Chapter 1175: The King Melon Grows (Requesting monthly tickets at the beginning of the month, two-in-one)

"Gulp."

The Adam's apple rolls, the tea leaves in the tea cup drift and turn, steaming out mist. Liang Qu swallows his saliva and stands up suddenly: "Is Your Majesty going to open the precedent of the world and enfeoff Pingyang Prefecture to me?"

Glancing at Liang Qu, the Holy Emperor picks up the tea cup and gently scrapes the foam.

"Yes, not just Pingyang, the Chizhou below is also given to you."

"Hiss... too much, too much."

"It's just one prefecture and one county, where is it? Yuhang next to Pingyang, Xihe at the diagonal corner of Jianghuai, Tianchang above."

"Cough, cough, cough..."

"Thinking too beautifully." The Holy Emperor spits out the tea leaves and closes the tea lid, "Sea merchants, Lanzhou, Jiangchuan, adjacent to the stable Great Marsh... The current Pingyang is a top-tier prosperous place in the world. Giving Pingyang, I agree, but the ministers in the court won't agree, and the enfeoffed kings of the world won't agree."

Self-indulgent, slightly embarrassed, Liang Qu scratches his head: "So this subject still has to leave his hometown?"

"Unless you are willing to be a 'Clan Prince', then you can maintain the status quo, without a fief. Every year the Imperial Court gives you a sum of money, roughly equal to the tax of a prefecture in Jiangnan, exempt from the labor of case files."

Liang Qu's eyes light up: "This is good! This is good!"

"Okay," the Holy Emperor laughs, "Since Lord Liang agrees, another day I will ask the Ministry of Rites to set a date, gather the eligible women of the clan, and you see which one is suitable?"

"Why call women?"

"To choose a good match and get married on an auspicious day," the Holy Emperor says as a matter of course.

"Ah?"

"It's not the same surname. If you want to be a Clan Prince, naturally you have to marry a princess. Eying must be divorced, the position of the main wife needs to be the princess's. Rest assured, the appearance and figure won't be too bad, there should be six or seven points of a dragon woman, worthy of being top-tier. There doesn't need to be any true feelings between you, just have a child to inherit in the future, don't treat them too badly. If one is not enough? Two or three are also fine. I think there are plenty of clan women willing."

"Yuck." Liang Qu is startled, "This won't do, this won't do, can't divorce, can't divorce!"

The Holy Emperor squints: "You monkey, this won't do, that won't do, what do you want?"

Liang Qu rubs his hands: "Your Majesty must know that I won't divorce the dragon woman and marry a princess. The words said earlier shouldn't refer to being a Clan Prince, right?"

"Hahaha." The Holy Emperor laughs loudly, pointing to the four-color map, "Knowing that Lord Liang won't be satisfied with an ordinary enfeoffed king, so I thought about it and discussed it with the cabinet early on, deciding to add a third choice for Lord Liang!"

Liang Qu's expression is happy, bowing to listen respectfully.

"One, become a Clan Prince. Two, choose one of the seven fiefs. As for the third, I cannot tell you. If you want it, you will naturally know at the Enfeoffment Ceremony. How about it, which one do you choose?"

"The third one!"

"So certain?"

"This subject believes in Your Majesty!" Liang Qu says decisively, "The Holy Heart decides alone, the Imperial Heart agrees! This subject was originally lonely, famous at a young age, smooth sailing all the way. Just as Your Majesty said, it is all relying on everyone's tolerance and accommodation, like father and brother. This subject remembers it in his heart, and feels the grace in his heart."

The so-called 【Water Travels a Thousand Miles】, the ends of the earth are like neighbors, in fact, how can it be so simple? It's just wishful thinking. If the fief is really outside, governance, coordination, and tax collection will always involve energy.

Just like when graduating, saying we will gather often, but once we leave, perhaps we won't see each other for a lifetime. Even if we keep in touch for a few years, as time goes by, it will slowly fade. It's not about insisting or not, moving or not, but many things haven't been experienced together, so there are no common topics. The more everyone meets, the more estranged they become.

