Ye Feng could not explain the doubts of Ma Teng and others, nor did he need to.
They just needed to see the results!
One year!
Just one year!
Once he stabilized the existing prefectures and counties, cultivated enough fertile land, and then trained them according to modern educational models…
Damn it?
A year seems a bit short, doesn't it?
Thinking of a certain gentleman's famous saying, Ye Feng also got a headache.
Ten years to cultivate a tree, a hundred years to cultivate a person.
Cultivating a qualified official seems unrealistic without a few years of effort, doesn't it?
Forget it!
He'd take it one step at a time!
His most important task now was to bring peace to this chaotic Han dynasty.
Therefore,
After sending Ma Teng and the others to take over the troops, Ye Feng began to consider his next arrangements.
How should he 'friendly and tactfully' persuade the Yellow Turban rebels to stop?
Threaten them directly?
That wouldn't work!
It would make Ye Feng seem disrespectful to them.
Besides,
If he went directly to them, they wouldn't see his 'sincerity' and might not agree easily.
So…
"Guards!"
Ye Feng waved to the newly appointed personal guard outside and smiled as he ordered,
"Send someone to command the First Army in Ji Prefecture to threaten the Yellow Turban rebels from the rear, but avoid direct conflict."
"Yes!"
The guard who received the order cupped his hands and hurried off to make the arrangements.
Seeing this, Chen Gong, who was waiting for orders, couldn't help but interject,
"My Lord, if Emperor Ling learns of this and takes the opportunity to have the Third Army attack, the Yellow Turbans might not be able to withstand it!"
"He won't!"
Thinking of Emperor Ling's historical evaluation, Ye Feng smiled and shook his head.
"As long as he's a smart man, he'll know that this Provincial Governor isn't really sending 'warmth'!"
"But what if…"
"There's no 'what if'!"
Ye Feng waved his hand to cut off Chen Gong's words, a cold smile appearing on his lips as he said,
"If he dares to do so, then this Provincial Governor wouldn't mind making him abdicate early!"
"After all…"
"What this Provincial Governor needs is just the nominal authority of the court, not Liu Hong himself!"
"That's good then~!"
Hearing Ye Feng say this, Chen Gong visibly relaxed, a smile appearing on his face,
"It seems I was overthinking!"
"Heh heh…"
Although Chen Gong didn't explicitly state his worries, Ye Feng understood his meaning.
He was afraid that Ye Feng, influenced by certain factors, still harbored the idea of supporting the Han dynasty.
But was that possible?
No!
Although Ye Feng was a Han person, his loyalty was to the nation, not to this court called the Han Dynasty.
Even if he possessed the might of Emperor Wu of Han, even if he truly fought for the dignity of the nation.
From Ye Feng's perspective as someone from later generations, the Han court had too many flaws.
The aristocratic families, the official system, the land… all aspects!
Rather than painstakingly trying to prop it up, it would be simpler to overthrow it and rebuild.
That would be easier!
Of course!
He couldn't say this directly to Chen Gong, otherwise, he'd likely be treated as an idiot.
No one would believe he could see into the future!
So,
Ye Feng not only dismissed Chen Gong's worries but also waved his hand at him.
"Gongtai, if you were to stay in Chang'an, could you control the situation?"
"What?!"
Upon hearing this, Chen Gong's eyes widened, and his face showed disbelief.
Let him stay in Chang'an?
What kind of joke was this?
Didn't they agree that he would be his follower?
Why was he being abandoned again?
Although, although staying in Chang'an was indeed very tempting, wouldn't it be a bit inappropriate?
"Don't worry!"
Seeing Chen Gong's stunned expression, Ye Feng assumed he was unwilling and quickly reassured him,
"I won't keep you here for too long, just temporarily helping the court to transition!"
"As you know!"
"Those three brothers rose to power through rebellion, so it's a bit of a stretch to have them assist Emperor Ling."
"And I'm not entirely at ease with the aristocratic families in Chang'an."
"But don't worry!"
"This Provincial Governor will leave you enough personal guards, and I'll have Emperor Ling appoint you as Grand Commandant or something, to oversee our Third Army!"
"Hiss…"
"Grand Commandant? The Grand Commandant?!"
If Chen Gong had only been tempted earlier, his heart was now racing.
There was no way!
Although they often talked about overthrowing the Han, the official positions in the Han dynasty were actually quite prestigious.
Didn't the Yuan family cling to their title of "Four Generations, Three Dukes" without letting it go?
That represented glory!
If he could hold the position of Grand Commandant in the new court, wouldn't his Chen family also become influential?
Even if it was just the Grand Commandant of a new court with no real authority.
But it was still the Grand Commandant!
Among all the scholars in the Han dynasty, who could have such an honor?
With this thought,
Before Ye Feng could reveal the remaining conditions, Chen Gong said excitedly,
"My Lord, your subordinate, your subordinate is willing to share your worries!"
"Uh???"
Seeing Chen Gong's excited expression, Ye Feng silently swallowed the rest of his words.
