What's wrong with me, a powerful minister, supporting a few female officials?

Chapter 155 Su Mo is granted a noble title!

Su Mo seriously told Lin Moyin about the Eight-Ox Crossbow and the Divine Arm Bow.

This shocked Lin Moyin immensely.

She herself is a Taoist sorcerer, and a sorcerer at the Guiqiao Realm, which can be called the pinnacle of sorcerers.

A Golden Core cultivator is at the ceiling level.

For ordinary mortals, even seeing one is difficult.

Even a Taoist sorcerer of Lin Moyin's level would find it difficult to contend with the power of the Eight-Ox Crossbow.

Even the Divine Arm Bow must avoid its sharp edge.

No wonder Leng Xi was so confident that he could persuade the Empress to transfer her to the core five institutes!

This is a national treasure.

What is a mere fifth-rank official with five core households?
After hearing Lin Moyin's explanation, Su Mo was also somewhat impressed.

The sorcerers and magicians of this world were somewhat different from what he had imagined.

Hmm... it feels like any carbon-based life form would be unable to withstand the power of an armor-piercing projectile.

If firearms were manufactured, they could probably inflict an even more fatal blow on the Taoist sorcerers.

Gunpowder is not difficult to make.

With spring steel, gun barrels and other components are also easily made.

He even has soap byproducts that can be used to create the terrifyingly powerful nitroglycerin!

However, Su Mo decisively shattered this idea!
There is no other reason.

The Eight-Ox Crossbow was cumbersome, had many limitations, and was slow to fire.

It poses a threat to high-level Taoist sorcerers, but not a fatal one.

The firearms are different!
This is a terrifying weapon that allows even mortals to kill immortals!
It's still in mass production!
Once Su Mo develops the firearms, he will surely die!
Countless immortal cultivators, and even old monsters at the Golden Core, Nascent Soul, and Divine Travel realms, will definitely take action themselves to take Su Mo's life!

Even the Empress couldn't protect Su Mo!

Before possessing sufficiently strong self-defense capabilities.

This thought alone is a crime!
After discussing the Eight-Ox Crossbow, Su Mo intended to stay under the pretext of cultivation, but Lord Qianhu shattered his dream with a single sentence.

He is no longer able to withstand Lord Senju's power!

But Su Mo still managed to stay as she wished.

Moreover, he was severely punished by Lord Qianhu several times, which exhausted his energy and spirit!

It all started with one sentence: "Well, I also need to go back and see if Jiang Lan has settled Liu Siyun in."

The jealous Lord Qianhu is terrifyingly fierce!
Fortunately, I have advanced to the peak of the Body Observation Realm, so I can barely hold on!

The next morning, Su Mo quietly grabbed her clothes and tiptoed toward the door.

As soon as he reached the bedroom door, he was bound around the waist by a white ribbon and pulled back to the bed.

Su Mo gasped and looked at Commander Qianhu: "Again?"

The night before last, Liu Siyun*2, Lord Qianhu*3!

Last night, Lord Qianhu was with three people!

The Commander blinked, her aloof and pretty face full of innocence: "Xu Sulang bullied me, but it's not allowed for me to bully Sulang?"

Su Mo gritted her teeth!

Men can't stand hearing the word "can't"!
At worst, I can go back and take some nourishing food!
……

When Su Mo was suppressing Lord Qianhu with all his might.

The diligent Empress had risen early, her willow-leaf eyebrows slightly furrowed as she looked at Situ Heng, the Commander of the Southern Garrison, who had been summoned: "Is Su Mo already the Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard?"

The promotion of a general can be decided by the Southern Garrison Commander-in-Chief himself, without the need for the emperor's approval.

The Empress did not summon Situ Heng because of the promotion of the captain.

A single verbal order suffices.

The reason is Lin Moyin.

The original plan was to have Situ Heng submit a memorial pleading that Lin Moyin's contribution in presenting the weapon was outstanding and requesting that Lin Moyin be transferred to the Fifth Core Institute.

If you agree naturally, there will be much less criticism.

The blame will fall on Situ Heng.

But the Embroidered Uniform Guards were meant to be scapegoats, so the Empress had no qualms about it.

Who knew that a casual question to Su Mo would yield such an answer.

Su Mo was promoted to captain yesterday!
Situ Heng was also dumbfounded.

I feel very uneasy.

