Chapter 124: This General Always Leaves A Slim Chance Of Survival When Handling Matters, But Fail To Seize It, And It’s Your Doom
The wedding feast dispersed, and the guests gradually left.
No one knew what Lin Fan said to His Majesty, but everyone noticed that His Majesty was truly smiling and in high spirits when he left.
As the Great General saw His Majesty to the door, they all personally witnessed His Majesty holding the Great General’s hand, as if there were a thousand words to say, which finally turned into three light pats on the shoulder.
Such intimate behavior between sovereign and minister.
The officials present all saw it.
They knew that the Divine Martial Great General was not someone they could offend. Perhaps in the past, they had the idea of impeaching him, but now, those thoughts had long since vanished.
The only thought was to live forcefully in the imperial court under the might of the Divine Martial Great General.
Did they come to attend the wedding because they wanted to attend someone else’s wedding?
Obviously not.
They were afraid of offending him.
The Great General might not remember who attended, but he would definitely remember who didn’t attend more clearly than anyone.
……
The next day.
Mansion, courtyard.
Lin Fan was leisurely cultivating in the courtyard, absorbing the Earth Vein Qi from underground into his body, feeling the changes after his internal organs were tempered.
He seemed to have vaguely grasped the essence of cultivation.
But it was only the essence.
Beside him, three officials waited honestly and respectfully.
If other officials were present, they would surely exclaim that the Ministers of Revenue, Works, and War were all here. What major event was about to happen?
A moment later, the cultivation ended.
Ning Yu handed him a cloth. Lin Fan never sweated when he cultivated, but wiping himself down showed how arduous the recent cultivation had been.
“Esteemed sirs, I had you summoned early this morning. I hope I didn’t disturb your rest?” Lin Fan asked with a smile.
“No, the Great General summoned us, so it must be important. How dare we delay?” the Minister of Revenue replied quickly.
Lin Fan said, “Please, esteemed sirs, let’s move to the hall and talk slowly.”
The three Ministers of Revenue exchanged glances.
They repeatedly agreed, not daring to have any other thoughts.
In the hall.
Four cups of tea emitting a fragrant aroma were placed before them. Lin Fan picked up a teacup, took a sip, and nodded with satisfaction. The three Ministers of Revenue, however, sat there as if on pins and needles, not moving at all, and not touching the tea before them.
“What? Do esteemed sirs find the tea here too low-class to drink?” Lin Fan asked with a smile.
The three Ministers of Revenue quickly picked up their teacups.
“Excellent tea!!!”
“This tea is a hundred times better than any tea I’ve ever had.”
The three of them were all astute in officialdom. Their current performance in front of Lin Fan was utterly childish and fake.
The six Ministers of the Central Plains Dynasty were all officials of the second rank, at the very top of the imperial court. Only Grand Tutors, Grand Protectors, Dukes, and similar figures were first-rank officials, higher in rank than them.
But in terms of power, they truly couldn’t compare.
“Alright, stop boasting. It’s street-stall goods, worthless,” Lin Fan said, draining his tea in one gulp, setting down the cup, and looking at the three of them.
The three Ministers of Revenue were very embarrassed.
Great General, can you act like a human for once?
You were the one who asked us to taste the tea.
We tasted it, and you said we were boasting and that it was street-stall goods. You’re just seizing every opportunity to torment us.
“Alright, let’s not talk about these things anymore. I’m not one for beating around the bush. If I have something to say, I’ll say it directly. I called the three of you here simply because I want to have a good chat with you all,” Lin Fan stated.
The three Ministers of Revenue sobered up and sat upright.
“Great General, please speak. We are all ears.”
“You three are old officials of the court, pillars of the nation. The court’s ability to operate without major issues owes a great deal to your contributions,” Lin Fan said.
At these words, the three Ministers of Revenue were bewildered.
Could these words have come from the Divine Martial Great General?
No…
Are we perhaps not awake yet?
Can you recall who it was that berated us in court not long ago?
“Great General, we dare not accept such praise. That is all due to His Majesty’s sagacity,” the Minister of Revenue still hadn’t figured out Lin Fan’s intentions.
There were some words he dared not directly accept.
Lin Fan nodded, “His Majesty is indeed sagacious, otherwise he wouldn’t have tolerated you all until now.”
The faces of the three Ministers of Revenue changed greatly.
There was a killing intent in these words.
