Chapter 261: Winning Hearts and Minds

Liu Chengyou's remarks were essentially words of praise for these young officers, and they showcased his wise-ruler demeanor of cherishing generals and talent. Among the young officers present, although Liu Chengyou was unfamiliar with quite a few of them, and some even looked strange to him, he had done his homework thoroughly before the audience.

For each person, he mentioned their military post, their résumé, their accomplishments, and how much merit they had earned in this battle, one by one. Moreover, he did not waste too many words on the officers related by blood or marriage like the Ma, Li, Fu, and Gao families, but focused instead on conversing with Li Chongjin, Zhang Yongde, and others.

This performance won people over. Even if it was a momentary surge of enthusiasm, Liu Chengyou still gained the goodwill of these young military officers.

All along, Liu Chengyou had placed exceptional importance on the military. Back when he was still commanding troops in the Longqi Army, he constantly cultivated relations with officers at all levels, and whenever there was a vacancy, promotion, or transfer in the army, he never forgot to receive the officers.

Since ascending the throne, he had not neglected to win over and appease the upper echelon of the imperial army—the commanders-in-chief, chief commanders, and army heads—summoning them into the palace from time to time for talks. Every month, there was also a "military symposium." In comparison, he had somewhat relaxed his attention toward these mid- and lower-ranking junior officers who formed the backbone of the imperial army.

This time, Liu Chengyou was taking advantage of the moment when the rebellion had been completely suppressed and his prestige was at its peak to exert influence on the mid- and lower-ranking imperial army officers and win their hearts. The national condition and ethos of military men ruling the state was a chronic ailment formed over years of regional revolts and repeated warfare, and its roots could even be traced back to the scourge of military provinces since the mid-Tang.

As for the older generation of generals and army heads, most of them had grown up amid the chaos and bloodshed of this era. The least experienced had served two or three generations of rulers, and quite a few had risen since the end of the Tang, witnessing the dynastic changes of more than forty years from the Later Liang to the present.

For those people, Liu Chengyou had basically given up on the idea of changing them. People's thoughts are often the hardest thing to change.

But the young generation newly rising in the army was different. Young people, after all, were easier to influence, to bewitch, to buy off, and also easier to control.

As for those old generals and army heads, Liu Chengyou still planned to pick out the capable ones and employ them. After all, the Great Han, whether in military or civil affairs, could be said to have inherited the legacy of the Tang, the Jin, and even Zhu Liang, and the veteran ministers and old generals were still the core of the Great Han's rule—they could not possibly be eliminated all at once. However, for those who were virtueless, talentless, and obstinately unrepentant, gradually replacing them was only proper.

The renewal and replacement of the army was ongoing at all times. The old generals represented the present, and the young stalwarts represented the future. And these people who had been summoned were an extremely representative batch in the army. As long as they developed normally and did not die halfway, the Great Han army of the future would surely have a place for them.

Although this era was also an era of grassroots rise, where countless military men fought their way up by sheer martial valor, the imperial army also valued lineage, and these officers in the hall, by virtue of their family backgrounds and connections, advanced much faster than ordinary people, whether in starting point or in the channels of promotion.

Just as Liu Chengyou had said at the opening, they were to be the backbone and core of the Great Han imperial army in the future.

Having spent some saliva, he picked up his cup and took a sip of tea, then called out softly: "Zhao Kuangyin."

Zhao Kuangyin, who had been standing below attentively listening to the Son of Heaven's instruction, was startled. Under the strange gazes of the assembled officers in the hall, he quickly steadied his mind, stepped out of the ranks, and this time dared not secretly steal glances at the Son of Heaven. He performed a very proper salute: "Your servant is here!"

"No need to be so formal, raise your head!"

Perhaps because Liu Chengyou's attitude was relatively mild, or perhaps because Zhao Kuangyin had strong psychological fortitude, he stood upright, eyes straight ahead without wandering, only his eyelids slightly lowered, presenting a composed appearance.

