Cai He, the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, who was reading the imperial edict, recited the entire list of the eighteen marquises conferred by Emperor Zhaowu (Chen Huai'an) upon the founding of the Tang Dynasty.
Liu Ziyu, who should have been ranked first among the eighteen marquises of the founding of the Tang Dynasty, was not on the list.
Instead, Huo Qubing, the champion who was only twenty years old, became the first of the eighteen marquises who founded the Tang Dynasty.
Even after Cai He finished reading the last name on the list of those to be granted a title, Liu Ziyu remained rooted to the spot, his eyes glazed over, his face deathly pale, his heart ashen.
There is a saying that goes, "Nothing is more sorrowful than a broken heart," which perfectly describes the state of Deputy General Liu Ziyu at this moment.
He never expected that Emperor Zhaowu Chen Huai'an would not only refuse to grant him the title of Duke, but now he, Liu Ziyu, was not even on the list of marquises.
What angered him even more was that among the eighteen marquises who founded the Tang Dynasty, there were people like Guo Dingfang who had once led his troops to besiege Longcheng, the fiefdom of the Prince of Jin, and then handed over the Longyou and Hexi prefectures to the Tibetan barbarians.
Even a useless surrendered general who almost fell into the hands of the Tibetans in Chang'an Prefecture was actually granted the title of Marquis of Zhenxi.
Furthermore, Marquis Zhongyi Xiao Po was merely a "groom" who was born a slave and had half-Hu blood. Before following Emperor Zhaowu in raising an army, he was just a flag bearer in the Longcheng Polu Army, a soldier who was not even a centurion.
Because he managed to keep the battle flag flying during the Battle of Longcheng, he gained the appreciation of Emperor Zhaowu and was assigned to the Jinwu Guard of Emperor Zhaowu's Imperial Guard as its commander.
Yet this very man, who had been pulling the stirrups of a horse in front of Emperor Zhaowu, was granted the title of Marquis of Loyalty and Righteousness.
Liu Ziyu was the first to declare his loyalty to Chen Huai'an, the Prince of Jin, and repeatedly made great achievements in the southern expedition, capturing Kaifeng and taking Jinling.
Incredibly, at the investiture ceremony after the founding of the new dynasty, he didn't even receive the title of marquis.
Is there any justice left? Is there any law left?
At this moment, Liu Ziyu's furtive glances at the dragon throne revealed a hint of dissatisfaction and resentment.
Even Liu Xinwu, the newly enfeoffed King of Zhao, was puzzled and confused by this.
He couldn't understand why the emperor wouldn't even bestow the title of marquis upon his adopted son, Liu Ziyu.
If the rank of a noble title is determined solely by military achievements, then Liu Ziyu, with his outstanding contributions to the Tang Dynasty, should at least be granted the title of Marquis!
From any perspective, Liu Ziyu was at least better than the likes of Guo Dingfang, Tan Li, and Wang Wenbin, who were surrendered generals from Anxi.
However, even if Zhao Wang Liu Xinwu, a veteran of three reigns and a seasoned politician, had doubts and wanted to stand up for his adopted son Liu Ziyu, he should not do so in this situation.
Therefore, King Zhao Liu Xinwu's face remained expressionless.
He was also wondering if his adopted son, Liu Ziyu, had done something to offend the emperor during his time in the capital, which was why the emperor deliberately lowered Liu Ziyu's rank during the investiture ceremony as a warning.
Just as the father and son were wondering, the eighteen people who had been granted the title of Marquis of the Great Tang Dynasty knelt down in the Golden Palace and kowtowed to the Emperor, saying, "Your Majesty, we thank you for your great favor!"
On the dragon throne, Emperor Zhaowu Chen Huai'an once again waved his hand in a gesture of acknowledgment, saying, "My beloved ministers, you may rise and dismount!"
Once the eighteen marquises of the Tang Dynasty have returned to their original positions, the next to be granted titles will be the thirty-six earls of the Tang Dynasty.
They were also among the last group of civil and military officials to receive imperial decrees at this founding ceremony.
Cai He, the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, continued to read the imperial edict in a drawn-out tone—
"Tang Ziyi—Earl of Jingyuan;"
"Ni Dingguo—Earl of Lanling;"
"Liu Ergou—Earl of Suiyuan;"
"......"
The eunuch Cai He, like an emotionless imperial decree-bearing machine, read out the list of those who had been granted the title of Earl of the Great Tang Dynasty, one after another.
At this moment, Liu Ziyu, who was already heartbroken, no longer had the urge to count the names one by one. He was like a walking corpse standing in the Golden Palace.
Until his name was uttered by the eunuch Cai He: "Liu Ziyu—Earl of Wuyi!"
"So be it—"
Immediately afterwards, the eunuch Cai He read out the two words "By Imperial Decree".
With this, the complete list of those to be conferred titles at the founding ceremony of the Tang Dynasty was finally finalized.
A total of 60 people were granted titles by the Tang Dynasty, including six Dukes (including one posthumously conferred), eighteen Marquises (including one conferred in advance, Marquis Zhongyong Lujiang), and thirty-six Earls.
Liu Ziyu, the deputy general who believed he would be enfeoffed as a Duke of the Great Tang and ranked first among the six dukes, ultimately made it onto the last train of the enfeoffment list, becoming the last of the thirty-six earls.
In other words, among the 60 people who were conferred titles today, if ranked by rank, Liu Ziyu, the Earl of Wuyi, is exactly the last.
When the next court session begins, the officials will stand in their positions according to rank. Liu Ziyu's current position in the Golden Palace will have to be moved back a bit.
His idea of standing in front of Duke Chang Yuchun of Wei and letting the former deputy commander of the army smell his farts ultimately failed.
Liu Ziyu couldn't remember anything that happened after that.
All he knew was that he was like a puppet being held by strings, following the thirty-six earls who had been granted titles, repeating the action of kowtowing and thanking Emperor Zhaowu Chen Huai'an in the court.
Next, the Ministry of Revenue drafted a series of regulations regarding stipends, stipends, and other benefits based on the rank of the title being conferred, but Liu Ziyu didn't listen to a single word of them.
All he knew was that after today's court assembly, he, Liu Ziyu, the head of the military generals of the Sixteen Prefectures of Youyun, the sworn brother of the current Empress, and the "brother-in-law" of Emperor Zhaowu Chen Huai'an, would become a laughing stock in the eyes of all the civil and military officials in the court.
Even his subordinates in the army were ranked higher than him at the investiture ceremony.
In the future, when it comes to leading troops into battle, will it be me, the Earl of Wuyi, who will command that group of marquises, or will those marquises command me?
Liu Ziyu dared not think about it, nor did he want to.
At this moment, all he wanted was for the court to adjourn quickly so he could find a secluded place and get completely drunk.
Only by getting drunk can I relieve the myriad resentments and sorrows in my heart!
"Court adjourned—"
Finally, Liu Ziyu heard the words "Court adjourned" uttered by Cai He, the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial.
He practically fled the gates, being the first to rush out of the Golden Palace and run wildly out of the imperial city.
In the past, Liu Ziyu, the "Imperial Brother-in-Law" who was once surrounded by a retinue of followers and was very powerful after court, was now like a frightened bird, riding alone through the streets and alleys of Jinling City.
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