Chapter 460: Charting the World, Managing the Back Route

Zhu Que also had already looked at the paper note, saw Jia Jing's displeased expression, and asked in a low voice:

"Sir! Those people are harboring ill intent; should we send men to wipe out these families outright?"

Jia Jing thought for a moment, shook his head, and said:

"No rush! We promised half a month, we give them half a month. Arresting them now would scare the snakes; those lecherous rascals are not worth fearing. Let the arrows keep flying a while longer!"

With Jia Jing's current authority, issuing a direct order to arrest people is naturally doable!

He is the Prime Minister of Military Affairs, a second‑rank Cavalry Grand General; in terms of rank, all current generals are beneath him!

Even if the other side is the princely houses of Nan'an and Dongping, as long as there is solid evidence, they can be seized first and reported later!

After all, he acts on imperial command; when he was in the palace, Emperor Jing Sheng Di had explicitly instructed that the army‑reorganization must not be lenient—those to be captured must be captured, those to be killed must be killed!

Moreover, he still wields the Imperial Sword and the gold medal as if the Emperor himself were present, and his authority over the Imperial City Department has not yet been withdrawn by Emperor Jing Sheng Di,

In emergencies, aside from the palace where he must consider a few things, elsewhere there is basically nothing beyond his orders or control!

Of course, if not necessary, he would not mobilize troops outright!

It must be said, the higher his position, the more he understands that actions must have a clear justification and stay within the bounds of state law, not merely arbitrary arrests or killings, and he must not set a bad example!

For example, in this matter he wants to reform the Shenjing military merits and clear the accumulated corruption of Guard Posts, to set a tone and a benchmark for the army‑reorganization,

It is meant for the eyes of the entire civil‑military establishment and the world's commanders, so it cannot be done crudely nor without method and means!

"Have your men make preparations in advance; when they burn the fish‑scale registers and spread rumors, seize the culprits and their loot, then issue a decree to imprison them and subject them to harsh interrogation, pressuring the Prince of Nan'an and others!"

"Also, let Xie Qing's side give them a morale boost and counsel, so that those who should jump will jump out; when the time comes, we strike with a thunderous blow and capture them all in one net!"

There was something Jia Jing did not anticipate: since Xie Qing was stripped of his post at the Marquis's residence,

not only did he bear no resentment, but he secretly defected, voluntarily becoming an undercover within Prince Nan'an's founding military merits, frequently passing information over here.

Yet, on reflection, it is not surprising, for as his own power grows, not only Xie Qing but many ambitious or opportunistic civil‑military officials are actively seeking to align with him.

However, only a few have truly been accepted by Jia Jing!

"Understood!" Zhu Que clasped his hands and replied.

Jia Jing's eyes deepened, he was silent for a moment, then said:

"Once the army‑reorganization begins, the realm will inevitably experience hidden currents and rising tides; the role of the Embroidered Uniform Guard becomes ever more crucial, and control of intelligence has always been of great consequence!"

The previous assassination incident could be pre‑empted precisely because of the Embroidered Uniform Guard's intelligence!

Zhu Que's face showed a hint of delight, as if he grasped Jia Jing's meaning, and he probed:

"Sir, what do you mean?"

Jia Jing did not hedge, and said in a deep voice:

"The Embroidered Uniform Guard needs you to personally take command, and it must continue to expand vigorously. Last year you said you would grow it to five thousand within a year; that target has now been met."

"In the coming year, you must expand it to thirty thousand, not only spreading across the Thirteen Provinces of the Two Capitals of Great Han, but also beginning extensive deployments in the neighboring states of the Da Han Empire!"

"You need not concern yourself with the duties of the 12th Corps for now; hand them over to General Lan, and let him be responsible for the 12th Corps thereafter."

"You will head the Military Affairs Office of the Prime Minister of Military Affairs, and henceforth devote your main effort to the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Military Affairs Office."

Compared with leading troops in battle, Zhu Que's aptitude for intelligence is undeniably far greater!

Now that generals such as Lan Yu are present, there is no longer any need for Zhu Que to command troops!

For those above, the most basic principle is to know people and assign them wisely!

"I, the junior commander, accept the order!" Zhu Que's face bore a few traces of excitement at returning to his old trade!

Jia Jing then turned to Lan Yu and said:

"Coordinate with Zhu Que, then take a position as a deputy camp commander in the 12th Corps; once you understand the situation and earn military merit, I will appoint you to oversee camp affairs!"

For titles such as camp commander, Jia Jing can now directly appoint with a seal.

Lan Yu stood up, his face flushed, clasped his hands and proclaimed loudly:

"Yes, Sir!"

Over here, Xu Da, Chang Yuchun and others, seeing that Lan Yu had already received orders and would later command a force of one hundred eighty thousand, showed subtle changes in expression.

What is happening? Lan Yu… the younger brother has instead received such heavy trust?

Fortunately, Jia Jing did not keep them waiting, and turned to Qi Jiguang:

"Yuan Jing, shortly I will issue a document appointing you to a post in the Prime Minister of Military Affairs, then send you to the three‑border, four‑town region in the northwest to supervise training."

"Train the troops there; once you earn merit, I will petition the Emperor to make you the governor of the thirty‑hundred‑thousand‑strong northwest army!"

Now that there are four generals whose trust and ability are absolute, the northwest will certainly receive one to command the three hundred thousand troops.

As for why Qi Jiguang was chosen, it is because historically he has already overseen training in the north‑west frontier and performed admirably!

Moreover, the northern Yuan has been eliminated, and in the short term there is no major war, only training, so Qi Jiguang can best apply his strengths.

If he can forge the three hundred thousand into an elite force like the Qi family army, then pacifying Liaodong's False Qing will be a breeze!

"Junior commander, I obey your command!" Qi Jiguang replied, his bearing a shade more composed than Lan Yu's.

Jia Jing's face was like dark water, and he then turned to Xu Da and Chang Yuchun, saying in a deep voice:

"Tian De, Bo Ren, the burden you two bear is the heaviest!"

Xu Da and Chang Yuchun's expressions brightened, and they rose saying:

"Just give the orders, Sir!"

Jia Jing thought for a moment and then slowly said:

"Across the Da Han Empire, the military authority of Liaodong, the northwest, and Shenjing all lie in my hands, but the southern forces have not a single loyalist; we must lay plans there in advance."

"I hereby assign you both to control the naval and land forces in the south, as well as oversee logistics, grain supplies, and colonization affairs!"

"Besides opening the southern front, you have another crucial task: seize Luzon Island and carve out a… back route for me."

Saying this, Jia Jing paused, his face growing a few shades darker, then continued:

"Civil officials often say officials must think thrice, think of danger, retreat, and change! Yet we warriors also need to think thrice!"

Even the better it develops, the more, when it is at the height of its glory, the more one must think of danger while at peace!

Now the Central Plains are roiling with turmoil; although His Majesty is united with me as sovereign and minister and trusts me completely, as the reforms deepen, I will inevitably offend more and more people, and who can say what will happen in the future!

So… from now on, I will make some preparations in advance for myself and everyone for unforeseen needs!

This has long been Jia Jing's thought; a cunning rabbit still has three burrows, let alone a solitary, power‑wielding minister like him, destined to offend all under heaven!

Even though it now appears he has already secured an invincible position, it's best that a retreat route is unnecessary, but one must not be without one when needed!