Fu Shanhe

Chapter 510 Heading North to Subdue Shi
Watching the palace servants come and go in a hurry, Emperor Yongning felt a deep longing for his former subordinates.

Although those people weren't very capable and often made a mess of things, at least they were loyal.

No matter how much trouble we cause, we'll face it together.

Looking at these palace servants now, they are unwilling to say even a single unnecessary word to him, for fear of accidentally causing trouble for themselves.

Although he has returned to the throne, aside from the change in title, he is essentially still a "caged bird" under house arrest.

The difference lies in the place where he was placed under house arrest; it changed from Yanshou Palace to Yangxin Hall, which is of a higher standard.

Aside from the mandatory court assemblies, it was difficult for him to even see his court officials at other times.

He was not allowed to see any officials, let alone relatives of the emperor or nobles.

The palace guards were changed from sons of nobles to members of the Shi family.

These Liaodong soldiers were not so disciplined; they frequently humiliated palace maids, turning the palace into a chaotic mess.

"Your Majesty, please accept my condolences!"

"The Crown Prince was playing today and unfortunately fell into the water and drowned."

Upon receiving this devastating news, Emperor Yongning was completely distraught, pointing at Shi Jingfeng's nose and speechless for a long time.

The explanation that "he drowned while playing" is an insult to intelligence.

A crown prince is never short of servants; with so many palace maids and eunuchs around, how could he possibly drown?

Throughout history, there has only been one possible reason for such an event to occur—someone must have caused the prince to drown.

In fact, the tragedy was predetermined from the moment Emperor Yongning was restored to the throne.

The Shi family launched a military coup and ousted Emperor Fu'an from the throne; they would not leave this potential threat unaddressed.

Even if the Shi family's top brass didn't care, the officers and soldiers below were worried that the crown prince would launch a purge after ascending the throne.

After all, although the Shi family is now rebelling, they are still using the banner of Emperor Yongning, which leaves them with a fig leaf.

If the final veil hasn't been broken, then there's still room for maneuver.

In order to win people's hearts, Shi Jingfeng outwardly presented himself as a loyal minister.

Despite the somewhat clumsy performance, riddled with flaws, he still tried his best to play the role of a "loyal minister."

"chaos……"

The word "chaos" exhausted Emperor Yongning's last bit of strength.

"Your Majesty, you're in a bad mood right now, so feel free to vent your anger!"

If I were to scold you a few times, it would make you feel better, and this old minister can bear it!

Shi Jingfeng said with a smile.

There are already plenty of people outside who call him a traitor and a rebel, so they don't care if there's one more Emperor Yongning.

No matter how loudly they curse, it's impossible for the rumors to get out.

By choosing to target the Crown Prince, he was prepared to break with Emperor Yongning.

To be precise, the two sides have never been on the same page.

The uprising, which began under the banner of Emperor Yongning, was purely for political reasons.

The massacre in the Hall of Supreme Harmony thwarted Shi Jingfeng's possibility of pacifying the country by issuing a proclamation, greatly diminishing Emperor Yongning's political value.

Value determines treatment.

Since Emperor Yongning was unable to play his due role, he naturally wouldn't be as polite as before.

"you……"

He was seething with hatred, but Emperor Yongning couldn't bring himself to utter a single curse.

From birth until now, although I have experienced many setbacks, I have never encountered such a situation.

Even though he had been dethroned, the civil and military officials in the court still gave him face in public.

He felt wronged mainly after being placed under house arrest, but even then, no ministers would come to him seeking trouble.

"It seems His Majesty agrees with my approach, which puts my mind at ease."

"I trouble Your Majesty to draft an imperial edict to punish the rebellious factions in the southern provinces!"

Shi Jingfeng said casually.

He deliberately provoked Emperor Yongning, partly to avenge the grievances he suffered years ago, and partly to tame the puppet.

He didn't expect Emperor Yongning to cooperate sincerely; he just wanted to make this puppet emperor fear him and not dare to disobey his orders.

A few years ago, this would have been absolutely impossible.

Unfortunately, the years of confinement in the deep palace had long since dulled Emperor Yongning's arrogance.

The person is still alive, but that passionate emperor has long since died in the deep palace.