He had intended to say that if the Grand Commandant position was too lowly, he could also arrange for a Prime Minister or something. He hadn't expected this fellow to be so easily tempted.
However,
The Han dynasty, which had not yet fully entered the era of warlords, seemed to have quite attractive official positions?
Should he wholesale some back?
If nothing else,
He would have to assign those "General This" and "General That" titles to his subordinates, wouldn't he?
Besides,
Although Emperor Ling had promised him a king of a different surname, he hadn't said he couldn't ask for anything else, had he?
Why didn't he take the position of Prime Minister of the Han dynasty himself?
Would that be too arrogant?
Who cares!
Since that fellow Cao could occupy that position, why couldn't Ye Feng?
Yes!
It was decided happily!
…
At this moment, Emperor Ling, Liu Hong, who had just entered the territory of Chang'an, was unaware that his court had already been largely reserved by Ye Feng.
He was still feeling regretful!
Regretful about what?
Of course, he regretted not waiting longer!
If he could have waited for Lu Zhi to lead the reinforcements, he might have escaped Ye Feng's clutches.
Unfortunately,
He had been fooled by Yu Huatian and missed such a good opportunity.
After all,
Those reinforcements who had come from afar wouldn't know the intentions of the rebels in Luoyang.
With Lu Zhi's support, and a few veteran generals, he might have been able to control the reinforcements.
But it was too late to say anything now!
Since he had already arrived in the territory arranged by Ye Feng, he likely wouldn't have a chance to go back.
"Alas~!"
Looking up at the faintly visible city of Chang'an in the distance, Emperor Ling, Liu Hong, sighed deeply.
He began to worry about his future!
Why had he been so impulsive after being tricked by that damned eunuch?
"Your Majesty~!"
Perhaps sensing the Emperor's inner resentment, Yu Huatian, who was at the front, turned his horse and approached.
"Look over there!"
"What?"
The Emperor was stunned for a moment and instinctively followed Yu Huatian's pointing finger.
Then…
"Hiss~!"
The Emperor's eyes instantly widened like bells, and he couldn't help but gasp.
"This, this… Where, where did it come from? Where did so many troops come from?!"
"Heh heh…"
Yu Huatian, who had already received the scout's report, said with a faint smile,
"Your Majesty, these are the troops my lord has prepared for you. How do they compare to the reinforcements?"
"This…"
Meeting Yu Huatian's calm gaze, the Emperor fell unusually silent.
Although he couldn't be called an emperor who fought on horseback, he had always liked to control military power and had some understanding of the basic qualities of troops.
How did they compare to the reinforcements?
Without even needing to specifically understand the strength of these troops, just looking at their formation was enough.
What other army in the entire Han dynasty could stand as rigidly as this?
Except for the troops under Ye Feng, there was no other army in the entire Han dynasty that could be found.
What were they like?
It wasn't that they were slouching, but if their formation could hold still for a minute, they would already be considered elite.
And now?
The vast army in the Emperor's sight, except for the clothes stirred by the wind, could almost be said to be motionless.
Such a formation, such discipline, how could it not chill the Emperor's heart?
Especially,
Although these troops were said to be for him, the Emperor was not a naive fool.
How was that possible?
Even if Ye Feng, the rebel, had gone mad for the throne, the forces behind him would not agree.
Or,
Even if those forces agreed for some reason, could these troops truly obey his command?
Not necessarily!
In any case,
Emperor Ling, Liu Hong, did not believe from the bottom of his heart that Ye Feng and his faction would truly give him command of the troops.
"Your Majesty~!"
Although he could see the helplessness in the Emperor's eyes, Yu Huatian said nothing, but instead reminded him,
"The commanders of these troops have come to greet you. Shall we go and see?"
"Then let's go!"
Hearing that there were indeed army commanders, the Emperor's expression became even more listless, but he did not refuse Yu Huatian's suggestion.
He didn't dare!
Before seeing so many troops, the Emperor still fantasized that he could escape Ye Feng's control and rise again in this city of Chang'an.
Now?
He'd just give up!
Emperor Ling, Liu Hong, now had a defeated attitude, as if to say, "Do whatever you want."
But one thing!
Since he was cooperating this much, they couldn't try to rob him of his wealth and life, could they?
It was just a pity,
Yu Huatian and the others were completely unaware of these thoughts in Emperor Ling's mind.
Otherwise, they would have slapped him.
What were you thinking?
Did my brothers and I risk our lives to get you out, even sacrificing more than a dozen brothers, just to kill you for fun?
Isn't that ridiculous?
At the very least,
Before Ye Feng's demand for Emperor Ling decreased, his life was temporarily out of danger.
Provided he didn't court death himself!
However,
Seeing Emperor Ling's cooperative demeanor now, it was unlikely he would court death.
With this thought,
Yu Huatian's mood improved considerably, and he waved to the three brothers who were approaching.
"May I know which one is the commander of the Third Army? Your subordinate, Yu Huatian of the Imperial Guards, greets you, sir!"