“Great General, what do you mean by that?” the Minister of Revenue inquired.
Lin Fan smiled, “Minister of Revenue, this has little to do with you, but I would like to ask the Minister of Works and the Minister of War: who do you belong to?”
The Ministers of Works and War exchanged glances and, without thinking, replied, “We are naturally subjects of His Majesty.”
“Is that so?” Lin Fan asked, “Since you are His Majesty’s subjects, why have I heard that you belong to Qin Li?”
The two Ministers of War stood up abruptly, bristling with indignation. “Who said that? Who wants to frame us? We are subjects of His Majesty, how could we obey Qin Li?”
In the past, no one had dared to say such a thing.
But now they had encountered the Divine Martial Great General, who feared nothing.
The words he spoke were incredibly explosive.
Lin Fan said calmly, “Who said it is not important, but I only want the three of you to understand that the influence you wield in court is granted by the court. Do not be easily fooled by a few words into losing your way. The nation’s mountains and rivers remain, but the power His Majesty has given you will be gone.”
His words were very direct.
The three Ministers of Revenue were all sensible people.
They clearly saw the current situation in the court. The Grand Tutor, who had been overwhelmingly dominant, had fallen, and the Second Prince’s status had risen significantly.
Without the Grand Tutor’s counterbalance, the power of the six ministries had also been released.
The Minister of Revenue looked at the other two Ministers and knew that they were indeed close to Qin Li. Most of the military officials in the martial faction had an unusual relationship with Qin Li.
To become a military general, one needed to pay homage.
And that homage was to Qin Li.
The Minister of Works said, “Great General, as your subjects, how could we not understand this principle? We are not fools.”
“Not fools?” Lin Fan chuckled, “Then do you know that Qin Li has intentions of rebellion?”
“Ah?”
The three Ministers of Revenue gaped.
Qin Li held military power, which was indeed a bit excessive, but as for Qin Li rebelling, it seemed unlikely. It would be without legitimacy and justification. If he dared to rebel, he would be infamous for eternity.
Would he truly dare to disregard his reputation and honor like that?
Lin Fan did not conceal anything, “I will not hide it from you. I will reclaim Qin Li’s military power for His Majesty. After reclaiming the military power, my goal is to expand our territory. Whether you wish to be infamous for eternity or leave a rich ink stroke in history depends on your choice.”
“The only guarantee I can give you is… as long as you don’t go too far, I can let you live out your old age in peace.”
These words were very direct.
The three Ministers of Revenue felt restless. If the Divine Martial Great General truly wanted to deal with them, it would be effortless, without much effort.
During this period, the Divine Martial Department had arrested many officials from the six ministries, causing widespread panic.
The authority of the Divine Martial Department was too great.
The power of the Public Security Bureau had been compressed to the extreme, and it even showed signs of being replaced at any moment.
The three Ministers of Revenue pondered.
No one spoke.
The Minister of Revenue stood up, clasped his fists, and said, “Great General, this old official is willing to wholeheartedly cooperate with all of the Great General’s future endeavors. I only hope the Great General will leave me with my final dignity.”
At this moment, the Minister of Revenue knew the wisest choice to make.
If you didn’t understand Lin Fan, you would think he was just a brute military general.
But after witnessing so many events.
This was clearly not a brute.
He was clearly the honorary vice-emperor of the Central Plains Dynasty. Everything His Majesty hadn’t done, he had done alone.
Lin Fan smiled, “How could the esteemed Minister think that? The court cannot do without you, and you still need to help His Majesty solve his worries.”
The network of relationships among these old officials in the court was extremely complex, layer upon layer, extending all the way to the bottom. If they were truly uprooted, the internal chaos would be enough to crumble the nation without any external invasion.
Fighting wars required silver, grain and fodder, weapons, and so on. Too many things required cooperation and mobilization from others.
Did he really think Lin Fan had three heads and six arms to handle everything?
That would be a dream.
The Minister of Revenue said, “The Great General’s way of handling affairs is indeed a bit overbearing, but it is true that he has always been reasonable. Although this old official has had some conflicts with the Great General, when it comes to matters of the state, as long as the Great General’s words are reasonable, this old official will definitely provide full assistance.”
The Ministers of Works and War also stood up and expressed their stance, “We are also willing to cooperate with the Great General.”
They would not participate in rebellion.
Even if they died, they would not participate.
