The substitute prince: Reported the emperor's brother at the beginning

Ning Yi was very well-behaved in the mansion for the next few days. He didn't see anyone and just stayed at home with his wife, enjoying family happiness.

Of course, he also went to the palace to pay New Year's greetings to the emperor and empress.

The old emperor looked at Lao Liu who was kneeling before him and said calmly, "Lao Liu, you have suffered a lot at Hushan Pass. I know that."

Ning Yi immediately said, "All of this is for the safety of Wu State. As long as we can stop the barbarians' attack, I don't think it's a big deal."

The old emperor used to like hearing these words, but now, his expression was calm: "Really not bitter?"

Ning Yi was speechless when asked this question. If you want to know how hard it is, why don’t you go and experience it yourself?

Ning Yi also knew that now was not the time to brag, otherwise the old emperor might become suspicious again.

He also looked helpless and began to complain: "Father, to be honest, I feel like I'm walking on thin ice at Hushan Pass."

"Every fortress must be carefully inspected. The first thing you do every day when you wake up is to check if any of them have been breached."

"Every time, I would try my best to mobilize troops from all over to resist the crazy attacks of the barbarians. I even sent my personal guards and some young servants to the battlefield."

As he spoke, Ning Yi's voice was filled with grievance and sobs. "Father, I really have no other choice. The casualties are too great and there are no soldiers left. I can only organize batches of prisoners to go to the battlefield. I have to constantly comfort them. The court is in trouble and the military rations are low. I also keep assuring them that when the war is over, Father will not treat them unfairly, and the court will not treat them unfairly. I am so tired."

"I also hope that Father will send an old general to guard the place as soon as possible."

Ning Yi spoke with such grievance and described all the difficulties he had encountered.

He lacked money, food, weapons, winter clothes, everything. He also said that a bunch of annoying people in the court kept attacking him, and he had had enough.

After listening to him talk on and on with tears and complaints, Emperor Wu felt much more relieved.

Comforting him, "Okay, okay, I know you've been tired and worked hard."

"Next year, when the training of the new troops in each province is completed, we will let you come back."

Ning Yi immediately looked expectant: "Father, how long will it take for the new army to be trained? I am getting impatient."

"I'm afraid the barbarians will come back again next year. I really can't guarantee that I can resist them."

Speaking of the new army training, the old emperor's face turned grim: "A bunch of governors and those garrison eunuchs are all very incompetent."

"After so long, several provinces still haven't developed anything. They're all just rubbish."

The old emperor had to be annoyed. He issued imperial edicts again and again, giving them autumn grain and continuously sending military equipment to the Ministry of Works.

He even allowed provincial governors and eunuchs in charge of garrisons to manufacture their own weapons.

But the effect is not good.

The old emperor was not afraid that the governors and eunuchs in charge of the garrison would dare to rebel just because they had military power.

After all, the governor would be replaced after a few years, and it was even more impossible for the eunuch in charge of the garrison to become the commander-in-chief. They also supervised each other.

But why is training so difficult?

Either there was not enough autumn grain, or the taxes were not enough to pay the military salaries, or the military equipment was difficult to manufacture.

The minerals here belong to some big players, and they can’t touch them.

No matter which family the supplies there belong to, they cannot be moved.

If they rely on themselves, they can barely train some new soldiers, but it is not enough to maintain the place.

Either there are no generals available, but the old emperor doesn't want to send generals there casually.

After all, some generals, once they lead troops, are likely to get out of control.

The example of Duke Dingguo always kept the old emperor awake.

Ning Yi immediately said, "Father, if you are short of officers, there are some at Hushan Pass."

The old emperor looked puzzled.

Ning Yi patiently explained: "Many of the Beijing guards suffered heavy casualties. Some of the 5,000 soldiers were left with only a little over a thousand."

"There are still quite a few officers here, many of them from the South. They have battlefield experience and are loyal to our father. We can let them go back and train new recruits."

The old emperor frowned a little: "Don't the Beijing troops at Hushan Pass need officers?"

Ning Yi smiled and said, "Father, the guards of the Beijing Camp have been disbanded. Several of them can only barely make up one guard."

"But there are quite a few veteran officers who have made great military achievements. If they are demoted, they will all be unhappy."

"It would be better to let them all return to the South first and contribute more to Father. Besides, many of them are from the Southern Jingying."

After hearing this, the old emperor was tempted. If one were to ask what the new army lacked most, besides various supplies, it would be officers.

How can we form a large army without officers?

And what Lao Liu said was right. They were originally from the Southern Army and were transferred to the capital not long before they went to Hushan Pass.

Now that the army has been crippled, there is not much use in keeping them. They can go back to train new recruits, and then bring the new recruits to continue supporting.

The old emperor finally smiled: "Sixth Brother, you are really smart. Okay, when you go back, make a good record of the military achievements of these old Beijing camp officers, send them to the Ministry of War as soon as possible, and let them go back. That way, the training of the new army will be much faster."

The old emperor no longer doubted the sixth brother.

Seeing Lao Liu's impatience and his worries about the new army, it proves that he really doesn't want to stay in Hushan Pass.

Moreover, those officers had just arrived at Hushan Pass from the south. How could they possibly establish a deep friendship with Lao Liu?

Their hometowns are all in various southern provinces.

The old emperor said comfortingly, "Sixth Brother, help me watch over Hushan Pass. Don't let the barbarians take advantage of you. When you leave Hushan Pass, I will personally grant you a fiefdom and choose a good place for you."

Ning Yi's face immediately filled with excitement, and he kowtowed on the spot: "Thank you so much, father, for your kindness. I will keep an eye on them every day and not give the barbarians any chance."

Seeing his grateful and expectant look, the old emperor finally nodded with satisfaction: "Okay, okay, you are indeed my good son. Go back first."

Ning Yi quickly got up, bowed properly, and then left with light steps, looking very happy.

But as soon as he left the gate, Ning Yi's expression returned to calm, and no one could tell what was going on.

But he snorted in his heart, old man, you still want to fool people with bait.

Just remove the commander position and give him a good job?

That sounds really nice.

If they wanted to be enfeoffed, why didn't the eldest prince, the third prince and the fifth prince, who had never fought for anything, become enfeoffed now?

The second prince already has several sons, the oldest of whom is eighteen or nineteen years old and is almost of marriageable age.

According to the rules, he was already past the age for a fiefdom.

But Emperor Wu refused to let his sons go to the fiefdom.

Doesn't he just not trust his own sons?

My son is different from other princes.

Although the other princes were also members of the royal family, none of them had much qualifications to inherit the throne.

But it is different for the old emperor’s sons. It is natural for them to inherit their father’s business.

Once his son was enfeoffed and had control of the military power, if he really dared to rebel, those who were dissatisfied with Emperor Wu would probably run over and surrender.