The emperor would rather have a

Chapter 162 Recommendation of Pan Mei
As Li Yi stepped out of the Jinxiang Hall, a gentle breeze rustled the bronze bells at the corner of the hall, producing a clear, melodious sound.

He glanced back at the flickering candlelight in the hall and thought to himself: The emperor's arrangement was clearly the result of careful consideration.

The four civil and military officials who remained in Tokyo, judging from their official resumes, were all trusted ministers of the emperor.

Before Liu Zhiyuan established the Later Han Dynasty, Xiang Xun served by the side of Emperor Taizu Guo Wei. He was a true "founding minister" and served as the Palace Garden Commissioner, Imperial City Commissioner, and Guest Commissioner, and is now the Commissioner of the Xuanhui Southern Court.

Whether during Guo Wei's lifetime or after Chai Rong ascended the throne, Xiang Xun was always a close eunuch and minister, and was highly trusted and relied upon by the emperor.

Wang Pu initially attached himself to Yang Bin, the Privy Councilor of the Later Han Dynasty. Later, when Guo Wei usurped the Later Han Dynasty and established the Later Zhou Dynasty, he appointed his adopted son Chai Rong as the Military Governor of Zhenning Army. Wang Pu was appointed as the Military Governor's Chief Secretary and became Chai Rong's advisor.

As for Han Tong, he had followed Guo Wei for a long time. When the three towns of Hezhong rebelled, Guo Wei was then the Privy Councilor and led troops to quell the rebellion. Han Tong followed Guo Wei into battle, thus gaining Guo Wei's appreciation.

When Guo Wei was stationed in Daming, he requested that Han Tong be appointed as the commander of the Tianxiong Army's cavalry and infantry, and from then on, Han Tong became Guo Wei's confidant.

Li Yi himself needs no introduction; his current status and position can be attributed to Chai Rong's promotion.

In addition, he was also the emperor's "brother-in-law," so no matter how you look at it, he was definitely one of the emperor's confidants.

On the other hand, the four who remained in Tokyo were secretly keeping each other in check.

Xiang Xun was in charge of staying behind, but he did not have the authority to make decisions unilaterally and needed to discuss the matter with Wang Pu.

Although Wang Pu was a civil official, he was known for his uprightness. It is said that when he served under Yang Bin, he dared to directly criticize powerful figures. Appointing him to share the responsibility of guarding the capital with Xiang Xun was truly a brilliant check and balance.

As for the military arrangements, Li Yi and Han Tong were temporarily put in charge of the Palace Guard and the Imperial Guard respectively. One was a newly emerging young general, and the other was a veteran with many years of experience.

Li Yi was less senior than Han Tong, but he had the advantage of being related to the emperor by marriage and had made several great contributions, which could make up for his lack of seniority.

This arrangement ensured both the defense of the capital region and prevented any one person from becoming too powerful.

Of course, all of the above are just Li Yi's own speculations; he doesn't actually know much about Wang Pu and Han Tong. However, based on certain historical records, he believes his speculations are probably quite accurate.

Emperor Shizong Chai Rong was indeed a very competent emperor. He was a master of the art of balancing power and never forgot to check the power of all parties.

However, compared to the immediate situation, Li Yi was thinking about something much more far-reaching.

Just as Zuo Congtan had said during their conversation that day, although the emperor hadn't taken him on the expedition to Huainan, he hadn't neglected him either. Instead, he had entrusted him with the important task of staying in Tokyo and temporarily taking charge of the Palace Guard.

The words the emperor spoke to me alone just now sounded quite sincere... Perhaps the emperor really intended to let me rest properly.

Anyway, I've already made a lot of contributions in various aspects, and at my age, I still have plenty of opportunities to make more contributions. There's no need to be too greedy and try to achieve everything at once.

And to put it bluntly, was the Southern Tang so easy to defeat?

The course of history has changed drastically. With the loss of Zhao Kuangyin, a capable general, the attack on the Southern Tang is now uncertain, and the future of the Huainan campaign remains to be seen.

Li Yi recalled his conversation with Zuo Congqin that day and felt that the other party had said something very good: that he should focus on consolidating his foundation for the time being, remain unchanged in the face of all changes, and not lose his composure.

Having climbed high and fast enough, the most important thing is to stay steady and not fall. As the wheels of history roll toward the unknown, Li Yi believes his situation is very different from that of Zhao Kuangyin in history.

It will be difficult to draw on much more experience to guide my future path; I can only rely on myself to navigate it step by step, and I must carefully consider each step.

It's like the emperor promoting Han Tong to the position of Commander of the Imperial Guards.

Historically, when the Later Zhou Dynasty conquered the Later Shu, Han Tong served as the commander of the cavalry and infantry of the Southwest Expeditionary Army. It was through this military achievement that he was promoted to the important position of Imperial Guard.