This was something they, as scholars, could not accept.
“Good, I am very pleased that the three Ministers of Revenue can fully support me. Then I will trouble the three esteemed sirs to actively mobilize the supplies during this period. Once I retrieve the military power from Qin Li and his ilk, I will lead an expedition, and I will trouble you all then,” Lin Fan said with a smile.
The three Ministers of Revenue could see it now.
Lin Fan’s intention to deal with Qin Li would not be a matter of a day or two. If this were in the past, and they didn’t know Lin Fan, they would never have believed that anyone could move Qin Li.
But now… they knew that in the Central Plains Dynasty, only he could move Qin Li.
“Great General, rest assured, we know what to do,”
The three Ministers of Revenue replied.
Lin Fan said, “It’s getting late, so I won’t keep you all for lunch.”
The three Ministers of Revenue left.
Lin Fan watched the backs of the three Ministers of Revenue as they left. They were all smart people and knew what to do and how to do it best.
Outside.
The three Ministers of Revenue arrived outside Lin Mansion and all breathed a slight sigh of relief. The three of them exchanged glances, nodded, and then each got into their horse carriages and returned.
Not long after.
Commander Li of the Imperial Guards hurried over, mainly to deliver the list of military officers from Qin Li’s faction.
“Commander Li, you’ve worked hard,” Lin Fan said.
Commander Li replied, “Great General, you are too kind. This is a major matter, how could I dare to delay?”
Lin Fan unfolded the list. It was dense with names, most of them stationed in various regions, some commanding thousands of soldiers, others tens of thousands.
Individually, they might not seem like much, but if all these soldiers were gathered together, it would be an unimaginable army.
Commander Li pointed to one of the names with a solemn expression, “Great General, this person is the most crucial: Chen Liang, the General of Liaodong. He commands fifty thousand elite iron cavalry. Due to Liaodong’s border location and its special circumstances, the court’s control over him is minimal. He is a trusted confidant promoted by Qin Li. If he hears of Qin Li’s downfall, he will surely rebel. Therefore, to deal with Qin Li, Chen Liang must be apprehended first.”
Lin Fan asked, “What is the system for managing military power? Hasn’t the court arranged for civil officials to supervise and eunuchs to monitor, with the separation of military power? Allowing military generals direct control, aren’t you afraid of fostering local warlords?”
He didn’t understand the Central Plains Dynasty’s system regarding military power.
Commander Li said helplessly, “Great General, you may not know, but there was no other way. At that time, barbarians from various regions were encroaching upon the Central Plains, and border defense was unbearable. Deploying troops and giving commands required imperial permission, but this greatly delayed military operations. So, Qin Li proposed that local border generals could directly deploy troops. His Majesty also felt it was too time-consuming, so he agreed. Who would have thought that this agreement would make it incredibly difficult to reverse?”
Lin Fan waved his hand, “Forget it, let’s not discuss it anymore. I’ll handle the rest.”
Commander Li knew the Great General’s methods.
However, the difficulty of taking military power from Chen Liang was only slightly less than taking it from Qin Li.
Chen Liang had deeply entrenched himself in Liaodong, forming a family power.
Throughout history, it had always been extremely difficult for the imperial court to make generals in command of military power willingly relinquish it.
If handled properly, everyone would be happy.
But if handled poorly, it could easily lead to mutiny.
In Lin Fan’s limited historical knowledge, a successful example was the “cup of wine to dismiss military power.”
The failure was the An Lushan Rebellion.
Of course, the court also had its ways, such as demoting officials while promoting them, but this consumed too much time. Did he, Lin Fan, have nothing better to do than play politics with a group of powerless military generals?
……
Several days later.
Liaodong, Guangning.
Lin Fan led thirty iron cavalry to the city gate. Seeing such a formation, the soldiers guarding the gate dared not obstruct him and welcomed him respectfully.
This was Chen Liang’s stronghold. Half of the local tax revenue went to the imperial court, and the other half was kept here for military pay. The imperial court also sent some military pay here annually.
It could be said that Guangning was Chen Liang’s territory; he was like an emperor here.
After entering the city, they soon arrived at Chen Mansion.
The soldiers at the entrance saw the newcomers and immediately stepped forward, “May I ask which general you are looking for?”
Lin Fan replied, “Chen Liang.”
The soldier said, “Please wait, General. Allow me to go in and report.”
