Chapter 166: The Son of Heaven Bestows Rewards, the Title of Duke

"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees:

Qingmu County Baron, Xuanwu General, Chen Mo.

You, beloved subject, have turned back the tide and propped up a crumbling edifice. Your loyalty and courage are commendable; you have rendered great service in protecting the sovereign and saving the throne, great service in restoring order, great service in executing the traitors of the state, and great service in suppressing the Demonic Path.

I hereby specially confer upon you the title of Duke of Pingyang, with a salary of ten thousand shi. You shall hold the office of Grand Tutor and concurrently serve as General Conquering the West, in command of the Palace City Yulin Tiger Tally.

You shall hold the Son of Heaven Dharma Sword, are granted the privilege of entering the palace hall with sword and boots, are exempt from hurrying when entering the court, and need not have your name announced when paying respects.

You are awarded one thousand Blood Essence Stones, ten thousand mu of fertile land, one Medicine Garden, ten manors, and one ducal residence."

The Palace Attendant read the entire Imperial Edict in an excited and high-pitched tone.

The many officials at the Great Morning Assembly could not help but be shaken; they were not surprised by Chen Mo's position as a Duke, nor were they overly astonished by privileges such as entering the hall with sword and boots.

Chen Mo now held the Son of Heaven Dharma Sword, so he was naturally entitled to these privileges; furthermore, in Great Gan, these few privileges had not been withheld from other subjects in the past.

When the Dao Lord of Daoxuan Mountain first submitted to Great Gan, such privileges had been granted to him.

"Need not have your name announced when paying respects" means that when a subject enters the court to pay homage, they need not have their name announced, but may simply state their official title.

If an Imperial Edict or other official document mentions this name, the character for "taboo" must be added to show respect.

"Exempt from hurrying when entering the court" means the subject no longer needs to bow to the Son of Heaven, but may simply perform a cupped-hand salute.

"Entering the palace hall with sword and boots" is the easiest to understand: Chen Mo may enter the palace hall wearing armor and carrying a weapon.

Since Chen Mo possesses the strength of a Xiantian expert and has received the imperial gift of the former emperor, temporarily holding the Son of Heaven Dharma Sword, these few privileges are not considered excessive.

What surprised the many officials was Chen Mo's official rank; the Grand Tutor is a first-rank official position, meaning the teacher of the Son of Heaven and a minister who assists the state.

Under normal circumstances, for a court official to attain such a rank, it is mostly only after death, when the Son of Heaven grants a posthumous title.

Yet Chen Mo is still alive and has already ascended to this first-rank position.

If he were to render further service in the future, it could almost be said that there would be no more titles left to confer.

But, after glancing at the Son of Heaven Dharma Sword at Chen Mo's waist, thinking of his strength, the merits he had established, and the trust the Empress Dowager and the Son of Heaven placed in him,

the many court officials chose to keep their mouths shut in unison.

"This subject accepts the decree!" Chen Mo performed a cupped-hand salute and smilingly received the Imperial Edict.

"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees:

Anye County Baron, Commander of the Southern City Forbidden Army, Sun Shouren.

You, beloved subject, are public-spirited and loyal to the state, fearless in the face of danger, and have rendered service in suppressing the Demonic Path and executing the rebellious traitors.

I hereby specially confer upon you the title of Count of Anye, with a salary of two thousand shi. You shall hold the rank of General Suppressing the West..."

After another Imperial Edict was read, Sun Shouren, his expression showing slight agitation, stepped forward to receive the decree.

Being promoted to a Count and receiving a second-rank official position was something he had never thought of in his entire life; he wouldn't have dared to have such a wonderful dream even in his sleep.

Yet all of this was reality, and he was well aware that this was thanks to his foster son.

Otherwise, based on the merits he had established, while he could have received many rewards, they would not have been this generous.

At the thought of this, he became happier the more he thought about it, and could not help but sigh that he was truly born with good fortune to have been able to adopt a foster son like Chen Mo.

So now, by putting in one part of the effort, he could reap three parts of the harvest.

Lu Chuan's gaze was full of envy as he looked at Sun Shouren, then at Chen Mo, and finally at his own few good-for-nothing foster sons.

Every time this happened, he wanted to sigh at why the gap between people was so large.

Comparing people makes one angry; comparing goods makes one want to throw them away!

