Simultaneous travel: City, infinite evolution

Chapter 301 Drinking Wine at the Spring and Being Conferred the Title of Champion Marquis [Requesting Recommendation Votes]

The King and Queen of Tuan breathed a sigh of relief, a huge weight lifted from their hearts.

By marrying Chen Hong, and with Chen Hong's powerful reputation protecting them, Tu'an was no longer in danger of being destroyed.

The people of Tu'an cheered wildly, joyfully wishing their princess a happy marriage.

The only unhappy person in the crowd was probably General Jin, who had always secretly loved the princess.

He looked dejected, watching helplessly as his beloved princess ran off with someone else; his heart was breaking.

But there was nothing they could do; it was the choice of everyone in Tuan, and it was also the princess's own decision.

The key point is that he could see from the princess's eyes that she was actually quite satisfied with this legendary immortal war god and was not unwilling at all.

This is very uncomfortable.

He had absolutely no reason to take the princess back.

He simply stood in the crowd, watching the princess board the carriage and, along with Chen Hong's cavalry, slowly drive away into the distance.

Like a defeated dog, a drowned rat in the pouring rain, disheveled, heartbroken, and forlorn...

Chen Hong led Princess Yu Shu eastward.

The kingdoms of the Western Regions naturally welcomed the king's army with utmost respect, offering them food and drink, and dared not offend a ruthless man like Chen Hong in the slightest.

Chen Hong and his group arrived at a desert oasis where a unique city was under construction. They personally named it Dunhuang.

Then they encountered a second city under construction by the Qin Dynasty, which Chen Hong personally named Guazhou.

Chen Hong passed through the gateway to the Western Regions via the Hexi Corridor and saw the city under construction there. He personally named it Yumen Pass.

After walking for a while, we came across a lake, a natural lake formed by underground springs.

The lake water is crystal clear.

"Soldiers, you have fought hard all the way."

"Today, we have made history with unprecedented military achievements, breaking through the entire continent and returning victorious."

"I will pour these ten jars of fine wine into the spring lake, and we will drink together to reward the entire army and celebrate this victory!"

After saying this, Chen Hong poured ten jars of fine wine from various Western Regions and countries into the spring lake.

"Wan Sheng!"

"Wan Sheng!"

"Wan Sheng!"

The soldiers cheered and, in high spirits, joined Chen Hong in drinking wine from the spring.

Later, this lake was named Jiuquan (酒泉).

Chen Hong also named the nearby city Jiuquan (酒泉).

After celebrating this unprecedented victory, everyone was in high spirits.

Following Chen Hong, he easily gained such great military merit.

I wonder how many of these 800 people will be granted the title of Marquis this time.

They must be laughing in their sleep.

Seeing the soldiers' support for Chen Hong and witnessing this lively scene, Yu Shu curiously observed the spirited Chen Hong.

After Chen Hong finished reorganizing his troops, he continued eastward.

After walking for a while, we came across another important city under construction.

Chen Hong named it Zhangye.

Keep going, we're almost at the end of the Hexi Corridor, and we'll encounter the last city.

Chen Hong forged a huge stone tablet here, 50 meters high, 30 meters wide, and 10 meters thick.

The details of this western expedition were inscribed on the stone tablet, boasting of the achievements and serving as historical evidence.

This brings a perfect end to our westward expedition.

Therefore, Chen Hong named the city Wuwei.

After traversing the Hexi Corridor, crossing the Yellow River and the Great Wall, Chen Hong traveled through the northern regions towards Xianyang.

When they were almost at Xianyang, Chen Hong released the cattle, sheep, horses, and Xiongnu people he had captured.

A total of 24 horses, 70 cattle, and 180 million sheep!
The vast herd of cattle, sheep, and horses astonished the people and officials along the way.

Chen Hong also ordered the Xiongnu people he had captured to herd cattle, sheep and horses.

The procession was not only a long and impressive line, but it stretched as far as the eye could see.

Chen Hong's sudden wealth was the kind of extravagance that the people of Qin had never seen in tens of thousands of lifetimes.

One by one, they were horrified and dumbfounded, and the news was reported up the chain of command.

The captured Xiongnu people, driven by Chen Hong, were all obedient and did not dare to have any thoughts of escaping, let alone oppose Chen Hong.

They were all terrified of Chen Hong, fearing him to the core.

They were all incredibly well-behaved, and even very loyal.

Many Xiongnu people even regarded Chen Hong as a god of the grasslands and the will of heaven, and dared not disobey him in the slightest.

The number of Xiongnu people captured by Chen Hong was as high as 38.

Among them were countless high-ranking Xiongnu nobles and other dignitaries, almost wiping out the entire Xiongnu elite.

When Chen Hong's grand procession arrived thirty miles outside Xianyang City.

The First Emperor, Ying Zheng, had already led his officials to wait here to welcome him.

When they looked at the endless expanse of cattle, sheep and horses, the old Qin Shi Huang and many ministers and nobles were so excited that their faces turned red.

Chen Hong waved his hand, and the group slowly came to a stop.

Chen Hong rode alone to Ying Zheng's side.

"Your Majesty, I have defeated the Xiongnu in this battle, capturing 24 horses, 70 cattle, and 180 million sheep."

Your Majesty, please send someone to inventory and properly allocate these funds for the benefit of all the people.

"it is good!"

"Okay!"

"The immortal has rendered great service to the nation!" Old Ying Zheng exclaimed excitedly as he ran up, grabbing Chen Hong's shoulder, his hands trembling.

"I have already heard of the divine power of the immortals."

Old Ying Zheng excitedly grabbed Chen Hong's hand and led him to his carriage, talking as they walked.

"The immortals drove the Xiongnu away as if they were cattle and sheep, conquered various countries in the west, and ventured to the far west, conquering territories several times larger than those of the Qin Dynasty."

