Chapter 161: Special Envoy

Time flew by, and in a blink of an eye, it was the end of the year.

Lianzhou Prefecture, ravaged by the flames of war, revealed vitality once again under Li Mu's meticulous governance.

Shops on the streets resumed business one after another, and the sounds of bargaining were endless.

Although there was still a great distance from the peak period, it had finally taken the first step toward recovery.

In fact, apart from restoring agricultural production, Li Mu had done nothing else.

The Great Dayu Dynasty was too lazy to even collect commercial taxes, so naturally, there were no commercial policies.

The rapid revival on the streets was half because the parasites sucking blood from the merchants were gone, and the other half stemmed from the consumption of the imperial troops.

Although the imperial court's military pay was not issued on time, the soldiers' pay had never been short.

While annihilating the rebel army, the main army also harvested quite a few spoils of war.

Unless the commanders took a share, the rest were all used as military pay.

As emerging battalions, the officers of the Huaian Battalion and the Yangzhou Battalion were all very young, and each one of them wanted to climb up.

Plus, with the main commander keeping a close watch, the military pay was able to be issued in full.

As the end of the year approached, the soldiers with money in their pockets would naturally come out to consume.

Unfortunately, the folk economy was still a dead silence.

The wealthy households with a bit of family foundation had not escaped the ravages of the rebel army.

The remaining ones were not only poor but didn't even have the heart to celebrate the New Year.

Under the White Lotus Sect's policy of "all people are soldiers," the young and strong in every household were forcibly conscripted into the army.

Except for a few lucky ones who escaped, more were now in an unknown state of life or death.

To appease the hearts of the people, Li Mu issued an amnesty order.

As long as the forcibly conscripted laborers had not committed serious crimes such as murder, rape, or robbery, they would not be held accountable if they voluntarily left the rebel army.

Even so, for most families, this year was still hard to get through.

Li Mu had no heart to pay attention to the deformed prosperity on the streets.

It was good enough to restore a portion of commerce; pursuing development was purely nonsense.

As long as the war did not end for a day, the economy could not return to normal.

The atmosphere of the New Year became stronger, and the soldiers' homesickness also became more intense.

Including Li Mu himself, he also missed his beautiful wife.

"Seventh Uncle, the soldiers' homesickness is intense; you should pay more attention to it.

It is best to let the commanders come forward to appease the soldiers' emotions.

There is still some cloth in the army; just buy everyone an outfit as a New Year's gift."

Li Mu reminded tactfully.

In terms of appeasing the military heart, the Yangzhou Battalion had taken action early on, but the Huaian Battalion had been slow to move.

It was very obvious that traditional armies did not place much importance on this aspect.

The commanders themselves were homesick too, so how could they care about the soldiers!

"Hmm, I will arrange it later.

However, buying outfits is unnecessary, right!

After entering Guangxi, we already issued two sets of military uniforms.

Such treatment, even the soldiers of the Nine Borders cannot catch up to."

Jing Yifeng said with slight hesitation.

As for the captured spoils of war, the two of them as main commanders hadn't taken a single cent.

Both sides had agreed that after the war ended, they would divide the remainder together.

According to Li Mu's spendthrift way of playing, let alone having a surplus, it would be lucky not to have to pay out of pocket.

"It is right that they can't catch up!

To make the people below risk their lives, one must let them see the benefits.

Being behind enemy lines, our situation is not that safe.

Spending a little money to stabilize the military heart and morale is still very necessary.

One set of clothes per person, totaling ten thousand taels of silver; you and I are not lacking this little bit."

After hearing Li Mu's words, Jing Yifeng was so angry he wanted to vomit blood.

You are not lacking, but I am!

Being both descendants of meritorious families, the family foundations were not exactly the same.

Li Mu was the only son in his family and had the family business left by his elders in Hanzhong.

He himself was good at making money, so his life was going smoothly, and he didn't place much importance on money.