"Don't think about it!"

Emperor Yongning resolutely refused.

Although in his eyes, the officials in the southern provinces were no good either.

Compared to these treacherous officials, he can still be considered a loyal and righteous minister.

"Your Majesty, please reconsider!"

"If I cannot obtain the letter in person, I will have no choice but to send someone to invite the Empress and the Imperial Concubines over so that we can discuss this in your presence."

Shi Jingfeng threatened calmly.

There are too many lice and it doesn’t itch.

People outside say he sleeps in the emperor's bed and engages in debauchery in the palace, and he doesn't mind if it becomes a reality.

The main reason for not taking action was the fear that the provocation would be too severe, and that Emperor Yongning might suicidal.

Even if an emperor has very little political value, it's still better than having none at all.

If Emperor Yongning were to be killed, the enthusiasm of all forces in the land to serve the emperor would increase at least tenfold.

"You dare!"

They talk a big game, but they're actually incredibly insecure inside.

With the situation having developed to this point, Emperor Yongning is left with only his last shred of dignity.

If he were trampled on again, he really didn't know how he would survive.

He did not seek an opportunity to commit suicide, partly out of fear of death and partly out of hope for the loyalist army.

If the loyalist army quells the rebellion, he will still be the emperor of the Great Yu Dynasty.

At worst, he could let the nobles and relatives of the empress form a cabinet, and he could relinquish control and become a leisurely emperor. In the end, the country would belong to the Ji family.

Anyway, he's still young, and he can have a new son in the future who can inherit his throne.

Having experienced a series of setbacks, his expectations have been greatly reduced. As long as the country can continue, all other issues are negotiable.

If Liaodong Town hadn't acted so outrageously, he would have been prepared to cooperate with the Shi family.

However, these are all outdated ideas. From today onwards, there is no possibility of compromise between the two sides.

All he can do now is try to lull the rebels into a false sense of security and wait for the loyalist army to arrive.

"Your Majesty, my elder brother has fought in the north and south for so many years and has made great contributions to the court."

The mere title of admiral might discourage meritorious officials.

In my humble opinion, no one but a duke or marquis is worthy to reward his merits.

With rebellions raging across the world and the nation in decline, the cabinet system is no longer sufficient to meet the needs.

I think it would be better to reinstate the prime minister system and let the eldest brother oversee all government affairs on behalf of His Majesty, so as to end this chaotic period as soon as possible!

Seeing that Emperor Yongning was showing signs of backing down, Shi Jinglin, who was standing to the side, spoke up.

Since we are learning from Cao Cao, we should naturally learn the whole set of techniques.

The standard equipment for a prime minister is definitely indispensable.

The Chinese have always valued legitimacy and proper status. Without a suitable identity, there are obstacles to taking charge of the government.

Every time a decree was issued, it could only be issued under the emperor's banner, which was tantamount to strengthening imperial power invisibly.

If this is used too often, the people below will become accustomed to obeying the emperor's orders, which is clearly unacceptable to the Shi family.

Under the cabinet system, there are too many people in power, making it unsuitable for strengthening centralization of power.

The ancient position of "Prime Minister" is undoubtedly the best choice.

This kind of thing should normally be brought up at the court meeting.

However, having learned from their previous experiences, the Shi family was also somewhat afraid.

If there are still loyal ministers in the court who disapprove of their actions and jump out to disrupt things at a crucial moment, it will be another farce.

Frequent changes are tantamount to telling the outside world that they lack control over the court.

"If you've all thought it through, then you can draft the decree yourselves."

The imperial seal is in your hands; simply affix it yourself. Why bother asking me?

Since we're going to do it anyway, let's just do it all at once and not bother with bestowing titles or ranks.

He was directly granted the title of King and the Nine Bestowments, and appointed Grand Tutor, Chancellor, and General-in-Chief. He was granted the authority to establish his own government and was entitled to the same rank as the Three Excellencies. He was allowed to wear a sword and shoes to court, and was exempt from bowing upon entering the court. He was also granted special privileges for entering and leaving the court.

Emperor Yongning said through gritted teeth.

Despite repeated attempts to force him to resign, these guys completely ignored him.

