All the heroes of the world are now in my grasp.

Chapter 22 Conferring Titles and Official Ranks

Inside the main hall, Gao Zidan's assertion of "three harms and three benefits" still resonated, but the atmosphere in the hall did not relax; instead, it became more silent.

Ji Guang's smile faded, a sharp, scrutinizing glint flashing across his refined features. His gaze fixed on Gao Zidan, and he spoke slowly and deliberately, uttering a question that had been hidden deep within his heart, a question that struck at the heart with a calm tone, yet each word weighed heavily on the soul:

"Zidan, I have another question, and I hope you will answer it honestly."

Gao Zidan curtsied and bowed his head, his mind focused, and replied in a deep voice, "Please ask, Your Excellency, I will answer to the best of my knowledge."

Ji Guang leaned forward slightly, his gaze piercing, each word striking at the heart of the matter:

"Before the Battle of Jiehekou, you acted as an envoy for Liu Yao, personally going to the camp to meet Zhou Bo and using the words of a weak force seeking survival to lull the morale of my Bingzhou army; today in the court, you again strongly advocated that I submit a memorial to appoint Liu Yao as the governor of Xihe, seeking fame, position, and territory for him."

"Everyone knows that when you were in dire straits, it was Liu Yao who saved your life. I want to ask you—your strategy today, every word of which weighs the pros and cons for Bingzhou, is it truly not out of gratitude for being saved, or are you wholeheartedly devoted to serving Liu Yao and plotting to seize Xihe for this Xiongnu Chanyu?"

The air in the room suddenly tightened as soon as these words were spoken.

Zhou Bo paused slightly, glancing sideways at Gao Zidan with a mixture of doubt and worry.

The charcoal fire crackled softly, and the wind and snow pattered against the window.

Gao Zidan showed no sign of panic or guilt. He slowly raised his head to meet Ji Guang's scrutinizing gaze, his expression calm and resolute, his tone both humble and firm, as he answered with composure:

"Your Excellency is wise and would not dare to deceive me. Liu Yao did indeed save my life, and I will remember this kindness forever."

He paused, each word clear and decisive:

"However, gratitude is a private matter, while serving the country is a public one. Zidan may remember kindness, but he will never risk his life for the Xiongnu, much less jeopardize the overall situation of Bingzhou for the sake of one person's kindness."

Gao Zidan's gaze was clear and unwavering as she continued in a deep voice:

"Your Excellency is a powerful ruler who holds the life and death of Bingzhou in your hands and makes decisions on the chessboard of the world. Whether to enfeoff Liu Yao today or to adopt the Xihe strategy has never been something that Zidan can control, nor can Liu Yao force. Rather, it is the best choice Your Excellency has made for the foundation of Bingzhou after weighing the pros and cons and considering the gains and losses."

His words were frank and open, clearly distinguishing between public and private matters, and displaying a dignified and upright character.

Ji Guang gazed at him for a long time, the scrutiny in his eyes gradually fading, replaced by a deeper appreciation and relief. Finally, he asked, "Then let me ask you again, Zidan, do you currently have any requests?"

Gao Zidan hesitated for a moment, but only for a second before bowing and replying in accordance with her established persona: "Zidan has no other desires at present, only revenge."

Ji Guang finally clapped his hands and laughed, repeatedly saying "Good!" three times. His admiration was undisguised; his previous refined and peaceful demeanor had finally revealed the decisive ruthlessness befitting a ruler of a province. He turned to Zhou Bo, who stood to the side, his expression already composed, and spoke with unwavering conviction:

"Zhou Bo!"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Bo immediately bowed and clasped his hands in greeting, his voice steady and calm: "Your subordinate is here."

"The battle at Jiehekou was not your fault," Ji Guang said slowly, his words carrying the certainty and compassion of a superior. "The attack on New Year's Eve was sudden and unexpected. The camp was depleted, and the troops were lax during the holiday. Anyone in your position would have struggled to turn the tide. You remained calm under pressure, and even in defeat, you did not collapse. After fleeing into Loufan, you immediately reorganized the city's defenses and rallied the routed troops, managing to stabilize the northern border. This is what a great general should be like!"

He paused, his gaze sweeping over Zhou Bo's still-healing wounds, and said in a deep voice, "Today, I submit a memorial appointing you as General Zihou. You are to immediately train a new army in Loufan to replenish the troops lost at Jiehekou, and to take overall command of the northern border affairs of Jinyang, guarding against any unrest in the north!"

General Zihou!

He actually crossed that dragon gate—the fifth-rank general, a mere rank below a fourth-rank miscellaneous general. Though only one rank apart, it was the difference between a true general and a mere hurdle that countless officers couldn't overcome in their entire lives. And he, after suffering a crushing defeat, had actually crossed it?

Zhou Bo shuddered, abruptly looking up at Ji Guang, his eyes flashing with disbelief and astonishment. He immediately knelt on one knee, the clanging of his armor making a crisp sound, and said in a deep voice, "This humble general, Zhou Bo, has suffered a defeat this time. What virtue or ability do I possess to deserve such favor from the Prefect? ​​I am utterly ashamed and truly unworthy of the general's important responsibilities!"

