In Hongwu, we started as rebels

Chapter 722 Reaching a Higher Level, Only Then Can One Reach the Highest Peak
The following morning, sunlight dispelled the darkness of Yingtian City, and light once again enveloped the earth.

The atmosphere in the imperial city is somewhat different today.
The Beijing garrison stood guard at the gates of the Imperial City, waiting for the gates to open.

At the stroke of dawn, the gates of the imperial city slowly opened, and a procession led by the imperial guards slowly emerged.

Several eunuchs in red robes held up the imperial edict and followed behind the imperial guards.
His expression was solemn and his face serious.

Behind them was a long line of about a hundred people.

He held up a wooden plaque containing various rewards.

At the very back, the honor guard beat drums and gongs with great fanfare, drawing envious glances from officials near the imperial city gate.

The people who expressed the most envy were not the officials of the Six Ministries, but the generals of the Five Military Commissions, including Geng Zhong, the Left Army Commander.

Seeing this scene, his eyes were filled with envy, and his fists clenched tightly.
This was something he had always dreamed of, but could never have.

The grand procession left the Imperial City of Yingtian, with the Imperial Guards clearing the way for the procession.

The group proceeded in a grand procession through Zhongzheng Street and Fudong Street, arriving at the large workshop where the powerful and wealthy of the capital resided.

Arriving at No. 7 Zhangde Street, we found ourselves at the residence of Zhang Quan, the Vice Commissioner of the Right Army Commandery.

At this moment, the mansion gates were wide open, and the servants and stewards at the gates were all dressed in festive attire.

They stood respectfully on either side of the mansion.
His face was beaming with joy, and his complexion was flushed.

Zhang Quan, as the Grand Commander's Angel,
He was dressed in armor, his face serious, and he watched quietly as the large group of people approached.

Although he appeared completely calm, his right hand, which was gripping the hilt of the knife, was trembling slightly, and his excitement was beyond words.

He joined the army in the 20th year of the Zhizheng era, and now in the 23rd year of the Hongwu era, after 33 years, he has finally reached the step that all military generals dream of!
As the footsteps drew closer, Zhang Quan looked around with a touch of melancholy.
Few relatives and friends remained; only a half-crippled brother was left, weeping with his face covered.

The other four brothers all died on the battlefield.

Silent memories begin to surface, and sorrow wells up in my heart little by little.

Zhang Quan's lips moved slightly, and his beard trembled slightly.
It felt like returning to the days of endless battles and constant fighting.

At this moment, the procession carrying the imperial decree came to a steady stop in front of the mansion gate.

Unlike in the past, this time the ceremonial procession did not go to the residence.

Instead, it was right on the street in front of the mansion gate.
Other nobles, generals, and dignitaries from Zhangde Street were allowed to inspect it as well.

The red-robed head eunuch, holding the imperial edict, stepped forward and shouted in a high-pitched yet authoritative voice:
"Imperial edict arrives—Zhang Quan, Vice Commander of the Right Army Commandery, receive the edict!"

A shout, like a thunderclap, resounded through the sky above Zhangde Street.

The once noisy street fell silent instantly, and all eyes were on Zhang Quan.

Zhang Quan took a deep breath, forcefully suppressing the surging emotions within him.
He knelt on one knee, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and said loudly:

"Your subject Zhang Quan respectfully awaits Your Majesty's decree!"

The relatives, friends, and servants behind him also knelt down, not daring to utter a sound.

The chief eunuch in red slowly unfurled the imperial edict, his gaze sweeping over the text before he began to read it aloud:
"Fengtian Chengyun Emperor, the imperial edict said:

Zhang Quan, a vice commissioner, joined the army in the twentieth year of the Zhizheng era. He initially followed Emperor Hongwu and fought bravely on the battlefield.

They attacked Taiping, pacified Jiqing, and captured Zhenjiang, Changzhou, and Wuzhou, achieving victory after victory.

He conquered Jiangzhou, fought at Poyang, captured Hubei, and took Huaidong, achieving remarkable feats.

General Xu Da's Northern Expeditions pacified the Central Plains, Yan, Jin, Qin, and Shu, earning him widespread fame.

From Fu Youde and Lan Yu's campaign against the Yuan rebels in Yunnan to their conquest of Wusa in Yongning, their achievements have become increasingly distinguished.

Later, he followed Fu Youde to pacify Wusa and the various barbarian tribes of Qujing, Puding, Longhai, and Mengding, and repeatedly made outstanding contributions.

