I intentionally suggested using personal troops for everything, no matter what, simply to make it easier to undermine his military. In the future, if those soldiers were to gamble, drink, or visit brothels, I would always be able to find an excuse to cover for them. As for those soldiers wasting their lives on such vices without money, that would be none of my concern.
After hearing my analysis, the Crown Prince also found it to be very logical. As long as those corrupt officials had no military power, they could accomplish nothing, nor could they incite a rebellion. Besides, their imperial dynasty had existed for so long that no one had ever heard of a single official attempting to overthrow it.
Upon returning to the Royal Palace, he shared this philosophy with the Emperor, his father. Both father and son were successfully led astray by me; they became convinced that as long as they kept the military power in their own hands, those officials would never be able to cause any real trouble. The only minor inconvenience was the necessity of letting everyone become corrupt.
Chapter 180