A lowly soldier becomes king, I slaughter my way through the late Tang Dynasty!

Li Yin, Niu Ben, Zheng Yunguo, and others all knelt down.

The eunuch, also known as the Yellow Gate Official, read the announcement with a smile.

"Li Rui, the vanguard of the Righteous Army's Vanguard Camp, is both resourceful and brave, intelligent and decisive, and forgets himself in battle, fighting with all his might to kill the enemy!"

With ten men, he conquered the city; with three hundred, he defeated five thousand; and he killed the Khitan chieftain Xiao Pudu in battle. He entered the camp alone and captured and killed the Khitan king Yelü Balide. Then, with three hundred light cavalry charging into the enemy lines, he captured one of the Khitan divine banners.

This unparalleled feat caused the enemy to abandon their camp and flee, leaving corpses strewn across the fields and armor and horses lying scattered on the ground. In one fell swoop, the shame of Hebei for several years was washed away, and the prestige of the three armies in the Central Plains was restored. This extraordinary achievement is unparalleled throughout history!

He was specially appointed as the Inspector-General of Works and the Right Wing Commander of the Palace Crane-Controlling Army, and was bestowed with one thousand bolts of silk, one hundred taels of gold, and one set of bright armor.

After the imperial edict was read aloud, the eunuch's smile became even brighter.

"Minister Li, receive the imperial decree."

Li Rui didn't react for a moment.

Sikong!?

I've become a third-ranked official?

Li Rui never expected that Shi Zhonggui would reward him so generously!

Inspector General.

Although it is only an honorary title, it is nominally one of the Three Dukes, one of the highest honors for military officers.

He, a mere soldier, had somehow managed to climb higher in terms of honorary titles than Jiedushi Li Yin!

Most importantly, he held the official title of "Commander of the Right Wing of the Imperial Guard".

The emperor was surrounded by two imperial guards.

Imperial Guards, Palace Guards.

The Imperial Guard was responsible for the security of the capital and its surrounding areas, and its numbers were numerous.

Zhao Kuangyin's father, Zhao Hongyin, was a junior officer in the Imperial Guard.

The Palace Guards were the emperor's personal elite troops, specifically responsible for guarding the palace.

This was the elite force closest to the emperor himself.

Li Rui's title of "Right Wing Commander of the Palace Crane Control Army" can be explained in simpler terms.

Half of all the infantry around the emperor were under the command of Li Rui.

The Emperor's personal guards held high positions and wielded great power!

If he performs meritorious service and is promoted in the future, he will most likely be directly transferred to a remote area and become a military governor!

This is an official position that countless people dream of.

The closer you are to the emperor, the more opportunities you will have, and the greater your future wealth and status will be!

Shi Zhonggui has taken a liking to Li Rui!

Seeing that Li Rui was still in a daze, the eunuch simply stuffed the imperial edict into Li Rui's arms and laughed.

"Minister Li, please come with me to the capital, Bianliang, to express our gratitude to His Majesty upon receiving his decree."

Upon hearing this, Niu Ben and the others behind him were filled with envy!

What does it mean to rise to the top in one step?

This is what they call instant success!

Before this battle, he was just a lowly assassin.

As a result of his outstanding performance, he caught the emperor's eye and was personally appointed as a senior general in the Imperial Guard!

Once he is sent out to serve in the outside world, he will be a militia commander or a defense commander.

If you achieve merit, you will surely become a military governor!

That's a whole town's military governorship!

He held both military and political power, and apart from having to pay taxes to the emperor every year, he was practically a local tyrant!

This seemingly insurmountable road lay before Li Rui.

Who wouldn't be envious?

"Li Sikong? Wake up, Li Sikong."

The eunuch nudged Li Rui, showing no displeasure at Li Rui's dazed expression.

After all, who wouldn't be stunned for a moment when such a huge surprise falls on their head?

Just as the eunuch was about to congratulate Li Rui in advance.

Li Rui coughed lightly and said.

"Alas, Your Majesty's favor is deeply appreciated by me, but I am of humble origin and have suddenly risen to a high position. I fear that this may arouse jealousy and also tarnish Your Majesty's favor."

Therefore, I humbly request to decline the position of Palace Guard officer and only ask to remain in Dingzhou to serve at the front lines and guard the north for Your Majesty.

The words fell.

Everyone present was stunned for a moment.

The eunuch was bewildered for a moment, then cried out in astonishment.

"What?! You're not even going to be the Commander of the Right Wing of the Palace Guard?"

Li Rui said seriously.

"It's not that I shouldn't stay; it's that Dingzhou directly faces the Khitans and must be prepared for their cavalry to invade the south at any time. Staying in Dingzhou would allow me to serve the country far better than staying by His Majesty's side!"

