The pork butcher is smoother than a pig butcher!

Chapter 435 Promotion and Nobility
When it comes.

General Gan only brought 20,000 Guanzhong troops and 50 personal guards.

Return trip.

The team has grown to more than 53,000 people.

Lots of people.

There are many cars.

There are many goods.

Zen Master Hongming lay half-reclined in a carriage that had been custom-made for him, constantly sketching and drawing with a charcoal pencil in hand.

The two young monks, Huiming and Jingxin, had never seen so many people marching before.

It's that age when you're curious about everything.

Within half a month, he had become friends with Lu Ye, Lü Chen, and others.

The two young monks were very curious about the Bo tribe prisoners of war.

They also asked, "Why don't we let them ride horses or carriages, and only let them walk barefoot? No matter how fast they walk, they can't outrun a horse."

Lu Ye: "They all have a kind of mad cow disease, and they can only live by releasing their madness by walking every day."

Huiming and Jingxin: "This disease is so miraculous."

Green Abyss: "."

Even the wildest ox or the most stubborn donkey has to tuck its tail between its legs when it meets its master.

While imprisoned in a prisoner-of-war camp, he couldn't fully utilize his abilities.

Long marches are still the most exciting.

Becoming a new immigrant in Kansai is not so easy.

The first requirement is to pass a physical fitness test.

Children under ten years old are required to walk at least fifty li (about 25 kilometers) every day.

Those over ten years old were tasked with marching for eighty li (approximately 40 kilometers).

Regardless of gender.

Three full meals a day are provided.

Gan Minglan:
There was nothing she could do; it wasn't that she was heartless towards women and children.

Boys of the Bo ethnic group undergo several rounds of natural selection from birth.

But women don't have this mechanism; they are simply treated as domestic laborers and reproductive tools.

The men eat their fill at home, and then the women get to eat what's left.

Most of the women are very thin.

Making them walk every day is actually a way to exercise their bodies.

After eating three full meals a day for a month, I could clearly feel a difference in my energy and spirit.

However, compared to the rapid march they took on the way here, this is now moving at a snail's pace.

As we traveled north, the temperature gradually rose.

The ninth day of the third month in the lunar calendar.

The general's mansion in Hami City was decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations, and felt carpets were laid on the ground.

Everyone in the mansion was dressed in their finest attire, awaiting the arrival of the angels from the merchant capital.

The angel, arriving with urgent news from eight hundred li away, disregarded his travel-worn state and loudly proclaimed the decree:

"Fengtian Chengyun Emperor, the imperial edict said:

I believe that the prosperity of the nation depends on the loyalty and bravery of its generals, and the security of its borders relies on the diligence of its virtuous ministers. Now, we have Xiong Zhen, the General of Guanzhong, who is both loyal and brave, and possesses outstanding wisdom and strategy. He has repeatedly achieved great feats and his prestige has shaken the Western Regions.

During the war, General Xiong personally led his elite troops to repeatedly defeat the main force of the Kashgar Khanate, recover the Nine Guards of Guanzhong, demonstrate the might of our Northwest Army, and safeguard the peace of our Yongtai Dynasty's territory.

His outstanding achievements make him a pillar of the nation and a role model for both the military and the people.

After the war, General Xiong organized tens of thousands of soldiers and immigrants to reclaim wasteland and become self-sufficient, supporting more than 500,000 soldiers and civilians. This gradually made the former abandoned land of Guanzhong prosperous, stabilized the border, and allowed the people to live and work in peace and contentment. This achievement truly made him a pillar of the nation and a parent to the people.

"In recognition of his outstanding merits and virtues, I hereby bestow upon Xiong Zhen the title of General Zhaowu, grant him the rank of First-Class Marquis of Loyalty and Bravery, with the title being hereditary, and award him a certificate of merit inscribed in red ink, to forever commemorate his achievements! Furthermore, I bestow upon him one thousand taels of gold and one hundred bolts of brocade as a reward."

Listen to this tone, this wording—His Majesty's words are truly golden!
General Zhaowu!

This is a first-rank official!
He is also a First-Class Marquis of Loyalty and Bravery!

