Starting with a Wei Wu soldier

Chapter 259 Grand Conferment of Titles to Meritorious Officials

The afterglow of the ceremony of bestowing titles upon empresses and concubines still lingered deep within the palace, yet the gaze of the court was already eagerly focused on another momentous event concerning the foundation of the empire and stirring countless hearts—the rewarding of founding heroes. The ceremony of offering sacrifices to Heaven and proclaiming the emperor, along with the establishment of empresses and concubines, solidified the mandate of heaven for imperial power and the order of the family; while the grand bestowal of titles upon meritorious officials was a crucial step in constructing the framework of imperial rule, uniting the people, and dividing power and interests. This was by no means a simple reward for merit, but a meticulously planned political arrangement that required balancing civil and military officials, new and old, regional, and familial ties. It was necessary to both reward those who had worked hard and diligently, prevent them from becoming too powerful, and lay the foundation for the future court structure.

On the fifth day of the third month of the first year of Qiming, as dawn broke, the square in front of the Taiji Hall was once again shrouded in a solemn atmosphere. Unlike yesterday, today the square displayed not the ceremonial procession of the empress and concubines, but rather lists of meritorious officials, imperial edicts, and documents of titles, official robes, and land and property charts to be bestowed. All the civil and military officials, dressed in court attire, stood solemnly according to their rank, but many wore expressions of barely concealed anticipation, tension, and even a hint of anxiety. Those old comrades who had followed Chen Xing since the north, risking their lives for him, and the newly risen generals who had distinguished themselves in the southern campaign, were particularly moved, their eyes burning as they gazed intently at the tightly closed gates of the Taiji Hall.

At the exact hour of Chen (7-9 AM), bells and drums resounded. The main gate of the Taiji Hall slowly opened.

Dressed in his court robes, Chen Xing, surrounded by imperial guards and eunuchs, steadily walked out and ascended the throne. His gaze was calm as he slowly swept over the sea of ​​officials below the steps.

Grand Secretary Jia Wen, holding a scroll of bright yellow silk imperial edict, stepped forward and stood beside the imperial desk. The entire hall was deathly silent; you could hear a pin drop.

Jia Wen unfolded the imperial edict, took a deep breath, and began to read it aloud in a clear and loud voice:

"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: I, in my humble capacity, have been granted the throne, thanks in large part to the concerted efforts of my civil and military officials, who overcame countless obstacles to achieve this unified state. Those who have rendered great service deserve reward, and those who have shown great virtue are deserving of recognition. Therefore, in accordance with these merits, I hereby bestow titles and rewards, proclaiming this to the world as a permanent precedent!"

"Chen Wei!" The first name was uttered, its voice resounding throughout the palace.

Dressed in full military uniform, Chen Wei strode forward, knelt on one knee, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and raised his head, declaring, "Your subject is here!"

"Since you followed me from the north, you have commanded the army, overseen the supply of provisions, and fought in both the north and south with flawless strategies. Your contributions to the nation are invaluable, making you a pillar of the state. Now, you are hereby specially promoted to the title of Duke of Zhenguo, a hereditary title, and granted a certificate of merit and iron, a mansion in Chang'an, a thousand acres of fertile land in the capital region, five thousand taels of gold, and a thousand bolts of brocade!"

The moment the words "Duke of Zhenguo" were uttered, a slight commotion arose in the hall. A duke was already the highest rank a subject could attain, and the title "Zhenguo" carried immense weight. Furthermore, the hereditary nature of the title and the iron certificate symbolizing such honor demonstrated His Majesty's immense trust in and reward for this reliable and dependable old brother who was in charge of military and logistics.

Chen Wei's eyes were slightly red as he kowtowed heavily: "Your subject, Chen Wei, kowtows to thank Your Majesty for your grace! I will surely repay Your Majesty with my life!" His voice was firm and filled with excitement.

"Norio!"

Like a broken iron tower, Dian Xiong stepped forward with a thunderous roar, his armor clattering, his voice like muffled thunder: "Your subordinate is here!"

"Your bravery surpasses that of the three armies, you are the first to charge into battle, break through passes and seize strategic points, and slay enemy chieftains in battle. Your military exploits are numerous and your prestige shakes the land. Now you are specially promoted to Duke of Yi, a hereditary title, and are granted a mansion in Chang'an, eight hundred hectares of fertile land in the capital region, three thousand taels of gold, and eight hundred bolts of brocade!"

The character "毅" (yi, meaning resolute/persevering) perfectly encapsulates Dian Xiong's characteristics. The title of Duke is also the highest form of reward. Dian Xiong grinned broadly and clasped his hands in a deep fist salute: "Thank you, Your Majesty! From now on, this humble general will remain Your Majesty's loyal subject. Wherever Your Majesty commands, this humble general will follow!"

"Jia Wen!"

Jia Wen handed the imperial edict to the deputy envoy, straightened his clothes, stepped forward, and bowed, saying, "Your old minister is here."

"Your learning is profound, your wisdom in governing the country mature, your strategies for securing peace and stability are crucial, and the establishment of laws and regulations largely depends on your efforts. You have rendered meritorious service to the nation and have been a virtuous advisor to me. Therefore, I hereby bestow upon you the title of Duke Wen, a hereditary title, and grant you the honorary title of Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince. I also bestow upon you a residence in Chang'an, six hundred hectares of fertile land in the capital region, two thousand taels of gold, six hundred bolts of brocade, and the special privilege of riding in a carriage into the palace to the Taiji Gate!"

