Chapter 486

On the morning of August 14, Jia Jing, surrounded by a group of personal guards and Zhu Que, entered the 12th Regiment in a grand procession, ordering his guards to summon all the regiment's officers for a meeting.

A moment later,

Inside the central camp quarters, heads swarmed, silence reigned, and a pin could be heard dropping.

The generals sat in rows on large high‑backed chairs, their expressions solemn.

Lan Yu, Ma Guocheng, Shi Ding, You Shiyong, Hou Xiaokang, Liu Fang, Feng Ziying, Han Qi, Shi Lang, Zhang Yong and other commanders of the 12th Regiment sat on both sides, while countless middle‑ranking generals and colonels stood at the flanks.

Among them, Lan Yu, Shi Lang, and Zhang Yong were newly promoted deputy commanders of the Yangwei, Zhenwei, and Shenwei battalions.

Lan Yu needs no introduction; Shi Lang and Zhang Yong, however, were talents Jia Jing discovered during last month's training!

Everyone remained solemn and silent, yet their eyes held a spark of eagerness; as senior court generals, they already knew what was about to unfold.

After Jia Jing took his seat at the command desk, his cold gaze swept over the assembled officers, and he murmured:

"The reorganization of the Guard Posts' tuntian in the capital region, you all should already be aware of it!"

"This is the Da Han Empire's first step in restructuring the army, and also the first decree of the Governor of Military Affairs Office; no one may, for personal gain, outwardly obey while secretly defying, nor collude, nor openly resist the law!"

Jia Jing's voice echoed through the tent, each word like iron striking every general's heart:

"Since August 4, the Guard Posts in the capital region have first perfunctorily shirked duties, using old records to slip through; then they bribed inspectors, corruption ran rampant; and they secretly conspired to kill several loyal court officials who went to conduct investigations."

"Now it has escalated to openly gathering mobs to assault the court's dispatched censors and censor trainees, beating them to injury, setting fire to houses, and even daring to fire cold arrows!"

"A verification team in Hejian Prefecture was besieged in a ruined temple overnight, over twenty censor trainees emerged wounded; outside Dingzhou Guard Post, censor Sun Jiasheng nearly lost his life!"

"These scoundrels, entrenched locally with troops, have become wildly arrogant; they no longer see the court or the law in their eyes!"

Jia Jing slammed the desk hard, causing the command arrows on the table to jump, and shouted:

"If we let them continue their lawlessness, where will the court's dignity be? Where will the Son of Heaven's authority stand?"

"I, as the supreme commander, have sought the emperor's will; anyone obstructing the reorganization, regardless of rank, will be judged by state and military law, with no leniency."

"Immediately issue orders: the whole army to cease training and assemble, preparing to sweep the capital region's Guard Posts! Even if I have to plow through every Guard Post in the capital region, the reorganization will be carried out to the end!"

At these words, Lan Yu, Ma Guocheng and others, whose faces had been solemn, involuntarily brightened together.

"Obey the Grand General's command!"

In the barracks, everyone rose, clasped their hands, and listened to the orders!

Jia Jing rose abruptly from the command desk and shouted:

"This time the troops will split into three routes! With the deputy commander of the 12th Regiment and commander of the Xianwu Battalion, Ma Guocheng, leading the southern route, commanding the Xianwu and Gan Yong battalions, totaling 30,000 troops, to occupy the Guard Posts toward Baoding and Dingzhou, and swiftly and severely execute the mutinous officers and troublemakers!"

Baoding's Five Guard Posts were the most fiercely resistant to the previous investigations, and Dingzhou Guard Post is where Sun Jiasheng nearly perished.

This route is deployed primarily with infantry, supplemented by some cavalry, advancing step by step; the goal is not speed but to completely overthrow and rebuild Baoding's Guard Posts!

Ma Guocheng's temperament combined with You Shiyong's makes them well suited for this task!

Ma Guocheng and You Shiyong, upon hearing the words, immediately stepped forward, their faces flushed, and clasped their hands, saying:

"The junior commander receives the order!"

Jia Jing said in a deep voice:

"Where is Shi Ding?"

With the clatter of armor plates, Shi Ding stepped out from among the military officers, clasped his hands, and said:

"The junior commander is present!"

