Chapter 1652: The Illiterate General

The clear lake water rippled under the autumn wind, the cold gleam of the water reflecting on Emperor Liu's weathered face. Those eyes, tinged with a hint of weariness, gazed at the warships moored in the distance, and his thoughts seemed to drift beyond the Nine Provinces along with the Great Han navy's expansion.

Accompanying Emperor Liu, besides Yan Tuo, was a burly, stern-faced middle-aged man — Gao Qiong, the Chief General of the Longqi Army and Baron of Yong'an.

In recent years, with the unfolding of the Great Han's military system reforms, Yang Ye had also been dispatched by Emperor Liu to the various frontiers to oversee the adjustment and arrangement of border defenses, leaving the position of Palace Commander — the "Number One Marshal of the Great Han" — vacant.

However, unlike in the past, Emperor Liu did not choose anyone to fill the post, instead leaving it empty. Nor was it just the Palace Commander — the Imperial Guard Commander was the same, with Tian Chongjin and Liu Tinghan successively stepping down.

By now, the Palace Command and the Imperial Guard Command — the two prestigious and renowned imperial army command institutions of the Great Han's early and middle periods — had gradually lost their authority, and senior military posts such as Deputy Chief Commander, Chief Commander of Cavalry and Infantry, and Chief Inspector had slowly become honorary titles.

At the same time, the troop-command authority originally concentrated in the two commands continued to be delegated downward, with the Chief Generals of the subordinate armies taking direct responsibility, while the clerks originally attached to the two commands were dispersed among the Bureau of Military Affairs, the Ministry of War, and the various armies.

Of course, the Palace Command and the Imperial Guard Command were not completely abolished — the institutions were retained, and a portion of their clerks remained to keep them functioning, but they had lost most of their functions, and the two commands gradually became mere nominal designations for organizing the subordinate imperial army.

As for the Patrol Inspectorate, one of the three offices, it too underwent earth-shaking changes — but rather than being reduced or abolished, this institution was actually strengthened and perfected. Naturally, this also represented a change in its functions, as it gradually lived up to its name, becoming a true patrol office with its focus shifted to public security affairs.

However, the Patrol Inspectorate had also become a department that bureaucrats and generals were eager to join, and the Patrol Inspector was one of the most prominent positions of real power among the central ministries. The current Patrol Inspector was Zhang Yongde, Marquis of Yangyi.

These adjustments to the imperial army were clearly another measure to strengthen the court's control over it. The Bureau of Military Affairs had always been responsible for the nation's military affairs, and the authority to mobilize the imperial army was firmly held in its hands. From then on, the Bureau of Military Affairs no longer needed to be constrained by the three offices in military deployment arrangements, and could issue orders directly to the subordinate cavalry and infantry units, achieving vertical management.

But by the same token, the Bureau of Military Affairs' power was thereby greatly strengthened. Considering this, Emperor Liu also initiated changes to the Bureau — or perhaps it could not be called a change, merely a further refinement of its functions and division of responsibilities. In addition to the Commissioner of Military Affairs, four Deputy Commissioners of Military Affairs were added, each overseeing the imperial army, the northern front, the southern front, and naval affairs respectively.

Everything remained centered on checks and balances. The former Commissioner of Military Affairs, Cao Bin, also stepped down after eight years in office, replaced by Liu Tinghan. As for the changes at the top, their impact on the various numbered armies below was minimal — they merely had one fewer intermediate link in receiving military orders.

Perhaps the greatest impact was on the Longqi Army. As the army with which Emperor Liu had risen to power, it had always been the Great Han's number one elite force, and Gao Qiong, now its Chief General, had naturally become the foremost of all generals.

"Minister Gao, if I remember correctly, your eldest son Jixun is currently training in the Jinming Pool naval forces!" Emperor Liu raised a hand and pointed, asking softly.

"Your Majesty is correct!" Gao Qiong replied respectfully.

With a slight smile and a tone carrying a hint of curiosity: "You, a land general skilled in horsemanship and archery, yet your son wants to develop in the navy — this is advancing on both water and land, developing in a balanced way!"

Seeing that Emperor Liu was in a good mood, Gao Qiong's rigid face also revealed a trace of a smile: "My son is young and reckless. Previously, when he saw Guo Liangping granted the title of Baron Zhiyuan for his merits, he also declared he would join the navy and go to sea to win glory! I saw that his resolve was firm, not a momentary impulse, so I did not stop him. Whether in the imperial army, the border army, or the navy, it is all serving the Great Han and being loyal to Your Majesty..."

"Very good! A tiger's cub from a general's door! I think Jixun has a great future ahead of him!" Emperor Liu chuckled.