He also joined Zhou Dexing in conquering the Wuxi barbarians, pacifying the rebellions in the caves of Jinshui, Tongtaping, and Sanmao, bringing peace to the region and the people.

Your achievements are admired by both the court and the public.

His loyalty and courage are as clear as the sun and moon.

His achievements are so great that the mountains and rivers bear witness to them.

Zhang Quan is hereby granted the title of Marquis of Yongding of the Great Ming Dynasty, with a stipend of 1,500 yuan.

He was rewarded with a thousand taels of gold, a hundred bolts of brocade, a thousand acres of fertile land, and a python robe, to commend his achievements and encourage his ambition.

Admire this! "

As the chief eunuch's voice faded, a soft gasp of surprise rippled through the street.

Those who watched the nobles and dignitaries were filled with envy and disbelief.

The generals who had not yet received titles remained silent.

Marquis of Yongding. His salary is 1,500.

This is an honor they could never attain in their entire lives.
Yu Tongyuan stood in the crowd, his eyes bloodshot, his whole body trembling, and he could barely breathe.

He couldn't imagine what it would be like if he were ever granted a title of nobility.

Meanwhile, the nobles who were already high-ranking officials of the court picked at their ears in disbelief, their expressions changing drastically.

A python robe? A bestowed python robe?

In their memory, the practice of bestowing python robes as a reward only existed at the beginning of the Ming Dynasty, when all six founding dukes received it.

However, among the twenty-four generals of Huaixi who were conferred titles at the same time, some were granted titles and some were not.
Marquis Lu Zhongheng of Ji'an stood in the crowd, his face grim, surrounded by his family guards.

What started as a little joy has turned into resentment!
His aged fists clenched tightly, his nails digging deep into his flesh.

How could a young man receive such an honor?

absurd!

The thought flashed through his mind, and Lu Zhongheng snorted coldly, flicked his sleeve forcefully, and strode away.

Several marquises, who were also founding heroes, also left with them.
Many people noticed what was happening there, but only glanced at it before turning their attention back to the center.

Today, the protagonist of this story in the capital is the Marquis of Yongding, who is over fifty years old.

Zhang Quan's hands trembled slightly, his heart filled with overwhelming excitement.

Thirty-three years of military service, countless life-or-death moments, countless wounds and sweat, all have been rewarded at this moment.

He kowtowed heavily, his voice choked with emotion, and said:

"Your subject Zhang Quan thanks Your Majesty for your great kindness!"

Long live our emperor! "

The red-clad eunuch smiled.
He stepped forward, handed the imperial edict to Zhang Quan, and said:
"Lord Yongding, congratulations!"

This is an immense favor; you must serve His Majesty diligently!

Zhang Quan accepted the imperial edict with both hands and respectfully said:

"Zhang Quan will surely repay the Emperor's kindness with his life!"

At this moment, the reward-giving team behind them also stepped forward one after another.

Several eunuchs carried a box full of gold and carefully placed it in front of Zhang Quan, while palace maids carried brocade and a python robe to Zhang Quan's side.

The golden gold shimmered with a captivating light under the sun, while the magnificent brocade and python robe further accentuated its prestige.

Zhang Quan stood up, looking at the rewards before him, his heart filled with emotion.

He thought of his brothers who had fought alongside him but had died on the battlefield.

If only they could see this scene today.
His eyes welled up with tears.
But he held back his tears and didn't let them fall.

The sound of gongs and drums rang out again in the streets, even more enthusiastically than before.

The honor guard began to dance, colorful flags fluttered, and the atmosphere was lively and festive.

The news, like the joy in Zhang Quan's heart, began to spread rapidly to the surrounding areas.

In various parts of Yingtian City, once the appointed time for delivering the imperial edict had passed,
Notices had already been posted at the four city gates.

The urgent courier service, which had been waiting in the wings for a long time, rushed out immediately to deliver the news to all sides of the Ming Dynasty!

In less than an hour, the entire capital knew.

A new marquis wearing a python robe has appeared in the Ming Dynasty court: the Marquis of Yongding!
This news has also made many people who know about the current situation in the court reluctant to discuss it.

Special time, special reward, special title.
Many people realized that the palace began to win over those who had made great military achievements but had never been granted a title.

Now, Marquis Yongding, Zhang Quan, has received such a great honor.

The veteran generals in the capital dared not hope for such a thing, but the lack of a title and honors bestowed upon them without the imperial robes left them with endless fantasies.

Even if he isn't granted a marquisate, being granted an earl would still make him a nobleman, placing him at the very top of the Hongwu court.

From here on, the scenery is endless.

