Just as Liu Xinwu, the Prince of Wuning, was preparing to bring the "public opinion" of the civil and military officials of the Sixteen Prefectures of Youyun to the capital to meet the new Emperor Chen Huai'an, the imperial edict conferring the title of Marquis Zhongyong upon Lu Jiang, the vanguard general of the Longcheng Southern Expeditionary Army, was also delivered to Dali, the capital of the Nanzhao Kingdom, by fast horse.
At this time, the Longcheng Southern Expeditionary Army, which had already accepted the letter of surrender from the Pyu Kingdom, was on its way back to the capital and was resting in Dali, the capital of the Nanzhao Kingdom.
In a side hall within Dali City, Lu Jiang, the vanguard commander, was comfortably sunbathing on a deck chair, completely unaware that he had been granted the title of Marquis of Loyalty and Bravery, and was the first person in the new dynasty to be granted such a title.
"Lord Su, the deputy general of the Southern Expeditionary Army of Longcheng and the Governor-General of Liangjiang, has arrived!"
Suddenly, a messenger's voice came from outside the side hall.
Upon hearing that it was his superior, Lord Su, who had been dozing off, Lu Jiangteng immediately stood up from his recliner and hurriedly got up to greet him.
Just as Lu Jiang was wondering why Lord Su would come to him in person instead of sending his messenger to summon him to pay his respects;
As soon as Su Chen entered, he suddenly patted his sleeves and bowed deeply to his former deputy general Lu Jiang: "This humble official, Su Chen, Governor-General of Liangjiang, pays his respects to Your Excellency!"
puff--
Lu Jiang was so frightened by Su Chen's inexplicable actions that he almost spat out a mouthful of blood on the spot.
He hurriedly stepped forward to help Su Chen up, his face pale, and said, "My lord, are you making me feel terrible?"
"Since I joined the army, I have relied on your support and guidance to get to where I am today. I will always be your deputy general!"
Ha ha!
Hearing Lu Jiang's heartfelt words, Governor-General Su Chen of Liangjiang finally smiled, thinking to himself that he hadn't misjudged Lu Jiang after all; this young man was quite loyal and sentimental.
Supported by Lu Jiang, Su Chen said as he walked, "General Lu, I have come here specifically to congratulate you!"
"Some time ago, you killed Emperor Murong Fu of the Nanzhao Kingdom in front of the two armies outside the city of Pyu and Kachin. Deputy Commander Chang personally submitted a memorial to the Emperor requesting your commendation, and the Emperor's decree conferring honors upon you has already been sent to the army."
As he spoke, Su Chen leaned closer to Lu Jiang and lowered his voice, saying, "General Lu, do you know that the Emperor has bestowed upon you the title of Marquis of Loyalty and Valor, making you the first military general in the new dynasty to be granted a marquisate!"
What?
Upon hearing the news that he had been granted a marquisate, Lu Jiang was so shocked that he almost stumbled.
He looked at Governor-General Su Chen of Liangjiang with a blank expression and said incredulously, "Sir, this is no joke!"
Su Chen's face darkened, and he said seriously, "General Lu, do I look like I'm joking with you?"
"The Emperor's edict has already been delivered to Vice Commander Chang's tent. If I'm not mistaken, it won't be long before Vice Commander Chang summons you to the central command tent to read the edict aloud!"
"This, this is impossible!"
Even after receiving a positive answer from Su Chen, Lu Jiang still wore an incredulous expression, taking several steps back with a blank look in his eyes, which even seemed somewhat dim.
To be honest, Lu Jiang had fantasized about being rewarded by the emperor.
But he would never dare to dream of becoming a high-ranking official!
What a joke! Being granted the title of Marquis of Loyalty and Bravery, and being the first military general in the new dynasty to be granted a marquisate, no matter what kind of honor it is, it is not appropriate for Lu Jiang, a fourth-rank military general with little experience and few military achievements!