Jing Yifeng's situation was different; he was a collateral branch of the Jing family, and his elders were all mediocre people who lived off the family.

Without a business, he relied entirely on the legacy of his ancestors.

Although he couldn't be considered poor, he wasn't wealthy either.

He had thought that this rebellion suppression would allow him to make a fortune, but now it seemed the hope was slim.

"Forget it, just do as you say!"

After hesitating again and again, Jing Yifeng hardened his heart and said.

There would be many opportunities to make money in the future, but one only had one life.

Following Li Mu on the expedition to Guangxi, although he didn't get rich, he had obtained more important military merit.

"Assistant Regional Commander, the grain and fodder allocated by the Provincial Governor's office of Guangdong have been transported to the port.

Coming along with them is also a special envoy sent by the Viceroy of the Five Provinces."

Upon receiving this good news, both Li Mu and Jing Yifeng revealed looks of surprise.

Ever since the expedition began, the Provincial Governor's office of Guangdong had ignored them.

Every time they asked for grain and fodder, they found excuses to shirk.

If the Provincial Governor of Guangdong hadn't taken things too far, they wouldn't have submitted a memorial to impeach him.

They had thought that waiting for the imperial court to intervene and receiving the grain would be a matter for next year; they hadn't expected the Provincial Governor of Guangdong to cave in so quickly.

Considering the special envoy of the Viceroy of the Five Provinces who came along, Li Mu instantly thought of Grand Secretary Xu.

In the Great Dayu Dynasty, a Provincial Governor was a high-ranking official of a frontier region and could not possibly be afraid of the impeachment of two Assistant Regional Commanders.

Even if the matter were blown up, the Provincial Governor of Guangdong had plenty of excuses to shirk responsibility.

That kind of old bureaucrat was most skilled at using rules to deliberately set up obstacles.

The only one who could make the Provincial Governor of Guangdong compromise and transport the overdue grain was Grand Secretary Xu, who served as the Viceroy of the Five Provinces.

Li Mu didn't know exactly what had happened, but he knew that the Provincial Governor of Guangdong was likely going to be unlucky.

A new official taking office has three fires; Grand Secretary Xu coming to serve as the Viceroy of the Five Provinces would also inevitably need to establish his authority.

With the matter of withholding grain and pay being exposed at this time, the Provincial Governor of Guangdong undoubtedly bumped into the muzzle of the gun himself.

Added to his series of actions during the rebellion suppression war, it would be intolerable to heaven and earth not to use him as a target.

"Seventh Uncle, you go and welcome the Special Envoy!"

Li Mu said immediately.

Pushing the welcoming work away was not because he didn't value it, but purely a factional issue.

Regardless of what purpose Grand Secretary Xu had in sending someone over, as a confidant of the Marquis of Wuyang, he had to keep his distance.

Perhaps Grand Secretary Xu was higher in position and power, but the one who had stood in the imperial court longer was definitely the Marquis of Wuyang.

The new Emperor was unhappy with the group of assistant ministers and would sooner or later take action to drive people away.

As an imperial relative, the Marquis of Wuyang did not have much power in his hands, but he could speak in front of the Emperor.

For a real-power military commander like Li Mu, if he wanted to continue climbing up, being suspected was only a matter of time.

To live a stable life, there must be someone by the Emperor's side to help speak for him.

……

"Official Jia, I wonder what instructions the Grand Secretary has for coming here this time?"

After some pleasantries, Jing Yifeng asked.

Being able to receive the grain, he already had a few points of favor for the newly arrived Grand Secretary Xu.

Military officers didn't have high requirements for civil officials.

As long as they could issue grain and fodder on time and not give blind commands on the battlefield, they were good superiors.

"Why haven't I seen Assistant Regional Commander Li?"

Jia Bo asked with slight displeasure.

As a special envoy sent by Grand Secretary Xu, he had received a grand reception all along the way.

Earlier in Guangzhou Prefecture, he even caught the Provincial Governor of Guangdong and cursed him, forcing him to issue supplementary grain to all the armies.

