I Can Control My Ancestors-Chapter 254 - 26: Scouring the Land, End of an Era
In the second year of Zhangwu, in March;
Gu Chen once again led the army out, heading towards all the states under the heavens, continuing to strive towards his own goals.
In fact, Liu Bei had not failed to suggest that Gu Chen might return to Luoyang with him.
After all, Gu Chen was no longer young.
And Gu Chen had no heirs.
Not only Liu Bei, but even Gu Wei and Gu Ze, among other brothers, had advised Gu Chen.
But a person like Gu Chen was destined not to stop.
No matter what.
Gu Chen had to do everything he needed to while he was still alive;
In this campaign, close generals of Liu Bei like Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and Zhao Yun were also involved;
During this period in Julu.
Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun, and others successively sought out Gu Chen for sparring.
The results, of course, were without surprise.
All three lost to Gu Chen during the sparring, and though it was just practice and not a fight to the death, it still made the three feel Gu Chen’s extraordinariness.
Not to mention Zhao Yun and Zhang Fei, even the immensely proud Guan Yu finally submitted completely.
Originally, they had no issue with Gu Chen.
After this battle, everyone was even more utterly convinced by Gu Chen.
Everyone acknowledged.
Among all the heroes of this chaotic era, Gu Chen was a singular presence, even Liu Bei could not compare.
During this mobilization, Gu Chen’s methods were far more ruthless than before.
Not only in states and counties he hadn’t dealt with.
Including the Capital Region, Bingzhou State, and Jingzhou State, previously occupied by Liu Bei.
Gu Chen sought to clear away all fortifications and draw more detailed maps, to prepare for the future.
This was like a more severe and meticulous land survey.
Only by taking advantage of the recent end of chaos.
When the prestige of Gu Chen and Liu Bei was at its peak, could this be accomplished.
Of course, this process was destined to be difficult.
Even if the noble families did not dare openly resist Gu Chen’s sharpness, they would still find ways to hide their strength.
Yet all these strategies were indeed too naive for Gu Chen.
—The times have completely changed!
Gu Chen did not need to consider the consequences of each matter.
He only needed to use the most decisive methods to solve the strategies the noble families painstakingly devised.
In just two months;
Gu Chen directly cleared all the fortifications within Qing Province;
Dispersed nearly fifty thousand private soldiers hidden by the noble families, confiscated countless stored weapons and armor;
And forcibly reclaimed the land occupied by the noble families for the court.
Leaving it for future allocation.
In October;
Gu Chen’s forces passed through Xuzhou State, consecutively removing fortifications of local powerful families;
Among them were clans of aristocratic children who followed Liu Bei and Gu Chen, but Gu Chen did not spare them;
He merely absolved them of guilt;
Still abolished the most core foundations of the noble families;
And checked the private soldiers hidden by the noble families in the mountains and forests, punishing their clans;
Executed several hundred people successively.
The news spread, causing a great shock across the world!
At the same time, Liu Bei also issued an edict from Luoyang to announce to the world, abolishing the plan of appointing provincial governors by Emperor Ling, reinstating "Gu’s School", and restructuring the examination system.
Apart from candidates recommended by the examination system;
Talented people across the country could choose to participate in the unified examinations within states and counties;
Those who passed could come to the capital for further examination and earn different official positions based on their scores.
The grand curtain of the imperial examination system was completely raised throughout the country.
However, this did not attract much attention from the noble families and common people.
The common people did not understand the crux of this matter;
While the noble families were more terrified of Gu Chen’s thunderous methods at this time.
Subsequently, Liu Bei, based on the maps sent back by Gu Chen, first announced the crime of the noble families causing turmoil in the country in Luoyang, and exiled those awaiting sentencing, ordering them to reclaim wasteland in various places.
The world roared!
The thunderous methods of Liu Bei and Gu Chen could be said to have completely surpassed the past emperors.
Even Emperor Guangwu of former times had not achieved this extent.
From ancient times to the present;
Only Liu Bei and Gu Chen were able to disregard everything to achieve what they have now.
More and more noble families fled to Jiangdong;
By now, perhaps truly sensing the crisis, even the noble families in Jiangdong had no choice but to forsake all grudges, trying every possible means to resist this overwhelming torrent.
However, Gu Chen was not in a hurry; he continued to advance systematically.
With people like Xun Yu, Gu Wei, and Zhuge Liang who are skilled in internal administration;
Gu Chen only needed to expand territories.
And they were enough to help Gu Chen handle all the aftermath.
In the third year of Zhangwu;
Gu Chen once again stepped into Yu and Yang;
In a matter of months, he completely eradicated all the noble families in Yu and Yang.
The noble families exhausted all their means.
Whether by joining forces to resist or designing schemes against Gu Chen in secret, none worked.
In fact, if they could incite the commoners to chaos, it would definitely affect Gu Chen’s advancement.
But in front of Gu Chen.
How could they possibly incite the people?
What was left for them was only annihilation;
Perhaps truly understanding what real despair meant, some noble families even chose to go to the Barbarians, just wanting to preserve their entire clan.
But Gu Chen remained unmoved, only sending people to deliver messages to the Barbarians around.
Making trouble for the Great Han; helping rebellious noble families;
Would surely bring upon them the military force of the Great Han;
Even the Barbarians around today could not possibly ignore Gu Chen’s words.
The legends of the Gu Clan through generations were now completely endowed upon Gu Chen.
There were indeed some willing to take the risk;
After all, for these backward tribes, an entire noble family could indeed provide enormous help.
But ultimately, this was the rare exception.
