Chapter 139: Top-tier Eye Drops

Gaoyou Lake.

"The warships are still under construction; you all use these small boats to drill first!"

Li Mu said with slight embarrassment.

Poaching people from various naval forces only to train them in a lake using fishing boats.

No matter who it was, they couldn't help but feel uneasy.

Li Mu was helpless about this situation.

Warship construction takes time; all that could be found in the short term were some fishing boats.

These little things, if put out to sea, could be sent away by a single wave.

The soldiers currently here were all transferred from the army, and most didn't even know how to swim.

As zero-foundation rookies, they naturally had to start from simple mode.

Li Mu had plenty of patience for the navy and didn't expect success overnight.

"Assistant Regional Commander, these are all fishing boats; what can we train on?"

Gao Zhiyuan asked with a depressed face.

The level of the Yangzhou Navy was not high, and the naval officers poached were all grassroots officers.

His position as a Company Commander was considered a rare leader in the navy.

The positions above are all in a state of vacancy.

According to Li Mu's promise, whoever trained the strongest troops would be promoted first.

Theoretically, Gao Zhiyuan had a great chance, but after seeing the training ground, he became suspicious.

"Naturally, first teach everyone to swim and row; once water skills are trained, then practice using cannons, muskets, and crossbows...

As for the rest, you arrange it yourselves; I am an Army Assistant Regional Commander and have limited knowledge of the navy.

You don't need to worry too much; these soldiers are all first-class good troops.

They have learned both long and short weapons and have good close-quarters combat ability; they just haven't learned maritime warfare.

Arrange training for a few months first; by then, the first batch of warships will be in place, and you can go to sea for training."

Li Mu answered calmly.

Anyway, since they had been transferred, they shouldn't think about leaving.

Even if someone could pull strings and get a transfer order, he would refuse.

A melon forced off the vine isn't sweet, but it can quench thirst.

If they dared to slack off and work against him, they would be transferred to the army to serve as cannon fodder.

The military system of the Great Dayu Dynasty was just that bizarre.

Naval officers and army officers could be swapped.

Some famous generals could even be proficient in both naval and land warfare.

The threshold for professional barriers was not yet high.

Li Mu valued the navy highly; the positioning of these people in front of him was to train troops from the start.

The future controllers of the navy had to be his own trusted aides.

Anyway, everyone had no combat record, and no one could tell who had strong command ability.

Since they were destined to be cultivated from scratch, everyone was willing to cultivate their own people.

Poaching them was purely because these people worked hard at training troops.

Of course, officials still had to be promoted; you couldn't just let the horse run without giving it grain.

Li Mu only wanted naval command and wouldn't block everyone's path to the clouds.

Complete the training mission, promote those who should be promoted, and advance those who should be advanced.

Those willing to follow him could stay, and for those who wanted to seek a better future, he could also recommend them.

Regular military pay is not a copper short, and daily treatment is excellent.

Compared to their original offices, the future here would be even brighter in terms of treatment and prospects.

"Rest assured, Assistant Regional Commander, we will definitely train an elite navy!"

A middle-aged Platoon Leader was the first to express his stance.

He couldn't afford not to show initiative; he was no longer young.

If he wasted any more time, his life would be over.

Compared to the generals he had come into contact with in the past, Li Mu was the thickest thigh he had ever seen in his life.

Seeing someone take the lead, the officers began to express their stances one after another.

Being military generals, they were still divided into different ranks.

Just looking at the configuration of the Yangzhou Camp, Assistant Regional Commander Li was at the top of the chain of contempt.

Everyone was not a fool; before being transferred, they had inquired about Li Mu's background.

Knowing that the person in front of them could decide their career, no one would be stupid enough to be a thorn in his side.

In the Great Dayu Dynasty, as long as military pay was not delayed, other problems could be overcome.

Warships were not in place for the time being; at worst, they would be pulled to sea for training a few months later.

There were no combat missions in the short term, so everyone could afford to wait.

In the imperial palace.

