Chapter 756 - 32: The Death of Gu Jin

At the same time, he was also closely monitoring the subtle changes in the Yan Yun region.

Nurtured by a series of policies from Gu Jin, the war-ravaged lands of Yan Yun were finally beginning to slowly and steadily regain vitality.

The Imperial Censorate was indeed overly mature.

Especially with the prior experience of developing the Northern Han’s land, everything in the Yan Yun region now proceeded smoothly.

As restrictions on corn cultivation were gradually lifted, this high-yield crop quickly took root in the relatively spacious lands of Yan Yun.

Although it did not immediately solve all problems, it genuinely became a "stabilizing force" attracting refugees to settle down.

Coupled with tax reduction policies, people migrating from Hebei, Hedong, and even further began to establish new homes on the desolate fields.

The "workshop districts" established in Youzhou, Shunzhou, Tan Province, and other places began taking shape.

Relying on the local existing livestock and forest resources, woolen, leather, and wood processing workshops gradually emerged.

Officials dispatched by the Imperial Censorate, under the supervision of the Gu Clan, despite some frictions, largely ensured the execution of policies, gradually incorporating the output of Yan Yun into the Great Song’s trade network, using industry to supplement agriculture, and commerce to promote industry.

However, the pace of recovery was far slower than expected.

The forced migration and destruction during Wang Yingchen’s retreat significantly reduced the population base, leaving many prefectures and counties sparsely populated with only scattered lights at night.

Although bandits were eradicated, they occasionally reappeared, and the border was sometimes harassed by remnants of the Liao Army or newly rising tribes.

Although everything was continuously improving, the foundation remained fragile, like a sapling struggling to take root in a storm, far from providing shade.

Gu Jin indeed had already given his all.

In this era, developing such a mature trade system was already quite remarkable.

If given some more time, he would certainly bring the entire Yan Yun back to prosperity.

Thus allowing the Great Song’s national strength to reach another peak, and at that time, unifying the world wouldn’t be just an unrealistic dream.

Unfortunately, time was no longer on his side.

...

The fourteenth year of Tongyuan, autumn.

Kaifeng.

An invisible gloom covered the entire Kaifeng Prefecture.

Outside the Grand Tutor’s residence, crowds surged; almost all the high-ranking court officials gathered here, and even Zhao Dezhao, who never left his home, came, his face full of sorrow.

Everyone understood what this meant.

This Grand Tutor, who strategized and stabilized the empire, couldn’t hold on any longer!

Inside the bedroom.

Seeing Zhao Dezhao walk in, Gu Jin immediately tried to sit upright, but Zhao Dezhao stopped him.

"Grand Tutor, what is the meaning of this?" Zhao Dezhao almost cried as he spoke.

"Your Majesty... your old minister... fears he can no longer serve at your side." Gu Jin tightly stared at Zhao Dezhao, his cloudy eyes full of worry: "I... must go meet Emperor Taizu!"

"Grand Tutor, do not speak like this, the Great Song cannot be without you!" Zhao Dezhao immediately panicked, holding tightly onto Gu Jin’s hand: "How can you leave me?"

Gu Jin slowly shook his head, gasped for a moment, gathered all his strength, and began his last admonition, also his final concern for this state and society.

"After my death, the administration... should firstly prioritize Yan Yun!" His finger weakly traced in the air, seemingly pointing northward, "The recovery of Yan Yun is not easy, the assimilation even harder... Wang Yingchen retreated northward, yet his ambition remains; Western Xia pledges allegiance, yet its intentions are unpredictable!"

"Ten years... at least need ten years of growth, the benefit of tax exemptions should not be lightly abandoned, the migration policy must not be interrupted... ensure the people settle in peace, the soldiers excel in governance..."

"Only then... can it become the iron wall of the Northern Border, rather than... a burden to the court!"

His words struck like a heavy hammer on every minister’s heart.

Then, his gaze swept over the gathered court officials, finally resting again on Zhao Dezhao, filled with indescribable complex emotions, with concern, expectation, but more deeply undisguised worry and unwillingness.

"Your Majesty... though benevolent and generous, yet... yet matters of the world are like rowing upstream, not to advance is to fall back!"

"Hope Your Majesty... embraces virtuous ministers, distances from villains, accepts loyal advice, and discerns right from wrong!"

"The Imperial Censorate... is a crucial state instrument, used rightly, the administration thrives, used wrongly, disasters arise... Your Majesty should... should personally wield power, and see clearly..."

As he said this, a violent cough interrupted him, his cheeks flushed unnaturally, chest heaving intensely.

He clutched the bed edge fiercely, his nails almost digging into the wood, using his last strength to emit a cry near to blood-tearing:

"I... am not reconciled!"

"Kyushu... dark currents surge... the wilderness of Youzhou yet unprosperous, the threats of the northern border unresolved, the court... the court..." He wanted to advise Zhao Dezhao to be ruthless, wanted to say he foresaw possible future strife and slackness, but in the end, a thousand words turned into a long sigh.

He couldn’t change a person’s nature.

Zhao Dezhao was like this, his progeny was the same!

This was what Gu Jin worried about most.

But he ultimately couldn’t say anything.

Tears trickled down constantly, Zhao Dezhao kept nodding, agreeing to everything Gu Jin said.

But the more he did so, the more uneasy Gu Jin became.

"Grand Tutor! Grand Tutor..." Zhao Dezhao kept calling out to him.

But Gu Jin just waved his hand, only looking at the family members beside him, his entire gaze underwent a dramatic change.

Although he said nothing, all the family members immediately understood his meaning!

The responsibility of the Gu Clan wasn’t for the rise or fall of a single surname, but for the stability of Kyushu!

This was something Gu Jin often said.

They understood Gu Jin’s meaning.

If one day, history repeats itself, the Gu Clan must never retreat again, because the chaotic world can’t endure another great turmoil, which may cause the division of Kyushu.

This was something the Gu Clan absolutely couldn’t allow.

All the family members nodded in silence, and in such a situation,

The hand Gu Jin tightly gripped on the quilt finally released powerlessly.

The fourteenth year of Tongyuan, autumn.

The Grand Tutor of the Great Song, Patriarch of the Gu Clan, Gu Jin, passed away in Kaifeng.

.....

(Ps: During the double days, I implore for monthly votes, I greatly thank my brothers for their support!!! There will be an extra Chapter at midnight tonight, for the brothers washing dishes to check out.)