I Can Control My Ancestors

Chapter 424 - 15: The Irresistible Trend, Unification of the Realm (Double-Length, Please Vote)

"My mother said the Gu Clan has re-emerged, and good days are coming for the common people. If I don’t go back... the fields at home will be abandoned."

"....."

One after another, they spoke, their eyes constantly on Liu Kui.

Their voices were not loud, each mixed with the sound of sobbing.

But every word felt like a knife stabbing directly into Liu Kui’s heart.

Countless memories flashed through Liu Kui’s mind at that moment. Looking at the few people in front of him and the silent brothers behind him, he suddenly felt that the days in Jiangdu didn’t seem so wonderful anymore.

He couldn’t imagine what his family’s life would be like if he didn’t go back.

All his anger dissipated instantly at that moment.

Liu Kui was silent for a long time before he surveyed all the brothers present, looking at their expressions. He sighed and said, "Do you all want to go home?"

"Yes!"

"I want to go home!"

"....."

Their responses rang out like arrows released from a bowstring.

Seeing those slightly brightening eyes, Liu Kui couldn’t help but clench his fist and took a deep breath, as if making a decision. After a long silence, he spoke again:

"Let’s go, I’ll take the brothers home!"

This scene kept repeating throughout the Jiangdu military camp.

Perhaps this is the characteristic of the Huaxia people.

Home—

Has always been a harbor that is incomparable to other things.

Twenty-three days!

It only took twenty-three days!

The month of May hadn’t even passed, yet the internal structure of Jiangdu was completely torn apart.

Yuwen Huaji tried every means but couldn’t win over people’s hearts, nor could he reverse the incoming tide.

There was no need for Li Shimin to intervene.

He eventually died at the hands of his own generals.

Someone exchanged his head for wealth and honor.

Li Shimin didn’t care a bit about it.

Watching the Xiao Guo Army soldiers come to find their families and then break out into tears, he was utterly silent, with no joy in having suppressed another vassal.

"What is Your Highness thinking?"

Beside him, Gu Quan was also watching the scene and gently asked.

"Life is hard for the people."

Li Shimin was silent for a moment before speaking slowly, "In my view, the so-called Celestial Mandate is precisely the people’s will."

"If my Tang can always have the support of the people, why worry about unifying the world?"

His voice was very forthright.

Hearing this, Gu Quan nodded in agreement.

"Ziyuan," Li Shimin then slightly turned his head to look at Gu Quan: "Do you think I can really create an era of peace and prosperity like Marquis Zhao Lie, where the people live in stability?"

Gu Quan replied without hesitation, very seriously: "I believe in Your Highness."

Li Shimin slightly raised a corner of his mouth, didn’t speak directly, and looked back at everything happening by the river, seemingly pondering something.

He was still too young.

Plus, his resolve was too firm, and he would think about many things whenever he saw anything.

The twilight spread across the sky, crushing the last ray of the setting sun on the rippling river surface.

Suddenly, Li Shimin straightened his back, the dark light in his eyes forged into a sharp sword by the twilight. His voice burst out, carrying the hot blood in his chest: "I believe in myself too!"

A heron startled, slicing through the stagnant air.

He suddenly turned to Gu Quan and slowly declared with words weighed like a thousand pounds: "But at this moment—"

"I shall wield the long spear to pacify the Eight Desolations! When all the mountains and rivers return to Tang Territory, I will surely bring the Ten Directions Expedition Envoy back to the world!"

The river wind carried this declaration across the reeds, startling flocks of egrets, whose wing beats mixed with distant wailing and were swept into the surging waves.

In the sound of waves lapping against the bank, he stood with hands behind his back, the twilight outlining a sharp golden edge around him.

The wind lifted the stray hair on his forehead, revealing a scar between his brows that had yet to scab over.

This was the wound he received from the Battle of Hulao Pass.

Blood and the setting sun reflected each other.

At this moment, the scar gave off an inexplicable glow in front of thousands.

.....

Li Shimin did not personally go to Jiangdu.

He left everything in the hands of his trusted subordinates and then moved his army towards Diao Yin City once again.

Although he remained unchanged,

the current Li Shimin truly had an invincible heart, a firm resolve that always guided him in the right direction.

He wouldn’t even consider the Liang Army worthy of attention.

Even if the Turks came to aid, so what?

To Li Shimin, no one could ever deter his determination to create a prosperous age!

The army hurried by.

As well as the spreading news of the Battle of Jiangdu.

No, this battle could not be called the Battle of Jiangdu.

Because from beginning to end, the Tang Army was stationed by the Yangtze River, never actively engaging in battle.

But precisely because of this, the shock it brought to the world was unimaginable.

Aside from "Heaven’s Mandate," no one could convince themselves in any other way.

Yuwen Huaji, no matter how he compared to the current Great Tang, was still an emperor.

But such a person,

without even a chance to fight the Tang Army, was directly defeated.

If this wasn’t Heaven’s Mandate, what was it?

The momentum of Li Tang truly reached its peak amid various portents, especially hearing that Li Shimin did nothing to the surrendered soldiers, nor did he demand they forcibly join the army afterward.

The atmosphere throughout Kyushu completely changed.

Everyone felt faintly that a "golden age" was slowly coming.