Jia Jing said in a deep voice:

"You will lead the Fenwu and Liwei battalions southeast, totaling 30,000 troops, racing along the canal to strike Tianjin's Three Guard Posts and Hejian Guard Post, swiftly pressing forward to execute the mutinous officers and troublemakers!"

Tianjin's Three Guard Posts control the canal and the sea mouth, a strategically vital position.

If the southern route delays even a step, Tianjin's Guard Post troops could advance north along the canal, striking the capital directly, or cut off the central route from the flank.

This route demands speed, with a slightly higher cavalry proportion, using a rapid assault tactic to seize Tianjin first.

"Lan Yu!"

Lan Yu clasped his fists and said:

"The junior commander is here!"

"You will lead the Yangwei, Zhenwei, Shenwei, Guoyong, and Xiaoyong five battalions along the Dong Lu, about 80,000 troops, serving as the Zhong Lu commander, occupying the Guard Posts toward Tongzhou and Jizhou, and pacifying the rebellion!" Jia Jing ordered.

This is the heaviest route, about 80,000 men.

Because Tongzhou and Jizhou are the eastern gateways of the capital region, the areas with the densest Guard Posts and the most severe military encroachments, and also the longest‑established, deepest‑rooted bases of Prince Nan'an and other founding martial lineages.

Today, Prince Nan'an, the Crown Prince of Dongping, and Ma Shang of the Duke of Zhiguo's household are all present here!

Having Lan Yu lead the troops personally on this route embodies the notion of "capturing the thief and the king."

Departing from the capital, advance eastward along the canal road, first taking Tongzhou Guard Post, then pressing toward Jizhou.

Once the Dong Lu is secured, no matter which direction Prince Nan'an raises troops, he will find it difficult to encircle the capital.

Lan Yu's face flushed with excitement, and he answered loudly.

After the generals each received their orders, Jia Jing said in a low voice:

"The three routes will prioritize Zhong Lu; should an emergency arise, Lan Yu may make on‑the‑spot decisions. The specific tactic is to first strike a typical target, establishing authority through killing, then compel surrender with a proclamation."

"When each army reaches its first target Guard Post, no negotiations are to be held; issue an immediate 'final ultimatum': within one hour open the camp gates and surrender, the post commander must bind himself, exit the camp, and submit the registers."

"Any Guard Post or official that fails to surrender within the deadline and stubbornly resists will be treated as rebels; after the camp is breached, the commanding officer and all subordinate officers are to be captured on the spot, household retainers and private troops either slain or taken prisoner; anyone wielding weapons who resists or obstructs, regardless of who, shall be executed on the spot!"

"After suppressing the rebellion, people must immediately copy the 'Peaceful Citizen Notice' and the 'Clearing and Redistribution of Fields Notice,' clarifying that this reorganization is not a land seizure but a redistribution of fields that originally belonged to military households."

"The lower‑rank military households and commoners, previously coerced by military officials, will lose their will to resist once they hear the fields will be allotted to them."

"In short, first achieve absolute military deterrence, suppress all rebels with strict, heavy, and swift force! Then pacify the lower‑rank military households and populace, audit the lands, and restore the military‑farm system benefits!"

"Yes! Commander!" the generals clasped their hands in unison!

Jia Jing nodded and said:

"I will personally lead the Yaowu, Lianwu, and Guyong three battalions, stationing in Shenjing, overseeing coordination to guard against any contingency! Everyone, go make the arrangements!"

It's unnecessary for him to personally lead troops to deal with a minor Prince of Nan'an; fortunately, Lan Yu has just arrived at the brigade and needs to establish his authority and earn merit. With the elite troops of the twelve brigades and Lan Yu's strategic ability, this presents an excellent opportunity to train the soldiers and the officers.

As one military order after another was issued, the twelve brigades sprang into action like a high-speed machine!

「Boom! Boom! Boom! 」

On the grand drill field within the camp, the war drums thundered, and the soldiers of each brigade began to gather swiftly!

In a moment, the drill field was a sea of banners, and the troops' morale was high!

Jia Jing stood before the army, gazing at the 180,000 troops he had personally raised, drew his side sword, and shouted:

「All troops, hear my orders: march out to quell the rebellion, kill! 」

「Kill! Kill! Kill! 」

The shouting that filled heaven and earth merged into a vast ocean, and the first step of the Da Han Empire's military mobilization was launched with a bang on August 14, the tenth year of the Jing Sheng era!