An accompanying iron cavalryman rebuked, “How insolent! This is the Divine Martial Great General of the imperial court. How dare Chen Liang be negligent? Hurry and have him come out to greet His Majesty.”
At these words.
The soldier was inwardly startled. The reputation of the Divine Martial Great General was thunderous and had spread far and wide.
Lin Fan raised his hand, “It’s alright. You go report, and I will wait here.”
While waiting, Lin Fan looked at Historian Wang and said with a smile, “Minister Wang, why did you insist on accompanying me? It must have been a long and arduous journey.”
Historian Wang replied, “Great General, this subordinate came willingly. Matters in the imperial court are truly uninspiring to record. What you are about to do is a major event, how can I not be present?”
Although no one had told him the situation, he had guessed some things.
The Great General’s trip to Liaodong.
It was definitely to reclaim military power.
Reclaiming military power had always been a sensitive matter throughout the dynasties; a slight misstep could lead to great trouble.
Lin Fan smiled.
At this time.
Inside the mansion.
Chen Liang, the General of Liaodong, was drinking tea in the living room when suddenly, the Chen Mansion Butler rushed in.
“Master, the Divine Martial Great General of the imperial court has arrived with thirty iron cavalry.”
Upon hearing this.
Chen Liang put down his teacup, his brow furrowed.
Divine Martial Great General?
He naturally knew Lin Fan, but he had no connection with Lin Fan, nor had they ever met. Now that he was here, what was his intention?
Outside the mansion.
“Your Great General’s arrival is unexpected. Please forgive our lack of proper welcome,” Chen Liang strode out, and upon seeing Lin Fan on horseback, he quickly smiled.
Lin Fan dismounted and looked at the general before him, whose temples were gray, and said with a smile, “General Chen, you are too kind. I came uninvited this time. I hope I did not disturb General Chen.”
“Great General, how can a subordinate dare? ” Chen Liang did not yet know Lin Fan’s purpose, so he naturally put on a false smile. “Great General, please come in.”
“Mm.” Lin Fan nodded and looked at his accompanying iron cavalry, “You all wait outside.”
“Yes, Great General.”
Chen Liang glanced at these iron cavalry and didn’t pay them much mind. This was his territory, and he truly feared nothing. However, his gaze fell on Historian Wang.
“Great General, who is this?” Chen Liang asked curiously.
Lin Fan replied, “Historian Wang, Minister Wang.”
“Oh, hello, Minister Wang.” Chen Liang was a bit confused. What was going on? Why would a historian accompany him? But he didn’t think much of it; he would know everything once they were inside.
In the hall.
Chen Liang told the servants to quickly serve tea. After the tea was served, he waved his hand, dismissing the servants, and then clasped his fists, saying, “May I ask why the Great General has come this time?”
“Military power,” Lin Fan uttered two words.
“Ah?”
Chen Liang was stunned, his eyes wide, doubting if he had heard correctly.
What did this Divine Martial Great General just say?
Military… military power?
This was the most unbearable thing for Chen Liang, the thing he would never give up even if he died. Furthermore, Commander Qin had told him that the military power of Liaodong could not be relinquished and must be firmly held.
“Great General, is this matter of military power His Majesty’s intention?” Chen Liang asked tentatively.
Lin Fan replied, “That’s right, it is His Majesty’s intention. Currently, most of the imperial court’s military power is dispersed among various military generals. His Majesty can only command a handful of troops. General Chen has served the country by guarding Liaodong with great merit. His Majesty hopes that General Chen will relinquish his military power.”
“Of course, His Majesty will not treat General Chen unfairly. Guangning will still be managed by General Chen, and the tax revenue will not need to be submitted to the imperial court; you can use it for your own needs.”
The conditions Lin Fan presented were also His Majesty’s intentions.
In the end, His Majesty was also soft-hearted, offering generous compensation to obtain the military power.
Chen Liang did not answer. Instead, he picked up his teacup, took a sip, then put it down and said, “Great General, the situation in Liaodong is quite complex. The soldiers have followed me for a long time. If I relinquish my military power, I fear those soldiers will not be satisfied.”
“Oh? Does General Chen mean that these soldiers only recognize General Chen, not His Majesty?”
Lin Fan asked with a half-smile.
