Chapter 436: Bestowal

Chang'an.

The incense smoke curls within the Tai Ji Hall.

The bright yellow coiling‑dragon pillar glows with a gentle luster.

Yuwen Yong, clad in a twelve‑pattern dragon robe, sits upright on the towering Dragon Throne, his back perfectly straight.

Yuwen Hu sits on the left side of the lower Imperial Seat, twirling a Jade Ring, a slight curve at the corner of his mouth.

On both sides, civil and military officials in various court robes line up according to rank, heads bowed, standing solemnly, the hall so quiet that only the faint sound of incense ash falling from the censer is heard.

Suddenly, orderly footsteps echo from outside the hall, drawing nearer—

Chen Yan, having shed his armor for a Purple Robe official attire, walks at the front, the other commanders following closely behind.

Lu Ming, trailing behind, cannot help glancing left and right as soon as he steps into the Tai Ji Hall.

Seeing the gilt patterns on the coiling‑dragon pillar and the brocaded palace lanterns hanging from the beams, his Adam's apple twitches, his lips part, and in a voice only those beside him can hear he murmurs, "Is this the palace of the Zhou State?"

"Truly magnificent!"

As soon as the words finish, his shoulder is lightly tapped.

Beside him, Gu Yuci furrows his brows slightly, his gaze signaling him to look at the solemn atmosphere in the hall, and in an equally lowered voice he cautions, "Don't let your eyes wander!"

"Walk properly…"

Lu Ming freezes, nods, quickly withdraws his gaze, straightens his back even more, and his steps become steadier.

Our Great Zhou's younger generation of commanders truly are a wealth of talent… Yuwen Yong, seated on the Dragon Throne, scans the commanders below the steps, seeing each upright and bearing the sharp vigor forged on battlefields, and a feeling of admiration wells up within him.

"Come!"

He lightly rests his fingertip on the Dragon Throne's armrest, then lifts his hand to flick the cuff of his dragon robe, the sleeve tracing a crisp arc in the air, his gaze turning to the attendant at the hall's side as he declares loudly, "Read aloud the bestowal for the meritorious subjects of Great Zhou!"

The attendant steps forward, dressed in dark‑colored palace robes, holding the bright yellow imperial edict in both hands; the edict's edge is embroidered with delicate dragon patterns, shimmering softly in the hall's candlelight.

He moves to a spot slightly to the side of the hall and stands, the attendant first bows slightly, salutes toward the Dragon Throne and Imperial Seat, then straightens, spreading the edict with both hands, his clear voice slowly resonating through the hall's silence:

"The Great Zhou Emperor decrees: The northwest is fraught with hardship, border turmoil arises repeatedly; the unrest in Hezhou, the disaster of Tongtian, the disturbances of Tuyuhun are all close‑handed troubles of Great Zhou."

"Fortunately there are loyal and brave generals who step forward, protect the realm and its people, their achievements outstanding; I am greatly gratified. Now, to assess merit and grant reward, to honor their toil—"

"Hence, Gu Yuci is promoted to Commander‑in‑Chief of Xiazhou, assisting Xiazhou's military and civil affairs, stabilizing the border forts; additionally appointed General Ning Shuo, granted a Purple Gold Fish Bag; ennobled as Viscount with a fief of one hundred households; furthermore awarded one hundred taels of gold, one thousand taels of silver, thirty bolts of colored silk, two hundred mu of fertile land, and fifty maidservants, to honor his merit and soothe his toil."

"You shall fulfill your duties faithfully, not disappoint my expectations, fortify our borders, and bring peace to our people!"

The first to receive the bestowal, Gu Yuci, straightens his back sharply, steps forward, kneels on one knee, fists clasped against his forehead.

His movements are swift and reverent, even the hanging strands of his hair exude a hint of solemnity.

His gaze first falls on the youthful Son of Heaven on the Dragon Throne, then turns to the Grand Chancellor on the Imperial Seat; his voice is resonant yet steady:

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

"Thank you, Grand Preceptor!"

Having spoken, he bows low, his forehead lightly touching the icy gold bricks.