Now, he has taken credit for the western expedition against Qin and Feng, but it has not affected Han Tong's path to promotion. In fact, it has been promoted more than half a year earlier than in history.

It was obvious that he was moved by his own "butterfly wings"... The emperor's promotion of Han Tong to the position of Commander of the Imperial Guards was just a superficial gesture; the deeper reason was probably to readjust the power structure of the Imperial Guards.

As for why the emperor still chose Han Tong as in history.

Upon closer examination, it makes sense. Han Tong was a man of great seniority and a brave and fierce personality, renowned in the army, but he was not good at socializing and had a distant relationship with the generals in the court.

Such a person, placed in the position of Commander of the Imperial Guard, can both deter villains and prevent them from forming cliques for personal gain, making him the emperor's most trusted choice.

As Li Yi was pondering, a voice suddenly rang in his ears, pulling him back to reality: "Commander Li, this servant will take you here."

He composed himself and looked in the direction of the sound, only to see the eunuch leading the way bowing respectfully.

"Thank you for your trouble!" Li Yi nodded slightly, watching the eunuch turn and leave. His crimson official robe gleamed with dark patterns in the morning light, making his face appear even more serene.

The eunuch's figure quickly disappeared into the shadows around the corner of the corridor, leaving only a series of light footsteps fading into the distance.

A gentle breeze blew by, stirring the hem of Li Yi's robes and bringing a touch of coolness, which cleared his chaotic thoughts.

Li Yi shook his head, his gaze passing over the layers of palaces and landing on the outline of the palace walls in the distance. For some reason, a strange sense of emotion suddenly welled up in his heart.

There was a time when I was only focused on making a name for myself and gaining wealth and status. Back then, my thinking was simple; I didn't have many concerns and just wanted to obey orders.

Now that I have status and position, wearing purple robes and jade belts, I feel like I'm living a more tiring life... I'm always thinking about this and that, constantly weighing the pros and cons.

This wealth and luxury seem to have been bought with freedom.

Fortunately, it was all worth it. Judging from the current arrangements, at least in the eyes of Emperor Sejong Chai Rong, he was already one of the reliable confidants.

Although the road ahead is still shrouded in mist, with countless unknown variables, at least at this moment, I have entered the core of the power center.

Not only was he related to the emperor by marriage, but he also held command of a quarter of the main force of the Imperial Guards. Such military power would likely make even the military governors who controlled several prefectures secretly envious.

Among the Imperial Guards, only Zhang Yongde and Li Chongjin can currently hold a clear advantage over him. However, they are only slightly inferior in terms of seniority and status.

As for Han Tong... what use is his seniority? In terms of his influence within the Imperial Guard, he is far inferior to Han Tong.

After all, he had personally orchestrated the reform of the Imperial Guards, and many of the middle and lower-ranking generals in key positions had close ties with him.

Although Han Tong also started his career in the Imperial Guard during the Later Han Dynasty, he was transferred from the Imperial Guard to serve as a local warlord after Guo Wei, the founding emperor of the Later Zhou Dynasty, usurped the throne. Several years have passed since then.

With the balance of power shifting, Han Tong's influence within the Imperial Guards was simply not enough to justify his actions.

Even though Zhang Yongde and Li Chongjin were slightly inferior to Li Yi in terms of seniority and status, he felt no fear whatsoever.

When I left the inner palace, the sun was already past its zenith.

Li Yi headed straight for the Palace Guard Office. Upon seeing him arrive, the guards at the vermilion gate immediately saluted respectfully, the clanging of their armor ringing out crisply and melodiously.

Li Yi nodded slightly in response, and stepped into the government office gate amidst the soldiers' respectful gazes.

At noon, the government provided meals. Upon entering his official residence, Li Yi summoned his servant and asked what he wanted for lunch. He then instructed the servant to prepare a meal for him.

Before long, an old official dressed in black robes entered quietly, carrying a black lacquered food tray. On the tray were a bowl of steaming mutton soup with flatbread, two plates of seasonal side dishes, and several freshly baked sesame flatbreads, the aroma of which immediately filled the entire duty room.

Li Yi lifted the hem of his robe and sat upright at the table. He first scooped a spoonful of mutton soup into his mouth, and the scalding hot broth, with its spicy pepper flavor, immediately burst on his tongue.

His years of military service had instilled in him a habit of eating very quickly, even at home. In no time, the food on the table was gone.

Li Yi wiped his mouth with a handkerchief, then stood up and straightened his clothes.

The army will set off tomorrow, and he plans to take advantage of the afternoon to inspect the various military camps and check the troop assembly status once again.

Although the power to deploy troops rested with the Privy Council, the actual execution still depended on the commanders of each department. As the commander of the Palace Guard, this task naturally fell to him.

Before leaving, conduct a thorough inspection to prevent any mishaps.

However, as soon as Li Yi arrived at the main gate of the government office, he bumped into an unexpected person: Pan Mei.

