The emperor would rather have a

Chapter 200 Commander Li... truly possesses extraordinary bearing!
The Palace Guard Office.

Several rows of weapon racks stood on both sides of the porch in front of the courtyard, gleaming coldly in the autumn sun.

Zhao Pu and his two companions followed the clerk through the front courtyard and went straight to an official residence in the back.

"Please wait here for a moment, gentlemen." The clerk pushed open the carved wooden door of the official residence and bowed, gesturing for them to enter.

The room was simply furnished, with a black lacquered table in the center and several folding chairs around it. A copper basin in the corner was burning with charcoal, which dispelled the winter chill.

Zhao Pu bowed respectfully, saying, "Thank you for your trouble!" Chu Zhaofu and Wang Renzhan immediately followed suit.

The clerk repeatedly said he dared not, and then ordered a servant to bring hot tea before leaving.

After the door closed, Zhao Pu chuckled, "The imperial city is truly incomparable to the local government offices. Its magnificent grandeur... just being there is awe-inspiring!"

Of the three, Zhao Pu is the youngest, at thirty-four. Wang Renzhan is next, five years older than Zhao Pu. Chu Zhaofu is the oldest, over forty.

However, in this situation, the other two subtly indicated that Zhao Pu was the leader.

Zhao Pu's high social standing was due to the fact that his great-grandfather had served as the magistrate of Sanhe County during the late Tang Dynasty, while his grandfather, Zhao Quanbao, had served as the Sima of Chanzhou during the late Tang Dynasty.

As for his father, Zhao Jiong, he served as the Sima of Xiangzhou during the Later Tang Dynasty. However, due to years of war, Zhao Jiong could no longer bear the turmoil, so he moved his entire family to Changzhou, and later to Luoyang.

In comparison, Wang Renzhan and Chu Zhaofu came from much worse backgrounds... Although family background wasn't as important during the chaotic Five Dynasties period, having a good family background was definitely more advantageous.

Wang Renzhan let out a long sigh and loosened his collar: "It is indeed grand, but the rules are also very strict. Not a single person has spoken loudly along the way."

As he spoke, he found a folding chair and sat down.

Chu Zhaofu was a cautious man. He noticed that Wang Renzhan was leaning to one side, supporting his chin with one hand and fiddling with the ornaments on the table with the other.

He couldn't help but remind him, "This Palace Guard is not like our military government. As such a vital central location within the imperial city, Renshan, you should also be mindful of your words and actions."

Zhao Pu didn't pay any attention to the two of them. He picked up his teacup and walked to the window.

From this angle, one can see the officials coming and going in the courtyard of the government office, all of them hurrying along, a scene of bustling activity.

Those seemingly insignificant minor officials might be delivering confidential and important matters. This is because the Palace Guard Commandery is located here, which commands half of the Great Zhou Imperial Guards. Even the slightest movement here could affect the entire country's situation.

Zhao Pu sighed inwardly, a sense of bewilderment welling up within him. He was already over thirty, yet he was still wasting his life, and was still only a minor official in the military government.

He didn't know if his trip to Tokyo was a life-changing opportunity... If he couldn't seize the opportunity and get ahead, perhaps his future would just end there?
"What is Zeping looking at?" Chu Zhaofu walked over and followed Zhao Pu's gaze.

"It's nothing." Zhao Pu withdrew his gaze and took a sip of tea. "I was just thinking about what kind of situation we might be in in the future."

Upon hearing this, Chu Zhaofu stroked his long beard and chuckled, "Didn't the imperial court issue an order for us to temporarily return to the command of Commander Li of the Palace Cavalry? Does Zeping still have any concerns?"

Wang Renzhan shifted his body, sat up a bit straighter, and interjected, "Commander Li is so young, yet he already holds a high position and is deeply trusted by the Emperor. It's better for us to follow Commander Li than to be sent to guard the border."

Zhao Pu smiled slightly and said meaningfully, "Brother Wang is right, but that's precisely why the Emperor needs Commander Li to oversee the Imperial Guards and won't send him to a regional governorship. As military officers, you and I would be useless."

Chu Zhaofu frowned almost imperceptibly.

Upon hearing Zhao Pu's words, he immediately understood what he meant—although Liu Ci recommended three people before his death, the court did not grant them official positions, but instead put them into Li Yi's staff.

In other words, the three of them could only serve as advisors, assisting the commander-in-chief in handling military affairs.

However, their current commander-in-chief only holds the honorary title of Jiedushi (military governor) and does not actually control the vassal state... Even the territory under the jurisdiction of Zhaowu Army is not currently within the territory of Zhou.

As military officers, what kind of things could they possibly handle?

Before Chu Zhaofu could answer, Wang Renzhan clapped his hands and laughed, "Brother Zeping, you are overthinking this. Even if there are no tasks to be assigned in the military government, Commander Li holds an important position in the court, so there must be places where he can find manpower. If we can gain Commander Li's favor, a letter of recommendation is better than ten years of hard work. Why worry about our future?"