Rising again, his eyes brim with excitement.

The Commander‑in‑Chief of Xiazhou is the second‑in‑command of Xiazhou's military, just below the Governor, serving as a deputy commander of troops.

In peacetime, he assists the Governor in managing daily troop training (such as drilling soldiers, teaching tactics) and enforcing discipline (punishing deserters and violators).

During war, he serves as vanguard or commands portions of forces (such as an independent combat unit), responsible for spearheading assaults or providing flank cover, and may also substitute for the Governor in inspecting border outposts.

A solid local official!

Moreover, Xiazhou is a frontier town of the Great State, bordering the Rouran Qi State, offering abundant opportunities to make one's mark.

This departure from the town truly feels like the sky is the limit…

All thanks to Lord Chen Yan!

The attendant continues reading: "Hence, Helian Shi is promoted to Commander‑in‑Chief of Lingzhou, assisting Lingzhou's military and civil affairs, stabilizing the border forts; additionally appointed General Ning Yuan, granted a Purple Gold Fish Bag; ennobled as Viscount with a fief of one hundred households; furthermore awarded one hundred taels of gold, one thousand taels of silver, thirty bolts of colored silk, two hundred mu of fertile land, and fifty maidservants, to honor his merit and soothe his toil."

"May you redouble your loyalty and diligence, firmly guard Lingzhou's borders, tend the frontier peoples, never forget your original purpose, and never disappoint my expectations!"

Helian Shi steps forward, fists clasped, kneels on the ground, facing Yuwen Yong and Yuwen Hu, and loudly says, "Thank you, Your Majesty!"

"Thank you, Grand Chancellor!"

In his eyes is the same excitement.

Lingzhou lies beside Xiazhou, likewise a crucial frontier stronghold.

Only confronting a single Rouran enemy, the opportunities are fewer compared to Xiazhou…

Yet being promoted beyond the town, Helian Shi already has ample reason to thank the Grand Preceptor and Lord Chen Yan!

The attendant again reads: "Hence, He Ba Le is promoted to Governor of South Qin Prefecture, overseeing South Qin's military affairs, pacifying the southwestern tribes, and stabilizing the frontier; additionally appointed General Yang Lie, granted a Purple Gold Fish Bag; ennobled as Viscount with a fief of one hundred households; furthermore awarded one hundred taels of gold, one thousand taels of silver, thirty bolts of colored silk, two hundred mu of fertile land, and fifty maidservants, to honor his merit and soothe his toil."

"May you increase your diligence, uphold loyalty and righteousness. While stationed in South Qin, you shall tend the troops and civilians, organize armaments, repel external incursions, ensure internal peace, never become arrogant from merit, and never neglect your duties!"

He Ba Le immediately steps forward, bows, and expresses gratitude: "Thank you, Your Majesty! Thank you, Grand Preceptor!"

A Governor is the highest military officer in a prefecture, commanding all stationed troops (including regular army and local militia).

He is responsible for devising the prefecture's military defense strategies (such as deploying border outposts, planning city defenses); in wartime he may directly lead troops into battle (e. g., repelling foreign invasions, quelling local rebellions).

He has authority to mobilize subordinate Commander‑in‑Chiefs and other officers, while also reporting military developments to the Court and receiving orders from the Summer Office.

He is truly the top military leader.

South Qin Prefecture lies on the front line facing Xiao Liang to the south!

The only drawback is that Great Zhou and Xiao Liang have enjoyed peace for many years…

Nevertheless, attaining such a high post, He Ba Le is already content, grateful for Lord Chen Yan's favor!

The attendant, neither hurried nor slow, continues: "Hence, Wang Xiong, heir of the New Duke, is appointed Sima of Xiazhou, assisting in handling Xiazhou's key military and civil affairs, contributing to border defense planning, ensuring peace between troops and civilians, and securing the territory; additionally appointed General Fu Guo, granted a Purple Gold Fish Bag; ennobled as Viscount with a fief of one hundred households; furthermore awarded three hundred taels of gold, five thousand taels of silver, one hundred bolts of colored silk, four hundred mu of fertile land, and one hundred maidservants, to honor his merit and soothe his toil."

