Thief Emperor

Chapter 885 Laying the foundation of the country
Hearing this, Zhao Cheng lowered his head and did not look up. He was silent for a long time, neither replying nor responding.

After an unknown amount of time, Zhao Cheng knelt on the ground again and bowed his head and said, "My lord, I admit my mistakes and I ask for your punishment."

"Even if you punish me to be a captain or a colonel, I will never complain."

Li Yun frowned and his voice became lowered.

"Get up and talk."

His voice was not loud, but powerful enough. Zhao Cheng stood up almost without hesitation, lowered his head and stood in front of Li Yun.

"Sit down and talk."

"Yes."

Zhao Cheng took a deep breath, found a stool and sat down.

Li Yun looked at him and said slowly: "No matter how you calculate it, you have made great contributions in taking over the southwest. If I punish you at this time, what will the brothers in the army think? What will the generals under your command think?"

"I've already said that the matter in the southwest is over."

Li Yun reached out and knocked on the table, and said, "I, Li Er, speak like a pit. If I say I won't pursue it, then I won't pursue it."

"later…"

Li Yun looked at him and said slowly: "Since the establishment of the six ministries, no one has been in charge of the Ministry of War. When I was in Jiangdong, I took on the duties of the Ministry of War myself. Now the new dynasty is about to be established."

"I can no longer handle the affairs of the Ministry of War. With your merits, you can serve as the Minister of War for me for one or two terms."

"This position is not low, and it is not unfair to you."

Zhao Cheng heard this and suddenly looked up at Li Yun, then lowered his head again and said in a trembling voice: "Sir, the Ministry of War... Isn't the Ministry of War a civil servant?"

"The distinction between civil and military officials in the new dynasty is not so clear-cut, and the positions in the Ministry of War are not particularly clear-cut to begin with."

In the early years of Wu Zhou, many founding heroes who were military generals took up posts in the Ministry of War, and some even took up posts in other ministries. The distinction between civil and military officials was not very clear until the middle and late period of Wu Zhou, when it gradually became clear.

As for Li Yun's new dynasty, he naturally defined the civil and military affairs, as well as the official positions, himself.

Although the imperial examination system has been finalized, how to appoint officials to some government agencies in the court, Li Yun...

Do whatever you want.

Zhao Cheng took a deep breath.

When he heard the words about staying in Luoyang, he thought that he would be thrown into the Privy Council and become a deputy privy envoy, or be temporarily unemployed for a period of time. In short, he would lose the qualification to lead troops outside.

You have to know that the Xin Dynasty was still in its start-up stage at that time, and all aspects were on the rise. Leading troops outside at this time would almost certainly lead to military merit.

Zhao Cheng, of course, didn't want to stay in Luoyang.

But now, Li Yun said that he would let him lead the military department...

The position of the Minister of Six Ministries may be the peak of career for others, but for Zhao Cheng...

The position of Minister of War was the starting point of his official career and most likely also the end point.

Of the six ministers of state, he could only be the minister of the Ministry of War, and if he moved up further…

It's impossible to let a military general like him become prime minister.

Li Yun looked at his expression and asked, "General Zhao is dissatisfied?"

"Don't dare, don't dare."

Zhao Cheng lowered his head and said, "I am worried that I can't do such an important job well."

"It doesn't matter."

Li Yun smiled and said, "Just read and learn more. The two assistant ministers of the Ministry of War will soon come up with candidates. With someone to help, it won't be difficult to be an official."

Zhao Cheng then bowed his head and said yes, then stood up and saluted Li Yun with his fists clasped, his voice almost choking with sobs: "My lord, since I followed you, I have never had any other thoughts. I am willing to take responsibility for all the things happening in the southwest this time."

"I just hope that the superior will not hold a grudge against me because of this."

"Not really."

Li Yun waved his hand and said, "Be a real man, don't be so nagging. I've already said it, it's all in the past."

"Yes."

Zhao Cheng bowed his head and saluted, saying, "Then I will not disturb you from handling government affairs. I will take my leave."

He clasped his fists and left. Li Yun thought for a moment, then stood up and sighed, "I'll see you off."

Zhao Cheng lowered his head quickly.

"Don't dare, don't dare."

Li Yunren had already walked to the door of the study room and escorted him all the way to the gate of the mansion. Then he reached out and patted Zhao Cheng on the shoulder and said in a deep voice: "Since the establishment of the Jiangdong Army, General Zhao has made great contributions. I have kept all of this in mind and will never forget it. General Zhao does not need to think too much."

"The task I assigned to you was originally intended for Zhou Liang. I haven't treated you unfairly."

Zhao Cheng bowed his head, tears in his eyes: "Minister, thank you, Your Majesty..."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

He slowly backed away, then walked away before silently getting on his carriage. The carriage started slowly and disappeared from Li Yun's sight.

