A staff officer informed Hu Hao that the division commanders were online and waiting for him to lead the conference. Hu Hao nodded and replied, “Tell them to wait a few minutes. I’m still finalizing the officer appointments. I’ll join them shortly to discuss the deployments!”
“Yes, Hao-ge!” the staff officer nodded.
Meanwhile, back in the Imperial Capital, the Emperor and the Crown Prince had just finished their midday meal. The Crown Prince accompanied his father for a stroll through the Imperial Gardens. As the Emperor aged, he had become less sensitive to the heat and more susceptible to the cold. The Crown Prince naturally followed his pace.
The Imperial Gardens were pleasantly cool. Centuries-old trees provided ample shade throughout the sprawling grounds.
“During lunch, your mother and your younger brothers were present, so I didn’t ask you. What is your assessment of Hu Hao?” the Emperor asked as they walked.
“I haven’t interacted much with Hu Hao personally,” the Crown Prince admitted after a moment’s thought. “But I’ve heard many stories about him. Fighting at the academy, assaulting Mu Zhifu’s son over electricity, and now illicitly conscripting troops.
“However, judging by his demeanor today, he seems to be a profoundly honest and straightforward individual—perhaps a bit inflexible and undoubtedly impulsive!”
“Haha. A fairly accurate assessment. But you must admit, he is incredibly clever, is he not?” the Emperor asked, glancing back at his son.
“Mm. He is very clever. He has always managed to escape punishment. He possesses both courage and cunning. Furthermore, I have heard he is fiercely loyal to his friends and brothers-in-arms!” the Crown Prince nodded.
“Remember those words: fiercely loyal,” the Emperor instructed.
“Why? Does it signify something specific?” the Crown Prince asked, confused.
“Of course it does. Think about Li Jingsong. He possesses excellent judgment, as does Jiang Kai. Setting aside all other factors, the mere fact that they both highly recommended Hu Hao and trust him implicitly proves his extraordinary capability, does it not?
“And regarding the list of promotions I requested from Hu Hao today… did you notice something? Li Jingsong is absolutely guaranteed a Lieutenant General slot. That means Li Tianyuan’s clan will suddenly boast two Lieutenant Generals.
“Li Tianyuan himself is actually unsuited for promotion to full General. First, he is too old. Second, he lacks any truly remarkable combat achievements,” the Emperor explained.
“I see. But then why did you propose establishing five Group Armies? When you initially suggested promoting Li Tianyuan, I genuinely believed you intended to give him one!” the Crown Prince asked, still puzzled by his father’s maneuvering.
“Zhili, your father is old. I’ve felt my age catching up to me significantly as of late. My strength often fails me now. There are many things I must tell you, many things I must teach you. I proposed those five Group Armies for two primary reasons.
“First, Hu Hao is a commoner. I need to establish a towering exemplar. I need both the commoners and the clan scions to see it clearly. I need them to realize that if a commoner can reach the rank of full General, then any clan scion who truly knows how to fight can easily do the same.
“Second, I needed to shut the mouths of the Grand Marshal and his cronies. I gave them the illusion of choice, letting them squabble over the remaining commands. In reality, the only person I truly wanted was Hu Hao!” the Emperor revealed as they continued their slow walk.
“Why?” The Crown Prince was stunned. He realized His Majesty had played the entire High Command for fools once again.
“Until the clan scions prioritize the Empire’s interests above their own familial ambitions, I will use whatever means necessary to control them. If they fail to learn this lesson, I would not hesitate to eradicate a few clans entirely to make room for commoner generals.
“Zhili, as the Crown Prince, you must exercise absolute caution. You cannot speak your mind freely to outsiders. The very safety of the Empire depends on it. I know what troubles you. You fear your brothers will usurp your position. But search your heart: besides personally instructing you, what have I ever taught them? Hm? Governing a nation is no simple task.
“An Emperor must be both magnanimous and petty. Magnanimity means remaining calm in the face of crisis. Take this invasion, for example. I know countless citizens are suffering terribly. But if I panic, the people will panic even more, and the military commanders will panic and make reckless decisions.
“Pettiness means distributing rewards precisely when they are earned, but ruthlessly punishing those whose greed overreaches.
“You are the Crown Prince, the future Emperor. Grand Marshal Tang Long is a mediocre. I have already told you he is incapable of assisting you in governing the world. But this Hu Hao… he truly surprised me today. His performance was astonishingly good. He is magnanimous, honest, calculating when necessary, and utterly unfazed by pressure!
“He knows exactly what he should demand and what he shouldn’t. A man like that possesses true talent. Zhili, when you have the time, you must communicate more with this student of yours. You are his Principal. Use him for now. If you ever detect any hint of betrayal, you possess the authority to eliminate him.
“You noted his fierce loyalty. Tell me, if you treat him well, who else would he serve? Your brothers? He isn’t a fool. Why would he risk his life following a lesser Prince when the established Crown Prince offers him favor? As long as you treat him well, he is your man. Do you understand?” the Emperor concluded. Feeling tired, he sat down on a stone bench beneath a massive tree.
