Big man: I am the Champion Marquis!

Chapter 79 It's Hard to Be a Crown Prince
Huo Xian slept until he woke up naturally, ate and drank his fill, then he remembered that he still had to be on duty, so he immediately put on his armor and walked towards the Xuanshi.

Liu Che looked up, then lowered his head to continue processing the memorial, "My cavalry general recovered from his illness so quickly?"

"Well, I am young and strong, and I will be well in a short while." Huo Xian was thick-skinned and said, "Your Majesty, I felt so heavy in the morning that I couldn't even lift myself up."

Liu Che laughed and said, "If you were asked to attend court, you would be sick. If you were asked to leave court, you would be well. You, I am too lazy to say anything."

Huo Xian said with a playful smile, "If your Majesty feels uncomfortable after hearing this, I won't say any more."

Many people have become accustomed to Huo Xian's insolence, but they dare not imitate him. This trick can only be used by the Marquis of Guanjun.

"You, the Guanglu Xun, are more relaxed than I am. You slept until almost noon." Liu Che continued to complain, "I handed the defense of the imperial city to you. After all this trouble, I have to protect you."

Huo Xian opened his mouth and said, "Your Majesty, I was on patrol last night and didn't fall asleep until the second half of the night. That's why I was sick and couldn't get up in the morning."

Once a person becomes shameless to a certain extent, others will be helpless.

Huo Guang, who was standing by, felt a little embarrassed. His nephew was so lazy and idle at times that it was really inappropriate.

"The general will arrive in Chang'an tomorrow, you go to meet him." Liu Che said, "Go and summon the prince."

Huo Xian asked, "The Crown Prince is rewarding the army, and I am accompanying him as a guard?"

"You?" Liu Che said mockingly, "You better get up early tomorrow morning. Don't delay important matters."

Huo Xian immediately assured him, "Your Majesty, when have I ever missed an important task? When nothing happens, I can sleep soundly. When something happens, even if I am really sick, I can still get up."

Liu Che believed this, and so did Huo Guang and others. They all knew that although Huo Shan could be lazy at times, he would never neglect important matters.

"The prince doesn't understand military affairs. You should follow him when he goes to reward the army tomorrow." Liu Che arranged, "In the future, you will have the opportunity to talk to the prince about military affairs. He only understands domestic affairs but not military strategy, which is not good."

There is some truth in Liu Che's words. Liu Ju tends to "emphasize civil affairs over military affairs" and does not know much about military affairs.

Although the emperor does not need to fully understand military affairs, Liu Che still hopes that his prince is both civil and military. A prince who understands military strategies is a good prince.

"My cousin is not ignorant. He knows everything about rewards, pensions, and the supplies needed for the army's march." Huo Xian complained, "My cousin calculated very carefully. I can't fool him."

Liu Che looked up at Huo Xian and threw out the bamboo slips. "Take a look for yourself. What do you think of this reward?"

The emperor was somewhat unhappy that speaking in the prince's favor was too blatant.

Huo Xian picked up the bamboo slips and looked at them carefully, and conferred the title of Marquis of Yiqu on Gongsun Ao and the title of Marquis of Geyi on Gongsun He.

Because of Wei Qing's great contribution, Wei Kang was granted the title of Yong'an Marquis, with a fief of 2,300 households. The fief of this marquis was higher than that of Gongsun He and others.

Most of the marquis' fiefs only had a few hundred or a thousand households, and those with more than four thousand households were important officials who had made great contributions.

But no one said anything, Wei Qing's fief had reached 16,700 households. He had made great contributions, so he deserved it.

Speaking of Huo Xian's fiefdom, it was also exaggerated. Before this, Huo Qubing's fiefdom had 15,000 households. With the additional fiefdom this time, the total would exceed 20,000 households.

Fortunately, it was slightly weakened before, and now it is barely on par with the general.

Gongsun Ao and Gongsun He were both from Yiqiu, but they were not relatives.

Gongsun He came from a prominent family. His ancestors were Hu people. His father, Gongsun Hunxie, served as Dian Shuguo and Taishou of Longxi during the reign of Emperor Jing of Han. He made contributions during the Rebellion of the Seven Kingdoms and was named Marquis of Pingqu. Therefore, Gongsun He had a very high starting point.

Gongsun Ao served the emperor as a cavalryman, and they had a very good relationship when Wei Qing was still a small guard.

"There's nothing wrong with this. We can't give them their previous titles." Huo Xian said with a smile, "How about giving them a Marquis of Heqi?"

Gongsun Ao used to be the Marquis of Heqi because he had once fought in battles with Wei Qing, who was the General of Chariots and Cavalry at that time.

Their "factions" can be seen from their titles of marquis, including Marquis of Piao, Marquis of Heqi, Zhao Po Nu and Gongsun Ao.

"Zhao Po Nu will not be punished or rewarded." Liu Che continued, "Let him train his troops now, you will be able to use them in two years."

Huo Xian also thought so. There was no harm in keeping Zhao Po Nu in the south of the desert now. Not only could he garrison there to intimidate the Huns, but he could also train the cavalry.

Among all the military commanders in the court, Zhao Po Nu is the general who is best at leading cavalry.

Crown Prince Liu Ju came to the Xuanshi Hall and said, "Your son pays homage to your father."

