The emperor would rather have a

Chapter 30: As Close as Brothers
The emperor has decided to return to the capital.

However, the deployment and arrangement of hundreds of thousands of troops would not be an easy task in later generations, let alone in this era.

From the time the emperor issued the order to withdraw the troops to the time the first group began to evacuate, there was a delay of three or four days.

When the army evacuated Jinyang, it was impossible to take away all the food and military supplies stored under the city at once.

In the end, they could only carry a small part of it. Chai Rong ordered the remaining hundreds of thousands of hu of grain and military supplies to be burned on the spot.

For a moment, thick smoke billowed outside Jinyang City, and flames shot up into the sky as bright as day.

"What a pity that so much food was burned in the fire."

Ma Renyu looked at the growing fire and smacked his lips, saying, "It would be better to distribute it all to the soldiers."

Li Yi glanced at him and said, "That's easy for you to say. Even if I give you all of them as a reward, can you really carry them all the way back to Kaifeng?"

This guy didn't use his brain at all. It was precisely because he couldn't take it away and didn't want to leave it to the Northern Han that Chai Rong ordered it to be burned.

What’s the point of giving it to you if you can’t take it away?
"That's a problem..." Ma Renyu smiled awkwardly.

Li Yi didn't say anything else. Looking at the blazing fire in the distance, he felt it was a pity to let it burn like that.

But many times, we have to sacrifice something to avoid greater losses.

After besieging Jinyang City for over a month and suffering heavy casualties, it was meaningless to continue wasting time.

It would be better to take drastic measures as soon as possible and get out of the quagmire as soon as possible.

"Brother Yi, I heard Shi Yanchao bragging everywhere about his great contributions in the Battle of Xinkou."

Ma Renyu spoke up for Li Yi and said, "He has no shame. If you hadn't risked your life to save him, he would have been chopped to pieces by the Khitan soldiers."

When Li Yi heard this, he remembered what Shi Yanchao said to him when they were in Xinzhou City: "We should both be the main contributors."

He couldn't help but laugh and said, "As long as we can repel the Liao army, who has the greater merit and who has the lesser merit is nothing to argue about."

"If Shi Yanchao wants to compete for this first achievement, just give it to him. My reward is already great, so this little bit won't make a difference."

What he said was not against his will. He was indeed very satisfied with his reward.

As the saying goes, if you take a big step, you will end up pulling your weight. In just two or three months, he was promoted again and again and reached the rank of fourth grade official.

His military rank had reached the level equivalent to that of Xiangdu Yuhou.

Only one step away from the owner.

And above the owner of the compartment... that is Zhang Yongde's level!

Li Yi was neither a royal relative nor a descendant of noble families, but he was promoted so quickly in a short period of time solely based on his military achievements.

It can also be ranked among the famous in history.

When Zhao Kuangyin was the same age as Li Yi, he seemed to be an unemployed young man wandering around.

Thinking of this, Li Yi naturally felt that there was no need to compete with Shi Yanchao for the credit.

If he wants it, just give it to him.

Anyway, with Shi Yanchao's current status and position, no matter how great his achievements are, his room for improvement is very limited.

You can't just make him a king of a different surname like Fu Yanqing, right?
Want to eat fart!

However, Ma Renyu didn't think so. He kept muttering, "This credit belongs to you, Brother Yi. His Majesty will definitely promote you again. How can he give it to that bastard Shi Yanchao for nothing?"

"Ugh!"

Li Yi saw that if he didn't explain it clearly, Ma Renyu would still keep thinking about it. This guy is actually not stupid, he just doesn't like to use his brain and is too stubborn in looking at things.

He immediately asked, "Do you know why His Majesty has vigorously promoted us?"

Ma Renyu replied, "We have performed great merits, and with so many generals removed from the Imperial Guards, many positions have become vacant, so His Majesty is promoting us." Li Yi shook his head and said, "You are only half right. Rewarding merit is certainly true, but I wonder if you, Brother Ma, have noticed that most of the fastest-growing generals this time are young generals like us."

