The Emperor ordered Zhao Tang

Chapter 311 Old Friend
"Dismount, all troops! Remove armor and weapons, lower flags and silence drums." Three miles outside the capital, Prince Mei waved his hand to give the order, then dismounted himself, removed all his armor and weapons and hung them on his horse, leading his warhorse on foot in plain shoes.

Approaching, he pointed to a peach and mulberry grove and waved from afar: "This is truly a beautiful scene in Chang'an, and we meet again when the flowers are in bloom. Your Majesty, how have you been?"

The Holy Emperor leaned against a peach tree, a smile on his face: "You promised to pay homage to me every winter solstice, how could you break your promise?"

"Oh dear!" Wang Zimei smiled wryly.

The emperor and his ministers gazed at each other from afar, their eyes burning with intensity.

Wang Zimei straightened his dirty clothes, clasped his hands under his stomach, and jogged over with his head down. When he was ten paces away, he led Xiao Gan and his officers, turning their heads and raising their hands in a slight bow: "Your Majesty, I, the Grand Master of the Palace, pay my respects!"

The Holy Emperor stepped forward and held her arms, observing her appearance: "You've looked haggard since we last met? It must have been very difficult to persuade them to send troops to fight behind enemy lines."

“I can still hold on.” Wang Zimei stood up and looked at the Holy Emperor, smiling, “Compared to the pressure the Holy Lord bears, it’s nothing. The Holy Lord has also lost weight. I’m sorry to bother you with this trip to rest!”

"What are you saying?" The Holy Emperor turned around and called out, "Lord Sun, I entrust the more than eight thousand Zhao family warriors to you."

"Yes, sir." Sun Weisheng, the Prefect of the Capital, accepted the order and led a group of followers into Xiao Gan's group, instructing them on how to receive them and telling them to follow him.

The Holy Emperor then took Prince Mei's hand and said, "Come, let's go back to the city together, relax, and have a chat."

“Very well, Your Majesty, I also wish to see this magnificent land.”

"I heard you were demoted to the position of city gate officer. Why?" the Holy Emperor asked.

"Sigh, it's all because of this meddlesome mouth of mine!" Wang Zimei stomped her foot and slapped herself. "Among all the lords, there isn't one like the Holy Lord."

“Serving as a yamen general in Hebei is normal,” the Holy Emperor comforted him. “You must learn to blend in with the world.”

Lady Nangong Chongyan of Wei said with a gloomy expression: "Wang Rong, that纨绔子 (wan ku zi, a spoiled brat), was not like this when the late emperor was alive. He was a real spendthrift. I think Chengde will be ruined by him sooner or later."

“Young Marshal,” Wang Zimei shook her head, “Actually, it’s not entirely his fault. Most people in the military government have a dog-like mentality of avoiding trouble. If the Young Marshal really wanted to do something, it would be extremely difficult. Even this time when we went to war, I had to stake my life on it, and with Xiao Gan and Shou Chong volunteering to come along, we only managed to get 10,000 troops…”

Nangong Chongyan was even more furious: "Those who eat meat are despicable! If Li Keyong isn't killed, how can Chengde have a peaceful day? He has no loyalty whatsoever. If my husband really has something to do, I think it's pointless to expect anything from Chengde. Bah!"

"Nangong," the Holy Emperor glanced at her, "Could you please stop spouting insults so easily?"

"I am merely stating the facts." Nangong cursed a few more times indignantly before smoothing her hair and smilingly saying, "Stop sighing. If you can't make a name for yourself in the military, so be it. Come to the court. Tomorrow is the military reform ceremony; there will be plenty of positions and opportunities."

“That would be best, of course, and I would like to agree.” Prince Mei said with concern, “But once Xiao Gan and I leave, the military government will probably be even more pathetic, and no one will truly support the court anymore. It will be difficult. As you know, Madam, those powerful ministers are just content with getting by.”

"Let's not talk about upsetting things," the Holy Emperor interrupted. "What are your plans for the future?"

"It depends on the Emperor. If we continue to suppress Li Keyong, we will serve until the chaos is quelled. Otherwise, we will return home after a period of rest. It is not that I have any other reason, but that the soldiers are homesick."

