Chapter 651: The Title of Marquis! (1/2)

Translated by: Hypersheep325

Edited by: Michyrr

”Eunuch Gao, the student has learned courtesy.”

Wang Chong quickly turned his head and gave the eunuch a deep bow.

The scions of the capital had many unspoken criticisms of these castrated eunuchs, but Wang Chong was different. In front of his eyes was nothing more than a virtuous official. Whether he was a eunuch or not, someone who could be loyal to the country, loyal to the sovereign, loyal to the world, was a person worthy of respect.

Moreover, when Wang Chong was in prison, Eunuch Gao had treated him kindly.

”Haha, when we last met in your cell, I knew that Young Master was an extraordinary individual. From a tiny cell to today's meeting, all was as expected. In the war of the southwest, Young Master achieved enormous merit. You truly have not disappointed His Majesty.”

Eunuch Gao raised the decree as he smiled.

Unlike the other eunuchs, Eunuch Gao had never referred to himself as 'this one', or 'this lowly one', but had always simply used 'I'. This was a great honor within the palace, and from this aspect alone, one could see how greatly the Son of Heaven favored him.

”Eunuch Gao's praise is too much. When the world is in danger, every person has their duty to save it. Wang Chong only did his duty.”

Wang Chong gave a small bow.

”Oh?”

Eunuch Gao's eyes brightened as he looked at Wang Chong in surprise.

”When the world is in danger, every person has their duty to save it? Interesting. Young Master's thoughts truly are different from ordinary people, truly deserving of His Majesty's great kindness.”

In the world that Wang Chong had come from, 'When the world is in danger, every person has their duty to save it' was a phrase that every person was familiar with, but in this world, it was clear that no one had heard of it before.

(TN: That is because this phrase has yet to be written. The originator of the phrase was Gu Yanwu, who lived in the time that the Ming Dynasty collapsed and was invaded by the Qing Dynasty. The phrase in its exact form was formulated by Liang Qichao, a renowned reformist who lived during and past the end days of the Qing Dynasty.)

It was clear that this was the case for Eunuch Gao as well.

”Wang Chong, receive the decree!”

Eunuch Gao nodded and immediately unfurled the second divine decree.

”Wang Chong receives the decree!”

Eunuch Gao's voice began to boom over the Imperial Stairway, resounding through the entire palace and beyond. In an instant, everyone, whether it was the guards, maids, or even the people in the distant Yuzhen Palace, perked up their ears and began to carefully listen.

The war of the southwest was an extremely important war, one that was related to the fate of the entire Great Tang. Many people were very curious to see what sort of reward Wang Chong would be granted, but no one would be able to know until the decree was promulgated.

King Qi, Abusi, Duan Qian, and many more officials, including Wang Gen, all showed signs of focus. Wang Chong was no exception.

Although he had already experienced mountains of corpses and seas of blood, which had tempered his mind to an extremely formidable level, this reward ceremony was extremely important to him. But not even he knew what the Sage Emperor would reward him with.

All of this had already broken away from the course of history. At least in his last life, such a thing had never happened before.

”Acceding to the will of the heavens, the Emperor declares:

”In the war of the southwest, Wang Chong of the Wang lineage pacified Mengshe Zhao and Ü-Tsang to the benefit of his country. He is rewarded with three million taels of gold, thirty thousand bushels of pearls, four hundred thousand rolls of silk, and the rank of marquis, with the title 'The Young Marquis'…”

Boom!

The words 'Young Marquis' were like a boulder being dropped into a lake. The entire palace was in an uproar, the observation platforms abuzz with chatter.

”A marquis?! The Sage Emperor made him a marquis!!”

”He's only seventeen. For him to be made a marquis is unprecedented. In all the three hundred years of the Great Tang, no one this young has ever been made an Imperial Marquis!”

”I've been in charge of the Bureau of Rites for so many years and am very familiar with all the ancient texts of the Imperial Court. Never since ancient times has there been a title like 'Young Marquis'. His Majesty created this title specifically for him. Doesn't that mean that of all the countless youths in the world, only he alone can be called marquis? How great of a regard is this?!”

”The Young Marquis, the Young Marquis! Putting aside all the gold and pearls, His Majesty actually made him a marquis. This sort of thing has never happened. Doesn't this mean that his rank now exceeds many of the first-rank officials of the court!!!”

……

The observation platforms were in an uproar, everyone showing shock on their faces. Many people had speculated that the Sage Emperor would richly reward Wang Chong upon his return from the southwest.

But Wang Chong had no rank, and didn't even have his name written down in the registers of the Great Tang army. This was an inherent problem, so many people believed that no matter how richly the Emperor would reward Wang Chong, he would at most confer upon him the title of count.

No one had expected the Sage Emperor to go this far. Despite the fact that Wang Chong had no position within the empire and was essentially no different from a common citizen, he had been raised straight to the rank of marquis.

Such was his status that he now outranked many important officials of the court.

Even his big uncle Wang Gen was now suppressed by Wang Chong's brilliance.

”Hahaha, a marquis, a marquis! My Wang Clan actually produced such an excellent youth!”

Wang Gen stroke his sparse beard, his eyes shining brightly as his robe trembled in excitement and relief. For the Wang lineage to have a seventeen-year-old marquis in his lifetime was simply unthinkable.

Across all the clans of the capital, not a single clan had ever had such a young marquis. The Wang Clan stood alone.

”Chong-er, good job. Big Uncle didn't make the wrong call. With you here, our Wang Clan is certain to have an even more dazzling future!”

Wang Gen's heart was thumping in excitement.