Chapter 306: Promotion and Ennoblement

Jiang Jiang Mingyu watched Li Li Haoyang cut his own throat and die, his heart filled with mixed emotions. He sighed lightly; for a former enemy, he always held a certain respect.

When Jiang Jiang Mingyu stepped into Li Li Haoyang's hall, he suddenly shivered. Inside the hall, bodies of the despairing dead lay scattered in every direction, men and women alike, covered in bloodstains.

He suddenly covered his mouth and nose; this thick smell of blood made him dizzy. In the few remaining candle flames, the faces of the children and officials who had died miserably still retained expressions of pain and distortion, as if accusing Li Li Haoyang of cruelty.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu struggled to calm the earth-shattering shock in his heart, forcing himself to focus his eyes, and soon recognized one of the corpses as Jinling, who had previously suggested surrender.

He couldn't help but draw in a cold breath, his heart rate suddenly surging.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu's face was pale; in the death-like silence, he could even hear the sound of his own teeth chattering. The cruelty and bloodshed of the scene made him dizzy, and he found it difficult to calm the shock in his heart for a moment.

After a long time, he quietly stepped out of the hall, leaned against a pillar, and let out a breath, only then feeling that he had come back to life. Li Li Haoyang's such crazy behavior had already gone beyond his understanding.

With a solemn face and a severe expression, Jiang Jiang Mingyu said to Tu Tu Kesiluo and Zhang Zhang Jiani: "There is still much follow-up work to be done."

Tu Tu Kesiluo chuckled excitedly, his joy overflowing: "Elder brother, you worry too much! Li Li Haoyang is dead, the great cause is accomplished; let us go drink happily!"

Zhang Zhang Jiani rolled her eyes at him, truly unable to stand Tu Tu Kesiluo's pig-headed look. She cleared her throat and calmly reminded him: "Goudan and Fang Hang are still fighting the remnants of the Great Liao, and the Western Xia in the north is also watching hungrily; Elder brother still has much to consider."

Jiang Jiang Mingyu paced a few steps inside the hall; his footsteps echoed in the vast palace. With his hands behind his back and a severe expression, he whispered: "The matter is far from over; everyone must not be careless..."

Tu Tu Kesiluo was about to say something else when Zhang Zhang Jiani stopped him with a single eye roll. She stepped forward and respectfully said: "Elder brother speaks too heavily; we of course will not be the slightest bit slack." Her tone carried a warning.

Tu Tu Kesiluo then realized his slip of the tongue and closed his mouth with a sheepish smile. At this moment, Jiang Jiang Mingyu finally stopped pacing and faced the two, saying: "Go issue the edict stating that Li Li Haoyang is dead and our army has achieved a great victory. Also notify all armies to lay down their arms and return home as soon as possible; do not fight anymore."

"Have Zhu Ge Yu send people to Jizhou to take over civil administration; you all rose through martial arts and cannot manage these bureaucratic matters." Jiang Jiang Mingyu said with a bitter smile.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu turned around. The smile on his face had already vanished completely, and he radiated an aura of calm and composure.

"One last point: issue an imperial order to cancel all harsh policies enacted during Li Li Haoyang's reign." He inserted both hands into the sleeves of his greatcoat and said with a severe expression.

"The laws of the three southern provinces shall all be executed according to the system of our One Da Jiang." He raised his voice slightly, his tone revealing an authority that could not be disobeyed.

"As for those two hundred thousand surrendered soldiers, those who wish to return home may leave freely." Speaking of this, Jiang Jiang Mingyu couldn't help but recall the terrified and desperate looks of the soldiers who had previously defected. He sighed slightly and added with deep meaning: "The great war is over; they deserve peace."

Jiang Jiang Mingyu paced to an open space inside the hall; his footsteps echoed in the palace. With his arms crossed and a solemn expression, he said: "Even if the entire army were wiped out, I still have six hundred thousand troops in my hand. Zhu Ge Yu in the north also has over one hundred thousand elite soldiers."

"Enough to deal with the Western Xia." He said without hesitation, as if victory was already in his grasp. His words already faintly revealed his power; Jiang Jiang Mingyu knew that to make enemies submit wholeheartedly, only strength and authority would do.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu paused slightly at this point; his calm tone suddenly took on a few degrees of coldness: "If anyone harbors remnants of Li Li Haoyang's party, their families shall be confiscated and exterminated!"

Tu Tu Kesiluo and Zhang Zhang Jiani immediately stood straight with hands hanging down and respectfully replied: "Elder brother, rest assured; we will surely implement your orders."

Jiang Jiang Mingyu nodded in satisfaction and watched the two leave. He turned to look out the window; Jizhou City was already a different scene. The streets and alleys were bustling, and the pedestrians looked relaxed, actively preparing to welcome the new master.

Fireworks and sounds of joy rose and fell; Jiang Jiang Mingyu couldn't help but curl the corners of his mouth. He remembered the folk saying, "Good decrees are like the spring breeze"; today's measures indeed made the common people overjoyed and cheering.

