After rebirth, the Queen and I are on the run.

Chapter 1184 Duke of Yong

Since Vice Minister Zheng was still busy at the Ministry of Justice and hadn't been able to leave his post, he was the only one who could take charge of things at the mansion.

"Yes." The butler led his men to the courtyard of the two young masters to fetch them.

Wow! Zheng Xiaoshiliu cried her heart out.

The eldest grandson of the Zheng family had no objections. He went to the courtyard where the ancestral hall was located and knelt down on the bluestone ground with a thud.

The Zheng family ladies were heartbroken and rushed to plead for mercy.

But Old Master Zheng said, "Listen to the shouts outside! Fifty thousand Wei soldiers fought to the death and died for their country, and hundreds of thousands of Wei civilians were slaughtered! Is it too much to just make them kneel for one night?"

He then pointed at the two of them, especially the sixteenth child: "Kneel down, shut up, and don't cry anymore."

Waaah, Zheng Xiaoliu cried even more aggrievedly.

He didn't understand. His family had clearly told them to mock Yan Xiaosi, so why were they suddenly being punished for it?
He didn't understand, but the eldest grandson of the Zheng family did: it was just a contest between the east and west winds. Now that the people of the Eastern Desert have really attacked and killed so many soldiers and civilians of the Great Wei, then the righteous man, Mr. Rong, has won, and the Marquis of Yicheng has rightfully taken the throne. They are willing to accept defeat and should kneel down.

"Father, let Sixteenth Prince cry. Sixteenth Prince is crying for the Wei soldiers and civilians who were slaughtered by the Eastern Desert people. He should cry, he should cry loudly!"

Grandpa Zheng was startled by what he heard, but nodded in satisfaction: "My son is right... Little Sixteen, cry."

Let His Majesty's troops hear the lament of the Zheng family mourning the loss of their nation.

Waaaaaah!

Zheng Xiaoshiliu really did burst into tears, but he got tired after crying for a short while and fell asleep. However, he was woken up by a servant and made to kneel properly.

He hadn't been kneeling for long when he started crying again, complaining that his knees hurt.

The ladies of the Zheng family were heartbroken and wanted the servants to kneel in his place, but the eldest master of the Zheng family refused and scolded them: "Women's compassion, don't worry about it. Quickly go and put away all the festive items, wine and meat in the mansion. Now is the period of national mourning, lest the censorate find something to criticize you for!"

The ladies of the Zheng family were startled. Forgetting their pity for their child, they hurriedly went to do the work, and soon the magnificent vermilion mansion was decorated in plain white.

The dinner table was also full of vegetarian dishes.

Unfortunately, Emperor Wuxing didn't buy into this theatrical mourning; what he wanted was...

"Each household should raise funds, provisions, and troops. Within three days, the first batch of funds, provisions, and troops will be sent to the Northeast Prefecture to help the nation fight against the enemy!"

On the high steps of the palace, Emperor Wuxing sat on the dragon throne, looking down at the ministers in the golden hall, and issued this imperial edict.

The officials on Emperor Wuxing's side were overjoyed. Minister Guo of the Ministry of War immediately stepped forward, knelt down with a thud, and cried out, "On behalf of the fallen soldiers, the Wei army still fighting, and the people of the northeastern provinces, I thank Your Majesty for your benevolence! Alas!"

He cried twice and turned back to look at Yan Xiaosi.

Yan Xiaosi, a small boy, stood in the Golden Hall. Upon receiving Minister Guo's gaze, he immediately stepped forward, knelt down with a thud, and said, "On behalf of my brother and the Wei army and people of the Northeast, I thank Your Majesty for your great kindness!"

Her voice was full of sobs.

The sobs of a child are already very moving, let alone Yan Xiaosi, who is the younger brother of Mr. Rong, a righteous man who raised military provisions for the Great Wei. Who could remain unmoved by his cries?
Everyone who sees this should donate some.

The Eastern Desert army has already attacked. If we don't put aside our confrontation and unite against the enemy, are we going to wait until the Eastern Desert army marches into the capital and into their homes before we start donating money to fight the enemy?

"Your Majesty, this old minister is willing to donate a thousand cartloads of supplies and five hundred servants to help the nation resist the enemy!" said Minister Zheng, who was the first to give things.

Unfortunately, Emperor Wuxing was a gluttonous wolf; he thought it wasn't enough.

