Chapter 757 - 33: Changing Eras, the Gu Clan’s Name Resounds Across the World

An illustrious era will eventually come to an end.

Gu Jin’s passing struck the Great Song like a bolt from the blue.

Although he had made many arrangements, taking into account all the essential matters the Great Song was facing, it could never match the strategic acumen he displayed during his lifetime.

Yet, nothing in this world is perfect; even with countless strategies, what can be achieved?

It was the same for Gu Jin, just as it was for the brothers Zhao Kuangyin and Zhao Guangyi.

Their ideals, their ambitions, and the efforts they poured into them all their lives, ultimately could not withstand the passage of time, destined to slowly fade away in the river of epochs.

...

Liao Kingdom, Kaijing.

The news of Gu Jin’s death was relayed here promptly.

For Liao, this was undoubtedly unprecedented good news, even celebrated by the entire nation.

However, Wang Yingchen alone wore a faint trace of indistinct desolation between his brows.

His greatest adversary in this life was gone.

This was naturally a moment of joy.

But for someone of his proud and ambitious nature, it also became an irreparable regret.

Notably, even after suffering a crushing defeat at Juyong Pass, Wang Yingchen’s position in the Liao court remained unshaken. Yelv Xian placed complete trust in him, hoping that one day he could avenge the disgrace — but now it seems, that day will never come.

For Liao, this might be a blessing;

Yet for him, it was nothing worth celebrating.

More crucially —

His remaining time was running short.

He was older than Gu Jin by a few years, far from his youth. Even if he had not expended as much effort as Gu Jin, how many years could he possibly have left?

The nation remained unchanged, the state as it was.

Sadly, their era was quietly and silently retreating.

Western Xia, Xingqing Prefecture, deep within the palace.

The smell of medicine permeated the bedchamber, and the once shrewd Western Xia Emperor Li Deming now lay on the dragon couch, barely clinging to life.

The Crown Prince Li Yuanhao knelt before the bed, tightly clutching his father’s emaciated hand, his young and resolute face full of anxiety and unwillingness.

"Father..." Li Yuanhao’s voice carried suppressed excitement, "Gu Jin has died! This is a godsend opportunity! Our grand nation should sharpen its weapons and realize its grand ambitions!"

Li Deming shook his head with difficulty, yet in his turbid eyes, the last thread of clarity and sharpness flashed. He gripped his son’s hand firmly, his voice weak yet extraordinarily clear:

"Yuanhao... my son... do not... act rashly..."

He had to pause for breath every few words.

"Even though Gongsun... is dead, the foundation of the Great Song... remains unshaken. Zhao Dezhao... may not be a valiant ruler, yet... the team left by Gu Jin... is still intact, the Yan Yun defense line... is set. At this time... to compete with them, is no different... than striking a stone with an egg..."

"What about Liao..." Li Yuanhao asked hurriedly.

"Wang Yingchen... is old, but... his influence persists, the Liao Kingdom... a dying camel... is still larger than a horse..." Li Deming said haltingly, "Our Western Xia... may have newly acquired the Western Capital Road, seemingly... greatly expanded in territory, but in fact... internally unstable, all the tribes... need time to digest... acting rashly now, will surely lead to... being sandwiched between Song and Liao..."

He took a deep breath, exhausting his strength, staring intently at Li Yuanhao: "Remember... my son... be patient! Develop national strength... consolidate the foundation... establish relations with the various tribes in West River and Longyou... stockpile grain and provisions."

"Song and Liao... are both colossal entities, not... something to be targeted overnight."

"Wait until there are... internal changes, or... new rulers are incompetent... that will be our time... to rise!"

"Do not... imitate that... Gongsun Shu... acting prematurely... inviting... catastrophic disaster..."

Li Deming’s gaze gradually became vacant, but he still tightly held Li Yuanhao’s hand, leaving his final admonition: "Submitting... and paying tribute... are merely temporary measures... so long as we can survive... and grow... temporary humiliation... is nothing..."

"One day... when the time comes... you... can decide for yourself..."

As his voice faded, Li Deming’s hand finally fell limp, and this powerful figure who carved out a place for Western Xia amid the conflicts between the Song and Liao, passed away quietly, just like Gu Jin, unable to withstand the change of eras.

Li Yuanhao knelt before the bed, tears continually slipping from his eyes, but he remained silent for a long time, his hands tightly clenched into fists.

What followed was the national mourning and the ascension of a new ruler.

The splendid epoch had indeed passed.

Yet, each subsequent successor would rise on the wings of aspiration.

...

Time flies, years pass like a shuttle.

With the death of successive heroes, the entire Kyushu once again experienced a rare period of peace.

No, it cannot be said to be due to the death of these heroes.

Rather, it was because each nation needed recuperation.

The Great Song needed to integrate Yan Yun, Liao needed to lick its wounds, Western Xia especially had to absorb the Western Capital Road.

Each country had its own goals.

This inevitably prevented the resurgence of large-scale wars.

It is worth noting that Wang Yingchen also passed away.

In the winter of the seventeenth year of Tongyuan, this chancellor who once revitalized the Liao Kingdom, also closed his eyes, couldn’t hold on, and ended peacefully in Kaijing.

In fact, this outcome was already quite rare for someone like him.

Wang Yingchen had offended too many people.

It was fortunate that Yelv Xian was still alive, and Yelv Xian was a very benevolent Emperor, otherwise, his fate would not have been much better than those of the Legalist School throughout history.

It is worth noting——

He suppressed the Liao soldiers’ desire to retaliate against the Great Song upon Gu Jin’s death, stating at the time that Liao had not yet recovered, and Gu Jin must have left some backup.

In fact, he was not wrong.