Chapter 454: Year Fifteen of Jing Sheng: The Nation Thrives, the People Live in Peace!

His expression changed slightly, and Jia Jing vaguely felt that the reason Jing Sheng Di showed this change might be that he had, in a dream, witnessed the Da Han Empire's ruin and the extermination of its people,

It deepened a certain sense of crisis and urgency in his heart, to the point that he had lost the basic trust between ruler and subjects for most civil and military officials besides himself……

After a moment's thought, Jia Jing said solemnly:

"With Your Majesty's words, I now have confidence. I was originally still worried that the military reforms would be too far‑reaching, and if trouble arose, it would put Your Majesty in difficulty."

"Now it seems I was over‑thinking. Your Majesty truly is the ruler of the revival, a sovereign like Yao and Shun, seeing more clearly than I do and possessing greater resolve than I have."

Jing Sheng Di smiled lightly, his gaze deep and seemingly pointing, and said:

"One cannot lack resolve! Time flies like an arrow; now the tenth year of Jing Sheng has already passed eight months, and the court is entangled in countless affairs, with far too many tasks still undone."

"The realm is unstable, the four seas are restless, corrupt policies abound, time waits for no one, and I do not wish to leave this mess to posterity!"

Jia Jing, hearing this, glanced at the fatigue and anxiety in Jing Sheng Di's brows, instantly knowing the emperor had again felt a sense of urgency.

Of course, this is normal; after all, Jing Sheng Di has reigned for ten years, and his body, worn by years of statecraft, has already silvered at the temples,

occasionally suffering ailments; now that he finally glimpses a few rays of revival, it would be strange not to feel urgency!

After a moment of contemplation, Jia Jing said:

"My plan is to spend three months thoroughly inspecting the capital region, eliminating excess, refreshing the officers, reorganizing the Guard Posts, and reforming the military system."

"After three months, the successful experience of reorganizing the capital's Guard Posts will be codified, and the Prime Minister of Military Affairs will promote it to all regional commands and Guard Posts nationwide."

"We will issue a unified 'Military Reorganization Regulation', standardizing reorganization criteria and procedures, implementing a unified military system, addressing everything from troop quotas, pay standards, training cycles, to equipment provisioning, thereby completely overturning the previous situation of disparate regional systems and ineffective commands."

"At the same time, we will reform the selection and appointment system for military positions, gradually replacing the hereditary‑dominated old system with a merit‑based 'military merit assessment' system, implementing new selection standards at all Guard Posts; those without merit or ability shall not inherit posts."

"Furthermore, we will establish Da Han military personnel archives, achieving standardized and institutionalized army management, allowing the court to fully understand the true state of troops across the realm, and fundamentally eliminating false reports, concealments, and phantom quotas."

"We will also unify the pay standard: all units nationwide, whether border troops, Guard Post forces, or local garrisons, shall receive pay according to the new standard. The pay will be disbursed uniformly by the Military Supplies Department of the Prime Minister of Military Affairs, bypassing regional officials and directly reaching each army."

"With this overall calculation, plus the rectification of border forces, the initial reorganization will be completed in roughly three years."

"What remains is to continuously refine details, fill gaps, and address deficiencies within this new military administration framework."

Reorganizing the army is not merely about liquidating old interest groups; the most important task is to establish a new system suited to the present and comprehensively boost the army's combat power!

For example, innovating equipment, strengthening training, securing provisions, establishing inspection mechanisms, reforming the navy, resettling dismissed personnel, and so on, all interlinked.

Under certain conditions, Jia Jing even intends to convert the Guard Posts' hereditary soldier system into a professional recruitment system.

When Jing Sheng Di frowned upon hearing "three years", Jia Jing paused briefly and comforted him:

"Your Majesty, rest assured… after three years, the realm will possess a hundred‑thousand elite troops."

"At that time, under Your Majesty's decree, I will personally lead this hundred‑thousand force: northward pacify Liaodong and the False Qing, plow the courts and sweep the nests, forever eradicating future threats; southward pacify the Annan tribes, bring them under our royal governance; westward pacify the western frontier's lingering rebels, and subdue the capital of the horse‑and‑snail."