A decree of imperial authority, granting hereditary titles!
Upon hearing these key words, Xiong Zhen's eyes filled with tears, and he kowtowed, shouting, "Your subject kowtows in gratitude to the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"

accident!

What a surprise.

General Zhaowu, the number one military general!
He rose directly from the second rank to the first rank!
Moreover, the title he had ever fantasized about was at most an earl.

A hereditary marquisate? I never even dared to dream of it!

His Majesty is far too generous to these former subordinates!
Overwhelmed with excitement, he personally handed a purse containing a stack of silver notes to the messenger.

After exchanging polite compliments, the two...

Xiong Zhen couldn't help but inquire about the news for his subordinates.

The messenger naturally wouldn't put on airs with the newly appointed General Zhaowu.

She replied with a smile:
"It's a pity that you, my lord, were far away in Guanzhong and did not attend the grand ceremony of bestowing titles upon His Majesty after his triumphant return to the capital."

At this grand ceremony of bestowing titles, His Majesty changed the five-rank nobility system of the previous dynasty, retaining only the three ranks of duke, marquis, and earl.

among them.

Two dukes were conferred titles: the old Marquis of Ningyang, the Duke of Thailand, and the Empress's father, the Duke of Chengen.

Marquises and earls were granted to six and eighteen people respectively.

Among the generals of Kansai, besides you, there are three other counts who have been personally appointed.

General Gan was promoted to the rank of General Who Guards the West (second rank) and granted the title of Earl of Zhaoyi, first class.

Tian Canjiang was promoted to General of the Valiant Cavalry (a third-rank official) and granted the title of Second-Class Earl of Zhaowu.

In addition, more than twenty military officers of the fifth rank and above were promoted among the generals of Kansai.

Almost everyone who had previously submitted a list of merits to the imperial court by Xiong Zhen had been promoted.

This is quite a show of respect for Xiong Zhen, the number one military general.

Xiong Zhen: The advancement is excellent, the advancement is wonderful.

Another wave of emotion washed over me: General Gan, a woman, had risen to the rank of General of the Western Garrison and was granted the title of Earl, truly setting a precedent for hundreds of years!

In fact, it was very difficult to set this precedent.

In the imperial court, especially among the civil officials, there was widespread opposition.

However, Emperor Qianwu, a ruler who rose from the ashes, was a dictator who ruled the world unilaterally.

He even declared, "If anyone can match the merits of the General Who Guards the West, I will not hesitate to bestow upon them the title of Earl!"

The civil and military officials all bowed their heads silently, not daring to speak.

Unfortunately, the General of the Western Garrison was traveling too slowly on her way back, and her two children and husband took her to receive the imperial decree.

The plaque on the gate of the General Weiwu's Mansion was removed.

The door plaque was replaced with a black sandalwood one brought from the capital by the angel who issued the decree.

Above it are nine large golden characters, handwritten by Emperor Qianwu: "General Who Guards the West, Marquis of Zhaoyi."

Fatty's eyes sparkled: Wow, my mom is amazing! She got promoted again! The title of General Who Guards the West sounds even more impressive than General Who is Mighty!

Little Yuanyuan: What does it mean to be promoted? Can you eat it? When will Mom come back? I miss her!
Zuo Wenkang: His Majesty's dragon robe and Empress's phoenix robe could be woven even more magnificently. After all, His Majesty is truly willing to bestow titles upon those he has!
Lady Luo: This is incredible! This is incredible! My son never managed to pass the imperial examinations and become an official, bringing glory to our family. But because I married him a capable daughter-in-law, she was granted the title of Lady of the Second Rank by imperial decree.

From then on, the son was no longer a son; his name could be—son-in-law!
Steward Zhu stood tall and proud, exuding an air of dominance: From now on, please address me as the Chief Steward of the Marquis of Zhaoyi's Mansion, the Great General of the West!
The maids and servants roared in excitement. Their wages had doubled! They were to work for the General of the Western Garrison, the Earl of Zhaoyi, for the rest of their lives!

At the residence of General Zhaoyi, the Marquis of Zhenxi, the entire household was filled with joy and laughter.

At Ganluchuan Garrison, the soldiers left behind decided to slaughter a bunch of fat sheep to celebrate before the general returned.
(End of this chapter)