Chapter 1 The Appointment

There was considerable discussion in the imperial court regarding the selection of the next Yunzhou Pacification Commissioner. Yunzhou was, after all, quite unique. Although after the Yunzhou campaign, only the Northern Liao still had some fighting strength, the Northern tribes probably wouldn’t recover their strength for several years, and as for the Western Ling, although their military losses were not irreparable, a series of upheavals in the north of Western Ling meant that they needed even more time to heal their wounds. However, these vanished threats would reappear with the passage of time. If this time could not be fully utilized to truly turn the tens of thousands of troops in Yunzhou after reorganization into an elite force, then if war were to break out again in a few years, the situation would be unpredictable. No one could bear that responsibility.

But the problem in Yunzhou, as the old general deeply realized, was indeed the transformation from a quasi-military system, where almost everyone could be a soldier, under years of military pressure, to a regular national political system. It was a problem of needing someone who could integrate the existing advantages of Dongping into the current situation in Yunzhou, allowing Yunzhou to quickly complete its transformation and develop. It was a problem of needing someone who could fully unleash the potential of Yunzhou...

As Yunzhou was incorporated into Dongping, the horse farms in Yunzhou that produced excellent warhorses would still be the mainstay of Yunzhou's economy for some time, but in order to cater to the needs of Dongping, horse prices would inevitably decline significantly. This decline had actually been evident before, but at this moment it became an increasingly troubling issue. In this situation, it was necessary to open up other sources of revenue besides animal husbandry, not only to make up for the decline in military horse trade revenue, but also to support Yunzhou's military reorganization plan. This was not something that just anyone could do.

Under these circumstances, everyone felt that it would be quite difficult for the new Yunzhou Pacification Commissioner to secure his position. At the very least, there were several requirements.

First, he had to have the absolute trust of the Emperor. Yunzhou was almost equivalent to an independent country, whether in terms of area, people, or the way it used to operate. The Yunzhou Pacification Commissioner was the only position in Dongping that had complete administrative and military power over the territory under his jurisdiction. If an untrustworthy person were placed in this position, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Secondly, he had to have the trust of the Dai family, or at least be able to get along well with the Yunzhou tribes. It was not difficult to get along with the Dai family. The Dai family was still playing a huge role in the development and construction of Yunzhou, and they seemed willing to make certain sacrifices for the people of Yunzhou. As long as the new Pacification Commissioner was truly capable and had a solution, the Dai family would be a great help. But the Yunzhou tribes were a problem. Considering this issue, those officials who had clamored about the difference between the Hua Xia and the Yi Di (barbarians), who had openly expressed their contempt for ethnic minorities, and even those who continued to use terms like "barbarian" to describe tribal members despite repeated orders from the Dongping court, were all eliminated. These people would not even be sent to Yunzhou as officials. It should be known that in order for Yunzhou to operate smoothly and for Yunzhou's civil administration to align with Dongping, a large number of officials at all levels were needed.

Then, there was a very subtle requirement: to be able to get the support of both Ye Tao and Tan Weixin. Ye Tao's Road and Bridge Department had played a huge role in the past year, far exceeding the scope of building roads and maintaining postal services. It had even become an important force in driving Yunzhou's economic development and promoting the economic integration of Yunzhou and Dongping. And the Road and Bridge Department, because it had always had Ye Tao's design team offering advice, and because there were a considerable number of people from the former Internal Affairs Office, was not something that just anyone could take over. Even if they could take over, no one could replicate the brilliant methods that the Road and Bridge Department had used when it was in Ye Tao's hands. If the new Pacification Commissioner could not get Ye Tao's support, let alone being able to extract road taxes from the Road and Bridge Department to supplement expenses like Xu Jingtian had done, it would not be surprising if Ye Tao gave him a hard time at any time. And Tan Weixin was an even more critical figure. Tan Weixin's trip to Yunzhou was not just to accompany her husband. She was also responsible for consolidating Yunzhou's entire economic system. The Dai family would allow Tan Weixin and her super management team, which was coveted by countless people, to assess all of the Dai family's assets, businesses, and even connections, including some of the Dai family's secret industries outside of Yunzhou, strip out some of them, hand some over to the Yunzhou Pacification Commissioner's office, hand some over to the Intelligence Bureau or other agencies, and some would be fully commercialized and restructured before being returned to the Dai family. Although Tan Weixin's responsibilities were limited to the Dai family's asset assessment and consolidation, because Tan Weixin was already known as the "Goddess of Commerce," she could actually play a very large role. If the new Yunzhou Pacification Commissioner was a loyal and upright person who was devoted to the country, then Tan Weixin would undoubtedly add luster to his political achievements. But if the new Pacification Commissioner was someone who wanted to seek personal gain, then he would probably have to consider whether his business acumen in asset management, corruption, embezzlement, and other money-related matters could exceed Tan Weixin's.