Conversely, as long as we live together, even if Liang Qu is a Wu Sheng and Uncle Chen is an ordinary person, we can still comment on the quality of the newly opened restaurant next door and talk freely.

Not to mention being assigned to a foreign land, and still meeting the "White Ape" in Jianghuai every few days, it's not convenient either.

What the Holy Emperor said earlier is definitely not aimless; it must be a win-win method.

"Good! Since that's the case, June 27th is an auspicious day, that will be Lord Liang's Enfeoffment Ceremony."

"Ten thousand thanks, Your Majesty!"

"Congratulations to Marquis Baron Xingyi, congratulations to Marquis Baron Xingyi." Eunuch Li steps out to interject, bowing left and right to remind, "Your Majesty, Marquis Baron Xingyi, the banquet time has arrived."

"Let's go." The Holy Emperor stands up happily, "Lord Liang, enter the banquet with me."

"Yes."

On the path, the grass is lush.

Liang Qu is overflowing with excitement.

A win-win situation is great.

The Holy Emperor laughs and says: "Besides the enfeoffment, Lord Liang has made great contributions in the Southern Frontier and Jianghuai. Is there anything you want? I can make the decision together, saving the need for another edict."

Liang Qu thinks for a while: "Returning to Your Majesty, there is indeed one matter. This subject boldly asks for a position for the Sea Master. Because the Sea Master is a sea merchant, she should be neutral, but she intervened in external affairs, leading to the loss of the Whale Emperor's protection, and is even wanted and banned from trade by the Southern Frontier and Northern Court, which is truly regrettable..."

"You want Great Shun to replace the Whale Emperor?"

"That is exactly the intention. From now on, the Sea Master can trade in the near seas and inland rivers, under the Great Shun flag, while paying taxes to the Imperial Court, also adding a source of income."

"This matter won't do."

Liang Qu is stunned: "Why?"

"The Whale Emperor is removed from the name, and Great Shun accepts it. The targeting in this is too obvious, and the loss outweighs the gain." The Holy Emperor shakes his head, "Don't nest the relationships you thought of in the past into the Melting Pot Martial Immortal. Do you know that when the Flood Dragon walked the water in the Lu-Cang River, the Southern Frontier Tusi once requested the Martial Immortal to take action to block it?"

Liang Qu is stunned and shakes his head: "The Southern Frontier Martial Immortal didn't take action because the Drought Demon appeared?"

"It was because of the Drought Demon, but before the Drought Demon appeared, the Southern Frontier Tusi did indeed request it. Do you know the price and benefit of doing so?"

"I don't know."

"The price is that if it succeeds, the Southern Frontier Tusi will kneel away most of the feelings of his eighteenth-generation descendants. In the future, if there is a major event, he basically won't be able to move the ancestor.

The benefit is that the feelings that were used up are exchanged for the plan of the Lu-Cang River pseudo-dragon to still be feasible. His position in the Southern Frontier will remain stable for a while. The pseudo-dragon plan was originally proposed by the current Southern Frontier Tusi."

Silence.

"The Southern Frontier Martial Immortal is heartless?"

"It's not heartless. Have you seen Prince Chong?"

"Senior Prince Chong is very brave, able to defeat Pan-Dong, and his contribution is indispensable."

"Calculated, Prince Chong is also a descendant of the Southern Frontier Martial Immortal. The specific generation is not verifiable, the genealogy is lost, but he is indeed." The Holy Emperor's words are shocking.

"So why..."

"Maybe you are too? A descendant of some Martial Immortal."

"Ah?" Liang Qu is dumbfounded, inexplicably thinking of Liang Guangtian, the "uncle" he hadn't seen for a long time. Could it be...

Martial Immortal · Guangtian.

The Holy Emperor laughs: "Put one grain of rice in the first square of the chessboard, two grains in the second square, and double it. It won't take a row before there are so many grains that a square can't hold them.

