Chapter 1201: It's the Second Day of the Second Month Again

While granting new titles and rewards, Emperor Liu also formally promulgated a medal system that he had previously ordered his maternal uncle, Li Ye, to establish, to commend those who had made outstanding contributions in civil governance and military achievements since the founding of the state.

These were purely honorary, unlike titles and meritorious offices which involved aristocratic rank and interests. The threshold was relatively lower, and they were open to everyone in the realm—regardless of ethnicity, gender, age, or whether civil or military—as long as one had made outstanding and praiseworthy contributions to the state, society, and the people, they could be awarded accordingly.

Of course, the threshold was only relatively lower. Though the scope was broad, the conditions for conferral were by no means low. Though a small medal, it could be passed down through generations, and while that was not Emperor Liu's original intention, possessing one was enough to elevate one's social standing.

The imperial medals were divided into three grades and six classes: one class of gold, two of silver, and three of bronze, engraved respectively with mountains and rivers, city walls, and sword-and-plow motifs. They were jointly designed by the various academicians under the Ministry of Works and the Pacification Commission, and painstakingly crafted by skilled metalworkers of the palace. Lofty honor, paired with the most advanced craftsmanship of the time, gave these exquisite medals considerable weight.

In conferring them, Emperor Liu's established style was also reflected—few in number but significant in weight. Take the first-class gold medal: including the Twenty-Four Ministers of Qianyou and all the various dukes and ministers, only ten people received it. The rest received lower classes, descending pyramid-like from the first-class silver medal downward. In the Dali campaign, even the most outstanding and valiant soldiers received at most a second-class bronze medal.

That said, those who obtained these honors had to be the living, or rather the survivors. After all, only with the capital of survival could one have the qualification to pursue the enjoyment of honor. This also had a more pronounced effect on Emperor Liu's spiritual construction and character-shaping of the Great Han, since it was something people could perceive and recognize.

As for those loyal souls who died in hardship, they were worthy of respect and remembrance, but aside from earning some pension for their families and children, their best end was merely to be inducted into the Zhaolie Temple in Kaifeng, their names inscribed on steles, receiving some incense and worship each year.

Beyond the imperial medals, there was also a purple-gold medal, adorned with dragon and phoenix motifs, whose purpose went without saying. This was the imperial house's means of bestowing honor upon ministers who had made outstanding contributions to the empire or the royal family.

In this regard, the requirements were even stricter, and the prestige higher. It also proved from the side that in the Great Han, imperial authority was supreme—at least in Emperor Liu's era, it looked down upon all things and stood above everything.

For officials of the Great Han, the most leisurely month was the first month, because there were the most consecutive days of rest. But it was also the busiest month, because after the holidays they had to throw themselves into trivial, heavy affairs and deal with all the miscellaneous matters that had been set aside.

Of course, this was only the case under conditions of national stability and clean governance. In the past, even in the early years of Kaibao, one still had to toil as needed.

It was the second day of the second month once again. Taking advantage of the fine season, Emperor Liu led a group of people to the outskirts of the Western Capital, wielding hoes to loosen the soil. He had now been emperor for twenty-two years. Over those two decades, this practice of personally tilling the fields to demonstrate the importance of agriculture had become a routine.

Even when he was on inspection tours or campaigns away from the capital, edicts would be sent back, instructing the Empress, imperial princes, and ministers remaining in the capital to go into the fields on his behalf. To this day, Emperor Liu still maintained this habit, the difference being that he no longer put on a show as in those early days, specially summoning people to watch.

Thanks to the nourishment of the Yi and Luo rivers, the lands around the Western Capital were still fairly fertile. At the beginning of mid-spring, when vegetation began to flourish, the land Emperor Liu had chosen belonged to official salary fields.

Surrounding areas already had stretches of wheat fields, growing quite well. Barring accidents, there should be a good harvest this summer. This situation lifted Emperor Liu's spirits, and he swung his hoe with even more vigor.

