Chapter 88: Accession to the Minister of War

In the hall, Zhang Tingyu, Li Guangdi, Chen Tingjing and others wore faces of surprise and anger, exclaiming that this was a betrayal of the very foundation of the Da Han Empire!

But Zhang Tingyu and the others quickly recalled the few foreign campaigns at the beginning of Emperor Jing Sheng Di's reign, which indeed ended in suspicious defeats!

In that case, it does make sense!

Moreover, the motive is simple: either they saw the Da Han's national strength waning and wanted to secure early ties with the Qing to keep an escape route.

Or it is connected to the Dragon Head Palace, since Emperor Jing Sheng Di suffered many foreign defeats, greatly shaking his prestige, which made the Retired Emperor's earlier defeat stand out, and some even suggested restoring the Retired Emperor!

It can't also be related to the Dragon Head Palace, can it!

Thinking of Jingnan Wuxun's loyalty to the Retired Emperor, Zhang Tingyu and the others couldn't help but break out in cold sweat!

The Retired Emperor selling out the nation? That's…

Emperor Jing Sheng Di stared at Duke Cheng with a cold, forest‑like gaze and said in a chilling voice:

"Now the letters of collusion and the testimonies of Lu Ju, Huang Bin and others have been delivered; both witness and material evidence are present, ironclad as a mountain. How dare you still try to defend them!"

"You even say that Marquis Jingwu should stake his life against theirs! I will give you an answer!"

"I said how Duke Cao and others suffered such absurd defeats; it turns out it was all the treachery of the False Qing! Traitors! Absolutely shameless!"

"Ping!" Another crisp sound rang, and the tea cup on the imperial desk was smashed by Emperor Jing Sheng Di right in front of Duke Cheng, soaking the duke's court robes with tea.

Duke Cheng slowly knelt on the ground, bowed his head and said:

"I was the former Military Governor of Bashang Daying; Lord Linchuan and others are guilty, and I cannot escape responsibility! Yet my Jingnan lineage remains loyal to the state; please, Your Majesty, see clearly!"

Emperor Jing Sheng Di sneered:

"Hmph! Claiming to serve the country! Heaven knows which country they truly serve?"

"And you think pleading guilty will earn you forgiveness? Whoever dares to collude with the enemy and betray the nation, I will show no mercy!"

After speaking, Emperor Jing Sheng Di glanced toward the Dragon Head Palace, then turned to His Highness Zhang Yi and asked:

"How is Marquis Jingwu's current garrison at Bashang Daying? Is there any threat of unrest at Bashang Daying?"

Zhang Yi bowed and replied loudly:

"Your Majesty, the Lord has captured most of the senior military officials inside the camp; drums have been sounded to gather troops, and the military discipline is being reformed!"

"He instructed me to tell Your Majesty that as long as he is present, Bashang Daying will not experience any unrest; please feel free to act with confidence!"

"Very well! Minister Jia, you have lived up to my expectations! Truly a loyal, virtuous, and capable minister!"

This time Emperor Jing Sheng Di did not ask the opinions of the scholars present, but directly addressed Xia Shouzhong:

"Grand Companion, immediately issue an edict to strip Lord Linchuan and Lord Zhongqin of their titles, confiscate their estates, have their bodies beheaded and their heads sent to the nine borders as a warning to the generals!"

"All male members of their families are to be executed; the women are to be sent to the Music Bureau to be registered as the poor; any relatives who concealed information or participated in looting shall be severely punished according to law!"

"As for those Central Army Generals, Colonels and other core allies, hand them over to the Three Law Courts for strict, swift, and severe punishment!"

Having finished, Emperor Jing Sheng Di again cast a cold, forest‑like gaze at the kneeling Duke Cheng and said coldly:

"Also this rogue, pull him down as well and interrogate him thoroughly."

"Furthermore, Jia Jing has performed meritoriously; he is appointed as Vice Minister of War and given full authority to reorganize Bashang Daying. The Ministry of War and the Five Military Governor's Office must cooperate fully and not slack!"