Taking all of these factors into account, everyone also speculated about the candidates for the next Yunzhou Pacification Commissioner. For example, the current Grand Commandant Chi Xianping, the Crown Prince Tan Weiming, and Tan Weiran, who had shown his talent more and more in recent years. But because Yunzhou was too special, and because Chi Xianping had a son, Chi Yun, who was already a deputy commander of the Imperial Guards, and Chi Lei, the world's number one scout commander, who held a lofty and detached position in Yunzhou's military system, it would be too unsettling to let Chi Xianping be the Yunzhou Pacification Commissioner again.

And just when everyone was discussing and speculating most enthusiastically, a series of seemingly unrelated appointments were finalized:

Lu Dan was dismissed from his position as Military Supervisor of the Grand Canal Governor's Office and transferred to the position of Governor of Yicheng. This appointment, which was basically made by Tan Xiaopei out of a father's consideration, was a blessing in disguise for Lu Dan. The original position of Military Supervisor would be decided by the Crown Prince Tan Weiming himself.

The former Governor of Yicheng, Peng Detian, was promoted to Governor of Liangzhou, but his administrative center remained in Yicheng. The Governor of Liangzhou would have jurisdiction over all of Liangzhou, including Yicheng, and even including Beining Pass. The Governor of Liangzhou's responsibilities would also shift from civil administration to military affairs, with the most important responsibility being to supervise the military reorganization in various places, store various strategic materials, and especially to supervise Qiu Haohui in building the Tianxuan Army from scratch. In general, it was to make comprehensive preparations for the future war against the Northern Liao. To be able to hold such an important position showed how highly Peng Detian's work in Yicheng had been regarded in recent years.

The former Admiral of the Yicheng Navy was promoted to Admiral of the East Sea Navy. In addition to the original Yicheng Navy, the Zhenhai Port Navy in the south was also placed under Min Yue's command. The task of the East Sea Navy was very delicate. Because the Seven Seas Trading Company had grown stronger and stronger in recent years, pirates had no foothold in the entire route from the East Sea to the Nanyang, making the Yicheng Navy and the Zhenhai Port Navy have not been in operation for a long time. After all, it was impossible for them to cross the border to attack organizations like the Black Eagle Gang, which was entrenched along the coast of Chunnan. In Tan Xiaopei's mind, it was urgent to have Min Yue find a way to build a capable force that could land on the coast of Northern Liao during the war against Northern Liao and give the Northern Liao army a fatal blow from behind. From the similar forms of landing and island-hopping operations that had appeared in the military chess competition in those years, Tan Xiaopei had always had such an idea, but he had never been able to make up his mind to implement it. After all, in this time and space, under the current technical conditions, it was quite challenging to guarantee the supply of the rear combat troops through sea transport like on the chessboard.

However, this series of appointments clearly aimed at the Northern Liao did not divert everyone's attention from the appointment of the Yunzhou Pacification Commissioner. And the result was finally coming.

Just after Dai Shining, the patriarch of the Dai family, arrived in Danyang, Tan Xiaopei finally summoned everyone who had anything to do with Yunzhou to a meeting in the imperial study to decide on the candidate for the Yunzhou Pacification Commissioner.

"Brother-in-law, I'm afraid I'll have to stay in Yunzhou for quite some time." Everyone had already taken their seats, but Tan Xiaopei had not yet arrived. At this moment, while everyone was chatting, Tan Weiran suddenly said to Ye Tao.

"Are you the new Yunzhou Pacification Commissioner?" Ye Tao asked in surprise.

"I wouldn't make that kind of trouble for myself. I've been thinking about it for a long time, and Axi still misses Yunzhou, misses Benlang Yuan (Running Wolf Plains), misses those days on the grasslands. She said it made me yearn for it too. And Yunzhou is also a place where I can show off my talents. Although studying history is indeed very interesting, I still prefer to do something practical. Once I have practical experience, looking back at historical events and looking at the court's various strategies may reveal more interesting things." Tan Weiran said confidently, "I asked my royal father to let me take a position in Yunzhou, and my royal father agreed to let me command the Jingyun Cavalry."

Ye Tao frowned and asked, "Who exactly is the Yunzhou Pacification Commissioner? You're a prince commanding the Jingyun Cavalry? ...It's not a question of whether it's appropriate or not, don't you think that whoever becomes the Pacification Commissioner will be under a lot of pressure?"

"Pressure, what a great thing." Tan Weiran said with a smile.

Just as Ye Tao was frowning, Tan Xiaopei and Dai Shining walked into the imperial study side by side. It seemed that the two had had a very pleasant conversation before this important meeting.

Because it was a very important and formal meeting, Tan Xiaopei rarely sat behind the desk in the imperial study, on the platform that was three steps above the ground. He scanned the ministers below, his two sons, and Tan Weixin, who had been specially invited to this special meeting today, and said as usual, "Everyone, rise and be seated."

