Chapter 1326

By the grace of Heaven and the mandate of the Emperor, the edict states:

There is one named Wang Yan in Jiankang, eighteen years of age, who deeply understands the great righteousness, and has abandoned Chen to join Sui...

Wang Yan is enfeoffed as the Founding Marquis of Jiangning County, with a fief of... and an actual taxable fief of... and is appointed as the General of the Cavalry of Taiyuan...

Wang Yan is enfeoffed as a Marquis after a single battle!

It is a Founding County Marquis with absolute gold-standard value. In the past, this was called a Ranked Marquis, and before the time of Emperor Wu of Han, this was called a Che Marquis, not the dime-a-dozen Guannei Marquis.

After sending off the person who came to proclaim the edict, Wang Yan bowed with cupped hands toward Yang Guang.

"Thank you, Your Highness, for your cultivation."

"It is all what you deserve." Yang Guang waved his hand. "Additionally, regarding the matter of Qionghua, I have also spoken to the Emperor and Empress. We shall see when we return to the capital next year."

Wang Yan nodded to show his understanding. After all, it was marrying off a daughter, and since Yang Jian and Dugu Qieluo had not yet met him, they naturally had to see the person first.

"Many thanks, Your Highness."

"You are a general now, after all; you must have dignity."

"Your Highness jests. I will always be Your Highness's retainer, following Your Highness to do things."

Yang Guang laughed heartily: "Flatterer."

"Everything I have was given by Your Highness. Your Highness is my great benefactor. A mere soldier from the ranks, enfeoffed as a Marquis after one battle—without Your Highness's promotion, how could I have today's achievements? One must not forget the well-digger when drinking water, Your Highness. Even if I am speaking pleasant words, it is not flattery, but rather dragon-flattery, Your Highness."

Wang Yan expressed his loyalty so straightforwardly that Yang Guang was extremely happy and laughed even more heartily. He laughed because Wang Yan was awesome, and even more because he himself had the insight to recognize talent; he was even more awesome.

He patted Wang Yan on the shoulder: "Follow me and do your work well. It is only a County Marquis, and you are only a General of the Cavalry; even greater wealth and honor await you in the future."

"Yes, Your Highness. I have always followed Your Highness's lead, unlike Yuwen Huaji, with all his secret schemes."

"You..."

Yang Guang shook his head with amusement, then waved his hand. "Alright, the matter here is settled. You have just taken up the post of General of the Cavalry and still have many military affairs to manage, and your wife is also pregnant, so don't waste time here with me. Go and train your troops well. Sooner or later, I will destroy the Turks."

"This general is willing to be the vanguard for Your Highness!"

"It's still early for that, go and busy yourself."

Wang Yan bowed with a smile and left the Prince of Jin's mansion, taking the imperial edict back to his own home.

It was already the depths of winter, and it had only snowed the day before yesterday, so Taiyuan had become desolate. It was originally a prosperous place, but because of the cold, there were far fewer people on the streets.

Those who could come out were all people with warm clothing, wealthy nobles. Those who did not have much warm clothing and were walking on the streets were either selling charcoal or firewood; in any case, they were the toiling masses rushing about for their livelihood.

Just like that, Wang Yan walked all the way back to his home not far away. This was the large mansion Yang Guang had arranged for him, located not far from the Prince of Jin's mansion.

"Husband, quickly let me see the imperial edict."

As soon as he entered the house, Xiao Mei came to greet him, holding her belly.

She was already pregnant, and it had been over six months now.

Wang Yan handed the imperial edict to Xiao Mei. Xiao Mei respectfully took it with both hands and, under the gaze of all the servants, fully displayed her respect for the imperial edict.

After reading the text above, Xiao Mei asked: "Is Jiangning the Jiangning County of Jiankang?"

Wang Yan nodded with a smile and said: "The General of the Cavalry is in charge of the Taiyuan garrison troops, which is a fourth-rank official post. Now I can be considered to have made a name for myself."

"It's more than just 'considered', Husband has truly made a name for himself. I knew that Husband was definitely no ordinary person, and now, in just one year, you have been enfeoffed as a Marquis for your military merits."

"It is all thanks to the promotion and care of the Prince of Jin. Without the Prince of Jin, we wouldn't have today's good life."

Xiao Mei expressed her agreement and had people place the imperial edict in the house for veneration, then followed Xiao Mei into the warm room to talk.

"What about the matter of marrying the princess?" Xiao Mei asked with concern about the serious business.

"We will wait until we return to the capital next year for the Emperor and Empress to examine me. Judging by the Prince of Jin's intention, this matter is more than half likely to succeed."

The matter of marrying the princess, when it comes down to it, was still about suppressing the powerful clans and noble families.

Wang Yan was a talent of heavenly proportions; a mere soldier who led over a hundred people to kill their way onto the grasslands, killing and wounding over ten thousand Turks in a few months, and even pulling together several thousand troops among the Turks to establish a large tribe.

