Chapter 764 36: Changing Times in Kyushu, the Peril of National Ruin

Time flows swiftly.

The various endeavors of the Gu Clan overseas remain unknown within Kyushu.

Although due to the influence of maize, the maritime activities in Kyushu have once again experienced large-scale development, those wishing to match the Gu Clan's generations of accumulated overseas ventures in a short time are as delusional as dreaming.

The naval routes crisscrossed by the Gu Clan's fleet, their long-established overseas trading posts and bases, and their unfathomable financial and technological reserves, remain their most solid ramparts, leaving newcomers awestruck.

....

....

Great Song.

It has been over a cycle of sixty years since Duke Wuxiang, Gu Jin, passed away, and while the landscape of Shenzhou remains unchanged, the atmosphere has become different.

The seeds sown by Gu Jin in those days have now grown into towering trees.

Thanks to the unprecedented prosperity of maritime and domestic trade, caravans travel incessantly along the Grand Canal and official roads, the annual income of the Maritime Trade Bureau repeatedly hits new highs, and the size and prosperity of the cities far exceed those of decades ago.

Yet the most significant transformation lies in the balance of civil and military affairs.

The far-reaching impact of the system established by the founding emperor Zhao Kuangyin, which enshrined the Gu Clan as the foremost "Martial Sect" of the realm, exceeded the imagination of people at the time.

Over the years, the Gu Clan has infused the military with a unique and formidable spirit through the "Martial Sect" system.

Outside of the Secretariat and Ministry of War, a military system centered around the Gu Clan, Yang family, and Zhong family has already taken form, resting with the state yet maintaining a certain detachment.

The "Yang Family Army" of the Celestial Wave Mansion Yang family and the "Zhong Family Army" of the northwestern Zhong family, formidable troops, nominally belong to the court, but many of their core officers hail from the Gu Clan's military academy or have a Gu background. Their training, tactics, and even parts of their equipment systems bear the deep imprint of the Gu Clan.

They remain the sharpest blade of the Great Song, defending against Liao to the north and Western Xia to the west, safeguarding this beautiful landscape.

However, the world is progressing beyond just the Song.

In the north, the Liao state, building on the foundations laid by the capable minister Wang Yingchen, has deeply ingrained the "farming and warfare system" into its core.

The vast steppe and cultivated lands are both the cradle of warhorses and warriors and the granary that sustains prolonged warfare.

The Emperor of Liao is firmly seated in the Central Capital; his imperial tent army, tribal forces, and the Han Army, trained in imitation of the Song, are well-equipped and increasingly agile in tactics.

Though they temporarily halted their southern invasions, they continue to hone their forces, keeping a vigilant eye on the movements of their southern neighbors, with the national power steadily rising under an efficient militarized management, resilient and robust.

What draws even more attention is Western Xia.

Li Yuanhao is indeed an unparalleled hero.

Not only did he completely assimilate the Western Capital roads seized in earlier years, but he also directed his military might westward and toward the Hetao region, annexing Various Qiang, allying with Huigu, gaining valuable warhorses and strategic maneuvering space.

Emulating the strengths of the Song and Liao, he established a more centralized and efficient military-political system, creating the "Iron Hawk" heavy cavalry and the "Foot Soldiers" mountain elite, relying heavily on the Heng Mountain's strategic passes, turning Western Xia into a porcupine, difficult to attack but deadly in defense.

He skillfully exploited the conflicts between the Song and Liao, maneuvering deftly to ensure Western Xia not only survived between the two mighty neighbors but pushed its national power to its peak since founding.

And it is precisely because of the continuous development of the three parties.

Thus, the tripartite confrontation among Song, Liao, and Xia manifests a dynamic yet solid balance.

Despite the Great Song's vast wealth, well-trained troops, and ample provisions, it is constrained by the predicament of battling on two fronts: a northern expedition invites Western Xia's border disturbances, and a western campaign sees Liao cavalry moving south, limiting the full exertion of its power.

While Liao's foundations are strong, internal tribal conflicts pose a latent threat, and faced with a militarily adept Great Song, efforts to advance south have repeatedly been thwarted.

Western Xia, though strong, is ultimately small in territory and sparse in population, strategically defensive, with its expansion limits already appearing.

This chaotic world is distinctly different from the original historical trajectory due to the variables sown by Gu Jin back in the day.

Without weakness and humiliation, the Great Song stands arrogantly in the East.

However, the dawning of a unified world is nowhere in sight among them.

The contest among the three states extends from overt military confrontations to covert economic competitions, diplomatic coalitions, and the anticipation of a chance to shatter the balance.

Kaifeng.

Today's Emperor of Great Song, Zhao Lihui, is the great-great-grandson of Zhao Kuangyin.

History has indeed undergone tremendous changes, even to the point of completely altering the succession on the throne, yet in many aspects, Gu Yi can still see numerous traces of the original history.

For example, Zhao Lihui's disposition is strikingly similar to that of Emperor Renzong in original history.

His character is broad-minded and benevolent.

When facing his ministers, he is extraordinarily amicable.

Of course, there are also shortcomings.

That is, compared to Emperor Renzong in original history, Zhao Lihui is noticeably more naive.

Perhaps it is truly fate, or perhaps due to the influence of his father.

Since Zhao Kuangyin's passing.

Every emperor of the Great Song seemed to possess this trait.

Of course, the Gu Clan might also contribute to this, as they shielded these emperors from all the storms, leaving them free from court intrigues.

The presence of the Gu Clan allowed them the opportunity to indulge.

This might still affect some things.

However, all this is not a concern at present, as long as the Gu Clan remains active in the court, these emperors are insufficient to affect the Great Song's foundation.

Notably—

Now, the ideological tide across Kyushu is also on the rise.

Since the Hundred Schools of Thought once again emerged during the early Song era, Kyushu's ideas have been continuously evolving, especially after experiencing a series of debates between various schools across the states.