I Can Control My Ancestors-Chapter 147 - 55: The Beginning of Reform, Confronting Zhang Jiao_3
As for the second item, it naturally aims to curb the murderous intent of the generals in various places.
——The demand is not to kill those who surrender.
And it is announced to the world that as long as they surrender, their crimes will not be pursued.
Those who make meritorious contributions will be rewarded with land and exempted from taxes for two years.
But for those who stubbornly resist, not only will they be killed, but their family members will also be implicated and sent to the frontier to cultivate farmland.
This is the killing move.
Morale, this kind of thing, is originally stirred once, declines the second time, and collapses the third time.
Zhang Jiao’s great victory did indeed boost the morale of the Yellow Turban Army across the land once more, but how could he compare to Gu Xi’s prestige?
This is the prestige cultivated by several generations of the Gu Clan, ultimately all accumulated upon Gu Xi alone!
Such prestige can turn the tide!
Now he has completely opened this breach, fundamentally reversing the fighting spirit of the Yellow Turban Army.
Sure enough, when this news spread.
The Yellow Turban Army everywhere was shaken.
In the provinces and counties with advantageous battle conditions, the morale, although affected, was not enough to impact the situation.
But in provinces that were gradually declining, it was as if a breach had been opened.
——The situation changed in an instant!
Although Gu Xi had not yet reached the battlefield, these strategies aimed at the hearts of people had already dealt a blow to the Yellow Turban Army.
He seemed to have thought of everything long ago.
Then he successively sent people out in all directions.
In the land of Yu Province, he gave up rescuing the struggling Huangfu Song.
He employed the strategy of "surrounding Wei to rescue Zhao," ordering Gu Tao and Cao Cao and others to lead light cavalry straight to the Yellow Turban Army’s critical supply line at Yangzhai, forcing Bo Cai to withdraw his defenses.
This was to relieve the crisis of Huangfu Song.
And along the way, he spread rumors that the government troops had already conquered the Yellow Turban’s stronghold "Wan City."
Once more stirring chaos in people’s hearts.
At the same time, there were also various arrangements in the other states.
He had long thought of everything, ordering direct strikes at the weak links of the Yellow Turban Army, completely severing their mutual ties.
Using his overwhelming prestige.
On the battlefield and in people’s hearts, he continuously compressed the survival space of the Yellow Turban Army.
Even though he did not personally enter the various battlefields, he was already in a position of controlling everything from afar, deciding victory from a thousand miles away.
A series of arrangements quickly stabilized this precarious situation, stabilizing the perilous Great Han.
And he himself went straight to Henei to replace Lu Zhi, facing Zhang Jiao head-on. ...
.....
In Henei County.
When Gu Xi arrived here, it was as if a beam of light finally brought some improvement to the demoralized Han Army.
"The guilty minister pays respects to the Grand Tutor." At this moment, Lu Zhi was indeed in a rather poor state.
Zhang Jiao’s arrangement in Jizhou State had indeed caused him a crushing defeat.
With such a massive defeat, if the Yellow Turban Army truly attempted to perform a dragon slaying, then he would truly become a sinner to the Great Han.
This was difficult for Lu Zhi to accept.
"Don’t be like this, Zi Gan." Gu Xi waved his hand, his demeanor calm, "Zhang Jiao’s reputation in Jizhou State is indeed high, and it is difficult for you to contend with it. This matter is not your fault."
Lu Zhi still kept his head low, unwilling to rise.
At this time, a youth with an extraordinary appearance quickly stood up from behind him and helped him up.
This young man had plump earlobes and long arms.
In this era, possessing features different from ordinary people often hinted at an extraordinary destiny.
"Who are you?" Gu Xi asked with interest as he looked at the young man.
The young man seemed not to expect Gu Xi to suddenly address him, and after being stunned for a moment, he quickly bowed and replied, "Grand Tutor, my name is Liu Bei, courtesy name Xuan De."
"A descendant of King Jing of Zhongshan."
"A disciple of Master Lu."
Lu Zhi quickly added, pointing to several people inside the tent: "Grand Tutor, these are all my students."
"All have the heart to serve the country, hence they came to help me."
Gu Xi gave a slight nod, glanced at the few young people in the tent, and finally turned his gaze back to the composed Liu Bei, saying softly, "Indeed extraordinary."
This remark instantly froze the atmosphere inside the tent.
No one expected that Gu Xi would actually evaluate Lu Zhi’s student.