Seeing this, the ministers' faces turned stern, each lost in their own thoughts.

The Jingnan lineage of Wuxun, after this battle, suffered a severe loss of vitality and will likely never match the founding lineage again!

Jia Jing, the youngster, impressive!

Night fell, a gentle breeze blew, and the bright moon shone clearly.

Bashang Daying.

Inside the central camp tent, Jia Jing sat upright behind the command desk, watching Zhu Que and Ma Guocheng below.

He had already learned from Zhu Que about Emperor Jing Sheng Di's reprimand of Jingnan Wuxun, and that he himself had been granted the rank of Vice Minister of War by the emperor.

The Vice Minister of War is a third‑rank civil official title.

Bestowing a military commander with the title of Vice Minister of War is an extremely subtle combination of authority.

It is generally a way for the emperor to show trust and favor, while also granting the commander nominal eligibility to partake in Ministry of War affairs beyond his military duties!

Jia Jing guessed that the emperor's move was to enable him to better coordinate Bashang Daying's provisions, armaments, and personnel matters with the Ministry of War.

"Lord, almost all the soldiers who left the camp have returned; after checking the rolls, there are a total of 49,312 men. Over two hundred are still absent from the camp."

Ma Guocheng reported to Jia Jing.

Jia Jing's expression remained calm; while leaning over the desk writing something, he replied:

"Hmm, anyone who does not return to the camp today will be removed from the rolls, and any nominal relatives will also be eliminated. Tomorrow we will begin formal reorganization; cooperate with General Zhang and handle the related tasks properly."

Since Jia Jing killed Lord Linchuan, Ma Guocheng has been actively trying to align himself with Jia Jing.

Jia Jing happened to need an elderly advisor familiar with Bashang Daying's situation, so he accepted his submission.

Of course, whether he is truly worth reappointing will have to be judged as he serves.

"Both of you, take note; I will make the following deployment arrangements!"

Jia Jing paused his pen, contemplating the start of the task assignment.

Zhu Que and Ma Guocheng instantly stood upright, awaiting Jia Jing's orders.

Jia Jing said:

"Now the vacant positions have been clarified; starting tomorrow, the first task is to cut down the old and weak within the camp."

"I intend to reduce the camp's soldiers by twenty percent, about ten thousand men, reassigning them to auxiliary units."

"This must be done quickly, without delay; you have three days. Tomorrow you may gather the troops for physical training, and the first ten thousand who cannot keep up will be cut out immediately!"

Jia Jing's tone was resolute and decisive, revealing an unquestionable will.

He could not possibly retain all over forty thousand troops; among them were not only privileged families but also the old, weak, sick, and idle soldiers, whose presence would corrupt the camp's atmosphere and spoil the newly recruited soldiers.

Therefore, he must first purge the dregs, removing all the worthless, and select truly capable and battle‑ready soldiers.

"Marquis, the military selection and troop reorganization is naturally a good thing, but cutting ten thousand soldiers at once will inevitably breed resentment among the troops; could it trigger a mutiny?"

Ma Guocheng weighed his words and asked cautiously.

Jia Jing replied in a deep voice:

"Those cut are not expelled from the camp; those willing to stay become auxiliary soldiers and can receive a monthly stipend of five dou of grain. Moreover, the outstanding performers have a chance to become combat troops again."

"The cuts mainly filter out some idle soldiers and those who cannot endure hardship, to prevent them from corrupting military discipline."

"And this pruning is not a one‑time affair; during later training, those who fail to meet standards or lack effort will be gradually eliminated."

"Auxiliary soldiers are mainly responsible for logistics, city defense, and repairing training grounds, equipment, and barracks."

"Bashang Daying needs only elite troops; no one will lack rations, no silver will be short, but it must forge a mighty army of a hundred thousand who fear neither death nor hardship and can fight and win!"

"We must train while recruiting; now disasters rage everywhere, and there are many people who cannot get enough to eat. We should enlist more recruits of unblemished backgrounds to replenish the ranks."