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墨書 Inktalez
Chapter 266: Rising Up
Zhang Hutan's thoughts were almost completely unmasked. Over here in Baekje, the Eight Prominent Clans had sent people to pledge allegiance, only to be ruthlessly slaughtered.
Even Silla had several True Bone generals who were subtly rejecting Tang, and they were dealt with by Zhang Hutan under military law. If it weren't for Princess Deman, who rushed back from Chang'an to calm things down, Silla would likely have allied with Baekje.
Only Jindeman, having witnessed the strength of Tang, understood that His Majesty was not a ruler who would retreat after just one or two defeats.
Perhaps Silla, Baekje, and the remnants of Goguryeo could repel Zhang Hutan and Luo Yi, but Tang would rise again with its army. How many battles could these small nations endure?
Not to mention fighting against the Tang army, which would surely result in more losses than victories; even if they won every time, given Tang's scale, they could simply outlast them.
The prosperous Goguryeo was the best example of this.
The Silla King—oh no, the Dai Fang County King of Tang—received a court document and a private letter from the emperor mentioning a proposed marriage between Chancellor Li and a princess. This brought him great joy and satisfaction.
Since he decided to submit domestically, he naturally sought to understand the upper echelons of Tang's nobility. Chancellor Li was a new noble who had taken over from King Qi to guard Bingzhou.
Although it wasn't the best outcome—His Majesty did not take his daughter as a consort—he had no particular attachment since he had no sons.
Thus, Jin Zhenping was busy sorting out royal assets while General Ro had already arranged naval forces to transport his wealth.
Of course, he also gifted him many treasures and lands that were inconvenient to take away; whether he could keep them was no longer his concern.
Luo Yi and Zhang Hutan shared an understanding: only by submitting to him would they avoid becoming expendable under Zhang Hutan's command. They could even seize gold and silver from the aristocracy while suppressing rebellions in the rear and occupy lands.
Moreover, due to Wei Zheng's advice, Luo Yi's ranks were filled with commoners who had suffered poverty and oppression from the aristocracy. Once they gained power, they would strike ruthlessly without mercy. Only they could serve as the foundation for Tang's rule over Liaodong.
Dai Fang County King thought this way, he would not cherish his people. Apart from a few Confidant who were to be taken to the Central Plains, the rest were left to be commanded by General Luo.
However, privately, Zhang Hutan asked Wei Zheng: “Duke Wei, I have worked with Luo Yi for a long time, and he is indeed an ambitious person. If he is allowed to win the hearts of the people in Liaodong, in the future…”
As for the ancestral foundation, there was nothing to be done. The Holy Bone has been passed down to this day, and neither he nor his brothers have sons. This is a sign of ancestral misfortune; if blame is to be assigned, it should first go to the ancestors.
He himself did not mind this. Those who are not of my kind must have different intentions. Moreover, since Luo Yi intends to stay here, he need not worry about the trivial matters of post-war pacification; he could simply return to the emperor's side.
Perhaps this is fate. Maybe when he arrives in the Central Plains and takes more concubines, he might have sons. This Duke could also pass on his title, which is certainly better than a son-in-law.
“Are you afraid he will rebel?”
As for the local officials in Liaodong, what the court lacks most at present is officials.
Thus, Zhang Hutan became known in the Liaodong Three Kingdoms as a bloodthirsty demon from the east, here to slay all living beings on the land of Liaodong. His reputation even spread to Wa Country.
Zhang Hutan nodded: “After all, this is the land of the Three Kingdoms, capable of establishing a kingdom. If Luo Yi were to repeatedly carve out his own territory, it would surely damage the emperor's reputation, which is something I do not wish to see.”
After hearing from Eldest Daughter about the prosperity of Chang'an and Luoyang, he was already eager to enjoy his old age.
Wei Zheng shook his head and smiled: “The general is indeed loyal and righteous, but you overestimate Luo Yi. This person is inherently fierce and cunning, obstinate and ungrateful. Right now, he can show kindness under your command.
But mark my words: once the war ends, he will inevitably exploit those under him. Once people's hearts scatter, he will merely be an Andong Protectorate. The court will establish a Deputy Commander office below him to distribute power.”
Zhang Hutan thought about it and agreed. Although Luo Yi was brave and skilled on the battlefield, outside of it, he was indeed not a good person and not worth befriending. Even the first one to get close to him, Qin Dan Er General, had unconsciously distanced himself from him.
"The General can now return to the capital with peace of mind."
Wei Zheng thought for a moment and said, "Since the General has mentioned this matter, there is something that I originally intended to do, so I will entrust it to you. After all, I still need to stay and work with Luo Yi."
"Duke Wei, please feel free to say it."
"According to the rules, the spoils of battle must be respectfully presented to His Majesty and returned to the treasury. I have a rough estimate of the Gold and Silver Treasures that Luo Yi has received, so I ask the General to request them before returning to the capital."
Zhang Hutan understood immediately. Given Luo Yi's greedy nature, even if he was well-fed, he would exploit his subordinates. If his food were taken away, he would become even more ruthless.
However, Zhang Hutan became worried again: "If we are too harsh, it may provoke a rebellion among the troops, which would be counterproductive."
"Rest assured, I will keep him in check and not let him go too far. The vast lands of Liaodong are more valuable than mere possessions; I believe the soldiers would prefer land that they can pass down to their descendants."
Zhang Hutan nodded. He was a personal guard of His Majesty and had served closely when His Majesty was still the Zhuojun Prefect. He was not afraid of offending others; perhaps having enemies throughout the court was even better.
...
"Your Majesty, Duke Ping has been excessively ruthless in Liaodong. Even though he could have ended this war long ago, he stubbornly refuses to accept surrender. Every additional day of fighting results in significant losses."
The Emperor readily agreed: "I will issue an order. Ministers, the urgent matter is that Liaodong lacks officials. We do not know who is in charge there. The Andong Protectorate needs to establish a Deputy Commander’s office and requires several military generals to oversee it."
"Your Majesty, I am willing to go."
"The General is willing to ease Your Majesty's worries."
Both civil and military officials were quite eager. Although Liaodong was a harsh and cold place, it was vast, and with the emperor far away, it was indeed a place where one could showcase their abilities.
The emperor waved his hand. "I understand the intentions of all my loyal ministers, but you are the pillars of the court. Cold water requires someone to fetch it, and hot water needs someone to boil it. Shifting resources from one place to another is not a long-term solution."
Changsun Wuji spoke up, "Your Majesty, in the past two or three months, you have brought many talented individuals from Jiangnan, and many of them have yet to be assigned positions."
"I plan to fill the Four Commanderies of West Sea, Heyuan, Shanshan, and Qiemu with these talents. Relying solely on military force for governance is not a sustainable strategy."
Changsun Wuji was well aware of this situation and immediately continued, "Your Majesty, regarding the recent Enke initiative, you have reinstated over a hundred officials. If there are vacancies in Liaodong, perhaps we could select some officials from among them."
"These individuals have experience in local governance; they may be able to provide timely assistance."
Li Jian Cheng cast a deep glance at Changsun Wuji. The older generation of the Noble Families of Guanlong had suffered greatly due to the palace coup; those who had survived were mostly retired from their positions.
Now it was time for the younger generation to step forward and compete for leadership within their factions.
………………
(End of Chapter)
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