Chapter 508: Chapter 42: Gu Yan Passes Away, Upheaval in Liaodong

This is an era filled with melancholy.

No one can resist time; eventually, they will gradually fade away with the wheels of history.

In the 18th year of the Zhenguan era, Wei Zheng passed away.

This minister, who was highly valued by Li Shimin and had a legendary career in the court, also succumbed to the passage of time.

For Wei Zheng, he had no regrets.

After surviving so many events, he later joined Li Shimin in forging this great era and was selected for the Lingyan Pavilion.

This was enough for him.

However, he did have a last wish—he wanted to be buried in Julu.

This might be the greatest aspiration of every scholar from Hebei in their lifetime.

Being buried in Julu not only brings them supreme honor but also makes their entire family more beloved by the people.

The Gu Clan did not refuse this.

The entire court was filled with bleakness.

At the end of the same year, Gu Yan passed away in the Western Regions.

This event had an impact on the Great Tang far beyond that of Gu Zi and Wei Zheng.

—This was a Grand Tutor in plain sight!

Whether in the entire Kyushu or in deterring the surrounding barbarians, Gu Yan was extremely vital.

The entire world mourned.

Although this generation of the Gu Clan’s offspring seemed to be away compared to the ancestors like Gu Kang and Gu Xi,

they still influenced the entire world.

Gu Yan’s last wish was also simple—to be buried in the Western Regions.

Moreover, he did not want Li Shimin to bestow a posthumous name on him.

According to Gu Yan, he did not deserve such a title.

He had already inherited too many benefits in life and should not continue this after death; this was his only request to Li Shimin in his lifetime.

Gu Yan’s action made Li Shimin even more grief-stricken.

Perhaps it was truly because he had aged; the relationship between Gu Quan and Gu Yan made him inexplicably melancholic.

At the same time, he also had to admit.

Although the world knew he was an emperor good at recruiting talents and treating his ministers exceedingly well,

the descendants of the Gu Clan were ultimately different from others.

To an emperor, the Gu Clan’s descendants inherently provided more reassurance; this was the most important legacy they left behind through generations.

Court ministers passed away one after another.

Even the setting sun over Chang’an seemed to narrate the inevitable fate of a splendid era’s end.

However, as time continues to flow, a new era will surely come once again.

....

Gu Yan’s death indeed had a significant impact on the Great Tang.

Not to mention other places, just taking the Western Regions as an example.

—When Gu Yan, the sharp blade hanging over their heads, fell, the implementation of various policies in the Western Regions indeed encountered difficulties.

First, there were rebellions once again.

Although many members of the Gu Clan remained in the Western Regions, no one believed that everyone in the Gu Clan was as formidable as dragons.

With Gu Yan’s death,

there were always those who chose to step forward at such times.

Either for profit or for the beliefs in their hearts.

Although such a level of rebellion will not cause tremendous harm to the current Great Tang,

everyone understood.

Forces from all sides were testing the waters with the Great Tang, probing whether this Eastern dragon had truly aged to the point where it could no longer rise.

However, Li Shimin did not pay attention to these matters.

To the current Great Tang, these were ultimately minor disturbances, not enough to draw his attention.

Even as forces from all sides were testing the boundaries,

they still did not dare to directly declare war with the Great Tang, whose current national power remained beyond their reach and continued to grow.

But to a dynasty,

what can break the peace comes not only from within the dynasty.

...

In the 19th year of the Zhenguan era, in April,

in the Taiji Hall,

the court ministers were gathered, and the atmosphere was incredibly tense.

The envoy from Silla knelt in the hall, crying out to Li Shimin: "Honorable Emperor of the Great Tang, the unmatched Celestial Khan."

"I come on behalf of our King of Silla to seek assistance from the Great Tang."

"Goguryeo has joined forces with Baekje to attack my Silla. If the Celestial Mandate of the Great Tang does not aid us, my Silla faces the danger of national destruction!"

"Our Silla has never had any ulterior motives concerning the Great Tang, and we’ve never been lacking in tribute."

"I implore the Emperor of the Great Tang to consider Silla’s loyalty and send troops to aid us!"

The sound of his cries echoed throughout the entire hall.

The Silla envoy’s emotions became increasingly agitated, and before Li Shimin could speak, he began discussing the situation in Liaodong.

Currently, the Liaodong Peninsula was indeed not peaceful.

The forces of Goguryeo, Silla, and Baekje stood like a tripod, maintaining a fragile balance.

All three also paid tribute to the Great Tang.

Before Gu Yan’s death, the entire Liaodong Peninsula was relatively balanced.

Because such matters were ultimately political understandings.

Li Shimin would never tolerate uncertain threats on the four sides of the Great Tang; the tripartite situation in the Liaodong Peninsula was also the means the three had for self-preservation.

Though minor skirmishes were frequent over the years, none dared to unify.

The King of Goguryeo had a deep fear of the Gu Clan.

But in the 16th year of the Zhenguan era, a coup occurred in Goguryeo. The powerful courtier Yeon Gaesomun murdered King Rongliu and over a hundred nobles, establishing Gao Cang as a puppet king, and appointed himself as Mo Lizhi, controlling military and political powers.

Back then, Li Shimin even condemned Yeon Gaesomun, who also showed great humility in admitting his mistakes.

But with Gu Yan’s death,

he eventually took this step.

Of course, he did not entirely disregard the Great Tang.

He believed Li Shimin had aged and did not believe he would wage another massive war over a foreign vassal.