Chapter 74: Li Guang Enfeoffed as King

Outside Wusun Royal City, the troops of Liu Ju, who personally led the campaign, were neatly stationed.

The camp tents stretched endlessly, and the military flags fluttered in the wind.

Liu Ju stood outside the tent, his brows slightly furrowed as he gazed at the distant royal city, his eyes revealing a hint of anxiety and worry.

Since parting with Li Guang and Emperor Wu of Han last time, he never expected the two to have directly seized Wusun Royal City.

At this moment, he secretly rejoiced that his troops had arrived in time, while also silently calculating that, with Huo Qubing's ability, rescuing the emperor would surely succeed and nothing untoward would happen.

Thus, Liu Ju anxiously waited outside the city for half a day.

Finally, the distant city gate slowly opened.

A figure approached on horseback.

He saw a stalwart figure seated upright on horseback, though his temples were streaked with white and he bore wounds, his posture remained straight as a spear, displaying the dignity and tenacity of an old general.

The warhorse neighed, its hooves kicking up dust as it gradually drew near Liu Ju.

This was a figure Liu Ju knew all too well.

Drawing closer, Li Guang reined in his horse and steadily stopped before Liu Ju.

His eyes were firm and bright, revealing the calm and wisdom of a veteran of countless battles.

Although Li Guang's armor was damaged and stained with blotches of blood, it did not detract from his heroic bearing; instead, it added a touch of the weathered grandeur earned from life-and-death trials.

Liu Ju's eyes instantly flashed with surprise and delight, and he hurried forward to meet him.

Li Guang dismounted with a clean, swift motion, showing no sign of his age.

He strode toward Liu Ju with confident, powerful steps.

Li Guang quickly stepped before Liu Ju, knelt with a thud, clasped his fists, and said, 'Your Majesty, this old subject returns to report.'

Liu Ju hastily reached out to help Li Guang up, his eyes full of gratitude, his voice slightly trembling as he said, 'Old general, thank you for your hardship! To have you by my father's side this time is indeed a blessing for the Han.'

Li Guang stared, looked apologetically at Liu Ju, and said, 'Your Majesty, this old subject has committed the crime of deceiving the sovereign; he deserves death ten thousand times over—please punish me!'

Liu Ju lifted Li Guang's hands, rough with old calluses, shook his head slightly, and earnestly said, 'Old general, for the Han and for me you have borne humiliation and borne heavy burdens; your achievements are outstanding—what crime could there be?'

Li Guang's eyes reddened, and he knelt again, saying, 'Your Majesty, you have guessed it? This old subject…'

Liu Ju supported Li Guang, speaking gently, 'Old general, we need say no more; I understand you—everything you did for the former emperor was for me and for the realm of the Han.'

The tears welling in Li Guang's eyes finally spilled over; the Son of Heaven understood him, and all his sacrifices were worthwhile.

He had long prepared himself to bear infamy, and even imagined a scene where Liu Ju would not blame him, but when the moment truly arrived, he could not restrain his tears of gratitude.

Liu Ju looked at Li Guang with gratitude; unlike Wei Qing and Huo Qubing, he was to Liu Ju both sovereign and subject and kin.

Li Guang was different; merely by his love for the Han and his gratitude toward Liu Ju, he could willingly bear any burden for him without hesitation.

Liu Ju personally supported Li Guang's arm as they entered the grand tent, where Li Gan, who had long been waiting, eagerly stepped forward to kneel and pay his respects.

They had thought they would never see each other again in this lifetime, but little did they expect a turn of fortune.

Liu Ju immediately summoned a military doctor to examine Li Guang's wounds, and only when no issues remained did he feel at ease.

Thereupon, Liu Ju summoned all the officials who had accompanied the army on this campaign to deliberate.

Liu Ju sat in the chief seat, his gaze stern as he surveyed the assembly and said, 'This time, my personal leadership of the campaign owes much to you generals, who have labored saddle to horse, fought bravely, and at last accomplished our goal in a single engagement; we shall triumphantly return today. Before that, I will bestow rewards upon you all according to merit.'

"We thank Your Majesty for your great favor!"

Everyone bowed deeply in excited gratitude.

Liu Ju first looked at Li Guang, seated to the side, and solemnly said, 'Former General Li Guang, you have spent your life campaigning south and north for the Han, establishing magnificent military achievements. You guarded Shuofang, took Wusun, and recovered the Imperial Jade Seal for me; your loyalty and valor are unmatched, your contributions indispensable.'

