Chapter 137
<Previous Chapter<Table of Contents>Next Chapter>
Chu Hechao trained them in the martial arts field for a whole day and then took them to the military camp for the next two days. On the third evening, he finally allowed them to return.
Yuan Li was waiting for them in the dining hall, and as soon as he saw Chu Hechao return, he asked, “How did it go?”
Chu Hechao wiped off the sweat, sat down beside Yuan Li, and drank a glass of water in one gulp. He succinctly replied, “Both of them are good.”
He paused and added, “Especially the slender one, he’s a promising talent.”
Yuan Li pondered, “You mean Gu Yue?”
Chu Hechao nodded, “Yes, he’s the one. If his background were a bit better, he might already be a notable general by now. He possesses the qualities of a renowned general and can handle responsibilities.”
Chu Hechao rarely praised people, so when he did, Yuan Li knew that both Gu Yue and Kong Ran were suitable to be sent to the Bohai Sea to train the navy.
Gu Yue could be promoted to the rank of Navy Captain and become the commander of the navy, while Kong Ran would be his deputy. The two were also from the same hometown, and working together would undoubtedly enhance their efficiency.
While Yuan Li thought along these lines, he didn’t immediately inform the two men of their promotions.
Being promoted to such high positions in one step, Yuan Li worried that they might become arrogant or that the soldiers wouldn’t respect them. It was better to see what results they could achieve first before giving them the corresponding rewards.
On the second day, Gu Yue and Kong Ran received their task to go to the Bohai Sea to train the navy.
The navy they were to train consisted of a whopping 50,000 men.
Gu Yue and Kong Ran almost thought they misheard.
However, seeing Yuan Li’s confident expression, they realized that the opportunity was indeed real, and their excitement and joy surged.
They knew it was a chance, but they had never expected it to be such a tremendous opportunity!
Fifty thousand men… That was an enormous responsibility!
Their shoulders felt the weight of this task, leaving them somewhat hesitant.
But beside Kong Ran, Gu Yue showed no hesitation. He performed a deep bow to Yuan Li, his eyes determined and powerful, as he said firmly, “I will not disappoint Lord Yuan’s trust.”
Kong Ran looked at Gu Yue in astonishment, not understanding where his confidence came from. But looking at Gu Yue’s expression, full of determination even if it meant facing death, he was moved. Taking a deep breath, Kong Ran also knelt down, echoing, “I, too, will do the same.”
Yuan Li praised them, helping them to their feet, “Prepare as quickly as possible. You’ll depart within two days. I need you to go to the Bohai Sea beforehand to prepare. The fifty thousand navy troops will arrive at the Bohai Sea within two months.”
After speaking, Yuan Li handed them a letter and gazed at the two, saying, “Remember to use the methods mentioned in this letter to train the navy.”
Both of them respectfully saluted and immediately left. The next day, they couldn’t wait any longer and departed from Jixian.
By the end of the month, the 50,000 elite naval troops from Youzhou, skilled in water warfare, had been selected and quietly made their way to the Bohai Sea.
A few days later, Zhou Gongdan sent a letter through the Liangliao Institution.
The letter mentioned that Wei Ji had died, and Mitai had escaped. Almost 80% of the discerning people in Jizhou had abandoned Wu Shanshi and left Jizhou. Now, Zhou Gongdan has become Wu Shanshi’s most trusted adviser.
No one knew what kind of mood Wu Shanshi would be in when he returned to the provincial governor’s mansion and saw the mess left behind. His uncle was dead, and it was him who had caused his death. His subordinates had fled, and none of the Runan compatriots he trusted were left.
When he found out that Zhou Gongdan had stayed behind, Wu Shanshi grasped Zhou Gongdan’s hand and both wept and cursed. From then on, Zhou Gongdan became Wu Shanshi’s straw to clutch at for survival.
But Wu Shanshi couldn’t bear this injustice either, so he directly sent a letter to Runan, asking them to hand over Mitai, who had returned to Runan as a traitor, and to send some talents to him.