"It's alright," Ji Guang said softly, clearly knowing the other's temperament. "The world is in chaos now, and the nine provinces are in turmoil. We need a steady person like you, Zhou Bo, to guard the region for me. General Zihou is here to ensure that you can oversee the entire northern border and serve as a stronghold for Bingzhou. Don't refuse."

Zhou Bo was taken aback, then knelt down with tears streaming down his face to express his gratitude: "Thank you for your great kindness, Your Excellency! I will certainly live up to your trust, train a strong army, defend the northern border of Bingzhou, and never allow any enemy to cross Loufan even a step!"

"Get up." Ji Guang waved his hand, his tone calm, but his words suddenly turned to Gao Zidan beside him, "Zidan."

Gao Zidan's heart skipped a beat, and she quickly bowed in response, "Zidan is here."

"Your proposal to bestow an official title upon Liu Yao, a strategy of using gentleness to overcome strength, demonstrates unique insight and far-sighted vision. You are truly a rare talent." Ji Guang looked at him, his eyes carrying a profound understanding of human nature. "I, on behalf of your uncle, hereby recruit you to serve as a ninth-rank clerk in General Hou's mansion. Are you willing?"

Upon hearing this, Gao Zidan was taken aback, a look of surprise crossing his face. He had just been about to follow his established persona and ask if this offered a chance to avenge his family, when he suddenly realized that since Lord Ji had inquired about his ambitions and was now offering him an official position, it meant that following him offered a chance for revenge. Lord Ji also intended to take action against Xiang Yu, but it wasn't convenient to say so directly at this time. Understanding this, Gao Zidan bowed and asked again, "Thank you for your favor, Lord Ji, but I am young and unaware of the duties of a clerk in the General's Mansion. I fear my abilities are limited, and I may needlessly delay important military matters."

Ji Guang chuckled and waved his hand dismissively: "You can ask your uncle about the specific responsibilities later. For now, put aside other matters and focus solely on handling all the paperwork for submitting the memorial appointing Liu Yao as the Prefect of Xihe. Once the edict is drafted, you will personally go to the border river mouth to communicate with Liu Yao in person and facilitate this matter. Are you willing to take on this role?"

Gao Zidan suddenly realized that the strategy of bestowing titles upon Liu Yao was something he had proposed in front of Ji Guang and Zhou Bo. Ji Guang was now going along with it, giving him full authority over the matter, making it perfectly legitimate. The position of Registrar of the General's Mansion was essentially that of a lowly but powerful staff officer within the General's Mansion, ensuring Gao Zidan had a respectable position when communicating with Liu Yao. Understanding this perfectly, Gao Zidan bowed deeply to Ji Guang: "Gao Zidan of Bohai thanks Your Excellency for your consideration. I am willing to assume the post of Registrar of General Zihou's Mansion and dedicate myself to ensuring Liu Yao's investiture, living up to Your Excellency's expectations."

Ji Guang nodded in satisfaction, a smile appearing on his face: "Good. You have just recovered from a serious illness, so rest in Loufan for a few days until you are fully recovered before setting off. The necessary documents, seals, and entourage have already been prepared by my men and will be delivered to you in due course."

For the next few days, Gao Zidan stayed at the inn in Loufan County to recuperate. Han Xin stayed by his side without leaving for a moment, taking care of his daily needs and preventing any possible accidents from happening around him, his expression always showing a bit of vigilance.

Fortunately, after several days of herbal medicine treatment, Gao Zidan's body gradually recovered, his high fever completely subsided, and his spirits were mostly restored. Although those bloody nightmares of New Year's Eve still occasionally surfaced in the middle of the night, they no longer disturbed his mind and kept him awake at night as they had before.

That morning, following the previous instructions, Gao Zidan went to the newly established Suiwu General's Mansion to collect his official seal. However, Zhou Bo was not there. The one who appointed him was Liu Daogui, Zhou Bo's deputy and the newly appointed Chief Secretary of the General's Mansion, who was actually in charge of the daily operations of the General's Mansion. He was a confidant of Zhou Bo, having followed him for many years. He was in his thirties, with a calm face, sharp eyes, and an air of experience from years of battle.

Upon meeting Gao Zidan, Liu Daogui was surprisingly friendly. After chatting with him for a while, he learned that Liu Daogui was from the Liu family of Pengcheng, a relative of Liu Bang, and an old acquaintance of the original owner's father. Therefore, although he was undoubtedly the second most important person in the General's Mansion, he personally took charge of Gao Zidan's registration work as a lowly ninth-rank clerk.

His official robe was a light green long robe, the fabric of which was flat and crisp, with simple dark patterns, which fully conformed to the dress code of a ninth-rank official; his seal was a square bronze seal with a yellow ribbon, with the seven seal characters "Recorder of General Zihou's Office" engraved on the seal face. He held it in his hand with a heavy weight, which made Gao Zidan feel a strong sense of unreality.

This was the first official position he obtained after transmigrating to this chaotic world, and also his first real identity in this unfamiliar era.