Chen Liang repeatedly waved his hands, “Great General misunderstands. This subordinate absolutely does not mean that. It is just that this matter is of great importance, and this subordinate finds it difficult to make a decision. May I ask if the Great General can give Chen Mou some time to consider?”
Lin Fan stood up and looked at Chen Liang, “General Chen needs time to consider His Majesty’s decree. It seems General Chen already has his own ideas. Since that is the case, I will not say much more. General Chen, take care of yourself.”
“Wait, wait, this subordinate will see the Great General off.”
“No need, you stay.”
Chen Liang watched Lin Fan stride away, the smile on his face gradually fading. He hadn’t expected that this person had really come to take his military power. Now that he, Chen Liang, was in control of Liaodong and held military power, asking him to give it up was a pipe dream.
“Divine Martial Great General? A foolish dog.”
Chen Liang snorted disdainfully.
But what he needed to do now was to quickly send a message to Commander Qin, informing him of the situation here. The imperial court was going to make a move against him.
Fortunately, Liaodong needed his troops to garrison it, so the imperial court would not dare to be too forceful.
At the mansion gate.
Lin Fan did not cross the threshold but looked at the iron cavalry outside. He said nothing, and the iron cavalrymen dismounted one after another.
Lin Fan then reached out and closed the mansion gate from the inside.
“Great General, what are you doing?” Historian Wang asked, confused.
The Chen Mansion Butler escorted Lin Fan to the door and noticed that his master had not come out to see him off. The astute butler immediately understood the situation: they had clearly not reached an agreement.
He had great confidence in his master’s status.
In Liaodong, he was a supreme authority.
As for the Divine Martial Great General or whatever, he didn’t take it seriously. In this world, having military power was what truly mattered. Even if the current emperor came, an emperor without military power was like a paper tiger with its fangs removed.
“Great General, aren’t you leaving?” the butler asked.
Clang!
Slish!
A cold glint appeared.
Lin Fan drew his Wild Goose Feather Dagger and swiftly swung it, slitting the butler’s throat. The butler’s eyes widened in disbelief as he looked, and with a thud, he fell to the ground.
“Great General, what are you doing?” Historian Wang was stunned by Lin Fan’s sudden outburst, unable to recover for a long time.
Blood stained the ground red.
Blood dripped from the blade of the Wild Goose Feather Dagger.
Lin Fan’s expression was calm, his gaze serene. “I gave him a chance, but he did not cherish it. His Majesty’s decree requires days of consideration for him. His Majesty trusted him and bestowed military power upon him, but how could our General Chen bear to let such a dear old man worry day and night?”
“He doesn’t care, but I do.”
“Minister Wang, you are a historian. Since you are here, watch closely and record well. I often leave a sliver of life when I handle matters, but if one cannot grasp that sliver of life, it becomes their death.”
With that said!
Lin Fan, holding his Wild Goose Feather Dagger, strode into the Chen Mansion. Any servants or household staff he encountered were all killed with a single stroke of his blade, causing Historian Wang to tremble in fear.
“Who are you? How dare you commit murder in Chen Mansion?” an old man appeared, seeing Lin Fan approaching with his saber. He was shocked and roared in anger.
Lin Fan’s face remained expressionless. He swung his saber and stepped forward. In the blink of an eye, several corpses lay behind him.
Historian Wang looked at the corpses littering the ground.
Although he had witnessed the Great General’s bloodthirsty killing before, this indiscriminate slaughter within the mansion truly made him tremble with fear.
“Great General, some of the household staff may be innocent. Why couldn’t you give them a chance to live?” Historian Wang felt a pang of sympathy. He had just seen a boy no older than ten, dressed as a servant, killed with a single stroke by Lin Fan before he could even speak.
He had truly shown no hesitation.
Lin Fan said solemnly, “Minister Wang, do you think this is playtime? Military power must be reclaimed. If fifty thousand elite soldiers were to cause unrest, the impact would cause suffering to countless civilians. In the face of the greater good, personal interests are not important.”
Historian Wang looked at the Great General’s retreating back.
Finally, he let out a light sigh.
Though he had countless thoughts, they all dissipated with that sigh.
A moment later.
When Lin Fan appeared at the entrance of the living room with his Wild Goose Feather Dagger, Chen Liang’s expression flickered slightly. Upon seeing the blood dripping from the blade in his hand, a bad premonition surged in his heart.
“You… you.”
Chen Liang pointed at Lin Fan and was about to speak when Lin Fan leaped forward and stabbed him through the chest.