However, the people of Runan were extremely disappointed in Wu Shanshi. The Wu family of Runan was a typical aristocratic family, and they were willing to invest many resources to cultivate and assist Wu Shanshi. However, when Wu Shanshi made a major mistake and got entangled with rebels, tarnishing his reputation and possibly implicating them, the Wu family of Runan made a decisive choice.
They resolutely cut ties with Wu Shanshi to protect the reputation of the Wu family and safeguard other talented individuals of the Wu family.
After learning that he had been abandoned by his own family, Wu Shanshi couldn’t believe it. He locked himself in his room for two days. When he came out, his temper became extremely volatile.
As a man abandoned by his subordinates and family, and scorned by the entire world, Wu Shanshi had lost much of his composure and become somewhat insane. And a madman was easier to control.
Seeing this, a peculiar idea suddenly came to Yuan Li’s mind.
Perhaps Wu Shanshi could be used…
But this whimsical idea was quickly suppressed by Yuan Li.
He shook his head, dismissing the thought, and continued reading. However, after finishing the letter, Yuan Li couldn’t help but burst into a silent laugh.
Chu Hechao pulled him to sit beside him and asked, “What did Zhou Gongdan write that has made you so happy?”
Yuan Li’s face was full of smiles, and he was in a great mood. “Brother, I think Zhou Gongdan can be my confidant. He always seems to align with my thoughts.”
A confidant? Chu Hechao squinted his eyes and asked calmly, “Oh? How did they align this time?”
Yuan Li folded the letter slowly and replied, “He wants to tempt Wu Shanshi to declare himself emperor.”
“Emperor?” Chu Hechao’s eyes sharpened.
“Yes,” Yuan Li affirmed. “Emperor.”
He couldn’t help but smile again and added, “In chaotic times, the first person to declare themselves emperor often doesn’t become the ultimate winner. However, they play a significant role by…”
Chu Hechao calmly continued, “By informing the world that the Northern Zhou Dynasty might undergo a dynastic change.”
Exactly.
In chaotic times, those who aimed to be the ultimate winners needed to accumulate a substantial amount of food, build high walls, and delay declaring themselves kings.
The “delaying of declaring oneself king” was particularly crucial. In simple terms, it meant avoiding premature actions.
The bird that sticks its neck out will always attract attention. The first person to declare themselves emperor in times of chaos often stirs the anger of the world and is attacked by various vassals, being branded as a traitor.
But the first person to declare themselves emperor is crucial to other ambitious vassals.
Once someone declares themselves emperor, it shocks and angers the people, but beyond the anger, they face a tremendous impact.
They will come to realize clearly that the world is no longer under the rule of the Qin family.
Now that someone can overthrow the Northern Zhou and become a new emperor, the world is open to a dynastic change.
With this first self-proclaimed emperor, the second and third self-proclaimed emperors will no longer arouse such great resentment among the people. Because they have become accustomed to it, even subconsciously accepting the possibility of a dynastic change in the Northern Zhou.
So the first self-proclaimed emperor is like a stone thrown into the water, its importance is self-evident.
Yuan Li and Zhou Gongdan had the same idea; Wu Shanshi seemed suitable for being this type of abandoned person.
Moreover, their Youzhou was not far from Jizhou, and it was the largest vassal in the North. When the time came, they could legitimately replace the emperor and attack Wu Shanshi as a rebel self-proclaimed emperor. Wouldn’t it be natural to capture Jizhou?
After unifying the three northern provinces, Yuan Li would be able to achieve his initial goal.
Yuan Li’s lips curved, and his eyes gleamed with determination.
Seeing him like this, Chu Hechao’s eyelids twitched. After pondering for a moment, he simply asked, “Yuan Le Jun, do you want to change the dynasty?”
Yuan Li was momentarily stunned, realizing that he hadn’t told Chu Hechao about his ideas yet.
