Climbing to the Top: A Reborn Queen's Journey-Chapter 698: Garrison (Part 1)

The case of Prince Wu’an’s murder stirred up a minor commotion in the Capital City; people sighed or marveled for a couple of days. Soon, it was overshadowed by new news.

The Imperial Guards escorting the military funds to various garrison camps began returning with reports one after another.

The first to report back was Tao Da. Tao Da had been sent to the garrison camp closest to the Capital City. Upon arrival at the camp, Tao Da, following the Emperor’s instructions, gathered all the soldiers at the Martial Arts Training Ground. Then he distributed the soldiers’ pay according to the roster. In just over half a day, the pay was fully distributed to each soldier. In addition, each soldier received a brand-new military uniform and two pairs of shoes and socks.

When had the soldiers ever received their full pay? In previous years, they might have received seventy to eighty percent, but in recent years, with the military funds being deducted by the court and further siphoned off at various levels, less than forty percent reached their hands.

The ascension of Nanyang County Princess to Empress didn’t originally have much to do with these low-ranking soldiers. At most, they would privately gossip that "the court officials actually elected a woman as Emperor, it seems the Da Liang Dynasty’s fate is nearing its end" and such idle talk.

Now, holding the weighty broken silver and dressing in the newly issued uniforms and footwear, and hearing that their rations would also be significantly improved, the soldiers’ hearts immediately shifted, continuously referring to "our Emperor."

Compared to the soldiers’ jubilance, General Tan, the commander of this garrison, felt as if he was sitting on pins and needles.

Tao Da had copied a list from the Ministry of War’s roster, totaling six thousand two hundred men. However, on the day pay was distributed, only about four thousand and fifty men showed up at the Martial Arts Training Ground. A whole two thousand one hundred and fifty ghost soldiers! Exposed right before the Emperor’s Envoy.

General Tan had previously associated with the rebel Wei Xiong. When he heard that Wei Xiong was personally executed by Nanyang County Princess, he developed a respect tinged with fear towards the Commandery Princess.

Now that the Commandery Princess had taken the Dragon Throne and sent someone personally to the military camp to distribute the pay, the issue of him embezzling pay would undoubtedly reach the Emperor’s ears.

The Emperor was able to decapitate Doctor Wan, dispatch Jiang Yuanwailang to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and dismiss Imperial Censor Qian from office. What difficulty would he have in dealing with a mere Fourth-rank General? With so many trusted aides under the Emperor, he could easily replace his position with any of them.

Take for example this stalwart like black tower, Tao Da — taller by half a head, with tremendous strength and impressive skills. Could he not subdue ordinary soldiers and serve as commander of a garrison?

The more General Tan thought about it, the more anxious and fearful he became. In a fit of desperation, he prepared a generous gift, and under the cover of night, went to the tent where Tao Da was temporarily residing, offering the gift with a face full of flattery, pleading for Tao Da to cover up the matter of the ghost soldiers. 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

Tao Da’s voice was astonishingly loud, it was a shock to the eardrums: "Take it back, I don’t want it."

General Tan, with an awkward expression, continued pleading in a low voice: "Captain Tao, to be frank, I didn’t take all the pay for those two thousand some soldiers. The Ministry of Revenue deducts ten percent, the Ministry of War deducts twenty percent, and by the time it reaches me, I have to give each of the military generals in the camp a little extra. I’m left with about twenty thousand taels each year."

"I have a seventy-year-old mother at home to support, along with wives, concubines, and children to feed, as well as some relatives relying on me to take care of. This silver barely suffices each year."

"I know what I did was wrong. But being a military general in the Da Liang Dynasty — if you don’t embezzle pay, how could that small salary silver suffice?"

"Now I realize my mistake, and I will reform myself. Please, whatever you do, Captain Tao, help me out this time. Don’t bring this matter before the Emperor..."

"You’re too late!" Tao Da interrupted General Tan: "I sent the letter to the Capital City last night."

General Tan’s face turned stiff, shock and anger mixed with fear in his heart. In an instant, a dark impulse to draw his sword and kill the black brute before him arose.

Tao Da, a straightforward brute himself, never mincing words, looked down at General Tan from his height: "General Tan, are you thinking of turning against me?"

General Tan forced a smile onto his stiff face: "Captain Tao, you jest. Captain Tao is an Emperor’s Envoy, how dare I think of offending Captain Tao."

Tao Da said: "Don’t be afraid. The Emperor has long been aware of the garrison embezzling pay. Before I came, the Emperor told me to distribute the pay according to the roster and to give the remaining silver back to General Tan."

General Tan: "..."

General Tan was also taken aback by this unexpected turn of events.

Tao Da tried hard to recall the instructions heard that day: "The Emperor also said that this time, he will let bygones be bygones. However, by this time next year, the numbers must be replenished according to the roster."

Hearing this, General Tan released a long breath, gratefully kowtowing towards the direction of the Capital City three times: "Thank you, Emperor!"

Tao Da continued: "Also, the Emperor instructed me to stay in the military camp for a month or two to see how you all train the soldiers. If it’s not effective, I will personally lead the training of the soldiers."

Having narrowly escaped, General Tan no longer cared about such trivial matters, immediately laughed and said: "The Nanyang Guard Camp is renowned throughout the country. To receive guidance from Captain Tao is a great honor for us."

Tao Da said: "Let’s start tomorrow."

And so, the following day at the fifth hour, the military drums sounded in the garrison’s military camp.

The garrison soldiers, usually lax and casual, felt it was commendable if they trained once every three days. Suddenly having to rise so early, they yawned one after another, all rushing to the Martial Arts Training Ground, taking two incense sticks of time just to line up the troops.

Tao Da, leading several dozen Nanyang Guards, stood in a straight line, watching this unruly lot, each frowning.

Tao Da had never had the habit of holding back his words, immediately said to General Tan: "This discipline and appearance is too poor. Do you usually train like this?"

General Tan, somewhat embarrassed, coughed twice: "Yes. When we’re stationed here, it is relatively peaceful. The last time we led a campaign against bandits was a year ago. There’s little movement usually, and the soldiers are somewhat slack."

Tao Da was very dissatisfied, saying bluntly: "This won’t do."

"Our Emperor spent a large sum of silver, it can’t be to feed a bunch of good-for-nothings. From now on, train with dedication. I’ll write back to the Emperor that I won’t return to the Capital City until the soldiers are well-trained."

General Tan had never in his life seen such a straightforward brute. Yet, the other party was a trusted aide of the Emperor, robust and intimidating; his large eyes glaring were enough to make one’s heart tremble.

Oh well, let’s see what skills this Tao Da has in training soldiers. Perhaps, he’s all talk, just a mere paper tiger.

General Tan muttered in his heart, but outwardly he agreed readily.

Thus, the following day became a nightmare for all the soldiers in the garrison camp.

By nightfall, each one was so exhausted they couldn’t even hold their chopsticks, not even to drink the fragrant meat soup specially prepared by the kitchen.

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