novelAbuy Chapter 173 Grand Conferment of Titles upon Officials
Chapter 173 Grand Conferment of Titles upon Officials
The clamor and solemnity of the founding ceremony gradually subsided, but the surging emotions within Xinghuo Royal City were far from calming. The day after the winter solstice, before dawn, the newly built "Royal Palace"—expanded and renovated from the original Xinghuo Fortress core complex—was already brightly lit, with a large gathering of dignitaries. This was the first formal grand court assembly of the new dynasty's "Wuxing" first year, a crucial moment for rewarding merit and establishing the new dynasty's power structure.
The palace, having been prepared overnight, appeared even more solemn and magnificent. On the steps, the throne was already in place. Although the haste had prevented its ultimate extravagance, its black lacquer base and gold embellishments already conveyed a different atmosphere. Chen Xing, wearing a twelve-tassel crown and a black brocade robe, sat upright, his gaze calmly sweeping over the civil and military officials standing below in their newly appointed order. Having undergone the ritual of the previous day's coronation ceremony, his regal bearing was now perfectly natural, commanding respect and making him impossible to look directly at.
Murong Mingyue has been officially crowned Queen, and although she did not appear at the grand ceremony in the imperial court today, she received the congratulations from the ladies of the court and the nobility in the inner palace. However, her influence cannot be ignored.
As the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, Jia Wen stood at the head of the civil officials. Today, he had also changed into a brand-new purple robe, with a gold seal and purple ribbon at his waist. His expression remained calm, but the occasional glint in his eyes revealed that his heart was not at peace. Chen Wei, Dian Xiong, and other military generals stood at the front of the military ranks with their hands on their swords, their armor polished to a gleaming shine, exuding a powerful aura.
"My lords," Chen Xing began, his clear voice echoing in the silent hall, "Yesterday, we offered sacrifices to Heaven and our ancestors, and the Xing Kingdom was established. However, the establishment of this kingdom depends on the service of its civil and military officials, the sacrifice of its soldiers, and the loyalty of its people. Today, at this court assembly, we will first discuss the bestowal of titles and rewards to honor those who have made meritorious contributions, to establish ranks and titles, and to encourage those who come after."
He slightly raised his hand, and the eunuch standing beside him immediately unfolded the first edict that had been prepared beforehand, and a high-pitched, clear voice rang out:
"The Queen decrees: You, Murong Mingyue, are gentle and virtuous, prudent and graceful. You assisted me in my humble beginnings, sharing both joy and sorrow, fighting bravely and resolutely, managing the inner palace and bringing peace to the people. Now, in accordance with Heaven's will, you are hereby established as Queen of Xing Kingdom, a model for the world and an example for the six palaces. This is the decree!"
Although the edict was issued in Chen Xing's name, it was in fact a formal ratification and documented confirmation of yesterday's investiture. The officials in the hall congratulated her in unison: "Congratulations, Queen! Long live the Queen!" Their voices were filled with awe for this lady who came from the Hu tribe, yet had achieved great military exploits and was deeply loved by the king.
Immediately following, the second imperial edict was issued, marking the beginning of today's grand bestowal of titles upon the officials:
"The King has decreed: Since I raised my army, my civil and military officials have assisted me with outstanding merits and achievements. They should be rewarded with titles and honors to demonstrate His special favor. Based on their merits, the following titles and honors are hereby conferred—"
Everyone held their breath involuntarily. Countless gazes, some expectant, some apprehensive, some burning with desire, were focused on the rolled-up yellow silk.
"Chen Wei!" The eunuch's voice suddenly rose. "Calm and prudent, loyal and diligent in serving the king, in charge of military affairs, his plans are flawless. From Black Mountain to Western Liang, he has fought dozens of battles, large and small, without a single defeat. He is promoted to General of the Garrison Army, Commander-in-Chief of all military affairs, granted the title of Marquis of Wuwei, with a fief of three thousand households, and awarded a gold seal and purple ribbon!"
Chen Wei stepped forward, knelt on one knee, and said in a deep and powerful voice: "Your Majesty, I thank you for your great favor! I will do my utmost to protect the royal family!" Although he was already the number one man in the army, this formal conferment of the title of Grand General and the title of Marquis, along with the clear definition of his authority as "Commander-in-Chief of all military affairs, both inside and outside the capital," undoubtedly meant that the power of military command over the entire country had been formally handed over to him, making his position extremely prestigious.
"Dian Xiong!" the eunuch continued, "His bravery surpasses that of the three armies; he charges into battle with the spirit of the ancient hero E Lai. He broke through Black Mountain, repelled the barbarian cavalry, and was the first to charge into battle, his merits being unparalleled. He is promoted to General Who Conquers the Barbarians, granted the title of Marquis of Valor, with a fief of 2,500 households, and continues to lead the Vanguard Camp!"
Dian Xiong strode forward, knelt down with a thud, and said in a booming voice, "I, Old Dian, thank you, my lord... uh, thank you, Your Majesty, for the reward! From now on, whoever dares to disobey Your Majesty, I will be the first to chop them down!" His honest words drew a few good-natured chuckles, and the atmosphere in the hall eased slightly.
"Jia Wen!" The hall fell even quieter when the imperial edict read his name. "A man of profound wisdom and foresight, whose strategies are flawless, whose plans are masterful and whose victories are decisive. He devised the plan to pacify the Western Liang, established rites to secure the nation, and oversaw the elimination of corruption; his contributions to the state are immeasurable. He is hereby promoted to Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, in charge of all affairs of state, participating in the decision-making of government matters, and is granted the title of Marquis Wenxin, with a fief of three thousand households, and awarded a gold seal and purple ribbon!"