"I understand." The Holy Emperor nodded.

"May I ask what the Holy Lord's plans are?"

"It's hard to say." The Holy Emperor scratched his face. "The Jin envoy has been sent away. My demand is to kill Li Keyong and let the matter rest. But I'm afraid Li Keyong will not submit to the law. Besides, although he suffered a great defeat in Guanzhong and his authority was shaken, his foundation is not so solid that he would be killed by a subordinate after such a defeat."

Li Keyong's defeat at Anse in later generations was a prime example of this; he was repeatedly outmaneuvered by Zhu Wen in his later years, and while internal strife did occur, it was manageable. Zhu Wen, on the other hand, withstood two epic defeats in which 60,000 elite troops were completely annihilated.

The reason for this is that these two guys built and led their armies from scratch, had deep pockets, and were not in such a dire situation that they would face a powerful enemy after such a crushing defeat, so they faced less external pressure.

"Just watch," the Holy Emperor said. "For now, there's nothing we can do against him unless your family and Weibo go all out, but is that even possible? Liu Rengong isn't a good guy either. I'm afraid that if we fight, we'll end up doing all the work for him. However, I won't forgive Li Keyong. If he doesn't attack us first, let's just let things stay as they are. We'll fight again when the time is right. Right now, I'm thinking about managing the West."

“Actually, that works too. It’s a very prudent approach,” Wang Zimei agreed. “The situation is much better now than during the reigns of Emperor Wu and Emperor Zhuang. If we proceed slowly and steadily, and the balance of power shifts, we will eventually defeat the enemy.”

“However—” he expressed concern: “If relations with Li Keyong continue to sour, transportation to Hebei will be cut off, and Zhao, Wei, and Cang will no longer be able to pay tribute.”

"The finances are fine," the Holy Emperor said. "With the tribute from the entire Guanzhong region, most of Guanxi, and the southern towns, we can make ends meet without any problems."

Large-scale military expeditions are troublesome and too costly. Expanding the army requires careful consideration. But there's no other way; having enjoyed the geographical advantage and security of Guanzhong, one must accept its current state of ruin. Where can one find a territory that is safe, wealthy, and advantageous for both offense and defense?

"And another thing," Wang Zimei added, "If we launch a western expedition, we must be wary of Li Zhu. If they manage to take Guanzhong while the main force is away from the capital, it will be dangerous."

"That's something I've been thinking about too," the Holy Emperor said. "Fortunately, the enemies in the west aren't strong; 30,000 elite troops are enough to sweep them away. By the way, the army is undergoing restructuring recently; do you have any ideas?"

As they talked, the group entered the main street and headed towards the Daming Palace.

"Actually, all the changes are aimed at preventing soldiers from banding together and generals from rebelling, thus maintaining combat strength." Wang Zimei looked at the bustling streets and said slowly, "Soldiers banding together is impossible; no system can restrain it. But generally speaking, unless the military governors act recklessly and incur public wrath, even the most capable generals won't band together. What kind of people are they... expecting them to unite and work together on great things is ridiculous. Besides, most soldiers are normal people; otherwise, how could rebels gather the hearts of the people?"

“Preventing generals from rebelling is simple,” Wang Zimei said confidently. “Let those who are incompetent manage those who are incompetent, and let heroes manage heroes. Specifically, don’t use weak and feeble civil officials to manage them, because they won’t be able to control them. Secondly, all military activities and procedures, such as sending troops, allocating funds, distributing rations, and issuing rewards, must be institutionalized. According to the Zhao family’s practice, it is through joint authorization.”

The Holy Emperor said, "When a military order arrives at the military headquarters, multiple people sign to confirm it, and then it is issued for execution?"

“Yes.” Prince Mei continued, “For example, this time when I sent troops, it was their joint confirmation. If even one person did not sign, the troops could not be assembled, and I would not receive armor and provisions. If anyone had any rebellious intentions, they would be captured and killed on the spot in the prefectural city without any power to resist.”

