flstandardbreds Chapter 1066 Do they think I'm Emperor Yongzheng?
Chapter 1066 Do they think I'm Emperor Yongzheng?
Upon hearing this, Li Che felt a surge of anger.
The new policies were his unshakeable Achilles' heel, especially land and the imperial examination system, which were the foundation for Daqing's future strength and prosperity.
If the powerful families of Shu were to take the lead in resisting the new policies, wouldn't other powerful families follow suit if word got out?
This situation must be severely punished!
“Thirdly, and most troublesomely,” the Prince of Jin frowned, “the people’s hearts are divided, and there are signs that the fighting is spreading to the common people.”
"After the Qing army entered Sichuan, they helped the people repair bridges and roads and wiped out long-standing banditry. Some people gradually developed a goodwill towards the imperial court."
“But powerful families used clan relationships to control tenant farmers and control local granaries and clan schools, thus winning over a large number of dependents.”
“Nowadays, various conflicts are breaking out among the people, and behind them are the shadows of powerful families. If the Qing army forcibly intervenes to suppress them, it is very easy to be misinterpreted as the imperial army oppressing the local people.”
"But if we sit idly by, the conflict may escalate and damage the prestige of the court. I often feel constrained and caught in a dilemma."
He let out a long sigh: "In short, friction is everywhere. In the past six months, I have spent most of my energy mediating and appeasing all parties, running around like a headless chicken, which has slowed down the implementation of the new policies."
"The negligence of the officials at the city gate that Your Majesty witnessed today is merely a small part of the chaos in Shu."
Li Che listened quietly, remaining silent for a long time.
Yue Yun, Xu Jiezi, and other trusted confidants also looked at him, waiting for him to make a statement.
He remained silent for a moment before slowly speaking: "Given this situation, it is already a great achievement that Third Brother has been able to maintain relative stability and prevent chaos in Shu."
These were not empty words of comfort. Li Che knew in his heart that the situation in Shu was far more complicated than he had previously estimated.
Li Che was very fortunate that he had used the Prince of Jin back then.
When Prince Jin was vying for the throne, he was known for his meticulous thinking, which enabled him to maintain a balance amidst various forces, exactly what the Shu region needed at that time.
If it were someone with a fiery temper, it would probably have already sparked a popular uprising or a military mutiny.
If he were weak and incompetent, he would probably have already been sidelined by the local forces and become a puppet.
The Prince of Jin felt a slight warmth in his heart, but his heart remained heavy: "Your Majesty, I am ashamed to accept such a position. Now that Your Majesty has come in person, I can at least share some of the heavy burden on my shoulders."
"Your Majesty's divine might is enough to deter those who are two-faced. With Your Majesty in charge, many things can be easily resolved."
Li Che shook his head: "Third Brother, you're wrong."
"Today they are only afraid of me, afraid of the knife in my hand, afraid of the soldiers behind me, afraid that I will dig up their old debts and confiscate their assets."
“But deep down, they may not respect me, much less serve me as their master.”
"Fear is temporary. Once I leave Shu, they will continue to do what they want, or even become more aggressive."
"What I want is not their temporary fear, but long-term peace and stability in Shu, and the people's allegiance."
The Prince of Jin was taken aback, but then he deeply agreed and looked ashamed: "Your Majesty's concerns are very valid; it was my shallow understanding."
"In that case, Your Majesty, please stay a little longer. I hope to take this opportunity to try to turn the situation around, or at least to fight for greater influence for the court in Shu."
"What do you need?" Li Che asked directly.
The Prince of Jin, clearly having considered this matter beforehand, immediately replied, "Your Majesty, I need people. I need a large number of officials who are familiar with government affairs and loyal to the court!"
“Currently, key positions in the provincial government and various prefectures and counties are still controlled by local officials, making it difficult for me to mobilize all resources.”
Upon hearing this, Li Che frowned slightly: "Third Brother, officials like this are in short supply everywhere. The new court is in dire need of talent, whether in the Central Plains, Jiangnan, or the border regions."
"My purpose in making this southern tour was to select and promote local talents, but it was just a drop in the ocean."
"I cannot immediately allocate too many officials to the Shu region."
Let alone Shu, the imperial court is short of manpower right now, otherwise Li Che would not tolerate those aristocratic officials jumping around.
A hint of disappointment flashed in the Prince of Jin's eyes, but he was not discouraged: "In that case... Your Majesty, is it possible to win back the hearts of the former Shu troops?"
"With General Luo here, her prestige is sufficient, and with His Majesty's personal favor, the Shu army should not dare to act recklessly again."
"If the Shu army can be truly brought under the control of the imperial court, at least the military power will be stable, and even if local villains stir up trouble, they will not be able to cause too much trouble."
"With the army as my backing, I have much more confidence in carrying out my duties. With the military and government working together, no matter how much those local officials try to obstruct me in secret, it will be in vain."
This suggestion sparked a glimmer of hope in Li Che's eyes.
He has always supported the idea that political power grows out of the barrel of a gun.
Having military control over a region does not necessarily mean that the region is completely under control.
However, if one doesn't even have military affairs under their control, then they have absolutely no control over this place.
Li Che leaned forward slightly and looked at Luo Yueniang beside him: "Recruiting the former Shu army troops... General Luo, what do you think?"
Luo Yueniang decisively clasped her hands in a fist and said, "This humble general will obey Your Majesty's orders."
She naturally dared not have any doubts, and was even a little anxious.