"May you increase your diligence, keep your heart steadfast. Upon taking office in Xiazhou, you shall fulfill your duties, work in unity, govern the people with benevolence, discipline the troops with strictness, guard Great Zhou's northern gateway, and not betray my patronage nor the hopes of the masses!"

Wang Xiong lifts his head and chest, walks forward toward the Dragon Throne and Imperial Seat, bows and says, "Thank you, Your Majesty!"

"Thank you, Grand Preceptor!"

Wang Xiong was very clear that this must be his father's maneuver, a meticulous selection.....

This position will certainly temper a person, and can also greatly boost one's battle record!

The eunuch continued to read: "Specially promote the Yongchang Marquis Heir Dou Luling as Chief Historian of Lingzhou, overseeing all civil affairs, prisons, and storage matters of Lingzhou, assisting the Governor in joint military and civil administration, to ensure order within Lingzhou's borders and that the border peoples are undisturbed. Additionally confer the title General of Guarding the Distant, and grant a purple‑gold fish bag; ennoble as Viscount with a fief of one hundred households; also award three hundred taels of gold, five thousand taels of silver, one hundred bolts of colored silk, four hundred mu of good fields, and one hundred maidservants, to commend his merit and soothe his labor."

"You must remember: although Lingzhou is distant, it is still Great Zhou's territory; though the duties of Chief Historian are numerous, they concern the people's welfare. After assuming the post, you must diligently fulfill your responsibilities, act righteously and serve the public, cooperate heart‑to‑heart with the Governor of Lingzhou, tend to the border peoples, straighten official conduct; if border matters arise, report promptly to the central authority, leaving nothing undone or delayed. Never become arrogant because of favor, never slacken because of complexity; only by keeping your original resolve will you not betray my heavy trust and the people's expectations!"

Dou Luling briskly stepped out of the formation, bowed and saluted: "Thank you, Your Majesty! Thank you, Grand Preceptor!"

This position is the chief deputy of the Governor, equivalent to a 'provincial chief administrator'.

When the Governor is on inspection or temporarily absent, he exercises the Governor's authority.

He daily assists the Governor in handling state affairs, overseeing documents and archives, preliminarily reviewing official appointments and dismissals, receiving central envoys, and so on, serving as the actual coordinator of provincial administration.

A truly concrete second‑in‑command of governance!

Dou Luling understood that his father's arrangement must be intended to let him one day become a general and later a minister......

The eunuch cleared his throat and continued to read: "Specially promote the Yanshan Marquis Heir Kou Luo as Right Palace Earl and Central Physician, in charge of the palace guard orders, commanding the Palace Earl's subordinate officials, and assisting in inner‑court ceremonial troops, hoping he will straighten discipline and further strengthen palace defenses; additionally confer the title General of Building Loyalty, and grant a purple‑gold fish bag; ennoble as Viscount with a fief of one hundred households; also award three hundred taels of gold, five thousand taels of silver, one hundred bolts of colored silk, four hundred mu of good fields, and one hundred maidservants, to commend his merit and soothe his labor."

"May you further sharpen yourself, remain loyal and upright; in the position of Right Palace Earl, devote yourself to the guard and not betray the palace's trust; bearing the duties of General of Building Loyalty, keep benevolence and bravery, never forget the original resolve to serve the nation. If you can remain consistent and fulfill your duties, you shall later receive even greater promotions to reward your merit!"

Kou Luo stepped forward, bowed and saluted: "Thank you, Your Majesty! Thank you, Grand Preceptor!"

In his eyes lay an uncontainable excitement.

Although the rank of Palace Earl is not as illustrious as external postings, it is crucial, reporting directly to the Emperor, controlling palace guard orders, attendant schedules, and inner‑court ceremonial troop deployments, making it the core officer of the palace guard system.

In other words, the Palace Earl commands the imperial guards......

