Chapter 804 - 50: Carrying the Fierce Legacy of Five Generations, Kyushu Unites as One (Part 1)

——The great battle suddenly erupted.

Great Song, naturally, was the first to receive news of the various happenings within the Liao, yet it did not take heed.

In fact, Gu Rui had long arranged everything.

Whether it’s the Liao kingdom or Western Xia.

Internal conflicts within the two countries were within Gu Rui’s expectations.

This was certain.

Continuous oppression will inevitably lead to the people’s resistance, not to mention that the tribal systems of Western Xia and the Liao kingdom are impossible to completely eradicate.

Regarding this, Great Song was already fully aware!

The first year of the Huangi-era, thunderbolts startled the heavens and the earth.

——After three years of deep immersion, Great Song, the colossal war beast that once dominated the seas, finally awoke fully, once again revealing its sharp teeth capable of engulfing all eight directions.

The horn for unification resounded from the Central Plains to the borders.

Gu Lin upheld the strategic plans left by Gu Rui, ordered the armies from the four directions to mobilize, swearing to complement the missing parts on the Nine Provinces Geomancy Map in the Grand Tutor’s mansion.

For a time, the entire country was in motion.

The iron tide surged on the eastern front, warhorses neighed long on the western front; smoke and fire arose again on the Liaodong Peninsula, and even in the barely settled Western Regions, the war drums thundered, this time not mere probing by a detached force, nor with primary and secondary fronts, but a four-pronged advance, with powerful momentum!

There was no need to elaborate on military tactics; this was pure projection of national power, the release of a century’s accumulation.

——This was the extraordinary strength accumulated over five generations.

From expanding territories to diligent governance, and then to covert preparation, the foundation built by the Gu Clan over five generations was enough to support Great Song wielding its blades against two countries simultaneously.

No, perhaps it’s not just five generations.

It should rather be said that it’s the millennium of accumulation by the Gu Clan— from the people’s steadfast belief in the Gu surname, to the literary seeds planted by Gu Academy over a century, and to the unending voyages beyond the seas for hundreds of years...

All of this formed the basis for Great Song’s confidence to swallow ten thousand miles like a tiger today.

Even if Western Xia and the Liao kingdom refuse to give up, so what?

Even if they resist desperately, it would only delay things somewhat.

Great Song was too strong.

This strength had surpassed the single concept of Kyushu, and included overseas territories as well.

The foundation of Kyushu....the supplies from overseas.

All of these had already elevated Great Song to a brand-new height, sufficient to support Great Song in crushing all barriers, with no concern over the plans between Western Xia and the Liao kingdom.

One by one, the soldiers and horses began to move.

And as the news continued to spread, all of Kyushu was once again stunned!

Countless scholars sang praises and eagerly wished to witness this re-unification of Kyushu after hundreds of years.

In Kaifeng, in Luoyang, in Jiangnan...

The storytellers in the taverns and tea houses slapped the woodblocks loudly, spitting as they narrated the cunning schemes of Gu Jin and Gu Rui from past generations and the thunderous decisions of Gu Lin today.

Countless scholars passed on the news, too excited to contain themselves.

They continuously recited the latest battle reports and manifestos from various places, seeing these as the beginning of the flourishing of the literary tradition and the revival of the imperial path, an undertaking to end centuries of chaos and to reinstate the grand spectacle of "Under heaven, none are not the Emperor’s lands."

This stemmed from cultural confidence.

And not just the scholars of Great Song; it was the same for those between Western Xia and the Liao kingdom.

——The unification of Kyushu!

Even amidst the rivalries of various countries, no one would forget this core concept.

If previously there was no chance, then so be it.

But as the situation has become so apparent now, these scholars have long abandoned their surface hostility and have begun to prepare to welcome the new prosperous era.

Western Xia, Xingqing Prefecture’s Imperial Palace.

Empress Dowager Liang listened behind the curtains, her knuckles white as she clenched the military report, her face behind the pearl curtains pale and bloodless.

In the hall, the ministers were silent as cicadas in winter; only the young emperor, Li Qianshun, tightly pursed his lips, his eyes brimming with humiliation and unwillingness.

At this moment, nearly all Western Xia nobles couldn’t help but think of a question.

——What if Emperor Jingzong were still here!

Emperor Jingzong was Li Yuanhao’s posthumous title.

He was the most accomplished emperor Western Xia had ever seen, even eclipsing the founding emperor Li Deming.

Only in his era was Western Xia at its strongest.

Facing the Great Song or the Liao kingdom, Western Xia would not have to bow its head.

In the past, no one would naturally recall Li Yuanhao’s achievements.

But now it’s completely different.

Western Xia is about to fall!

Yet the same phrase holds, even knowing this, how could they possibly give up?

Not to mention the Western Xia royal family and nobility; these people cannot escape.

Even if the Gu Clan doesn’t kill them, those tribes they’ve oppressed over the years would certainly tear them limb from limb.

Even the Western Xia court officials were unwilling to give up at this time.

There’s no way around it; Great Song’s governance was too stringent.

They had gotten used to Western Xia’s lifestyle, how could they possibly be willing to be subjected to Great Song’s control?

Not to mention that their status wouldn’t remain the same.

Once Western Xia falls, their lives and fortunes would be completely in others’ hands; even if the Gu Clan is genuinely benevolent enough to spare them, the internal aristocrats and powerful families of Great Song would definitely divide their interests.

All this has been enacted countless times in the history of fallen dynasties.

No one would willingly give up.

But reaching the current state, they knew not how to resist.

Including Empress Dowager Liang, it was the same.

Despite holding power for years, she was still merely a woman, and at this point, she was equally at a loss.

In the end, it was still that young emperor, Li Qianshun, who slowly spoke up.

"I...will lead the expedition myself!"

At Li Qianshun’s words, the hall fell into dead silence.