Chapter 707 - 14: The Completely Divergent Paths, the War to Unify the Central Plains Begins

Zhao Guangyi eventually came.

Although he was deeply intimidated by this sudden summons from Zhao Kuangyin, he ultimately made up his mind and personally rushed to the front line from Kaifeng.

No one knew what the two brothers said inside the main tent.

Even Gu Jin did not know.

From beginning to end, he and his men stood guard outside the tent, leaving all the space for the two brothers.

And in the end, Zhao Kuangyin did not reveal the conversation between the two brothers.

He only told Gu Jin, "King Jin will not rebel anymore."

Then, he sent him back to Kaifeng.

Gu Jin fully supported Zhao Kuangyin’s decision.

In fact, from beginning to end.

He never regarded Zhao Guangyi as an extremely difficult opponent, let alone considering Zhao Kuangyin was not dead yet.

Even if Zhao Kuangyin were dead.

With his current control over all the elite forces of the Great Song, he could sweep away everything at any time.

He just did not want the Great Song to go through a civil war.

Gu Yi, of course, silently observed all this and was very curious about the various matters between the brothers Zhao Kuangyin and Zhao Guangyi.

The tale of "The Shadow of the Candle and the Sound of the Axe" is one that no one could help but be curious about.

But unfortunately, history has evidently changed.

All that was supposed to happen in history did not occur.

Zhao Kuangyin actually did not say any nonsense to Zhao Guangyi; after reminiscing for a while, he asked Zhao Guangyi a very straightforward question.

"Can you contend with the Gu Clan?"

Then he also informed Zhao Guangyi of his decision.

And Zhao Guangyi fell silent.

Even though he was a very proud person, he had to recognize himself in the face of the current Gu Clan.

Battling the Gu Clan?

How to fight?

Not to mention the overwhelming reputation of the Gu Clan, but also the fact that all the elite forces of the Great Song are still under Gu Jin’s control, which is a reality he had to accept.

Everything developed once again along a different path from the original history.

Once new ideas began to sprout.

The development of everything now can no longer be controlled.

But thinking carefully, this is inevitable.

Indeed, the Gu Clan has already done enough; since the generation of Gu Kang and Gu Cheng, the development of history has gradually blurred from the original history.

The two paths diverged but constantly merged again under the force of correction.

This is not to say that past generations of the Gu Clan did not do enough.

On the contrary, each generation did something very remarkable.

It’s just that in the face of this long blue history, what they have done has not yet reached the level of overwhelming and surpassing the corrective force.

Their emergence indeed allowed Kyushu to temporarily lead the original history.

But as these people passed away, the Gu Clan fell into a trough, and the invisible force of correction would block all this until the timelines fully converge, and the development of history once again reaches the original historical level.

Looking at the changes from later generations, the greatest change brought by the Gu Clan so far is attributed to the Yan Han dynasty.

——Gu Chen supressed an era of chaos.

Establishing a dynasty with an invincible posture.

Abandoning the throne to sweep away the Barbarians.

Laying the foundation for Yan Han to become the world’s number one.

Then to Gu Yi’s subsequent direct execution of the national integration system, which thoroughly laid the foundation for Kyushu to encompass all things.

Thinking about it carefully, only this matter has the greatest impact on the modern era.

It has already greatly counteracted the force of correction, leading the overall development of history towards another path.

But in Gu Yi’s current view, even looking at the influence caused by the Yan Han dynasty.

It is actually far less than the present.

Dynasties may fall, but ideas will live on forever.

The Confucian ideology’s influence on all of Kyushu is unimaginable, even today we can still see traces of Confucianism.

The emergence of new ideas is now impacting the core of the original history.

Once all this begins to develop beyond control.

This history naturally changes continuously.

Gu Yi feels increasingly heavy-hearted, he can hardly imagine what kind of restrictions the Gu Clan will face next; this is definitely the biggest test since the rise of the Gu Clan.

Not only do they have to bear the entire family, but also the Great Song, and the entire Kyushu.

But still, that saying remains——

The Gu Clan has no road back.

...

Time flies swiftly.

Not long after Zhao Guangyi returned to Kaifeng, the Imperial Censorate presented news again.

Those who had once incited him to rebel were all secretly executed.

This seemed to be a kind of statement, an explanation given to Zhao Kuangyin and Gu Jin.

However, neither Gu Jin nor Zhao Kuangyin paid much attention to this.

Their eyes had long been refocused on the entire Northern Han region.

"I wish to use myself as bait to lure the main forces of Northern Han into battle," Zhao Kuangyin’s voice was deep, his gaze sweeping over everyone, "What do you all think?"

The tent fell silent in an instant, followed by an uproar.

"Your Majesty! Absolutely not!"

"I am willing to go in place of Your Majesty! How could we let the Emperor take such risks?"

"This move concerns the foundation of the nation, please, Your Majesty, reconsider!"

"..."

Amidst the surge of voices, only Gu Jin stood silently, his brows furrowed deeply.

Zhao Kuangyin had already informed him of this plan. The

Emperor wanted to do everything he ought to do before his life reached its end, bearing all the slanders alone.

Don’t forget, Liu Jiwen is still alive.

The Great Song had once made many promises to him, and Zhao Kuangyin wanted to resolve these matters one by one before his departure.

Zhao Kuangyin slowly raised his hand, silencing all voices.