Brother, stop curling up! You're curling up like the founder of the Han Dynasty!

Chapter 182 Liu Bei is enfeoffed as Marquis of Guanzhong and takes Diao Chan as a concubine (Seeking subscriptions and monthly votes)
Liu Xie looked at Liu Bei with surprise again.

To completely negate the hereditary system of fiefdoms and estates that had been in use for hundreds of years was a reform that Liu Xie would never have dared to even think about, let alone approve.

"What does the Imperial Uncle think we should do?" Liu Xie dared not make a decision on his own and could only pass the decision-making power back to Liu Bei.

If Liu Xie were to grant Zhong Yao's request outright, he feared he would be subjected to a barrage of criticism after the court session.

Why should the hereditary fiefdom be changed to a nominal marquisate that cannot be inherited?

You were indeed established by forging an imperial edict!

All the officials also looked at Liu Bei.

Especially Wang Yun and Yang Biao, these two had been taught a lesson by Liu Bei.

At this moment, I also want to see if Liu Bei really intends to implement the system of marquises without fiefs or hereditary titles.

"I believe that what Minister Zhong said is very reasonable." Liu Bei affirmed Zhong Yao's memorial and added, "In our dynasty, there are Marquises within the Passes, who have no fiefs or stipends and whose positions cannot be inherited. Instead, the court pays them a monthly stipend."

"Therefore, I believe that what Minister Zhong proposed is feasible, and I am willing to set an example."

The system of awarding titles based on military merit must be changed.

With too many fiefdoms and estates, numerous states within states were created, creating a vicious cycle that rendered Liu Bei's previous efforts futile.

If Liu Xie were not the current emperor, Liu Bei would have followed the example of Yuntai Pavilion and built another Lingyan Pavilion.

In the future, those who have made military achievements and been granted titles can have their portraits and biographies preserved in the Lingyan Pavilion.

After his death, his official seal and ribbon can be stored in the Lingyan Pavilion for future generations to admire.

However, these higher-level strategies could only be implemented after Liu Bei officially ascended the throne and became emperor; otherwise, they would become the old system of the previous emperor.

The reform of granting titles based on military merit was intended to gradually resolve the conflicts and contradictions between the old and new systems while the world was embroiled in power struggles, thereby reducing resistance to future reforms.

after all.

For ordinary soldiers, whether they had fiefdoms or hereditary titles made little difference; it was hard to say whether they would even live to see that time.

Those who would truly hinder military merit reform were officials, gentry, and powerful families.

After all, what these people value is how to acquire as much land and property as possible to build their family fortune.

Moreover, Liu Bei's Lingyan Army did not follow the path of rewarding military merit with titles.

As for the other troops, Liu Bei didn't care; as long as the Lingyan Army could crush all the other warlords, that was enough.

This is a good opportunity to start something new. Even the Great General doesn't have a hereditary fiefdom, so why should the rest of us have one?

Seeing that Liu Bei directly approved Zhong Yao's proposed reform of the marquisate and was willing to set an example, Liu Xie, Wang Yun, Yang Biao, and others all fell silent.

Any major changes made by the imperial court will inevitably lead to trouble.

General, can't you slow down a little?

If possible, Liu Bei also wanted to slow down.

However, chaotic times wait for no one. If we wait until all the meritorious soldiers under our rule are ennobled according to the old system, it would be suspected of discarding them after they have served their purpose.

Most importantly, the old system was fundamentally in conflict with the Lingyan Army's long-standing principle of "rather freeze to death than dismantle a house, rather starve to death than plunder."

If you inherit fiefdoms and estates, that's practically outright robbery.

Liu Bei could use money to reward the army to gradually change the mindset of the Lingyan Army, but he couldn't directly abandon its foundation and turn the Lingyan Army into one new powerful force after another.

Seeing that everyone remained silent, Liu Bei gave Zhong Yao a meaningful look.

Zhong Yao understood and submitted another memorial, saying, "Your Majesty, the General has made outstanding contributions. I believe that the General should be enfeoffed as the Marquis of Guanzhong and granted a gold seal and purple ribbon."

Minister of the Imperial Secretariat Jia Xu also stepped forward to echo the proposal: "Your subject seconds the motion. The Grand General should be enfeoffed as Marquis of Guanzhong, and bestowed with a gold seal and purple ribbon."

