After the first court assembly of the new dynasty concluded, Chen Huai'an returned to the Imperial Study to continue handling state affairs.
On his way back to the Imperial Study, Chen Huai'an also reflected on the process of this first court assembly.
Overall, it was a mix of joy and sorrow, touching moments and challenges.
What moved him was that great generals like Chang Yuchun and Chen Qingzhi, who were so righteous, would take the initiative to return their military power to the Ministry of War at the first court meeting of the new dynasty (which was actually equivalent to returning imperial power).
What he found challenging was that although the new dynasty had ended its external conquests, the court was not united and cohesive.
Take the matter of Chang Yuchun and Chen Qingzhi handing over military power, for example. These two dignified deputy marshals of the army took the lead, but not a single other former general who had surrendered from the previous dynasty stood up to express his opinion.
Even if it's just for show and flattery, Chen Huai'an feels good just to stand up and express his opinion!
It's not like they're really going to take away their military power. Maybe if Chen Huai'an is in a good mood, he might even move the slip of paper with their names on it to a new spot on the list of those to be ennobled and appointed as prime ministers.
But there wasn't a single person there.
Of course, Emperor Chen Huai'an could understand the wait-and-see attitude of these former generals who had surrendered from the previous dynasty regarding the transfer of military power.
After all, before the new dynasty's list of rewards was released, these former generals who had surrendered were unwilling to relinquish their military power, even if it meant hoping for a chance to be ennobled.
I feel more at ease when I have this large army under my command!
Originally, Chen Huai'an didn't intend to make a fuss about it.
Because at the first court assembly of the new dynasty, he had no intention of letting these military generals relinquish power, and he had not even considered this before the enthronement ceremony.
The dynasty's most elite 800,000-strong army consisted of private soldiers who were absolutely loyal to the imperial power and the emperor.
Why would Chen Huai'an care about the tiny number of troops held by these surrendered generals from the previous dynasty?
What angered Chen Huai'an was that not only did those military generals not voluntarily relinquish their military power, but they also dared to form a group in the imperial court to persuade him to get married and establish an empress.
This made Chen Huai'an feel that the military generals of the Sixteen Prefectures of Youyun, led by Deputy General Liu Ziyu, were getting too big for their britches.
You weren't there to show loyalty, but you were always the first to fight for your own interests.
Even if it were an emperor, he probably wouldn't be able to stand his generals being so lecherous.
There was another matter that infuriated Chen Huai'an the most!
That is, Guo Xiaoru, the Vice Minister of Rites, actually knew the contents of the letters he exchanged with his mother, Empress Xu Ruoyun!
They even dared to peek at the Emperor and Empress Dowager's letters. This is not just audacious, it's downright treason! They want to get a whole set of "Nine Clans Elimination Game" as a gift from Chen Huai'an!
Therefore, the first thing Chen Huai'an did upon returning to the Imperial Study was to summon Luo Yucheng, the deputy commander of the Longcheng Inner Guard, the intelligence agency of the new dynasty.
Chen Huai'an cut to the chase: "Yu Cheng, go and investigate Guo Xiaoru, the Vice Minister of Rites. He actually managed to find out the contents of the letters between me and the Empress Dowager from the common people."
"I'd like to see what kind of place this 'common grounds' that Guo Xiaoru is talking about is!"
"My lord, I obey the order!"
Luo Yucheng immediately accepted the order.
Chen Huai'an added, "By the way, before my enthronement ceremony, officials and military officers from all over the country will be stationed in the capital. You should also send out all your spies and agents."
"I demand that you keep a complete record of everything these officials and military officers do while in the capital, including their eating, drinking, relieving themselves, and sleeping."
"Keep a close watch on the arrogant and fierce generals led by Liu Ziyu, a military commander from the Sixteen Prefectures of Youyun!"
"Your subject obeys the decree!"
Upon receiving the Emperor's decree, Luo Yucheng immediately left the palace and released all three thousand Dragon City Guards who had been lying in wait in the capital, dispersing them to various places to collect intelligence for the Emperor.
To be honest, Luo Yucheng was only a deputy commander of the third rank.
In reality, even the highest-ranking officials in the imperial court might not have as much power as Luo Yucheng.
Because, since its inception, the Dragon City Inner Guard has never had a chief commander. The chief commander was actually the former Prince Jin, now the new emperor Chen Huai'an.
Therefore, Luo Yucheng, a mere third-rank deputy commander, was one of the few court officials who could directly reach the emperor's ears.
With Emperor Chen Huai'an backing him up, Luo Yucheng's Longcheng Inner Guards were able to operate with great success in the capital.
Soon, the three thousand Dragon City guards were distributed to every corner of the capital.
They actually obtained some crucial intelligence.
One of these stories is about former generals and officials who surrendered from the previous dynasty deciding to form a defensive alliance after the first court assembly of the new dynasty.
It was an official post station in the capital city, an inn where civil and military officials from the Sixteen Prefectures of Youyun stayed.
The civil and military officials who had just attended the first court assembly of the new dynasty were summoned by Liu Ziyu, the chief military officer of the Sixteen Prefectures of Youyun, to drink after returning to their inn.
During the banquet, after several rounds of drinks and dishes, the conversation inevitably turned to the day's court assembly.
Xiong Kai, the garrison commander of Youzhou, said with a flushed face and fueled by alcohol, "Vice General, do you think that today, the Emperor, along with Vice Commanders Chang Yuchun and Chen Qingzhi, put on a show for us military generals who hold military power, to relinquish our command?"
"Chang and Chen were the emperor's most trusted confidants who followed him from the very beginning in conquering the country. Whether the military power was in their hands or in the emperor's hands, there was no difference!"
"What's the point of handing over military power if we don't!"
"Yes, Vice General, I think so too!"
Xiong Kai's words were immediately echoed by the other military officers: "In my humble opinion, this is just a show put on in the imperial court for us former generals who surrendered from the previous dynasty."
"Since the deputy marshals of the left and right armies have voluntarily handed over their military power to the emperor, shouldn't we also show our respect and hand over our military power as well?"
"That's right!"
Others chimed in, saying, "Whether Chang Yuchun and Chen Qingzhi relinquish their military power or not will not affect their receiving imperial titles at the founding ceremony."
"Just based on their status as deputy marshals of the army, they are easily at least dukes!"
"But what about us? Whether it's the princes, the deputy generals, or the military and civil officials of the entire Sixteen Prefectures of Youyun, the Emperor hasn't bestowed any titles or honors upon us!"
"Under these circumstances, do you think we can voluntarily hand over military power?"
Someone else said, "Gentlemen, the Emperor's prejudice against the civil and military officials of our Sixteen Prefectures of Youyun is not limited to the list of those being granted titles and positions in the new dynasty."
"In the matter of establishing a new empress, the emperor is clearly siding with that wretched bitch from the Uyghur Khanate in the Western Regions, and he doesn't respect our Princess Shujun at all!"
"This is intolerable!"
"......"
Gradually, under the influence of alcohol, these proud and fierce soldiers from the Sixteen Prefectures of Youyun began to speak without restraint, venting all their grievances and complaints against the new emperor, Chen Huai'an.
Completely unaware that their conversation in the top-tier room was overheard and memorized by the inn's waiter.
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