Chapter 714: Xiazhou Governor

The air in the main hall seemed to solidify again, and everyone's gaze focused on the wounded general lying on the soft couch, unable even to shift his body.

Wang Zheng clenched his fists even tighter, so nervous he held his breath, and his cloudy old eyes flickered with complex light.

The inner attendant, holding the imperial edict, looked down at Wang Xiong from his lofty position, his expression growing a few degrees more solemn.

Even the eunuchs in the palace retain an instinctive awe for a warrior who truly risks his life to fill a mountain of swords.

"The Great Zhou Emperor decrees: Sima Wang Xiong of Xiazhou, while inspecting Gancao City, led the troops at the front and fought to the death without retreat during the encirclement by the Qi army of fifty thousand. With the isolated city's exhausted forces, he resisted the enemy for more than ten days. Though the city fell and people were wounded, he greatly drained the Qi army's vigor and secured an excellent opportunity for the Court's main forces to encircle and annihilate the Qi army."

The inner attendant's voice echoed through the spacious main hall, each word striking the hearts of the listeners like a heavy hammer.

The brutal slaughter and comrades' blood seemed to reappear before everyone's eyes along with the edict.

"This loyalty and bravery, witnessed by heaven and earth! Special grant to Wang Xiong: ten vats of imperial wine, ten thousand taels of silver, five hundred bolts of silk!"

The inner attendant paused briefly, raising his voice to the peak, "Furthermore, by special exception, promote Wang Xiong to Chief Commander with Credentials and Xiazhou Governor! Also confer the title of Cavalry General! Temporarily command the provincial troops of Xiazhou to secure the Northern Border!"

The words caused the entire assembly to gasp.

Xiazhou Governor! Cavalry General!

If the title Cavalry General is merely an honorary rank symbolizing supreme martial honor, the four characters "Xiazhou Governor" denote a genuine regional commander!

As a key stronghold on the Northern Border, Xiazhou's governor directly wields authority over all troop movements throughout Xiazhou.

A man not yet thirty leapt across several ranks in an instant, becoming a real power‑holder at the level of a provincial high official!

When Wang Xiong, lying on the soft couch, heard the words "Xiazhou Governor," he was struck as if by lightning.

His eyes instantly widened to a perfect circle, and his eye sockets filled in an instant with scorching tears.

He never dreamed that his life‑or‑death battle would not make him a forgotten cannon fodder, but instead bring such illustrious honor and boundless wealth to his family.

"Servant… servant Wang Xiong…"

Wang Xiong let out a beast‑like hoarse sob from his throat.

He suddenly let out a suppressed roar, ignoring his guards' attempts to stop him, he forcefully used his relatively intact right hand to brace the edge of the couch and rolled violently.

"Bang!"

Accompanied by a muffled thud, Wang Xiong's body, wrapped in bandages, slammed from the couch onto the hard blue‑brick floor.

The fall clearly jolted his freshly mended broken bones and countless wounds; cold sweat poured from his forehead like a waterfall, and the white bandages instantly stained a shocking crimson.

"Ah Xiong!" Wang Zheng shouted, instinctively trying to step forward, but his feet were forcibly held back.

This was the sacred moment for the son to receive the edict; no one may overstep.

Wang Xiong clenched his teeth tightly, uttering no cry of pain. Relying on a willpower unimaginable to ordinary people, he dragged his broken leg, laboriously shifting his body on the ground, and finally banged his head heavily against the cold stone.

"Servant, Wang Xiong… receives the edict and gives thanks! Thanks to Your Majesty's heavenly grace! Thanks to the Grand Preceptor's heavenly grace! Thanks to the Lord Overseer's nurturing grace!"

Wang Xiong sobbed uncontrollably; his cries held excitement for the imperial reward, relief at having survived, but above all a bitter anger and sense of injustice for the brothers who died in Gancao City without ever receiving this honor.

He knows that this official robe is stained red by the lives of thousands of brothers.

Chen Yan, standing above, gave a slight nod, a trace of extreme satisfaction flashing in his deep gaze.

For the Grand Preceptor's appointment, Chen Yan mentally called out "good" three times.