It is true that experts have difficulty in reproduction, but it is not impossible. Perfected Form lives for three hundred years, thirty-one generations, that is ten generations, especially the first few generations, with wealth and honor, not lacking women. A man can have dozens of descendants, four generations have no less than thousands of people, Sky Dragon eight hundred, even more doubled, you have me, I have you.

Those villagers all say one sentence: 'Eight hundred years ago, we were one family.' Whether it was eight hundred years, I don't know, but three thousand years ago, basically it was. So, don't easily bother the Martial Immortal. This is a relationship account.

Although the Sea Master lost protection, she only does Jianghuai business. Currently, relying on the 'White Ape' relationship, she doesn't need Great Shun's protection either. To offend the Whale Emperor for this..."

"This subject understands." Liang Qu no longer requests, and records a note for the Whale Emperor in his small notebook.

Every injustice has its perpetrator, every debt has its debtor.

Looking at it now, what General Yuan said in the past is not a big mistake. There are indeed very few things in the world that affect the Melting Pot. If you have to say there are, beautiful scenery is one, and the road ahead is two.

However, the road ahead is difficult to walk. What can affect the Melting Pot's road ahead is naturally the Melting Pot of the same level. Since the Dragon Lord disappeared, the relationship between the major Melting Pots has probably had a subtle change. Everything they do is very cautious, considering and considering again.

Perfected Form's thousand-mile soul chase, rarely acts. Sky Dragon's River-Heart Stone, even more dare not act rashly. Once reaching the Melting Pot, it is a kind of transcendence and absolute balance. Ordinary people can't even perceive the intervention of the Martial Immortal's existence on the trend of the world.

"Change to something else."

"This subject wants to ask the Heavenly Craftsmen to build a batch of exquisite and complex ships. The function doesn't need to be very good, but the appearance must be good."

"Can."

"This subject wants a batch of rare underwater exotic beasts, preferably one male and one female, living things that can reproduce. Whether the value is precious or not is not important, the important thing is that there are enough types, and Jianghuai doesn't have them."

"Can."

"This subject wants to go to Moon-Watching Tower."

"The enfeoffed king can enter and exit freely, the Moon-Watching Tower cultivation room can be used at will, and any technique in the Scripture Pavilion can be borrowed at will."

"Don't want too many rewards, just hope Your Majesty gives more creation medicines." Liang Qu is not polite. For demon kings, only creation medicines are useful. If medicines have no effect, the rest are no different from grass.

"Water attribute?"

"All depends on Your Majesty's decision!"

All are used to pay back the demon king's debt, he can't eat them, so water attribute or not doesn't matter. The most important fief, the Holy Emperor sold a mystery, and it's not clear what it is. Liang Qu really doesn't have much other demand. Seeing that the Holy Emperor didn't ask about other important things...

"Roar! Here, here, His Majesty and A-Shui are here, our greatest hero!"

Start the banquet!

Spring banquet, a cup of green wine, a song.

The monarch and ministers of the Han family feast at the end, discussing war merits on the cloud terrace.

Returning to the banquet at Ping-Le, fine wine ten thousand coins. Carp and shrimp, roasted turtle and bear paw. Singing and whistling, sitting in a long banquet. Playing ball, clever and agile in ten thousand ways. The white sun rushes southwest, the scenery cannot be climbed.

The soldiers on the Southern Frontier border cannot attend, the River-Lake Office is basically all here, more lively than the New Year.

Inside the palace, outside the palace, celebratory banquets, setting off fireworks, inches of orange fire clinging to the branches, illuminating Jishuitan.

By the river, the common people sit around the taverns, drinking and feasting to their heart's content. The horse teams from the south and north pull out their small zithers, young girls take out silk, pin red flowers, folk songs in various dialects mix together, and the voices are loud.

Red Mountain steps into the Imperial Horse Prison, head held high, ordering two small mother horses for a warm velvet blanket.

Night.

The wine gourd floats on Jishuitan, sinking and floating. Liang Qu doesn't go home. Taking advantage of the ample time, he pulls Long Eying, who is confused, and runs toward Moon-Watching Tower.

