All rations were paid by the imperial court and managed by the military governors; mid- and lower-ranking officers were also trained in martial arts before being assigned. Without private soldiers, it was obviously unlikely that a few trusted aides could lead the army into rebellion.
Therefore, there was no big problem in letting Liu Xingzuo continue to lead the troops in battle. Moreover, because he had a better understanding of the Jiannu's strengths and weaknesses and the terrain of Liaodong, he had an advantage in commanding the battle.
The emperor even thought that Liu Xingzuo could be used as bait. Since I hate him like crazy, why not make a clear signal and lure me to lead my troops to attack and beat him to a pulp.
Liu Xingzuo didn't know what the emperor was thinking yet. When he received the appointment letter from the Ministry of War and learned that the emperor wanted to summon him, he was so excited that he couldn't sleep all night.
The next day, Jinyiwei Cao Zhenghua, who returned to Beijing with the Liu brothers, accompanied them to visit the capital for a day and appreciate the prosperity under the feet of the emperor.
On the third day, officials from the Ministry of Rites came to the inn to teach Liu Xingzuo the etiquette for his audience with the emperor. This was normal procedure, and Liu Xingzuo was afraid of being disrespectful, so he studied diligently and did not show any sign of boredom until dinner.
"You will be entering the palace to meet the emperor tomorrow. Brother, you are highly valued by the emperor and have a bright future!" Liu Xingren poured a glass of wine for his brother and raised it to toast him.
Liu Xingzuo raised his glass in return, but only took a small sip before putting it down and sighing, "At first, I wanted to return to the court, but I was also very nervous, fearing that the court would punish me or even suspect me and refuse to accept me."
After a pause, Liu Xingzuo continued, "I never expected that this would alarm the emperor, and only with the emperor's trust could this be successful."
Liu Xingren was also very emotional. His previous hesitation and worries now seemed so ridiculous and indecisive, and his desire to return to the Ming Dynasty did not seem sincere and resolute enough.
"I am already a general, and I am satisfied with it." Liu Xingzuo smiled, but showed a hint of bitterness and self-mockery.
In his opinion, he was only a deputy general in the Later Jin Dynasty, and he would be promoted to general anyway, so the Ming court had already fulfilled its promise. As for whether he could lead troops to fight in the future, he did not dare to hope.
Although the Ming court once encouraged the surrendered generals by calling them "Li Xianzhong of the Great Song Dynasty", in reality, who would dare to use them with confidence?
Liu Xingren shared the sentiment and consoled him, "Brother, your patriotic heart will surely be recognized by the court in the long run. Now that your mother, wife, and children are all safe, why rush them and settle them down?"
Liu Xingzuo chuckled and raised his glass, saying, "It is just as you said. Come, let's drink, to celebrate our wise ruler and our return to the Ming Dynasty."
Liu Xingren raised the cup and drank it in one gulp. He knew that his brother was still a little unwilling, but he could only use time and performance to prove himself and win the trust of the court.
……………………
I can trust Liu Xingzuo, but other ministers and generals from various departments may still have doubts.
Although Zhu Youxiao decided to reuse Liu Xingzuo, he also knew that this was not just his own business.
Historically, after Liu Xingzuo returned to the Ming Dynasty, neither Mao Wenlong nor Yuan Chonghuan treated him well because Yuan Keli had already left Denglai. "After Wenlong's death, he returned to Yuan Chonghuan, and both were depressed and frustrated."
There is no need to blame him for this. Mr. Yuan had a broad mind and great courage, but Mao Wenlong and Yuan Chonghuan had both formed their own factions and had their own confidants to use, and they were no less capable than Liu Xingzuo.
The situation is similar now. Xiong Tingbi and Mao Wenlong both have a large number of generals with a martial arts background. Liu Xingzuo is of little use.
After much deliberation, Zhu Youxiao decided that it would be wiser to first send Liu Xingzuo to a military academy for further training. If he proved to be a capable person, he could then be transferred to the Beijing Camp. After observing him for a while, he could then decide whether to let him lead the troops.
"Cao Zhenghua did a great job, and Liu Aita's restoration is a credit to him." Zhu Youxiao listened to Cao Zhenghua's detailed report, praised him, and then said, "I intend to transfer you to a military position. What do you think?"
Cao Zhenghua turned his head and glanced at his immediate superior, Luo Sigong, who had brought him to the audience, and did not dare to answer easily.
Luo Sigong smiled and said, "Your Majesty appreciates me, why don't you thank me?"
Cao Zhenghua quickly knelt down, kowtowed, and replied, "Wherever Your Majesty directs, that is what I will do.
Zhu Youxiao nodded and said, "Since you are familiar with Liu Xingzuo, you can study martial arts with him and then go to the Beijing Camp for practical training together."
"I obey your order." Cao Zhenghua kowtowed in response.
Zhu Youxiao said slowly, "Liu Xingzuo's resolve to rebel is strong, and the Jiannu are at their end. I think he can be given important positions. However, his background clearly makes it difficult for him to gain a foothold in the military. If there is a need for future arrangements, you can be his deputy. You are more familiar with him and would be a more suitable choice."
Although the words weren't very clear, Luo Sigong and Cao Zhenghua understood them perfectly. During the martial arts training period, Cao Zhenghua was also responsible for inspections. If Liu Xingzuo were to lead the troops, he would also have a supervisory and supporting role.
"I understand." Cao Zhenghua kowtowed again in response.
"Well, stand up!" Zhu Youxiao then asked Cao Zhenghua to stand up.
Different ranks naturally necessitated different treatment. Cao Zhenghua kowtowed a few more times without feeling uncomfortable, believing it was the way it should be. The emperor also demonstrated his authority, achieving the best of both worlds.
Turning his gaze to Luo Sigong, Zhu Youxiao instructed, "We must not relax our efforts in spying on the various Mongolian tribes. Friends and enemies are constantly changing, and no one can predict. The more accurate the intelligence we have, the easier it will be to act in the future."
"Your Majesty, please rest assured, I dare not slack off." Luo Sigong bowed and accepted the order.
If the Jiannu were destroyed, the various Mongolian tribes in the north would become a source of instability. Spying and gathering intelligence to avoid danger was one of the emperor's goals; taking advantage of the onset of a major disaster to subjugate the Mongol tribes to the greatest extent possible was also one of the emperor's ambitions.
"Li Yangeng must not be treated harshly in prison." The emperor pursed his lips and revealed a hint of sneer. "Lord Luo knows my plan."
"Your Majesty, rest assured." Luo Sigong bowed and replied, "I will raise Li Yangeng to be fat and white, so that I can be used in the future."
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