Why was his own life not this good? Never mind adopting a foster son as capable as Chen Mo; even if one were ten percent as capable as Chen Mo, he would be satisfied.

His few foster sons did not say a word and lowered their heads deeply; they were, of course, also aware of whom Lu Chuan was comparing them to.

The key problem was that there was simply no comparison; even if they were all bundled together and multiplied by ten, they still could not compare to Chen Mo.

The gap was truly too large!

Following this, more Imperial Edicts were issued, and everyone received rewards, either being promoted in rank or elevated in title.

Even for low-ranking officials or soldiers not worthy of individual Imperial Edicts, the Imperial Court issued several edicts for collective rewards, or ordered other officials and generals to promote them themselves, to be later drafted by the Ministry of War.

In short, with the Prince of Pingxi and his faction having fallen, officials throughout the Imperial Court could all share in the cake, and the more one contributed, the more one received.

Chen Mo and his faction, of course, received the most.

Although he had no intention of forming a clique for personal gain, given his current status and position, a faction would naturally form around him; this was an unavoidable matter.

The awarding of the many officials concluded, and the morning assembly dispersed one after another, with officials of all ranks withdrawing in order.

Chen Mo was kept behind by Empress Dowager Xu to discuss state affairs; although she had not yet had time to be formally titled Empress Dowager following the New Emperor's ascension, it was only a matter of these two days.

Therefore, during this time, whether they were palace servants or court officials, everyone addressed her as Empress Dowager.

"It is a bit empty here; you should move with me to the side hall to discuss in detail," Empress Dowager Xu said with a slight smile as she rose.

Now that the Great Gan Son of Heaven is young, she, as Empress Dowager, can issue edicts to appoint or remove officials.

And Chen Mo, holding the Son of Heaven Dharma Sword, can borrow the boundless dragon energy to empower himself; if the Son of Heaven is not present, he can temporarily exercise the authority of the Son of Heaven.

It can be said that the affairs of Great Gan are now all in the hands of the two of them.

As for the Son of Heaven, he is only eight years old and is currently still a mascot, possessing no real power.

The three arrived at a study in the side hall. Empress Dowager Xu looked at Zhao Renmin and instructed softly, "General Chen will be the Grand Tutor from now on; he is your teacher. In private, you must perform the rites of a disciple toward him and address him as Teacher. Do you understand?"

A so-called "Teacher" is different from a "Master."

When a Master takes a disciple, the disciple must perform the great rite of three kowtows and nine bows; likewise, the Master must teach the disciple with all his heart, impart his mantle, and may even hand over the foundation he has built for the disciple to inherit.

It can be said that the relationship between a Master and disciple is sometimes closer and more reliable than that between father and son.

And whether it is the Son of Heaven or princes and princesses, they are all of noble blood and it is almost impossible for them to take others as a Master, unless they are elders of the same clan.

Therefore, whether it is a prince or a princess, they all perform the rites of a disciple toward those who teach them and address them as Teacher.

Chen Mo, as Grand Tutor and one of the Three Excellencies, naturally has the responsibility of being the teacher of the Son of Heaven; it is by no means inappropriate for Zhao Renmin to address him as Teacher in private.

Zhao Renmin nodded vigorously, turned to look at Chen Mo, and said, "This disciple pays respects to Teacher."

After speaking, he bowed very earnestly; Chen Mo reached out to help him up, but he was unwilling, insisting on bowing all the way to the ground.

"The New Emperor has too many matters to decide upon ascending the throne; Renmin is young, and I am but a woman, so many things must be entrusted to you, General!"

Xu Taihou sat in the main seat and spoke with an earnest tone.

"It is my duty as a subject to share the burdens of the state." Chen Mo's tone was calm and steady.

"These are the temple names and posthumous titles selected by the Ministry of Rites for the late Emperor. Teacher, how do you think I should choose for my Imperial Father?" Zhao Renmin, clearly instructed by the Empress Dowager beforehand, took the initiative to pick up a memorial and asked Chen Mo.

Temple names and posthumous titles are chosen by the newly ascended Heavenly Son for the late Emperor.

The Ministry of Rites usually provides three to five options; as long as they are not particularly outlandish, they are generally standard or laudatory posthumous titles.

After all, the current Heavenly Son is mostly the son or grandson of the late Emperor, and as subjects, it is not appropriate for them to give a poor posthumous title.

Chen Mo opened it and scanned it roughly; there were many things others did not know, but he knew them clearly.