"Two gentlemen came to the capital, and I actually didn't receive news; this is truly a neglect!"

Ji Ji Zhao Shun said with pleasant surprise.

Although he was the Emperor, he still had no say in important matters in the court.

Among the eight regents, except for Zuo Guangen who had flattered him, the other seven were very cold.

Every time they saw him, they were very polite, but once it came to specific affairs, they all played tai chi with him.

They were more polite than the next in words, almost praising him to the heavens.

Unfortunately, eight or nine out of ten of his suggestions were ignored.

The few that could pass were changed beyond recognition, making him, the Emperor, lose face.

Clearly having suffered grievances, he had nowhere to vent.

The regents were too capable; no matter what happened, they could leave him speechless.

Even he himself agreed with them, so he had no reason to make a fuss.

What made Ji Ji Zhao Shun most anxious was that the regents left behind by his elder brother were too capable.

These fellows managed the affairs of the court in an orderly manner; if this went on for a long time, who would still know him, the Emperor!

Involving imperial power, Ji Ji Zhao Shun had a very strong sense of crisis.

Knowing it was disadvantageous to him, he still couldn't intervene.

After these days of running-in, the eight regents found their respective positions, and even Zuo Guangen stopped flattering him.

"Your Majesty, you overstate it!"

Yin Zhiming and Zuo Hongjiang said in unison.

Deep down, the two couldn't help but complain.

Since you value us so much, then issue an edict early to summon us to the capital!

They would accept an imperial edict without needing the Cabinet's seal.

Unlike now, even entering the capital under the banner of toppling the eunuchs was somewhat awkward.

If he knew the thoughts of the two, Ji Ji Zhao Shun would definitely cry out that he was wronged.

In fact, he wanted to issue an edict at the beginning of his reign, but he had to consider the reaction in the court.

Don't look at the high reputation Yin and Zuo had among the literati; there were many people in the court who didn't like them.

Among the eight auxiliary ministers, not one liked them.

Or rather, the pragmatists in the court were all disgusted by these two bottomless sprayers.

Including meeting the two now, Ji Ji Zhao Shun was bearing political risks.

For an emperor whose footing was not yet stable, publicly opposing the regents was also full of risks.

"To tell you two gentlemen, my heart is bitter!

Major affairs of the court are all handled by the eight regents, and I can't do anything."

Ji Ji Zhao Shun complained habitually.

When he was studying, every time he suffered grievances, he would find his teacher to vent.

His usual homework was excellent in every subject, a proper honor student.

In contrast, his elder brother, who started school early, was much naughtier.

Skipping classes and not doing homework was the norm, and he often used his own theories to make the teachers explode on the spot.

Complaining had no effect; the Crown Prince had separate imperial education in addition to daily homework.

The theories they considered unorthodox were precisely the political experience summarized by the royal family.

In the Great Dayu Dynasty, the Crown Prince opposing the teachers was never a shortcoming.

No emperor with a good historical performance was a "good child" in the eyes of civil officials.

They didn't like each other in school, and later it continued to the court.

Less than a year after the Tianyuan Emperor ascended the throne, he found an opportunity to drive them home.

Having finally made it to today, welcoming the moment of turning the tables, Yin and Zuo also learned the lessons of their previous failures.

Experience told them that the Ji family's emperors were stubborn donkeys; never oppose them.

"Bang!"

"Unreasonable, how dare they be so arrogant, simply..."

Yin Zhiming's explosion on the spot startled Ji Ji Zhao Shun.

He was just talking; looking at Mr. Yin's appearance, he clearly wanted to fight the regents to the death.

This kind of thing couldn't be done!

The regents managing the government was an imperial edict from the late Emperor.

If they hadn't committed any faults, raising a butcher's knife would make him look like a foolish emperor.

Moreover, the sword is still in their hands; if things really fall apart, the one who will be unlucky is mostly himself.

"Mr. Yin, calm down!

Things haven't reached that point, and the regents are also doing it for the sake of the country."

Ji Ji Zhao Shun hurriedly dissuaded.