Gurgling!
Blood flowed from the corners of his mouth. Chen Liang tightly grasped Lin Fan’s arm, his eyes wide, his mouth slightly open, “Spare… spare my child…”
Before he could finish speaking, he completely breathed his last.
……
Barracks.
Chen Liang’s subordinates received news that they were to gather at Chen Mansion. The imperial decree had arrived, and their hearts were filled with speculation.
They had followed Chen Liang in garrisoning Liaodong, and their minds had already begun to wander.
They were aware of the current situation in the court. The emperor only possessed military power near the capital, which was inferior to the elite soldiers they had trained over the years guarding the border.
These elite soldiers had fought their way through battlefields.
They were by no means comparable to those soldiers in the capital.
When they arrived at the entrance of Chen Mansion, they saw a group of iron cavalry surrounding the area. There weren’t many, but there were about twenty to thirty of them.
“Brother Zhang, has something happened?” asked a Brigade General, and the one he questioned was Deputy General Zhang, second only to Chen Liang in Liaodong.
Deputy General Zhang shook his head, but his expression changed as he looked at the flags held by the iron cavalry.
“Divine Martial, could it be Divine Martial Great General Lin Fan sent by His Majesty?”
Although they garrisoned Liaodong, the name of the Divine Martial Great General was indeed thunderous. He was currently the most powerful figure and had achieved great military achievements.
Those military achievements, in their eyes, were something that ordinary people could not accomplish.
“Esteemed sirs, my Great General is already waiting inside the mansion. Please come in,” said an attendant iron cavalryman.
A total of eight people had arrived this time.
Deputy General, Brigade General, Deputy General, Battalion Commander.
The iron cavalry opened the mansion gate and stood upright to the side.
The esteemed lords exchanged glances and, with trepidation, walked into the mansion. As they entered, the iron cavalry closed the mansion gate again.
Not long after they entered, they smelled the scent of blood in the air and saw bloodstains on the ground. As they stood there in a daze, a voice came from afar.
“Since esteemed lords have arrived, please come in. I have been waiting for a long time,” said the Great General.
They swallowed nervously, some even placing their hands on their saber hilts. But the moment they touched them, the voice of the Divine Martial Great General echoed again.
“There’s no need to be nervous. You are all meritorious generals guarding the border. I harbor no ill will towards you.”
The eight lords took a deep breath. As they stood at the entrance of the hall, their eyes widened in shock. They saw dozens of corpses neatly arranged on the floor of the hall.
Instantly, a chill enveloped everyone, and the hair on their bodies stood on end.
They saw it.
On the ground, one of the corpses was none other than General Chen Liang.
When they looked up, the Divine Martial Great General, whom they had never met, was seated in a grand chair, drinking tea. Beside him on the tea table lay a Wild Goose Feather Dagger still dripping with blood.
“What are you all standing there for?”
“Come in.”
The eight generals forced down their fear, their eyes constantly scanning the corpses on the ground. They recognized them all as members of General Chen’s entire family.
This Divine Martial Great General had killed Chen General’s entire family!
As the eight generals took their seats.
Lin Fan glanced at them, discerning their ranks from their attire and tokens. He had thoroughly investigated the situation within the Liaodong camp before arriving.
“Everyone, it’s our first meeting. Although you are unfamiliar with me, I am very familiar with you. This must be Deputy General Zhang. You have served in the army for twenty years, were promoted by His Majesty fifteen years ago, and transferred here to serve as Deputy General,” Lin Fan said with a smile.
Deputy General Zhang, who had just sat down, quickly stood up, “Your subordinate greets the Great General.”
Lin Fan raised his hand to interrupt, “There’s no need for formalities. You don’t need to be so reserved in front of me. I am here on His Majesty’s orders to discuss the matter of reclaiming military power with General Chen.”
“But General Chen’s reply was very unsatisfactory. His Majesty’s decree has arrived, yet he says he needs time to consider. What do you think this means?”
Lin Fan asked with a half-smile, his gaze lingering on each of their faces.
The eight men lowered their heads, daring not to answer.
Lin Fan continued, picking up his teacup and taking a slow sip. The atmosphere in the hall was quiet and eerie. The corpses scattered on the floor had had a profound impact on them.
It was as if a voice was telling them.
Disobeying the imperial command leads to such consequences.
