Ch 432: The Embroidered Uniform Guard
“As for the organization you want to build, I also strongly support it, but have you thought of a name?”
“I have already thought of one.”
Li Hanzhou nodded and said, “Let’s call it the Imperial Guard.”
“Imperial Guard? Not bad.”
Xiao Tiansheng waved his hand, handing over the decision-making power of the whole matter to Li Hanzhou.
Although he and Li Hanzhou had a father-son relationship, they also fought their way from Xuanzhou to the Dragon Court and ascended the throne together.
It can be said that he had long planned to hand over the entire Divine Palace to Li Hanzhou after his death.
“You can choose anyone you want; if anyone disobeys your command, let them come to me.”
Li Hanzhou did not stand on ceremony and directly accepted this important responsibility.
After leaving the Imperial Palace, he returned to his mansion and then had his subordinates summon the generals who were very familiar with him in the King of Northern Qi’s Mansion.
“It’s been a long time, Your Highness is still full of energy!”
Pang Wang, wearing armor, strode to Li Hanzhou’s side, saying excitedly.
Since Xiao Tiansheng ascended the throne, he, who had once served as a General in the Northern Qi army, had also stayed in the Dragon Court and settled down here.
“General Pang looks no worse.”
Li Hanzhou smiled lightly, then invited Pang Wang to sit down and explained the reason for summoning him.
“I won’t beat around the bush, I called you here because I have a task for you.”
“Your Highness, please speak. The brothers of the Northern Qi army are willing to serve Your Highness!” Pang Wang said with a clasped fist.
“I want to establish an Imperial Guard to supervise the officials. You will be the Commander of the Imperial Guard. You find the people, those with a clean background, and those you trust. Anyone you want; I only have one request: they must be loyal to the Dragon Court.”
“Supervise the officials?” Pang Wang’s face immediately became serious.
He realized that Li Hanzhou might be about to do something big.
Li Hanzhou said, “This matter concerns the stability of the Divine Palace. Actually, the people of the Demon Suppression Division are also suitable for the Imperial Guard’s identity, but as you know, the Demon Suppression Division was Emperor Yu Yang’s after all. I don’t trust them. Only you old men from Northern Qi are the people we trust the most.”
Creating this Imperial Guard department is not something shameful; it will deter officials in broad daylight. Li Hanzhou explained the crux of the matter, urging Pang Wang to take it seriously and not slack off.
“I will certainly not disappoint Your Highness.”
After listening to Li Hanzhou’s words, Pang Wang’s expression was solemn, and he was also moved by the trust Li Hanzhou showed him.
He left and returned to the military camp. After spending nearly two days, he finally summoned five hundred soldiers in the military camp who met the standards for Li Hanzhou.
During these two days, Li Hanzhou also chose a relatively spacious place in the Imperial Capital for the Imperial Guard to take root.
At this moment, Li Hanzhou stood in a very open courtyard.
Before him were soldiers standing in neat rows, all wearing Flying Fish Robes and carrying Spring Embroidered Sabers.
Looking at this scene, Li Hanzhou couldn’t help but show a strange expression, feeling a little amused.
He completely referenced the Imperial Guard from Blue Star’s ancient times; both the appearance and the way of operation are exactly the same.
Li Hanzhou scanned everyone and then slowly said, “You were all members of the Northern Qi army. You are a team carefully selected by Pang Wang. I won’t say anything else; I’ll just talk about what our department does and what your responsibilities are.”
“The so-called Imperial Guard is personally commanded by this Highness. In this vast Dragon Court, you only take orders from two people: His Majesty and me. Apart from that, no matter how high an official’s rank is, they have no right to command you!”
“Your duty is to supervise the officials, find those corrupt officials, and if you find evidence, you can arrest them directly without going through the yamen…”
Hearing this,
the Imperial Guards present couldn’t help but breathe rapidly. They originally came here with anxiety, not knowing what kind of difficult task they would be given.
But they didn’t expect to have such great power.
Someone thought for a moment and asked, “Your Highness, if other princes order us…”
“Ignore them,” Li Hanzhou said calmly.
Hearing this answer, the excitement in everyone’s hearts could not be concealed.
But at this moment, Li Hanzhou poured cold water on them.
“The reason you are here is because you are not afraid of authority and have clean backgrounds. If you become arrogant and act recklessly after becoming Imperial Guards, don’t blame me for being ruthless in cleaning house!”
“Subordinate understands.”
The excitement in the Imperial Guards’ hearts disappeared, and they regained their composure.
Li Hanzhou nodded in satisfaction and then said, “Luo Bailie.”
“This subordinate is here!”
A tall figure emerged from the crowd and came before Li Hanzhou.
“From today on, you are the Deputy Commander.”
Li Hanzhou continued.
Luo Bailie was once a Centurion in the Northern Qi army and had accompanied him to Jinyuan City when he was in the King of Northern Qi’s Mansion.
The reason he chose people from the Northern Qi army to be Imperial Guards was because they were already obedient to him, making it easier to command them.
“This subordinate understands!”
Luo Bailie immediately replied, his face full of excitement.
Now that he had become a member of the Imperial Guard, he naturally knew how much power this department had. He could be on equal footing with some officials in the court, and even some lower-ranking officials were not as good as them.
Compared to being in the army, he was more fortunate to be in the Imperial Guard and become the Deputy Commander, the second-highest position after Pang Wang. This was even more surprising than winning the lottery.
Then Li Hanzhou selected a few more people and arranged some other positions. Afterward, he assigned a part of the Imperial Guard to find some undeveloped coal mines in the Divine Capital, and once discovered, they would claim them for their own use, leaving no chance for others.
At the same time, he also asked them to recruit some trustworthy master craftsmen and bring them to him once they were found.
The remaining Imperial Guards were to supervise the officials, rectify the civil and military officials, and weed out some incompetent officials.
As the Imperial Guard began to operate and take action,
the officials of the entire Divine Palace fell into turmoil, which was extremely unfavorable to them.
The appearance of the Imperial Guard was like a thorn in their side, impossible to remove. If they made any move, they would immediately feel the pain.
Those who could become officials were very adept at social interactions. Things like bribery to get things done were commonplace, becoming an unspoken rule among civil and military officials.
Therefore, some unsavory dirty deeds inevitably occurred among the civil and military officials, and they all tacitly chose to turn a blind eye.
But since the Imperial Guard took office, they directly shattered this tacit understanding.
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