As evening approached, the bustling Yongding Marquis's residence finally welcomed a moment of peace.

Zhang Quan saw off all the guests who had come to offer their congratulations.
He stood in front of the mansion, the setting sun casting its orange-red rays that bathed him in golden light.

His face was still flushed, and after the initial excitement came endless感慨 (gǎnkǎi, deep emotion). Zhang Quan turned to look at the plaque hanging high above the door.
The brand-new plaque gleamed in the afterglow of the setting sun, its gold paint radiating a dazzling light.
The four characters “永定侯府” replaced “张府”.

Zhang Quan knew that there was no such thing as a free lunch; being granted a title and a python robe would inevitably bring even heavier responsibilities.

Considering the complex situation in the capital, Zhang Quan asked himself if he was prepared.

Just then, the sound of rapid hoofbeats came from the north of Zhangde Street.

A royal guard clad in silver armor galloped in, his body adorned with colorful command arrows.

He dismounted before the gate of the Marquis of Yongding's residence and bowed deeply to Zhang Quan, who was standing at the gate.
"My lord, His Majesty requests your presence in the palace."

Zhang Quan's expression turned slightly serious as he looked at the Imperial Guards before him and gave a barely perceptible nod.

"I understand, I will go immediately."

Two quarters of an hour later, Zhang Quan, dressed in his official robes, strode into the Wuying Hall and met Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang, who was sitting high on the throne.

"Your subject Zhang Quan pays his respects to Your Majesty!"

Zhu Yuanzhang, dressed in casual clothes, sat in a chair as usual, looking down calmly.

A slight smile played at the corners of his lips as he said in a deep voice:

"Get up. You old brothers are too polite to me. It's really too formal."

“Your Majesty, there is a distinction between ruler and subject; we must not be disrespectful,” Zhang Quan replied.

"Hehe, among the brothers, you are the most educated, and you have a lot of manners in your speech and actions."

"Now that you've been granted a marquisate, what are your thoughts? Tell me."

Zhu Yuanzhang said.

Zhang Quan straightened up slightly, his expression somewhat serious:

"Your Majesty, I am filled with fear and trepidation."

"Fearful? Being granted a title is a great joy, you should be happy."

"Your Majesty, I am already old, and I am merely wasting my life in the Governor's Office."

Receiving this honor now makes me feel that the burden on my shoulders has become much heavier, as if a huge mountain is pressing down on me.

Zhang Quan replied.

"Hahahaha!"

Zhu Yuanzhang laughed heartily, patting the armrest as he spoke.

"You know your limits. With more power in your hands, you have to do more things and take on more responsibility."

Previously, you arrived late and left early at the Governor's Mansion.
You must be more diligent in the future and not do this again.

Zhang Quan suddenly felt a little awkward and cupped his hands in a respectful gesture:
"Yes, Your Majesty."

"Besides congratulating you, I have another matter for you to handle," Zhu Yuanzhang said.

Zhang Quan's expression was serious:

"Please give your orders, Your Majesty, and I will do my utmost."

Zhu Yuanzhang waved his hand:
“It’s not a difficult task. Puzikou City in Jiangbei has been in some turmoil lately and is short of a military officer. Go there.”

Zhang Quan suddenly raised his head, looking at the person above him with some surprise.
He thought he had misheard, and after carefully recalling it in his mind several times,
Only then did I realize that the deep voice was saying those words.

"What? Don't you want to go? Do you still want to coast along in the Governor's Mansion?" Zhu Yuanzhang asked.

"Your Majesty, I am filled with trepidation."

Even the usually composed Zhang Quan stammered slightly.
He couldn't quite believe that such a task had fallen to him.

There were many types of military officers stationed in Puzikou City. Some were generals who had fought for the Ming Dynasty in the north and south for many years and were living there in retirement.

Others were held by military nobles, and their duties were also very important.

The army that maintained control of Puzikou City was responsible for a series of tasks, including organizing drills and personnel rotations. It was a position of great power and influence!

Those nobles who could command troops in Puzikou City were undoubtedly far superior to those who were idle at home.

He was just enfeoffed as the Marquis of Yongding today, but he has been sent to Puzikou City.

He certainly wouldn't be the kind of retired military officer; he would inevitably have to control a portion of the Beijing army!

Zhang Quan found this treatment hard to believe, as only a handful of people in the court currently held such power.

The Duke of Liang, Lan Yu; the Duke of Ying, Fu Youde; the Duke of Zheng, Chang Sheng; the Duke of Wei, Xu Huizu; the Marquis of Wuding, Guo Ying; and the Marquis of Changxing, Geng Bingwen, who was in charge of the repair and maintenance of Puzikou City.

