The Overlord of the Red Mansion

Chapter 278 The Emperor’s Favor is Great
July 20th, the third year of the Holy Dynasty.

The military generals who suppressed the rebellion and expanded the territory in western Mengxi have returned, and have been back for more than a month.

However, no one dared to disturb Jia Rong who was in seclusion, so he stayed in the post house in the capital. He would also go out to visit some high-ranking officials from the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Personnel, and he would also try to build relationships with the Prime Minister.

The war was fought first in the Western Xinjiang, and the heroes had already gone to the Northeast to fight.

Wang Ziteng was originally the one who went to Mengxi, but Wang Ziteng died. It took more than a year to complete the process, and it was also named Central Asia Province.

As meritorious officials of the imperial court, the soldiers who returned from the Central Asian province this time were entertained by many people, and some even introduced their own children to them, obviously in an attempt to win them over.

Those who can win battles are naturally worthy of training, and this has been the case in the imperial court over the years.

Soon everyone started to attend court.

Ever since Jia Rong discovered that there were too many people and few people spoke, he modified the rules. A fixed number of 500 people would attend court each time, and the remaining 2,500 people would be assigned in turns, so that at least 10,000 people would attend court once a month.

Soon more than 3,000 people knelt down in unison.

"Long live my emperor, long live, long live!"

"Flat body."

Jia Rong said casually, "If you have something to say, just tell me."

The Minister of War bowed and said, "Your Majesty, the soldiers from Central Asia have returned victoriously. Ten of them, including General Xiandeng, are here to see Your Majesty!"

The heroes of this time quickly knelt on the ground with their hands and kneeled down, lowered their heads and shouted nervously: "This general greets the emperor!"

Most of these people were brave generals who had killed many people on the battlefield, and they were also generals who were used to life and death.

But this is the court where the emperor sits.

The soldiers who had been taught to be loyal to the emperor and serve the country since childhood seemed to be suppressed by their blood in front of the supreme emperor and dared not move.

Few people can resist violently when they are sentenced to death. Even if their entire family is killed, most of them will beg for mercy. Those who dare to curse or rush forward to assassinate are all very courageous people.

It was as if there was something like mental suppression. Everyone except Jia Rong was affected to varying degrees.

Now the whole world is subject to Jia Rong's rule. To the generals kneeling on the ground, the man whose face cannot be seen clearly on the high seat is the supreme emperor, the king!
The stronger the country, the greater the restraint on those who have been taught from childhood to be loyal to the emperor and serve the country.

Jia Rong said lazily: "I have read the battle report, it is mediocre. The captured cattle, sheep, livestock and slaves are more than those in Western Xinjiang, but not much different."

The soldiers did not dare to raise any objection. This time they were indeed given enough money, food and weapons, and the level of luxury was far beyond everyone's imagination.

Especially for those who have led troops to suppress rebellions, it is like replacing a small wooden stick with a machine gun, making people feel that it is entirely the weapons that have made the difference.

Soon the eunuchs gave out rewards.

He didn't make much contribution, at least that's what Jia Rong and the people in the court thought, and that's what they themselves thought too.

The rewards were generous, and they were all promoted to barons. General Sun, who commanded the army, was given the title of viscount.

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace!" Everyone knelt on the ground with their hands and put their heads on the floor to thank the emperor for his grace.

Jia Rong casually said at this time: "I wanted to make General Sun an earl, but this war took too long and many people died, so I demoted him to a viscount."

General Sun said quickly: "I am incompetent and have failed the emperor's trust! I deserve to die!"

Jia Rong said casually: "It's enough to win the battle. I'm not familiar with the enemy over there, and it's hard to judge their strength. Anyway, I recognize your contribution, and the reward for you is a bit small. You can make any request, any reward other than official title is fine."

General Sun said hurriedly: "I have already received a thousand taels of silver as a reward, and have been promoted to a higher position. The emperor has been very kind to me and others, and has given me and others the opportunity to serve the country. I dare not ask for anything more."

Jia Rong said in annoyance, "Then I'll give it to you as I see fit. The soldiers you brought with you this time are all from your hometown, right?"