His high-sounding words left the eunuch with no reason to refute them.

But this is, after all, defying the imperial decree.

The eunuch looked displeased and said angrily.

"This is a favor bestowed upon you by His Majesty, how dare you be so bold?"

Li Rui cupped his hands in greeting, his back ramrod straight.

"Please tell His Majesty, Your Majesty's grace is immense, and Li Rui is extremely grateful. But Li Rui's only wish in his life is to defend the country's borders and die on the battlefield!"

As the saying goes, "To repay your kindness, I would gladly die for you!"

These are lines from a poem by Li He, a poet from the Tang Dynasty, a famous poem about loyalty to the emperor and patriotism.

However, coming from Li Rui's mouth, it was truly...

Li Yin, Niu Ben, and the others looked up in a daze.

Looking at Li Rui, who was "loyal to the emperor and patriotic," I felt a little uncomfortable for a moment.

Li Yin cursed inwardly.

This brat, he doesn't even bother with his private army anymore, yet he still has the nerve to talk about loyalty to the emperor and patriotism.

If Li He knew this in the afterlife, wouldn't he be furious?

The eunuchs naturally had no idea that Li Rui was raising a private army.

Seeing that Li Rui's eyes were bright and piercing, his expression was upright, and his tone was impassioned.

The eunuch really thought Li Rui was an extremely loyal minister!

He immediately calmed down and smiled reassuringly.

"Li Sikong is indeed a great general of the country, but this is His Majesty's decree after all. If Sikong wants to refuse, he must speak to His Majesty in person."

Li Rui nodded. That's the way to do it.

The imperial edict ordering Shi Chonggui to return to the capital has already been issued in the army, and all the generals who have made meritorious contributions and received rewards must go to Bianliang in person.

Li Rui's original status was not qualified, so Shi Chonggui sent someone to bestow upon him the title of Inspector General of Works.

Having earned the honorary title of one of the Three Dukes, one would naturally be eligible to go to the capital to receive rewards.

……

Of the entire Yiwu Army, only Li Yin and Li Rui were qualified to go to the capital to receive rewards.

Despite Niu Ben's outstanding performance, he could only lead the other soldiers of the Yiwu Army back to Dingzhou to garrison the city.

The more than 100,000 Jin troops in Yangcheng were gradually withdrawing and returning to their respective vassal states.

Li Rui used the money he had seized in Mancheng to hire many slow horses for transporting supplies.

The system reward of 1,000 bags of high-yield grain seeds, plus 10,000 bags of fertilizer, were all transported away.

Zhang Yaozu touched the white fertilizer, his face full of doubt.

"What is this?"

Li Rui handed him a small booklet and gave him instructions.

"This is fertilizer. It doesn't matter if you don't understand it. I've already written the instructions. You escort these seeds and fertilizer to Dingzhou to find my wife, Wang Shuyu."

He instructed her to take the command token bestowed upon her by the military commander and to carry out large-scale farming in Boling County, making sure to complete the planting before the Grain Rain solar term.

Zhang Yaozu was stunned and quickly asked.

"It's already April, and farmers in Boling County have probably already started planting."

Li Rui said firmly.

"Replant! You must plant my seeds!"

Zhang Yaozu swallowed.

Getting farmers to resume cultivation will probably not be easy.

Farmers aren't just growing grains; they're growing the lives of their entire families!

If we make them overturn everything and plant new seeds instead, how many people will starve to death if the harvest is poor?

Zhang Yaozu could sense the difficulties involved.

Li Rui knew this all too well.

However, he is going to Bianliang to receive his reward, and it will probably be the end of May before he can go and return.

Planting in mid-April is already considered late, and grain production will be reduced.

By the end of May, the daylilies will be too cold!

Left with no other choice, Li Rui had to trust Wang Shuyu.

A few days later.

Niu Ben and Zheng Yunguo led the Yiwu Army soldiers back to Dingzhou.

Li Yin and Li Rui headed south to Bianliang.

At this moment, the capital city of Bianliang was filled with a sea of ​​joy.

Along with news of the great victory at the front, came back stories of Li Rui's heroism.

In such chaotic times, heroes are undoubtedly what people yearn for most.

Li Rui, following the main group heading to the capital to receive rewards, had only just reached Mingzhou, with half the journey still remaining.

His name has already spread throughout Bianliang City!

Various heroic deeds were passed down by word of mouth, and because they were so shocking, they were directly used as material by storytellers.

Throughout the entire capital city, all young women of marriageable age...

Upon hearing that Li Fengshi was only 19 years old and handsome, who wouldn't be tempted?

Lying in bed late at night, countless women curiously imagine what Li Rui looks like.

There was even a woman of high status who directly made a statement!

She said that as soon as Li Rui entered Bianliang, she would capture him and make him her husband!