"Thus, unifying the four seas, the realm will reverberate, our might will span the universe, shaking antiquity and dazzling the present. With such glorious martial achievements, we will forge the Da Han Empire's enduring foundation for ten thousand years."

"When that day arrives, Your Majesty's merits will stand shoulder to shoulder with the Founding Ancestor and the Successor, becoming the ruler of the revival, a timeless emperor, a sovereign of the world; you shall ascend Mount Tai, proclaim offerings to heaven and earth, honor the imperial blessings and ancestral lineages, and be revered for ten thousand generations."

"I will cling to Your Majesty's swift horse's tail, render this modest service, bathe in virtue, without seeking a name etched in history."

"I only hope that future generations, when they turn the pages of history to this point, will know that under Your Majesty's banner there was a warrior who received the sovereign's utmost favor, was entrusted as a confidant, and under Your Majesty's protection charged into battle, steadfast in resolve until death."

"Such is enough for my wish!"

Jia Jing's expression became solemn, his gaze clear, as if flashes of sword light swept through his eyes.

His voice was not loud, yet each word rang clear, striking the heart like war drums, resonating with force.

The talk of a timeless emperor, a world sovereign, ascending Mount Tai, proclaiming offerings to heaven and earth contains no trace of flattery or jest; instead it is vividly cinematic!

Jia Jing's words naturally set a passionate vision for Jing Sheng Di, sustaining the subsequent steadfast march forward!

Of course, this is not solely for Jing Sheng Di; it is also a personal goal he set for himself!

Within at most five years, he will certainly achieve this goal!

Jing Sheng Di, after listening, looked at the composed young man before him, his expression changed, and he remained silent for three breaths.

After three breaths, a faint reddish flush appeared on his cold, hard face, and he burst into laughter.

That laugh was not the usual brief, imperial chuckle heard in the court, but a burst from deep within his chest, an unstoppable roar of mirth.

He laughed for a good while before stopping, a lingering grin still on his face, and pointed at Jia Jing, saying:

"Zi Jie, Zi Jie, do you know, such words—among all the civil and military officials in the court, only you dare to speak so bluntly before me."

"Only you said it, and I… would believe."

"…If I am truly fortunate enough to see this day, you will be my benefactor, the benefactor of the Da Han Empire!"

"If I am truly fortunate enough to see this day, I will have you ride your Red Hare Horse, walk side‑by‑side with me, ascend Mount Tai together, and jointly offer sacrifices to heaven and earth!"

"In the annals of history, you and I, ruler and minister, will share supreme honor together, receiving worship from all the people!"

Stirred by his emotions, Jing Sheng Di directly gave Jia Jing an almost unbelievable promise!

The term "benefactor" naturally does not denote personal gratitude, but the merit to the state and the virtue of the ancestors, the highest appraisal of this achievement from the standpoint of the realm.

"Walking side‑by‑side with reins together" is a symbol of majesty. The two riding together, receiving worship from the populace and officials, represents the ultimate honor.

And jointly offering sacrifices to heaven and earth, allowing a living minister to partake in the celestial rites, is the highest‑grade privilege, truly symbolizing "sharing the nation's fate."

It means that, in the realm of "proclaiming to heaven", the emperor acknowledges that this person has become an indispensable part of the state.

This is no longer merely a "supporting minister", but a "co‑founder" of the revived Da Han Empire.

In a word, it is comparable to the three‑way oath of Liu, Guan, and Zhang in the Peach Garden, a partnership that transcends the ruler‑minister relationship.

Jia Jing's expression changed, and he suddenly knelt to the ground, his gaze upright as he stared at Jing Sheng Di, and declared resolutely:

"Your Majesty! I ask for nothing else! I only wish, in this life, to assist Your Majesty in clearing the six directions and eight wildernesses, rectifying decay, reviving the Da Han, and reshaping heaven and earth."

"Future generations, when they discuss history, may say: The governance of Jing Sheng began in the fifteenth year, the realm unified, the four seas peaceful, the nation prosperous and the people at ease!"

Jing Sheng Di, upon hearing these words, his expression softened, his heart stirred, and he cast a pair of warm eyes toward Jia Jing, murmuring:

"In the fifteenth year of Jing Sheng, the nation prospers and the people are at peace; can I truly achieve this…?"

…………