Li Yun, with his hands behind his back, watched Zhao Cheng leave.

He had thought about how to deal with Zhao Cheng for a long time, and what he said to Zhao Cheng was the truth. Southwest China was a credit, there is no doubt about that, otherwise even if Zhao Cheng himself had no objection, his generals and soldiers would have.

Since it was a meritorious service, he should be rewarded, so he wanted to arrange for Zhao Cheng to be one of the nine ministers of the new dynasty.

However, the senior leaders of the Jiangdong Army, such as Su Sheng and others, could see that the battle in the southwest was full of mistakes and omissions.

If Li Yun does not deal with it, these senior generals will not learn from it.

That's why Li Yun transferred Zhao Cheng away from the front line.

Among these, at least half of them were considered from a business perspective, if it was based on Li Yun's personal perspective.

Most likely, he would just leave Zhao Cheng idle for at least five years.

Because he himself was quite dissatisfied with the outcome of the war in the southwest.

However, now that he is in this position, he can no longer fully apply his personal likes and dislikes to official business.

Mr. Li stood there for a long time before he returned to his house with his hands behind his back. Before he reached the study, he saw Prince Xue holding a bowl of soup and walking to the study.

Li Yun stepped forward and said with a smile: "Madam is not asleep yet."

Queen Xue looked at Li Yun and sighed, "When can my husband sleep today?"

"It's almost there. It will probably be almost there in about an hour."

Li Yun took Queen Xue into the study, and then pulled her to sit in the main seat. He held her shoulders with both hands and said with a smile, "I have good news to tell Madam."

At this time, Li Yun no longer had the official attitude he had just now. There was a hint of playfulness in his tone, just like an ordinary husband showing off to his wife.

Queen Xue looked up at Li Yun and chuckled, "What are you so happy about?"

"Almost an hour ago, the Emperor of Wu Zhou was taken into Luoyang City."

Li Yun said softly: "The emperor of the old Zhou Dynasty has become a prisoner of our family."

Hearing this, Xue Yun'er couldn't help but change her expression. She reached out and held Li Yun's hand, a little out of control: "Husband, is it true?"

"Then there is still a holiday?"

Li Yun stroked her hair and said with a smile: "When I accept the captives at the court meeting, I will have someone bring the Emperor of Wu Zhou to our house so that Madam can have a good look at him."

Xue Yun'er gently put her arm around Li Yun and said with emotion: "My husband... is really amazing."

"I never dared to think about these things before."

"In the future, Madam, you need to think more about this."

Li Yun said with a smile: "In one month, Madam will become the queen and rule the country."

Queen Xue was lost in thought after hearing this. After a long while, she said softly, "I..."

"Just do your best."

...............

The next day, Li Yun personally led a group of officials in Luoyang City out of the city to welcome General Zhao Cheng who returned triumphantly.

The scale is grand.

Not only did the King of Wu's ceremonial guard come out, but almost 80% of the officials in the city were present, led by Li Yun, to welcome the triumphant royal army.

It was not until almost noon that the group was able to meet with generals such as Zhao Cheng. After Zhao Cheng and others saw Li Yun's carriage from afar, they strode forward, knelt in unison before Li Yun's carriage, and kowtowed in salute.

"Your Majesty, I bow to you!"

Li Yun got off the carriage, stepped forward to help Zhao Cheng up, and said with a smile: "General Zhao, please stand up quickly."

After helping Zhao Cheng to stand up, Li Yun cleared his throat and spoke loudly.

"General Zhao has made great achievements in this expedition to the southwest. This is a great contribution, and I am very pleased."

"The court will always remember this contribution."

Zhao Cheng lowered his head and said: "It was all the superiors who planned and planned. I dare not take credit for it..."

Li Yun pulled Zhao Cheng's sleeve and got on his carriage together. Then he stood on the carriage, looked at the people nearby, and said in a deep voice: "General Zhao, you should present the captives in the Taiji Palace in the imperial city in five days."

"When the time comes, I will convene the only grand court meeting before the establishment of the new dynasty."

"Lay the foundation of the country!"

As soon as these words were spoken, Du Qian knelt down first and kowtowed to Li Yun.

"Long live the king..."

His kneeling and shouting startled Yao Zhong who was standing beside him.

Because this matter had not been mentioned in advance, but Yao Zhong reacted quickly. He almost knelt down immediately and kowtowed to Li Yun's carriage.

For a moment, the officials near Li Yun knelt in a circle, kowtowed to Li Yun, and shouted "Long live Li Yun".

Mr. Li looked around, then pulled the uneasy Zhao Cheng to sit down and said in a deep voice.

"Back to the city."

(End of this chapter)