"This system is acceptable." The Sage nodded in satisfaction. A unified command and management center could be established across all units, including the Imperial Guard, the various envoys, and the palace guards. Dozens of generals could be selected to serve in this center, and all military orders could be jointly authorized.

"Why doesn't Your Majesty give it a try?" Prince Mei comforted him, "It's just right that I'm here. As long as Your Majesty is willing, I, Xiao Xiu, and Xiao Gan can easily prepare the details. We know all too well what those military men are thinking and what kind of petty tricks they have. We'll just shut them down."

"We'll discuss this in detail at the banquet later." The Holy Emperor patted his shoulder. "Anything else?"

"That's all. Military management isn't that difficult, but it's not that simple either; it's all the same stuff over and over again." Prince Mei deliberately emphasized, "The important thing is that authority cannot be lost. As for maintaining combat effectiveness... the stories of past generations have proven that even the most sophisticated systems will eventually decay, and there will always be loopholes. This can only be achieved through the dedication of each generation of monarchs. If the monarchs don't put their hearts into it, naturally nothing can be guaranteed."

"That's right," the Holy Emperor agreed. "Why not give it a try?"

Standardized things are always more reliable than personal prestige.

"Hey, what are they doing there?" Wang Zimei asked, pointing at the convoy as they passed Dongneiyuan Street.

The convoy was laden with a dazzling array of funerary objects, paper money, paper figures, and paper houses, with a large group of minor officials shouting as they escorted the carriages. Upon seeing the Holy Emperor, they all removed their hats to greet the entourage. Prince Mei was flattered and returned the greeting by removing his hat as well.

He understood that the officials respected not him as a person, but because he stood beside the Holy Lord.

"It's a matter concerning the shrine." The Holy Emperor looked at the convoy being led to the East Inner Court and explained, "They are all soldiers who died in the Battle of Sekigahara. They are being sent to the Kaihei Shrine and the Hall of Heroes, divided into officers and soldiers. There is an initiation ceremony, a shrine, murals, epitaphs, and a unified commemorative stele. After the souls are summoned and the rituals are performed on the streets of the East Inner Court, they will be inducted into the shrine."

“Your Majesty is truly…” Prince Mei laughed and shook his head: “I wish to go and see?”

"Let's go." The Holy Emperor looked at him. "It's not far. Just turn at this street corner and walk for a little while."

During this period of grand Dharma assemblies, the East Inner Courtyard area is packed with people every day.

The mourning family members, the religious figures who danced and chanted sutras, the palace officials, the craftsmen who carved the shrines, the officials, the scholars who painted murals and wrote epitaphs, the soldiers who came to mourn their fallen comrades, the common people who came to watch the spectacle... it was a gathering of people from all departments and levels.

A group of soldiers were huddled together, whispering amongst themselves. Upon seeing the Holy Emperor, they immediately stood at attention: "Your Majesty!"

"You all go about your business," the Holy Emperor waved his hand.

Prince Mei looked up at the East Gate, which was shrouded in smoke, filled with weeping and singing.

At this moment, a wave of new hires is underway.

"Please grant the title of Grand Commandant Ouyang Jian, Commander of the Imperial Guards Cavalry, to the North Pavilion of the Hall of Heroes."

"Please grant General Zhang Xu of Ningyuan the title of Commander of the Imperial Guards and grant him a seat in the East Pavilion of the Hall of Heroes."

"Please grant the title of Du Cong, the Imperial Guard Commander of the Infantry, to the Seventh Hall of the Kaiping Shrine."

"Please, warriors of the Palace Guard, the Mighty and Stern Pure Hua Army, present this gift..."

"........."

As the Minister of the Imperial Sacrifices read out the names of the parties involved one by one, the honor guard raised their guns.

The clerk covered each urn with a red cloth, then showed it to the family members. After the urns were handed over to the shrine officials, who, under the watchful eyes of the honor guard and amidst solemn and sorrowful music and dance, solemnly carried them through the smoky gate. Paper money was scattered, and the shrine officials and monks gently saw them off, saying, "With united will, even mountains and seas can be shaken."

"Only the wise and virtuous possess such spirit that they soar to the heavens."

"The Holy Tang Dynasty is with us; they are our parents."