The late Emperor sacrificed himself to save the world, which absolutely deserves great merit; the temple name and posthumous title should naturally be chosen as favorably as possible.

"In reply to the Empress Dowager and the Emperor, in my opinion, the late Emperor's temple name should be 'Ren' (Benevolent), and his posthumous title can be 'Wu' (Martial)."

Chen Mo spoke slowly; both of these are top-tier temple names and posthumous titles.

To accumulate righteousness and abundant merit is called 'Ren'; to be compassionate to the people and love all things is called 'Ren'; to overcome oneself and return to propriety is called 'Ren'.

To be firm, strong, and upright in principle is called 'Wu'; to be powerful enough to overcome enemies and possess virtue is called 'Wu'; to suppress chaos and restore order is called 'Wu'.

Together, the most direct meaning is that Zhao Huaili was both cultured and martial, and possessed great merit.

"This, is it not a bit too much?" Xu Taihou's tone was slightly hesitant.

The reason she let Zhao Renmin speak was also because she wanted Chen Mo to choose a laudatory posthumous title for the late Emperor.

But these two were a bit too good; without great merit, one might not be able to bear them.

"It is absolutely not too much. The late Emperor suppressed the dragon veins of the Alien Races, securing hundreds of years of stability for our Great Gan.

Furthermore, he made it impossible for the Alien Races' dragon veins to connect with the Mirage Sea; it can be said he saved the lives of everyone in the world. Using these titles is absolutely not too much." Chen Mo spoke in a deep voice, his tone quite firm.

"Leave this matter to me. As long as the late Emperor's deeds are proclaimed to the world another day, then naturally no one will have any objections."

Chen Mo spoke, giving Xu Taihou a reassurance.

"Since that is the case, then this matter shall be left to the General." Xu Taihou smiled, clearly relieved.

Immediately, she took a Token from her bosom, "You have not only rendered great service to the Imperial Court but also saved the lives of us mother and son.

There are many secret treasures in the Heavenly Son Secret Treasury; you may go and choose a few more."

As her voice fell, a female official walked over and took the Token from her hand.

"I thank the Empress Dowager!" Chen Mo bowed with cupped hands.

Empress Xu smiled brightly, looking very happy; her trust in Chen Mo now exceeded that of her own Innate Martial Artist by three parts.

The Innate Martial Artist in her clan ultimately still had to consider the interests of the family first, whereas Chen Mo was a truly loyal official of the Imperial Court.

Moreover, the Innate Martial Artist in her family was also severely injured at this moment, and this injury might not fully heal for a year or a half.

Therefore, for a considerable period, she could only rely on Chen Mo.

Following that female official, Chen Mo walked through the Palace City and soon arrived at the underground secret treasury he had visited before.

He remembered clearly that there were many good treasures here, one of which he had taken a fancy to last time but had not yet taken away.

That was a great halberd named the Eight Desolations Halberd; without activating the Array, its total weight was 8,800 catties.

Fortunately, there was an Array carved on it that could reduce its weight to 1,800 catties, which was manageable for him.

And if one could wield this great halberd without activating the power of the Array, then the Array on the Eight Desolations Halberd could draw upon the earth Qi of the eight directions to provide a boost to the Martial Artist.

This was an extremely precious weapon, far stronger than the Giant Spirit Divine Hammer.

It was just that Chen Mo had not practiced halberd techniques before, so he did not take it away first.

Now that he had practiced the Six Harmonies Halberd Technique and achieved some small success, it was naturally time to take this weapon.

Stepping into the Heavenly Son Secret Treasury, Chen Mo also saw an acquaintance; the old eunuch who used to follow the late Emperor was currently leading several palace servants to take inventory of the accounts in the treasury.

With the New Emperor ascending the throne, they naturally had to take an inventory of the items in the treasury and summarize them into accounts to be presented.

"General Chen has arrived. When you decide to take something later, don't forget to let me know."

He was clearly very busy now; seeing Chen Mo, he only bowed and greeted him hurriedly before continuing to check the accounts.

Chen Mo strode toward the innermost layer of the secret treasury; he remembered clearly that there were many good things inside, but he hadn't been able to take them last time.

Although he was not a greedy person, since he had the opportunity to enter this place again, he should naturally take the chance to take away a few items he was quite fond of.

At the same time, he could also see if there were any other good things in this secret treasury.

(End of chapter)