Having someone fight to the death for him made him very gratified, but now was clearly not the time.

Even if he really wanted to act, that would be after governing personally and holding power.

At least from the current point of view, no one among the eight regents had appeared to monopolize power.

Being able to transfer power peacefully, Ji Ji Zhao Shun didn't want to make a big fuss either.

"Your Majesty, since ancient times, the cultivation of powerful ministers has been step by step.

Before Wang Mang usurped the Han, he was also a loyal minister of the Han.

When Cao Cao welcomed the Emperor Xian of Han, he was also a loyal minister of the Han.

Sima Yi was also a loyal minister when assisting three generations of the Cao family; it was only when he reached the fourth generation that he became a traitor.

These are all the results of indulgence; we must prevent things from happening!

Since the signs have appeared now, Your Majesty should establish prestige in the court and dispel their unrealistic fantasies."

Zuo Hongjiang, who was on the side, followed up with output.

This was what they had rehearsed; they must incite the Emperor to move.

If the power transfer was completed step by step, the influence of the eight regents in the court would last for many years.

Even if the Emperor wanted to promote his own people, there were no positions for the two of them.

Moreover, the two of them needed merit!

Relying solely on blown-up reputation without substantive political achievements, even if they held high positions, they couldn't convince people.

Facts proved that they were truly incapable of creating political achievements.

The theories they tinkered with in their youth became the biggest shackles on them.

Playing according to their theories, let alone political harmony and building a Great Unity society.

Not causing the country to collapse would be a miracle.

After passing the age of the naive youth, the two also realized the problem and revised their previous theories.

It was just that considering their own situation, they didn't dare to announce it.

The gentry supported them because of the pie they had drawn before.

Once people discovered the pie was gone, who would still sponsor them with money!

You have to know that maintaining reputation among the literati requires more than just blowing hot air; it requires constant money for publicity.

Relying purely on the spontaneous publicity of their students, he reckoned that in another hundred years, their names wouldn't be able to resound throughout the Great Dayu Dynasty.

"The eight regents were all carefully selected by my elder brother; I don't think they will go that far."

Ji Ji Zhao Shun shook his head.

If only two or three regents were arranged, the probability of a powerful minister monopolizing power would be very high.

But now there were eight.

No matter who it is, wanting to suppress the other seven and dominate the court alone is simply impossible.

"Your Majesty, even if it doesn't go that far, we cannot relax our vigilance.

You must know that before you were made Emperor, there were people constantly inciting the late Emperor to adopt an heir from the imperial clan.

Knowing that the country relies on an adult monarch, yet daring to do so, they must be harboring evil intentions!"

Yin Zhiming's words made Ji Ji Zhao Shun's hair stand on end.

He had heard of this matter, but thinking the situation was settled, he didn't take it seriously.

After countless foreshadowing, being brought up again, the situation was completely different.

Since there was this thought before, no one could guarantee that it wouldn't happen again.

With the power of the eight regents, as long as they reached a consensus in private, establishing a new monarch was not a difficult task.

The simplest operation was to have him meet with an accident, and then support an obedient little emperor to ascend the throne.

Power is a deadly poison; once you get it, you don't want to let it go.

The more he thought about it, the more he felt it was possible; Ji Ji Zhao Shun now looked at the eight regents as if they were all rebels.

"I know about these things.

But some things, knowing and not knowing make no difference; I can't do anything now."

Ji Ji Zhao Shun said unwillingly.

Political struggle is not child's play; once a coup is launched, it is a life-or-death game.

Even as an emperor, there is no exception.

"Your Majesty, among the eight regents, most are good.

Only a very few treacherous ministers used villainous means to deceive the late Emperor and mixed into it.

What we need to do is to contact the loyal and righteous people in the court and remove the tumors mixed in!"

Zuo Hongjiang's addition was almost directly reporting Zuo Guangen's name.

Although the two were of the same surname, in political struggle, even brothers can fight to the death, let alone just sharing a surname.

Among the eight regents, the easiest to topple was this eunuch.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 140 =====