"Without freedom of body, loyalty and filial piety are hard to fulfill."

"Now that I am going to the Yellow Springs, I dare not linger."

"The immortal spirits look down upon us, forever guarding the imperial kingdom."

"Look, I will save the common people and kill all the enemies."

"When peace is achieved, do not forget to tell me."

"........."

The family members, the onlookers, and even the soldiers who came to pay their respects stopped crying and speaking, and began to sing: "With united will, even mountains and seas can be shaken. Only the virtuous and wise can soar to the heavens... Though we are not free, our loyalty and filial piety are hard to fulfill. Now we go to the Yellow Springs, none dare to linger..."

A gentle spring breeze swept through the streets, seemingly carrying a sigh. Wang Zimei silently echoed in her heart: "...My body is not free, my loyalty and filial piety are unfulfilled. Now I go to the Yellow Springs, I dare not linger..."

"Good, good." He nodded slightly, said "good" several times, and then turned around and smiled, "The court is truly thoughtful! People are not plants or trees, how can they be without feelings? To be sent away by the Holy Tang in this way is the highest honor a warrior can attain."

"The soldiers fight for the country, so it's only right to treat them well to the best of our ability," the Holy Emperor said, resting his chin on his hand.

Another religious ceremony began, which Prince Mei watched with great interest, and he even heard several familiar names. It seemed that some of the Zhao people who had come to court had also died in battle and received the same treatment. The joining of these people brought the central government, the state, and its subjects closer together, and the will to protect the country gradually coalesced, while the violent tendencies of the warriors were gradually suppressed.

The power of a few urns is insignificant now, but if it can be sustained for eight or ten years, and a new generation of young people grows up, the rewards will come. Some dynasties can last for three or four hundred years, but most cannot last even a hundred years; perhaps this is the reason why.

"What is there to say about death? To rest one's body in the mountains. That's dignified." The soldiers of the Guandong region didn't have that kind of luck. In many warlord regions, soldiers were simply buried in mass graves after death. Prince Mei sighed and cupped his hands, saying, "Your Majesty, let's go."

"Go and summon Sun Weisheng and Xiao Gan. All those above the rank of commander, come here," the Holy Emperor said, summoning a courtier.

“Isn’t that a bad idea?” Prince Mei stopped them. “It would be better to let them eat in the military camp. It would disturb their peace and quiet and waste the royal family’s resources.”

"I can't even afford to eat!" The Holy Emperor sneered as he slapped away the hand.

“Your Majesty, these are gifts for the three kings.” Prince Mei magically produced three pairs of gold bracelets: “I have heard that the Heavenly Immortal Lord has been blessed with three children. I have nothing to offer as a congratulatory gift, but this is a small token of my appreciation.”

"Wang Zimei! You scoundrel!" Nangong was furious. "You really know how to please people! Traitor! Villain! Scoundrel! Don't you know I hate Zhang Hui to death? She's a slut, a bitch!"

"Is this alright? I've offended Nangong again." The Holy Emperor waved his hands repeatedly, feigning refusal: "No, no. Take it away, take it away!"

Faced with Nangong's foul language, Wang Zimei pursed her lips, shamelessly remaining silent. She simply forced the offering to the Holy Emperor, then turned back to argue, "Madam, please don't speak nonsense. The Three Princes are first and foremost the Holy Emperor's sons, and only then the sons of the traitor Zhang. These are two separate matters. I am congratulating the Three Princes on their full moon celebration, and nothing else."

"Wait until I have a son, then let's see what you give me!" Nangong said through gritted teeth, pointing to his slightly protruding belly.

"I have everything," the Holy Emperor coaxed, putting his arm around Nangong.

"I want to swim naked in the Qingliang Palace!" Nangong said angrily, turning his face to the side.

"It's unbearable to hear!" Prince Mei and his accompanying ministers covered their ears and secretly glanced at the Holy Emperor, feigning pity.

And what about Nangong Daoyuan? Is he dead or something? This fierce and jealous Yaksha sister needs to be disciplined!

When we meet, I'll definitely have a good talk with you!
(End of this chapter)