[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-restoring-the-mountains-and-rivers":3,"chapter-restoring-the-mountains-and-rivers-restoring-the-mountains-and-rivers-chapter-77":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Restoring the Mountains and Rivers",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2364346,4623,"Chapter 77: Political Alignment","restoring-the-mountains-and-rivers-chapter-77",77,"\u003Cp>The military meeting ended, but the five battalion commanders stayed behind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There is no such thing as unexplained love or hatred; merely disliking someone is not enough to make them choose to betray their comrades.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That group of aristocratic brats may lack ability, but their backings are substantial.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if they were sent up here to be sacrificed, selling them out carries significant risks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially for Commander Wuyang, should any of his subordinates suffer defeat, he too would be held accountable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The bait has been set—now you five must seize control of what comes next!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Commander Wuyang said with a solemn expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luring the enemy has always meant sending small detachments.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had combed through every military text and found no precedent for deploying a bait force larger than the main army.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet all five of his battalion commanders had sworn solemnly that this was exactly how it must be done.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>War is not merely military—it is also political.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the provisional battalion is sent out alone and annihilated, investigations will make it impossible to explain clearly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But once Yangzhou’s troops are tied in, the situation changes entirely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With seven thousand troops, if they still suffer a crushing defeat, it proves the general is incompetent and dooms the entire army.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With such a cautionary example, others will later rally to aid in revenge, thereby highlighting their own competence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Commander, after months of effort, the East City Battalion has expanded to fifteen hundred men—all selected for their bravery.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other battalions have also grown rapidly in strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These soldiers have all seen blood; compared to two months ago, our strength has undergone a revolutionary transformation!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Zhao Yawei spoke, four of the five battalion commanders smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Yangzhou Defense was not fought in vain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The most outstanding soldiers were absorbed into their ranks, and each unit has made substantial gains in both quality and quantity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their deep resentment toward the Nanjing Ministry of Military Affairs stems largely from the insufficient armor they supplied, which hindered everyone’s expansion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Battalion Commander sat awkwardly aside, having missed frontline action and received only a rabble as his troops.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had to rely on connections and beg the other four battalions just to scrape together a thousand men.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, the North City Battalion has always been the weakest among the Five City Military Commands—being last again doesn’t matter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“As long as you all understand the stakes, I am not a harsh commander.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next battle, we may choose not to fight—but if we do fight,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>then we must win, and we must not lose!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Commander Wuyang said sharply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps because he had spent so long in the camp, his aura had grown noticeably stronger than before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But since all present were familiar with him, they barely noticed this subtle change.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Commander, rest assured—the rebel forces have suffered a crushing defeat and are now demoralized.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their combat effectiveness, at best, can only reach four or five tenths of its full capacity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, our troops have just shattered the rebel main force and are at the peak of morale.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With seven thousand frontline troops and countless support soldiers, facing a band of low-spirited rabble, how could we possibly lose?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang Jincheng said with supreme confidence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Morale and spirit are forged in battle; the Yangzhou Defense was bloody, but only the rebels suffered heavily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Poor preparation meant hastily built siege engines were barely functional and inflicted minimal damage on the defenders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Government forces suffered fewer than a thousand casualties, and when spread across units, the losses were negligible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The heaviest losses were suffered by the suicide squad that launched the night raid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But since those men died outside the city and none had witnessed it firsthand, the impact was muted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All they saw were the silver rewards issued by superiors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do not count the support troops—Yangzhou must be defended.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seven thousand frontline troops can easily defeat a rabble in open battle; the real challenge is luring them out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mu broke off mid-sentence and smiled without speaking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You can betray your comrades, but you must never say it aloud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To force the enemy to fight outside the city, you must make them believe victory is within reach.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This kind of task cannot be done by elite troops.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Commander, Xu GeLao’s carriage has appeared outside the city.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The soldier’s report interrupted the military meeting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since ancient times, kings do not meet kings; having two imperial envoys simultaneously in one city is never a good thing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On one side is the Five City Military Command Commander, holding substantial troops; on the other, a senior cabinet minister.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If conflict erupts between them, it would be catastrophic for the officials below.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the Yangzhou officials had no such worries—they were all locked in jail, awaiting judgment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmph!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why didn’t he come earlier? Why didn’t he come later?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as I’ve cleared the mess, he shows up to pluck the fruit—Xu Wenyue has the audacity!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing their leader furious, everyone lowered their heads.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The power struggles between bigwigs were not for mere foot soldiers like them to join.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In terms of real authority, Commander Wuyang could not compare to a cabinet minister.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Issue orders: everyone acts as if they know nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoever dares to leave the city to greet him is defying me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You five keep watch—anyone caught secretly associating with that Xu fellow will be charged as a rebel!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Commander Wuyang's order startled Li Mu—it was clearly a stance of outright confrontation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The only thing that could drive him to this decision was the confidence granted by his military achievements.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Commander, Xu GeLao’s arrival now is not merely about seizing control of Yangzhou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The salt merchants in prison and the detained officials must be dealt with swiftly!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After much hesitation, Li Mu chose his side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how powerful Xu GeLao was, Commander Wuyang was his direct superior.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To resist pressure from the civil official bloc, the aristocracy and imperial in-laws had long formed alliances—they could not betray their own interest group.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Commander, Li Battalion Commander speaks wisely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu GeLao left the capital in an eight-man palanquin, dragging his feet, then suddenly switched to a carriage and rushed forward—clearly, he comes with ill intent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We must clean up all traces and leave him no grounds to use against us!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Yawei hastily agreed, sounding uneasy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All were aristocratic sons; Li Mu’s reasoning applied equally to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deep inside, he cursed Li Mu’s entire family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was utterly despicable—during normal meetings, everyone spoke in order.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had merely paused for a moment, and Li Mu had snatched the chance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Regret was useless; in political alignment, being first and second meant entirely different things.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once the two had spoken, the remaining three battalion commanders quickly voiced their support.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re right—we cannot leave any loose ends.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A subject must ease the Emperor’s burdens.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But everyone is in prison; if they all die at once, we cannot explain it to the court.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After Xu GeLao takes over Yangzhou, I will lead troops out to suppress the rebellion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Civil officials know nothing of warfare; if rebels infiltrate the city and rescue their imprisoned comrades, it would seem perfectly reasonable.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing the commander’s implication, everyone’s faces twisted in discomfort.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This letter of allegiance was no easy task.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet Commander Wuyang had invoked Emperor Tianyuan—whether they wanted to or not, they had to comply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1229,"2026-06-21T08:09:02.410Z",1,"Qwen3.5 397B","21e277cf8997ee7ee769a8462d399a39c072003677997e032fa8765b10745e56","restoring-the-mountains-and-rivers-chapter-78","restoring-the-mountains-and-rivers-chapter-76",391,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Frestoring-the-mountains-and-rivers-cover.jpg"]