0p0 Chapter 257 Li Zhen's Dream
Chapter 257 Li Zhen's Dream
Mr. Bad Guy's sudden and heavy blow was like a bolt from the blue. He announced the removal of Li Zhen from his important position as commander of the Li family army and instead handed over this heavy responsibility to Yue Peng.
These words caused an uproar in the hall. As if drawn by an invisible force, everyone stood up, their eyes fixed on Yue Peng, their words filled with doubt and indignation. Accusations rose and fell, as if Yue Peng had become the disloyal and unjust person who intended to shake the master's position.
Yue Peng was momentarily lost in a fog, utterly confused and speechless. He stamped his feet in frustration, his eyes filled with helplessness and anxiety. Instinctively, he cast a pleading glance at Li Zhen, hoping to find some understanding and support from his former superior so that he could find a foothold in this sudden storm.
Li Zhen smiled and said gently, "Alright, alright, everyone, please stop teasing Yue Peng. This matter is a decision made after careful consideration by Mr. Bu Liang and me. Yue Peng will take up the position of the new commander of the Li Family Army, directly under my command. This does not mean that all the authority and responsibility of the Li Family Army will be entrusted to him."
The officer then slowly explained the deployment: "The valiant young men of the Li family army have been carefully organized into three elite units. First and foremost is the First Division, personally led by the renowned General Wang Changdao, stationed in the ancient city of Handan, an impregnable fortress, determined to resist the incursions of the Jin dynasty. Next, the Second Division, led by the incredibly strong Commander Qian Dazhuang, is firmly rooted in Puyang, its position as solid as a rock, guarding the peace of the region. As for the Third Division, it is commanded by the wise and courageous Commander Yue Ying, who, like an eagle circling over Hebi City, has piercing eyes, protecting every inch of land from invasion..."
As the appointments and removals of military officers at all levels and the meticulous military deployments were revealed one by one, the meeting gradually reached its climax, ushering in the most exciting part—the details and blueprint of the disarmament reform were slowly laid out.
Li Zhen, this unyielding general, first proposed the bold idea of reducing troop numbers. He suggested holding an unprecedented grand competition in the vast territory of the Li Family Army. Whether you are a sharpshooter in the hail of bullets or a fierce general on the battlefield, as long as you have real skills and can stand out in the competition, you can continue to stand under the glorious banner of the Li Family Army.
As for the veterans and the weak who, due to the ravages of time or illness, could no longer shoulder the heavy burden of frontline combat, Li Zhen also had a proper plan. He resolved to gently remove them from the front lines of the war-torn battlefield and instead entrust them to the hands of the authorities to form a new security force to protect local peace. This force would become the guardians of the people in peacetime, dedicated to maintaining order, ensuring local safety, and letting the sunshine of peace warm every corner.
This meticulous planning not only demonstrated Li Zhen's firm determination to improve the army's combat effectiveness, but also revealed his deep care and responsibility for every soldier, making the entire reform plan both resolute and compassionate, logically rigorous and full of humanistic brilliance.
The meeting was long and fruitful, lasting a full day until the moonlight shone like silk and the night gently blanketed the sky, before it finally came to a slow close. Li Zhen then instructed his servants to bring out the carefully prepared dishes one by one. Taking advantage of this rare opportunity for everyone to gather together, a surge of pride welled up in his heart, and he resolved to drink heartily with everyone and enjoy a joyous feast.
Li Zhen raised his wine glass and said loudly to the people sitting around him, "Let's drink and be merry today! Everyone must drink to their heart's content. I, Li Zhen, swear to drink with you all until the night is deep, and we will not leave until we are all drunk." After he finished speaking, everyone at the table except Yue Peng smiled and raised their glasses to toast each other, enjoying the delicacies on the table. The atmosphere was extremely lively.
With a worried look on his face, Yue Peng slowly walked to Li Zhen's side, his voice filled with helplessness and pleading: "Chief... no, I should say my lord. Could you please rescind your order and not let Yue Peng take on this military commander position? I would rather stay by my lord's side, even if I'm just a guard captain, I'll be content."
Li Zhen gently patted Yue Peng's broad shoulder, his eyes filled with deep trust and earnestness, and said, "I have entrusted you with the important responsibility of army commander this time. Firstly, I know that you are exceptionally capable and can lead the Li family army to advance bravely and be invincible. Secondly, you are a senior and experienced person by my side, and one of my most trusted confidants. I am completely at ease entrusting such a crucial position to you."
At this moment, a rogue chimed in, speaking earnestly to Yue Peng: "Yue Peng, you mustn't let our lord down. His decision to step back from the burdensome daily management of the Li family army is precisely to allow our territory to flourish. We are no longer the Anyang Prefecture we once were; with four prefectures under our command, the daily influx of affairs, large and small, all require our lord's personal judgment. As a veteran by his side, how can you not share his burdens, even if only in the smallest way?"
Just as Yue Peng was about to say something, the other generals surrounded Li Zhen, offering him toasts. They rarely had the opportunity to drink with Li Zhen like this, and now that their lord had spoken, how could they let such a good opportunity pass them by?
As night fell, Li Zhen had forgotten how much he had drunk. He only felt his consciousness gradually blurring, as if he were being gently lifted by an invisible force, passing through the hustle and bustle, and finally falling back into the tranquility of the room. Having traveled to this period of time in the Song Dynasty, he experienced such complete intoxication for the first time. It felt like a different world, and everything became hazy and distant.
That night, Li Zhen drifted into a long and fantastical dream. In the dream, time seemed to traverse a thousand-year gap, leading him to the prosperous Song Dynasty. Before him unfolded a series of captivating scenes: every household had full granaries overflowing with grain, showcasing the era's abundance and peace; the people wore new seasonal clothes, the fabrics delicate and colorful, reflecting the happiness and contentment on their faces. Inside the school, the clear voices of children reciting their lessons filled the air—the sounds of knowledge and hope, echoing melodiously.
However, just as this tranquility and harmony reached its peak, an ominous cloud quietly descended. Li Zhen watched in astonishment as a troop of Mongol cavalry, their faces grotesquely masked, swept in like a black storm. The deafening sound of their hooves and the gleaming of their Mongol scimitars in the sunlight pointed directly at the innocent civilians. Those souls who had once lived in peace and prosperity were now fish on a chopping block, helplessness and fear filling the air.
Li Zhen was frantic, wanting to step forward and protect this dreamland, but he found himself bound by invisible shackles, his limbs weak and unable to move. He tried his best to shout, to awaken the heroes sleeping in the dust of history, to let the light of justice and peace shine on this land once more, but his throat felt as if it were being choked by an invisible hand, and he could only let out weak, almost silent breaths.