Do You Know?: Rule the World.

Chapter 182 The Grand Pillar of State, the Duke of Zhenguo, a banquet is held at the Imperial Palace.
Liao Dynasty, Shangjing, Linhuang Prefecture.

Inside the Xuanzheng Hall, Yelü Hongji, dressed in the Khitan royal court robes, frowned, his face showing worry.

"In just a few months, Jiaozhi was destroyed."

"It is truly unbelievable that a once powerful force in the southern border has fallen to such a state."

"The Southern Dynasties are not comparable at all!"

Standing at the lower end, Yelü Yixin said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, the key to the destruction of Jiaozhi lies in the firearms and gunpowder of the Southern Dynasty."

"I believe that the most urgent task is to continue to send more craftsmen to decipher the formula and refining method of gunpowder in the Southern Dynasty, and to speed up the imitation of firearms."

"If the Southern Dynasty is allowed to monopolize such powerful weapons, our Liao borders will surely suffer great trouble in the future."

At this time, he was already acting as Grand Tutor, wielding great power. In times of war, he could command large armies by imperial decree, and his influence swayed the court and the country.

Officials flocked to him seeking favors and bribes, and Yelü Yixin accepted them all without hesitation.

Those who were subservient to him and obeyed his every command were all strongly recommended and promoted rapidly. There were also some ministers who were loyal, honest, and upright and refused to compromise their principles.

They were all ostracized and suppressed by him, demoted to harsh and cold border regions, or even dismissed from their posts.

Among them, Yelü Renxian had been demoted to the position of garrison commander in Nanjing and was granted the title of Prince of Jin, far from the center of power.

Yelü Hongji looked at him, remained silent for a moment, and nodded, saying, "That makes sense. I'll leave this matter to you, Grand Tutor."

"The necessary human and material resources can be allocated from the national treasury, and we must achieve results as soon as possible."

"Your subject obeys the decree!" Yelü Yixin bowed and accepted the order.

He secretly pondered that Crown Prince Yelü Jun was already over ten years old, and barring any unforeseen circumstances, he would begin to rule in his own right in another six or seven years.

If he could control the firearms in the court, and with the influence of his cronies he had cultivated over the years, he could still sit firmly on the throne and hold the reins of military and political power.

-

In the sixth year of the Hongwu reign, the year was drawing to a close.

The city of Bianjing was peaceful and bustling, with vermilion lanterns hanging under the eaves of houses on both sides of the street, and passersby wearing happy expressions.

All matters in Jiaozhi have been pacified, and the southern expeditionary army has returned in triumph today.

Outside the gates of Bianjing, the eldest prince, Zhao Jing, dressed in a scarlet brocade robe and with a jade belt around his waist, already possessed a composed demeanor despite his young age.

Behind them, the Imperial Guards stood in neat rows, and several ministers, including Zhang Fu and Sheng Changbai, were also present.

Just then, a guard from the Imperial Guard came galloping over and dismounted as he approached.

"Your Highness, the southern expeditionary army has reached within ten miles!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Jing's eyes immediately lit up. He straightened his back slightly and said in a deep voice, "Send down the order to straighten the ranks, prepare the ceremonial music, and welcome the army!"

"Yes!"

The melodious sound of drums resounded through the sky, echoing the faint sound of horses' hooves in the distance.

Before long, the southern expeditionary army appeared before everyone's eyes.

At the head of the group, Gu Tingye was clad in armor, holding the reins, and smiling. At first glance, he still appeared to be a carefree and irreverent figure.

A few months ago, Yuan Wenying gave birth to a daughter, whom he named Gu Shuchang, as he had wished.

Gu Yanming and Gu Yanzhi died in Qingcheng at the beginning of the year from a "cold" and all their funeral arrangements were handled by Gu Tingwei.

Wei Ling, Zheng Xiao, and several other generals followed closely behind, all in high spirits, their eyes filled with the joy of returning home.

"Marshal Gu! Generals! You have worked extremely hard!" Zhao Jing looked at them, his eyes full of respect and admiration.

Gu Tingye dismounted with a swift and graceful movement, took a few steps forward, and bowed, saying, "Your subject Gu Tingye greets Your Highness."

