Traveling through the emperor, overthrowing the empress dowager at the beginning

Ye Chen never intended to suppress these arrogant and powerful soldiers from the border.

He knew very well what kind of characters these guys were.

This is an interest group, most likely one that is related by blood.

There should be some punishment for these people, but it should not be too severe either.

Otherwise, the backlash will definitely be strong.

Not to mention, Ye Chen now has to use this group of people.

As for killing the chicken to scare the monkey, this is a strategy implemented against arrogant soldiers and generals when one has sufficient military forces under control.

Ye Chen obviously does not have such conditions.

Therefore, he could only choose to be lenient with Lin Lei for the time being.

However, Lin Lei’s performance at this moment was indeed quite frightened.

Since he saw that he was already afraid, Ye Chen was more gentle with his attack.

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace. Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace. Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Linley seemed to have been pardoned. As he was being escorted away by the imperial guards, he kept speaking as he backed away.

At this moment, the seventeen generals all looked at Ye Chen. Since Lin Lei was not severely punished, they had lost all interest in him.

They all focused their attention on the assessment that Ye Chen mentioned.

"Your Majesty, may I ask what the assessment process is like for the commander-in-chief of the Northwest Border?"

Among the seventeen people, Han Sui was the first to stand up and clasped his fists towards Ye Chen.

Hearing this, Ye Chen's mouth corners slightly raised.

“That’s what I’m going to say next.”

Ye Chen slapped the table lightly, and the seventeen people present pricked up their ears and listened attentively.

"Let me make it clear first. The commander of the Northwest Border Army I have chosen this time is different from the previous one. In the past, when Kou Yu was the commander, he led 30,000 frontier troops to garrison one place."

"The border troops in other places would not listen to orders even if they were ordered to do so."

Ye Chen said lightly.

Hearing this, the seventeen generals looked at each other, and they all understood that Ye Chen was right. Even though Kou Yu had the absolute elite main force of the border army, he still did not have much control over the other border army generals.

It’s just that Kou Yu has the strongest power and the highest official position in the border army, so the other border guarding generals are forced to listen to him.

"The general I've chosen for the Northwest Border Army will be able to command all Northwest Border troops. He will have real power, but he will only have this power in the event of an invasion, and this power can only be used for defense."

"Also, the Northwest Border Generals rotate every eight years, so they must be evaluated every eight years. In short, we treat them fairly and appoint those who are capable."

Ye Chen's tone was extremely calm, and after hearing his words, the seventeen people in the hall were stunned.

These seventeen people had never heard of the system that Ye Chen mentioned.

"Your Majesty, what you're saying is that when there's no foreign invasion, the commander of the Northwest Frontier Army is no different from an ordinary border general."

Ma Zhuo frowned slightly and stood up to ask.

The treatment is similar to that of ordinary border army generals, and they still have to take responsibility when foreign enemies invade.

No matter how the military commander here looks at it, he feels uncomfortable.

Is this like wanting the horse to run but not eat grass?

Not to mention that the position of military commander here can only be held for eight years.

"Oh, of course it's different."

"The commander of this border army will have more garrisons than other border army generals, and the territory he will be stationed in will also be much larger than other generals."

Ye Chen smiled slightly.

He knew all too well these arrogant and powerful generals in front of him.

Without any benefits, these arrogant soldiers and generals will definitely not be willing to fight for their lives.

After hearing Ye Chen's words, the seventeen generals present were all interested.

Able to control enough territory and have enough troops.

That would undoubtedly bring huge benefits to the families behind them.

You should know that border troops are required to cultivate land in various places along the border.

Dayu’s government did not want the grain taxes from these military farms.

But they were all given to the border troops, and these were all benefits.

Not to mention, many places on the northwestern border can be used for grazing, and the cattle and sheep grazed there can also bring huge profits.

Isn't it because of this that the noble families behind the seventeen generals present were able to develop and stand firm for hundreds of years?

"Your Majesty, what exactly is the content of the assessment?"

Ma Yu clasped his fists excitedly.

Everyone else also looked at Ye Chen.

"Comparing strategy, archery and horsemanship, sand table exercises, and direct battles involving deployment of troops."

"This assessment adopts a scoring system, and the results will be determined by the scores!"

"But before that, you have to do one thing for me."

Ye Chen suddenly said.

Upon hearing this, Han Sui was the first among the seventeen to step forward and ask, "Your Majesty, what is the matter?"

"It's the troops and territory of the commander of the Northwest Frontier Army. Kou Yu left his post without permission, and the vacant territory is just right for the commander of the Northwest Frontier Army. But as for the troops, after much deliberation, I can only take them from Kou Yu."

Hearing this, the seventeen people were stunned and their expressions became complicated.

"The border commanders I choose must not only pass the assessment, but also possess courage. Eight years later, if the newly elected border commander lacks the courage to seize troops from the old commander, he will be unqualified."

"I will rely on the Border Army Lord to resist foreign enemies in the future. If I need to fight abroad in the future, I will also need the Border Army Lord to lead the army."

"If you, my dear ministers, don't even have the courage to ask for your own troops, then you should not participate in this assessment."

Ye Chen waved his hand and said.

He was not deliberately provoking these seventeen generals, but wanted to make them understand that there is no free lunch in this world.

It's not easy to be the commander-in-chief of this army.

"Your Majesty, I only have a thousand soldiers with me this time, but I am willing to obey your orders!"

Han Sui was the first to stand up.

He had always wanted to achieve great things and was very ambitious. Now that he had the opportunity, he naturally didn't want to let it go.

"Your Majesty, Kou Yu's absence from his post is a serious crime. It is right to take down his territory and seize his troops."

"Your Majesty, just tell us when to start. We are willing to cooperate fully!"

With someone taking the lead, the other sixteen border army commanders also expressed their opinions.

These people have never been in a good mood towards Kou Yu, who has always been a pressure on them.

At this moment, Ye Chen painted another big picture for them.

They couldn't help but show their readiness to fight, saying they were willing to sacrifice their lives as long as Ye Chen gave the order.

"Oh, my dear ministers, there is no need for this. First, hand over the seals for mobilizing troops. I will issue an order to absorb your troops into the Beijing camp, and then the generals I appoint will be responsible for unified deployment."

"So, when we ask Kou Yu for the army, my people will be the chief commanders. You are just following orders to leave the army. This matter has nothing to do with you."

Ye Chen waved his hand and said.

Upon hearing this, the seventeen generals looked at each other, then knelt on one knee and clasped their hands together.

"The general will obey the order!"