General Sun kowtowed again and said, "Yes, the emperor has already given rewards to the soldiers. The whole army is grateful to the emperor for his favor!"

Jia Rong thought for a moment and asked, "Where is your hometown?" General Sun replied, "Your Majesty, I am from Yixing County, Changzhou Prefecture, Nanzhili, and the 10,000 people I have raised this time are all from my hometown."

Jia Rong said with a smile, "Since ancient times, those who raised soldiers to serve the country have mostly had bad endings, such as those brave men in the Song Dynasty. But I am not a tyrant, and I will not let the people of the world feel cold. You brought 10,000 people this time. How many of them came back?"

General Sun replied, "Eight thousand nine hundred men returned."

Jia Rong nodded and said, "More than a thousand people died. I will let you return home to bring honor to your family. I will appoint you as the prefect of Changzhou and exempt your county from land tax for a hundred years. All farms in your hometown will not have to pay population tax or grain tax for a hundred years."

"You can keep the excess food for yourself or sell it, it's up to you."

General Sun and others said in unison: "Thank you, Your Majesty! Long live the Emperor!!"

The exemption of agricultural taxes for a hundred years was an unprecedented huge effort, which made the deaths of more than a thousand people seem worthwhile.

Moreover, appointing local people as local prefects is equivalent to providing a lot of hidden benefits.

In fact, Jia Rong had been planning to cancel the agricultural tax in recent years. The cost of collecting it directly from farmland was too high, and too many tax collectors would be needed, which was not as much as the commercial tax and trade tax.

Moreover, there is no shortage of food, and the population needs to be increased as soon as possible, so agricultural taxes in all places will be gradually exempted.

Jia Rong looked at the left prime minister.

"How's the situation in Goryeo?"

The left prime minister replied: "It has not been completely conquered yet."

"No rush, take your time." Jia Rong thought for a moment, "Send the navy over there to train the soldiers first."

The Left Prime Minister knew that Jia Rong actually didn't care about the war at all. He didn't even remember the names of several heroes and probably didn't even know who was fighting in Korea.

"Yes!" The Left Prime Minister didn't really care, as long as he won the battle.

Jia Rong said to the people kneeling below, "You should stand up and go to the side of the Ministry of War. Don't interfere with our discussion of state affairs."

General Sun and others quickly stood up in fear and trepidation, and stood over at the Ministry of War with their heads lowered.

The Imperial Academy's chief priest stood up and said, "Your Majesty, I am already sixty-five years old this year. I am too old to continue to lead the affairs. I would like to resign and return home."

After hearing this, Jia Rong asked, "Would you like to retire in your hometown or in the capital?"

My hometown is no match for the capital!
Li Wan's family also had a chief academic officer of the Imperial College, but after returning to his hometown, he became nothing.

When the Imperial College Chief Academician heard this, he responded without any hesitation!

"This old minister is willing to continue to serve the emperor in Beijing!"

Jia Rong smiled and said, "Then buy a courtyard outside the Third Ring Road and live there permanently. I will grant you and your descendants the status of Beijing citizens, and the position of the Imperial College's chief priest will be appointed by the Ministry of Personnel from the Ministry of Works."

"From now on, officials above the fifth rank who are living in Beijing for retirement can go to the Imperial Hospital for medical treatment once a month. I wish you old officials a long life."

Jia Rong has a lot of medicines that need people to try. Generally, the sudden death of a young person is easily suspected, but it is different for an old man. If he dies, he is dead, and no one will think that it is a problem with the medicine.

The Imperial College's chief priest quickly knelt on the ground, tears streaming down his face with emotion: "Thank you, Your Majesty! Thank you, Your Majesty! Long live the emperor! Long live the emperor! Long, long live the emperor!"

Jia Rong smiled, but he still remembered that among those who had been causing trouble for him, there were many old ministers.

Then we discussed a lot of accumulated things and simply solved the useless things that were delayed during the summer retreat.

After the tide receded, General Sun wiped away his tears of emotion with a look of joy on his face.

"The Emperor's grace is so great!"

(End of this chapter)