In the following days, Jiang Jiang Mingyu received one victory report after another. Of the two hundred thousand surrendered soldiers, only fifty thousand returned home; the rest stayed in Jizhou. Fang Hang and Li Goudan even captured Huzhou, achieving a great victory.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu couldn't help but dance with joy, both surprised and delighted. He had originally prepared for war with the Western Xia, but he never expected the Great Liao, which had always been full of worry, to be destroyed so easily. Now holding seven hundred thousand troops, plus Zhu Ge Yu's northern forces, the strength was so powerful it could sweep the entire world!

Jiang Jiang Mingyu was jubilant all day, and his steps became a few degrees lighter. He happily rode his horse strolling through Jizhou City, where laughter and joy were everywhere. Under the sunlight, the colorful flags and brilliant banners flying in the streets and alleys added a beautiful scenery.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu knew that all this signaled that the moment of his fame and success had arrived. So-called the Yellow River flows down, the Ji River comes from the east; the former glorious Great Feng has officially perished, and from now on there is no one able to rival it...

Everything is over; the time for rewarding merit has arrived.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu slowly walked up the steps and slowly sat on the dragon throne. All civil and military officials in the hall knelt prostrate in unison, paying tribute to this new monarch.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu raised his jade hand and waved, signaling everyone to rise. He stood tall and elegant, full of spirit, wearing black armor with golden edges and a brocade robe with a jade belt, appearing even more domineering. This boy, once remembered in tattered clothes, had finally reached the peak of his life, and an indescribable excitement and pride surged in his heart.

He slowly scanned the entire scene, his gaze finally stopping on Tu Tu Kesiluo and Zhang Zhang Jiani, who were kneeling at the very front. For many years they had wandered in foreign lands, sharing hardships, sleeping in the wind and dew, and struggling hard together. Now that the great merit was accomplished and revenge taken for those past humiliations, it was time to promote them and make them rich.

Tu Tu Kesiluo had short, oily black hair; the old soft armor on his body was nowhere to be seen. In its place was a brand-new black-and-gold cape and battle robe, with a precious sword inlaid with cow yellow and gold at his waist. Kneeling on the ground, his eyes filled with hot tears, he clenched both fists, trembling with excitement all over. For the first time in his life, he couldn't help but shed tears.

Zhang Zhang Jiani wore a brocade long skirt, her long, black, shiny hair spread out, reflected on the marble floor. A calm and composed smile was on her face, yet there were also faint tears swirling in her eyes. She had always been proud and self-controlled, never easily revealing true feelings. But at this moment, even a heart of iron and stone would find it hard to suppress the excitement and emotion within.

"Tu Tu Kesiluo, for defeating Li Li Haoyang, you have made the greatest contribution. Today, I, the Emperor, promote you to the title of King of Stabilizing the Nation and Standing Shoulder-to-Shoulder, hereditary without replacement." Jiang Jiang Mingyu announced loudly.

When Jiang Jiang Mingyu announced the reward, Tu Tu Kesiluo was so excited he couldn't control himself; his whole body trembled, and tears flowed down. He knelt prostrate on the ground, five limbs touching the earth, tears splashing on the cold marble floor. Many years ago, this poor boy had starved and frozen in a broken temple, wearing tattered clothes, bullied and despised. Today is different from yesterday; he wears a golden crown and brocade robe, and those kneeling beneath his knees are precisely the people who once bullied him from high above.

Tu Tu Kesiluo closed his eyes, tears sliding from the corners; in his heart he silently recited: "Heaven has eyes; retribution never fails!" For a moment, images of various encounters with bullying floated in his mind. As a child, he was kicked into a mud pit by a military officer; as a youth, his bones were broken by a rich young master... Today, they were all timid and fawning, looking at him. Heaven's justice is clear; retribution never fails!

"Zhang Zhang Jiani, as a daughter, you have devoted yourself completely, which is not easy. Today, I, the Emperor, promote you to the First Rank of the King of Stabilizing the Nation, Imperial Lady, and bestow upon you one golden sword and one golden knife." Jiang Jiang Mingyu continued reading the edict.

Zhang Zhang Jiani's face flushed with excitement; a golden sword and a golden knife, what an honor! This meant she held heavy power, even able to disobey court laws and execute traitors. She raised her head solemnly, her eyes flashing with determined light. How many years of hard training, how many years of upholding justice; this moment was finally not in vain.

Zhang Zhang Jiani smiled slightly, yet tears shimmered in her eyes. She raised her head to look at the huge glazed tiles at the top of the hall; sunlight filtered through, leaving mottled shadows on the ground. This palace, once a place she longed for day and night but could never reach, today she was appointed as a prime minister here; truly, fate plays tricks on people.

Civil and military officials on both sides knelt to offer congratulations, competing to present gifts and words of blessing. Many of those present were once bullies and enemies. Now they were all timid, flattering and flattering. The miserable situation of the past and the high status of today formed a sharp contrast.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu smiled slightly, and an incomparable sense of satisfaction surged in his heart. He coldly scanned this group of former enemies, now all bowing and acting humble. The taste of revenge and settling scores was truly wonderful!