Immediately afterwards, more than ten people stepped forward to echo this sentiment, and the remaining officials, after looking around, also stepped forward to echo it.

Seeing that all the ministers unanimously agreed that Liu Bei should be made Marquis of Guanzhong, Liu Xie felt even more resentful.

However, since all the officials agreed and Liu Bei was willing to set an example, Liu Xie dared not object and could only agree: "In that case, the General shall be enfeoffed as Marquis of Guannei, and be granted a gold seal and purple ribbon to recognize his merits."

After recognizing merits.

Then punishment should be imposed.

Liu Bei then ordered his men to bring Tao Qian and Yuan Yi to the main hall and hand them over to Liu Xie for disposal.

Liu Xie had no say in the matter of military merits earlier, but now Liu Bei voluntarily relinquished the task of dealing with Tao Qian and Yuan Yi to Liu Xie.

"Tao Qian and Yuan Yi, do you two know your crimes?" Liu Xie demanded sharply, feeling a surge of excitement from the thrill of power.

Tao Qian had already reached an agreement with Liu Bei, and now he resigned himself to his fate and begged to die: "This sinful subject mistakenly believed the lies of the traitor Yuan Shao, and then naively believed the appointment made by the traitor Liu Yu. Now that I think about it, I regret it deeply."

"However, the country has laws that do not allow for personal feelings. I have committed a serious crime and should be executed. I only wish that Your Majesty would take pity on my past merits and spare my family and relatives from death."

Liu Xie was immediately taken aback.

what's the situation?
I just asked you a question and you already know your crime?

The officials looked at Tao Qian in astonishment: "You've already raised an army in rebellion, and now you're saying you believed Yuan Shao's lies and Liu Yu's appointment? Do you think you're just a twenty or thirty-year-old newcomer to officialdom? You're fifty or sixty years old, how could you not see who forged the imperial edict?"
Yuan Yi, standing next to Tao Qian, exclaimed in shock, "Tao Qian, you are a powerful figure in your own right, how can you be so lacking in integrity? In order to protect the lives of your family and relatives, you can't even distinguish right from wrong? Do you think you have lived up to the trust placed in you by General Yuan and Grand Marshal Yuan?"

Tao Qian gave Yuan Yi a disdainful look and said, "Yuan Yi, all of you people from Yanzhou are coveting Xuzhou. You're talking to me about trust?"

"That's slander! If I wanted to covet Xuzhou, I would have taken Xiaopei long ago!" Yuan Yi retorted with a snort.

"It doesn't matter anymore." Tao Qian had no intention of arguing with Yuan Yi. He turned to Liu Xie, bowed again, and said, "This guilty subject confesses his sins and begs Your Majesty for punishment."

Liu Xie subconsciously looked at Liu Bei.

Although Liu Bei relinquished the power of decision-making to Liu Xie, this was the first time Liu Xie had encountered someone like Tao Qian who so readily confessed his guilt and also mentioned his past merits.

Liu Bei stepped forward and reported: "Although Tao Qian had committed acts of rebellion, after learning that he had been deceived by Yuan Shao and Liu Yu, he actively assisted me in stabilizing Xuzhou, thus redeeming himself through meritorious service."

"The world is in chaos, and countless people have been deceived by Yuan Shao and Liu Yu. If Your Majesty punishes them severely, these people will have no choice but to help Yuan Shao and Liu Yu in order to protect themselves."

"Therefore, I believe that only Tao Qian should be executed, while his family, relatives, and former subordinates should be spared the death penalty."

"In this way, we can both warn the traitors in the world and give those who have been deceived by Yuan Shao and Liu Yu a chance to redeem themselves through meritorious service."

"Please grant me permission, Your Majesty!"

After speaking, Liu Bei's gaze swept over the group of officials who had been reinstated.

These people were spared punishment because Liu Bei showed mercy and did not pursue the matter. They all understood the implication and stepped forward to echo his sentiments.

These scenes left Yuan Yi dumbfounded: What was going on? Tao Qian actually had so many relatives and friends in the court?

Liu Xie felt a sense of defeat.

The intention was clearly to punish Tao Qian, but all the officials ended up echoing Liu Bei's sentiments.

Suppressing his inner anxiety, Liu Xie declared: "Since the General and everyone else have pleaded for you, I will grant your wish and execute only you."

Tao Qian kowtowed and said, "This guilty subject thanks Your Majesty for your great kindness!"