"Today, we are here to decide on the candidate for the next Yunzhou Pacification Commissioner after General Xu leaves. In fact, I have already decided on the candidate, but... there are quite a few arrangements that need to be made in order for this candidate to take office smoothly." Tan Xiaopei had a faint smile on his face. He picked up a document from the desk and waved it in the air, saying, "The appointment order was placed here ten days ago. Chi Xianping, please read it."

The appointment order had actually been on that desk, which was being used less and less, all along? Tan Xiaopei's move was also unexpected.

Chi Xianping responded with a smile, "As you command." He strode forward and took the appointment order. He unfolded the document and read aloud, "Yunzhou, a military and strategic location, a place that all sides must compete for. Left General Xu Jingtian, first pacified Yunzhou, and then took the position of Yunzhou Pacification Commissioner in his military capacity, reorganizing the army and preparing for war, selecting the excellent and eliminating the inferior, making the four borders of Yunzhou peaceful, and establishing the Jingyun Cavalry, the Thunder Cavalry, the Frost Wolf Cavalry, and the Silver Wing Cavalry. His merit lies in the long term. Left General Xu Jingtian, his merit is beyond reward..."

After a series of praises for the old General Xu Jingtian, it finally came to the most critical part: "...appoint..."

"Ye Tao!" Chi Xianping read this name calmly and resolutely "...as the Yunzhou Pacification Commissioner."

Ye Tao was stunned. He stared blankly at Chi Xianping, who was continuing to read the appointment order, then looked at Tan Xiaopei, who was sitting behind the desk with a confident look, and then turned his head to look at Tan Weixin, who was sitting next to him. Tan Weixin frowned slightly. She was obviously not surprised, but seemed to be somewhat dissatisfied.

"...Responsible for all economic matters, shouldering all military duties, whether pasturing or hunting, all are subject to his decisions..." Chi Xianping finished reading the appointment order and folded the document with both hands. He looked at Ye Tao, knowing very well that Ye Tao would definitely not come forward to accept the appointment order directly. With Ye Tao's personality, he would definitely decline.

"Your Majesty, this..." Ye Tao wanted to decline. But Tan Xiaopei immediately interrupted him.

"Don't rush to decline." Tan Xiaopei said lightly, "Let me ask you a few questions. If you think that you are completely different from what I expected, then I will allow you not to accept this appointment. First of all, since you accepted my appointment and officially served the court a few years ago, have you ever disappointed me even once?"

Ye Tao's expression was a bit strange. He looked at Qu Yan, who was sitting in the corner and had already taken charge of the Censorate, and asked, "Do the people from the Censorate or the Wenhua Hall count?"

Tan Xiaopei smiled and said, "No, they don't count. ...You yourself know that even if you are completely unprepared, you do better than others. Better than me, better than what the ministers in the court expected. Second question, no matter who is the Yunzhou Pacification Commissioner, do they have to look at you and Xin'er's faces to act?"

Ye Tao's expression changed slightly, and he said cautiously, "I dare not. Whoever Your Majesty appoints, this humble subject will definitely cooperate fully."

Tan Xiaopei nodded and continued, "Although the rumors these days have not been accurate, those speculations are indeed reasonable. The so-called three conditions, whether it is my trust, or the relationship with the Dai family and the Yunzhou tribes, you meet them all. Do you have any reasons beyond your ability to refuse this appointment?"

Ye Tao was silent. He admitted that if he took over this appointment, he might do better than others, at least not worse than others. As a time-traveler, as someone who has mastered leading ideas and leading technologies, and who has already achieved many successes with these ideas and technologies, wrapping himself in layers of glory, this was his basic confidence.

"Since you don't deny these things, then accept the appointment order. According to Dongping's usual practice, and also because Yunzhou's situation is indeed special, you will set off within ten days. I don't need to remind you how important Yunzhou is, and I won't remind you what you can do and what you can't do. It's all up to you. I hope you can understand one thing: with great power comes great responsibility." Tan Xiaopei said lightly.

Chi Xianping walked up with a smile and handed the appointment order to Ye Tao. Congratulations and praises were endless around him. But to Ye Tao, it seemed like a buzzing noise, making it difficult for him to concentrate.

On the way back to the Zheng Garden, Ye Tao suddenly asked Tan Weixin, "Did you know about this beforehand? Why didn't you remind me?"

"I knew, and I helped you reject it many times. But no matter how you weigh it, I'm afraid you're the most suitable candidate. In order to make you feel at ease, didn't you even throw your younger brother into Yunzhou to support you?" Tan Weixin sighed. She had indeed tried to stop this appointment, but the reasons were much more complicated.

"With great power comes great responsibility... With great power comes great responsibility... Do you think I look anything like Spider-Man?" Ye Tao sighed.