Chu Zhaofu stroked his beard and nodded upon hearing this: "Ren Shan's words are insightful! Since you and I are not mediocre people, why should we imitate the busybodies of the marketplace? As long as we are diligent, loyal, and down-to-earth, we will surely prosper one day..."

Just then, a series of hurried footsteps suddenly came from under the corridor.

The three immediately fell silent, and the room fell into silence as well.

Just then, the door was pushed open, and the clerk appeared, saying, "Commander Li has returned..."

Before the words were finished, a clear and melodious laugh broke through the air, like a jade chime shattering the stillness in the room.

"No wonder I saw magpies circling the branches in front of the government office today. It was an auspicious sign that three wise men were coming from the west!"

Suddenly the sky darkened, and a tall figure appeared blocking the doorway. The goldfish pouch at his waist swayed slightly with his movements, making the silver peacock pattern on his purple robe gleam.

The man appeared to be around twenty years old, with prominent eyebrows and a broad forehead, possessing a majestic appearance and piercing, tiger-like eyes that exuded power. His short beard was neatly trimmed, but perhaps due to his young age, it was not very noticeable.

Although Zhao Pu and his companions had never met Li Yi before, they immediately guessed who he was based on his imposing presence.

"Your humble servant Wang Renzhan..." "Your subordinate Chu Zhaofu..." "Your subordinate Zhao Pu pays respects to the Commander!"

Wang Renzhan quickly stood up, and the three of them bowed in greeting.

Li Yi raised his hand slightly, a warm smile on his face, and said gently, "You all have had a long and tiring journey, so there's no need for such formalities."

He stepped into the office, his gaze sweeping over the three men.

Zhao Pu had a square face and a tall, straight figure. He wore a blue round-necked robe, and a jade ornament hung from the tightly tied belt around his waist.

Wang Renzhan had a slightly yellowish complexion, a bushy beard on his chin, bright eyes, and a rather muscular build, clearly indicating that he came from a military background.

Chu Zhaofu looked the oldest. He was thin and wore a faded blue cloth robe. His hands were tucked into his sleeves, and his face was as plain as an old farmer in the fields. Only his eyes were as calm as an ancient well.

After exchanging greetings with Zhao Pu, Chu Zhaofu, and Wang Renzhan, Li Yi personally led the three to their seats. The three declined slightly but took their seats as instructed, displaying great respect.

Li Yi sat upright in the main seat, lightly tapping the table with his knuckles, a perfectly appropriate smile on his face.

His gaze swept over the three men's faces one by one: "I have long heard of your esteemed reputations. Today, I have finally met you and know that the rumors are true. These past few days in Daliang City, I have been eagerly awaiting your arrival. If it weren't for the many official duties I have been busy with, I would have loved to personally go to the capital to welcome you."

He spoke fluently and skillfully, his words perfectly measured and appropriate.

In situations where people lack experience, they may unconsciously imitate what they see and hear.

Li Yi was no exception. In the past, he was of low rank and status, and his associates were mostly middle and lower-ranking soldiers. But after seeing more people in high positions and being surrounded by dignitaries, he gradually observed and learned from the words and actions of others, and then absorbed and understood them in his own way.

Now, when he is in such a "social" situation, he is already calm and at ease, and his every word and action shows the demeanor of "treating the virtuous with respect".

"We dare not accept such an honor..."

"I hope Governor Li will not take offense. The three of us originally intended to come to Tokyo as soon as possible, but Lord Liu treated us very well. Now that he has passed away, we have stayed in Jingzhao Prefecture to help Lord Liu's family with the funeral arrangements, which has caused us some delay..."

Li Yi nodded slightly: "I see... How could I blame the three of you for being so loyal and righteous?"

The three men bowed and said, "Thank you for your understanding, General!"

Li Yi waved his hand, a warm expression appearing on his face: "To be honest, my title of Jiedushi is just a nominal one, and I have no military affairs to handle. The three of you are new here, so please settle down and rest for a few days. Right now, there are countless matters to attend to in and around the capital, and we need manpower to sort them out."

“Wang Changshi is in charge of the affairs of Kaifeng Prefecture and also manages civil affairs and finances. He is always busy with paperwork. Han Du Yuhou is in charge of the construction of the new city. The trivial matters such as the requisition of materials and the management of laborers are also very demanding. I also need to assist the two of them in their work.”

"After the three of you have settled in, you will come with me to handle these administrative affairs, so that you can familiarize yourselves with the situation and gain a detailed understanding. After His Majesty returns to Tokyo, I will arrange for you to be appointed as assistant military officers. What do you three think?"

The military governor could appoint his own staff and officials, and at most he only needed to report to the court. In many cases, he did not even need to notify the court.

However, Li Yi did not directly appoint the three to specific official titles. Instead, based on the current needs of affairs inside and outside the capital, he asked the three to work for him for a period of time.

This allows them to accumulate experience and assess their abilities, and then assign them appropriate titles based on their actual performance.

Zhao Pu and the other two rose again, bowed in unison, and replied, "We will obey the Commander's orders! We will do our utmost and live up to your expectations!"

"Good!" Li Yi smiled and personally picked up the ceramic teapot on the stove to refill the three of them's teacups with hot tea.

