147: Knighthood

In the eighth year of zhengyong, on the fifth day of the eleventh month.

Xu Mujun led his personal troops south, killing Tuoba Family Elder Tuoba Huanmie, killing Tianlong Temple's Vajra Hall Abbot Fajian, and killing the mysterious Cultivator Ban Yuan, a Daoist from Nanyue County.

Liang Hongyu, an Innate of the Shushan Sword Sect, fled in a panic.

At the same time, having defeated the Nanyue County rebel who was also his own biological son, Xu Xuanwu, he ordered Chen Zhong and Chen Yi to escort Xu Xuanwu back to the capital.

As for himself, he entered Nanzhao Kingdom alone!

When the news spread back to the capital, the imperial court and the public were shaken.

On the tenth day of the eleventh month of the eighth year of zhengyong.

Grand court assembly.

Lu Xiangqing took the lead in saying, "Your Majesty, Grand General Xu's loyalty and valor are unmatched. He suppressed the rebellion in Nanyue County and personally captured the rebel Xu Xuanwu. Such loyalty and righteousness... heaven and earth can witness it!"

"We request an enfeoffment for Xu Mujun!"

"We request an enfeoffment for Xu Mujun!"

"We request an enfeoffment for Xu Mujun..."

Dozens of ministers stepped out one after another and bowed.

Zheng Yi said, "What else is there to confer?"

Now Xu Xuanwu was already the Head Secretariat Scholar, Grand General, Grand Marshal, Grand Pillar State, Governor of Mang Prefecture, and Grand Guardian; holding a position at the pinnacle of ministerial rank, what else could be conferred?

Lu Xiangqing said, "Confer the title of Grand Tutor and a peerage!"

"A peerage?"

The people below began to whisper among themselves; once a peerage was conferred, one would become part of the nobility, sharing the fate of the state.

Furthermore, given Xu Xuanwu's current status and achievements, it would be no exaggeration to confer upon him at least an earldom, or even a marquessate or dukedom.

As a result, Xu Xuanwu's status would instantly become different from that of the many ministers.

By then, any official, regardless of who they were, would have to bow first upon seeing Xu Mujun.

Moreover, most of the peerages in the Great Yu Dynasty were conferred during the early days of the nation's founding.

After the founding of the nation, especially over the past hundred years, very few people had been ennobled.

Even if titles were conferred, they were only baronies or viscountcies, and they were not hereditary in perpetuity, lasting for only one generation.

If Xu Mujun were to be ennobled now, and if it were hereditary in perpetuity, it truly would mean sharing the fate of the state.

As long as the Great Yu Dynasty still existed, Xu Mujun's clan would forever be nobility!

Such a large Family would be supported by the Great Yu Dynasty.

Zheng Yi thought for a moment and said, "The Grand General has rendered great service through arduous efforts, and his loyalty and valor are unmatched. Confer... a first-class marquessate as the Marquess of Loyalty and Valor, hereditary in perpetuity!"

As soon as his voice fell, the many ministers below began to discuss in low voices.

"A first-class marquessate? The Marquess of Loyalty and Valor!"

"Compared to the Grand General's military exploits, this title doesn't seem quite matching..."

"Hiss! What do you know? The world is in chaos now, and His Majesty still relies on Grand General Xu for assistance. If a dukedom were conferred today, what would happen in the future?"

"That's true. It would be terrible if a situation arose where there was nothing left to confer..."

"From now on, we must address the Grand General as Lord Marquess..."

"What do you understand? Hereditary in perpetuity! That's hereditary in perpetuity!"

"Our Great Yu has been established for over three hundred years. Aside from a few dukes and marquesses during the early days of the founding whose titles were hereditary in perpetuity, everyone else's titles decreased by one rank with each generation."

"Xu Xuanwu has already been deposed, what use is his hereditary in perpetuity?"

Facing the discussions of the many ministers off the stage, Zheng Yi listened without much reaction and continued:

"Additionally, confer upon Xu Mujun the title of Grand Tutor, the privilege of not having to hasten when entering court, not having his name called out during homage, and entering the hall with sword and shoes!"

"Gasp..."

At this, the many ministers were even more shocked, and the sound of discussion grew louder.

"His Majesty's favor towards the Grand General is simply too excessive."

"Not having to hasten when entering court, not having one's name called out during homage, and entering the hall with sword and shoes—what is the next step going to be? Could it be the Nine Bestowments?!"

"How is that possible? His Majesty is in the prime of his life. Once Xu Mujun receives the Nine Bestowments, that would mean conferring a vassal king of a different surname!"

"His Majesty wouldn't be that foolish. Moreover, these are merely His Majesty's marks of favor towards Grand General Xu. Grand General Xu's loyalty and valor are unmatched, and he would never disrespect His Majesty!"