Being granted the title of Marquis of Loyalty and Bravery is no longer just about bringing glory to one's ancestors or having a separate page in the family genealogy!
This is an honor that would allow Lu Jiang to have his own family genealogy recorded under his own name!
This is no longer just smoke rising from the ancestral grave; it's the height of a fire that could be caused by the ancestral grave burning down.
That's why Lu Jiang couldn't believe that such immense wealth could fall into his lap!
"Report—"
"Vice Commander Chang urgently summoned General Lu, the vanguard commander, to the central command tent for a meeting!"
Suddenly, the messenger's voice rang out again outside the side hall. It was indeed Chang Yuchun, the deputy marshal of the army, who sent someone to summon Lu Jiang to the central command tent for a meeting.
It was only then that Lu Jiang snapped out of his daze and realized that Lord Su hadn't been joking with him.
It seems that I have indeed been granted the title of Marquis of Loyalty and Bravery by the Emperor!
"Alright, this subordinate will go right away!"
Lu Jiang first addressed the person outside the side hall, and then turned his pleading gaze to Su Chen, the Governor-General of Liangjiang, who had been kind to him and had shown him great favor.
He remained relatively clear-headed and was not blinded by the joy of being ennobled. He knew that a military officer like himself, without any qualifications or background, being suddenly ennobled as the first military officer in the new dynasty to be ennobled would inevitably attract the attention of countless people in the army and the court.
A single misstep could lead to utter ruin.
At this point, all they could do was pin their hopes on their old leader, Su Chen, the Governor-General of Liangjiang, who had extensive experience in court politics, and offer some guidance at this crucial moment.
Su Chen naturally noticed Lu Jiang's concerns and immediately said to him, "General Lu, when you meet with Deputy Commander Chang later, be humble. Even after the imperial edict conferring the title of marquis is read, treat Deputy Commander Chang as you have always done."
"Never be arrogant about your achievements, and even more so, never underestimate yourself;"
"You need to know that everything you have today is thanks to Vice Marshal Chang's efforts. Just remember to always follow Vice Marshal Chang's lead!"
"Remember this! Remember this!"
"Thank you, sir. This humble general understands!"
Inside the central command tent.
Chang Yuchun, the deputy marshal of the army, was staring blankly at the imperial edict that had just been delivered to the camp of the southern expeditionary army in Longcheng by express courier.
It wasn't because he was jealous that his vanguard general Lu Jiang had been granted the title of Marquis of Loyalty and Bravery, and was the first military general in the new dynasty to be granted a marquisate;
In fact, given Chang Yuchun's magnanimity, he wouldn't care about such empty fame at all.
The Emperor entrusted half of the Longcheng army to Chang Yuchun, so why would he care about these empty titles of nobility and high office?
The main reason was that Chang Yuchun simply couldn't understand why the emperor would bestow the title of Marquis of Loyalty and Bravery upon Lu Jiang, a military general who was originally unknown in the army and had few military achievements, at the critical juncture just before the enthronement ceremony. There must be some profound meaning behind this.
"Report—"
"This humble general, Lu Jiang, pays his respects to Vice Commander Chang!"
Soon after receiving the messenger's report, Lu Jiang put on his armor and rushed to the central command tent to pay his respects to Chang Yuchun, the deputy marshal of the army.
At this moment, Lu Jiang was still immersed in the dizziness of being granted a title.
However, he tried his best to remain calm, making himself appear as a complete novice who knew nothing.
After gesturing for Lu Jiang to enter the tent to speak, Chang Yuchun cut to the chase and asked, "General Lu, do you know why I, the deputy commander, have summoned you here?"
Forehead--
Lu Jiang's expression froze for a moment, then he remembered the instructions that Governor-General Su Chen of Liangjiang had given him before his departure. Finally, he gritted his teeth and stamped his foot, and honestly replied, "Reporting to the General, this humble general has heard something."
"But I am not sure whether what I have heard is the same thing that Vice Marshal Chang said!"
"Please, please enlighten me, Vice Commander Chang!"
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