Chapter 540
“Now that we’re under Great Yan’s rule, doesn’t that make us people of Great Yan too?” A woman looked hopefully at the scholar.
Meeting her hopeful gaze, the scholar nodded reflexively. “This auntie is right. The troops stationed in Fen City are now all soldiers of Great Yan. We can indeed be considered people of Great Yan.”
As for the Sixth Princess still in the city, everyone unanimously forgot that she was originally a princess of Southern Zhao. She had personally led troops against Southern Zhao’s cities, after all—clearly, she stood on Great Yan’s side.
Upon hearing that they too were people of Great Yan, a little girl of six or seven asked her weathered-looking father innocently, “Father, does that mean we’ll be able to eat our fill from now on? When there’s drought, the Divine Maiden sends rain. When there’s flooding, the Divine Maiden drives the rain away. Even if there’s an epidemic, the Divine Maiden can bestow sweet dew that cures illness!”
Her father did not answer. Instead, he turned to look at the scholar.
The scholar: Why are you looking at me again? If I knew the answer, I wouldn’t have been standing here studying the notice for so long!
Face flushed red, the scholar turned to look at the two Great Yan soldiers guarding the notice, who stood there as silent and motionless as carved stone statues.
Soldier B glanced at Soldier A. Soldier A cleared his throat and called out loudly, “Everything written in the notice is true! Fellow townsfolk, the Grand Preceptor of our dynasty personally told the Sixth Princess that so long as it is land belonging to Great Yan, She will treat everyone equally. Whatever the people of Great Yan have, the people of newly acquired lands will have as well!”
The crowd immediately erupted at the soldier’s words.
Some shouted that they would now have high-yield grain to plant. Others cried that they wanted to enlist in the army, earn military merit, and win themselves a future like the soldiers of Great Yan.
In Great Yan’s imperial court, the ministers held their breath.
Today, Minister of War Huo Ying seemed distinctly different. He held a memorial in his hands, his face unable to conceal his delight.
Yue Fuguang swept her gaze over the emperor and the assembled ministers. Recalling the victory report the system had told her about early that morning, the corners of her lips rose unconsciously as well.
“Your Majesty, this minister Huo Ying has a memorial to present!” At the very beginning of the grand court session, Huo Ying stepped forward and stood beneath the imperial dais. His expression was more solemn than at any previous morning audience.
The memorial in his hand bore three seals of wax. On its cover were written the two bold characters: “Victory Report.” Every civil and military official had naturally seen it, and they all began speculating over where another battle had been won.
Emperor Mingxi raised his head from behind the imperial desk. His eyes fell upon the memorial, and the corner of his lips lifted almost imperceptibly. “Proceed!”
Huo Ying took a deep breath, unfolded the silk document, and read aloud:
“Your servant, General Xu Shu, Conqueror of the South, kowtows and respectfully reports to Your Majesty: Since receiving the imperial command to campaign southward this year, I have led two hundred thousand soldiers... Now, all the lands of Southern Yue have been incorporated into our dynasty. I humbly petition Your Majesty to lavish rewards upon the meritorious officers and men, that those who follow may be encouraged. I risk death in submitting this memorial.”
The hall fell silent for three full breaths.
Then it exploded into uproar, with excited discussion breaking out everywhere. Some stroked their beards and laughed in delight. “Splendid! Splendid! Splendid!”
Others stared at one another in utter shock. “It isn’t a victory report from Northern Li? Great Yan conquered Southern Yue so quickly? Southern Yue... that land...” He swiftly glanced at the Grand Preceptor, who appeared to have known everything all along.
Any matter concerning land still had to be arranged by that personage. Not even His Majesty could make all the decisions alone!
Others gave no thought to such matters. They simply began counting on their fingers, calculating how vast that territory was.
Nine hundred and forty li from east to west—an expansion of territory unlike any Great Yan had achieved since its founding.
Receiving Emperor Mingxi’s look, Qian Gui immediately called out, “Silence!”
Although Emperor Mingxi had learned of the news slightly earlier than the ministers below, hearing it again now still made it impossible for him to suppress the joy in his heart. He gave Yue Fuguang an almost imperceptible smile.
More clearly than anyone else, he understood that without this venerable ancestor, forget expanding the empire—even the ancestral realm would have been impossible to preserve.
Emperor Mingxi accepted the memorial Eunuch Qian handed to him, his gaze lingering for a moment over the line: “Nine hundred and forty li east to west, and more than six hundred li north to south.”
“Huo Ying, Generals Xu and Wei, together with our two hundred thousand soldiers of Great Yan, have expanded our borders and rendered an extraordinary service to the dynasty,” the emperor said, his voice calm and measured. “How do you believe they should be rewarded?”
Huo Ying bowed and replied solemnly, “In response to Your Majesty, this minister believes that every word in General Xu’s report is true. The two generals have now helped Great Yan seize Southern Yue’s territory—this is a tremendous achievement and should naturally be rewarded generously!”
If they were not richly rewarded, not only would the officials of the entire court object, even the Grand Preceptor would not approve.
Emperor Mingxi gave a slight nod and turned his gaze toward the ministers. “Huo Ying speaks reasonably. General Xu has expanded our territory by nine hundred and forty li and slain countless enemies. Such merit deserves proper reward. My lords, discuss how the soldiers at the front should be rewarded.”
The Minister of Revenue was the first to step forward. “Your Majesty, expanding the realm is an achievement for the ages. Yet the newly acquired territory must be provided with officials and garrisons; roads must be built and cities fortified. The cost of this...”
“I asked how the soldiers should be rewarded,” the emperor interrupted, his tone mild but beyond dispute. “I did not ask about expenses.”
Even so, he was calculating how much remained in his private treasury and the national treasury. War truly did consume an enormous amount of money, but with such a vast territory now in their possession, the expense was well worth it.
Besides... Emperor Mingxi’s eyes flickered. More than a month ago, Fuguang had given him a sea chart showing the locations of the gold and silver mines.
Only after seeing the chart had he and the ministers understood that the “gold mountains and silver mines” truly meant mountains of gold and mines of silver—it was not that the silver mine itself was named Gold Mountain!
Their sovereign and ministers had made fools of themselves, but that day had also been the day they laughed most freely.
Minister of Revenue Dong Qianli withdrew awkwardly. He knew his words were unwelcome at such a moment, but the national treasury had truly been reduced by half. It pained him to see it!
It had only just been replenished, yet so much had already been spent. If he did not speak up, His Majesty would surely begin spending lavishly again.
Minister of Rites Zhang Zhongping stepped forward and bowed. “Your Majesty, this minister believes the rewards should be determined by distinction. Those who were first to scale the walls in an assault, who slew enemy generals and captured their banners, or who captured the enemy king—these are the highest merits. They may be granted titles, land and residences, and rewards of gold and silver.
“The remaining soldiers should receive silver and silk according to whether their military achievements are ranked Grade A or Grade B. Compensation for those killed in battle should be doubled.”
He bowed toward Yue Fuguang. “This official has heard that the Grand Preceptor once told the soldiers of the Yue Army that monuments to heroes would be erected for those who died in battle, with their names and deeds inscribed upon them.”