Wei Ling, Zheng Xiao, and the others followed suit, bowing and saying in unison, "Your Highness, we pay our respects!"

"No need for formalities." Zhao Jing gently took Gu Tingye's arm with her small hand, a bright smile on her face.

"All of you generals are pillars of the nation. This expedition to the southern frontier has expanded our territory and made unparalleled contributions."

"Father and the court officials have been waiting for a long time in the Zichen Palace. They have prepared a celebratory banquet to welcome the generals. Let's hurry into the city."

Gu Tingye and the others exchanged glances, then bowed again and said, "Your Majesty and the Emperor are grateful for your kindness!"

Imperial Palace, Zichen Hall.

All major national events, such as grand court assemblies and the bestowal of military merits, were held here.

All that could be seen were officials in crimson robes, civil and military officials arranged neatly on both sides according to their rank. Sheng Changbai held a tablet in his hand, glancing occasionally towards the direction of the palace gate out of the corner of his eye.

They haven't seen each other for over a year since Gu Tingye led his troops into battle.

Zhang Fu, dressed in purple robes and a jade belt, stroked his beard with anticipation in his eyes. Since Zhao Han ascended the throne, he had expanded the territory several times and made great use of military generals.

The Zhou dynasty's emphasis on civil affairs over military matters has decreased considerably compared to when the previous emperor was alive.

The land survey and tax payment have been successfully completed. Wang Anshi and Gu Qianfan returned to the capital yesterday and are currently in the palace.

At three quarters past Chen Shi (7:45 AM), a loud announcement came from outside the palace: "Grand Marshal Gu Tingye of the Southern Expedition and the meritorious soldiers are awaiting orders outside the palace!"

Above the throne, Zhao Han's gaze darkened slightly, and he nodded, saying, "Quickly summon Marquis Gu and all the generals and soldiers into the palace."

"According to the order!"

Soon, under the watchful eyes of the civil and military officials, Gu Tingye and his entourage strode steadily to the center of the hall and bowed in unison, saying:

"We, your humble servants, have successfully fulfilled our mission, leading the southern expeditionary force to pacify Jiaozhi. Today we return in triumph and pay our respects to Your Majesty!"

"Rise. You all fought valiantly, expanding the territory of the Great Zhou by thousands of miles. You are all meritorious individuals. There is no need for such formalities." Zhao Han smiled slightly, his eyes full of satisfaction.

Sheng Changbai sized up Gu Tingye and gently exhaled a breath of stale air.

Back in the clan school, the two hit it off immediately and vowed to work together, one in literature and the other in martial arts, to achieve great things and support the nation. Now, all of that is slowly coming true.

"Before you set out on the expedition, I promised that you would be richly rewarded upon your triumphant return. The Ministry of Rites has already prepared the details of the rewards."

As soon as the words were spoken, an official from the Ministry of Rites, holding an imperial edict, announced loudly: "Your Excellency, the decree reads:

Gu Tingye, the Grand Marshal of the Southern Expedition, Commander of the Divine Machine Battalion, and Marquis of Ningyuan, led the three armies to conquer the southern border and was unparalleled in bravery.

He is now promoted to Duke of Zhenguo, granted a certificate of merit and iron, appointed as a pillar of the state, with a fief of a thousand households, and awarded a thousand taels of gold and a hundred bolts of brocade to recognize his merits!

I hope you will be conscientious in your duties, guard against arrogance and impetuosity, serve me with utmost loyalty, protect the peace of our territory, and assist me in creating a prosperous era.

Awesome! "

As soon as he finished speaking, Gu Tingye took a deep breath, his heart rising and falling slightly.

Duke of Zhenguo, Pillar of the State!
These six words kept echoing in his ears.

Gu Shande, the ancestor of the Gu family, led his two sons from Qingcheng to join the army. At the critical moment of life and death, he risked his life to protect the Taizu Emperor.

To repay the debt of gratitude for saving his life, Emperor Taizu took the two sons of the Gu family as his personal guards.

He served the emperor in battle for more than twenty years, making outstanding military achievements, and thus earned the hereditary marquisate of Xiangyang and Ningyuan.

The Gu family of Qingcheng rose from humble beginnings on the frontier to become a prominent military family in the Great Zhou Dynasty.