Now that he had arrived in Lianzhou Prefecture, only one of the two Assistant Regional Commanders had come to welcome him, which made him unhappy.

If it weren't for Grand Secretary Xu's instructions before setting out that the two Assistant Regional Commanders of Lianzhou were different and needed to be valued, he would have flipped his face long ago.

"Assistant Regional Commander Li is currently inspecting the front line.

We have already sent someone to notify him, and he will be here soon.

Official Jia, why not go to the government office to rest for a while; you will be able to see Assistant Regional Commander Li in a moment."

After hearing Jing Yifeng's explanation, Jia Bo's expression looked much better all of a sudden.

It was very normal for a main commander to inspect the front line; he hadn't notified them in advance before coming this time, so it was understandable that the person wasn't there.

"Then let's wait until we see Assistant Regional Commander Li before talking!"

Jia Bo thought for a moment and said.

In the officialdom, no one would offend people casually.

Although he was Grand Secretary Xu's confidant, the Jing and Li families were also among the few great noble families of the Great Dayu.

Putting on airs and offending people would have no benefit for his future career development.

Even if he wanted to establish authority, that would be bullying someone like the Provincial Governor of Guangdong, who was about to fall from power.

All the way, he chatted and laughed with Jing Yifeng; one who didn't know would think the two were friends.

……

"Official Jia has come from afar; Li has failed to welcome you from afar!"

At the entrance of the government office, upon seeing Li Mu's attire, Jia Bo's expression changed slightly.

If he were really inspecting the front line, how could he not be wearing armor.

Moreover, returning so quickly was not normal in itself.

Anyone with a discerning eye could see that the person had been waiting for him in the government office.

"Since parting with Grand Secretary Xu last time, a year has passed in a blink of an eye; I wonder if the Grand Secretary is in good health?"

Before Jia Bo could flare up, Li Mu spoke again, directly confusing Jia Bo.

Listening to the tone, it was clearly that he had old ties with his own Grand Secretary.

Thinking of his own Grand Secretary's instructions when he came, he couldn't make up his mind all of a sudden.

"The Grand Secretary is in robust health, just caught a cold on the way here, and has now recovered to normal.

Sorry to trouble Assistant Regional Commander Li for your concern!"

Jia Bo said with a chuckle.

Years of experience in the officialdom told him that before figuring out the relationship between the other party and his own boss, it was best not to offend him.

Moreover, Li Mu's own background was enough to make him cast aside the prejudice between civil and military officials and conduct an association.

"It is good that the Grand Secretary is in robust health!

The White Lotus Sect rebellion in Guangxi has caused the people in the five provinces to live in misery.

That the Grand Secretary could leave the capital to serve as the Viceroy of the Five Provinces is truly a blessing for the country and the people.

I wonder what instructions the Grand Secretary has for coming here this time, Official Jia?"

Seeing that he had bluffed the other party, Li Mu brought the topic to the main point.

Bluffing was bluffing after all; he had dealt with Grand Secretary Xu, but it couldn't be called a friendship.

He guessed Grand Secretary Xu's impression of him was just: a confidant under the Marquis of Wuyang, the nephew of the Marquis of Zhenyuan, and the son-in-law of the Duke of Cheng.

His understanding of Grand Secretary Xu was also very limited.

If they really kept chatting, it would only be a matter of time before he was exposed.

Rather than saying more and making more mistakes, it was better to gloss over it in one sentence and not go deep into the topic.

"The Grand Secretary sent this official here mainly for the war on the front line.

Especially after learning that the Provincial Governor of Guangdong withheld grain and fodder for the front line, the Grand Secretary ordered this subordinate that the military grain problem of the front-line imperial troops must be solved at the first opportunity."

Jia Bo said with a chuckle.

Forcing the Provincial Governor of Guangdong to issue grain was his achievement.

Now that he brought it out to sell favor to the two, he wasn't timid at all.