"From now on, we will be like boats sailing together. If there is anything I am lacking, please feel free to speak up. I am still relatively inexperienced and need your help. Please do not have any reservations because of my status."

"General, you flatter me!" Zhao Pu hurriedly bowed and said, "You are only twenty years old, yet you have already become famous throughout the land. All the enemy forces tremble at the mere mention of your name. The Emperor has entrusted you with the important task of inspecting the palace guards, which is clear proof of His Majesty's discerning eye for talent and his unparalleled esteem for you!"

"We were originally commoners and military officers. We were fortunate enough to join your ranks under the command of our late lord, Lord Liu, thanks to his kindness on his deathbed. Your Excellency's willingness to accept our humble origins is an immense favor. We only ask to serve under you diligently and contribute our modest efforts to repay your kindness. That would be enough for us!"

Li Yi's smile widened, and his gaze lingered on Zhao Pu for a moment longer.

He thought to himself: Putting aside the abilities of this "Prime Minister of the Great Song Dynasty," his silver tongue alone is quite remarkable!

Chu Zhaofu also bowed respectfully, saying, "What you said, Zhao, is exactly what I feel in my heart. I have a basic understanding of accounting and bookkeeping, and I am committed to doing my job well and would never dare to fail you." He spoke little, which made him seem even more pragmatic.

Wang Renzhan then clasped his hands in a fist salute and said in a booming voice, "This humble general is but a minor officer, but I have been fortunate enough to be favored by Lord Liu and now follow Commander Yu. I will charge into battle without hesitation whenever I am ordered to do so!"

Li Yi waved his hand: "The three of you don't need to be so formal, please sit down and talk."

He knew in his heart that Zhao Pu and the other two were his advisors, and he paid their salaries out of his own pocket. They had a very close personal relationship, so it was normal for them to say some words of loyalty.

These days, most people of low status have no real ability. It's like standing on the street looking at a bustling crowd—who among them has real skills?
Finding gold in the sand is not an easy task.

Bringing these historically significant figures under your command is certainly more reliable than searching for gold in the sand.

Li Yi gathered his thoughts, picked up his teacup, and said gently, "Let's drink tea instead of wine. I'd like to offer a toast to the three of you!"

"No, no... It should be your subordinates who respect Commander Jie!"

As soon as Zhao Pu and the other two sat down, they quickly stood up again, held the teacups with both hands, and bowed in return.

"Look at you, you're all being reserved again, aren't you?" Li Yi chuckled and shook his head.

"The commander's instructions are..."

As the hot tea went down their throats, warmth rose from their chests and abdomens, not only dispelling the winter chill but also easing the anxiety in the hearts of Zhao Pu and the other two.

Before coming to Tokyo, the three of them had many speculations in private.

They felt that someone as young and accomplished as Li Yi, a fierce warrior who had fought his way up from the bottom, was bound to have some of the arrogance and domineering nature of a martial artist.

They even worried that the new commander they were about to serve might be a difficult person to get along with.

Who would have thought that the other party would be so approachable upon meeting today?

If it weren't for his tall and imposing figure, exuding the heroic spirit forged on the battlefield, and the sharp glint that occasionally flashed between his brows...

Judging from his demeanor alone, it's like a gentle spring breeze, warm and peaceful, truly resembling a well-read and refined scholar.

Li Yi gently placed the teacup on the table, making a crisp, soft sound.

He seemed to remember something, and looked up at Zhao Pu and the other two: "I see that you three have come lightly equipped, without your families? Are they still on their way?"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Pu respectfully replied, "To be honest, my family is still in Jingzhao Prefecture. I originally planned to send someone to bring them over for a reunion after we arrived in Dongjing and everything was settled."

Li Yi nodded knowingly, his expression quite understanding.

In this chaotic world with numerous regional military governors, it was common for local military governors to move their posts and change their responsibilities. The advisors and staff who were attached to them were like duckweed on a boat, and the resettlement of their families was a trivial but unavoidable matter.

He said gently, “In that case, the three of you may stay at my residence for the time being. When you bring your families here, I will help you find a suitable place to rent in the city. I believe that as long as you serve the government wholeheartedly, it will not be difficult for you to acquire your own residence in Tokyo in the future.”

Upon hearing this, Zhao Pu and the other two rose from their seats and bowed deeply, saying, "We have no way to repay the General's kindness."

"It's nothing, not worth mentioning." Li Yi waved his hand with a smile, stood up, and straightened his robes.

"I still have some matters to attend to at the yamen, so I must take my leave now. I will have someone escort the three of you to my residence later, where my servants will take care of all your needs. When we return later, I will have someone prepare a simple feast to welcome you back."

As he spoke, he moved toward the door.

Zhao Pu and the other two dared not slack off and followed closely behind Li Yi to see him off.

Until that imposing figure disappeared from sight.

The three of them stood by the door and under the porch for a while before exchanging glances. The hesitation they had felt when they first arrived completely dissipated, and their minds began to stir.

Zhao Pu exclaimed, "Commander Li... truly possesses extraordinary bearing!"

(End of this chapter)