Seeing him stroking the seal of office with a somewhat bewildered expression, Liu Daogui said in a deep voice, "Zidan, you've just entered the military government. In the future, when you handle official business and travel between the camps, there are some rules that your uncle still needs to explain to you clearly."

Upon hearing this, Gao Zidan quickly put away the official seal and bowed respectfully to Liu Daogui, saying, "Thank you for your trouble, Uncle. I am new here and know nothing about official systems and military regulations. I would be grateful if you could give me some pointers."

Liu Daogui then proceeded to explain in detail everything from the top-level central regulations to the grassroots squad leaders and elite soldiers.

Gao Zidan then thoroughly understood the complete official system of the Great Song Dynasty—the official order was determined by the four principles of official position, honorary title, merit, and nobility. The military system was based on the two central government offices as the command center, which determined the ranks of military officers throughout the country, divided into nine ranks and eighteen grades. From top to bottom, the hierarchy was strict and the responsibilities were clearly defined.

At the very top are the two highest military command institutions in the country, headed by the Grand General and Grand Marshal, both of the second rank, who oversee all military campaigns, military systems, and military orders. Below them are the General of the Cavalry, the General of Chariots and Cavalry, and the General of the Guards, all of the third rank. Further down are the Four Generals of Expedition, who are in charge of campaigns in one region. There are also the Four Generals of Garrison, who are in charge of guarding strategic locations. The Four Generals of Peace and Security, of the fourth rank, are in charge of assisting in the defense of war zones. Finally, there are the miscellaneous generals and the governors-general, who are the highest military commanders of a province.

Zhou Bo was granted the title of General Zihou, a miscellaneous general of the fourth rank. According to the regulations of the Song Dynasty's legal code, the conferment of such general titles should have been drafted by the two central government offices and approved by the emperor; it was not something that a prefectural governor could arbitrarily appoint. However, with the country in chaos and two emperors on the throne, the central authority had long since collapsed, and it had become commonplace for regional military governors to appoint and dismiss officials and confer titles on generals. Naturally, no one cared whether these rules were in accordance with regulations anymore.

Below that is the battalion commander, a fifth-rank general, and then the troop commander, a sixth-rank colonel. The lowest rank of military officer within the system is the ninth-rank squad leader. Below the squad leader are the platoon leader and the squad leader, who are not considered part of the system.

After explaining the official system, Liu Daogui changed the subject and mentioned the three categories of honorary titles, honorary civil titles, and noble ranks: "Besides military positions, there are three other categories: military honorary titles, honorary civil titles, and noble ranks. You must remember these. You are currently a ninth-rank registrar. In addition to your official position, the court will simultaneously grant you the ninth-rank military honorary title 'Bu Geng,' which is tied to your rank."

Gao Zidan was slightly taken aback. The word "Bu Geng" sounded unfamiliar to him, and a look of doubt appeared on his face.

Liu Daogui saw his question and continued to explain: "The ranks of military merit officers are determined by their grade. The highest is the second-rank senior pillar of the state, followed by the second-rank pillar of the state, and then they are ranked in nine grades and eighteen levels. Your 'Bu Geng' is the military merit rank corresponding to the ninth grade."

Upon hearing the words "Shang Zhuguo" and "Zhuguo," Gao Zidan instantly realized—this was the renowned system of meritorious officials in later generations. As a transmigrator, he naturally understood the weight of these two titles and instantly grasped the hierarchical logic of the martial meritorious officials.

"Civil officials also have honorary civil titles, corresponding to military merits, which determine their status and salary. The most prestigious honorary civil titles are the Three Masters of the First Rank and the Three Sovereigns of the First Rank. Below them is the Grand Master of the Three Offices of the Second Rank, which is the most famous rank among honorary civil titles and the highest honorary rank that even officials outside the capital can reach." Liu Daogui paused for a moment. "The only difference is the peerage. The ironclad rule of this dynasty is that no peerage is granted without military merit. Even if you rise to the rank of Grand Chancellor, without real military achievements, you will not receive any peerage. This is a hard and fast rule that no one can break. However, according to the rules of this dynasty, the General's Office can freely recruit subordinates, but assistant officials with ranks must pass the military examination to be admitted. Otherwise, even if they are admitted through hereditary privilege, they cannot be promoted to the seventh rank or above. But now that the world is in chaos, it is unknown whether the examination still exists, so it doesn't matter."

After explaining all this, he finally got to the specific responsibilities of the General's Office: "Your position as the Registrar of General Zihou's Office is mainly responsible for auditing violations and handling documents within the office, as well as providing the General with information for consultation. Although it is only a ninth-rank position, it is much more important and powerful than ordinary county officials of the same rank. We must be careful in our words and actions."

"Thank you so much for your guidance, Uncle! I am deeply grateful for your insightful advice!" Gao Zidan could naturally sense the caring intention in the other's words, and he indeed desperately needed someone with the authority and ability to guide him. Therefore, he didn't hesitate and bowed respectfully, saying, "Uncle! After today's official duties, do you have any free time? Zidan has many things he would like to ask you!"

Liu Daogui smiled and readily agreed.