Su Mo's arrival was not entirely formal!
He was promoted through a combination of favors from the deputy commander, plus a bottle of perfume, all handled personally and through irregular procedures!

I thought it was just a casual move, and who would care about the promotion of a mere squad leader!
Situ Heng would never have dreamed of this.

The Empress summoned him to the palace early in the morning and asked him about Su Mo!

A chill ran down his spine, and he quickly prostrated himself on the ground, saying respectfully, "Your Majesty, yesterday the official document from the department was submitted, and Su Mo was given his official appointment, saying that he was conscientious and dedicated to his duties and could be promoted to the position of Commander-in-Chief. Therefore, I have a slight impression of Su Mo!"

The Empress frowned and asked expressionlessly, "At what time was the main flag raised?"

Situ Heng was taken aback again, not understanding what he meant.

Does it matter what time it was raised?

However, he still honestly replied, "Your Majesty, it is the hour of Wei (1-3 PM)!"

Leng Liuxi frowned even more!
In other words, when he promised to promote Su Mo, Su Mo was already a captain!

After a moment of silence, the Empress slowly said, "Lin Moyin, the commander of the Left Guard, has made meritorious contributions in the research and development of military equipment. I have decided to transfer her to the Right Guard as commander!"

"Yao Shen, the former commander of the Right Guard... is old and frail. Find him a suitable place to settle down!"

"Furthermore, the artisan battalion of Gufeng Mountain in Shangzuo Suo has been removed from the Embroidered Uniform Guard and transferred to the jurisdiction of the Fengming Division!"

"Go down! Present the memorial as soon as possible!"

Situ Heng was startled!
Lin Moyin, the commander of the Left Guard, had only been in office for a short time, and now he's being transferred to the Right Guard?

No wonder the other commanders were furious when they heard this news!
In particular, he forcefully squeezed out Yao Shen, the original commander of the Right Guard!
However, how could he dare disobey the Empress's orders? He could only respectfully kowtow and say, "Your subject obeys the decree!"

"I resign!"

The Embroidered Uniform Guards are the emperor's henchmen; their lives, honor, and disgrace are entirely in the emperor's hands!
The pacification commissioner of the Northern Garrison Command was a fourth-rank official, just like him.

But they can sit on equal footing with the Commander.

The reason is simple: the Northern Garrison Command has law enforcement power and is an independent judicial body, able to petition the emperor directly without going through its own garrison!
The Embroidered Uniform Guard doesn't care about official rank; what matters is the Empress's favor!
Therefore, the garrison commander of the Northern Garrison, who is of the fourth rank and reports directly to His Majesty, has power no less than that of the commander of the third rank!
If he dares to disobey the Empress's orders and refuse to take the blame, he will definitely receive an imperial decree of dismissal tomorrow!
Situ Heng respectfully left.
He was already wondering who this Su Mo was, that he could get Wei Zhengguang to personally help him get promoted to the rank of general.

The Empress even inquired about the relevant situation from him!

Such a person is so favored by the Emperor!

This must be thoroughly investigated!
After Situ Heng left, the Empress rubbed her forehead, looking troubled.

That guy is already a captain, just like the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Phoenix Cry Division.

Moving up another level, that's the trial hundred households!
Leng Liuxi would never allow a great scholar of the nation to serve as a mere trial commander of the personal guard!

If you can't advance in the personal guard system, then you can only advance to a court official position!

The problem is that transferring a member of the Embroidered Uniform Guard to a county under the jurisdiction of the capital as a ninth-rank official has already drawn strong opposition from the cabinet.

It's practically impossible to directly appoint Su Mo as chief clerk and county magistrate before he has achieved any notable accomplishments!
The court officials would absolutely not allow such a situation to occur.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard is the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and the court officials are the court officials.

If this precedent is set, and the Empress were to casually place officials from the Embroidered Uniform Guard into the court system in the future, what would become of her!
The junior officers of the Embroidered Uniform Guard are all seventh-rank officials!

In the imperial court system, anyone from the seventh rank could become the magistrate of a small county; they were either a Juren (successful candidate in the provincial examination) or a Jinshi (successful candidate in the imperial examination)!
If that's really the case, wouldn't a centurion of the sixth rank be directly appointed as a prefect?

The Empress's head throbbed with worry!
I originally thought that giving Su Mo a captain's rank was insignificant.

Who knows what tricks that guy used to become a captain ahead of schedule!

So cunning!

