Chapter 130 Bai Renxuan's Persuasion
In response to Wang Muzhi's kindness, Chen Dechang, as his superior, did not hesitate to move in with his people.

"I heard that Wang Muzhi was a very honest official. Now it seems that he also knows how to enjoy life."

Standing on the thick carpet, looking at the various exquisite gold and silver tableware in Wang Muzhi's tent, Chen Dechang stroked his white beard and said jokingly to the white-robed scholar beside him:

"Sir, if you like, let's take all these things back to the mansion!"

Without waiting for the white-robed scholar to speak, the tall and strong man with a face full of flesh in the tent answered first in a muffled voice:
"Ma Dachui, you are such a fool!" Chen Dechang, who was already used to hearing his most powerful general say such words, shook his head and said helplessly:
Seeing Chen Dechang's expression, Ma Dachui, who had wanted to say a few nice words to please him, was suddenly at a loss and looked at the white-robed scholar as if asking for help.

However, the white-robed scholar ignored him. Seeing this, Chen Dechang waved his hand and ordered:
"Alright, Da Hammer, there's nothing for you to do here. Go back and have a good sleep. By the way, tell the guards not to let anyone else in. Mr. Bai and I have something to discuss!"

"Yes!"

Ma Dachui, who received the order, immediately bowed and retreated from the tent as if he had been pardoned.

"What a fool..." Looking at his departing back, Chen Dechang cursed with a smile again.

As Ma Dachui left, the white-robed scholar, Chen Dechang's strategist Bai Renxuan, slowly spoke:
"My Lord, I have investigated some of Wang Muzhi's situations these days. He is indeed very self-disciplined and not very greedy for money. He has no obvious weaknesses in terms of money and character."

"As for these things, they should all be awarded to him by the Prime Minister. Lord Shangguan really favors this General Wang. Over the years, the silver he has rewarded him with is more than a thousand taels, and other gold, silver, jewelry, and land are not included!"

When Chen Dechang heard Bai Renxuan talking about the main topic and Wang Muzhi, the smile on his face suddenly disappeared. He sat on the rosewood armchair with a sullen face and said nothing.

Seeing Chen Dechang like this, Bai Renxuan sighed inwardly. Although he knew the answer, he still couldn't help but bowed and admonished: "My Lord, why are you doing this..."

Seeing that Bai Renxuan was still trying to persuade him, Chen Dechang waved his hand, interrupting Bai Renxuan's speech, and said with a solemn face and firmness:

"Although I don't want to sit in this position, but since I have no choice but to be lifted to this position, I have to be a true third-rank commander!"

"I have been a soldier all my life and fought for decades. I have been through wind and rain, swords and sabers. I have seen everything. How can I, when I am old, give Wang Muzhi, a child who is still wet behind the ears, a puppet?" Bai Renxuan, a Confucian scholar in a white robe, looked much more depressed when he heard this. As Chen Dechang's adviser, no matter what his considerations were, he naturally did not want Chen Dechang, who was already on the decline and was about to retire, to confront Wang Muzhi, who was full of vigor and favored by Shangguan Hongyuan and had a bright future, head-on for some power in the Zhenwu Army!
In his opinion, being a big Buddha worshipped is actually quite good for Chen Dechang now. He does not have to worry about anything. Wang Muzhi has made achievements. As the commander, he can naturally share some credit. Even if Wang Muzhi fails, he can be pushed by Wang Muzhi in the end. He can advance and retreat freely and do whatever he wants...
However, what Bai Renxuan did not expect was that Chen Dechang, a military general, rejected his idea mercilessly.

This fifty-year-old veteran has a bad temper. Although he has been worn down by the years, Chen Dechang cannot accept that he is sidelined by his subordinates in his own team and becomes a mascot in name only!
Feeling Chen Dechang's stubbornness and persistence, Bai Renxuan shook his head. Although he didn't want to see things develop in a direction he didn't want to see, since Chen Dechang had made up his mind, what could he, as a counselor, do?

Even if it was to repay Chen Dechang for saving his life and protecting him, even if he knew it was impossible, he could only bite the bullet and help Chen Dechang give it a try. He immediately shook his head and said:
“According to the arrangement of the Ministry of War, 60% of the commanders and sentry chiefs of the Zhenwu Army are people drawn from the Shenwu Army, and most of them are Wang Muzhi’s former subordinates who are loyal to him…”

Listening to Bai Renxuan talking about this, and recalling what he had seen and felt in the military camp during the day, Chen Dechang not only slammed the table hard, but also squinted his eyes and said angrily:
"It seems that our deputy commander is very resentful of me, an old man, for taking his position as commander. Today, he is unwilling to say a word to the commander!"

"I heard that the Prime Minister has already given him a good warning, but General Wang is so young and in such a high position that he is arrogant and it is understandable that he finds it difficult to accept this fact!" Bai Renxuan advised:

Chen Dechang was silent for a moment after hearing this, and his expression recovered. Seeing this, Bai Renxuan continued the previous topic and said:

"Wang Muzhi's men are all his die-hard fans, so you don't need to put any effort into them. The remaining 40% of commanders and sentinels are the ones you can fight for!"

"According to the plan proposed by the Ministry of War, 20% of the remaining 40% of the positions for commanders and sentry commanders are reserved for the Gongsun family in Liaoyang and other local forces in Liaoyang, and the remaining 20% ​​will be drawn from the Hujie, Iron Cavalry, Xuanwu and other imperial guards!"

"You must win over these people, sir. Don't let them be won over by Wang Muzhi. Otherwise, you will really become a puppet!"

At the end, Bai Renxuan even played a small joke on Chen Dechang.

Chen Dechang stroked his white beard and said confidently:

"Don't worry, I have been in Liaoyang for seven or eight years, and I have always had a good relationship with this old guy Gongsun Heng. Needless to say, he will definitely support me in the Zhenwu Army!"

"As for the remaining 20%, I am the commander. With this status, I naturally cannot let Wang Muzhi win over people under my nose. With these 40% of people, I have a say in the Zhenwu Army, and I won't let Wang Muzhi, a kid, completely sideline me!"

(End of this chapter)