100: Chapter 10 Planning for the World

## I

On the fifteenth day after entering the capital, Li Ling finally straightened out the affairs of the capital.

The capital's administrative system was back in operation, social order was stable, the people were fed, businesses had reopened, and even the reorganization of the Imperial Guard was on the right track. Everything was on the right path, and he could leave with peace of mind.

However, before leaving, there was one more thing he had to do—formulate a detailed plan to unify the country.

That evening, Li Ling summoned his advisors to the command headquarters for an all-night military meeting. The conference room was brightly lit, and a huge map of the Qingxia Kingdom hung on the wall, marked with the spheres of influence, troop deployments, and transport routes of various warlords. Red and blue markers were densely packed, like a complex tapestry.

In addition to Li Ling's core generals, Minister of Rites Shen Zhibai and several newly recruited advisors attended the meeting. They sat around a long table, their expressions serious, excitement flashing in their eyes.

"Gentlemen." Li Ling stood before the map, getting straight to the point, "The affairs in the capital are mostly handled. In a few days, I will be returning to Jiangning Prefecture. But before I go back, I want to discuss the matter of unifying the country with all of you."

The advisors perked up and sat up straight.

"Unifying the country is not something that can be done overnight." Li Ling pointed at the map, "My plan is to proceed in three steps."

He picked up a thin wooden stick and pointed at Shanxi.

"The first step is to attack Shanxi. Warlord Yan Xishan's Jin Army has about 50,000 troops and relatively poor equipment, but they hold the geographical advantage. The terrain in Shanxi is dangerous and difficult to attack. If we launch a frontal assault, the casualties will be high. Therefore, we must use our Special Forces to take out their command system first, then use the Air Force to bomb their supply lines and fortifications, and finally advance with the Army. With these three prongs, we will make them collapse before they even see our main force."

A general asked, "Sir, how many troops are needed to take Shanxi?"

Li Ling thought for a moment, "Three Army groups. The First Army Group will attack from the direction of Hebei, the Second Army Group from the direction of Henan, and the Third Army Group will serve as the general reserve. The total force will be about 200,000."

"Is 200,000 to fight 50,000 a bit too much?" another general asked.

"Not at all." Li Ling shook his head, "Even a lion uses its full strength to hunt a rabbit. We cannot underestimate the enemy just because they are weak. We must take every battle seriously and minimize casualties as much as possible."

The generals nodded, agreeing that it made sense.

Li Ling's wooden stick moved to Zhili.

"The second step is to attack Zhili. Yuan Shikai's Beiyang Army is the strongest warlord force in the north, with about 150,000 troops, well-equipped and well-trained. We cannot fight him head-on; we must use strategy. First, use the fleet to blockade Bohai Bay and cut off his maritime supply lines, then use Special Forces to sabotage his rail transport, and finally, use our main forces to attack from both Shandong and Shanxi, forcing him into a decisive battle."

"Will Yuan Shikai ask other warlords for help?" Minister of Rites Shen Zhibai asked.

"He will." Li Ling said, "Therefore, we must deploy blocking forces on the periphery to cut off his contact with the outside world. At the same time, send people to lobby other warlords to keep them neutral."

"Lobby whom?"

"Zhang Zuolin." Li Ling pointed to the northeast, "Zhang Zuolin's Fengtian Army has about 80,000 troops and has been entrenched in the Northeast for many years with deep roots. But he is not of one mind with Yuan Shikai, so we can win him over, or at least keep him neutral."

"How to win him over?"

"Give him benefits." Li Ling laughed, "Acknowledge his status in the Northeast, provide him with weapons and funds, and we can even arrange a marriage alliance. In short, as long as he doesn't interfere, any terms can be discussed."

The advisors nodded, feeling this plan was feasible.

Li Ling's wooden stick moved to the Northeast.

"The third step is to attack the Northeast. Zhang Zuolin's Fengtian Army's troops are scattered and difficult to concentrate. We can use the fleet to land on the Liaodong Peninsula, strike directly at Fengtian, cut off his retreat, and then besiege the point to strike the reinforcements, defeating them one by one."

"The Northeast is vast and sparsely populated with poor transportation; logistical support is a big problem," a general in charge of logistics said.

"That is why we must prepare in advance." Li Ling said, "Establish supply bases along the coast and store enough ammunition, food, and fuel. At the same time, use rail and road transport to improve supply efficiency."

The meeting lasted until late at night. The advisors discussed and deliberated repeatedly, considering every detail. Troop deployment, attack routes, logistical support, contingency plans... every aspect was planned in detail.

When Li Ling announced the end of the meeting, it was almost dawn.

## II

After the meeting, the advisors left one by one, leaving only Li Ling and Minister of Rites Shen Zhibai in the conference room.