Meng Tian has already reported this to me in detail.

Throughout history, no achievement has been comparable to that of an immortal.

It will surely be recorded in history, remembered in the annals, and remembered for eternity.

Old Qin Shi Huang appeared very excited, his face beaming with joy as he laughed heartily.

"Come, come, come quickly, ride with me in the same carriage. We will go to the Imperial Ancestral Temple to present the captives, inform our ancestors, and offer sacrifices to Heaven."

Chen Hong did not refuse the old Ying Zheng's offer to take him to the emperor's carriage.

If it were someone else, there would be the worry that their achievements would overshadow the ruler.

But who is Chen Hong?

Completely indifferent to these things, power was nothing but fleeting clouds in Chen Hong's eyes.

Qin Shi Huang waved his hand, and armored soldiers and officials went to take over the Xiongnu prisoners and the huge number of cattle, sheep and horses.

If these cattle, sheep, and horses are used well, they can not only breed a continuous supply of warhorses for the Qin Dynasty, but also allow the people to raise cattle and sheep on the side, resulting in countless cattle and sheep and an abundance of meat.

After all, Qin now has Chen Hong's high-yield crops, so raising cattle and sheep on the side is still feasible.

Moreover, the Qin Dynasty no longer lacks pastures.

The vast northern grasslands were all pastures of the Qin Dynasty.

Chen Hong stood beside the old Qin Shi Huang, riding in the emperor's imperial carriage, and slowly drove into Xianyang City.

Countless officials, soldiers, maids, and eunuchs followed along the way.

The etiquette and regulations were conducted at the highest level, with an extravagant and elaborate ceremony.

Occasionally, officials would secretly look up at Chen Hong, their eyes filled with envy.

Even Li Si was envious, but he dared not have any thoughts of competing with Chen Hong for credit or power.

Chen Hong's contribution was so great that it was almost despairing, leaving no room for comparison.

Moreover, the merits are so great that there is no way to bestow any further titles, which is not a good thing.

To put it bluntly, Chen Hong could start his own business and become emperor himself.

Moreover, its territory is several times larger than that of the Qin Dynasty.

Soon, Emperor Qin Shi Huang led Chen Hong to complete the ceremony of presenting captives at the Imperial Ancestral Temple.

They would bring Xiongnu prisoners to the ancestral temple to tell their ancestors that they had eliminated the Xiongnu, a major threat, and boast about their achievements.

Reporting military achievements to ancestors, demonstrating national power, deterring enemies, highlighting the legitimacy of "divine mandate," making people feel proud, and uniting the people's hearts.

They danced and ate sacrificial meat according to the Zhou rites.

The entire city of Xianyang was immersed in revelry and an overwhelming sense of national and ethnic pride.

Chen Hong's reputation reached its zenith.

In front of the ancestral tablets and all the civil and military officials, Qin Shi Huang immediately bestowed upon Chen Hong the title of Marquis Che.

The title of Chehou was the highest rank in the Qin Dynasty's twenty-level military merit system, granting the holder a fiefdom and placing him among the feudal lords.

"Chen Hong's achievements were unparalleled. He defeated the Xiongnu, destroyed nine major states, expanded the territory by tens of thousands of miles, and was the bravest of the three armies."

I hereby bestow upon Chen Hong the title of Marquis of Champion, ranking him among the highest marquises, and grant him the State of Chu, with a fief of 100,000 households!

Upon hearing this, all the ministers were stunned.

What does it mean to have a fief of 100,000 households? It means having the privilege of collecting taxes (grain, cloth) and corvée labor from farmers within a designated area ("fief"), but not having administrative, military, or judicial power (which was managed by officials dispatched by the imperial court).

The 100,000 households comprised approximately 500,000 to 600,000 people. This meant that Chen Hong was supported by the taxes levied on these 500,000 to 600,000 people and could also conscript them as laborers to work for him.

This is equivalent to gaining economic control of a vassal state.

A fief of 10,000 households is already a very rare title for a marquis, and most of them are honorary titles, not real fiefs. In reality, the fief is only three or four thousand households, or even one or two thousand households.

Chen Hong's fiefdom was genuinely granted to 100,000 households, without any exaggeration.

The Qin Dynasty had never before bestowed such a high honor upon a Marquis.

This shows that this was the extent of Qin Shi Huang's sincerity.

Chen Hong's contributions were so great that they had reached a point where no reward or title could be bestowed upon him.

Although Chen Hong did not value fiefdoms, he did not refuse the reward from the old Qin Emperor.

If he refuses to accept it, he will be undermining the military merit system, disrupting the emperor's reward and punishment system, and slapping the emperor in the face.

Only by accepting the reward and knowing when to advance and when to retreat can one set an example for those who come after.

Chen Hong gladly accepted Ying Zheng's reward and was granted the title of "Marquis of Champion".

Chen Hong single-handedly elevated the prestige of the special title of "Champion Marquis".

It has become the highest pursuit of honor for martial artists for thousands of years.

From then on, to be worthy of the special title of "Champion Marquis," conquering a country was merely the entry threshold; one had to at least conquer a continent to be qualified for the title of "Champion Marquis."

If you want to be comparable to Chen Hong, you need at least 800 cavalry to crush an entire continent, right?

This requirement effectively blocked any possibility for later generations to be worthy of the special title of "Champion Marquis".

Because apart from Chen Hong, no one else could be this twisted.

As for surpassing Chen Hong, that's out of the question.

Thus, for thousands of years thereafter, the title of "Champion Marquis" became the highest pursuit for generals in the military field.

But no one has ever received this title since.

"Champion Marquis" became Chen Hong's exclusive nickname.

No one will ever receive this honor again.

(End of this chapter)