This time, Emperor Liu traveled lightly. Accompanying him, besides Crown Prince Liu Yang and Chancellor Zhao Pu, were a group of newly ennobled military merit aristocrats, including Wang Quanbin and Pan Mei.

As hoes flew, Wang Yansheng, the County Duke of Pingxi, wasted a good deal of his strength, stomping his hoe deep into the soil with force, spitting once, and complaining: "This is bullying me for not knowing how to farm!"

Beside him, his western campaign comrade, the newly ennobled Marquis of Bowang, Guo Jin, could not help but laugh: "His Majesty spares no effort to personally plow. How can we have any complaints?"

Wang Yansheng glanced toward Emperor Liu, then said: "I wouldn't dare complain. It's just that we have oxen and plows but don't use them, insisting we do the hard labor ourselves—what's the point?

Besides, using hands that wield swords and blades and charge into battle to fiddle with these farming tools—isn't that like using a cleaver to kill a chicken?"

Though he said that, Wang Yansheng still looked quite pleased, for he had newly received a title. Though it was only a county duke, he had crossed the chasm from marquis to duke, so how could his mood be bad?

Guo Jin was the same—promoted one grade to marquis and awarded a second-class silver medal. After all, he was from the old Liu family's inner circle, and Emperor Liu thought highly of him.

Clearly, though he had faced some censure and suppression years ago over the massacre incident in Gansu, Emperor Liu still recognized their achievements. After receiving the titles, even the slight lingering resentment had dissipated.

Hearing this, Guo Jin said: "Hasn't His Majesty said it before? The soldiers and men of the Great Han should naturally hold a sword in one hand and a plow in the other—expanding the frontiers and leaving their names in history!"

"They can't really make us go farming, can they!" Wang Yansheng muttered. As he spoke, a hint of something flickered in his tiger-like eyes. He leaned close to Guo Jin and said in a low voice: "Brother Guo, do you think His Majesty having us military men accompany him into the fields is a hint that he wants us to hang up our armor and retire?"

Hearing this, Guo Jin looked at Wang Yansheng with some surprise. Since when did this 'Wang Jian'er' have such thoughts? To this, Guo Jin's face, which seemed to carry a hint of murderous aura, remained perfectly calm as he said: "The great enemy in the north has not yet been eliminated—how could this be the time to put the horses out to pasture?"

"True! When it comes to fighting the Hu barbarians, I, Wang, am no weaker than anyone else. His Majesty will surely have use for me!" Wang Yansheng smiled confidently.

"Brother Wang still wants to raise his title another grade?" Guo Jin said.

"Why not?" Wang Yansheng said: "I wouldn't dare hope for a duke's position, but a commandery duke is worth thinking about. Men like Yang Ye—I regard them as my juniors. Yet relying on His Majesty's excessive favor, they built a bit of minor merit and were promoted to commandery duke..."

Clearly, Wang Yansheng was somewhat unconvinced. What he didn't know was that his own title of County Duke of Pingxi also had plenty of people who were unconvinced, because of the many mistakes he had made in the past...

In comparison, Guo Jin was equally fierce in temperament but looked down on such fame and profit, so he appeared indifferent: "His Majesty's rewards and punishments are impartial. Why so much calculation?"

Hearing this, Wang Yansheng was first startled, then looked at this brother a few years his junior and sighed: "I am no match for Brother Guo!"

"It's getting late. The two of us should hurry and finish plowing this half mu of land!" Guo Jin replied with a smile.

"We've been in the imperial army for several years now—it's quite dull. I wonder when His Majesty will launch another northern expedition? Last time, I missed it. This time, I must march beyond the northern frontier and sweep across Monan!" Wang Yansheng said as if swearing an oath, slamming his hoe down hard.

"The southwestern war has just settled, and Dali has not yet been fully taken. It will be hard to accomplish in the short term!" Guo Jin shook his head and said, though his eyes likewise flickered with anticipation.

Men like them, fierce tigers of the battlefield—a few more years of peaceful days, and their ambition and edge would likely be ground away.