Minister of Rites Shen Zhibai sat in his chair, holding a cup of cold tea, looking at Li Ling, hesitant to speak.

"Mr. Shen, if you have something to say, just say it." Li Ling smiled.

Minister of Rites Shen Zhibai put down the teacup, pondered for a moment, and said, "Young Master Li, I would like to ask you a question."

"Please go ahead."

"After you unify the country, how do you plan to govern it?"

Li Ling was stunned for a moment, then laughed, "Mr. Shen, you are testing me."

"It's not a test; it's a reminder." Minister of Rites Shen Zhibai said seriously, "Conquering the world is easy; governing it is difficult. You are currently only thinking about how to fight, but have you thought about what to do after you have conquered it?"

Li Ling was silent for a moment, then said, "Mr. Shen, to be honest, I have thought about it, but not much. My mind is currently full of fighting; matters of governance will have to wait until the war is over."

"Then think about it now." Minister of Rites Shen Zhibai said, "Young Master Li, you are not an ordinary warlord; you are the person who will be emperor in the future. You cannot only think about fighting; you must also think about what comes after."

Li Ling looked at him without speaking.

Minister of Rites Shen Zhibai continued, "I have spent half my life in the imperial court and have seen too many people who only think about how to seize power, not how to govern. What happens after seizing power? They either become tyrants, foolish rulers, or are overthrown. Such people, even if they win the world, cannot hold onto it."

"Then what do you think I should do, Mr. Shen?"

"First, establish rules." Minister of Rites Shen Zhibai held up a finger, "Without rules, nothing can be achieved. You must establish a stable system so that everyone has guidelines to follow and laws to abide by. You cannot rely on the rule of man; you must rely on the rule of law."

Li Ling nodded, "That makes sense."

"Second, employ talent." Minister of Rites Shen Zhibai held up a second finger, "No matter how capable you are, you cannot govern such a large country alone. You need a group of capable, principled, and responsible talents to help you share the burden of government. Selection must be fair, and employment must be appropriate; you cannot practice nepotism."

"Third, value the people's livelihood." Minister of Rites Shen Zhibai held up a third finger, "The people are the foundation of the country. If the people are fed, clothed, and live in peace, your empire will be stable. If the people are hungry, cold, and displaced, even if you have many troops, you cannot protect your empire."

Li Ling was silent for a long time, then stood up and bowed deeply to Minister of Rites Shen Zhibai.

"Mr. Shen, hearing your words is better than reading books for ten years." he said solemnly, "You have said these things, and I have remembered them all. After I unify the country, I will certainly do as you say."

Minister of Rites Shen Zhibai hurriedly helped him up, "Young Master Li, this cannot be; it must not be. You are the Prince Regent, how can you bow to this old man?"

"You are an elder and also my teacher; bowing is only right." Li Ling smiled, "Mr. Shen, from now on, you will be my military advisor. I will consult you on all matters, big or small."

Minister of Rites Shen Zhibai's eyes were slightly red, and he nodded, "Good, this old man's old bones will be entrusted to you."

## III

The next day, Li Ling held his final press conference in the capital.

The press conference was held in the courtyard of the command headquarters, with hundreds of reporters from major newspapers in the Qingxia Kingdom and foreign news agencies. They set up cameras and laid out their manuscripts, waiting for Li Ling to speak.

Li Ling stood on the platform, with Minister of Rites Shen Zhibai and several core generals behind him. He was wearing a crisp military uniform, looking heroic and imposing.

"Gentlemen." he began, his voice resonant, "I have invited you here today to report on a few matters."

The reporters were scribbling down notes.

"First, the rebel forces in the capital have been cleared out, city defense has been restored, and the lives of the people have stabilized. From today, the capital is no longer in a state of war."

"Second, the cleanup work in the capital region is still ongoing. I will leave 10,000 elite troops to assist the imperial court in maintaining order until all the remnants of the rebels are eliminated."

"Third, I will be returning to Jiangning Prefecture in the near future to continue handling the affairs of the five southeastern provinces. The affairs of the capital will be temporarily left to Prince Qing and Mr. Shen Zhibai."

The reporters were in a stir. Someone raised a hand to ask, "Young Master Li, after you return to Jiangning Prefecture, will you come back to the capital?"

"Of course I will." Li Ling smiled, "The capital is the national capital. As the Prince Regent, I will certainly come often. However, it is not the right time now. After the situation stabilizes a bit more, I will establish a permanent agency in the capital to handle daily affairs."

Another reporter asked, "Young Master Li, some people say you want to hollow out the royal family and become emperor yourself. What do you think?"

When this question came out, the scene fell silent. Everyone's eyes were focused on Li Ling, waiting for his answer.

Li Ling was not angry; instead, he laughed.

"This reporter, what is your surname?"

"My surname is Wang."