Duke Wen! Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince! This was the highest honor bestowed upon a civil official. Especially the title of "Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince," though nominal, represented the Emperor's entrustment of the future heir's education and his utmost recognition of Jia Wen's virtue and prestige. Entering the palace in the imperial carriage was an even greater honor. Jia Wen bowed deeply, his voice choked with emotion: "This old minister...kowtows in gratitude for Your Majesty's boundless grace! I will dedicate myself to the utmost, even unto death!"

"Zhao Tiezhu!"

The representative of the meritorious soldiers who stayed behind, the honest and simple Zhao Tiezhu, stepped forward, so excited that he was at a loss for words: "Your subject... Your subject Zhao Tiezhu is here!"

"You have been loyal and diligent, guarding the rear and making sound plans; your contributions are indispensable. Therefore, you are hereby promoted to Duke of Anguo, a hereditary title, and are granted a mansion in Chang'an, 500 hectares of fertile land in the capital region, 1,500 taels of gold, and 500 bolts of brocade!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty! Thank you, Your Majesty!" Zhao Tiezhu kowtowed repeatedly, his joy overflowing.

"Shen Qing!"

Shen Qing, a former renowned naval general of the Southern Dynasty and now the commander of the Imperial Jinghai Navy, solemnly stepped forward: "Your subordinate is here!"

"You are well-versed in naval warfare and possess excellent command skills. Your contributions in the Battle of Poyang Lake were outstanding, demonstrating your prowess on the rivers and seas. You are hereby specially promoted to the title of Marquis of Jinghai, a hereditary title for three generations, and are officially appointed as the Grand Admiral of the Jinghai Navy. You are also granted your former residence in Nanjing, four hundred hectares of fertile land in Suzhou and Hangzhou, one thousand taels of gold, and four hundred bolts of brocade!"

A marquisate, and a title as fitting as "Pacifying the Seas" for his achievements, coupled with the actual appointment as Grand Admiral of the Navy, meant the empire's maritime lifeline was entrusted to him. Shen Qing was deeply moved and bowed deeply: "This humble general, Shen Qing, swears to forever guard the seas for His Majesty!"

Following this, many generals who had fought in the north and south, including Zhang Liao and Xu Huang, as well as the fathers of Su Xiaoxiao and Lin Wan'er, were all granted titles such as Marquis, Earl, Viscount, and Baron according to their merits, and were rewarded with corresponding land, houses, gold, and silver. The fallen soldiers were also posthumously honored and given pensions, and the benefits extended to their families.

In the civil service, besides Jia Wen, ministers and vice ministers of various departments, as well as officials who made outstanding contributions in local governance, preparation for the imperial examinations, and compilation of laws, also received corresponding titles, honorary ranks, and material rewards. Of particular note is that Lin Wan'er, despite being a woman, was specially granted additional land and imperial writing implements in her father's name by imperial decree for her contributions to the formulation of regulations, as a reward for her talent and learning. This sparked subtle discussions within the court and among the public.

The entire process of bestowing titles and honors lasted nearly two hours. After the imperial edict was read, the meritorious officials who received the titles stepped forward one by one to receive the seals, ribbons, crowns, and other items symbolizing their ranks from the officials in charge of ceremonies, and kowtowed to express their gratitude for the imperial favor. The atmosphere in the square was both enthusiastic and solemn. Some wept with joy, some stood tall and proud, and others secretly compared themselves to the emperor, each with their own thoughts.

Chen Xing, seated high on his throne, took in the reactions of everyone present. He knew that today's bestowals were like casting a wide net, both winning hearts and minds and defining spheres of influence. The Duke of Zhenguo, Chen Wei, and the Duke of Yiguo, Dian Xiong, one a civil official and the other a military commander, were considered the twin pillars of the empire, but their excessive power needed to be carefully monitored. The Duke of Anguo, Zhao Tiezhu, represented the core of the old guard in the north. The Marquis of Jinghai, Shen Qing, signaled the appeasement of newly annexed forces and the importance placed on the navy. The civil service, led by Jia Wen, received the honors they deserved. Simultaneously, through the widespread rewards given to lower-ranking generals and officials, and the generous compensation for the fallen, he was consolidating the foundation of the entire ruling class and promoting the imperial principle of "clear rewards and punishments."

The lavish bestowal of titles upon meritorious officials is not merely a momentary gratification, but a crucial anchor for long-term stability and security. Following these rewards, corresponding authority, constraints, and performance evaluations will follow. The wheels of the empire, lubricated by the principle of rewarding merit, will begin to roll forward more smoothly.

"My lords," Chen Xing spoke slowly after all the bestowals had been made, his voice resounding throughout the square, "today's titles and honors are a reward for past merits. However, these titles are not the end, but rather the beginning of new responsibilities. I hope that you will all remember your original aspirations, diligently perform your duties, be loyal to the country, and not fail my expectations or the people. I and you will strive together!"

"Your Majesty, we humbly obey your decree! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!" The resounding cheers once again shook the palace.