The longer he spent with this emperor, the more he realized how skillful the emperor was.
If the Shu army does not obediently surrender, those former generals who followed them will likely not have a good end.
Li Che nodded: "Then let's meet the Shu generals first."
The Prince of Jin hesitated and asked, "What about the officials in Shu...?"
Li Che sneered and then said, "Let them wait. They're the ones who should be anxious right now, not us."
. . . . . .
The next morning, before it was fully light.
Li Che, under the protection of Yue Yun, Luo Yueniang, and others, left the city and headed straight for the Shu army camp.
The Shu army's organizational structure remains intact, with all troops stationed in the designated camp area outside the city.
The Qing army, responsible for the defense of Shu, was stationed in the government offices and military camps within the city. The two armies were stationed in distinct areas and were not mixed together.
This was one of the conditions that Luo Yueniang proposed when she led her people to surrender. Li Che nodded and has abided by it ever since.
Because he knew that the Shu army, which had suddenly switched allegiance, needed this independent space to maintain a sense of security.
Ensuring a smooth transition in Shu was the strategy set by the imperial court, and Li Che never intended to break the agreement.
He simply forgot that in the military, the strongest has always been the one to speak.
If we continue to appease and befriend them, they may develop ulterior motives and underestimate the authority of the imperial family.
Li Che rode his horse into the Shu army camp, where he saw towering gates and imposing watchtowers.
The tents were arranged as neatly as a chessboard, the banners fluttered in the morning breeze, and the soldiers patrolled with heavy steps.
He nodded to himself. Putting everything else aside, this Shu army was indeed an elite force with an excellent foundation.
If they can be completely subdued and integrated into our own forces, it will undoubtedly be a great supplement to Daqing's military strength.
But seeing the gazes of the Shu soldiers around him, Li Che narrowed his eyes again.
There was absolutely no respect whatsoever...
When the soldiers saw the emperor arrive, they not only didn't step forward to pay their respects, but they also looked at him as if he were some kind of exotic animal.
This made Li Che somewhat uncomfortable. Did they not know who he was? Did they not know he knew kung fu?
Upon arriving at the central command tent, the Imperial Guard quickly took control of the area around the tent.
Li Che dismounted and walked steadily into the tent, ascending directly to the main seat.
Luo Yueniang and Yue Yun stood behind him, swords at their sides, with Qiu Bai and Ying Bu behind them.
Without needing to say more, the personal guards outside the tent beat the drum to gather the generals, and the dull drumbeats instantly spread throughout the Shu army camp.
Before long, the curtains of the military tents were lifted one after another, and the Shu generals filed in.
These people varied in height and build, but most had sharp features and keen eyes.
Their gazes toward Li Che were complex, containing a mixture of awe, distance, and a hint of scrutiny.
Li Che immediately realized that these Shu troops were different from other government troops.
Generals in other local military commands wouldn't dare to think of themselves that way; they've enjoyed peace for so long that being a general is just like going to work.
The Shu army, however, was different. For a century, they had been constantly clashing with the barbarians, and they had actually fought and seen bloodshed.
But when they caught sight of Luo Yueniang, whose face was ashen beside Li Che, many people subconsciously averted their gazes, not daring to show their audacity too obviously.
Li Che sat at the head of the table, calmly observing them.
Judging from their imposing presence, these Shu generals were indeed fierce and brave. In terms of individual martial prowess, they were probably no less than many of the generals in the Qing army.
But he had also been through the trials and tribulations of military life, and he knew that bravery and arrogance were often intertwined, and that a knife that was too sharp could easily injure oneself if not used properly.
Once all the generals had arrived, they stood in their positions and then bowed to the head of the group in unison, their voices surprisingly uniform: "We, your humble generals, pay our respects to Your Majesty!"
Li Che's gaze swept over them, his face expressionless, and he simply replied, "Get up."
However, an eerie silence fell over the tent.
The generals remained in the cupped-hands posture, their bodies slightly bowed, and none of them rose as instructed.
Time passed slowly in the silence, and the air seemed to grow heavier.
Luo Yueniang, who was standing to the side, was obviously not expected to see this situation. She was stunned for a moment, then her eyebrows furrowed and anger surged in her eyes.
Li Che narrowed his eyes slightly, not getting angry at all, but instead his lips curled up slightly.
Is this... a protest against him?
Was it to regain face after the show of force he displayed to the officials of Shu when he entered the city yesterday? Or was it simply to test the mettle of this new emperor?
That's a bit interesting.
"His Majesty told you to get up, didn't you hear?!" Luo Yueniang couldn't hold back any longer, took half a step forward, and shouted sternly.
Unexpectedly, as soon as she finished speaking, the generals, who had been bowing motionless like clay or wooden statues, immediately responded with a resounding roar:
"Here!"
With a voice like thunder and movements in perfect unison, the generals straightened up and stood with their hands clasped in front of them.
Luo Yueniang was stunned. She quickly turned to look at Li Che, her face drained of color, and said urgently, "Your Majesty, this humble general did not..."
Li Che raised a hand, stopping her from saying anything more.
His gaze returned to the faces of the generals in the tent, his smile deepened, but the temperature in his eyes dropped further.
Is this some kind of treatment you're giving yourself?
First, they all remained silent in defiance, then immediately obeyed Luo Yueniang's command.
This move not only sowed discord between him and Luo Yueniang, but also staged a performance of obeying only the commander's orders.
Did I become Emperor Yongzheng myself?
We also need to see if Luo Yueniang is Nian Gengyao!