Chapter 100

Yangzhou Prefecture.

"What are you all doing?"

"I told you to be fully prepared before acting; why did you still let the thieves slip away from under your noses?"

Li Mu reprimanded them with an angry face.

After finally finding the enemy's den, when it came time to act, the rebels actually ran away.

If such a result were to spread, it would make all his colleagues laugh their heads off.

"Commander, the thieves are all proficient in water.

We had just started to act when they jumped into the lake.

……"

Battalion Commander Deng's explanation did not satisfy Li Mu.

That the thieves were proficient in water was something that could have been predicted beforehand.

If they were poor at swimming, they wouldn't have hidden in the lake.

After this battle, the grass was beaten and the snake was startled; even if the rebels were bold, they wouldn't stay where they were.

It's possible they have already left Yangzhou Prefecture by now.

The world is so big; wanting to fish the Huang brothers out of the vast sea of people is definitely not a simple matter.

The rebel leader escaping is a small matter; the key is the performance of his subordinates, which made Li Mu very dissatisfied.

Even the task he repeatedly exhorted could have loopholes.

It is obvious that these officers are busy planning their promotions and their minds are no longer on their work.

"No need to say so much nonsense; no matter how sufficient the reasons are, the thieves still ran away.

The rebels who slipped through the net are not just one or two.

Next, set up controls on the main traffic routes; I don't want to hear any more news about thieves breaking through the checkpoints!"

Li Mu said unhappily.

When people's hearts are scattered, the team is not easy to lead.

At a time like this, the importance of trusted aides is reflected.

No wonder people in officialdom like to promote their own people; when encountering thorny issues, only their own people will step up.

Everyone knows in their hearts that for a failed arrest mission like this, Li Mu can only cover it up.

Otherwise, if the matter blows up, the executors below will certainly be punished.

As the commanding officer, he also needs to bear responsibility.

"My Lord's lesson is correct; after we go down, we will definitely go all out and not let any rebel escape!"

Seeing Li Mu get angry, Battalion Commander Deng immediately guaranteed.

They are going their separate ways, but they haven't left yet after all.

Angering a superior at this time is not a good choice.

If some twists and turns occur and affect the promotion, it would be too late to cry.

"You all go down!"

After the beating, Li Mu immediately waved his hand and said.

Better to be still than to move; this applies not only to the people below but also to himself.

There are simply too many rebels in the Two Huai region; the rebel leaders on the court's wanted list are in the triple digits.

Things are valued for their scarcity; once the quantity of anything becomes large, it becomes worthless.

Catching rebels is a great achievement for low-level officers and soldiers, but for military generals, it is already dispensable.

Going all out to arrest rebels is not for the sake of merit, but for political needs.

The size of the achievement is not important; the key is to let the court see that they are doing their utmost for Great Dayu.

……

"Master, a family letter has been sent from the capital."

Taking the letter from Wu Dage's hand, Li Mu was startled after opening it.

He knew nothing, yet he was notified that he had been betrothed.

He had long heard of the feudal arranged marriage system; this time he had experienced it personally.

Refusal is out of the question; the orders of parents and the words of matchmakers are the normal process for discussing marriage.

With his parents gone, his uncles coming forward to arrange it is completely in line with etiquette and procedures.

Even if the Marquis of Zhenyuan didn't arrange it, other elders in the family would come forward to operate it.

As the person involved, Li Mu's own say is actually the lowest.

If it weren't for the mourning period, he would have been betrothed long ago.

According to Great Dayu's customs, the marriage age for men is basically between 16 and 20.

The marriage age for women is even younger, mostly between 15 and 18.

Unless encountering special circumstances like a mourning period or a national funeral, it generally won't exceed that.

Early marriage and early childbearing are completely out of necessity.

In this era where the average life expectancy is only forty-something, if one doesn't reproduce quickly, family inheritance can easily run into problems.

Political marriage is fine; the problem lies in the other party's identity.

Pie falling from the sky will crush people to death.

If it weren't for the explanation in the letter, Li Mu would have suspected that the young lady of the Duke's Mansion had problems.

However, with her status, even if there were real problems, she wouldn't worry about getting married.

After a brief hesitation, Li Mu still bit the bullet and wrote a reply.

Things have reached this point; even if he encounters a dinosaur, he will accept it.

Beautiful women have never been a scarce resource in high society.

If it weren't for him being disciplined enough, the world-famous "Yangzhou thin horses" would have filled the government office long ago.

The previous Prefect Hao, who was investigated, took eighteen concubines, seriously violating the Great Dayu Law.

However, the regulations regarding the concubine system had long existed in name only.

From princes and nobles down to wealthy merchants and petty officials, there were few who followed them.

