Chapter 600: Peaceful State Elder Princess

But they had no choice; it seemed the King wasn't giving them any room to negotiate, so this matter was clearly not up for discussion.

Anyway, they haven't even brought up the title Peaceful State! There's no precedent for this either. Peaceful State is clearly a rank higher than a feudal lord. Fortunately, this person is only his full older sister; just hold your nose and accept it. This guy isn't without benefits—hasn't he still not greatly enfeoffed his maternal clan?

The new emperor seemed to have no intention of ennobling Marquis Weiting; he only ennobled the Marquis Eastern Capital who had followed him all the way in conquering the empire.

The title of Marquis Eastern Capital was actually hereditary; his ancestors had earned the marquisate through merit, and by Liang Jin's generation, thanks to his sharp eye, he had early bought shares in the King, and moreover, Marquis Eastern Capital truly had a talent for defending the border and fighting wars. When the King ascended the throne, the Liang clan's rank advanced further, becoming Duke of Eastern Capital—nothing wrong with that.

The Liang family had advanced further, but the maternal clan remained unmoved, and people began to speculate silently. Could it be… because they rose to power through military force, they are wary of the Wei clan, which holds heavy troops?

After all, the entire Liang clan was pressing down on the new emperor's headquarters in Secluded Prefecture, while Prosperous Prefecture truly is a place where the mountains are high and the emperor far away.

How could they know? The King disdained titles that relied on the emperor's maternal clan as lacking substance. The Wei clan has strength; the King is waiting to later enfeoff based on the Southwest Army's military achievements—wouldn't that be more imposing?

When the emperor ascends the throne, a general amnesty and halving the land tax are customary.

Although the treasury was bare, the King, holding his nose, exempted half of the land tax for the whole territory this year—if others have it, he wants it too.

Actually, this rule only benefits the northern half; the southern side doesn't have much land left to tax, and the collectable revenue is even less. The northern region benefits the most, which is foreseeable—this year the King will still be short of grain.

As for the general amnesty, only those with minor offenses are pardoned, and the list of pardoned persons is announced by the Minister of Justice; the most famous among them is the fence-sitter Marquis Pacifying the North.

The King generously pardoned Marquis Pacifying the North, even leaving his title intact and transferring him to the cavalry battalion—this is far beyond ordinary favor; it's practically a reward.

Now then, the whole court thought Marquis Pacifying the North had already defected to the northern region; otherwise, why such a favor? Not to mention that the rebel king's granted title was retained—this has entered the core troops.

The King, using the pearl curtain as cover, glanced at a few officials with complex expressions. Remember them—these few are especially stupid.

Could it be that I let him return to the imperial guards of his headquarters? The cavalry battalion is entirely from Secluded Prefecture; Marquis Pacifying the North couldn't stir up even a ripple, right?

At the grand court assembly, Wei Shen, standing at the door, thought of the King's 'theory that misstepping leads to punishment,' and twitched the corner of his mouth. Smart people just overthink; it's unnecessary to worry about Marquis Pacifying the North—given the King's nature, he'll soon deal with him.

After taking care of these matters, the King again informed everyone of the movements of the Snow Cavalry and the Southwest Army: they have reclaimed Pei River and Fu Capital, and are now settling the disaster victims of Good Pond—these things are unknown to the court because the news hasn't returned yet. He needs to let the court know the treasury's shortfall, which will require huge sums!

Only then did the officials realize that the King, who neglects his duties, is also not idle.

Having not attended court for a long time, on the first day the grand court assembly's content was too overwhelming; it lasted until nearly noon without disbanding, and was forcibly called off. One can't just exhaust the person in charge all at once, can he? His reason is very strong—he wants to go have a meal.

The officials saw off the steaming new emperor with speechless faces; the Elder Minister of Rites had the most complicated feelings. Not counting another rebel‑usurper, Emperor Guanglie, this is already the fourth emperor he has experienced. How to put it? Although the emperor is supreme under heaven, truly lawless and tyrannical is only this one.

Baili Jing—he doesn't even treat his own ancestors as a matter!

He would even pull the Divine Dragon's nose with a look of disdain...

【①One wouldn't think the King wrote this, right? No, it's Du Fu. Hahahaha, losers don't deserve O(≧∇≦)O】