Signaling for Tao Qian to be taken away, Liu Xie then looked at Yuan Yi: "Yuan Yi, do you know your crime?"

Yuan Yi lowered his head and pondered for a moment, then feigned a wail: "Your Majesty, I was foolish! I was misled by the rumors and thus committed a grave error. Please, Your Majesty, allow me to atone for my sins with meritorious service!"

Liu Xie's face immediately darkened. Damn it!
Are you sick?
What else can I do?

"General, hmm?" Liu Xie was about to ask Liu Bei whether to kill Yuan Yi when he saw Liu Bei actually sleeping with his eyes closed in the main hall.

Liu Xie instantly understood: The Grand General will not interfere with this person!
"How dare you, Yuan Yi! You plotted rebellion and dared to speak so eloquently! Tao Qian has already sought death, yet you still dare to beg for your life!" Liu Xie shouted, "Take Yuan Yi away and behead him as a warning to others."

Yuan Yi was dumbfounded.

what's the situation?
Why is no one speaking up for me?

What about Yuan's former students and officials in the imperial court?
"Your Majesty, I can atone for my crimes! I really can atone for my crimes!" Yuan Yi still tried to persuade him.

However, Liu Xie had no intention of paying attention to Yuan Yi at this moment and ordered the palace guards to drag Yuan Yi away.

Liu Xie had always wanted to kill someone to establish his authority, and he dared not touch anyone in the court. Yuan Yi, the newly captured traitorous general, was just the right person!

"Your Majesty is mighty!" Liu Bei exclaimed in praise.

In an instant, the hall resounded with praises of "Your Majesty is mighty!" Liu Xie felt as sweet as honey in his heart, and his complex emotions towards Liu Bei lessened somewhat.

After leaving the court.

outside the temple.

Wang Yun looked at Liu Bei with a complicated expression: "Congratulations, General. From now on, no one in the court will dare to provoke you."

"You are all loyal and righteous men of the Han Dynasty, so we should value harmony above all else." Liu Bei's smile remained as gentle as ever: "My father-in-law is also a scholar at the Eastern Pavilion. From now on, you can discuss matters of teaching, imparting knowledge, and resolving doubts together. There's no need to ask any more questions in the court."

"Please also keep your clan members in check, abide by the law, and prevent them from causing trouble. I always appoint people based on merit, without regard to personal grudges. As long as they are talented and willing to serve the Han Dynasty, I will not care about past grievances."

“Your nephew Wang Ling is skilled in both literature and martial arts, and has integrity. I admire him greatly. If he is willing, he can join Guan Yu’s camp in Lingyan Army for training.”

Wang Yun was startled, and then sighed deeply.

Putting himself in Liu Bei's shoes, Wang Yun asked himself if he had Liu Bei's achievements and power, he would never have Liu Bei's magnanimity and breadth of mind.

"General, your magnanimity is as vast as the sea; I admire you greatly. I will inquire about my nephew's wishes shortly." Wang Yun bowed deeply with his hands clasped.

If Wang Yun was initially only forced by Liu Bei's authority, he is now truly convinced of Liu Bei's authority.

Wang Yun knew very well that Liu Bei's decision to send Wang Ling to Guan Yu's camp was not intended to suppress him or to take him hostage.

Wang Ling is only eighteen years old and is the second son of Wang Yun's elder brother, Wang Hong.

If the goal was to suppress or use nephews and nieces as hostages, it should have been Wang Yun's eldest son, Wang Gai, and Wang Hong's eldest son, Wang Chen, not the eighteen-year-old Wang Ling.

Moreover, Guan Yu was Liu Bei's sworn brother, and not just anyone was qualified to join Guan Yu's camp.

Yang Xiu, the son of Yang Biao, was also assigned to Guan Yu's camp by Liu Bei.

Although Yang Xiu was only fifteen years old, he was exceptionally talented and eloquent.

In terms of eloquence, none of Liu Bei's four disciples can compare to Yang Xiu.

After all, Zhuge Liang, the most eloquent strategist, was too young, and Cao Ang and Fa Zheng were not skilled in this art. Ma Chao wanted to start talking about fists before he could finish three sentences.

Yang Xiu was a man of exceptional talent, and Liu Bei was very fond of him.

However, Yang Xiu was too confident in his abilities. This time, at the age of fifteen, he judged that Wang Yun and Yang Biao's plan would fail. He even went behind Yang Biao's back to Jia Xu and asked to go to Yuan Shu to carry out a counter-espionage plan.

