Chapter 916: The Secret of the Moonlit Pass General

and fearful apology didn't really faze Li Chen.He turned toward the steps and said, “It matters not. It’s not a rebellion. Just some foolish fools with impractical dreams.”"You long to return home, an...Chapter 916: The Secret of the Moonlit Pass Commander

Su Zhen's words reassured Li Chen considerably.

Whether it's Su Zhenting's personality or his status, if he can be so certain that Yueya Pass won't launch a full-scale rebellion, then this matter has credibility.

Li Chen pondered for a moment, then said: "General Su, we cannot allow anything to happen at Yueya Pass, nor can we let the Liao army enter."

Su Zhen Ting wryly smiled and said, "The reasoning is indeed true, but Yueya Pass has always been a self-contained system. Not to mention the Imperial Court, even Ning Wang, who relies on Yueya Pass's rear base, has tried every means these years to break through Yueya Pass's route without success. If Zhao Xuanji has already laid down his groundwork inside, it will be as difficult as reaching heaven for us to break the situation in a short time."

“Within the Yuyue Pass, there are 60,000 soldiers ready for combat at any time. These 60,000 soldiers are all veterans and elite troops. In addition, there are at least 100,000 reserves. These reserves normally work during peacetime but also participate in training. Once the Yuyue Pass defense line is in urgent need, these 100,000 people can put on armor and weapons to immediately join the battle.”

"Furthermore, throughout history, emperors have granted the commanders of Yueya Pass immense power to bolster its defensive capabilities. Unlike other military positions where generals typically serve for no more than six years to prevent the formation of entrenched factions, Yueya Pass's commanders hold their posts indefinitely."

“And all matters related to military supplies, finances, and the allocation of salaries were directly handled by the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Revenue, bypassing the commanders. This was done to separate military power from financial power. Even if a commander had ulterior motives, without the support of provisions and salaries, they would be unable to do anything.”

But all this is completely different at Yuéyáguān.

“The strategic importance of Yueya Pass meant that it could not be governed by ordinary rules. Commanders were rarely replaced, and even when they were, taking into account the overall combat effectiveness and cohesion, a successor was usually chosen from within Yueya Pass itself, with one or several individuals selected and submitted to the court for final decision. The court would not consider any other candidates.”

Moreover, the allocation of provisions and military pay was handled by the Yueya Pass commanders who would tally the figures themselves and report them to the imperial court. The court would then transport the supplies to Yueya Pass. The imperial court was only responsible for providing funds and had no authority to audit or inspect the process.

"Over the past century, Yueya Guan can be said to be a truly impregnable fortress, impervious even to water."

Li Chen's fingers tapped against the table, his eyes closed in thought.

Su Zhen Ting had told him all of this, but the problem was that because he knew these things so well, it made it even harder to find a solution.

"Actually..."

Su ZhenTing suddenly said: "The imperial court is not without a way to control the Moonlit Pass. For example, each successive commander of the Moonlit Pass must, according to imperial requirements, send their wives, children, and elderly relatives to the capital."

Li Chen suddenly opened his eyes and said, "How could I not know about this"

Su Zhen'ting bowed and said, "This matter is top secret. Only the Emperor knows the details, and I, along with His Majesty, brought it up when His Majesty was still in good health a few years ago."

And the emperor told me the location where the wives, children, and families of this generation's garrison lived.

Li Chen suddenly stood up and said, "Why didn't you say so earlier"

Su Zhen Ting smiled bitterly and said nothing.

Li Chen looked at him, knowing this was probably what the emperor had told Su Zhenting back then, and said some things, but those were things Su Zhenting couldn't tell him.

A thought suddenly popped into Li Chen's mind.

The Yueya Pass was crucial to the safety of the entire Qin Empire. The emperor kept the wives, children, and elderly relatives of each successive commander hostage in the capital city. This was a clever tactic, but once it became public knowledge, it would be a shocking scandal.ood, then I shall take my leave first," said San Bao with a sly smile."You're too kind."After the pleasantries were over, Sanzhao said: "The enemy is planning to attack tonight. As I can't stay here l...