If you are stubborn, are your entire families also stubborn?
“Deputy General Zhang, tell me, what exactly does General Chen mean by this?” Lin Fan asked.
Deputy General Zhang nervously replied, “Reporting to the Great General, Chen Liang’s actions are tantamount to disrespecting His Majesty. Liaodong’s military power was entrusted to him by His Majesty’s trust. His attempt to cling to military power now is truly an act of rebellion.”
“Hmm, that’s to the point,” Lin Fan nodded. “You are all veteran generals who have followed General Chen. You must also know about Qin Li and his situation. Why don’t you tell me if they have any intention of rebellion? It’s alright, you can speak frankly. I know you were not involved.”
Liaodong still needed them to defend it.
What he was doing now was intimidation.
Deputy General Zhang dared not answer this question. They all knew that Chen Liang and Qin Li had an unusual relationship, and there were indeed signs of rebellion. Qin Li had visited Liaodong before.
At a private banquet, Chen Liang, drunk, had even laughingly said that when Commander Qin decided to wear new clothes, his brothers would also want to move their positions.
They had listened with trembling hearts at the time.
If this were to get out, it would be an act of treason, punishable by the extermination of the entire family.
But frankly speaking.
At that time, they didn’t know why, but they felt an inexplicable stirring in their hearts.
“Deputy General Zhang, speak,” Lin Fan asked.
Plop!
Deputy General Zhang knelt down and said, “Great General, your subordinate does not know how to speak. Your subordinate truly does not know.”
“Do you not know, or do you not dare to speak?”
“Your subordinate… your subordinate.”
Deputy General Zhang stammered, his voice trembling.
Lin Fan chuckled, “From now on, you are the General of Liaodong.”
At these words.
Deputy General Zhang looked up sharply, staring at Lin Fan in astonishment.
Lin Fan said, “When I came here, His Majesty specifically mentioned you to me, saying that you were just a Battalion Commander in the Capital Garrison back then, but you were studious and diligently read military strategy. He felt that leaving you in the Capital Garrison was a waste of talent and promoted you to Deputy General in Liaodong, [Truncated: Max tokens]
“So many years have passed, and His Majesty still remembers you. This shows how much His Majesty trusts you.”
Lin Fan sighed, and these words made Deputy General Zhang filled with regret and extreme guilt.
“This subordinate has made a mistake, this subordinate has failed Your Majesty’s grace,” Deputy General Zhang cried, weeping profusely.
Lin Fan said, “Failing Your Majesty’s grace means you have a problem with your thinking, but it’s not too late to change now. His Majesty said the situation in Liaodong is complex, and if you can admit your mistakes, you will be given a chance to repent.”
“You have been promoted to General, and you have all been promoted by one rank. Now I just want to ask you, whose soldiers are the soldiers of Liaodong.”
Deputy General Zhang wailed, “They are Your Majesty’s soldiers, this subordinate has failed Your Majesty’s grace and deserves death. Grateful for Your Majesty’s continued favor, this subordinate is willing to go through fire and water for Your Majesty, and die without regret.”
The other seven people all knelt down, filled with fear and trepidation.
Deputy General Zhang said, “Great General, Qin Li has the intention of rebellion, and Chen Liang is the main force of Qin Li’s rebellion. Over the years, armor, elite soldiers, and fine horses have been continuously sent this way. Liaodong is said to have fifty thousand iron cavalry, but in reality, it has reached seventy thousand.”
Lin Fan frowned, “Are they all heavy cavalry?”
Deputy General Zhang shook his head, “No, currently Liaodong can equip at most ten thousand with heavy armor and fine horses for iron cavalry. The rest only have armor but no fine horses. The cost is too great, and Liaodong cannot afford it.”
“This is also why Chen Liang has not made a move, he is still buying fine horses from various places and training soldiers.”
Lin Fan nodded, if they truly had seventy thousand fully armed heavy cavalry, he didn’t know how other countries would fight.
But even ten thousand was quite terrifying.
However, even so, they should not be underestimated.
In his understanding, the Tang Dynasty’s Xuanjia Army of a few thousand broke through an army of a hundred thousand, which was enough to illustrate how terrifying elite heavy cavalry was.
Men armored, horses armored.
On the battlefield, unless exhausted, they were truly invincible.