With such awesome ability, and being loyal to the Great Sui without directly declaring himself king or hegemon on the grasslands, his background was clean. For Yang Jian, he was also a powerful aid.

The powerful clans and noble families relied on various marriages to control a considerable portion of military and political power. Now that Wang Yan, a person from the ranks of the military, had made a name for himself, Yang Jian had more cards to play in his hand.

Not to mention Yang Guang; Wang Yan's battle record was among the most awesome of all the generals in the entire Great Sui, and he was also loyal to him. Marrying a princess to Wang Yan was absolutely a great courtesy and honor bestowed by the royal family.

If it were any other princess, Yang Jian wouldn't have hesitated. It was just that Qionghua was more favored, so they had to take another look, which could also be considered giving Qionghua a good impression, making her think that her parents valued her enough.

In general, this matter was almost certain to succeed. Both Yang Jian and Yang Guang believed that Wang Yan was their great aid, so no matter how much they doted on their daughter, she would have to step aside for now.

"That's good then. When the time comes, our family's status can also be raised, and we can be considered to have a foothold among the wealthy and powerful families." Xiao Mei was still single-mindedly thinking about achieving great things. This was good; she did not forget her roots and always kept in mind what she was actually doing.

She walked over and sat in Wang Yan's lap. "I was originally racking my brains thinking about doing business to earn money and grain, never thinking that Husband would descend like a god, be enfeoffed as a Marquis after one battle, and open up a border market with the Turks. It has only been open for a month, and there haven't been that many Turks coming to trade, yet we have already earned over a hundred sheep, ten cows, and four fine horses.

By next year, when the snow on the grasslands melts and the roads are easier to travel, there will definitely be more Turks trading, and I don't know how much we will earn."

Wang Yan hugged Xiao Mei and touched her large belly: "We cannot rely entirely on the border market. The national situation changes in an instant, and no one can say for sure if we will fight tomorrow. We still need to manage other matters. Doing business within the Great Sui will be more stable and long-lasting, and we can also support more people. The dyeing matter is almost ready; next year we can launch new colors. By then, we will have added another source of wealth.

I will ponder more and think of other ways to make money. We must expand our business to the entire Great Sui and weave a large net; only then can we achieve something."

"I increasingly feel that Husband can achieve great things. Now, in just one year, Husband has created such a great situation. I imagine it won't be long before Husband becomes a general and a minister, reaching the pinnacle of officialdom. This time, after Husband finished fighting the Turks, the Prince of Jin has even greater merits, and with the border market to win over the wealthy families, it seems he won't be able to suppress his ambition."

"No one can refuse that position," Wang Yan laughed. "Previously in the Chen Gong, I said we should smear the Crown Prince, win over people's hearts, and compete for credit, and the Prince of Jin executed it very well. I heard that the Crown Prince was reprimanded last month for drinking and making merry. It is evident that since this merit has been earned, the Crown Prince is unhappy, and the Emperor also finds the Crown Prince an eyesore."

"Husband, do you think the Crown Prince will come to win us over?"

"That is certain. However, we will still follow the Prince of Jin. Without decisive power, the most taboo thing is to be two-faced. Moreover, Yang Guang is magnanimous and treats us generously. Now I am his most capable general, and I have the ability to command, so he trusts me. Following him has more and greater benefits than following Yang Yong."

Of course, Wang Yan would not say that he knew Yang Guang could succeed. In fact, even if Yang Guang could not succeed, he would help Yang Guang succeed. This matter is about first come, first served. If Yang Yong had been in the Chen Gong at that time, Wang Yan would have also supported Yang Yong and turned around to target Yang Guang. Even if Yang Yong could not succeed, he would help Yang Yong succeed.

Actually, Yang Yong was not a piece of trash; he was also a capable person. In the process of Yang Jian usurping the throne, he also contributed effort. It was just that perhaps he himself did not position himself correctly. He was the Crown Prince, and his father was the Emperor, which was not as simple as just father and son.

Added to this, Yang Guang specifically watched him to find mistakes and secretly caused trouble, making Yang Jian and Dugu Qieluo increasingly dislike him. At the same time, Yang Guang widely formed cliques, had a good reputation, and was the second in line, so he successfully ascended the throne.

Right now, he, Wang Mou, under the wise command of Yang Guang, used only six hundred people in three months to beat the Turks into a rout, causing over ten thousand casualties, and established a reliable, controllable Bi tribe. At the same time, he set up a border market, which could both appease the Turks and earn the wealth of the Turks.

Yang Guang's merit was absolutely sky-high; it would not be an exaggeration to say that no merit could be greater.

But it was useless. Such great merit was only mentioned in passing in the history books.

In the ninth year of Kaihuang, in the eighth month, the Prince of Jin, Guang, sent Wang Yan to lead six hundred troops, and he returned in three months, beheading seven thousand and wounding over ten thousand enemies, and then set up a border market to appease the Turks.