With Gu Xi’s status, his remark was enough to make someone famous throughout the land, greatly aiding their future official career.
Liu Bei was both surprised and overjoyed, showing an expression of disbelief on his face, and hurriedly bowed to express his gratitude.
But Gu Xi simply waved his hand.
Gu Xi waved his hand, as he had only mentioned it in passing; although Liu Bei indeed possessed extraordinary qualities, it was not enough to warrant his particular attention.
Subsequently, he began working on arranging the upcoming strategies.
Gu Xi seemed to have thought of everything in advance and then began to meticulously arrange the upcoming strategies.
Although Zhang Jiao’s methods did take him by surprise.
But for Gu Xi.
Until the Yellow Turban Army completely resolves their internal fundamental issues, they pose no real threat.
His expertise in influencing hearts is far beyond what others can achieve.
Zhang Jiao’s methods, he had already encountered during the times of providing disaster relief.
He swiftly made a series of arrangements.
First, he had people spread the news that he had already arrived in Jizhou State.
Zhang Jiao’s prestige in Jizhou State is indeed unparalleled by others!
But how could it compare to Gu Xi?
Who is Gu Xi?
——A descendant of the Gu Clan!
The Gu Clan’s operation in Hebei over the years was not in vain.
Especially in the time of Gu Kang’s generation.
If asked, which of the states and counties in the world holds the most solemn commemoration of Gu Kang today, it is undoubtedly Jizhou!
Gu Kang really elevated the whole of Jizhou to another height.
Whether it was fertile fields or water management, it all began in Jizhou.
And Gu Xi had long been regarded as the earthly incarnation of Gu Kang.
This kind of prestige is not something Zhang Jiao could surpass with his ten years of development.
This move instantly affected the morale of the Yellow Turban Army.
Even Zhang Jiao could not completely stop it.
Following that, Gu Xi also held a sacrificial ceremony, leading the army to honor the ancestors of the Great Han and Gu Kang, and publicly denounced the crimes of the Yellow Turban!
This move greatly revitalized the morale of the Han Army!
At the same time, Gu Xi also successively created man-made miracles, fundamentally impacting the Yellow Turban Army’s morale once again.
And then, Gu Xi prepared the army.
——Returning to Jizhou.
He wanted to demonstrate an extremely proactive stance.
In terms of momentum, he suppressed Zhang Jiao’s influence!
Gu Xi’s name was indeed too prominent.
A religious organization like the Taiping Dao did indeed greatly enhance its spreadability.
But following that, it also made these followers even more obsessed with superstitions and prophecies!
In terms of superstitions and prophecies, Zhang Jiao may have elevated himself considerably.
But how could he compare to the Gu Clan?
From the time of Gu Kang, the Gu Clan has been shrouded in various legends.
Not to mention, Gu Xi later went on to conquer natural disasters, having never been defeated in his life.
The legends surrounding him far surpassed those of Zhang Jiao, which greatly affected the morale of the entire Yellow Turban Army.
And the most crucial part is that Gu Xi had already opened a breach.
As long as those who surrender not only avoid punishment.
They also have a chance to obtain land.
But as long as they stubbornly resist, it not only endangers their own lives, but their family faces the risk of being implicated.
Under these circumstances, how could the Yellow Turban Army maintain their morale?
Zhang Jiao’s advantage when facing Lu Zhi.
Now vanished completely.
And in this situation, despite having more troops, the Yellow Turban Army surprisingly started to weaken gradually.
First, the Yellow Turban in Linzhang County had people coming to surrender one after another.
Gu Xi seized the opportunity to send troops straight to Linzhang, crossing the Zhang River on the twentieth of March to seize Chizhang County and Ye County.
Completely cutting off Ye City and Handan.
During this period, Zhang Jiao certainly wouldn’t sit idly by.
He successively dispatched troops.
But without exception, without his personal leadership, facing the large army personally led by Gu Xi, these Yellow Turban forces often succumbed to internal turmoil, affecting the entire battlefield.
There was simply no way to stop Gu Xi.
This is the downside of a reversal in prestige!
Facing others.
Zhang Jiao’s followers were mostly fervent for him.
But now, facing Gu Xi, they ultimately couldn’t maintain absolute fervor.
——People are ultimately influenced by their environment.
When Zhang Jiao’s prestige could no longer overshadow Gu Xi’s, this backlash became particularly evident. ...