When the title was passed down to the second generation, the grandfather was nearly stripped of his title and exiled because of his poor management of the family and the descendants' indulgence in pleasure, which resulted in a huge debt to the Ministry of Revenue. Gu Yankai inherited the title for more than 30 years. He was diligent and cautious, and guarded the frontier for many years. He made many military achievements and supported the family, but he was never able to bring the Gu family any further.

From this day forward, the Gu family of Qingcheng will return to its peak under Gu Tingye's leadership, surpassing even its former glory!
After gathering his thoughts, Gu Tingye knelt down to receive the imperial decree and said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, I thank you for your great favor. I am willing to go through fire and water for Your Majesty without hesitation!"

Zhao Han waved her hand and said with a smile, "Get up quickly."

"Your son Chang is just like you, fearless and daring."

"A few days ago, he secretly came to me and asked when you would return and how big the war elephants in Jiaozhi were. He kept rambling on and on."

Gu Tingye's eldest son, Gu Shuchang, has been in the palace as a companion to his studies for nearly half a year.

Gu Tingye smiled helplessly, turned his head to look at Han Zhang, and cupped his hands, saying, "Lord Han, my son Chang is used to causing trouble at home."

“If he disobeys, you can beat and scold him as you please, I will not feel sorry for him.”

Han Zhang raised his hand and stroked his gray beard. "I don't believe in the saying that children are raised with beatings. Children should be taught patiently and according to their aptitude."

"Your Excellency Zhenguo, please rest assured. Changge is of pure and good character, unlike you who was naughty when you were young. He will have a bright future ahead of him."

"What Lord Han says is true." Gu Tingye twitched the corner of his mouth and bowed deeply.

He had long planned to send Changge'er to the palace, firstly to show his loyalty, and secondly to save himself the trouble of finding a tutor and checking his homework.

Even when Chang'e grows up, he plans to send her to the Hai family's clan school.

As one of the most prominent families in Jiangning, the Hai family had both a boys' school and a girls' school, and hired renowned scholars of the time.

Many officials and noble families went to great lengths to send their children to the Hai family's private school.

Once the atmosphere in the hall had calmed down somewhat, the official from the Ministry of Rites announced loudly: "Your Excellency, the imperial decree states:"

Wei Ling, a third-rank general and military governor of Hexi, was brave and skilled in battle, and his loyalty and courage were commendable.

He killed a general of Jiaozhi in battle, personally led elite cavalry to break the enemy at the Phu Luong River, launched a surprise attack on Thang Long Prefecture, and was the first to scale and breach the city walls, making great contributions.

He was conferred the title of Earl of Wuxiang, a second-rank Assistant General of the State, with a fief of eight hundred households, and was bestowed with a purple-gold fish-shaped pouch to recognize his achievements.

Upon hearing this, Wei Ling stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Your subject Wei Ling thanks Your Majesty for your great favor!"

Sheng Hong glanced at him discreetly out of the corner of his eye, then couldn't help but shake his head.

"With the recent pacification of Jiaozhi, we still need elite troops and strong generals to garrison it. Wei Ling, I intend to have you command 30,000 Imperial Guards to guard Thang Long Prefecture. I wonder if you are capable of this task?"

Wei Ling bowed solemnly once more, his voice clear and resonant, “Your subject will do everything in his power to pacify the new people and guard the southern border!”

"Very well, then rest in the capital for a month or so. When that time comes, I will personally host a farewell banquet for you," Zhao Han said softly.

It took a full half hour for the announcement of the rewards to be finished.

Among them, Zheng Xiao was granted the title of Earl of Jingyuan. From then on, the Zheng family not only inherited the title of Marquis of Zhongjing, but also gained the title of Earl of Jingyuan, making them a family with two titles, which was extremely prestigious.

He Hongwen developed a formula to ward off miasma and treat epidemics. Before he was even thirty, he was exceptionally appointed as the sixth-rank judge of the Imperial Medical Academy.

Liang Hui of the Yongchang Earl's Mansion was promoted from a fifth-rank official in the Ministry of War's Treasury Department to a fourth-rank official in the Ministry of War's Right Vice Minister for his meritorious service in managing military supplies.

