Dream of the Red Chamber: I can upgrade my entries!

Chapter 55 The royal family's mistreatment is not limited to today.
"The new leaders of the Chechen Khanate, the Tushetu Khanate, the Zasagtu Khanate, and the Bairin Khanate have gone to the capital for pilgrimage."

"The Khorchin tribe has abandoned darkness and embraced the light. Our Great Qian Dynasty is inclusive and tolerant, and naturally we can accommodate them."

"All members of the Khorchin tribe were allowed to return to their settlement, and all the horses, cattle, and sheep they had captured were returned to them."

"Do you have any objections?"

Looking around at everyone, Jia Yan brought up the matter of post-war arrangements.

The nearly 100,000 Mongol cavalrymen, two-thirds of whom came from the Khorchin tribe, constituted a considerable force.

Moreover, the Khorchin tribe's decision to hold back in the fighting indirectly led to the Mongol defeat, a fact that no one can deny.

"Great!"

Niu Jizong and the others vaguely guessed that the Khorchin tribe was related to the Jia family, and no one dared to provoke them, so they all gave Jia Yan face.

"In that case, all of you may go down and appease the soldiers and distribute the spoils of war."

Jia Yan issued an order to leave.

"Yes."

Generals such as Nian Gengyao, the commander-in-chief of Datong, Yue Zhongqi, the deputy commander-in-chief of Xuanfu, and Wang Ziteng, the military governor of the Beijing garrison, left one after another.

Not only them, but also the founding generals and the twelve personal guards went down to make arrangements, leaving only Niu Jizong, Liu Fang, and Hou Xiaokang in the hall.

"Nephew."

"Shi Bingyi is dead. Of the 24 direct descendants of the founding line who accompanied him, only 7 remain."

After the others left, Niu Jizong said with a solemn expression.

"call!!!"

Hou Xiaokang and Liu Fang's breathing also became much more rapid.

After this battle, Datong Town, Xuanfu Town, and Shanxi Town were undoubtedly severely damaged. The most tragic loss was to the founding lineage, where all the eldest sons of each family died. The most important person was Shi Bingyi, the grandson of Duke Shan Guo Shi Meng and a first-class baron.

'oh? ’

A sly glint flashed in Jia Yan's eyes. If he remembered correctly, in the original novel, Shi Bingyi died before Qin Keqing. Among the eight great dukes of the founding line, the Shan Guo Duke's Mansion was the first to decline. The fourth generation, Shi Guangzhu, was raised by women and was not capable of being cultivated.

"As for how to arrange the commendation ceremony, it is up to my nephew to make the final decision."

Then, Niu Jizong threw the most difficult question at Jia Yan.

"The three uncles wanted to establish a new dynasty and continue the glory of the past."

"That's impossible, even if their names are all over the list of credits."

As he stepped down from the main seat, Jia Yan's sharp eyes seemed to see right through people, and he began to speak.

"This"

Niu Jizong, Liu Fang, and Hou Xiaokang hesitated to speak.

They did indeed want to use the Shi Bingyi incident to credit the founding lineage and gain greater benefits.

"Before the Northern Expeditionary Army and the Beijing Garrison arrived, the three towns of Datong, Xuanfu, and Shanxi had already held out for more than a month."

"Don't forget, the Mongols' southward march didn't begin in March, but rather in February."

"All the civil and military officials and border soldiers can see it clearly. Our Emperor has long wanted to place his own people in the army. Whether it is the founding line or the Yuan line, these are all past forces. He wants a new military force, a group of nobles that he can trust."

"Not only were General Nian Gengyao of Datong, Deputy General Yue Zhongqi of Xuanfu, and Deputy General Zhang Guangsi of Shanxi, but also Wang Ziteng, the military governor of the Beijing garrison."

"The credit goes first to me, then to my three uncles, and then to them. There is no turning back on this matter."

Staring intently at the three of them, Jia Yan's voice was resolute, giving them no chance to question.

'The meritorious nobles of Yongping!'