The Empress can easily investigate him!
If they really find out some dirty secrets about him and get rid of him, the obstacles he will face in promoting Su Mo to a higher official rank in the future will be much greater!
Most importantly, Su Mo will get angry!
Leng Liuxi frowned, her gaze suddenly falling on the pale-faced old eunuch serving beside her.

"Anbanban, tell me, how should I promote Su Mo?"

The pale-faced old eunuch's eyelids twitched.

As a eunuch who had watched Leng Liuxi grow up since childhood, An Wu had an exceptional understanding of the Empress's personality.

This question clearly indicates that they do not want to give Su Mo a nominal title.

Otherwise, it would be difficult to face Su Mo in the future if she remained "cold and aloof." It seems that Su Mo's position in the Sage's eyes is far more important than she had imagined!
After a long silence, the old eunuch finally spoke in a hoarse voice: "Your Majesty, how about bestowing a title upon Su Mo?"

Upon hearing this, the Empress narrowed her phoenix eyes slightly: "A title?"

Since the founding of the Great Wu Kingdom, it has been extremely cautious about granting titles.

There were already many feudal lords, and their military, political and financial affairs were all independent, which had greatly affected the rule of the Great Wu!
In addition to rewarding the founding heroes.

Throughout Emperor Taizong's reign, very few civil and military officials were granted titles!

Even if they had to be granted titles, they were only of the three ranks of duke, marquis, and earl, and the two ranks of viscount and baron, which have basically been abolished!
The old eunuch smiled and said, "Dukes, marquises, and earls are certainly not suitable."

"However, the fact that Officer Su presented military equipment is a great service to the country and should be rewarded. This old servant believes that Officer Su is worthy of the title of baron."

A strange light flashed in Leng Liuxi's phoenix eyes: "A man from Changping County? A man from Gufeng Mountain?"

The more she thought about it, the better it seemed!
The titles of nobility in the Great Martial Realm are Duke, Marquis, Earl, Viscount, and Baron, each corresponding to the ranks from the first to the fifth grade!

Granting Su Mo the title of County Baron, a fifth-rank official, is certainly a promotion!

Most importantly, when the emperor bestows a title, in practice, he needs to obtain the consent of his ministers and cannot act arbitrarily.

However, in name only, the granting of titles falls within the scope of imperial power!

If the emperor were to insist on going his own way, the ministers would be truly helpless, thus perfectly avoiding the constraints imposed by the cabinet.

Even if the six cabinet ministers heard about this, they would not argue with him for the sake of a mere lowest-ranking title!
It's impossible that the Empress doesn't even have this much authority!

……

They subdued the commander so completely that he begged for mercy repeatedly.

Su Mo then went to the artisan camp to take his shift, feeling quite pleased with himself.

After all, Leng Xixi might go to the artisan camp to check on them again at any time, so he couldn't skip work.

The Southern Garrison Command has just delivered the official document and the general's badge.

He was now a legitimate member of the Embroidered Uniform Guard and a double captain of the Phoenix Cry Division!

Su Mo wanted to see if that cold-hearted woman would even consider appointing him as a centurion!
If he were to be promoted, it would be like slapping himself in the face!
If you don't get promoted, you can't take on the hard work of the artisan battalion!
Su Mo was genuinely uninterested in the artisan battalion!

Even Su Mo, a ninth-rank official, didn't want to be a clerk.

In the Embroidered Uniform Guard system, how wonderful it would be to rise through the ranks comfortably under the protection of a high-ranking officer.

Leng Xixi said that as long as the clerk does a good job, three copper coins can be exchanged for three wishes.

Su Mo was skeptical of this.

She's not a genie!

As soon as Su Mo stepped out of the city gate, he saw the Commander of the Thousand Households riding a Rouge Horse and chasing after him at high speed!
Su Mo's expression was rather strange!
"Lord Su, the Emperor has issued an imperial decree!"

"I'm telling you to hurry back to your residence to receive the imperial decree!"

Su Mo was stunned upon hearing this.

Another imperial edict?

This is the third time!

That cold-hearted one, could she be that powerful?
The artisan camp, which was only left yesterday, was given an imperial edict by the emperor early this morning.

Even if I were to be appointed as a centurion, I wouldn't need to use an imperial edict, would I?

Why don't you just send someone from the Southern Garrison Command to make a statement?

The first imperial edict could also be attributed to the bestowal of a flying fish robe.

