Chapter 138 Promoted Commander

The next morning, the Northern Governor Zhongshan led the Northern Legion to Luojing.

At noon that day, King Mengke of Yan held a banquet at the royal palace, greeting the senior generals of the Northern Legion. Those who attended the meeting were imperial prime minister Cao Mo, Minister of War Ye Haotian, Minister of Revenue Meng Wen, Governor of the Governor of the Governor of the Governor of the Governor of the Capital, and other senior officials of the court. Meng Hu was also fortunate to attend the reception banquet, but he was the last person to accompany him.

This is the first time Meng Hu has seen Chongshan.

Chongshan is burly and has a serious face. He has a terrifying majesty in his eyes. It is true that he is as famous as his name, giving people a powerful sense of oppression like mountains and ridges. Compared with Chongshan, the four division commanders of the Northern Legion seem much inferior. However, one of the young and handsome division commanders still attracted Meng Hu's attention, because his eyes were filled with unconcealed hostility when he looked at Meng Hu several times, which made Meng Hu a little confused.

In Meng Hu's impression, this was the first time he had dealt with the Northern Legion. Where did the hatred come from between the two sides?

When Meng Hu was observing Chongshan, Chongshan was also observing Meng Hu. He was well aware of Meng Hu's reputation and Chongshan, which was far away in the northern province, killed Situ Biao among thousands of troops and wiped out 20,000 elite soldiers with less than 2,000 light soldiers. These legendary achievements made Chongshan full of curiosity for the young man in front of him.

After three rounds of drinking, Meng Ke suddenly stood up from the Chairman.

The maid who was serving the guests bowed and retreated like flowing water. The guests and friends in the hall held their breath and concentrated. The hall, which seemed extremely noisy just now, suddenly became quiet, so quiet that it could be heard.

Looking around the guests and friends in the hall for a week, Meng Ke said with a cough: "Dear colleagues, the Mingyue Empire took advantage of the opportunity of seriously ill in bed to invade a large amount of money, causing great harm to the people of the western provinces. After being defeated by our Justice Army, the Mingyue Bandits Army was defeated by our righteous army and bloody blood to the south of the western provinces. The Sanjiang River in the east and the Henan Province, and the three rivers are in blood. The Mingyue Bandits Army is so beastly, and the people and gods are angry!"

"For the glory and face of the empire, for the soul scheme of more than 100,000 soldiers who died in the western provinces, and for the millions of innocent undead schemes of the three prefectures in the southern part of the western provinces..." Meng Ke said this, pulled out his sword and raised it over the top, shouting sternly, "I am determined to raise an army to fight the west and pay back the blood debt from the Mingyue Empire!"

The guests and friends in the hall stood up in unison, all of whom looked solemn.

Meng Hu was cold in his heart. Meng Ke's political talent was not very good, but after all, he had been in a high position for many years and was still very good at mobilizing other people's atmosphere. As for what he said just now and the tone of his speech, the timing was very telling, and he felt a fierce and murderous aura of fierce swords and iron horses.

A welcome banquet turned into a vow banquet.

Meng Ke's eyes turned to Ye Haotian, Minister of War, and said, "Mr. Ye, now you will announce the appointment of the Ministry of War."

Ye Haotian bowed to Meng Ke, then took out an edict from his broad sleeve and recited: "I will follow the emperor's edict and order: The second prince Meng Yan will be the first commander of the Western Expedition Army, and will hold the seal of the talisman, and the governor of the northern part of Chongshan..."

Chongshan responded and clasped his fists to Ye Haotian.

Ye Haotian glanced at Chongshan and then recited: "Be the second commander of the Western Expedition Army, I will be responsible for advising and inspecting!"

Many officials in the hall looked at each other with shock. Obviously, this appointment surprised them. It was expected that Meng Yan would be the commander of the Western Expedition Army. However, it was incredible that Chongshan was appointed as the second commander and had the power to advise the first commander.

What does Ye Haotian mean?

Do you want to do a check and balance? But this is a marching and fighting. If the army goes out to fight, it will cause a big disaster if it still deals with the power check and balance in the court!

But what is even more surprising is still behind.

Ye Haotian paused for a moment, then recited: "Meng Hu, the acting commander of the Western Legion..."

Meng Hu was shocked when he heard this, and he quickly flashed out of the line and bowed to Ye Haotian with his fists.

Ye Haotian glanced at Meng Hu and then recited: "Because of his outstanding military achievements, he was actually appointed as the commander of the army, and was the third commander of the Western Expedition Army, and was responsible for advising and inspecting!"

"ah?"

"this?"

"Third Commander?"

This time, the officials in the hall could no longer suppress their shock and began to whisper. Meng Hu's heart was also turbulent. The appointment of the Ministry of War was obviously Meng Ke's intention, but Meng Ke did not do anything to create three commanders this time. What was the intention? Could it be that Meng Ke also wanted to set up a supreme military three-man leadership group in the Western Expedition Army?

But the situation on the battlefield changes rapidly. If the three commanders disagree, wouldn’t it ruin a big deal?

There were only a very small number of civil servants and generals in the hall, like Meng Ke, Ye Haotian, Cao Mo and other senior officials who knew the whole story looked as usual.