Wang Xiong is the legitimate eldest son of Chen Hu Lao's former subordinates, his military background being pure and distinguished, and in previous trials he displayed near‑fanatical loyalty to him.

More intriguingly, after the horrific sacrifice at Gancao City, Chief Clerk of Xiazhou Zhang Wenqian harbors deep guilt and respect for Wang Xiong.

Now, Wang Xiong serves as Governor wielding military power, while Zhang Wenqian serves as Chief Clerk handling civil affairs.

The two are not only accomplished in both civil and military matters, but after surviving life‑and‑death trials, they have become inseparable iron‑clad brothers.

With these two assisting him in defending Xiazhou, the radical new policy he had been scheming in his study—"land redistribution, stripping aristocratic estates"—will be implemented as easily as a wave of the hand, with minimal resistance!

The entire Northern Border will become an impenetrable iron plate for Chen Yan, water cannot soak it, needles cannot pierce it!

"Quick, lift General Wang up." Chen Yan waved his hand, and several personal guards hurried forward, carefully carrying the still‑weeping Wang Xiong back onto the couch.

Seeing the main hall filled with jubilant atmosphere due to Wang Xiong's promotion, everyone thought today's thunderous shock had finally ended.

After all, two edicts capable of reshaping the Great Zhou Northern Border were already enough for everyone present to digest for a while.

However, the attendant who read the edicts again displayed his trademark inscrutable smile.

Under the incredulous gazes of everyone, he once more reached for the seemingly bottomless red lacquer tray.

"Generals, do not be impatient!"

The attendant said with a smiling chant, and as if performing a magic trick, produced a third bright‑yellow brocade imperial edict!

"My heavens…" Lu Ming, who had been shouting, swallowed a mouthful of saliva and muttered softly, "Is the Inspector's Office raining edicts today?"

The attendant ignored Lu Ming's mutter, spread the third edict with both hands, and his gaze swept over the crowd, locking onto the veteran Wang Zheng at the front of the generals' line.

"The Great Zhou Emperor decrees: New Duke Wang Zheng, growing stronger with age, loyal to the state. This time, accompanying Chen Zhuguo to rush to aid Xiazhou, he commanded troops wisely, defeated the enemy and pacified the people, his labor and merit are great!"

The attendant's voice at this moment sounded especially resonant and solemn: "For being a cornerstone of the nation, he is specially promoted—Pengcheng Duke! A fief of one thousand households, hereditary without interruption!"

Wow—

The entire main hall boiled instantly.

Promoted to Duke! Hereditary without interruption!

Veteran Wang Zheng froze completely in place.

His eyes widened, his lips trembled violently, and the large hands that had wielded a long spear all his life, killing countless foes, now twitched as if in a cold wind, unable to stop shaking.

All his life, he had been a lowly soldier following Chen Hu Lao Zhuguo through life and death, his spilled blood could fill many large vats.

He had thought that attaining a marquisate in his lifetime would already cause his ancestral tomb to emit a wisp of smoke, yet he never expected to be elevated to a duke!

"Father…" Wang Xiong on the couch was both shocked and delighted, struggling to reach for his father's sleeve.

"Servant… servant…" Wang Zheng fell to his knees with a thud, but his excitement choked his throat as if blocked by cotton, rendering him speechless; only old tears streamed down, large drops striking the blue bricks.

Seeing this, Chen Yan hurried down from the main seat.

He disregarded rank, reached out, and with both hands firmly supported the veteran's arm, personally lifting Wang Zheng up.

"Uncle, this honor you and Ah Xiong earned with your lives is well deserved!" Chen Yan gazed at Wang Zheng, his voice gentle yet weighty, then turned to Wang Xiong, "From now on, the city defenses of Xiazhou will still rely on Ah Xiong's tiger might!"

Wang Zheng and the father‑son pair Wang Xiong nodded repeatedly, and in their eyes burst a fanatical glow of a soldier who would die for a confidant.

Wang Xiong gripped Chen Yan's wrist tightly, his voice like metal striking the ground: "As long as the Pillar of the State gives a single word, this very bone of the Subordinate General will obey you, wherever you drive it, I will not regret even after nine deaths!"