Chaos of the Three Kingdoms Summons

Chapter 2631 An old general begs for retirement, a meritorious marquis receives ten thousand households

Hearing the rustling sounds around them, Ni Chang and Zhang Chunhua, as widows with some experience, immediately woke up.

They knew that Li Xiang had gotten up.

Rubbing their eyes to try and wake themselves up, the two beauties tried to sit up.

Suddenly, a hand reached out and pressed down on the two women, and then Li Xiang's voice rang out: "You two sleep a little longer. There is no morning court today, so there is no need to change your clothes."

In feudal dynasties, morning court sessions were not held every day. Most of them were held every few days, and in some dynasties, they might only be held once every half month.

On days when there was no morning court session, Li Xiang naturally wouldn't dress so formally. He simply put on a white robe and went into the main hall.

Regardless of what Li Xiang said, the two women still got up and prepared to serve Li Xiang breakfast.

They were lucky. The Bronze Sparrow Terrace had countless beauties, but on the very first day Li Xiang visited the Bronze Sparrow Terrace, he chose two of them to serve him in bed.

But both of them were unfortunate, or rather, every beautiful woman on the Bronze Sparrow Terrace was unfortunate.

Every beautiful woman on the Bronze Sparrow Terrace is essentially a caged canary; she has everything she could want, but she is deprived of freedom.

Although they were also the emperor's women, they were not considered concubines and could only sit idly on the Bronze Sparrow Terrace, unable to enter the palace.

Therefore, many of them were unwilling to accept this fate. Many wanted to serve Li Xiang well and have the opportunity to be favored by him. If possible, if they gave birth to a child of the imperial family, they could enter the palace and receive the emperor's bestowal, transforming from a caged bird into a real concubine.

However, how many times a year does His Majesty the Emperor visit the Bronze Sparrow Terrace? And how many days does he stay each time?

With such a vast complexion and numerous beautiful women, how could it be easy to manage?

These two women were unwilling to spend the rest of their lives in the Bronze Sparrow Terrace until they died of old age.

Palace maids had the opportunity to leave the palace when they reached a certain age.

However, these were ordinary palace maids. For example, those who entered the palace through a selection process.

But the two of them came here as spoils of war for the emperor. Unless the emperor granted them special permission, they would never have the chance to leave the palace, let alone be on the Bronze Sparrow Terrace.

Furthermore, since the emperor has already favored them, they have no chance of leaving the palace in their lifetime and can only try to enter the real palace.

Therefore, everyone wants to take advantage of these few days to turn things around.

At this moment, when Li Xiang casually put on a white robe and went to the main hall, several eunuchs had already placed a box of memorials there in advance.

Although Li Xiang was not the kind of extremely diligent emperor, he did not reach the level of some emperors who, apart from sleeping only a few hours a day, spent almost all their time dealing with state affairs.

However, he won't procrastinate on things that are his responsibility.

Therefore, even if you come to Tongquetai to relax for a few days, you still have to do the work that needs to be done.

An emperor certainly has the right to enjoy himself to the fullest, but an emperor who only knows how to enjoy himself cannot hold real power.

At this moment, Ni Chang and Zhang Chunhua quietly brewed tea on the side, not daring to look at the contents of the document.

It was an unspoken rule that the women in the imperial harem were not allowed to interfere in politics. Not to mention, strictly speaking, they didn't even have any official titles and couldn't be considered candidates for the harem.

If you accidentally see something you shouldn't, forget about turning your life around and entering the palace; you might even lose your current life.

Under normal circumstances, nothing major actually happens.

Of course, this "major" matter is only considered minor compared to the things Li Xiang usually handles. In fact, anything that gets Li Xiang involved is no small matter compared to others. After all, when it comes to matters of national importance, what is a minor matter?

Today, even the first memorial to the throne can barely be considered a major event.

The veteran general Lian Po, who had just returned to the capital not long ago, has requested to retire!

A moment later, Li Xiang gently picked up his pen and drew a checkmark, which meant "allow".

"Chunhua, draft the imperial edict!"

Li Xiang pointed to the paper and pen on the side seat and said to Zhang Chunhua beside him.

This kind of work is usually done by a secretary, but since no one came along to the Bronze Sparrow Terrace, Zhang Chunhua was asked to temporarily take over.

Although Zhang Chunhua was not a talented woman like Cai Wenji, drafting an imperial edict for him would still be no problem.

"promise!"

Zhang Chunhua retreated to a side seat, picked up a brush to grind ink, and quietly spoke on behalf of Li Xiang.

"I have heard that those who were good at defending against the barbarians in ancient times always attributed their achievements to their henchmen; those who could secure the state should honor their meritorious officials. You rose from the ranks of the army, possessing a loyal and resolute nature, a steadfast and courageous bearing, and decisive and swift judgment. In the past, when the Mongols were rampant, their iron cavalry raided the borders, beacon fires were lit at night, and the passes and rivers trembled. You were given the command to defend the north, leading a small army into unforeseen dangers, and facing peril with unwavering loyalty."

I deeply appreciate your merits…

Next, Li Xiang recounted Lian Po's achievements bit by bit, starting with his successive defense of Huguan and Yanmenguan in Bingzhou, and then his intermittent participation in various battles, large and small.

Further on, after Yuan Xi surrendered to the Han Dynasty, he took over the two commanderies of Changshan.

Before this, Lian Po was a skilled warrior without any remarkable achievements. He didn't have any particularly outstanding accomplishments, but he also didn't make any major mistakes. His main strength was his composure.

The subsequent northern campaign was the climax of his life and the most brilliant part of his military career.

"Special favor is bestowed to demonstrate our profound gratitude:"

He was granted the title of Marquis of Zhongshan, with his fiefdom increased to ten thousand households, a title to be inherited for three generations. The fertile lands of Zhongshan were dedicated to his honor.

He was granted two thousand catties of gold, one million coins, ten fine horses from the imperial stables in the Shanglin Garden, and five hundred bolts of brocade from the Eastern Weaving Room, to support his well-being.

I hereby bestow upon you a carriage drawn by four horses, permitting you to ride into the court, where you may bow to the emperor without being called by name, and enter the palace without hastening your departure. This is to demonstrate the special honor bestowed upon you for your meritorious service.

He was granted a plot of land and residence in Kuxing County, to be built according to the regulations for marquises, so that his descendants might keep it for generations.

You are hereby appointed Grand Master of the Palace. In matters of great importance to the state and military, you may still be informed and serve as an advisor. You need not rise unless summoned.

Alas! Though you have laid down your arms, your merits are etched in history; though you have retired to old age, your name shines brightly like the sun and moon. May you enjoy your remaining years, reveling in the company of your grandchildren, witnessing the beauty of your ancestral home, and rejoicing in the peace and prosperity of this great age. Your loyalty and diligence will forever serve as a model for border generals; your virtuous character will forever be a glory for the nation! Now, we dispatch the Grand Herald with imperial credentials, carrying out the proper rites and bestowing the title, to inform the ancestral temple. This is hereby proclaimed throughout the land, so that all may know.

Awesome! "

Among the top generals of the Jin Dynasty, Su Dingfang is currently the first and only one to die on the battlefield. Lian Po, on the other hand, is the first to request retirement and return to his hometown.

Therefore, the honors that are due should still be given!

He was granted the title of County Marquis, along with a fief of ten thousand households, all of which were bestowed upon him in Kuxing County, Zhongshan State, Hebei Province, Lian Po's hometown.

Although Hebei has declined in recent years, its foundation remains. With proper governance for a few years, it can return to the prosperous Hebei it once was.