Chapter 64: Enfeoffed as [Hereditary County Male]!

“Gentlemen.”

“Beyond the sky lies greater sky; beyond people lie greater people.”

“Each generation produces its own heroes.”

“I hope you will no longer dwell on the past.”

Fu Youde spoke softly, his tone heavy with warning and counsel.

As a current Duke, how could he not see how much the Emperor valued Zhu Ying?

Though Zhu Ying has only just begun to stand out in the military, he has already earned the Emperor’s trust and been granted a title at barely twenty.

This clearly shows one thing—it represents the Sacred Will of Yingtian to nurture new-generation battlefield commanders.

As one of the Huaixi warlords, Fu Youde naturally felt an unspoken sense of urgency.

Though after Hu Weiyong’s death, the Huaixi aristocrats no longer held overwhelming influence at court or in the military, their strength within the army remained substantial; Hu Weiyong’s execution was clearly a warning to the Huaixi aristocracy.

The next day!

He woke up from his tent.

That night,

Zhu Ying did not cultivate—he fell into a deep, restful sleep, sleeping soundly through the entire night.

He had been too tense for too long on the northern frontier, unable to sleep well.

Now that he had finally returned, Zhu Ying naturally relaxed.

Not just Zhu Ying.

His troops had done the same—each had slept deeply.

“Phew.”

“I haven’t slept this well in ages.”

When Zhu Ying woke, a look of satisfaction lingered on his face.

He rose, donned his military uniform, strapped on his battle armor, fastened his sword, and stepped outside the tent.

“Garrison Commander.”

As Zhu Ying emerged, Liu Lei and the personal guards saluted.

“Didn’t I tell you to get a good night’s sleep?”

“Why are you still here?” Zhu Ying blinked, his tone tinged with reprimand.

“Garrison Commander.”

“We’ve already slept—we just woke up a moment ago,” Liu Lei replied with a smile.

“Rest well.”

“Now that we’re back in camp, there’s no need to stay as tense as on the northern frontier,” Zhu Ying said.

“Yes,” Liu Lei nodded.

“Come on, let’s eat.”

Zhu Ying called out and led the personal guards toward the cook tent.

Back in Great Ming territory, they no longer had to eat under the open sky or survive on dried rations—Zhu Ying was thoroughly satisfied.

After eating,

Zhu Ying led the personal guards toward the main camp.

Inside the main camp!

Soldiers bustled everywhere—some reorganizing, others mobilizing for battle.

The place was abuzz with activity.

“It seems,”

“Jincheng won’t be easy to take.”

Watching the tightly coordinated troop movements and sensing the tension thickening throughout the main camp, Zhu Ying thought to himself as he walked.

Arriving at the main command tent,

“Halt.”

The personal guards stationed outside immediately blocked his path.

“Garrison Commander Zhu Ying of the Danning Frontier Army, here by order to attend the council,” Zhu Ying bowed.

“Personal guards wait outside.”

“Garrison Commander Zhu, please enter.”

The commander of the guards gestured.

“Thank you,” Zhu Ying nodded and strode into the tent.

At the tent entrance, two guards pulled back the curtain.

Zhu Ying stepped inside.

Inside,

His eyes met,

Dozens of warlords gathered.

Fu Youde sat at the head.

To Zhu Ying, aside from Fu Youde, all others were unfamiliar—he didn’t know any of them.

But they were surely among the Huaixi generals.

Zhu Ying entered.

All eyes turned to him.

Seeing Zhu Ying, freshly washed and clean, the generals’ expressions shifted slightly.

“Zhu Ying is quite handsome.”

Compared to yesterday’s blood-caked face, today Zhu Ying was clean.

“Subordinate Zhu Ying, pays respects to General Fu.”

Zhu Ying bowed deeply, performing a military salute.

“Rise.”

Fu Youde smiled faintly and raised his hand.

“Thank you, General Fu,” Zhu Ying said, straightening up.

“Yesterday I said,”

“That when you returned today, I’d give you a surprise,” Fu Youde smiled.

Then he clapped his hands.

“Bring in the Imperial Envoy,” Fu Youde called out loudly.

The next moment,

Outside the tent,

Several soldiers entered, clad in red cloaks, their armor distinctly different from standard military gear.

“Imperial Palace Guard?”

Zhu Ying guessed inwardly.

The lead guard carried an imperial decree and walked slowly toward Fu Youde.

He unfurled the decree and announced loudly: “The Emperor’s edict!”

Instantly!

Every general in the tent rose and bowed deeply.

Even Fu Youde stood.

In the military, armored officers saluted—they did not kneel.

“We humbly receive the imperial decree,” the generals chorused.

“By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees!”

“Garrison Commander Zhu Ying of the Danning Frontier Army, has risked his life for the state, penetrated enemy territory, shattered enemy tribes, slain countless foes, and achieved outstanding merit—deeply pleasing to Our heart!”

“Therefore,”

“We reward merit, bestow grace upon those who have served loyally, and proclaim to all the realm the virtue of those who serve the state.”

“We hereby grant Zhu Ying the hereditary title of County Male, and bestow a thousand taels of gold.”

“May Zhu Qing continue to serve the state with valor—we shall never neglect those who serve.”

“This is Our decree.”

The guard read aloud.

The decree was read plainly and directly.

Though many generals had already heard rumors of Zhu Ying’s enfeoffment, now that the decree was officially announced, several faces betrayed resentment and unease.

“They’re granting me a title?”

“Hereditary County Male?”

“Isn’t a title supposed to be hard to get?”

“How did I get one so easily?”

Hearing the decree, Zhu Ying was momentarily stunned.

Though his time in the military had been short, Zhu Ying knew well how rare titles were.

If official rank is a symbol of power, then noble title is a symbol of status; possessing a noble title allows one to maintain that status even when facing officials of higher rank, without needing to kneel.

This is what the noble title grants.

In modern terms, a noble title is the identity of nobility.

But now that the Great Ming has stood for twenty years, bestowals of noble titles have become rare; most who hold titles today are those from the founding era.

Though merely a baron, it is hereditary, meaning Zhu Ying’s future sons may inherit the title, retain noble status, and receive the basic stipend of the title, sustained by the imperial court indefinitely.

“Zhu Ying, Baron of the County, receive the imperial edict.”

The Imperial Guard stepped forward slowly, holding the imperial edict.

“Your servant Zhu Ying receives the edict.”

Zhu Ying replied loudly, clasping the edict with both hands.

“Host receives imperial edict for the first time: reward one Common Chest.”

“Host gains noble title: [Non-Hereditary County Baron]: reward one Common Chest.”

“Gains [Hereditary County Baron]: reward one Common Chest.” The interface displayed the prompt.

Three chests in succession were directly awarded to Zhu Ying.

“The noble title came at a good time.”

“Three chests.”

“And receiving the imperial edict grants a chest reward too.”

“Awesome.”

Hearing the chest reward, Zhu Ying, who had been stunned, immediately smiled.

Noble title granted.

To Zhu Ying, the noble title was merely icing on the cake—merely a change in status.

But the chests were real, tangible gains.

…

PS: Brothers, please follow and read on! Please follow and read on! Please follow and read on!

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(End of Chapter)