Liu Che pointed at Huo Xian and said, "Tomorrow the general will lead his army back to Chang'an. You go to reward the army, reward the troops for their merits, and order the troops to return to the camp. Let Xian'er go with you, and order the general to enter the city the day after tomorrow."

The army had to follow a certain procedure when returning triumphantly, and they could not enter the city directly on the same day.

In particular, many troops were actually stationed outside the city, so they needed to be rewarded before returning to the camp. Only a very small number of soldiers could enter the city and receive the cheers of the people of Chang'an. Liu Ju didn't waste any words and said, "Your son obeys your order."

"Keep an eye on Xian'er for me, and take him with you when you go out and come back." Liu Che said worriedly, "If he is dissatisfied with the reward, you have to discipline him."

Huo Xian was too tired to complain. The court's rewards had already been decided and there was nothing he could say.

What the emperor was actually worried about was that the rewards decided by the court might pass through the hands of several government offices and end up being much less when they reached the hands of the soldiers.

Such things also existed in the Western Han Dynasty, and were even quite serious.

There may also be cases where when the army returns triumphantly, the soldiers are dissatisfied with the rewards, feeling that their military achievements have been undercounted, etc.

Liu Ju smiled and said, "Father, the Marquis of Guanjun knows the big picture. Even with the general in the way, he wouldn't dare to act recklessly."

Liu Che glanced at Liu Ju and said earnestly, "You are the crown prince of the court, and you have to decide things. Even if the general is loyal and modest, there are still some things that you have to do in person."

It’s not that Liu Ju doesn’t understand some principles. It can even be said that he understands some principles very well.

But the position of the crown prince is not so easy to sit on. Saying something that sounds harsh will make people feel that you are cold and unreliable.

But if what you say seems a little weak, people will worry about whether you can hold on to your throne and whether you can control those powerful people.

Everything has been arranged. After all, the rewards and so on have already been decided. Now it has been officially announced. Only the final stage of the task remains.

Huo Xian did not stay in bed this time. He got up early, put on a set of armor, took out his ring-handled sword and put it on. After thinking about it, he still felt that it was not enough, so he put on the visor.

When Liu Ju saw Huo Xian, he couldn't help but laugh, "Go and meet the army. You look like you are going to fight a war."

"In the army, it's better to be more powerful." Huo Xian said, "Uncle, the people in the army like to be brave, and many of them have simple minds."

Liu Ju understood what Huo Xian meant and said, "Don't worry. Although I love reading and talking with Confucian scholars, I am also brave."

That is, he was usually elegant and benevolent, but when he got angry, he dared to rebel directly. Although he was forced to do so, compared to those who committed suicide without even trying to tell whether the imperial edict was true or false, Liu Ju was much more courageous.

Surrounded by guards, Liu Ju and Huo Shan led the civil and military officials to leave the Weiyang Palace and head out of the city.

Wei Qing and his companions had actually arrived at a place less than 20 miles away from Chang'an. They broke camp and returned to Chang'an early in the morning, just in time.

Huo Xian just stood behind the prince in helmet and armor, listening to the prince reading out the imperial edict, rewarding the generals, rewarding the army, and ordering the troops to return to the camp, etc.

Wei Qing and the others were not surprised at all, as this was a process they were very familiar with. Even the reward was within their expectations.

It is neither too heavy nor too light, and it seems to be the reward that best conforms to the rules set by the imperial court.

However, Huo Xian, who was standing next to him, knew very well that when he returned, the reward standard was much higher. It was not because of the capture of Zuo Xian Wang, but simply because the emperor deliberately rewarded and favored him.

"The general looks increasingly thinner." Liu Ju said with concern, "After returning this time, he must take good care of himself."

Wei Qing smiled and said, "Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. I can still hold on."

Wei Qing then looked at Huo Xian and criticized him, "Today the army is returning victoriously, and you are wearing armor. You should be given a golden seal and a purple ribbon, which is more appropriate."

Huo Xian said awkwardly, "Uncle, I am the General of the Cavalry because His Majesty is trying to coax the child. I don't have the general's seal. I am still wearing armor, not to mention that I originally followed the general to the battle."

Liu Ju just laughed while listening to Huo Xian's words. The title of General of the Cavalry was not worthy of his status, which was reflected in many details.

Wei Qing and others were extremely surprised, for they had known before that Huo Xian had been named General of Cavalry, the second most powerful general in the imperial court.

According to the normal process, the General of Cavalry, who was equal to the Three Dukes, had a seal. When Wei Qing was named the Great General, the court sent someone to the army with the seal to appoint him as the Great General.

However, Huo Xian's appointment as a general was just an imperial edict, and the most crucial seal was still in Liu Che's hands, allowing him to only look at it but not wear it.

"I don't care about military affairs. Your Majesty only allows me to look at them and ask questions at most." Huo Xian explained, "Uncle, when I get the seal of the General of the Cavalry is up to you!"

Liu Ju turned his head and said, "Xian'er, don't talk nonsense!"

Wei Qing smiled and said, "I am fifty-one years old and now I am physically exhausted. I only ask Your Majesty to grant me the grace to return home to recuperate."

Huo Xian said with a playful smile, "Then I will go to my uncle's house in a few days with a golden seal and purple ribbon to pay a visit."

"As long as you don't wear the mask, your aunt will scold you if she sees you." Wei Qing said with a smile, "I am old too, it's time for me to enjoy my life!"

(End of this chapter)