Chapter 728 - 22: Restoring the Gu Clan’s Glory, Major Upheaval!

Time passes swiftly.

Gu Jin suppressed all domestic voices of criticism and once again dispatched a considerable number of soldiers and resources to Liaodong, even establishing some specific policies targeting the region.

—This approach was entirely different from the gradual strategy traditionally employed by the Gu Clan.

The people of Gu Jin’s generation were evidently much more aggressive, truly seizing this opportunity to directly annex the entire Liaodong, intending to fully integrate it into Kyushu.

No—

Perhaps it shouldn’t be phrased this way.

After all, the current situation in Liaodong had fundamentally changed compared to the past generations.

The establishment of the Gu Academy and the integration with religion all invisibly intensified the penetration of Kyushu culture in the Liaodong region.

In other words, Gu Jin was not being radical but was instead responding differently based on the groundwork laid by his predecessors.

Completely reclaiming a land is not as simple as just occupying its cities.

Cultural and ideological integration among all aspects.

Only then can a land be truly reclaimed.

The Gu Clan had sown numerous seeds, and the time had come for them to bear fruit.

Gu Yi silently watched all this, feeling no ripple of emotion in his heart.

He had long anticipated this day.

It was not just the Liaodong region, but also the Western Regions and even Tubo—areas that, according to historical records, would only fully integrate into Kyushu after many years.

All of this was already within his plans.

Now witnessing it all, there was no surprise.

But what surprised him was that Wang Yingchen also had thoughts in this regard.

He truly was a leader of his era.

As a person of a Foreign Race, he rose in Kyushu.

Because he understood the differences between the two lands, he consistently promoted the integration of Liaodong into Kyushu, including addressing some bad customs within the Liao Kingdom.

No matter how one looks at it, this was indeed an unprecedented event in history.

Though the Song and Liao countries were still constantly in conflict, they showed exactly the same approach towards the lands not yet part of Kyushu.

This indeed greatly exceeded Gu Yi’s expectations.

Clearly.

History could not be completely corrected. As the Gu Clan accomplished more and more, it became impossible for everything to revert to its original course.

....

The fifth year of Tongyuan, autumn.

Outside Kaifeng City, the imperial experimental fields.

Farther away, in several fields managed by the disciples of the Gu Clan and tightly guarded by the court, the scene was bustling with people.

It was the season of the autumn harvest, which was ordinarily mundane, but these fields this year drew countless attention.

The reason was simple.

—These were the main planting grounds for corn.

Since its sowing, the corn had been controversial, even mocked as the "Grand Tutor’s fantasy" or a "useless new variety," but now it was finally time to reveal the results.

Along the field ridges, a group of young officials led by Lv Mengzheng, as well as officials from the Ministry of Agriculture, and nearby old farmers allowed to observe, all held their breath in anticipation.

Besides them.

Including the Emperor Zhao Dezhao and Gu Jin, who was often busy with state affairs, had also arrived.

For Gu Jin, this needed no further explanation.

This was an event he had always closely followed.

As for Zhao Dezhao.... it was mostly for fun.

All eyes were fixed on the strange plants in the field, taller than a person and bearing large club-shaped fruits, with discussions constantly continuing.

"Oh my mother... is that truly grain growing in the field?"

"I’ve lived for several decades, and since my great-grandfather’s time, we’ve never seen such... such odd things! The stalks are as thick as saplings, and the ears, golden and heavy, could they be goblins?"

"Old Man Wang, don’t speak nonsense! Didn’t you see that the official and the Grand Tutor are both here?"

"Look at those ears, snapping one off is as long as a child’s arm. How many can one stalk bear? Our millet barely produces much?"

"..."

"Truly bizarre... these corn ears aren’t just large, even the stalks and leaves are very sturdy. After harvesting the grain, could the stalks serve as excellent firewood or be chopped up to feed livestock? If so, it truly is a treasure... The Grand Tutor is indeed a divine being descended to earth!"

"..."

The buzz of discussion was incessant.

Even Zhao Dezhao was full of surprise at this moment, involuntarily asking Gu Jin beside him: "Grand Tutor, what will be the corn’s yield?"

"I don’t know either." Gu Jin immediately shook his head without hesitation.

Even though he had heard the specifics from Gu Qie.

But no matter how talented a person is.

When faced with something newly encountered, it’s impossible to understand everything so clearly.

Time gradually passed.

When the sun was high overhead, Gu Jin waved his hand, giving a directive.

The next moment, an official from the Ministry of Agriculture immediately signaled, announcing loudly: "Begin harvesting!"

The farmers, long prepared and filled with curiosity and caution, entered the field and, following previously taught methods, snapped off the corn cobs and placed them into baskets.

One basket, two baskets, three baskets...

The baskets at the edge of the field piled up higher and higher, the large size and vast numbers of the golden corn cobs far exceeding people’s understanding of grain crops.

And exclamations of surprise continued to echo from time to time.