Change the title; as long as you don't go through the concubine-taking process, it's not considered illegal.

The only ones truly restricted are the common people.

Of course, for them, it's the same whether there are regulations or not.

They have difficulty living themselves; marrying a wife requires all their effort, so it's impossible to take concubines.

……

Capital, Wenyuan Pavilion.

"Everyone, I have just received news that Grand Secretary Song fainted on his way here and cannot come to attend today's meeting.

If you have no objections, I will preside over the following meeting on his behalf."

Pang Pang Hengsheng said, suppressing the excitement in his heart.

Between the Second Grand Secretary and the First Grand Secretary, there seems to be only one step, but the power of the two is worlds apart.

Having been in the cabinet for many years, he had always been suppressed by Song Haidong, and he had long been stifled.

Having endured until now, it has finally reached the time when that guy is at the end of his rope.

According to convention, after the First Grand Secretary leaves office, the Second Grand Secretary will directly fill the position.

Once Song Haidong passes away, the cabinet will enter his era.

"Everyone understands the court's system; Pang, hurry up and preside over the meeting; everyone is busy!"

Left Guang'en, who was listening in, said unhappily.

According to convention, the cabinet meeting has nothing to do with him, the eunuch leader.

However, today's topic is special; as one of the parties involved, he must attend.

"Eunuch Zuo, since you are in such a hurry, let's start!

The first topic: Salt Administration.

The rebellion of the seven major families in the Two Huai region has been quelled, and the local area is in a state of waiting for reconstruction.

For the sake of people's livelihood and stability, we must restore local order as soon as possible.

Let's discuss the vacant official positions first; does anyone have candidates to recommend?"

After Pang Pang Hengsheng finished speaking, everyone's spirits were lifted.

In this change in the Two Huai region, the court really took ruthless action.

All officials with rank in the local area were rounded up.

Yangzhou Prefecture and Two Huai'an Prefecture are both among the most prosperous places in the world and have always been contested by various factions in the court.

"Grand Secretary Pang, hasn't everyone submitted their memorials?

In my opinion, just pick suitable ones from the candidates directly.

No need to start over and waste everyone's time in vain!"

Zuo Guang'en said with a smile that wasn't a smile.

Standing from the perspective of the Eunuch Party, if they want to continue to maintain the current political advantage, they must prevent the Qingliu Party from becoming the First Grand Secretary.

It just so happens that the court has a system; according to the normal promotion order, Pang Pang Hengsheng is the first candidate for First Grand Secretary.

Choosing to speak up and find fault at this time is to make things difficult for Pang Pang Hengsheng.

"Eunuch Zuo, you are still so impatient.

Since you said so, let's choose from the candidates!

If anyone has new candidates, you can also propose them now.

Let's start with the Prefect of Yangzhou; the candidates recommended by everyone include Hanlin Academician Gu Youwen, Vice Minister of Revenue Yan Bao, Vice Minister of War Qu Zongmin..."

Pang Pang Hengsheng said unhurriedly, as if he didn't take Zuo Guang'en's provocation to heart at all.

He told everyone with practical actions that he was broad-minded and disdained to argue with a eunuch.

"Hanlin Academician Gu Youwen is a scholar who passed the imperial examination from the special imperial examination of the first year of Tianyuan.

He has been in the Hanlin Academy for some years, and now it is time for him to be sent out.

Putting him in Yangzhou Prefecture to gain experience, I think it is just right!"

Xu Xu Wenyue took the lead in speaking up to fight for it.

Purely from the perspective of interests, after the Yangzhou trip ended early, competing for the position of Prefect of Yangzhou again was of much less value to him than before.

A decrease in the boss's interests does not mean that the younger brother's interests are also shrinking.

Being demoted from the Hanlin Academy to the Prefect of Yangzhou, such a position with high power content, is not just a step up in rank, but also in political future.

It is true that the Hanlin Academy is pure and noble, but that only belongs to young Hanlin academicians.

If one cannot jump out in time, then one will be a pure and noble academician for a lifetime.

Seed players cultivated by major factions will be arranged to gain experience in local areas at the right time, and then return to the capital to develop after having political achievements.

Yangzhou Prefecture has big troubles, but it also has big opportunities.

If the world is peaceful and there are no problems, there will be no political achievements.

An official lacking political achievements, even if in a high position, cannot be convincing.

"Gu Youwen is indeed a candidate, but I think Vice Minister of Revenue Yan Bao is more suitable.

Yangzhou Prefecture has just suffered from the flames of war and is at a critical moment of waiting for reconstruction, so the requirements for the chief official are very high.

Vice Minister Yan has stayed in the Ministry of Revenue for many years, dealing with money every day, and is best at financial management.