"What are we doing at Moon-Watching Tower? Isn't it forbidden to enter or exit at night?"

"Looking for two people, your husband has an imperial edict, not afraid of closing the building."

Today, Moon-Watching Tower is covered with lanterns, celebrating for Marquis Baron Xingyi, bright and clear.

Liang Qu has the servant open the door, first throws the technique copied in the underworld to the Scripture Pavilion, has them register it, turns it into great merit, and runs all the way to the 30th floor.

"Marquis Baron Xingyi!"

The Sky-Person couple respectfully salutes.

"No need for such courtesy." Liang Qu hurriedly helps them up, "Left and right for two years, the two of you are my seniors."

"..."

The two don't know if this is Liang Qu praising them or belittling them, but thinking about how everyone cultivates like this, and Liang Qu is an outlier, it should be more of a praise.

"Marquis Baron Xingyi visits late at night, what is the purpose? If you want to go further up, with your status, you no longer need a token, you can go on your own."

"I came to find you." Liang Qu finds two cushions, one for Eying, one for himself, sits opposite the couple, and explains the purpose of the visit.

"Fifth layer?" The Sky-Person couple stare at each other, "Break through the Sun-Wheel, to the fifth layer?"

The Sun-Wheel is comparable to creation, what should the fifth layer, which is stronger than the Sun-Wheel, be like?

"How did you do it?" The Sun-Radiance man asks urgently.

"Wu Sheng Primordial Yang!"

Wu Sheng? Primordial Yang?

The couple look at each other.

Such a niche term.

Clearly they understand what each means individually, but put together, it feels like they've never heard of it.

Long Eying's expression is awkward, her toes curl, and she quietly moves the cushion back, using her position to let Liang Qu block herself.

Tan Yifeng gives his wife Liao Lanqing a look.

Liao Lanqing organizes her words: "You and the dragon woman have been husband and wife for several years, and until now you haven't..."

"Tasted."

A double entendre.

Long Eying shrinks again.

The two's gazes become strange.

Tasted, but have primordial yang... Marquis Baron Xingyi, did you take the wrong path? Didn't anyone teach you during the wedding night?

Liao Lanqing organizes her words: "Marquis Baron Xingyi, the back is not to be walked, no, not that it can't, it's just not quite right, it's not the correct dual cultivation method."

"Cough, cough." Liang Qu feels the hot cheek of Eying pressed against his back, coughs twice, "It's not as the two imagine. This is an unrepeatable opportunity. I came to find you today to ask for advice. Regarding the fifth layer of this technique, do you have any ideas and prospects, to communicate with each other."

Tan Yifeng sits up straight: "Marquis Baron Xingyi wants to..."

"No matter which stage the spirit seed is cultivated to, it is a one-time thing. I think this technique should have potential to be tapped, far more than this. I call the fifth layer 'Holy Fruit', which is the dark golden peach blossom of the fourth layer Sun-Wheel taking root in the Qi Sea and growing..."

Tan Yifeng and Liao Lanqing gradually follow Liang Qu's train of thought.

"Let the holy tree take root, use the holy fruit... achieve a closer connection between the cultivation of both parties? If one rises, the other follows? This is quite difficult. To tell the truth, in the past, Lanqing and I tried it."

"The opportunity is rare, so everyone needs to study it together. The road is always walked by people. I think this matter is also helpful to the two of you. In the past, the Yin-Yang Spirit Seed could be guided, exempting basic cultivation, helping Eying and me to cultivate directly. If the Holy Tree method can be achieved... it might not be impossible to intercept the Qi machine and graft it out."

Liang Qu's eyes are bright. He doesn't want to miss this opportunity.

Long Eying is close to the perfection of Sky-Person, and the remaining three steps have not been taken. If she squanders it now, it would be a waste. If she doesn't squander it, she has been holding back for a year. If the Holy Fruit can circulate, it will be fine.

Grafting!

