aircannonsinc Chapter 775: Qingyi Society officially takes office, and the ministers are wary!
Chapter 775: Qingyi Society officially takes office, and the ministers are wary!
A chill inexplicably crept up his spine. What kind of power was hidden behind this seemingly harmless scholar that made Gao Yao so dependent on him and Zhang Liang so cautious?
But Zhang Liang still noticed Ying Bu's little move, and then Zhang Liang used his eyes to stop Ying Bu from asking questions, which made Ying Bu very depressed. But after noticing Zhang Liang's eyes, Ying Bu hesitated and didn't speak. After all, Zhang Liang shouldn't have tricked him. Ying Bu was a little reckless, but he was not brainless. Just because he didn't understand something didn't mean Zhang Liang didn't know it either.
Gao Yao's words were like a boulder thrown into a calm lake. Li Qing and the "Qingyi Society" he represented instantly captured the attention of everyone present. Unlike Ying Bu, who was completely unfamiliar with the name, Xiao He, Zhang Liang, Li Si and others were not completely unfamiliar with the name, and a chill had already passed through their hearts.
They all knew, or vaguely sensed, that Gao Yao held an extremely secret force in his hands. This force was like an invisible spider web, quietly covering the entire southern border, and even extending to the more distant enemy territories.
According to rumors, they are responsible for gathering intelligence and monitoring unusual movements. Their identities are mysterious, yet they seem to be everywhere. Outsiders can only see the tip of the iceberg - they only know that most of these people are orphans left behind by the war, secretly adopted and carefully raised by Gao Yao, both men and women, who have been instilled with absolute loyalty since childhood. Their backgrounds are as clean as a blank sheet of paper, yet they are unfathomable. As long as Gao Yao is willing, there seems to be no secret in the world that he cannot find out.
The existence of this "Qingyi Society" itself means huge power and a bottomless shadow. It is not just a simple intelligence agency. It is more like a sword hanging over the heads of every important official, hidden in the dark! Although the cold edge is not revealed, it always reminds them that every word and action is under observation. It is precisely because we know very little about its internal operations and specific rights and responsibilities that people feel an unknown fear and deep dread.
Gao Yao has always been cautious, and his core decision-making circle is like an iron barrel. Only those with outstanding achievements and loyalty can enter. At this moment, he allowed the mysterious Qingyi Society President Li Qing to stand in the core hall of power so abruptly and openly, standing shoulder to shoulder with the founding fathers.
What was the deeper meaning behind this? Was it a simple recommendation? Was it to demonstrate his absolute confidence in the control of intelligence? Or was it... a silent warning? Or was it a pre-emptive surveillance of the upcoming power structure changes? Everyone's thoughts raced, but it was like seeing flowers in the fog. No one could figure out the real purpose of the prime minister's move.
Even though everyone was filled with doubts and turmoil, no one dared to ask. Li Qing's seemingly modest and gentle smile was indescribably strange in everyone's eyes.
Zhang Liang lowered his eyes, his fingertips unconsciously rubbing his cuffs; Xiao He slightly adjusted his stance, as if to dispel the chill rising from his back; Li Si's face was calm, but a barely perceptible solemnity also flashed through the depths of his eyes. Whether or not you can understand it is one thing, but rashly questioning the prime minister's decision, especially when it involves such a secret power, is tantamount to asking for trouble. A subtle, suffocating silence permeated the hall, with only the occasional crackling of the candlelight.
Gao Yao didn't seem to care about the tense atmosphere, or rather, this was exactly the effect he wanted. He turned his sharp eyes to Han Xin, and his voice regained its usual majesty and decisiveness, instantly breaking the silence: "Han Xin!"
"I'm here!" Han Xin immediately calmed his mind, straightened his back, clasped his fists and responded, temporarily suppressing all his thoughts about the Qingyi Society.
"Your duties remain unchanged," Gao Yao said firmly, "You will be stationed in Dongjiao County! At the same time, the construction of the seaport cannot be delayed and must be started immediately. You will still be in charge of all military affairs. I understand the principle that 'a general is not subject to the orders of the king when he is away from home', but you must remember - Dongjiao County is the throat of our southern border to the sea, and it cannot be lost! Your first priority is to stabilize the situation on the eastern front for me!"
"Yes! I will obey your order! I will not fail the Prime Minister's trust!" Han Xin's answer was sonorous and powerful. This result was within his expectations. Dongjiao County seemed to be in a remote corner, far away from the heart of the Central Plains, and might have limited value in the eyes of traditional princes, but Han Xin was well aware of Gao Yao's grand plan.
With the unique navigation advantages of the southern border, the strategic value of Dongjiao County, a bridgehead facing the vast ocean, is immeasurable. Once a large port is built, it will become an unsinkable supply base and a center for troop projection. Even if the war breaks out again in the future and the land route is cut off by a powerful enemy, Dongjiao County can still obtain food and supplies continuously through its strong shipping capabilities, and even quickly mobilize reinforcements, becoming a key fulcrum to turn the tide.
Gao Yao nodded, expressing his satisfaction with Han Xin's understanding. Then he changed the subject, his tone suddenly became cold, and he dropped a shocking piece of news: "As for Wei Bao, the King of Wei, he is nothing but a dead bone in a tomb. There is no need to be afraid of him. We just need to keep a close eye on his movements. The real threat is Liu Bang!"
His eyes were like lightning, sweeping over the crowd, and he said word by word: "According to the latest secret report from the Qingyi Society, Liu Bang has colluded with the Xiongnu and is in cahoots with them! He has secretly gathered no less than 100,000 cavalrymen under his command!"
"hiss--!"
"One hundred thousand cavalry?!"
"Hun?!"
"One hundred thousand?!"
The moment the words fell, the entire main hall of the Prime Minister's Mansion seemed to be swept by an invisible cold current! The depression caused by the Qingyi Society was instantly overwhelmed by this more shocking news. Including Han Xin, almost everyone couldn't help but gasp! Although the exclamation was forcibly suppressed in the throat, the sudden change of horror on the face could not be concealed.
One hundred thousand cavalry! This number itself carries a terrifying force like a landslide or tsunami! In the era of cold weapons, such a large-scale elite cavalry, with its impact, mobility and destructiveness, is enough to scare any opponent.
At present, Gao Yao is integrating the power of the southern border and devoting all its efforts to development. The number of high-quality war horses it has is extremely limited. It is already the limit to be able to gather tens of thousands of well-equipped and well-trained cavalry. It is also difficult to achieve a hundred thousand.
A heavy pressure instantly pressed down on everyone's heart. Almost at the same time, they all had a vision of smoke and dust covering the sky, accompanied by the thunderous roar of iron hooves, and countless scimitars flashing with cold light sweeping in like a wave of death. This was definitely not something that ordinary infantry could resist, nor was it a disaster that could be easily resolved simply by relying on the wisdom of the generals.
There is a natural restraint between the arms! In an open area, facing the overwhelming charge of 100,000 cavalry, even the most elite infantry phalanx is likely to be completely overwhelmed and crushed in a few breaths! This is not a question of the ability of the leading generals, but the absolute crushing of the steel torrent on the flesh and blood!