In fact, Cao Mo and Ye Haotian both strongly opposed this appointment, and Meng Ke also disagreed, but there was nothing we could do, because this was the will of the deceased Emperor Meng Yuan!

This is how Meng Yuan’s will was arranged. Meng Yan is the first commander and Chongshan is the second commander. If Meng Hu is available, he will be the third commander!

Almost no one can understand Mengyuan's good intentions, and no one can stand at the height of Mengyuan to consider the problem.

Meng Yuan's will seems absurd, but in fact it is quite forward-looking, or extremely clever. Meng Yuan knows more than anyone else what Meng Yan is.

In Meng Yuan's view, Meng Yan is actually not an ideal choice for a human monarch, but compared to the other two princes who have grown up, he is the best. As for the other underage princes, Meng Yuan can't wait, so Meng Yuan can only retreat and choose Meng Yan to inherit the throne.

This Western Expedition is not so much for revenge on the Mingyue Empire, but rather Meng Yuan is building momentum for Meng Yan to succeed in the throne!

Meng Yuan hopes that Meng Yan can calmly ascend to the throne with a refreshing victory against his old enemy Mingyue Empire. In this way, Meng Yan's prestige will be enough to control the entire empire, so that the other princes will not have any inappropriate thoughts and the empire will not be divided! Therefore, Meng Yuan has worked hard to win this Western Expedition.

Meng Yuan knew that Meng Yan was only good at talking about war on paper but had no practical experience at all. If the Western Expedition Army made Meng Yan arbitrarily and faced the old Situ Rui of the Mingyue Empire or the natural empire Mingyue Qiuyutang, he would have to suffer a great loss. Therefore, Meng Yuan tried his best to set up three commanders for the Western Expedition Army, allowing the Northern Governor Chongshan, who was as famous as Situ Rui, and the famous Meng Hu to make up for Meng Yan's strategic shortcomings.

In fact, Meng Yuan also left a will for Meng Yan. Of course, Meng Yan did not know that Meng Yuan was dead, so he did not know that the edict was actually Meng Yuan's will. Meng Yuan's will specifically instruct Meng Yan to ask Chongshan and Meng Hu for advice in everything, and never act on his own as a prince.

But except Meng Ke, no one knows the inside story!

After Ye Haotian announced the appointment of the Ministry of War, Meng Ke continued: "The army of this western expedition consists of five legions, including the Guards, the North, the West, the Northwest, and the Southwest, with a total force of more than 500,000. This will be a great test for the empire's logistics support. I hope that local officials from the Ministry of Revenue, the Ministry of War, and the three major provinces in the west, the Northwest and the Southwest can cooperate closely and do their best to ensure the smooth flow of the supply line. We must never let the soldiers of the empire fight on the front line with hunger!"

Minister of War Ye Haotian and Minister of Revenue Meng Wen looked solemn and nodded repeatedly.

In fact, Meng Ke did not speak out in a terrifying way. This Western Expedition was indeed a great test for the empire's logistics support, because the Mingyue Empire is now so poor that if the imperial soldiers want to implement the strategy of fighting to reduce the logistical pressure, they can only eat human flesh.

Meng Ke's eyes suddenly turned to Meng Hu and said in a narrow voice: "In addition, given that the Western Legion suffered great losses in the previous Battle of Defense of the Kingdom, the main forces of the three masters under the former commander Zhao Yue were almost completely lost. In the Battle of Xiling, many veterans and middle- and low-level officers of the Fourth Division were also killed in battle, so..."

Meng Hu felt a stern when he heard this, and thought to himself that Meng Ke was about to insert a nail into his territory!

Sure enough, Meng Ke continued: "I decided to draw veterans from the Imperial Guards to supplement the Western Legion so that the Western Legion can complete reconstruction in the shortest time and restore combat effectiveness as soon as possible. In addition, more than 200 graduates from the Royal Military Academy this period will also be given priority to the Western Legion."

Meng Hu was very evil, and it was barely acceptable to add the two regiments of the Imperial Guard veterans to the Western Legion, but it was a bit unhappy for graduates from the Royal Military Academy to allocate the Western Legion. Those brainless cadets under the official education were not the materials for leading troops to fight. Wouldn't it harm people if they were asked to lead troops?

However, a thin figure still appeared in Meng Hu's mind, thinking that if he could bring that little guy to the army and try to train him to become his confidant, it would be something that would be expected. After Meng Ke finished speaking, he asked Meng Hu if he had any other requests. Meng Hu took the opportunity to ask: "Prince, there is a student named Yue Meng in this graduating class. Bei Zhi is very optimistic about him and hopes that the prince can let him go to the Western Legion."

"Yue Meng?" Out of Meng Hu's expectations, Meng Ke's brow suddenly frowned and said with some embarrassment, "Are you talking about Yue Meng?"

"That's right." Although Meng Hu was surprised by Meng Ke's reaction, he knew that Meng Ke was very unwilling to go to the Western Legion by observing her. So he quickly changed his words, "Of course, the specific assignment of students in the graduating class should be followed by their own wishes. That's what the humble vocational is saying."
Chapter completed!