Marquis Yongyi has submitted a memorial stating that his eldest son is incompetent, addicted to wine and women, and unfit for important tasks. He will wait until after his death to inherit the title from Xu Pingyuan.

Therefore, Xu Pingyuan was granted the title of Second-Rank General of the Garrison Army, and was awarded a thousand taels of gold and a purple-gold fish-shaped pouch.

As for the request from the Liang family elder, Zhao Han did not refuse.

In his view, the Liang family's future excitement will not only be related to the succession of the title.

Liang Hui is an outstanding talent and is capable of being put to great use.

The downside is that he is somewhat selfish and unwilling to let his brothers benefit from his influence, let alone offer them any support.

Old Master Liang saw this, which is why he planned to leave the family business to his eldest son, to secure a future for them.

After the bestowal of titles and rewards was completed, civil and military officials entered the banquet in order of their rank.

Inside the hall, wine cups clinked and the sounds of string and wind instruments filled the air. Song Yinzhang, dressed in his finest attire, had come to play the pipa to add to the merriment.

Meanwhile, in the inner palace, at Ninghui Palace.

Minglan, dressed in a light green brocade dress, her eyebrows slightly furrowed, paced back and forth in the hall, occasionally glancing out with expectant eyes.

About half an incense stick's time later, Xiao Tao came running in, her cheeks flushed and panting. Without bothering to bow, she picked up the teacup on the table and drank it all in one gulp.

"How is it? What news did you find out? How is Uncle?" Minglan asked impatiently, tugging at her arm.

"Lord Wu Xiang! The Emperor is benevolent; General Wei has been granted the title of Earl!"

Xiao Tao raised her hand to her chest, speaking with great excitement.

“That’s great…” Minglan breathed a sigh of relief and sat down on the soft couch.

The more prominent and distinguished Wei Ling is, the greater the benefits will be for the Wei family, Wei Shuyi, and even for her.

"Your Highness, can my mistress regain her freedom?" Xiao Tao asked softly from the side.

Back then, they were mistreated in the Sheng family. Wei Xiaoniang would rather go hungry herself than not share half of her cake with her. Xiao Tao never forgot this kindness.

Minglan looked up at her and nodded solemnly.

As night fell and the imperial banquet ended, the officials headed towards the palace gates.

Gu Tingye walked side by side with Sheng Changbai. "It's been several months since I last saw you. Brother Changbai seems to have lost some weight."

"The Ministry of Personnel is full of complicated matters, even more so than those years in the Northwest. Especially at the end of the year, I can't spare the time to go to Fanlou with you for a celebratory drink."

After saying this, Sheng Changbai couldn't help but sigh softly.

“The capable should do more,” Gu Tingye laughed heartily, then changed the subject, “Just now at the banquet I overheard your brother-in-law saying that he might want to go to Jiaozhi to gain some experience?”

Sheng Changbai glanced at him and nodded slightly.

"Wen Yanjing is an ambitious and steady man, unlike ordinary officials from humble backgrounds who are eager for quick success and do not covet the comforts of the capital."

“A few days ago, he mentioned this to my father and me, saying that the local customs are complicated and the affairs are numerous, which is a good opportunity to temper one’s character and accumulate practical experience.”

Gu Tingye raised his hand and touched his chin. "The Duke of Wei has a discerning eye. It is truly rare in the capital for someone like him to marry his legitimate daughter down."

Sheng Changbai understood the meaning behind his words and said quietly, "Be careful what you say."

On the other side, Wei Ling strode forward, came to Sheng Hong's side, and bowed respectfully, "Duke of Wei."

Sheng Hong paused, then chuckled dryly twice. "I haven't had a chance to congratulate Marquis Wu on his triumphant return yet."

"Ever since you went to the southern border, Wei Xiaoniang has been worried about you day and night at home, and often talks about you."

"Now that you have returned safely and received this honor, she can finally put her mind at ease."

Wei Ling straightened his back and went straight to the point: "I wonder how my elder sister's health is recovering? I am far away in the southern border, and I have been thinking of her a lot."

"The doctor just came to check your pulse a few days ago, and everything is fine, so you can rest assured."

“Wang is now suffering greatly in the inner prison, and she deserves it. This is also a way of giving your elder sister justice.”

(End of this chapter)