"Even though he is still just a marquess, His Majesty trusts him this much. Once he achieves another major merit, he might be conferred as a duke..."

The ministers discussed animatedly, but Zheng Yi paid them no mind.

The so-called privileges of not having to hasten when entering court, not having one's name called out during homage, and entering the hall with sword and shoes were special treatments—or rather, royal treatments—bestowed by His Majesty upon important ministers.

Not having to hasten when entering court: According to ancient systems, whenever any minister went to see the emperor, they had to walk hunched over with quick, small steps. Strutting around the imperial palace with one's head held high and chest puffed out was definitely not allowed.

However, after obtaining the privilege of not having to hasten when entering court, one no longer needed to take quick, small steps.

Walking slowly at a leisurely pace was also a privilege.

Not having one's name called out during homage: According to ancient systems, apart from their given names, officials also had courtesy names.

For example, Cao Cao's courtesy name was Mengde; Liu Bei's was Xuande; Sima Yi's was Zhongda; Zhuge Liang's was Kongming, and so on.

Cao Cao could be called Cao Mengde, and Zhuge Liang could also be called Zhuge Kongming.

As can be seen from the idiom of directly calling someone by their name, directly shouting a person's given name was a very impolite behavior.

But when ministers had an audience with the emperor, they first needed to wait outside the palace gates, waiting for the master of ceremonies to report to the emperor. Only after the emperor permitted the audience could the ministers enter the palace to see the emperor.

When a minister obtained the special honor of not having one's name called out during homage, it did not mean the minister could storm directly into the imperial palace without the emperor's permission; rather, when the minister had an audience with the emperor, the master of ceremonies would no longer directly shout out the minister's name, but would instead address them by their official title.

For example, after Xu Mujun obtained this special honor, when he had an audience with Zheng Yi, the master of ceremonies would have to address him as "Grand General Xu requests an audience" or "Grand Tutor Xu requests an audience".

Instead of "Xu Mujun requests an audience".

This was a special honor, and also a privilege!

Third, entering the hall with sword and shoes: The sword referred to weapons, and shoes referred to footwear.

In the imperial palace, only the imperial guards and the emperor could wear weapons; other ministers having an audience with the emperor were not allowed to carry weapons.

Furthermore, when ministers had an audience with the emperor, they were not allowed to wear shoes.

After obtaining the special honor of entering the hall with sword and shoes, a minister could enter and leave the imperial palace carrying weapons and wearing shoes.

In this way, it could prove the lofty status of the minister who obtained these three privileges.

The many ministers only discussed it, but no one objected.

After all, the merit Xu Mujun had established this time was simply too great.

Leading his personal guards south to Nanyue, he not only killed several Innate powerhouses under various rebel kings, but also personally captured his own son, Xu Xuanwu, who was also one of the largest rebel king factions in the south.

You must know that Xu Xuanwu at the time was a powerful rebel king who occupied Nanyue County, swallowed Yun Province like a whale, and coveted Yue Province.

Once given time to swallow Yue Province, the three southwestern provinces could connect together and look down upon Shu Province.

In this way, the forces under Xu Xuanwu's command would inevitably become the number one among the rebel kings.

And now, under the sole leadership of Xu Mujun, Xu Xuanwu's ambitions had been extinguished, and the massive forces under his command had also disintegrated completely.

With such a great merit, a mere marquess was already considered a low reward.

Zheng Yi said, "Jinyi Guard, is there any latest news from Nanyue County and the Grand General?"

Tang Cheng stepped out and said, "Your Majesty, according to the latest intelligence, after suppressing Xu Xuanwu's rebellion, Grand General Xu completely absorbed the Longxiang Army under his command."

"Moreover, many of the soldiers who followed Xu Xuanwu also turned their allegiance, gathered other county troops, and garrisoned Yun Province."

"Subsequently, Grand General Xu entered Nanyue County, killed the leader of the Black Miao tribe, released the High Priest of the White Miao tribe, Elder Chenyue, and had him temporarily govern Nanyue County."

"Afterwards, Grand General Xu himself continued south, entering the territory of Nanzhao Kingdom."

"Nanzhao Kingdom is located south of Nanyue County amidst towering mountains and precipitous ridges. We do not have many spies in this place, and therefore there is no latest intelligence."

Zheng Yi asked, "Who is the commander currently garrisoning Yun Province and Nanyue County?"

"The Grand General's personal guard, General Guan Shan."

"Confer upon General Guan Shan the title of Governor of Yun and Yue, taking overall command of the military affairs of Yun Province, Yue Province, and Nanyue County, and purge the rebels within the territory!"

"Yes!"

An official from the Ministry of War stepped out and said, "Your Majesty, the Regional Commander of Yun Province is Minister Miao, but Minister Miao is currently guarding Canguan in Yong Province. This..."