As for other problems, he would talk about them after understanding the actual situation in Lianzhou.

"Sorry to trouble Grand Secretary Xu for your concern; this subordinate, on behalf of the front-line officers and soldiers, thanks the Grand Secretary for your deep love!

Not to hide it from Official Jia, the front-line imperial troops are suffering!

If it weren't for the grain and fodder you transported, we wouldn't know how to get through this New Year.

Since recovering Lianzhou, the Provincial Governor of Guangdong has not issued a single grain of food.

The consumption of the main army was still something we had to shamelessly ask for from the Provincial Governor's office of Nanzhili.

But this is not Nanzhili after all; although the imperial court requires Nanzhili to assist with pay, that also needs to be handed over to the various provinces on the front line.

For the sake of grain and pay, we had to ask for favors everywhere to barely maintain it.

Now it is good; Grand Secretary Xu has come, and the sky has cleared up!"

Li Mu bluffed with a straight face.

Facts proved that no one could resist the power of flattery.

Although the description was a bit exaggerated, to Jia Bo, he believed it was true.

The imperial troops of the Great Dayu Dynasty were already suffering; in the situation where the Provincial Governor of Guangdong did not issue grain and fodder, it certainly wouldn't be easy to raise the grain and fodder needed by the main army.

All the way here, he had seen quite a few imperial troops with hungry bellies.

That the soldiers of the Yangzhou Battalion and the Huaian Battalion were not hungry must be because these two Assistant Regional Commanders with deep backgrounds had used their private connections.

As everyone knew, in the Great Dayu Dynasty, private connections were always easier to solve problems than official business.

"Hard work for the two Assistant Regional Commanders!

As for the Provincial Governor of Guangdong who withheld grain and fodder, Grand Secretary Xu has already issued a document to reprimand him and has submitted a memorial to His Majesty.

If there are no accidents, it won't be long before he is held accountable.

Besides these matters, Grand Secretary Xu also wants to know the situation in Lianzhou.

The contents of the military reports received are all reports of victory, but the Grand Secretary does not know the specific information.

Sorry to trouble the two Assistant Regional Commanders to explain the situation on the front line in detail."

Jia Bo said with a chuckle.

The feeling of being flattered was always comforting.

Although Li Mu mentioned Grand Secretary Xu throughout and didn't mention him personally, this was exactly what he wanted.

Pushing the merit to the boss was the way to rise quickly.

Having reached Grand Secretary Xu's position, wanting to rise was almost impossible, and he wouldn't compete for merit with subordinates at all.

Pushing merit to the boss, the boss would feel that this little brother of his was not bad.

"Official Jia, the situation in Lianzhou is very severe.

The rebel army has stationed heavy troops in Nanning and Xunzhou, ready to counterattack at any time.

In order to break the enemy's plan, we are constantly looking for opportunities for battle.

Unfortunately, the enemy troops are too cunning and don't give us any opportunities at all.

After recovering Lianzhou, we only recovered two county seats before being forced to stop our steps.

Apart from military pressure, there is more grain and fodder pressure.

In the previous great battles, we captured nearly seventy thousand prisoners one after another and also received a large number of refugees.

Now, every day when we open our eyes, it is the problem of feeding more than one hundred thousand people.

At this point in time, let alone continuing to launch an offensive, even defending is tight on military strength!"

Li Mu exaggerated the situation with great effort.

These things were not afraid of being exposed; the prisoners staying in the camp were the best evidence.

Capturing seventy thousand prisoners and recovering multiple cities, no one could say they weren't working hard.

"The situation in Lianzhou is so severe?"

Jia Bo exclaimed.

According to Li Mu's statement, Grand Secretary Xu's plan had no need to be unfolded at all.

The problem of feeding more than one hundred thousand people was a fatal difficulty.

"Official Jia, the real situation is even more severe!

Now we don't dare to recover lost territory at all, otherwise the prisoners and refugees could eat us into bankruptcy!"

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 162 =====