652 Left Army Inspection (2/2)

Kongli was standing in the courtyard in a daze, deep in thought.

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”Do you remember what you said ten days ago, wife?”

The other people on the Nine Tooth Giant Ship didn't react. Only Kong Yao was stunned.

Zong Shou didn't call her 'Concubine Yao,' but 'wife.'

It wasn't what husbands called their concubines, but rather what a ruler called his subject.

What did he mean?

She didn't know if it was just her imagination, but she felt that the box in her hands was extremely heavy. Right as she picked it up, she had nearly dropped it. Who knew what was within.

As for what she said ten days ago on the shuttle...

”Naturally I remember!”

”Good!”

Zong Shou smiled and then his expression turned serious, ”From today on, I will remove the roles of Left and Right Pillar Generals, and set up the Privy Council and the Five Army Inspection Division. The Privy Council has the role of mobilizing troops, ensuring discipline, deciding strategy, and managing the promotion and demotion of grade-3 officials. The Five Army Inspection Division has the role of training troops, managing troops, and commanding troops during war. General Qiuwei has contributed much. As Country Protection Duke, you will be the first head of the Privy Council. Zong Gang will become the West Settling Marquis, to be the Right Army Inspector.”

The people around were shocked when they heard it, all of them bowing as they listened to the order. At this moment, they weren't surprised when they heard it.

The Left and Right Pillar Generals had been set up by Zong Weiran to command the army.

It was okay when Gantian was small, but now they had unified Donglin.

Those two roles held too much power, and too many responsibilities.

It was still okay with Zong Shou here. But if there was another ruler and the generals weren't like Zong Gang and Qiuwei, if they had thoughts that strayed, they could shake the foundations of the country.

Like the six ministries of the civil servants, these two roles and general occupations were something everyone coveted.

Even Zong Gang himself was prepared. He knew he couldn't last for long in the Right Pillar General role.

Hearing Zong Shou's words now, he wasn't shocked but delighted. Recently, he was annoyed with all the complicated military affairs.

Everyone else was startled. Everyone expected Qiuwei to become Privy Court Head. Only he had the rights to protect the country, since this Pillar Qiu did have the skill!

However, Zong Gang's assignment surprised them. Since there was right then there would be left. The Five Army Inspection Division definitely had left, right, middle, front and back. The middle would be the most important and be the head of the five.

Zong Gang wasn't some top talent, and was the Right Army Inspector due to his experience and loyalty.

However, who would become the Middle Army Inspector? Hu Qianqiu or Chaiyuan? Zong Yuan did have the right. His reputation was huge, only his experience was too little.

Zong Gang himself didn't care much about the position, as long as he could command troops. However, he was also curious about who was ahead of him in the running.

Maybe the left and middle spots had been purposefully left empty.

Following which, everyone felt that Zong Shou's gaze wasn't right. He was smiling and staring intently at Kong Yao's hands.

This Ruler was so lustful! What was so nice about hands?

Everyone felt disdain. But then they thought about something, and looked over to where Zong Shou was looking.

Kong Yao's expression changed, looking at her hands in disbelief.

She frowned and opened the expensive redwood box.

She saw that there were two objects within. One was a rolled up edict, and the other a purple-gold seal.

At this moment everyone had weird expressions on their faces. Kong Yao's hand trembled as she picked up the seal.

Flipping it over, she saw that the bottom was carved with the words 'Left Army Inspector.'

She used true qi to look closely, and saw that it was an official edict.

It eloquently praised her with many words. Kong Yao didn't care about those. Such formalized phrases didn't mean much and shouldn't be taken seriously.

The two final sentences distracted her.

'Order Kong Yao to be the Left Army Inspector'

The date showed that it had been effective beginning from ten days ago. Zong Shou would have already prepared it prior to the first time he went to Lianyun Island.

Speaking of which, Zong Shou was already prepared for her to lead the Left Army?

Gantian Mountain had four hundred towns. If it was split into five that was eight hundred thousand troops. All of them were elites!

She felt shocked for a moment before she looked towards Zong Shou in disbelief.

She had many thoughts in her heart, and felt like she was in a dream. She didn't think that she would have a chance to lead an army.

She suddenly recalled what not too long ago, what Yiren had told her on Gantian Mountain Peak-- 'My husband told me that Sister Kong's leadership ability might not be like Zong Yuan and Pillar Qiu, but you are a commander, able to work independently. Zong Yuan can lead troops but you can lead generals. Your ability will only show from leading a huge army!'

She had thought that it was a joke. Only now did she know that Zong Shou really saw it that way.