"Reporter Wang, let me ask you a question." Li Ling said, "Do you think, with my current power, I still need to 'hollow out' the royal family?"

The scene was silent again.

Li Ling continued, "I am not showing off, nor am I threatening. I just want to state a fact—power is not something you grab; it is something you gain through strength. The royal family currently has no strength, so they have no power. This is not something I snatched away; it is the choice of history."

"Then will you replace the royal family?" Reporter Wang pressed.

Li Ling was silent for a moment, then said, "Reporter Wang, I do not want to answer this question right now. But I can tell you that no matter what happens in the future, everything I do is for this country and for the people on this land."

"If someone is more suitable to be the leader of this country than I am, I am willing to step down. But right now, no one is more suitable than me."

After speaking, he announced the end of the press conference and turned to walk off the stage.

The reporters swarmed forward, wanting to ask more questions, but were stopped by guards.

Li Ling returned to the study, and Minister of Rites Shen Zhibai followed him in.

"Young Master Li, was your speech just now too blunt?" Minister of Rites Shen Zhibai said worriedly, "What if someone uses it to make an issue..."

"What is there to fear?" Li Ling smiled, "Mr. Shen, it is not like before. In the past, one had to be careful when speaking, fearing that someone would catch a handle. Now it is not necessary, because no matter what I say, no one dares to do anything to me. This is the confidence that strength brings."

Minister of Rites Shen Zhibai sighed, "Young Master Li, you are truly a person who makes people both respect and fear you at times."

"Respect is enough; fear is unnecessary." Li Ling patted him on the shoulder, "Mr. Shen, the affairs of the capital are left to you. After I return to Jiangning Prefecture, I will send people to contact you periodically. If there is anything urgent, send me a telegram directly."

"Young Master Li, rest assured, this old man will certainly do his best."

## IV

The day before leaving the capital, Li Ling went to the Forbidden City to bid farewell to the Emperor.

This time, the Emperor's spirits were much better than before. He sat on the dragon throne, wearing a bright yellow dragon robe and a crown, looking quite dignified. Although everyone knew that he, this emperor, existed in name only, the superficial decency had to be maintained.

"Minister Li, are you leaving?" the Emperor's tone was somewhat reluctant.

"Yes, Your Majesty." Li Ling bowed, "The affairs in the capital are mostly handled, and it is time for me to return to handle the affairs of the southeast."

The Emperor nodded, "Then who have you left the affairs of the capital to?"

"Prince Qing and Minister of Rites Shen Zhibai." Li Ling said, "Prince Qing is a member of the royal family with high prestige and deep seniority; Minister of Rites Shen Zhibai is my advisor, with strong ability and steady work. With them both here, the government affairs of the capital will not have problems."

"That's good." the Emperor sighed, "Minister Li, with you leaving, I feel empty inside. With you here, I feel at ease. With you gone, I have to face those... those people alone again."

Li Ling knew he was talking about those unruly princes, nobles, and ministers. Although they dared not openly oppose the Emperor, their secret small actions had never stopped.

"Your Majesty, rest assured." Li Ling said, "Although I am leaving, my troops are still here. With them in the capital, no one dares to mess around."

"That's good, that's good." the Emperor nodded repeatedly, a hint of relief flashing in his eyes.

The two chatted for a few more sentences, and then Li Ling took his leave. Walking out of Taihe Hall, he looked back once; the Emperor inside was sitting blankly on the dragon throne, like a sculpture, motionless.

Li Ling didn't think much and walked out of the Forbidden City with big strides.

On the day he left the capital, Li Ling did not disturb many people. He took Wang Hu, Zhao Tiezhu, and a few attendants, rode on horses, and quietly left the city.

But the people still knew. They spontaneously gathered at the city gate, cheering him off along the way, waving flags and flowers in their hands, shouting "Safe travels, Young Master Li" and "Take care, Young Master Li." Some even cried, as if seeing off a relative.

Li Ling rode on his horse, waving to the people, a warm current surging in his heart.

This is the will of the people. If you treat them well, they will remember you, be grateful to you, and support you. This is a power that no weapon can replace.

Out of the city, Li Ling rode his horse on the official road, with the capital gradually fading away behind him.

"Next, it's time to get down to business." he muttered to himself, his gaze firm.

He took a map out of his pocket, marked with the spheres of influence of various warlords across the country. He looked at it for a while, then folded it and put it back in his pocket.

"Shanxi, Zhili, the Northeast... one by one." he said in his heart, "Within three years, I want every inch of this land to have our flag planted on it."

"By then, it will be the era of Li Ling."

With a flick of his whip, the jeep accelerated forward, kicking up a trail of dust.

Behind him, the walls of the capital grew smaller and smaller, eventually disappearing on the horizon.

Ahead lay the vast world, the infinite future, and everything waiting for him to conquer.