Such a sparse line of text summarized Wang Yan's god-of-war-like demeanor.

But if it were Wang Yan's Imperial Chronicle, it would be different.

In the ninth year of Kaihuang, the Emperor was the advisor to Guang and followed him to Bingzhou. At that time, the Turks were a scourge...

Xiao Mei nodded and turned to ask: "Husband has already been enfeoffed as a Marquis, you should have your own retainers, right?"

"Thirty people," Wang Yan said with a smile. "I will look for them among the soldiers who followed me to fight on the grasslands this time. I will go and ask them tomorrow."

"They will definitely all be willing to come."

"Even if they are all willing, I can't take them all. In this battle on the grasslands, several of them had considerable talent for commanding and are my foundation in the army; they have greater roles to play. Just find thirty killers with no particular ability to come to the mansion; they can guard the home and also train other brave men."

"This group of people is all loyal to Husband and will definitely have great use in the future."

Wang Yan nodded with a smile: "For those who are wounded but can still move, I will go and see them in the next few days and find them something to do. Whether it's in our shops or on the farms, it doesn't matter; in short, let them have food to eat and settle their families well. You must do these things well and must not neglect them; otherwise, no one will be willing to risk their lives for us in the future."

"I understand."

The two of them talked about all sorts of things, all satisfied with the present and looking forward to the future.

Two days later, Wang Yan went to the barracks where the wounded soldiers were recuperating.

"Commander!"

As soon as this person finished speaking, he was slapped by another: "Commander my ass, call him Marquis."

Seeing Wang Yan arrive, everyone was very excited; this was the officer they followed to the death.

Because Wang Yan was truly loyal.

When fighting, the situation changed in an instant, and not all planned arrangements could be executed smoothly as imagined; there were always some teams that were surrounded and fell into desperate straits.

Every time this happened, Wang Yan would personally lead the Turkic troops to come and rescue them at the cost of his life. In every battle, Wang Yan was inevitably the first to charge. The formation everyone was most familiar with was the wedge formation. As long as they fought with Wang Yan, Wang Yan would always be in the vanguard, brandishing his horse lance, beating the enemy Turkic troops into a rout.

From the beginning to the end, Wang Yan had never lost a battle, and the battle plans he formulated were even more prescient; as long as they were executed successfully, it was a great victory. His heroic and invincible posture was like a god in the world.

Wang Yan had never abandoned a single person; it was just that those three hundred people had bad luck and died too cleanly.

After the battle, Wang Yan fought for their pensions, arranged for their promotions, and from time to time had people send all kinds of things. Even because the Turks had nothing else, Wang Yan collected the cattle and sheep from the spoils of war and gave them money far exceeding the value of the cattle and sheep.

At the same time, he also cared about their families, had people register their family situations, and said that he would do business and buy land in the future, letting the wounded brothers and their families work with him. He also wanted to find scholars to teach their children to read.

They were willing to die for him.

So as soon as Wang Yan appeared, what he saw were eager faces.

"You are all wounded, so sit if you should sit, and lie down if you should lie down. We are all the same; where would I have so many rules here?" Wang Yan waved his hand with a smile. "I came here today for two things.

The first thing: didn't I have people come to ask about your families two days ago? The Prince of Jin rewarded me with a farm near Taiyuan, over two hundred acres of land. It can also accommodate dozens of brothers. Those who are missing hands or feet or are disabled, all go there. I won't ask for much rent from you, just half a percent every year. Consider it tuition for hiring scholars to teach.

And for those brothers who have all their limbs but are injured and can no longer fight, rest well, and when next year comes, go to the border market to escort goods or something. The work isn't tiring, and the pay isn't low; it's enough for you to support your families and find wives for your children. If you want your children to study, that's fine too; just go to the farm together."

After everyone thanked him in a jumble and made a ruckus with laughter,

someone finally asked: "Marquis, what is the second thing?"

"The second thing has nothing to do with you; it's for the brothers who can still fight. My family has been enfeoffed as a Marquis and can have thirty retainers. In the future, when I go to the battlefield, these people will follow me, and they must be trained strictly. You know best how I fight; this matter is too dangerous. I have already told them just now; those who are willing to come can come, and I won't force those who are not."

"We are all definitely willing, Marquis. Let alone us, after we came back, we told the other brothers about the events on the grasslands, and they all want to follow the Marquis to fight."

Wang Yan laughed: "I'm just afraid of failing the brothers' trust."

"It's fine, Marquis. Sooner or later, we'll die. The Marquis treats us well, so we are willing to do anything. Those who fear death are not men; we only fear dying for nothing. My grandfather was a garrison soldier who fought for decades and got nothing. I followed the Marquis for one battle and got everything."

And so, a group of people, one after another, expressed their gratitude for Wang Yan's kindness.

Wang Yan also chatted and joked with them here, checked their physical conditions, and stayed for a long time before leaving.