A phrase involuntarily surfaced in the minds of Niu Jizong and others, a shared understanding among the founding generation before their aid to Datong: "Since the re-establishment of the Nine Garrisons during the reign of the Retired Emperor, the power shifts among the key garrisons have been largely ignored in the court."

"In fact, the military forces that were originally composed of many military families from the northwestern border regions have already been torn open."

"Among the nine border generals, apart from Nian Gengyao, the general of Datong, there is also Yang Jishan, the general of Ningxia, who are generals without any foundation."

"The descendants of the four generals of Hexi, Zhang Yong, Zhao Liangdong, Sun Sike, and Wang Jinbao, are now serving as deputy commanders in Ningxia Town, Guyuan Town, Gansu Town, and Yulin Town, respectively. These people are the military personnel prepared by the retired emperor for the current emperor."

"The border troops and the capital troops together formed the most combat-effective army in the dynasty."

'Oh, this.'

Upon hearing this, Niu Jizong and the other two stared intently, their faces showing surprise.

In recent years, the military power in the imperial court has been limited to founding nobles and veteran nobles; no one has really paid attention to the harsh and cold border regions.

Who could have imagined that the retired emperor would quietly tear open the gates of the nine border generals who had inherited the legacy of the previous Ming dynasty? This was clearly premeditated.

“I understand what my three uncles mean.”

"The founding generation has made many sacrifices, and we cannot let them shed blood and sacrifice in vain."

"Shi Bingyi, Feng Tang, Wei Jingyuan, Li Chuan, Qi Zhengze, Qin Xiuyuan, and Li Xiao are ranked fourth; Qi Jianhui, Jiang Zining, and Xie Jing are ranked fifth; Chen Ruiwen, Ma Shang, Han Yu, Fan Yuan, Pei Zhe, Feng Ziying, and Wei Ruolan are ranked last."

"how?"

"Your kindness and generosity are truly admirable!"

Niu Jizong, Hou Xiaokang, and Liu Fang exchanged glances and bowed in unison.

This arrangement is based primarily on military merit, and secondarily on personal connections. Given Shi Bingyi's achievements, he should have been ranked alongside Qi Jianhui and the others. Now that he has been elevated, Shi Guangzhu will receive more when he inherits the title, and will not be reduced to a mere noble rank.

"The three uncles should be considering the future of the founding lineage."

"The blessings of a virtuous person will last for five generations; the blessings of a petty person will also last for five generations."

"The royal family's mistreatment of the founding lineage is an undeniable fact."

"Instead of waiting for the emperor to take action, it's better to take the initiative ourselves. As the saying goes, 'No destruction, no construction; destruction precedes construction.'"

With his hands behind his back, Jia Yan spoke in a deep voice.

'Whoosh!'

The three were taken aback, then looked up and asked, "What do you mean, nephew?"

"hehe."

With a slight smile, Jia Yan continued, "The most generous rewards for this battle belong to none other than the three uncles."

"The emperor is willing to spend a fortune to buy a horse's bones. Nian Gengyao, Yue Zhongqi, Zhang Guangsi, and Wang Ziteng are definitely not just minor viscounts."

"There is no objection to Uncle Niu being promoted to Marquis, and there may even be additional favors for his sons. I believe that Uncle Hou and Uncle Liu will also be rewarded with the title of Marquis."

"Gulu."

Hou Xiaokang and Liu Fang couldn't help but swallow.

The difference between a marquis and an earl is not small. A duke is called a national duke, and a marquis is called a national marquis. These two ranks of nobility symbolize transcendence and have existed since ancient times. Earls are divided into first, second, and third ranks. If they were to be granted the title of marquis, they would be making a fortune.

"If it is a marquisate, does the legacy of our ancestors still have any meaning for our three uncles?"

He glanced at the three of them and said meaningfully.

"What does my dear nephew want us to do?"

Niu Jizong, Hou Xiaokang, and Liu Fang asked.

In fact, the legacy of the founding nobles consisted of nothing more than land grants and mansions. These things were not much to them, who were about to be ennobled. They were in their prime, and who could guarantee that they wouldn't rise to even greater heights?

(End of this chapter)