dognovel Chapter 890: The Conferring of Nobility Ceremony (Part 1)
Chapter 890: The Conferring of Nobility Ceremony (Part 1)
"To be honest, apart from that idiot Aqiang, you are the first person to follow me."
Qiu Bai was slightly startled when he heard this, then he subconsciously straightened his back and replied, "I am grateful to Your Majesty for not abandoning me and being able to follow you."
Li Che leaned back slightly, his fingers tapping lightly on the imperial desk, his tone relaxed as if chatting: "All along this journey, through blood and fire, you have never fallen behind. Now that the overall situation has been determined, the reward is imminent... Tell me, what title do you want?"
Qiu Bai was completely stunned. He looked at Li Che on the throne and moved his lips a few times, but no sound came out.
After a long while, Qiu Bai's eyes turned red uncontrollably and his throat choked with sobs.
"Your Majesty! Back then, I was a mere criminal surviving in the prison camp. Your Majesty took me in. At that time, I only hoped to follow Your Majesty so I could earn a living and a meal. How could I have dared to hope for what I have today?!"
He took a deep breath, trying to calm his turbulent emotions, and spoke with increasing sincerity: "Now that Your Majesty has ascended to the throne, ruling the world, I, your subordinate, remain the same as I was then. I only pray to remain by Your Majesty's side, protecting His Majesty and watching you usher in a prosperous era."
"What title... I have never thought about it, nor dare to think about it!"
Li Che listened quietly, looking at Qiu Bai's slightly trembling shoulders, a hint of tenderness flashed in his eyes.
He sighed softly and scolded with a smile, "You kid, why don't you tell me the truth? We've all been through mountains of corpses and seas of blood together. Who wouldn't want to bring honor to our family?"
"It would be a lie to say you don't want it."
He paused, looking at Qiu Bai in front of him, his tone becoming more serious: "Duke... forget it. You've never led an army alone and achieved great feats in expanding territory. If I force you to become a Duke, it will be difficult to convince the people."
Qiu Bai quickly said: "I understand! I have never..."
Li Che interrupted him with a raised hand: "But I remember your contributions and loyalty in my heart, and you are worthy of the title of Marquis."
"I have made up my mind. The title of Marquis is yours. What do you think?"
"Your Majesty!" Qiu Bai raised his head, his face filled with horror, and his voice completely changed. "How can this be allowed? As the head of the Marquisate...what have I done to deserve this?"
Huai En, who was standing on the other side, heard and saw all this, and his heart was in turmoil.
The look he gave Qiu Bai was filled with envy that was difficult to conceal.
The head of the marquis!
This is not a question of the level of the title, its symbolic significance even exceeds that of some ordinary dukes.
This represents the irreplaceable confidant status in the emperor's heart, and is the highest recognition of His Majesty for Qiu Bai's silent protection over the years.
And everyone understands that as long as Qiu Bai doesn't make any big mistakes in the future, his promotion from Marquis to Duke will be almost a foregone conclusion when the next large-scale reward comes.
Li Che keenly noticed Huai En's gaze and turned his head with a smile: "Why, are you envious?"
Huai En was startled. He didn't expect that his subtle emotional fluctuations were captured by His Majesty.
He quickly bowed and said self-deprecatingly, "I dare not. Lord Qiubai has worked hard and made great contributions. It is only natural that he should be granted a noble title."
"As a handicapped person, I am truly blessed to be able to serve Your Majesty. How dare I entertain such unreasonable expectations?"
"Ha." Li Che chuckled. "What's the point of being incomplete? In my place, titles are based solely on merit, not birth."
"Didn't I tell you long ago that once Daqing is stable, I will send you to form a fleet and sail overseas to find high-yield grains for the people of the world?"
"That is truly a great undertaking that will benefit generations to come, far more difficult than conquering cities and territories. If you can return safely with the seeds I require and relieve the suffering of the people from famine, you will have saved countless lives!"
"By then, I'll make you a marquis, what's wrong with that?"
Huai En was shocked when he heard this: "Your Majesty trusts me so much, I will never repay you even if I die!"
Li Che smiled and said, "You guys go down first. I'm going to take a nap."
"Here."
The two men bowed respectfully again before quietly leaving.
The captain of the night watch who was guarding the door saw Qiu Bai and Huai En coming out with red eyes, and couldn't help but take out a small notebook from his pocket to write it down.
This time it was not to complain, but to help Taishi Ying.
Taishi Ying once said that he was more suitable to be a historian than a night watchman...
. . . . . .
The next morning, it was just dawn.
The square in front of the Xuan Zheng Hall was coated with a faint golden glow by the morning light, and the imperial guards in distinctive armor stood solemnly on both sides of the imperial road.
The hall was packed with people, and it was extremely solemn.
Except for a few generals who still had to command troops on the front line and could not get away, all the senior generals in the Fengtian Army were present.
Led by Yang Zhongsi and Wang Sanchun, they stood solemnly on the right side of the hall according to their rank and sequence. Everyone held their heads high and chests puffed out, their expressions filled with uncontrollable excitement.
The core civil officials who followed from Fengtian, such as Huo Duanxiao, Zhuge Zhe, Qian Bin and others.
The former imperial capital officials who chose to surrender to Li Che and underwent preliminary screening are listed on the left.
This time, the title was mainly bestowed upon the original direct generals who followed Li Che in the Fengguo period and fought in the south and the north.
Among the old military meritorious officials of Daqing who surrendered later, except for a few respected old dukes such as Zhu Chun and Chang Pan who were specially invited to attend the ceremony, the rest of them temporarily took over the military affairs in various places and were not among those who were conferred titles today.
Even so, there were hundreds of people standing in the Xuanzheng Hall, and the atmosphere was solemn and enthusiastic.
As for the mid-level officers who had received honorary lordships, their number was even greater, and they could not fit into the main hall at all. They could only line up neatly in the wide square outside the hall.
Although they could not witness the grand event in the palace in person, it was an unparalleled honor for them to be able to stand within the palace and participate in the first grand enthronement ceremony of the new dynasty.
Li Che sat high on the dragon throne, his black dragon robe making his face look even more majestic.
His eyes slowly swept over the familiar faces below, and his heart was also surging with emotions, unable to calm down.
From a down-and-out vassal king living on the frontier outside the Great Wall to the emperor who now rules the world, there have been so many hardships and dangers, and so many tests of life and death along the way.
But these people in front of him never left, no one fell behind, no one betrayed, and they followed him and fought their way to the sky!
This friendship, this loyalty, is sincere and precious, but also far heavier than the dragon throne beneath him.
When everyone inside and outside the hall had stood in silence, the sounds of bells, drums and ritual music gradually faded away, and it was the familiar "Feng Wang Po Zhen Music".
When everyone heard the music, their smiles immediately stopped and the whole room was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.
Li Che also put away his complicated emotions and nodded slightly to Huai En who was standing at the foot of the imperial steps.
Huai En immediately understood and took a few steps forward, walking to the center in front of the Danbi.
His face was solemn as he unfolded the imperial edict embroidered with auspicious clouds and cranes in his hand and announced in a loud voice:
"Your Majesty has issued an order—all ministers shall obey!"