The Minister of the Imperial Secretariat is the head of the civil officials, overseeing all government affairs and wielding immense power. Jia Wen remained composed, slowly stepped forward, and bowed deeply: "Your subject, Jia Wen, receives the imperial decree and expresses my gratitude. I will certainly devote myself wholeheartedly to assisting Your Majesty in bringing peace to the realm." His tone was calm, yet it possessed a persuasive power.
"Zhao Tiezhu!" the imperial edict continued, "Diligent and pragmatic, he has governed the people, encouraged agriculture and sericulture, promoted water conservancy, and oversaw the treasury, gradually filling it; he has managed the people's affairs, bringing them some peace. He is promoted to Minister of Works, in charge of household registration, land, taxes, and education; he is granted the title of Marquis of Anping, with a fief of two thousand households!"
Situ, holding one of the Three Dukes positions and in charge of civil administration, was precisely Zhao Tiezhu's responsibilities. He stepped forward to express his gratitude, his eyes slightly red, clearly deeply moved: "This old minister...this old minister will certainly not fail Your Majesty's trust, ensuring the people's prosperity and the granaries' fullness!"
Next up is the much-anticipated newly promoted high-ranking official – Su Xiaoxiao.
"Su Xiaoxiao!" The eunuch's voice carried a hint of barely perceptible solemnity. "Intelligent and refined, her talent surpasses all in Jiangdong. She is insightful in economics and adept at planning. She has cleared up long-standing abuses and offered financial management strategies; she oversees the imperial treasury, increasing revenue and reducing expenditure. Her contributions to the nation's financial stability and security are immense. Therefore, she is specially promoted to Director of the Imperial Treasury, a rank equivalent to the Nine Ministers, in charge of the imperial treasury, state-run industries and commerce, currency minting, material reserves, and financial auditing. She is granted the title of Lady Yichun, with a fief of 1,500 households, and is also bestowed with the 'Golden Seal of the Imperial Treasury,' allowing her to speak directly before the King!"
The "Director of the Inner Palace" existed independently of the traditional official system, possessing unique and significant power and responsibilities. The title "rank comparable to the Nine Ministers" clearly defined her exalted status, while "Lady of Yichun" was a rare honor bestowed upon a woman. The "Golden Seal of the Inner Palace" and the "Direct Reporting Before the King" granted her extraordinary privileges in presenting memorials. This conferment not only demonstrated extreme recognition and reliance on her abilities but also cleverly balanced the potential controversies arising from her gender and background—granting her high position, real power, and special honors, yet not placing her within the traditional core sequence of the Three Departments and Six Ministries.
Today, Su Xiaoxiao also changed into a specially made court dress for female officials, the style of which was dignified yet elegant. She stepped forward, bowed gracefully, and said in a clear and calm voice: "Your subject, Su Xiaoxiao, thanks Your Majesty for your great kindness. I will certainly work diligently day and night to manage finances and taxes to repay your favor." Her demeanor was composed, without joy or sorrow, and this composure made many ministers who were secretly observing nod in approval.
Following this were the rewards and honors bestowed upon the surrendered generals of Western Liang and the former officials of the Northern Regions:
Zhang Heng was appointed General Who Guards the West, Marquis of Longxi, with a fief of two thousand households, and remained stationed in Longxi to defend the western border; Pang De was appointed General Who Breaks Through the Enemy's Enemy, Marquis of Xianqin Pavilion, with a fief of eight hundred households, and commanded a portion of the Hu Yi Cong and elite troops to garrison the northern frontier; Cheng Yin was appointed Prefect of Jincheng, with the additional title of General Who Shows Might, Marquis of Jincheng Pavilion, with a fief of six hundred households, and was stationed in Jincheng to pacify the eastern part of Xiliang.
Others, such as Wu Xuejiu and Li Shu, who were among the earliest followers, were also rewarded. Wu Xuejiu was appointed as the Grand Astrologer, responsible for astronomy, calendar, and the compilation of classics; Li Shu, due to his merits in the Censorate, was appointed as the Left Vice Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, assisting Jia Wen, and their titles varied. Among the newly annexed gentry of Liangzhou and Beidi, several were also appointed as prefects, governors, or central government officials, as a gesture of appeasement.
By the time the imperial edicts of reward were read aloud, it was nearly noon. The atmosphere in the hall was both enthusiastic and complex. Those who had rendered meritorious service were filled with pride, while those whose rewards were less generous dared not complain, and the newly recruited were moved to tears. A new power structure for the dynasty, with Chen Xing at its core, Chen Wei, Jia Wen, Zhao Tiezhu, and Su Xiaoxiao as the pillars of civil and military affairs, and Dian Xiong, Zhang Heng, Pang De, and others as its henchmen, was initially established, blending the old and the new while maintaining checks and balances.
Chen Xing looked at the ministers below, their expressions varied, and slowly rose, saying in a deep voice, "Your ranks and titles have been determined, and your positions and duties have been bestowed. I hope you will each remain in your posts, fulfill your responsibilities, and work together to support the nation! Xing Kingdom is newly established, and everything needs to be rebuilt. We are surrounded by powerful enemies to the south and threatened by barbarian cavalry to the north. This is far from a time to enjoy wealth and honor! Today's rewards are for yesterday's achievements; tomorrow's success depends on your continued efforts! I hope you will not fail my expectations, nor the people!"
"Your subjects will obey the king's command! We swear to serve you to the death! To jointly support the nation!" The resounding shouts echoed through the palace.
The grand bestowal of titles upon officials is not only a summary of the past, but also an expectation and impetus for the future. With merits rewarded and responsibilities clearly defined, the wheels of the Star Kingdom will rumble forward on a broader yet more arduous journey.