"No, this time the Great Wei is not facing just one enemy from the Eastern Desert, but a combined force of the Eastern Desert and the Western Rong. If we do not fight them with all our might, not only will the Great Wei be in danger, but the foundation left by our ancestors for thousands of years will also be eradicated by these two evils!" Emperor Wuxing looked down at his ministers and said again, "The spies from the Eastern Desert have changed the customs of the mountain people in the mountains, changing the mountain god statues they worship to resemble the September God of the Eastern Desert. This shows how determined the Eastern Desert is to eradicate the foundation of the Great Wei."

"The Great Wei wants money and grain, land to support the sons of fallen soldiers, and skilled martial artists; they don't want servants. Little servants? Ha, they're already exhausted on the road before even reaching the northeastern provinces!"

Let me be clear, don't try to fool me with some junk. If you don't give me anything usable, you're helping the Eastern Desert destroy yourselves.

The officials, especially those from powerful families, bowed their heads and dared not utter a word.

Emperor Wuxing did not give them a chance to speak; he simply informed them.

"Lord Yong," Emperor Wuxing said directly to Yong Zhi, "Your father-in-law, Marquis Wenchang, was killed by the villains of the Eastern Desert. You will be responsible for raising funds, provisions, and troops to help the Northeast Prefecture resist the enemy and avenge your father-in-law, Marquis Wenchang."

Yong Zhi's heart was almost turning into a demon... He had just spent money and manpower, destroying the foundation of the aristocratic alliance, to help Emperor Wuxing eliminate the parasites in the Six Ministries of the capital and the local government offices.

Having just finished such a grueling task, and before he could even catch his breath, Yan Zhou returned to the capital and was once again given an important position by Emperor Wuxing, while he was treated coldly, with the excuse that he had worked hard on his mission in the past few months and needed to recuperate for a while.

Now he's been summoned to court and given this vile task of plundering the wealth of the aristocratic alliance!

Even with his exceptional patience, Yong Zhi was about to lose his temper.

However, that was nothing compared to what Emperor Wuxing said next: he was going to reward him for his merits.

Emperor Wuxing said, "Marquis Yong has rendered meritorious service in eliminating the corrupt officials of various tribes and consolidating the nation's strength. Now, his father-in-law, Marquis Wenchang, has also died in battle for the nation. He is hereby rewarded for both merits and granted the title of Duke of Yong. The title will last for five generations. After five generations, the title of Marquis of Yong will be restored!"

The title of Marquis of Yong is hereditary and can exist indefinitely.

Yong Zhi felt a chill run through his body, but inside he was laughing wildly. Hahaha, you Wei Wuxing, you're trying to put me on the hot seat!

With a thud, Yong Zhi knelt heavily in the golden hall, removed his official hat, put down his tablet, and prostrated himself on the ground, saying, "Your Majesty, I am terrified and beg you to rescind your decree!"

“My father-in-law, Marquis Wenchang, was a subject of Wei. He died in battle for the dynasty. It is the duty of a subject, and I dare not ask Your Majesty for a reward.”

"Furthermore, the Wen family still has a heir. According to merit, the reward should be given to the heir, not to me, his son-in-law."

"Your Majesty's generous reward to me is unreasonable. Even if it means my death, I would not dare to accept such a reward, lest I violate the rules and regulations!"

Yonghou cursed Emperor Wuxing to death in his heart.

When the Five Cities Garrison made their announcement yesterday, Emperor Wuxing did not order his soldiers to shout about the martyrdom of Wenchang.

It was obvious that they didn't want the people of Wei to continue to revere Marquis Wenchang.

Today, when the noble families need to donate funds to fight the enemy, they lavishly praise the death of Marquis Wenchang in battle and attribute the merit of Marquis Wenchang's martyrdom to him, wanting to reward this son-in-law.

The reward was still the title of Duke.

Duke of Yong?
Hahaha!
What is Emperor Wuxing trying to do?
Do you want your ministers to remember the disgrace of the Great Yong Dynasty?

You know the Great Yong Dynasty was terrible? Then why do you still want to restore it?

Furthermore, if Emperor Wuxing were to reward him now, how could he then use the death of Marquis Wenchang to win popular support? How could he then use these people's support to restore the Great Yong Dynasty?!
Every action has its predetermined course. Only when Marquis Wenchang died in battle for his country without receiving any reward from the court would people feel more sorry for the Wen family and him.

Once the reward is given, the matter is settled, and no one will feel sorry for him anymore.

Emperor Wuxing said, "Marquis Yong, you are overthinking it. After I bestow upon you the title of Duke of Yong, I will still reward the Wen family. I always reward those who have rendered meritorious service. You are all loyal ministers of the dynasty and have all made contributions, so you deserve to be rewarded!"