The Crown Prince remained standing, but the Emperor patted the space beside him, and the Crown Prince quickly sat down.
“Yes, Imperial Father, thanks for your teachings!” the Crown Prince nodded respectfully.
“The Grand Marshal’s greed has grown too vast. I have already given him so much. Does he truly believe I am blind to his illicit activities? Is there anything within this Empire I do not know? Sometimes, I simply close one eye, as long as the foundation remains stable. But we are at war now. His position must be changed! The moment I find a suitable replacement, I will remove him!” the Emperor stated coldly.
“But if you remove him, what will people say about me? They will undoubtedly claim I have fallen out of favor and my position is unstable. Those with ulterior motives will intentionally spread such rumors!” the Crown Prince voiced his deepest fear.
“Ma Zhenling will be replaced as well,” the Emperor added, turning to look at his son.
“Ah?” The Crown Prince stared at his father in shock.
“You foolish boy. I told you: your greatest support is me. Sigh. Your mind works a bit too slowly sometimes. But you are loyal, and you genuinely care for your people. I know that!
“But we live in chaotic times. I need you to direct that loyalty toward subordinates who are truly useful, not toward incompetent fools like the Grand Marshal!” the Emperor chided gently.
“Yes… I have disappointed you, Imperial Father,” the Crown Prince choked up, tears welling in his eyes. Despite his shortcomings, he knew his father genuinely loved and favored him above all his brothers.
“My greatest hope is to drive the Allied forces out and stabilize the Empire before I pass this throne to you. Sigh. If I were to hand it to you right now, I fear how many would rebel. Tang Long would be the first. Do you understand that?” the Emperor asked, looking deeply into his son’s eyes.
“Him? He would rebel?” The Crown Prince was aghast.
“What do you think? The Tang clan has been entrenched in the Eastern Spirit Empire for centuries. Their power and influence permeate every corner of the nation. Their clan population is arguably as large as the Imperial Family’s. Think about it: if you fail to maintain absolute control, he will be the first to rise against you. I know them too well!” the Emperor warned.
“I understand,” the Crown Prince swallowed hard.
“The only senior general you can truly rely upon right now is Jiang Kai. As long as you do not push him into a corner, he harbors no rebellious ambitions. As for the other Combat Zone Commanders, they are no problem. They lack the capability to threaten the throne,” the Emperor continued his analysis.
“But he commands so many troops. Could he not be tempted?” the Crown Prince asked.
“Why give him so many troops then? Ensure his forces remain within controllable limits,” the Emperor pointed out the obvious solution.
“Ah. Right,” the Crown Prince nodded, realizing his mistake.
“The one I worry about most is Hu Hao. If Hu Hao remains bound to Jiang Kai, and the Grand Marshal rebels after my passing… Jiang Kai, backed by Hu Hao, might just rebel as well.
“Hu Hao is exceptionally capable. You must secure his absolute loyalty. You must. If you have Hu Hao firmly in your grasp, you can unleash him against anyone who dares to rebel. He might just annihilate them all for you. Zhili…
“My time grows short. Perhaps three years, perhaps five. I only hope I can eliminate all these looming threats before I go!” the Emperor sighed heavily, the weight of his failing health apparent.
“Imperial Father, surely the situation isn’t that dire!” the Crown Prince protested immediately.
“Not that dire? Every single Imperial Family across the entire Central Region might be violently overthrown in this war! I am simply too old. If heaven granted me just ten more years of youth, I swear I would expand the borders of the Eastern Spirit Empire threefold!” the Emperor declared, a flash of his former majestic ambition blazing in his eyes.
“But… but the other nations haven’t even been invaded yet,” the Crown Prince pointed out.
“It is only a matter of time. Do you understand? It is only a matter of time!” the Emperor stressed.
“Are you saying… our allied reinforcements might actually retreat to defend their own borders?” The Crown Prince finally connected the dots, a chill running down his spine.
“Why else do you think I insisted on forming five new Group Armies today?” the Emperor asked, looking at his son meaningfully.
“I… I truly failed to see that. I have disappointed you again, Imperial Father,” the Crown Prince confessed, feeling shocked.
He had never truly believed the Empire could fall. He might speak the words, but in his heart, he thought it impossible. The Eastern Spirit Empire was so vast, so wealthy. How could it be destroyed? Even with half their territory occupied, he assumed they could simply regroup and push the enemy back.
“When you return, select a group of the most promising young talents from the Imperial Family. Send them to Hu Hao’s command,” the Emperor ordered suddenly.
“What? Send them to Hu Hao?” The Crown Prince was bewildered.
“Hu Hao possesses extraordinary talent for warfare. But you will need your own loyal commanders in the future. The only ones you can truly trust are the sons of the Imperial Family. Send them to Hu Hao to learn the art of war from him. Then, when the time comes, they will lead your armies to victory!” the Emperor explained his grand design.
(End of Chapter)