If he can serve as the Prefect of Yangzhou, he can just exert his strengths and rebuild Yangzhou at the minimum cost."

Grand Secretary Lu, who was on the side, followed closely and pushed his own younger brother.

After the two started, all parties pushed their own candidates, arguing until their faces were red.

The candidates fell into a stalemate, causing this cabinet meeting to break up in discord.

Without discussing a result, there was not a trace of panic on everyone's faces.

According to Great Dayu's convention, problems that cannot be solved on the table can be negotiated and solved under the table.

The quarrels between big shots are all for the Emperor and the younger brothers below to see.

If political transactions are not conducted behind the scenes, any personnel appointment could be argued until the end of time.

This is political balance, the price that must be paid.

……

Duke of Chengguo's Mansion.

"Brother Jing, have you made up your mind?"

The Marquis of Zhenyuan, Li Yuan, asked with concern.

Since the two families formed an alliance, the two, who were already family friends, became even closer.

"Brother Li, to tell you the truth, I have no bottom in my heart right now.

Theoretically speaking, among the nobles, we two have the highest prestige, and serving as Left and Right Commanders is a matter of course.

But the Emperor has not indicated his attitude for a long time, and no one knows what he is thinking.

If he gets the idea to promote someone from the border military generals, it is also possible."

Jing Jing Guoliang said with a difficult face.

With the rise of the civil official group, the power of the Grand Commander's Mansion was divided by the Ministry of War by more than half.

But this institution still controls the capital camp and has a say in the appointment and removal of local generals, belonging to the nominal highest military institution.

Theoretically speaking, the Grand Commander's Mansion and the cabinet are parallel institutions.

As the Right Commander of the Grand Commander's Mansion, he had long been the master of Great Dayu's military, below one person and above ten thousand.

Now that the Left Commander in front has hung up, according to convention, it is his turn to fill the position.

Unlike the highly competitive cabinet, the Grand Commander's Mansion has no competition this time.

Candidates qualified to participate in the competition, except for the two lucky ones, the others all went to see King Yama.

"Brother Jing, you are completely overthinking; such a situation is impossible to happen!

Since the founding of Great Dayu, has anyone ever been given real power when selected from local areas to serve as Left and Right Commanders?"

Hearing Li Yuan's words, Jing Jing Guoliang fell into deep thought.

For the Emperor, when selecting people for such key departments, ability is secondary; the key is that loyalty must be guaranteed.

Transferring border generals to the capital is not because of trust, but a means of hollowing out those whose merit might overshadow the master.

Being suspicious himself, naturally, he cannot give real power.

Hanging a false name is about the same as adding a false title; the actual role is just a consultant.

When consultation is needed, the Emperor calls them to his side to ask; when not needed, they are retired.

"Brother Li is right; it is indeed that I thought too much.

However, for such matters, we should not be too active; let's drag it out and see first!

Although the duties of the Grand Commander's Mansion are not as good as they were back then, there are still many government affairs that need to be handled, and it is impossible to keep them piled up without moving.

If it drags on for a long time and the Ministry of War has more ideas, I think the Emperor will not be willing either.

The current Emperor is best at power balance and will not allow a situation where one family dominates.

However, personnel appointments for others can be determined as soon as possible.

The noble group has suffered heavy losses this time; we must cultivate reserve forces as soon as possible to make up for previous losses.

In order to strengthen control over the Two Huai region, it is necessary to establish a recruited army to deter the southeast."

Jing Jing Guoliang said slowly.

Seeing through the fog, the Duke of Chengguo suddenly regained his usual wisdom.

"Brother Jing's meaning is to set up an Assistant Regional Commander in Yangzhou.

Insert our people there to monitor the Two Huai region and radiate the entire southeast.

Although Mu'er is in Yangzhou, his position is still too low.

Even if he made military contributions before, it is not easy to promote him all at once.

I wonder if Brother Jing has any candidates?"

Hearing Li Yuan's words, Jing Jing Guoliang rolled his eyes on the spot.

It seems like he is asking, but it is obvious that he has already recommended a candidate.

"Not easy to promote all at once" does not mean it cannot be promoted; it is nothing more than the price that needs to be paid.

This time going south, they were both winners and successfully took a share of the Two Huai salt industry.

But this kind of interest is not stable; if no one watches it for a long time, it will be hollowed out before long.

For both families, they need to drive a nail into the Two Huai region.

Li Mu is Li Yuan's nephew and also his son-in-law; for both families, he is a good choice.

Lack of seniority has never been a problem for big shots.

Proposing it at this time is obviously to let him take advantage of the fact that the news of the marriage has not been announced to the public and finalize the candidate first.

(End of chapter)