The Sky-Person couple's eyes light up, their hearts move, and without hesitation, they rummage through boxes and cabinets, moving out all similar techniques and past research drafts, lighting the golden oil lamp, studying together, and innovating.

Liang Qu dives into the ocean of knowledge. With his current realm, he can be called high-level. Long Eying is also a practitioner of the technique, and the Dragon-Person clan technique can draw inferences about other cases.

The Scripture Pavilion also compares, holds meetings, and discusses the perfection of the technique, shocked.

Did Marquis Baron Xingyi rob some royal tomb? And not just one, but from all dynasties.

Successive great victories, the court is busy.

The Ministry of Revenue prepares expenses, the Ministry of War records pensions, the Ministry of Personnel examines appointments and removals, the Ministry of Works prepares instruments, the Ministry of Justice detains captives and deserters.

The most laborious is the Ministry of Rites.

Three major ceremonies in one month, very tight, occasionally calling people to customize clothes, and countless ceremony flags and arrangements to prepare, ritual planning, classic textual research...

On Jishuitan, flower papers float, and people's hearts are restless.

The days are getting closer. Clearly it's a good thing, but relatives and friends are all nervous for him.

June 7th.

Jia-Chen Year, Geng-Wu Month, Bing-Xu Day.

Auspicious day: Heaven Virtue Harmony, Moon Virtue Harmony, Time Virtue, Three Harmonies, Arrival Day, Time Yang.

Pacifying the South Ceremony.

"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees:

I have received the mandate of Heaven, governing ten thousand directions, within the universe, none do not submit. However, in the summer of the 78th year of Shun, the Huai River was shaken, and the demon dragon was fierce. The Southern Frontier villains took advantage of the gap to invade the north, colluding with demon evil, relying on miasma and poison arts, trapping half of Lingnan, poisoning the living people, and starving people on the road. The South Sea King was injured and trapped, the border situation was dangerous, I was deeply concerned.

Marquis Baron Xingyi Liang Qu, loyal and brave by nature, possessing strategy. At this time of danger, he carried his halberd and requested to go, truly possessing the courage to support the sky and drive the sea. As soon as he arrived at the battlefield, he destroyed the sharp and trapped the strong, beheaded fifteen Grandmasters, captured one alive, and strengthened our army's prestige...

... Capturing Red Water, subduing Black Water, wherever the spear point went, thirty-eight Grandmasters were beheaded, the remnants fled like wolves and pigs, the thief formation was deprived of its spirit, and the trend of decline was formed.

Then met with Governor Xu Haitao and Deputy General Ji Yanyu, leading fifty-six Grandmasters to attack, although the crowd was different, the soldiers were moved and fought to the death. Finally broke the thief's fortress of two hundred people, recovered Longwan, South Sea King supported the injury to intercept the battle...

Afterward, he chased to the end, beheaded the Great Wu Pan-Dong in the Yan wilderness, broke the enemy's arm, recovered Lingnan, and cleared the borders. Liang Qu planned the victory, his merit crowned the three armies, I am happy in my heart.

According to merit, special rewards are issued:

Prince Chong Wei Ruhe, transferred to the South Sea Commandery as a permanent industry, increased annual salary... to honor his merit in supervising supplies.

Marquis Baron Xingyi Liang Qu, promoted to Duke, hereditary by descent, to Second-Class Earl, hereditary and permanent, granted... bestowed a Taibai long shirt, a jade belt, and still recorded two thousand five hundred great merits.

Marquis Changhe Xu Haitao, promoted to General of the South, received the title of Upper Protector Army, recorded three hundred great merits.

Deputy General Ji Yanyu, promoted...

The rest of the soldiers, the Ministry of War will discuss and narrate them favorably, and those who are wounded or dead will be heavily compensated.

Alas! The demon atmosphere has been pacified, and the Southern Frontier will be peaceful forever. You soldiers, perform your duties well and solidify the borders forever. Respect this."

June 17th.

Jia-Chen Year, Geng-Wu Month, Bing-Shen Day.