"This is a time of war, and Yun Province has returned to the imperial court, so it naturally should be treated specially. After the war is won, we will make a reassessment."

"Understood!"

Zheng Yi took a deep breath and continued, "Gentlemen! Now that the matter of Yun Province is resolved, once General Guan Shan pacifies the rebels in Yun Province, he can lead the Yun Province elite troops south into Shu, and together with Cui Xiawu's army, annihilate the rebel Shu King!"

"Order General Jinpeng and General Meng Guang of the Northern Navy to join forces and annihilate the Jing Province navy."

"With all subjects and officials cooperating wholeheartedly, we will surely pacify the two regions of Shu Province and Jing Province first!"

"Once Shu Province and Jing Province are in hand, we can form an encirclement against the other rebel kings."

The many ministers respectfully said, "Your Majesty is wise!"

Zheng Yi continued, "Liu Chengen, transmit the imperial decree."

"Understood!"

"The official troops of Great Yu have fought bravely to kill the enemy, and We shall naturally grant you corresponding rewards."

"Those who are first to scale the walls, breach the enemy formations, behead enemy generals, or capture enemy flags shall be heavily rewarded!"

"Your Majesty is wise!"

Just at this moment, a eunuch ran over nervously from the side hall, but upon seeing that His Majesty was still presiding over the grand court assembly, he hurriedly stopped and kept peering over this way.

"Dismiss the court!"

Zheng Yi stood up, and the many ministers respectfully waited for His Majesty to leave before slowly withdrawing.

"Your Majesty."

That little eunuch hurriedly walked over, and Zheng Yi asked, "What has happened? Why are you so nervous?"

"Y-Your Majesty..."

The little eunuch stammered, "Empress Lu Liner was admiring flowers in the Imperial Garden when she accidentally fell to the ground."

"Her abdomen was in unbearable pain, and there was bleeding. The imperial physicians said..."

Before the little eunuch could finish speaking, Zheng Yi immediately strode towards the inner palace.

Liu Chengen hurried after him, shouting anxiously, "Prepare the carriage for Kun Ning Palace!"

After speaking, he gave the little eunuch a slap and said through gritted teeth, "In the future, such matters must be reported to this old servant first, understand?"

"Y-Yes, yes..."

The little eunuch hurriedly said, "What Godfather says is right, but Father-in-law Lu Jinhai from Kun Ning Palace told me to report directly to Your Majesty..."

"Lu Jinhai?"

Liu Chengen closely followed behind Zheng Yi and said in a low voice, "A person from the Lu Family. It seems that Lord Lu should know about this as well."

Outside the imperial palace, Lu Xiangqing sat in his sedan chair and said in astonishment, "What did you say? Liner accidentally fell?"

"How is that possible!"

"Eunuchs tidy up the bricks, stone paths, and flower branches, and sweep away fallen leaves and rainwater in the Imperial Garden every day. How could she possibly fall?"

"Liner has a foundation in martial arts. Even if she is pregnant, it is impossible for her to simply fall to the ground like that."

"Could it be... someone wants to harm this old man's grandson?"

He slightly furrowed his brows and said in a low voice, "Send a message to the inner palace and have them remind His Majesty."

"Understood!"

As an aristocratic Family, aside from Empress Lu Liner, the Lu Family naturally had other noble consorts and beauties in the inner palace as well.

After arranging all this, Lu Xiangqing hesitated for a moment before still having his servants carry him away from this place.

Soon, his figure arrived at a secluded residence.

After having the people around him hide in the surroundings, Lu Xiangqing opened the door and walked inside.

Deep inside the residence, there was also a middle-aged man who seemed to have been waiting for a long time.

"Uncle Lu, you have made this nephew wait so bitterly!"

The middle-aged man had a round face, and his smiling eyes were almost squinted into a slit.

"Nephew Xiankai, this old man has already said that I will not be entangled in your actions. Why do you continue to pester me so bitterly?"

Lu Xiankai chuckled and said, "Uncle, you and I are both people of the Lu Family. That brat Emperor Zhengyong is pressing us to the extreme, are you still going to help him?"

"Return to the Family and work together with us! Now our Lu Clan already occupies the greater part of Ji Province, prefectures and counties have all defected to us, and the forces under our command already number over three hundred thousand."

"The reason why we haven't yet marched our troops north to attack the capital region is precisely to force Emperor Zhengyong to abolish the legal reforms."

"As long as he is willing to abolish the reforms, our Lu Family will still be his subjects, don't you agree?"

Lu Xiangqing shook his head and said, "You are not His Majesty's match."

"Hmm?"

Lu Xiangqing couldn't be bothered to continue explaining and went on: "Go back and tell the clan that Liner is pregnant and about to give birth. We need to place bets on both sides."

"Once Liner gives birth to an imperial prince, no matter what happens, our Lu Family will remain in an invincible position."

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