Climbing to the Top: A Reborn Queen's Journey-Chapter 792: Marquisate (Part 1)
In October, the Left General led his troops back to the Capital City.
The Left General led his army with swift and decisive action to quell the rebellion in Yu State. In the following months, he continuously dispatched troops to eradicate the roaming bandits and marauders, making great contributions to the court.
The Emperor personally led the officials to greet them ten miles outside the city gates.
This is the highest honor for a general returning in great triumph!
The Left General received the news a few days ago, and last night he especially arranged for a night of rest. Today, all the soldiers of the Heroic Guard Camp wore their armor, and their swords and spears were polished to a shine, gleaming dazzlingly in the sunlight. The Left General, clad in silver armor, rode a red steed, holding a thick-backed long knife, looking majestic.
The civil servants who came with the Emperor to welcome the Left General all praised his awe-inspiring might.
The military generals were equally full of admiration, though whether they harbored any envy was unknown.
In short, General Song’s heart was very sour.
He also wanted to lead troops from the Capital City to fight and earn merit. Unfortunately, he couldn’t compete with the Left General in quelling the Yu State rebellion, nor was he assigned the duty of escorting Chief Historian Chen for disaster relief. As a military general, watching others attain honor while achieving nothing himself, the feeling was indescribable.
He couldn’t help but feel regretful and regret again his past blindness. Had he been more welcoming when his nephew, Song Yuan, came, and accepted the olive branch extended by Song Yuan, wouldn’t the person who achieved great success today be him?
At this moment, everyone’s eyes were on the Left General. No one noticed the despondent General Song. General Song’s self-pity and self-reproach could only be savored by himself.
Her Majesty the Empress of Daliang, wearing the Dragon Robe, smiled and began to speak: "The Left General swiftly quelled the rebellion in Yu State, executed the rebel, and curbed the unrest, making significant contributions to Da Liang. Today, I have come with the officials to welcome the Left General back to the court!"
Among these three accomplishments, the last was truly the greatest.
If Yu State had remained mired in conflict, Da Liang might have faced more rebellions emerging. At that time, with the court dispatching troops everywhere, it would have been completely embroiled in internal turmoil and conflict. The cost to the people and the instability of the realm, not to mention the risk of invasion by external enemies watching with intent, would have been significant.
Fortunately, none of this happened. The Left General fought a resounding victory, using thunderous tactics to suppress all the restive garrisons.
The Left General dismounted and bowed gratefully to Her Majesty the Empress: "This humble servant went on the expedition under the imperial command and was fortunate to triumph without failing the imperial grace. The Emperor personally coming to meet me today makes me feel immensely honored."
Jiang Shaohua smiled and said: "Those with merit should be rewarded; this is what the Left General deserves. I also intend to confer the title of Marquis upon the Left General, and I’ve even thought of the title. Prestigious and renowned, it shall be called Marquis Wei Yuan."
All the ministers were astonished. The Emperor had not given the slightest hint before, and now suddenly announcing it was truly shocking.
General Song’s eyes turned red with envy. Civil servants aspired to become Prime Minister, while military generals aimed for the title of Marquis; this was the utmost pursuit. The Left General effortlessly became Marquis Wei Yuan!
The Left General was also stunned, even forgetting to express gratitude for the imperial favor, directly looking up to meet the eyes of Her Majesty the Empress: "Does the Emperor truly intend to confer the title of Marquis upon this humble servant?"
Jiang Shaohua smiled slightly: "An imperial decree once spoken cannot be false."
But...
But he had always been a person of Prime Minister Wang. After the Emperor ascended to the throne, he still listened to Prime Minister Wang. The Emperor sending him to lead troops to Yu State was rather risky. Quelling the Yu State Rebel Army, to a battle-hardened soldier like him, wasn’t considered anything too significant. Only the subsequent eradication of bandits required some effort.
These contributions were truly negligible compared to his decades of guarding the border.
Why would the Emperor grant him the title of Marquis?
Jiang Shaohua’s bright gaze fell on the Left General’s face, filled with indescribable astonishment, and she calmly said: "The Left General has guarded the border army for over ten years, with both merits and hardships. Back then, due to Zhao Wu’s abandonment of Peng City, the border army suffered a major defeat, and as the main general, the Left General was implicated and relieved of his duties by the court."
"The late Emperor’s decision back then was not wrong. The Left General was indeed aggrieved, and I understand this."
"The title of Marquis Wei Yuan is not only to reward the Left General for his achievements in Yu State but also to commend him for the hardships of guarding the border for years."
"This is what the Left General rightly deserves; the Left General need not be overly humble."
Never had the Left General, at the age of just fifty, priding himself on a heart as firm as stone, imagined that a single speech from Her Majesty the Empress could move him so.
However, this speech accurately touched upon the resentments buried deep within his heart.
Indeed, Zuo Feng worked tirelessly to guard the border for Da Liang, suffering bitterly for over a decade. As a result of his subordinates’ betrayal leading to a major defeat, he became a criminal of the court, condemned by many.
It was Prime Minister Wang who saved him, sparing his life and giving him a chance for resurgence. Therefore, he would always be grateful to the Prime Minister and forever follow him.
Yet now, the Prime Minister had formally withdrawn from the court, occupied with overseeing the Ministry of Industry in repairing the river embankments. To swear allegiance to Her Majesty the Empress did not count as betrayal for him, would it!
The Left General blinked forcefully a few times, pushing back the tears in his eyes, took a deep breath, and solemnly thanked the imperial favor. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚
No matter what, seize the opportune moment, and savor the rewards at hand.
Jiang Shaohua laughed: "Let’s enter the city gates first! Inside are many citizens who have heard of the Left General’s return after the victory and are waiting to welcome the Left General."
The last time he returned to the Capital City, he was in a prisoner cart, being pelted with rotten vegetables and eggs by the citizens, with abuse pouring out ceaselessly.
This time, the Left General wore shining armor, rode a magnificent steed, majestic as a heavenly god descended upon the world. What the citizens threw along the street were fragrant sachets and flowers, hailing the great name of the Left General.
A nearby young girl, with an especially tender voice, cried: "Great General, victorious in battle!" Her father, holding the young girl, also waved and shouted: "Great General, victorious in battle!"
Following the Left General into the Capital City were his trusted aide and hundreds of elite soldiers from the Heroic Guard Camp, instinctively straightening their chests. Having reached this stage as a soldier, what more could be said? Even if Her Majesty the Empress asks them to traverse mountains of blades and seas of flames in the future, they wouldn’t flinch.
In stark contrast, the Left General’s heart was filled with stirring emotions and a sense of duty that made him feel overwhelmed by gratitude, "A warrior dies for one who understands him."
The officials reverently escorted the Left General into the Jinluan Palace.
All the officials were present, as would befit a grand court meeting.
Her Majesty the Empress once again announced in public the conferment of the title of Marquis Wei Yuan upon the Left General and instructed Secretary of the Secretariat Wang to draft the imperial edict immediately. Secretary of the Secretariat Wang acknowledged with a hand salute, promptly drafted an edict, and announced it in court.
The Left General accepted the edict and knelt to express deep gratitude for the Emperor’s magnanimity.
From today, the Da Liang Dynasty had a Marquis Wei Yuan honored with a title for his military achievements.
A group of generals, including General Fan, General Bao, General Sima, General Liu, and General Song, were originally of the same rank as the Left General. Now that the Left General held the title of Marquis, he was truly the foremost figure in the military.