Lan Yu, Fu Youde, and Geng Bingwen were often away from the capital, and the Duke of Zheng was also away from the court because of his elder brother's affairs.
The Duke of Wei was primarily responsible for the affairs of the Central Military Command.

Therefore, the capital's army in Puzikou City was mostly managed by Marquis Guo Ying of Wuding.
He is also the person His Majesty trusts most.

The changing situation left Zhang Quan somewhat bewildered.
He didn't understand why this arrangement was made.
Has Guo Ying lost favor?
Or is it because the special circumstances necessitate checks and balances?
I don't understand why I chose him.
A flurry of thoughts raced through his mind. He raised his head to meet Zhu Yuanzhang's meaningful gaze and said in a deep voice:
"Your Majesty, I have no choice but to obey your command. I will comply!"

Zhu Yuanzhang smiled and nodded:

"The situation is unstable these days, so you need to keep a close watch on Puzikou City."
If someone stirs up a dispute
It is better to kill by mistake than to let go.

If you don't have enough trusted confidants, submit your memorials, and I will make arrangements for you.

"Your subject obeys the decree," Zhang Quan replied.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Quan immediately realized that things were definitely not as simple as he thought.

At this moment, Zhu Yuanzhang, who was at the head of the table, took a document from the table and handed it to the chief eunuch beside him.

The chief eunuch understood immediately, stepped down, and handed the document to Zhang Quan.

A hint of doubt flashed in his eyes, and Zhu Yuanzhang, who was at the head of the table, spoke up in time:
"Look, your son Zhang Huai'an has performed well in the war; he's a valuable asset."

"fighting?"

Zhang Quan's eyes showed even greater doubt.

Huai'an went to Daning, so where did the fighting come from?

He opened the document and read it carefully. When he saw what was written on it, he froze on the spot, his hair standing on end.
"This, this, this"

Zhang Quan even started to stutter again.

Thirty years of military service
He believed he had seen countless things.

But surprisingly, I had a slight doubt about the document in my hand. Is it true?
The document contained a detailed military report sent by the Beiping Regional Military Command.

The record details how the vanguard scouts and the Doyan Three Guards respectively engaged the Liaodong Jurchens.

His son, Zhang Huai'an, achieved great success, leading his troops to destroy more than a dozen camps and annihilate tens of thousands of enemies.

Zhang Quan was somewhat dazed, and the image of his good-for-nothing son involuntarily surfaced in his mind.

He spent his days indulging in debauchery and swindling.
They're either in a brothel or on their way to one.

Now?

"Your Majesty, is this true?"

"Hahahaha"

Zhu Yuanzhang was very satisfied with his expression and laughed heartily.
"This is exactly the kind of reaction I wanted."
The Liaodong campaign was a great victory.

If I were to inform the court of this matter...
I'm afraid they're just like you.

“Your Majesty, I did not see any military orders for troop deployment at the Governor’s Office,” Zhang Quan said.

"The incident happened suddenly; the Jurchens of Liaodong launched a large-scale invasion of the border."

The Northern Pacification Command rushed into battle without even having time to submit a memorial to the emperor, and before they could even report back...
"It's alright, we can just make a copy later," Zhu Yuanzhang said.

Zhang Quan naturally wouldn't believe such nonsense.

Ten thousand elite troops were dispatched out of the pass to meet the enemy.
Even the commander-in-chief of an important town has to write a report on such a matter. How could a newly established military command have such audacity?
However, Zhang Quan did not dwell on such matters; after the initial shock, he was overjoyed.

Regardless of who gave the order, the battle report was in his hands, and the news of his son's annihilation of the enemy should be accurate.

Today's enormous surprise left Zhang Quan speechless. He was granted a marquisate, bestowed with a python robe, granted entry into Puzikou City, and his son had also become accomplished. It was truly a quadruple blessing!

But before he could be happy for long, another document was handed to him.

Zhu Yuanzhang's powerful voice came from the head of the table:
"You must remember this list. Keep a close eye on the people on it, and keep a close watch on them."

If you find anything wrong, replace it all.

Zhang Quan took the document, and after seeing the names on it, he felt a chill run down his spine.

These are all descendants or relatives of nobles, placed in the Beijing army, and their status is extremely noble.

Doing such a thing will inevitably arouse jealousy.

However, Zhang Quan was already prepared. His face was solemn, and he bowed deeply.
"Your Majesty, I have done my utmost to live up to Your Majesty's grace!"

(End of this chapter)