The second time, he was exceptionally appointed as a clerk, which the Southern Garrison Command could not control.

Come again now?

"what on earth is it?"

Su Mo frowned slightly as she looked at Lin Moyin: "Why is there another imperial decree?"

Lin Moyin's aloof and pretty face revealed a bitter smile.

Ever since I met this guy, it seems like everything has gone wrong.

Lin Moyin never dreamed that she would be transferred from a local centurion to the capital to serve as a chiliarch in the Six Subordinate Offices because of Su Mo!

She could only guess: "It must be that the sage attached great importance to the Eight-Ox Crossbow."

"Therefore, a special imperial edict was issued, appointing you to command the artisan soldiers' battalion!"

The two rode back to the Su residence at full speed.

The imperial eunuch was already waiting at the main gate, attracting a large crowd of onlookers!
This is Baiyujing, so it's hard to imagine it not being crowded.

The eunuch delivering the imperial decree had a dark expression on his face!

Su Mo dared not delay and quickly prepared an incense table to kneel and receive the imperial edict!

"By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees:"

"I have been appointed by Heaven to govern the world. I will reward and honor those civil and military officials who are loyal and diligent in serving the country, in order to encourage their merits."

"Your Excellency Su Mo, the Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, is loyal and virtuous, and possesses both literary and martial talents. He has contributed to the manufacture of military equipment and has rendered meritorious service to the country. He deserves a great reward."

“Zitejiner Gufeng Mountain Man is granted five qing of permanent land, a fief of one hundred households, and a real fief of twenty households.”

"He will continue to serve as the Chief Banner Officer of the Phoenix Cry Division, and oversee the affairs of the Gufeng Mountain Artisan Battalion..."

"May the mountains and rivers protect you, and may you forever be granted this land; may you work together day and night, and further refine your strategies for reconciliation. Respectfully!"

……

After hearing the eunuch's hoarse voice read out the imperial edict.

Su Mo was completely stunned!

Even Lin Moyin, who was standing to the side, was dumbfounded, her face filled with disbelief!
Granting a title?

Su Mo has become a baron?
After receiving the imperial edict, he saw off the eunuch who delivered it.

Su Mo, Lin Moyin, Liu Siyun, Jiang Lan, and others looked at each other in bewilderment.

After a long pause, Su Mo finally couldn't help but ask, "I've become a baron? The Baron of Lone Peak?"

"Five hectares of permanent farmland? And twenty households actually granted fiefdoms?"

Lin Moyin was stunned for a long time, then swallowed hard: "I guess... right?"

She paused, her eyebrows furrowing tightly: "Wasn't the county baron system abolished?"

"How could a saint bestow upon you the title of baron?"

"Furthermore, even if a baron is granted, he should be the Baron of Changping County, not some incongruous Baron of Gufeng Mountain?"

She just couldn't understand it.

If the Empress were to promote Su Mo, she would promote him to the position of Trial Hundred-Household Commander or even Hundred-Household Commander, which would be a more legitimate way for him to take over the Artisan Battalion.
Why did they bring up a baron?

Lin Moyin was of course unaware that Leng Xixi had once said that she would not let Su Mo become a centurion of the Embroidered Uniform Guard!

A sage cannot go back on his word!

Just as everyone was filled with doubt.

A doorman suddenly came to report: "Master, people from Wannian County have arrived!"

"We invite you, sir, to the Wannian County government office to discuss the matter of your fiefdom and permanent land."

Gufeng Mountain is under the jurisdiction of Wannian County!

Su Mo took a deep breath.

Regardless of what the Empress and Leng Xixi are up to.

Being granted a noble title is definitely a great thing!

No matter how far away the fiefdom is, even if it's in that godforsaken place like Lone Peak Mountain!

In fact, this suited Su Mo's taste even better!
The more remote the better.

After all, there are many things about me that I can't let see the light of day.

For example, research something like nitroglycerin!

He turned to look at Lin Moyin and the others: "You all wait here."

"I'm going to the Wannian County Government Office right now!"

To everyone's surprise, Lin Moyin said without hesitation, "I will go with you!"

This is our own fiefdom, an eternal legacy!

Lin Moyin certainly wouldn't let Su Mo negotiate with the magistrate of Wannian County alone!

The concept of fiefdoms and permanent landholdings is incredibly versatile!
The commander must supervise the entire process to prevent the cunning clerks of Wannian County from deceiving his own man!
(End of this chapter)