"Commander Li!" Pan Mei bowed respectfully, fine beads of sweat glistening on his forehead, clearly indicating he had traveled a long way.

Li Yi raised an eyebrow slightly and gestured for his attendant to wait. He asked with a smile, "General Pan, what brings you in such a hurry?"

Pan Mei hesitated, glancing around at the officials coming and going.

Li Yi understood and turned around, saying, "Come with me." He wondered to himself, Pan Mei's mysterious demeanor, could it be that she had something important to remind him of?

Back in his office, Li Yi gestured and said, "Please sit down." He then sat down at the table first.

To everyone's surprise, Pan Mei did not take a seat, but suddenly bowed deeply: "This humble official has come to thank Commander Li for his recommendation."

"I learned of this from Governor Wei and had been meaning to come and thank Commander Li for some time, but I've been busy with the expedition these past few days... Now that I have some free time, I came immediately..."

That's it? Li Yi was taken aback.

He did mention Pan Mei to the Privy Councilor Wei Renpu a few times. At that time, the emperor issued an edict to prepare for a personal expedition, and the Privy Council began to mobilize the troops for the expedition.

As one of the commanders of the Palace Guard, Li Yi, although not directly involved in the specific troop deployments, still had the right to make suggestions. After all, the command of troops was in the hands of the generals, who naturally had a better understanding of the situation of the soldiers.

Because Li Yi had promised Pan Mei during the Qin and Feng periods that he would recommend him to the court when the campaign against Jiangnan took place.

So, taking advantage of the opportunity to mobilize troops, Li Yi spoke a few good words to Wei Renpu, securing for Pan Mei the opportunity to accompany the emperor on the expedition.

The reason, of course, was that Pan Mei had performed well in the Qin and Feng battles... At that time, the vanguard commander was Li Yi, and he reported the merits of his subordinates to the court. Wei Renpu certainly wouldn't doubt it.

Actually, he didn't take it too seriously. It was just a matter of him asking, and whether it worked out or not, he had done his best.

Furthermore, since the personnel to remain in Tokyo had not yet been announced, Li Yi was troubled by his situation. If Pan Mei hadn't brought it up now, he would have almost forgotten about it.

Li Yi said gently, "General Pan, there's no need for that. This campaign against Jiangnan is precisely when we need manpower, and I'm just going with the flow."

Pan Mei maintained a respectful demeanor and said sincerely, "It may be just a small favor for Commander Li, but it is an immense favor to me."

Li Yi smiled without saying a word, then pondered for a moment before saying, "On the battlefield, opportunities are earned, not given by others. All I can do is recommend you; whether you can achieve merit depends on your own abilities."

Pan Mei clasped his hands and said, "I will do my utmost in this expedition and will never fail to live up to the kindness of Governor Li's recommendation."

Next, Li Yi offered him a few more words of encouragement, and Pan Mei took her leave. Before leaving, she bowed deeply and then turned to go.

Li Yi gazed thoughtfully at Pan Mei's retreating figure.

He had only helped out casually, but he didn't expect Pan Mei to take it so seriously... However, what seemed like a trivial matter to him might have carried a different weight in Pan Mei's eyes.

After all, there was a huge difference in their status. The second-in-command of the Palace Guard and the emperor's brother-in-law personally recommended such an unknown junior officer, which was indeed a great appreciation.

Regardless, this small act reveals a larger truth: Pan Meineng's special trip to express her gratitude shows she is a person who values ​​gratitude and repays kindness.

"Perhaps, Pan Mei's fate will also be different because of my arrival..."

Li Yi muttered to himself.

Pan Mei rose to prominence relatively late in history. It wasn't until Zhao Kuangyin established the Northern Song Dynasty and stripped the veteran generals of their real power that he truly began to distinguish himself. Similar to him was Cao Bin, known for his caution.

However, later generations have offered mixed reviews of these two individuals.

Some praised them as the "twin stars of the military in the early Song Dynasty," who fought in the north and south and made outstanding contributions to the unification of the Northern Song Dynasty.

Some have also criticized them as "cowardly generals who harmed the country," believing that it was their indecisiveness during the Yongxi Northern Expedition that led to Yang Ye's isolated army being trapped by the enemy, ultimately resulting in his bloodshed at Chenjiagu.

Pan Mei was even portrayed as a treacherous minister in later generations, known as "Pan Renmei".

Thinking of this, Li Yi couldn't help but shake his head slightly.

Historical evaluations are often varied, and only those involved can truly know the truth.

However, at least during the reign of Emperor Taizu of Song, the achievements of Pan and Cao were indeed indelible. As for why they fell apart later... the "God of War on the Donkey Cart" probably bears a large part of the responsibility.

"Hopefully, this southern expedition will give him a chance to prove himself."

He shook his head, stopped thinking about it, got up and strode outside.

(End of this chapter)