Lin Fan said, “Alright, remember this, the military power in Liaodong is not something private individuals can control. Now that Chen Liang is dead, you need to keep this matter to yourselves. Return to the barracks, and if anyone asks, say Chen Liang returned to the capital to see the Emperor.”
“If anyone in the barracks disobeys orders, kill them.”
“Your Liaodong operations are of great importance. When this Great General captures Qin Li, it will be time for a grand expedition. Then your opportunities to achieve great deeds will come.”
After he said this.
Everyone present was slightly shocked.
Clearly, they did not expect the Divine Martial Great General to act against Qin Li. It seemed His Majesty’s patience with Qin Li had reached its limit.
General Zhang said, “Yes, Great General, this subordinate understands. We will definitely guard the Liaodong camp for Your Majesty and will never let what happened with Chen Liang occur again.”
Lin Fan stood up and said, “Mm, then I’ll leave this place to you. This Great General still needs to go to Qin Li’s location.”
Having said that, he turned and left.
Historian Wang followed behind.
In the hall.
After Lin Fan left, the eight men collapsed onto their chairs, looking at the corpses on the ground, and no one knew what they were thinking.
But they were truly terrified.
They were all frightened by the Great General’s methods.
After a moment.
General Zhang slowly spoke, “Have you all heard and understood? This is our only chance. If His Majesty doesn’t pursue this, we can also have new choices. You should understand the Great General’s intentions. Return to your camps, arrest those who should be arrested, kill those who should be killed. Remember, you must act secretly and not cause any disturbance.”
“Yes, General.”
Everyone responded.
This was the first time they had seen the Divine Martial Great General. The oppressive aura he exuded was too powerful, making them feel as if they were in a sea of blood and a mountain of corpses.
He hadn’t moved, and even his tone of voice sounded very calm.
Yet, he gave them this feeling.
…
Several days later.
A secret letter was delivered to the Imperial Study.
The Emperor opened it and his heart grew heavy. He hadn’t expected the situation in Liaodong to be so dangerous, but fortunately, his beloved minister had resolved it.
In the letter, Lin Fan briefly mentioned what he had done.
To the Emperor, these were all trivial matters. He accepted all the decisions made by his beloved minister, but honestly, he was also worried about his beloved minister’s trip to Qin Li’s location.
At this moment, Eunuch Wang said, “Your Majesty, General Qin Xiang requests an audience.”
“Let him in,” the Emperor said.
Soon, Qin Xiang entered the Imperial Study and knelt down with a thud, “Your subject, Qin Xiang, pays his respects to Your Majesty.”
“Beloved Minister Qin, what brings you here?” the Emperor asked.
Qin Xiang lowered his head deeply and said, “Your Majesty, I… I beg Your Majesty to spare my father’s life.”
“Why do you say that?” the Emperor asked, his face expressionless, but he was startled in his heart. How did he know that Lin Fan was going to act against Qin Li?
Qin Xiang said, “Your Majesty, it has been several days since General Lin left the capital. I have a premonition that the only matter that could cause General Lin to act personally would be concerning my father.”
The Emperor was silent for a moment and slowly said, “Beloved Minister Qin, I have great hopes for you.”
“Your subject understands.”
The Emperor threw the secret letter in front of Qin Xiang, “Read it yourself.”
Qin Xiang nervously took the secret letter. As he read its contents, his face instantly turned ashen. The letter described the dealings between his father and Chen Liang.
Secretly hoarding armor, purchasing fine horses, and assembling heavy cavalry.
Without the court’s permission, this was rebellion.
Qin Xiang’s hands holding the secret letter trembled uncontrollably, and for a moment, he didn’t know what to say.
The age-old dilemma of being torn between loyalty and filial piety.
At this very moment, it was placed before him in its entirety.
And it was his father who had taught him all of this: to serve the court, to be loyal to the sovereign and love the country. But now, his father’s actions had utterly confused Qin Xiang.
His father, whom he considered a pillar of strength and was called the God of War, had colluded with Chen Liang of the Liaodong camp to prepare for rebellion.
This… this.
“Your Majesty, I deserve to die.”
The Emperor waved his hand and said nothing. Eunuch Wang walked to Qin Xiang’s side and said softly, “General Qin, His Majesty is tired.”
At this time.
Coastal Border Defense.
Qin Li tightly clenched his fist after reading the letter in his hand.
This was from the capital.
Lin Fan led thirty iron cavalry out of the capital, his whereabouts unknown.
