Currently, his Feathered Forest Army number over 300,000, divided between Huo Qubing and Li Ling.
Although neither of them had specific memories of hatred, there was actually some distance between them, so Lin Yi chose to separate them.
Firstly, they didn't want to force these two commanders to their positions; secondly, Li Ling's own strength was extraordinary, and it would be somewhat unfair to make him a deputy in the Feathered Forest Army.
Therefore, this newly created Northern Liang Army became the best choice.
This Northern Liang Army was actually a local army, meaning their loyalty couldn't be maintained for long. Even if they were loyal to me now, the potential dangers still existed.
To completely control the Northern Liang Army, relying solely on Wang Ziwen and his men is insufficient, as they are already old and will likely retreat completely after this battle.
As for Xu Zhong, he does have a chance, but ultimately he's not the best candidate.
Moreover, Li Ling is skilled in the combination of multiple troop types, making him an excellent choice to control the Eight Trigrams Formation Diagram. Crucially, he is 100% loyal and also possesses exceptional abilities.
In addition to Li Ling, I also need to put some capable people in there, and use them as the core to influence others. In this way, I can completely transform the Northern Liang Army.
" Li Ling?"
When the officials saw Li Ling, they couldn't help but frown. Clearly, they were not familiar with this new colleague, and they hadn't expected the emperor to send him to the Northern Liang Army.
Xu Zhong frowned slightly, but said nothing.
He knew in his heart that this was a check and balance mechanism; if the emperor hadn't done this, there would have been a problem. After all, this was an elite army of 500,000 men, and if something went wrong, it would definitely cause a huge uproar.
Wang Ziwen nodded silently. The prince had finally grown up. Now every word and action of his was impeccable. This was a true emperor.
A single spark can start a prairie fire!
Often, flaws arise unintentionally. The emperor's actions were simply a precautionary measure, a wise move.
Lin Rusong couldn't help but take a closer look at Li Ling, and he guessed the reason to some extent. His son was being a bit too cautious.
But this is good, as long as my son is comfortable using the Northern Liang Army, my old comrades won't be sidelined.
He didn't ask any further questions, but instead exclaimed, " Yi'er, General Li Ling looks like a man of exceptional talent and is sure to be a remarkable figure. With him joining our Northern Liang Army, Northern Liang will undoubtedly rise to even greater heights."
To be honest, he was also very curious about what kind of strength General Li Ling possessed that made his son choose him as the future leader of the Northern Liang Army.
"Your Majesty flatters me. Li Ling am deeply grateful for the high regard you hold for me. It is my honor to join the Northern Liang Army and serve Your Majesty!" Li Ling said with a smile, neither humble nor arrogant.
He might lack confidence in other areas, but when it comes to military campaigns, which is a family skill, he would never underestimate himself.
"Haha, what a confident lad!"
Lin Rusong's eyes lit up, and he thought more Zigao in front of him.
This kid is so confident, he must have some skills. He seems like a troublemaker; if things go wrong, even we old folks might be outmatched.
Lin Yi smiled and said, " Li Ling comes from a military family, so his strength is naturally extraordinary. He's in the Northern Liang Army, serving as Xu Zhong's deputy. You can mentor him."
"This subordinate obeys the order!" Xu Zhong was taken aback for a moment, then immediately accepted the task.
Although he knew perfectly well that this was a stake planted by the Emperor, he felt no resentment whatsoever; on the contrary, he was somewhat grateful. After all, the Emperor had already shown him leniency by making him his deputy, which was already a great favor.
As for any form of resistance, he had never even considered it.
After all, the current emperor is too powerful. Not to mention the nine elite legions, the newly arrived Qi Jiguang would probably crush him. So, he had already given up long ago.
He thought he would live out his life in a daze, but unexpectedly, things took a turn for the better, and the emperor gave him a chance, which he cherished very much.
"Hmm, not bad!"
Seeing his tact, a smile flashed in Lin Yi's eyes. It seemed that his days of leisure had honed his skills, and he was now much more adept at handling things.
He looked at his father and solemnly said, "Father, this western campaign is extremely important. The Great Liang will be mobilizing over two million troops. The west is now entrusted to you!"
Two million!!!
Lin Rusong trembled. What a magnificent battlefield this would be! This was practically the strongest battle in the world!
To be able to participate is the glory of a martial artist!
At this moment, he felt as if he were burning with passion, filled with fighting spirit, as if he had returned to the time when he was entrusted with a critical mission to save Northern Liang.
He took a deep breath and solemnly said, "Your Majesty, rest assured, with two million troops at your command, not only the West, but the world will be yours!"
Good son, thank you!
He knew perfectly well that his son had entrusted this battle to him as a way to give him credit, allowing him to retire in glory. Otherwise, it would never have been his turn.
The Great Liang has never lacked generals, so how could it lack people to command the three armies?
The westward expedition with two million troops was a terrifying and massive battle, almost a guaranteed victory. This was entirely about reaping the credit, and the most suitable commander-in-chief was actually his own son, Lin Yi.
The emperor personally led an expedition to destroy two countries—what a glorious achievement! Yet his own son gave him the opportunity!
For a moment, his eyes welled up with tears, and he murmured, " Yi'er, what I'm most proud of in this life isn't becoming the Prince of Northern Liang, nor the Emperor Emeritus, but having a son like you."
"Thank you for your trouble, Father."
Lin Yi sighed. If he hadn't seen Lin Rusong so sullen in the palace, he really wouldn't have wanted his grandfather to go to the battlefield.
But sometimes it's just destiny; some people are born to be on the battlefield.
Once he leaves the battlefield, his life loses its purpose, just like Lin Rusong now. Even though he is the retired emperor, he is lonely at heart and longs for the battlefield.
Rather than let him die in despair, it's better to give him a glorious end, which can also be considered a tribute to our father-son relationship.
The rest are other candidates.
He looked at Jia Xu and Guo Jia beside him and said in a deep voice, "This time, Wenhe you to assist the Emperor Emeritus in attacking the West. There's no time to start a war yet, so it's a good opportunity for you to go and push things along!"
Although the campaign to conquer the west was in the planning stages, it had not yet officially begun.
The current plan of the Great Liang is to eliminate those small countries, and as for the Frostwest Empire, it still needs an excuse.
However, this excuse is coming soon.