bookrandom Chapter 1960 I Didn't Misjudge Him
Chapter 1960 I Didn't Misjudge Him
Ran Ming turned to Deng Hao and gave the order in a deep voice, his tone like the clash of metal, carrying a compelling killing intent:
"Now that Li Bi has proven his loyalty, there is no need for me to linger here any longer!"
"Send the order!"
His voice suddenly rose, resounding throughout the tent like thunder:
"All troops, prepare immediately! After the battle meal, break camp and set off eastward immediately! Travel day and night to the eastern front!"
"Yes! General!"
The guards and messengers outside the tent responded in unison, their footsteps quickly fading into the distance, conveying the order to every corner of the camp.
Ran Ming took a deep breath, as if he could already smell the even stronger gunpowder and blood stench from the main battlefield in the east.
He picked up his giant sword and strode out of the tent.
Sunlight shone on his dark armor and gleaming head, reflecting a cold, hard light.
The Eastern Front was the true stage for a fierce general like him!
There lies a formidable adversary—Li Jing, the military genius of the Tang Dynasty—and the ultimate decisive battle that will determine the fate of the world!
Staying in Chang'an City to supervise a surrendered official who had already been "tamed" was simply a waste of his time.
His Majesty entrusted him with the most elite cavalry to conquer cities and fortresses on key battlefields, not to serve as a military supervisor here.
Now, Li Bi has earned temporary trust through his actions, and has also freed Ran Ming.
He was going to join His Majesty and use his sword to carve a bloody path for the upcoming decisive battle!
The hustle and bustle and power struggles of Chang'an City were gradually left behind. In Ran Ming's heart, only the desire for battle and the pursuit of merit remained.
The iron cavalry is about to point east, and a larger and more devastating storm is gathering on the eastern horizon.
And he, the sharpest blade under Chu Ning's command, will surely leave his own bloody mark in this massive battle that will determine the fate of the Central Plains.
Two days later, Chu Ning's massive army was rapidly advancing along a wide official road.
Black banners blotted out the sky, iron armor clanged, and the sounds of hooves, footsteps, and wheels merged into a deep and powerful roar, like a moving mountain range pressing eastward with unstoppable momentum.
In the central command position, Chu Ning did not ride in a carriage, but instead rode a magnificent black horse like an ordinary general.
He stood tall and straight, his black cloak fluttering in the wind whipped up by his speed, his cold face revealing little expression.
Only those deep eyes occasionally flashed with a hint of contemplation about the situation on the eastern front.
Just then, a fast horse came from the back of the group against the flow of people, weaving through the crowd at an extremely fast speed, its hooves kicking up clouds of dust.
The newcomer was none other than Shen Lian, a commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. He had clearly been on a long journey, his face showing signs of travel, but his eyes remained sharp.
He approached the central army, nimbly dismounted, knelt on one knee in front of Chu Ning's horse, and held up a small secret letter with feathers inserted in it.
"Your Majesty! General Ran Ming has sent a message by carrier pigeon from Chang'an City!" Shen Lian's voice remained clear amidst the noise of the march.
Chu Ning reined in his horse, raised his hand, and signaled the central army to slow down.
The flag officer behind him immediately signaled with flags, and the massive army, like a sophisticated instrument, slowed its march slightly, but its formation remained perfectly intact.
Taking the secret letter from Shen Lian, Chu Ning skillfully crushed the sealing wax and unfolded the paper, which was as thin as a cicada's wing.
His gaze quickly swept over the hastily written characters on it, which were dictated by Ran Ming and written by the scribe.
The letter briefly reported that the rebellion in Chang'an City had been swiftly quelled, and that the ringleaders, Liu Sheng, the Prince of Zhongshan, and Liu He, the Prince of Xuan, had been publicly executed.
And Li Bi subsequently took a series of measures—to appease the people, strengthen security, and offer rewards for the capture of the remaining rebels—and once again expressed his determination to resolutely implement the new policies and govern the Han lands well.
After reading it, Chu Ning's usually calm face showed a barely perceptible upward twitch at the corner of his mouth, revealing a hint of almost indifferent satisfaction.
He casually handed the letter to a close attendant beside him, his gaze fixed on the distance, as if he could see through mountains and passes to the ancient capital that had just weathered the storm.
"It seems I didn't misjudge him."
He spoke softly, his voice calm, yet carrying an air of absolute certainty that he was in control of everything.
"This Li Bi is quite adept at assessing the situation and knows how to protect his position and life."
He nodded slightly, as if addressing a close advisor, or perhaps speaking to himself:
"With the Han territory newly annexed, the people's hearts are restless. Using a surrendered official like Li Bi, who is familiar with the local situation and eager to prove himself, to stabilize the situation is indeed the most appropriate choice at present."
"It seems that entrusting the Han territory to him for the time being was the right decision."
However, the mind of an emperor is unfathomable.
Trust is never unconditional, especially for a surrendered official like Li Bi with a prior record.
After a brief pause, Chu Ning changed the subject, her gaze returning to Shen Lian, her tone becoming cautious and meticulous:
"However, governing a region, especially a vast territory like the Han Dynasty with its deeply entrenched aristocratic families, is not something that Li Bi alone, or even his group of surrendered officials, can accomplish."
“If we rely on them completely, over time they will inevitably become too powerful to control, and may even develop disloyal intentions.”
His mind was extremely clear, and he had already laid out a backup plan: "Has there been any reply from Minister of Personnel Lü Xiuwen?"
Before leaving Chang'an City, Chu Ning had already made preparations in advance by secretly issuing an order to Lü Xiuwen, the Minister of Personnel who was left to guard the capital of Chu and in charge of the selection and dispatch of officials.
He ordered them to select a group of capable and loyal officials from the Chu homeland and from the former Jin and Zhou states that had already submitted and had been tested.
They were swiftly dispatched to Han areas to fill positions in government at all levels, especially key posts, in order to achieve genuine infiltration and control.
Shen Lian was clearly very concerned about this matter and immediately replied, "Your Majesty, Lord Lü has already responded."
"He has followed His Majesty's secret decree and urgently dispatched more than 300 officials of various ranks, escorted by reliable generals, in several batches, who are on their way to the Han lands."
"Based on the estimated itinerary, the first batch of officials should have already arrived near Chang'an City and will soon be able to take over some government affairs."
Upon hearing this news, a genuine sense of relief flashed in Chu Ning's eyes.
This was his complete plan for controlling the Han territory—using surrendered officials like Li Bi as a facade to temporarily appease the local areas while quickly implementing key policies.
At the same time, he secretly transferred in a large number of loyal grassroots and mid-level officials to gradually take over actual power, forming a system of supervision and checks and balances, and ultimately completely assimilated the Han territory and integrated it into the ruling system of the Great Chu.
"very good."
Chu Ning uttered two simple words, a simple evaluation that signified his approval of Lü Xiuwen's efficiency and his confidence in the subsequent arrangements for Han territory.
At this point, the biggest threat from the rear seems to have been eliminated, and at least in the short term, it will no longer take up too much of his energy.