"On the contrary, many of those veteran generals who had served for many dynasties were merely transferred to other positions, and a few were only promoted to a higher rank. This seemed more like encouragement than a reward. Do you know why?"

Without waiting for Ma Renyu's reply, he continued, "During the Battle of Gaoping, most of the Imperial Guard's troops were useless, and General Fan He and his men didn't take Your Majesty seriously. These men still retain the rebellious nature of those arrogant and fierce generals from the troubled times."

"If Your Majesty wishes to fully control the Imperial Guards, you must promote a group of trusted individuals. Since we have fought bravely in front of Your Majesty, we naturally have earned His Majesty's trust."

"Your Majesty doesn't look down on our youth and inexperience, and generously rewards and promotes us. With such rapid promotions like ours, how can we not be grateful to Your Majesty?"

"From now on, rising stars like us will be your Majesty's reliance on controlling the Imperial Guards. So why worry about not having plenty of opportunities to climb the ladder?"

"After the Battle of Gaoping, His Majesty rewarded Li Chongjin handsomely. However, since he had only recently been transferred to the Imperial Guards Department and his foundation was too shallow, His Majesty hoped that he could quickly gain control of the Imperial Guards."

"But if one person really dominates, how can that be a good thing?"

"If you ask me, after returning to the capital this time, His Majesty will definitely reform the Imperial Guards and strengthen the status of the Palace Guards to counter the Imperial Guards..."

"Then our status will naturally rise!"

Li Yi stopped talking after he finished speaking, but Ma Renyu looked surprised and obviously didn't think about it in this way.

In fact, these things are not complicated, but those involved are confused while those who are on the sidelines can see things more clearly. Li Yi has the advantage of being a time traveler, so he naturally sees things more clearly than Ma Renyu.

In fact, the series of actions taken by Zhao Kuangyin after he usurped the throne and became emperor were basically in line with the ideas set by Chai Rong.

It’s just that Zhao Da did it better and more thoroughly.

Ma Renyu suddenly realized, "It turns out that we have gained more benefits from this expedition than those generals!"

"Your Majesty also established his prestige through this battle..." Li Yi added.

However, when I think of the soldiers who were killed and wounded in the series of battles, as well as the food and military supplies that were burned under the city of Jinyang.

Those supplies were requisitioned from nearby prefectures and counties, and the people's surplus food was almost completely looted.

Li Yi felt a little heavy again.

The wealth and glory that these people have enjoyed were earned with the lives and blood and sweat of the people.

At this time, Ma Renyu suddenly said: "Brother Yi, you have been smarter than me since you were a child. If you hadn't taken me to join the army, I might still be farming in my hometown now."

"Hmm?" Li Yi was a little confused.

It is not wrong to say that he has been smarter than him since childhood. After all, if the soul of an adult like Li Yi is not as good as that of a child, then there is really no need for him to live.

As for taking the other party to join the army... although in history it was Ma Renyu who joined the army himself, but in this life the other party was indeed influenced by Li Yi.

There's nothing wrong with saying that.

But why bring this up suddenly?

Just when Li Yi was puzzled, Ma Renyu became serious for the first time: "Brother Yi, you are a man with great ambitions. All of our playmates from Xiajin have respected you the most since we were young. It will be the same in the future. We will all follow your lead!"

Hearing this, Li Yi was stunned. He didn't expect the other party to say such words.

Could it be that this guy has figured out something?
Li Yi stared at Ma Renyu's face until he felt creepy.

He suddenly grinned. "Why are you talking about this? We've been playing together since we were little, and we're already as close as brothers. We'll be working together in the Imperial Guards from now on. How can we be so sure of who's going to listen to whom?"

"Well, His Majesty is about to leave, and we should also set off. We still have a long way to go..."

As he spoke, Li Yi spurred his horse and headed towards the central army tent.

Yes, there is still a long way to go...not only the way back to Kaifeng, but also the way to go in the future.

It's too early to think too much...

(End of this chapter)