novelraw Chapter 506 - 41: Lingyan Pavilion
Chapter 506 - 41: Lingyan Pavilion
An intangible gloom enveloped the entire Great Tang.
——Gu Quan has passed away!
Although on the surface, this loss might not appear to affect the Great Tang, in reality, the impact is immense.
Likewise, it affects the Gu Clan.
Gu Quan’s role among his generation in the Gu Clan was like that of a brother and a father.
While Gu Yu journeyed across the world, it was always Gu Quan who bore the responsibility of caring for the Gu Clan. Their feelings for Gu Quan were equally deep.
Not long after, Gu Zi also passed away.
An era is gradually fading with the wheels of history.
Li Shimin was also greatly grieved by this.
He intended to bestow a posthumous title upon Gu Zi, but before his death, Gu Zi repeatedly instructed that he should not be given one.
He felt that his accomplishments were insufficient.
Whether for the entire Gu Clan or the whole world.
In this regard, Li Shimin also felt utterly helpless.
...
Western Regions.
Standing firm amidst the wind and sand, Gu Yan ordered the three armies to rest. He suppressed the boiling turmoil in his throat, refusing to cough in front of the three armies.
As the Great Tang’s policies began to gradually unfold in the Western Regions,
the entire region was once again swept up in a wave of rebellion, leaving Gu Yan with no choice but to lead his troops to suppress the unrest.
Only by truly reaching this day, and taking on the heavy burden once held by Gu Quan, could Gu Yan fully comprehend the weight on Gu Quan’s shoulders.
In truth, things have improved considerably by now.
After all, Li Shimin had sent many officials to the Western Regions to help share his burden.
Yet even after just a few years, Gu Yan could barely hold on.
His body was no longer young.
Especially living under such constant pressure, with relentless battles, incessantly depleting a person inside and out.
It’s not that Gu Yi didn’t want to help. Gu Quan brought him another 150,000 merit points, along with a special achievement with effects—the "Guardian."
He did not lack achievement points now.
But unfortunately, Gu Yan had contracted symptoms similar to Gu Quan. Without drawing any useful tools, he was powerless, forced to watch the curtain fall on the last of this generation.
Even as his body reached this state, Gu Yan had no intention of leaving the Western Regions,
until he returned to his camp, where he finally couldn’t hold back his cough anymore.
"Uncle!"
"Brother!"
Seeing Gu Yan coughing up blood, the expressions of the Gu Clan members changed dramatically.
But Gu Yan simply waved his hand, calming everyone: "The Taohuai Kingdom and Xiuxun Country must have spies probing for my condition. They must not learn of my illness."
——He was not on guard against the Tang Army.
These are the elite, the core of the Great Tang, known as a veteran force; he need not worry about them.
Gu Yan’s real concern was the spies from those small countries.
His name was too renowned.
All that Gu Quan achieved was attributed to him. He must leverage this reputation to quell all rebellions as swiftly as possible.
Gu Yan’s objective on this expedition was the small countries located in the Arael Valley north of Pamir, at the western end of the southern route of the Silk Road in the Western Regions, a considerable distance from the Great Tang.
And precisely for this reason, after years of effort,
the Great Tang’s policies are just beginning to take effect here.
There was no alternative. Whether it was Gu Quan or Gu Yan, the entire Gu Clan and the Great Tang were making all kinds of efforts for this.
This speed was already considered a miracle.
This was a path paved with the blood of countless heroes. Not to mention the fallen soldiers, the ministers of the Great Tang who perished in the Western Regions were no fewer than twenty, and even nearly ten members of the Gu Clan.
Gu Quan was right; numerous people found it hard to return alive from Yumen Pass.
How could Gu Yan leave?
He kept gasping for breath, but his face showed no sign of joy or sorrow.
The entire tent was silent.
The news of Gu Quan’s death had already reached them. Coupled with Gu Yan’s deteriorating health, everyone’s spirits were naturally low.
It wasn’t until much later that Gu Yan was the first to break the silence, initiating a discussion on strategy.
Gu Yi had already integrated the Luoshu Harmonizing Device into Gu Yan’s body.
His capabilities might not be at the peak level, but dealing with some small countries in the Western Regions was no great challenge.
After a day’s rest, they would march again.
The Gu Clan now possessed extremely detailed maps of the Western Regions, so dealing with some small countries posed no problem.
Yet the amount of effort spent was still considerable.
The most crucial thing was—
Even if able to quell the rebellion, it doesn’t mean all problems would be automatically solved.
The Great Tang wanted the Western Regions to fully integrate into Kyushu.
Afterward, it will require either coercive or benevolent approaches which will also need Gu Yan’s attention, as he is, nominally, the highest-ranking official of the Great Tang in the Western Regions.
Under such circumstances, Gu Yan’s health has naturally been further affected.
"Brother, return to the court."
All the Gu Clan juniors were persuading Gu Yan.
Gu Yan didn’t pay attention to the younger generation, but looked at the contemporaries, only a few left, and smiled: "If it were you, would you go back?"
His tone was light, yet instantly silenced everyone.
They couldn’t answer.
Because they have never thought of returning.
Seeing their silence, Gu Yan smiled again, then looked at the vast starry sky, sighing: "Elder Brother dedicated his life to the Gu Clan."
"As one who’s benefited from that, how could I ever tarnish Elder Brother’s reputation?"
"Don’t worry."
"I won’t have any problems."
Beneath the blanket of stars, tears unknowingly rolled down from the corners of his eyes.