The abolition of the cabinet and the establishment of a prime minister, seemingly a simple adjustment of the political system, was in fact another blow to imperial power.

Let's go all out and throw out everything the Shi family wants, and see if they dare to take it.

"Haha..." "Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty. Granting me the position of Prime Minister is sufficient; nothing else is necessary for now!"

Shi Jingfeng resolutely refused.

These methods of plotting to usurp the throne were so numerous that they were equated with treacherous officials and rebels.

With the Shi family's current strength, they are not yet capable of making enemies of all the forces in the world.

Once the ambitions are revealed to the outside world in advance, those procrastinating armies from the south that are waiting to come to the aid of the emperor will probably immediately march on the capital.

……

Nanjing City.

As various armies came to the aid of the emperor, things became increasingly lively.

The pleasure quarters along the Qinhuai River, in particular, were bustling with activity.

The local generals from various provinces had never seen such a grand scene before, and many of them were dazzled as soon as they entered.

Besides the thriving business in the red-light district, the gambling dens, large and small, throughout the city were also making a fortune.

Behind the prosperity, a series of public security problems have also emerged.

Jealousy and rivalry often lead to fights and brawls.

Petty theft, rape, and kidnapping also occurred frequently.

Local government officials dared not and were incapable of dealing with these military leaders.

"My lords, all these cases were caused by the loyalist army."

The army that came to the aid of the emperor was called a "bandit army" by the people, who hated it with a passion.

If military discipline isn't enforced soon, Yingtian Prefecture might be ruined before the war even breaks out!

Governor Zhuang Yuanjia said indignantly.

He had anticipated that the guest army's discipline would be poor, but he never expected it to be this bad.

The officials below him came to complain every day, and the governor even sent people to negotiate with them personally, but the results were still minimal.

"The Ministry of War has strictly ordered all units not to leave their camps without authorization, but those soldiers are outwardly compliant but inwardly defiant."

They agree verbally, but then forget about it the next minute.

The Marquis of Hanshui will arrive next month, and then the army sent to defend the emperor will set off. Let's be patient for now!

Minister of War Shi Qingchen said with a troubled expression.

It's not that he didn't want to enforce military discipline; it's just that military discipline was impossible to enforce.

The armies sent to defend the emperor in various regions were mostly hastily assembled forces, and even the commanders could not fully control their troops.

They wanted to make an example of someone to warn others, but they were also worried about it causing a mutiny.

"Lord Shi, we can pretend we don't see it, but the people can't stand it!"

If we continue to let these guys run rampant, they'll cause big trouble sooner or later.

The closer a major war is to breaking out, the more necessary it is to maintain military discipline.

They're just a bunch of rabble now.

"If we go to the battlefield, not only will we be unable to help, but we might even hinder the Allied forces!"

Provincial Governor Zheng Zonghan followed suit.

The six ministries, being high above, could disregard the influence on the common people, but these local officials could not.

Allowing these military leaders to cause trouble will not only damage their reputation, but also affect everyone's livelihood.

At first, it was just jealousy and harassment of ordinary people, but now it has escalated to the point of robbing caravans outside the city.

If it weren't for the intervention of the local garrison, they would have even taken back the pleasure boats on the Qinhuai River.

Instead of helping when problems arise, they expect others to spend a lot of money to hire the local garrison.

If this continues, all the merchants in the city will run off to pay protection money to the military, and who will care about the governor's office anymore!
"In the name of the six ministries, issue a strongly worded official document."

If they continue to disobey orders, then arrest a few ringleaders as a warning to others.

The evidence against the remaining individuals will be collected by the governor's office and handed over to the Marquis of Hanshui for further processing!

Minister of Justice An Jingzhi then made the suggestion.

These loyalist armies represented not only themselves, but also the political forces of the provinces behind them.

The intervention of the Six Ministries in Nanjing could easily lead to the empire's disintegration if not handled carefully.

But he was unwilling to let these guys go, so he simply chose to transfer the trouble elsewhere.

Since Li Mu was the commander of the allied forces, it was only natural that he would take on the task of enforcing military discipline.