Liu Chengyou studied Zhao Kuangyin, wanting to see just what kind of legendary figure the "Taizu of Song" really was. He stared for a while, yet found nothing too surprising. He was not short, with a sturdy, imposing build and regular features, slightly older than himself. In addition, his temperament was a bit more mature. As for the rest, there was nothing special to be discerned.

Just like the first time he had met Guo Rong—if not for the influence of preconceived impressions from another time and place, based on first impressions alone, Liu Chengyou would never have thought highly of him. In comparison, Guo Rong had left a deeper impression on him, after all, Guo Rong's bearing and appearance were "heroic and extraordinary."

As Liu Chengyou studied him, his thoughts drifted, causing a subtle shift in the atmosphere of the hall. The others marveled at why the Son of Heaven regarded this Zhao fellow with special favor, while Zhao Kuangyin, under Liu Chengyou's gaze, could not help but feel a bit of unease in his heart.

"When the city fell, all the troops surged in, eager to claim merit. But I heard that it was only the Eastern and Western Squads that went north to intercept Li Chongxun, who was leading men in a breakout. That was on your advice. Could it be that you had already anticipated the rebels would make such a move?" Finally, Liu Chengyou spoke up to ask.

Upon hearing the question, Zhao Kuangyin relaxed slightly inwardly. After organizing his words a little, he replied: "To answer Your Majesty, Yongji City borders the great river to the west, and Your Majesty surrounded the east and south while leaving the north gate open. Your servant merely reasoned that when the city fell and the troops surged in, the rebels' momentum would be broken and they would scatter like birds and beasts. With the massed troops on the east and south sides, if any rebels wanted to flee north, the north route was the only path with a greater chance of survival. I judged by my own reasoning, and it turned out as expected. But your servant was merely being clever on his own—Your Majesty had already arranged for Governor Wang and the other generals..."

Zhao Kuangyin appeared quite modest, but from his answer, it was clear that this was obviously someone who used his brain and had a remarkably strong ability to seize opportunities. When the city fell, most people thought of entering the city to earn merit, but with so many imperial army troops, how much could be divided among them? Instead, the Eastern and Western Squads took a different path, coordinating with Wang Yan to annihilate that small portion of rebels fleeing north.

One had to know that under such circumstances, those who chose not to surrender but to break out and flee north were absolutely the diehard elements among the rebels—they needed to be exterminated even more than those rebel soldiers who surrendered decisively. These rebel soldiers had higher merit value. Moreover, capturing Li Shouzhen's family was an even more tangible achievement.

Thinking of all this, with just this foresight, Liu Chengyou would regard Zhao Kuangyin with higher esteem. And the facts proved that someone who could carve out such a great reputation in history and found a dynasty was no ordinary man—even in obscurity, his extraordinariness showed through.

"With such foresight, you have the makings of a general!" Liu Chengyou commented flatly.

At Liu Chengyou's words, Zhao Kuangyin felt honored beyond his expectations: "Your Majesty overpraises me; your servant truly does not deserve it!"

While the others looked on with envy or astonishment, Yang Ye's expression was somewhat different, because similar words had been spoken to him by this Son of Heaven as well...

Hearing his self-designation, Liu Chengyou said: "You joined the army this time, but you haven't been registered in the military rolls yet, have you..."

"Yes."

"Given your achievements this time, it is fitting to appoint you Commander. That way, after returning to the capital, you can be transferred to the Scattered Ranks Army!" Liu Chengyou thought for a moment, then said.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Since the Son of Heaven himself had personally granted him an official post, Zhao Kuangyin felt a slight joy in his heart and quickly prostrated himself, putting on a grateful appearance.

When the audience ended and these officers withdrew, they could not help but discuss among themselves, most with joyful expressions. In the great army, there were hundreds upon hundreds of officers with similar seniority and posts as theirs, but only they had received a personal audience with the Son of Heaven. They were now in the Emperor's mind—how could they not be delighted?

Liu Chengyou had come this time precisely to win people over, but winning people over was not something that could be accomplished with just a silver tongue, even if he was the Emperor.

Therefore, in his exchanges with these "young stalwarts," there were more or less some hints—such as commendations and promotions. Anyone with even a little brains could sense it.