Generally, the left chief handles daytime guard, the right chief night guard, or the left oversees ceremonial troops while the right oversees deployment.

Subsequently, the eunuch continued to read the bestowals, congratulating Ruo Dun on his promotion to Chief Historian of South Qinzhou, ennobling Feng Xiao Yan as Assistant Magistrate of Wannian Xian, appointing Liang Shiyan as Assistant Magistrate of Chang'an County, promoting Gao Jiong to County Commandant of Wannian Xian, conferring the title General Hu Wei upon Lu Ming, and transferring the former Governor of Weizhou, Hua Jiao, to become Governor of Lingzhou, and so on.......

After reading the other appointments, the eunuch lifted his hand to smooth the creases of the bright yellow imperial edict, cleared his throat, his voice now more solemn than before, and, holding the edict aloft, declared: "Duke of Wei, you may receive your bestowal!"

When the words fell, Chen Yan slowly stepped forward from the steps, his figure upright as a pine, and in a deep voice said: "I am here!"

He then turned sideways, clasping his hands before him, first bowing to the young emperor on the Dragon Throne, then turning to the Grand Chancellor on the throne and bowing even lower.

All the civil and military officials on both sides stared with blazing eyes toward the violet figure in the hall.

Someone involuntarily held their breath, their fingertips quietly tightening around the hem of their court robe.

Someone leaned forward slightly, eyes full of anticipation.

Whether civil official or military general, in their hearts they all muttered in unison: "It's here, finally here......"

They all wanted to see what bestowal and reward the greatly meritorious Duke of Wei, Chen the Governor, would receive......

Perhaps today will witness history!

The eunuch steadied the edict and read: "The Northwest is the weight of Great Zhou's frontier, the safety of the border lands tied to the foundation of the state. The Liuren of Hezhou have risen in chaos, the Tongtian demon sect rebels, and the Tuyu Hun tribes, emboldened, invade our borders; three calamities intertwine, border dust rises, the people are displaced, and I am troubled. In this perilous time, Duke of Wei Chen Yan, thinking of the nation, took up the axe and marched to war, relying on peerless bravery and strategies that span heaven and earth; three battles secured the Northwest, his achievements shining brightly, shaking antiquity and dazzling the present; I greatly commend him, and hereby issue this decree to honor his merits."

"The Tongtian Society spreads demonic rumors to confuse the masses, gathers rebels on the Longyou region, privately casts weapons, incites the Liuren of Hezhou to rebel, plotting to overturn the state; its force is fierce, dragging tens of thousands, plundering counties, burning warehouses, and local officials are powerless to control it."

"Duke of Wei, following the edict to suppress bandits, personally led elite troops in a night‑swift relief, abandoning old methods, first pacifying then exterminating: observing that the Liuren were driven by hunger and cold, he opened granaries to distribute food and ease their coercion; then he commanded elite forces to strike directly at the bandits' lair, beheading the Tongtian Society's leader, eradicating the remaining evildoers, completely annihilating the rebellion, and restoring peace to Longyou."

"The Tuyu Hun tribe, relying on the swiftness of cavalry, repeatedly breaches our borders, looting our people and livestock, destroying our crops, and even stations six thousand cavalry on the frontier, their arrogance swelling."

"Duke of Wei, in crisis, accepted the command, rode out of the pass to meet the enemy, engaging them in Hezhou for over a month, using strategy to trap the Tuyu Hun at Bofahan, forcing the surrender of their six thousand cavalry."

"Then, seizing the victory, he pursued, personally leading a great army straight to the Tuyu Hun king's palace, waiting beneath the city, arraying troops in display of might; the Tuyu Hun Khan, terrified, sent envoys to beg peace, signing a treaty beneath the city, swearing to be a vassal for generations, never to breach the border again!"

"Duke of Wei achieved three victories in three battles, expanding territory and securing the frontier, leaving Great Zhou's northwest border without worry; his loyalty and bravery shine like the sun and moon, his merits worthy of inscription in the annals."

"Now I, judging merit and granting reward, specially confer upon the Duke of Wei the title...... Senior Pillar of State!"