But should he tell Chu Hechao about these thoughts?
Would Chu Hechao be able to accept such a rebellious idea?
The worries that should have haunted Yuan Li disappeared in an instant when he looked into Chu Hechao’s eyes. He couldn’t help but smile openly, nodding calmly. “Yes.”
“Ciye, there are many things I want to do,” Yuan Li didn’t evade or gloss over it, he sincerely explained his thoughts to Chu Hechao, holding up the flames in his heart for Chu Hechao to see. “And these things, no one else can do them, nor do they want to. So I thought of a way, a way that will give me the power to do what I want.”
His eyes grew brighter, as if they could ignite others, and Yuan Li continued, “That is to become the Emperor and have the power to change the world.”
Chu Hechao’s internal fire seemed ignited by the light in Yuan Li’s eyes, and it surged along with his emotions. He chuckled lightly, tapping his gloved fingers on his thigh slowly. “It sounds quite arrogant. Tell me, what is it that you want to do? Why can’t others do it?”
“It’s quite simple,” Yuan Li said with a relaxed smile, as if discussing what to have for dinner. “I want to eliminate the deeply rooted aristocratic families, break their monopoly on knowledge, reclaim half of the Northern Zhou’s land that has been seized by the aristocrats and the powerful, and rescue the hungry and suffering common people.”
Every sentence of his words astonished Chu Hechao.
He had never thought of the things Yuan Li was saying.
This would certainly challenge the interests of the powerful aristocrats and influential elites.
It might seem too ambitious and even naive.
Yuan Li had always been shrewd and mature in his actions. As he grew more powerful, he showed the demeanor of a lord and was not hesitant to make tough decisions when needed. In theory, he shouldn’t have such naive thoughts. However, when such thoughts came from him, Chu Hechao felt that everything was just right.
But Yuan Li hadn’t finished yet. His voice grew softer, but the words carried a force as if capable of moving mountains and seas, filled with a majestic momentum that shook one’s soul. “Ciye, I want to abolish the imperial examination system and break the monopoly of the scholars on official positions. I want to provide the common people who toil in the fields for generations a road to rise up and become officials, that road is called the imperial examination.”
“Bring all the talents from the world into the court and then benefit the entire world.”
Yuan Li’s eyes seemed to radiate light as he looked at Chu Hechao with eagerness. It was as if he held the vastness of the stars, leaving Chu Hechao unable to refuse. Yuan Li continued, “Ciye, I want you to help me.”
Chu Hechao took a deep breath and suddenly chuckled, reaching out to touch Yuan Li’s chin. “Are you convinced that I’ll agree?”
Yuan Li smiled and replied, “Pretty much.”
He had some confidence in this.
If there was anyone in this world who would unhesitatingly and wholeheartedly become Yuan Li’s shield, it was Chu Hechao.
And Yuan Li fully believed in Chu Hechao alone.
Chu Hechao was inherently unrestrained, and he held no fear for the imperial authority. The aristocrats’ power and influence were not as important as having his own troops.
He felt disdain and disgust for the Northern Zhou court, indifferent and almost ruthless towards the late emperor and the current emperor.
Did it matter to him whether the emperor lived or died? What did he care about who became the emperor in this world?
In an era where imperial power was paramount, this monster nurtured from the aristocracy of ancient times fortuitously met Yuan Li, another unconventional eccentric.
Monster and eccentric, they were naturally a perfect match.
Chu Hechao leaned in, and without holding back, he bit Yuan Li’s lip fiercely and declared, “Then let’s do it!”
In that moment, Yuan Li revealed a brilliant smile.
In his heart, he thought, “Thank you, Heavens.”
He came into this world, found someone who loved him and someone he loved, and embarked on a thrilling and fascinating journey like a tale from history.
Yuan Li didn’t know what the future held.
But whether it was good or bad, he would face it fearlessly.
<Previous Chapter<Table of Contents>Next Chapter>