Auspicious day: Heaven Pardon, Mother Granary, Yang Virtue, Si-Ming, Benefit Queen, Solution God.

Pacifying the Huai Ceremony.

"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees:

I have received the great treasure, governing the nine dimensions... building a fortress in the water mansion, secretly communicating with the demon queen, usurping the title of King Chu, stealing the dragon vessel, it is truly the heart-trouble of the country. Now relying on the protection of Heaven, the soldiers are effective, and the demon atmosphere is swept away in one fell swoop, clearing the universe, I am comforted in my heart.

You Duke Liang Qu, holding the scepter and commanding the military machine, supervising the water and land to exert the power of heaven. Led the Dragon-Galloping boat division to break its water fortress... personally captured the demon queen, beheaded King Chu, and collected all twenty-eight pieces of the country-transmitting heavy vessels, his merit crowned the three armies.

Water River Governor Su Guishan, led the River-Lake Office heroes as the vanguard, sneaking into the water veins... Commander Wei Lin... Censor Xu Yuelong...

According to merit, special rewards are issued:

Duke Liang Qu, granted... still recorded two thousand great merits.

Su Guishan promoted to Governor of Water Transport, enfeoffed as Earl of Jingbo... recorded three hundred great merits.

Wei Lin promoted... enfeoffed as Earl of Fubo...

Xu Yuelong promoted... granted the title of Earl of Anxiang...

The members of the Jianghuai River-Lake Office are rewarded with half a year's salary, and another 100,000 taels of treasury silver are allocated to reward the army.

Alas! The seventy-year accumulation of bandits was exterminated in one morning, and the nine-fold deep nest was cleared to the bottom. You soldiers, be loyal and diligent forever, and protect the rivers and mountains together. Respect this."

June 27th.

Jia-Chen Year, Geng-Wu Month, Bing-Wu Day.

Auspicious day: Heaven Wish, Moon Grace, Four Phases, King Day, Post Horse, Heaven Queen.

Enfeoffment Ceremony.

People are moving.

"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor, Heaven and Earth together witness the Wu Sheng, decrees:

I have received the mandate of Heaven, the Wu Sheng holds the virtue of Heaven and Earth, governing the universe together, benefiting the common people. Consult you, Duke of Pingyang Qu, now you have attained the supreme Dao of Heaven and Earth, penetrated Heaven and Man, and attained the position of Wu Sheng. From now on, the sun and moon shine together, and the mountains and rivers shine together. The country has the solidity of a pillar, and Great Shun increases the power of a tripod.

You attained the Saint Realm at the age of less than thirty, reaching the Heavenly Dao with a red heart.

This is truly a grand event that has not happened in the eighty years since the founding of the country, and a rare genius in the thousand years of martial arts.

According to Heaven and responding to people, special grace is issued:

Enfeoffed Liang Qu as King of Huai, leading thirteen ports in the upper and lower reaches of the Huai River as a permanent industry, permitted to build a King's Mansion in Yixing, granted the nine-chapter crown clothes, golden axe and symbol.

The thirteen ports of Yixing, Yunyang, Longcen, etc., in the upper and lower reaches of the Huai River, are specially permitted to open a government and set up an office to govern commercial taxes and water transport. According to the example, 70% of the collected customs duties are transported to the inner treasury, and 30% are left to fill the King's Mansion's expenses, forever as a fixed example.

The entire Pingyang Prefecture is exempt from field taxes for five years to show the holy grace benefiting the hometown.

Previous arrears of the people are written off, and no tax increases are allowed within twenty years.

Also granted a carriage of super-grade dragon blood, fifty carriages of fine horses, imperial construction of twelve Wu Sheng archways, five Xuan-Huang cards...

"Alas! Now that the Saint realm is verified, you must stabilize the fortune of the mountains and rivers; though the title of Prince is lofty, you must still cherish the heart of an innocent child. You must strictly uphold the Heavenly Dao, harmonize yin and yang, ensure merchants can travel the rivers, and bestow grace upon the common people. Respect this!"

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 1176 =====