Liu Ju gazed at the trembling, excited Li Guang and continued, 'Before, there were rumors in the streets that Li Guang would be hard to ennoble, but here, in my presence, this old general's merits are second to none.'

He looked around and declared, 'I hereby decree that, effective immediately, Li Guang shall be enfeoffed as King of the Western Regions, with a fief of ten thousand households, holding the offices of Grand Marshal and Flying General, participating in state affairs, and simultaneously overseeing all matters of the Western Regions.'

"Your Majesty~"

Upon hearing this, Li Guang's heart was greatly shaken, and his eye sockets instantly moistened.

He knelt again, bowing his head, and said, 'Your Highness, such great grace—what virtue or ability do I possess to dare accept this ennoblement? This old subject merely did his duty, serving the Han and Your Majesty; it is only right.'

Liu Ju helped Li Guang to his feet, then turned to Li Gan and said, 'Li Guang's youngest son, Division General Li Gan, who is both loyal and filial and has splendid military achievements, shall from today be enfeoffed as Marquis of Filial Piety, with a fief of one thousand households, and appointed commander of the Feathered Forest Guard.'

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your great favor!"

This time, Li Gan also knelt, tears of gratitude streaming down his face.

And among those present, together with the newly enfeoffed King Li Guang, everyone was once again shocked.

Li Guang, overcome with emotion, shed tears freely and repeatedly shouted 'Long live!'

Meanwhile, the others gazed at Liu Ju and the father‑son pair of Li Guang, their hearts greatly shaken; now the glory of the Li clan seemed destined to surpass that of the Wei and Huo clans.

The veteran general Li Guang had at last risen to prominence.

Liu Ju proclaimed in a loud voice, 'The Li clan has earned its sweat‑and‑blood merits for the Han; fame truly follows achievement!'

He then turned to Zhang Tang and said, 'Zhang Tang, your fief shall be increased by ten thousand households; you shall relinquish the post of commander of the Feathered Forest Guard, assume the office of Minister of Justice, and take charge of the Han's new legal code.'

Zhang Tang bowed and accepted the order.

Liu Ju continued, 'Zhao Chongguo, whose achievements are outstanding and who possesses both wisdom and courage, shall be enfeoffed as Marquis of Yingping, with a fief of one thousand households, holding the posts of Cavalry General and deputy commander of the Feathered Forest Guard, and shall coordinate all affairs with Li Gan.'

"We thank Your Majesty for your great favor!"

Zhao Chongguo, who in his early years had roughed it out in the Western Regions army and later participated in the Han's special examination as a scholar, a future star of the military, also finally revealed his talent at this moment.

Thereupon, Liu Ju bestowed further ennoblements on the others, and for a time ruler and subjects rejoiced together.

After the victory feast, Huo Qubing arrived late, swaying gracefully.

His face was filled with a conflicted, tangled expression.

He entered Liu Ju's grand tent, paid his respects to Liu Ju, and then offered congratulations to Li Guang once again.

Then he looked at Liu Ju, whose face glowed red, and said, 'Your Majesty, how should we deal with the matter of the former emperor?'

Liu Ju was indeed stumped by the question; since coming to the Han, this was the first time he had faced such a difficult dilemma.

At this moment, Li Guang said: "Your Majesty, this old servant has something to say; I don't know whether I should say it?"

Liu Ju nodded and said, "The old general has been closest to the father emperor today; he should best understand his thoughts—why not speak up?"

Li Guang bowed slightly and said, "The former emperor is also in his prime now, and unlike other emperors who are content to retire behind the scenes as a retired emperor, he surely still wants to accomplish something. But this time, due to a twist of fate, one misstep in the game has left him stranded here."

Seeing that Liu Ju showed no great emotional fluctuation, he continued, "This old official thinks that rather than standing here helpless, we might as well ask him his thoughts directly."

Liu Ju then straightened his back slightly, a flicker of conflict and contradiction crossing his eyes, along with a hint of bewilderment.

Li Guang said, "It will only be a slight injustice to His Majesty to have him personally meet the former emperor."

"Seeing Han Wudi again?"

Liu Ju stood up, his hand gripping the edge of the table, trembling slightly.