Without Yang Xiu, Yuan Shu would not have divided his forces at Hulao Pass, and without Yuan Shu's division of forces, he would not have been able to cleanly and efficiently wipe out the officials and powerful clans this time.

It can be said that Yang Xiu's arrangement with Jia Xu was the icing on the cake.

At the age of fifteen, he has already made such great contributions. In addition, he has a personality that likes to make decisions on his own. If someone doesn't keep him in check, who knows how high he'll go in the future.

To suppress Yang Xiu, Guan Yu was the most suitable among Liu Bei's civil and military officials.

Guan Yu was the most well-rounded among Liu Bei's brothers and generals, and also the most arrogant.

Yang Xiu's arrogance was nothing but a futile attempt to teach Guan Yu a lesson.

By assigning Yang Xiu to Guan Yu's camp, Liu Bei also intended to temper Guan Yu's arrogance.

Yang Xiu, young and impetuous, was unwilling to submit to Guan Yu and would try his best to find Guan Yu's weaknesses; Guan Yu, fearing that his weaknesses would be exposed, would be more cautious and work harder to improve himself.

Second brother, I'm doing this all for your own good.

Liu Bei returned to the General's Mansion with a smile on his face.

Cai Yan and Dong Bai are both in Chang'an, and Gan Mei is temporarily in charge of the household affairs in the General's Mansion.

Although Ganmei came from a poor family, she was very tactful in her actions and knew how to get along with the servants in the household.

With only Liu Bei and Gan Mei present, the General's Mansion felt too spacious and lacked human presence.

Liu Bei then brought Zhuge Liang and his family to the General's Mansion.

Ma Chao, Fa Zheng, and Cao Ang each had their own duties, so they would find a place to stay nearby and come to the General's Mansion to freeload when they were free.

It wasn't that Ma Chao and his two companions lacked the money to eat at famous restaurants in Luoyang, but rather that the delicacies at the General's Mansion, especially the special meals prepared for Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang, always left the three of them wanting more.

They would always use the excuse of caring about Zhuge Liang to freeload a meal and satisfy their cravings.

Jian Yong then sent Cai Yan and Dong Bai from Chang'an to Luoyang.

Now that Liu Bei has established himself in Luoyang, he naturally cannot allow Cai Yan and Dong Bai to remain in Chang'an any longer.

Family affairs and national affairs must be addressed simultaneously.

In particular, Liu Bei's descendants should be given special consideration.

period.

Huang Wan, who was promoted to Minister of Works, and Lu Zhi, who was promoted to Grand Commandant, advised Liu Bei to take more concubines.

After all, Dong Bai was not yet of marriageable age, and Liu Bei only had one wife and one concubine. If he wanted more children and more blessings, he had to take a concubine.

Somehow, the news reached Wang Yun's ears.

Wang Yun originally had a beautiful woman he wanted to use as a honey trap, but before he could carry it out, she became a proofreader.

Wang Yun also learned from Wang Ling that although Guan Yu was arrogant, he acted fairly and did not deliberately target Wang Ling just because Wang Ling was Wang Yun's nephew.

So Wang Yun simply adopted her as his goddaughter and sent her to the General's mansion.

It is also said that his ancestor was Diao Bo, a minister of the State of Qi during the Spring and Autumn Period. His mother dreamed of a cicada and became pregnant, hence the surname Diao and the given name Chan.

Afterwards, Diao Chan confessed to Liu Bei that she had been given away as a child and had neither a surname nor a name. She was later sent to the palace, but escaped due to the chaos caused by the Ten Attendants and ended up in Wang Yun's household.

Wang Yun racked his brains for most of the night before finally coming up with the name Diao Chan.

For Liu Bei, whether it was true or false was not important; what mattered was that Diao Chan was indeed a rare beauty, skilled in both singing and dancing.

The name Diao Chan also gave Liu Bei a sense of familiarity. As for whether it was fictional or real, it was just a code name.

In Youzhou.

After traveling for many days, Xu Shu, Shi Tao, and their eight companions finally arrived in Yuyang County.

Because Liu Yu joined forces with Yuan Shao, Han Fu, and Qiu Liju to attack Gongsun Zan, Gongsun Zan's miserable situation in Youzhou was second only to Cao Cao's.

(End of this chapter)