Seeing the Emperor praise his own son, how could Gao Qiong not be delighted? But his mouth still habitually remained modest: "Your Majesty flatters him. If my son knew, he would surely be greatly inspired — if he did not render service to the Great Han, he would probably be too ashamed to return to the capital!"

"When we strike Srivijaya, we can let him try! Although the navy's warships are large and formidable, in the end they cannot sail onto land. To teach those barbarian natives who refuse to accept imperial civilization a lesson, we must rely on the Great Han's strong bows and hard crossbows, its elite troops and fierce warriors!" Emperor Liu said. The navy's operational plan against Srivijaya had, of course, received Emperor Liu's approval.

"When Your Majesty issues the order, how dare I not obey!" Gao Qiong said solemnly.

Looking at Gao Qiong, Emperor Liu crossed his arms over his chest, gently tapping his leg with the bamboo staff in his hand, and asked: "Minister Gao, how has your reading been lately?"

At these words, a rare hint of embarrassment appeared on Gao Qiong's stern face. In the past, among the Great Han's senior generals, those who could not read or write were not few in number, but now, the most famous one was probably only Gao Qiong.

Lowering his head slightly to conceal his embarrassment, Gao Qiong answered in a low voice: "To answer Your Majesty, I can now read military orders and official documents normally. As for writing, I still need the help of my staff. If you asked me to compose poetry or write essays, that would be beyond my ability!"

Seeing him somewhat nervous, Emperor Liu smiled lightly: "Progress is good! In the past, Minister Gao was completely illiterate, yet still managed troops well. Now that you can read official documents, with you commanding the Longqi Army, I am even more at ease!"

"Thank you for Your Majesty's trust!" Gao Qiong breathed a slight sigh of relief.

"However!" Emperor Liu changed the subject, speaking with a somewhat more serious tone: "If you only wish to be a general leading ten or twenty thousand troops, this is sufficient. But if you have higher aspirations, it is somewhat lacking. Just imagine — if I were to have you manage the Bureau of Military Affairs, how could you command the respect of the masses!"

Hearing Emperor Liu say this, Gao Qiong immediately became serious, and a hint of excitement appeared in his eyes — not for the high official position of the Bureau of Military Affairs, but for the great regard Emperor Liu showed him.

Clasping his fists heavily, Gao Qiong said solemnly: "Your Majesty treats me thus — how dare I be negligent!"

Reaching out to pat Gao Qiong's shoulder, Emperor Liu said: "No need for that. Today I emulate Sun Quan urging on Lü Meng — when this is passed down in the future, it will count as a fine anecdote. I hope that one day, you, Gao Qiong, can also be like Lü Meng and make people look at you with new eyes! A military official has never been about mere bravery alone. Although you were illiterate in the past, your command in battle and your methods of controlling troops are all wisdom and learning — do not underestimate yourself!"

"Yes!" Seeing Emperor Liu's earnest admonition, Gao Qiong immediately responded, saying sincerely: "I will certainly not disappoint Your Majesty's expectations!"

Of course, Gao Qiong truly did not know the allusion of Sun Quan urging Lü Meng to study. He seemed to have heard it somewhere, but who exactly the people were, he had no idea. While responding to Emperor Liu, he was already secretly planning to seek instruction from his staff advisor upon returning to his office.

In the distance from where Emperor Liu and the others were conversing, another figure was galloping a swift horse, running freely across the grassy banks of Jinming Pool. Hearing the approaching sound, he turned to look, and an affectionate smile appeared on his aged face.

That was the imperial grandson Liu Wenhai, the eldest son of Jin Prince Liu Xi, who had been raised by Noble Consort Gao for many years and was now twelve years old. Gazing at the dashing figure galloping on horseback, Emperor Liu seemed to see himself in his youth, and his mood lightened somewhat. Of course, what Emperor Liu himself had looked like at that age, he did not even know.

Pointing into the distance, Emperor Liu asked with a smile: "Minister Gao, what do you think of my grandson here?"

"A dragon-phoenix bearing, a heavenly sun countenance!" Gao Qiong answered offhandedly, using words he had heard from who knows where.

"Haha!" Emperor Liu, however, did not take it too seriously, instead teasing: "Who said my Grand General Gao has not a drop of ink in his chest? I ought to slap that person's mouth — see, he speaks elegant verses off the cuff!"

Saying this, Emperor Liu muttered somewhat wistfully: "I vaguely recall that the Veritable Records of Gaozu records that back when we were still in Taiyuan, before raising the army, Gaozu asked Su Fengji, and Su Fengji also evaluated me and my elder brother in the same way..."