mesbooks Chapter 1958: They could only grit their teeth and keep going.
Chapter 1958: They could only grit their teeth and keep going.
Ran Ming nodded in satisfaction, sat back down, picked up his wine glass and drank it all in one gulp. He wiped his mouth, and his tone became more triumphant:
"It's good that you understand! His Majesty is currently leading a large army, traveling day and night to the eastern front!"
"As long as we defeat the Tang Dynasty and destroy that old man Li Jing, the whole world will belong to our Great Chu! Unifying the Central Plains will be just around the corner!"
He looked intently at Li Bi: "When that time comes, His Majesty will surely reward those who have made contributions!"
"Lord Li, you are now the governor of the Han region, implementing new policies. If you can govern this region well during this period and make it a stable rear base for His Majesty, that would be a tremendous achievement!"
"Who knows, he might be granted a title and become a high-ranking official in the future!"
These words are encouragement, a promise, and an invisible spur.
Li Bi's heart stirred; he knew this was a crucial moment to make his stance clear.
He immediately straightened his back, his face showing utmost solemnity and determination, and his voice was clear and powerful:
"Please rest assured, General Ran, and please convey this message to His Majesty!"
"Your subject Li Bi will certainly devote himself wholeheartedly to fulfilling Your Majesty's expectations! He will do his utmost to implement the equal-field system, appease the displaced people, rectify official corruption, ensure sufficient funds and grain in the Han lands, and win the hearts of the people, so that Your Majesty will never have any worries about the east!"
"We will surely govern this place and make it the most solid foundation of our Great Chu!"
His statement was firm and resolute, full of determination.
That was exactly what Ran Ming wanted to hear. He laughed and patted Li Bi on the shoulder again:
"Good! With Lord Li's words, I am relieved! I will report the truth to His Majesty!"
Having eaten and drunk their fill and said everything that needed to be said, Ran Ming did not linger any longer and rose to take his leave.
He also needed to reorganize his troops and prepare for the next move.
Li Bi personally escorted Ran Ming out of the mansion, watching his imposing figure disappear into the distance, surrounded by his personal guards.
Only after he disappeared around the street corner did he slowly withdraw his gaze and let out a long, silent sigh.
The back of his official robe was already soaked with cold sweat.
The seemingly relaxed banquet just now was fraught with danger and probing, no less so than the sword fight on the city wall last night.
Ran Ming's seemingly joking words were like a sword hanging over his head, constantly reminding him of the delicate and perilous situation he was in.
He turned around and looked at the magnificent yet perilous mansion, his eyes becoming complex yet resolute.
The path has already been chosen, so all we can do is grit our teeth and keep going, step by step.
His only way out is to govern the Han territory well and prove his worth to His Majesty.
He looked up to the east, where the final fate of him and this land would be decided.
After seeing off the menacing Ran Ming, Li Bi sat alone in his study for a long time.
The candlelight burned brightly, yet it could not dispel the chill in his heart.
Ran Ming's seemingly joking rebuke rang in his mind like a warning bell.
He clearly recognized that his current position, though seemingly secure, was actually precarious.
Emperor Chu Ning's trust was by no means unconditional. Just as Ran Ming's cavalry could eliminate Liu Sheng and Liu He like divine soldiers descending from the heavens, they could also crush Li Bi into dust in an instant.
He could no longer afford to slack off; he had to seize every opportunity to prove his ability and loyalty to His Majesty.
The most urgent task at present is to completely eliminate the hidden dangers in Chang'an City and even the entire Han region.
This place must truly become a secure rear area for the Great Chu, and we must never give any remnants of the previous dynasty a chance to rise again.
"Someone come here!" Li Bi called out in a deep voice.
The steward, Li Fu, entered in response and stood at attention, ready to receive orders.
"Immediately take my visiting card and invite Lords Wang Yu, Zhang Tao, and Zhao Ming to the mansion for a meeting! Be quick!"
Li Bi's tone was filled with an undeniable urgency.
"Yes, sir!" Li Fu dared not delay and immediately turned to carry out the order.
Within half an hour, Wang Yu, Zhang Tao, and Zhao Ming arrived at Li Bi's study one after another.
Their faces bore the weariness of a sleepless night and lingering fear, clearly knowing that although the rebellion had been suppressed, the troubles to come were only just beginning.
The atmosphere in the study was solemn.
Li Bi didn't waste any pleasantries and went straight to the point:
"Gentlemen, last night's events were fraught with danger. If it weren't for General Ran's timely return, we would probably be with our families to the afterlife by now!"
His voice was low and tinged with lingering fear.
Upon hearing this, Wang Yu, Zhang Tao, and Zhao Ming's expressions turned even more grim, and they all nodded in agreement, feeling a sense of shared sorrow.
Like Li Bi, they all bore the marks of "surrender" and assisting the Chu army in suppressing rebellions, and were long regarded as thorns in the side by the former dynasty's forces.
"Although the rebels have been executed, Liu Sheng and Liu He have also been beheaded,"
Li Bi abruptly changed the subject, his eyes sharpening:
"But who can guarantee that within Chang'an City, and throughout the Han lands, there aren't remnants hidden even deeper? Who can guarantee that there aren't those who still harbor rebellious intentions and wait for their opportunity?"
His gaze swept over the three men: "His Majesty's entrustment of the Han lands to us is a sign of his trust in us, but also a test!"
"If anything goes wrong here, we might really lose our heads!"
Zhang Tao, with his extremely impatient nature, slammed his hand on the table upon hearing this and said angrily:
"What Lord Li says is absolutely right! These remnants of the previous dynasty are like maggots clinging to our bones. We cannot rest easy until they are completely eradicated! We must uproot them completely, leaving not a single one alive!"
Zhao Ming added sinisterly, "That's right! It's a life-or-death situation now!"
"To be merciful to them is to be cruel to ourselves! Only by eliminating them completely can we rest easy!"
Wang Yu remained relatively calm, but his attitude was equally resolute: "Lord Li, the most urgent task is to restore order to Chang'an City as soon as possible and stabilize public sentiment."
"At the same time, we must mobilize all our resources to thoroughly investigate the hidden remnants and never give them any chance to catch their breath or cause trouble again!"
Seeing that the three shared his thoughts, Li Bi felt somewhat relieved. He nodded and began to make arrangements:
"Lord Wang,"
He looked at Wang Yu and said, “You are meticulous and familiar with government affairs. I will entrust you with full responsibility for calming the people, restoring order in the city, and ensuring the normal operation of various government offices.”
"In particular, we must eliminate the impact of last night's fighting as soon as possible, reopen the markets, and restore people's livelihoods."
"Rest assured, Lord Li, I, Wang, will do my utmost!" Wang Yu bowed and accepted the order.
"Lord Zhang,"
Li Bi then looked at Zhang Tao, "You now have newly recruited soldiers and some Chu troops under your command. You are in charge of the defense and patrols of Chang'an City and its gates, as well as the guarding of key areas within the city."
"We must be vigilant and strengthen checks; we must not allow petty criminals any further opportunity to take advantage!"
"At the same time, the training of new recruits must not be relaxed; they must be developed into combat-ready forces as soon as possible!"
"The last general takes command!"
Zhang Tao clasped his hands in a fist salute and said in a booming voice, "We will make sure not even a suspicious fly can get in!"
Finally, Li Bi looked at Zhao Ming, a cold glint flashing in his eyes:
"Lord Zhao, you are in charge of finances and criminal matters. There is something I need you to do immediately."
"Please give your orders, Lord Li!"