Those soldiers below dared to cause trouble with them, but they definitely didn't have the guts to cause trouble with the Marquis of Hanshui.

If someone is truly reckless and doesn't know what's good for them, all they'll get is a few more heads chopped off.

"inappropriate!"

"To leave all the trouble to the Marquis of Hanshui would make us look too incompetent."

I think we should first summon the generals in the army and explain the advantages and disadvantages to them.

If anyone is courting death, then kill them as an example to warn a hundred!

Shi Qingchen resolutely refused.

They pushed all the work onto the Marquis of Hanshui, so they didn't need to offend anyone or take any political risks.

However, after this reorganization, all the armies that came to the aid of the king became the soldiers of the Marquis of Hanshui.

It wasn't that he was being petty; he was simply trying to nip problems in the bud.

There are indeed too many lessons from history.

Even if the Marquis of Hanshui has no such intentions, who can guarantee that all his subordinates will be loyal to the court?

If some of them have a few ideas and secretly conspire to put on the imperial robes, then we're doomed!
"Lord Shi is right, let's do it this way!"

As soon as Wan Huaijin spoke, everyone nodded in agreement.

We're all smart people; some things are obvious enough that there's no need to explain them too clearly.

Now is the time when unity is most needed. Any doubts about the loyalty of the Marquis of Hanshui must be kept to ourselves.

The most crucial point is that the Great Yu Dynasty had no better option.

To quell the chaos and restore the dynasty's authority, the only option is to rely on the Marquis of Hanshui.

Regardless of Li Mu's own thoughts, everyone now needs him, the Marquis of Hanshui, to be loyal to the court.

At such a sensitive time, everyone will only praise him to the extreme, portraying him as an unparalleled and loyal minister.

Li Mu's behavior was restrained by the moral constraints he had created.

Unless Li Mu truly reveals his ambition to usurp the throne and establish his own rule, any doubt about him is not permitted.

……

On the sea, the military flag belonging solely to Li Mu is fluttering in the wind.

Standing on the deck, gazing at the seabirds flying in the distance, Li Mu shook his head helplessly.

These days, long-distance sea voyages are a tough job.

Even though the soldiers had received professional training and could stop at the shore along the way to replenish some fruits and vegetables, their morale was still affected.

The soldiers' morale was affected, and he, the commander, was no exception.

Despite his many years of fighting in the north and south, he actually didn't suffer much hardship.

The last naval voyage was ten years ago.

Since taking control of Annam, Li Mu has been in charge of the central government during the subsequent series of foreign wars.

The actual command of military operations had long been delegated to his subordinate generals.

By accumulating experience by beating up newbies, they have indeed cultivated a lot of talent.

However, since they have been winning battles without encountering any tough opponents, the extent to which their generals have developed remains a mystery.

"My lord, judging by the time, the fleet should arrive in Songjiang Prefecture tomorrow."

"Do you think the army should go directly to Nanjing, or should it remain stationed there and await the arrival of the reinforcements?"

Lan Linjie asked.

With this northward expedition to defend the emperor, Li Mu is undoubtedly the supreme leader of the allied forces.

It's like a super-enhanced version of Yuan Shao during the coalition of eighteen warlords against Dong Zhuo.

He was ennobled at a young age and served as the commander of the southern frontier for more than ten years, becoming the undisputed number one general in the land.

Every general in the region, without exception, dared not challenge him.

"The main force will remain in Songjiang Prefecture to rest and reorganize. I will take a battalion of soldiers and come with me to Nanjing to personally bring the army that came to the aid of the emperor."

Li Mu thought for a moment and then said.

The armies sent to support the emperor from various provinces numbered in the hundreds of thousands, but few of them were truly capable of fighting.

The newly formed troops in Nanjing were equally ineffective.

The most combat-effective troops were the soldiers from the two garrisons transferred from the northern frontier, plus the troops of Yun Xiangwen who had stayed behind.

These three towns, which were not fully staffed, were all his old subordinates, so there would be no problem in commanding them.

With the support of these people, the rest of the loyalist army could not cause any major trouble.

The Nanjing Six Ministries cooperated well, but if anyone dared to cause trouble, he wouldn't mind conducting an internal purge first.

(End of this chapter)