Chapter 997

“This old slave is confused.”

Qian Dafu scratched his head, truly not understanding the meaning.

Xiao Ming calmly explained, “Gathering together and drinking in broad daylight shows that they are open-minded, without any concerns or conflicts of interest. If they were like strangers, it would be difficult to guess their intentions.”

“Your Majesty’s words make sense. So, Elder Fei has something on his conscience. General Luo Quan returned this time, but he didn’t even visit him.” Qian Dafu placed another telegram on the table.

“He is naturally feeling guilty. His nephew’s family wants to intermarry with Luo Hong, and who would believe that he didn’t instruct it?” Xiao Ming curled his lips. In the former Great Yu Empire, intermarriage between powerful families was almost a custom.

The Fei family could stand firm, on one hand, because the Fei family did not participate in factional struggles, and on the other hand, because the Fei family had some foresight in terms of marriage alliances. Fei Ji’s insistence on marrying his daughter to him was enough to show this point.

However, even maintaining neutrality required strength. It was clear that Fei Ji was constantly strengthening the Fei family’s network of influence. It could be said that this was a habit inherited by the Fei family.

As the emperor, he naturally could not interfere with the intermarriage of his subordinates, after all, this was a family matter. Forcibly interfering would only provoke dissatisfaction, and no emperor in previous dynasties had ever done so.

“There’s nothing to be done about it. Chief Grand Secretary Pang can’t avoid it either. After all, marriage emphasizes matching family status,” Qian Dafu said with a chuckle.

Xiao Ming nodded slightly. In fact, he had already accepted this fact. Standing at a high position, he could see the changes of the times more clearly.

The demise of one generation of princes, marquises, generals, and ministers only brought about another generation of them. The end of history always led to the same destination.

Since the birth of private ownership, the imbalance of wealth has made equality impossible. The so-called dynastic changes are nothing more than a redistribution of interests after severe wealth inequality.

Now, the people of the empire supported him so much because he had given most of them what they wanted.

But with development, he understood that wealth would inevitably become imbalanced again. This was something no one could change.

This also made him increasingly aware of how difficult it was to maintain a country. Those who had once fought alongside him to build the empire could, in the blink of an eye, become enemies who would destroy it, and he was becoming more and more like a solitary ruler.

After reviewing the full content of the telegrams, Xiao Ming basically had a grasp of the repercussions caused by the military reform.

Among them, the one most dissatisfied with his decision was naturally Luo Hong, which he had anticipated. However, governing a country could not consider whose interests were harmed; it could only consider what was most beneficial to national stability.

Luo Hong was displeased, and his subordinate generals naturally shared the same sentiment, after all, most of these generals had followed him since Chang’an.

Regarding this issue, he decided to adopt a strategy of division, promoting some and suppressing others, to minimize the impact of this military reform.

Thinking of this, he drafted a list, detailing who would be promoted and who would be demoted.

After a day of preparation, Xiao Ming arrived at the Zhengda Guangming Hall early the next day. Today, there would be no civil officials in the court, only generals from all over the empire.

In addition to the military reform, he also had to announce the tasks given to the army by the military reform.

At eight o’clock, 320 generals in green military uniforms arrived one after another. These were the main generals of the empire’s army today.

Among them, the commanders of the six military regions stood at the very front on the left, while the six chief scribes of the military regions stood at the very front on the right.

“Long live His Majesty, long live, long long live!”

As Qian Dafu announced the official start of the court session, all the generals chanted “Long live” three times.

“Dispense with the formalities!”

Xiao Ming’s eyes swept over the generals. He then said, “Today, the mainstays of the imperial generals are gathered here. I believe you all understand the purpose. With various weapons entering the battlefield, line infantry soldiers have become a thing of the past. To adapt to the upcoming tactics, I have decided to reform the military to enhance the combat effectiveness of the imperial army, which includes the six major military regions…”

Facing all the generals, Xiao Ming announced the division of military regions and the appointments in court, then awaited the generals’ reactions.

No sooner had he finished speaking than a general stepped forward and bowed, saying, “Your Majesty, I have no objection to the appointment of the commanders of the other five major military regions, but I am truly not convinced by the appointment of the Eastern Military Region commander. Most of the generals in the court today have followed Your Majesty in campaigns across the south and north for the past twelve years, and many of them held the positions of captain and governor at that time. However, Zhu Sansi was merely an ordinary soldier at that time. Not to mention his limited military achievements, even by seniority, it would not be Zhu Sansi’s turn. I truly cannot understand.”

Xiao Ming looked at the general who stepped forward. He was not unfamiliar with this general, named Ma Xudong, who was one of the earliest generals of the Qingzhou army, and he was a captain when Zhu Sansi enlisted.

“I second the motion!”

“I second the motion!”

“…”

As soon as Ma Xudong finished speaking, more than thirty generals successively stepped forward to agree with Ma Xudong’s statement. These included generals from various armies.

Xiao Ming had long anticipated such a result. Lu Fei and others had deep qualifications, and no one dared to overstep their authority. However, Zhu Sansi’s prestige was too low, so the position of Eastern Military Region Commander became the only one that could possibly be swayed. Who wouldn’t want to gain some benefit from this military reform?

In the crowd, a faint smile appeared on Luo Hong’s lips. He looked at Zhu Sansi, wondering how he would handle this today.

Zhu Sansi, standing in the first row, had a somewhat awkward expression. After receiving the order, he had been uneasy. The sudden imperial favor caught him somewhat off guard.

But with the imperial decree issued, how could he refuse? In his dilemma, he came to Lu’s Mansion, wanting to hear Lu Fei’s advice. After all, he was originally under Lu Fei’s command, but he never expected to meet Luo Xin and others on the way, so he had to bite the bullet and come along.

“Your Majesty’s great kindness has appointed me, your humble general, to the post of Eastern Commander. However, I believe my qualifications are shallow and I am unworthy of such a position. I ask Your Majesty to withdraw your order,” Zhu Sansi said frankly.

Xiao Ming’s expression remained calm as water. He had no intention of blaming these generals. Sometimes, letting dissatisfaction out was much better than holding it in.

After a moment of contemplation, he said, “In that case, you should first listen to what this Eastern Military Region is about before you speak. The five major military regions belonging to Lu Fei, Luo Xin, Lei Ming, Qi Guangyi, and Ye Qingyun have basically divided all of the Great Yu Empire’s current armed forces. The additional Eastern Military Region basically has no military strength. Calling Zhu Sansi a commander is actually just a division commander. Furthermore, Qingzhou’s six prefectures and the coast are defended by the Central Army. Why would we need an Eastern Military Region? Therefore, the Eastern Military Region, according to its responsibilities, will primarily be for the expedition to Alaska after its establishment, and will open up colonies for the Empire in North America along Alaska.”

“Ah, North America…”

“It’s so far, is there any difference from exile?”

“No wonder it was given to Zhu Sansi. The others wouldn’t be happy either.”

“…”

The generals discussed among themselves, and those who had stepped forward wished they could shrink back. They did not want to be a commander without troops, and go to such a distant place.