

He even directly wanted to appoint the eldest Gu Quan as Grand Tutor, thereby once again demonstrating his determination to the world.

But Gu Quan refused.

Not only him, but all the Gu Clan members present this time refused as well.

Nowadays, the position of Grand Tutor is no longer the mere title it once was in history, because the influence of that successive generation of Grand Tutors was too great.

Even Yang Jian back then did not directly touch this position or weaken its actual power.

Though he also never appointed a Grand Tutor.

But leaving this position vacant already showed his attitude.

And not to mention for others, even the Gu Clan members feel a great psychological pressure when facing this position, who would dare to accept it?

Compared to that, they preferred positions they were better suited for.

— For example, generals on the battlefield.

In this regard, Li Yuan naturally would not be stingy.

Li Yuan’s thoughts were very clear, he didn’t care about what the future holds, only what was before him.

For everyone.

As long as they were capable, Li Yuan would not be stingy with his rewards, all for them to give their utmost effort!....

....

The news continued to spread.

The impact of this matter also completely exceeded everyone’s expectations.

Perhaps it was truly because the people had been waiting too long for the Gu Clan, or perhaps they truly had no longing left for the Sui Court and yearned for a real golden age.

Even though Li Yuan clearly did not inherit the Sui Court, he still gained the support of many.

Not to mention the now stable region of Guanzhong.

Everywhere, one by one, people began traveling to Guanzhong, and such a phenomenon was unimaginable in these troubled times.

This event seemed to have opened a hole.

When all the feudal lords realized this, each feudal lord of the Sui Dynasty had already become utterly ineffective.

Who wouldn’t want to become an emperor?

In July of the same year;

Western Qin overlord Xue Ju ascended the throne as emperor in Longxi.

In September;

Li Gui proclaimed himself Emperor of Great Liang in the West River, changed the era name to Anle, established offices and appointed officials, all imitating the practices during the time of Sui Emperor Kaihuang.

At the same time, Wang Shichong abolished Yang Dong, established himself as emperor, named the country Zheng, and began a new era named Kaiming.

Occupying Luoyang and confronting the Li Tang.

Dou Jiande, Yuwen Huaji, Xiao Xian, and so on.

The chaos in the entire world reached its peak at this moment.

This was an inevitable phenomenon.

Just like Yang Jian back then, once the door was slightly open, it could never be closed again.

But regarding all this, how could Li Yuan not foresee it before taking this step?

...

Chang’an.

Li Shimin, clad in armor, was with the generals, looking at the map on the table.

"Since Father Emperor captured Chang’an."

"Xue Ju has often invaded, Father Emperor has decided to have me campaign against Xue Ju, do any of you brothers have good strategies?"

Although he is now titled King Qin, in front of these loyal generals, Li Shimin was still just as he was back then, not putting on airs in the slightest.

The Great Tang must surely eliminate Xue Ju.

Otherwise, the Great Tang would be completely trapped in Guanzhong, and with any commotion, Xue Ju would take the opportunity to dispatch troops to Chang’an.

Li Shimin naturally understood this, and it was precisely because of this he was extremely serious.

The generals began to speak one after another.

But Li Shimin’s expression remained serious, he slowly looked towards Gu Quan and the others, seriously saying, "What do you all think of a surprise attack?"

— Yes, precisely a surprise attack.

Regarding the land of Longxi.

In past years, Marquis Zhongwu Gu Xiao, Marquis Zhao Lie Gu Chen.

Both successively employed surprise attack tactics, eventually completely subduing Longxi.

This incident has now become a famous battle known to all.

But attempting to replicate all this would definitely not be easy.

The risks involved are extraordinarily high, unimaginable.

Li Shimin now just had this thought.

"Feasible."

Gu Quan was a very serious person, facing Li Shimin’s question, he nodded immediately.

Instantly, everyone looked towards him.

Beside him, Gu Yan smiled at this moment, clasped his hands to Li Shimin, and said, "Your Highness, you generals may not be aware."

"In past years, our ancestor Marquis Zhao Lie during the time in Longxi, once drew maps of Longxi."

"Although now separated by hundreds of years, the terrain has not changed much, and a surprise attack strategy is feasible."

Hearing this, almost everyone present instantly had their eyes brighten.

Even Li Shimin was the same, immediately asking, "Is this true?"

"Indeed."

Gu Quan took over, looking at the map on the table: "The maps created by our ancestor are much more detailed than this map, and all of us descendants have seen these since childhood."

Having said this, he paused slightly in his speech, looking at Li Shimin, saying again, "Your Highness."