The entire court erupted in criticism against Chunyu Yue, with some even resorting to outright curses.
In the past, when Chunyu Yue targeted Zhao Feng with various justifications, many ministers simply ignored him.
But this time, Zhao Feng had won great honor for the nation and had exterminated a foreign enemy for the people.
He was undeniably a hero of the entire race.
To try and smear even such achievements this was something many officials simply could not tolerate.
Moreover, Chunyu Yue's words were truly laughable.
Compassion?
Compassion for the enemy?
Had these foreign invaders ever shown the slightest mercy to unarmed civilians?
At this moment, even Chunyu Yue himself was panicking.
Facing the scorn and anger coming from all directions in the grand hall, his face showed a trace of unease.
Originally, he had just wanted to find an excuse to prevent Zhao Feng from being promoted to State Commander.
Seeing the king's apparent inclination to do so, he could not help but interject.
"Honorable ministers,"
"Indeed, the words of Grand Tutor Chunyu were excessive in this instance,"
Wang Wan stepped forward and spoke loudly.
Hearing Wang Wan's words,
As a former Prime Minister,
Many officials dared not be too impolite toward him.
The commotion in the court gradually subsided.
"Hmph."
"Chunyu Yue,"
"If you dare speak such nonsense again in the future, I will not be so lenient."
"Showing mercy on the battlefield? Sparing the enemy?"
"By your logic, only Qin soldiers should die while the enemy remains untouched?"
Wang Jian snorted coldly, his voice filled with anger toward Chunyu Yue.
"I never meant that,"
"It's just... just that attacking civilians on the battlefield is too excessive."
"The foreigners are barbaric and slaughter innocent people,"
"But should we follow suit?" Chunyu Yue tried to argue.
"By your logic,"
"If I were to slaughter your entire family, committing such barbarity against you, would you spare me?" Wang Jian sneered.
"You… you…"
Chunyu Yue pointed at Wang Jian, his face trembling with anger.
"Hahaha."
"Such is the way of Confucians."
"Ridiculous, utterly ridiculous."
"Grand Tutor Chunyu, you truly believe in 'do unto others as you would have them do unto you' as long as it doesn't happen to you personally."
"You claim the foreign tribes are barbaric, but are you calling our warriors who fought for the nation the same?"
"If so, you are laughable and detestable indeed…"
The court, which had just quieted down, once again erupted into furious denouncements.
"Grand Tutor Chunyu,"
"Enough."
Even Wang Wan could no longer hold back, turning to scold Chunyu Yue.
For a comrade so foolish,
Wang Wan could no longer tolerate him.
Hearing Wang Wan's rebuke, Chunyu Yue was startled into silence, lowering his head without daring to speak again.
"Guards."
At this moment,
Ying Zheng, who had remained silent until now, spoke.
His voice was clear and cold, carrying an air of chilling authority.
A squad of imperial guards stepped into the grand hall.
"Throw Chunyu Yue out,"
"Until Zhao Feng returns to the capital, Chunyu Yue is forbidden from attending court. Once Zhao Feng is back, Chunyu Yue shall personally apologize to him, to the soldiers who died on the northern frontier, and to the innocent civilians slaughtered by the enemy."
"In addition,"
"Chunyu Yue lacks the moral character to be a teacher he shall no longer serve as the tutor of Fusu."
Ying Zheng's voice was cold and firm.
Anyone present could hear just how furious he was.
Chunyu Yue's face turned deathly pale.
Realizing he had truly made a grave mistake this time, he collapsed to his knees.
In the court,
As a Grand Tutor, Chunyu Yue had no real power only the right to make petitions. The reason no one dared offend him was because of his connection to Fusu, the Crown Prince.
But if he lost that position, he would be nothing.
Fusu's expression changed, and he could not remain still any longer.
"Father,"
"Today, my teacher's words were indeed too much,"
"What he said did insult those who perished at the hands of the foreign invaders and those who fought in the north."
"But he ultimately meant well for Qin."
"Vengeance only breeds more vengeance,"
"The invaders slaughtered our people, committing heinous acts, but that is because they lack virtue and compassion. We, as the people of China, know propriety and righteousness."
"If we continue treating the foreign tribes as enemies forever, it will never end."
"To deal with them, military force is necessary, but we cannot exterminate them completely only through our benevolence can we truly subdue them."
"Furthermore,"
"My teacher has guided me for ten years."
"The bond of teacher and student is not one to be broken I will not take another tutor."
"I acknowledge only one teacher."
Fusu spoke loudly and knelt at the foot of the imperial steps.
"Prince…"
Seeing Fusu's stance, Chunyu Yue was visibly moved.
Hearing Fusu's words,
The look in Ying Zheng's eyes grew colder and colder, laced with deep disappointment.
"Benevolence and righteousness to win them over?"
"I never expected that a son of mine could be so foolish."
"If not for Feng, if I were to pass one day, and Qin fell into Fusu's hands, would it truly perish in two generations?"
A storm of emotions churned in Ying Zheng's heart his disappointment in Fusu reaching its peak.
"In that case,"
"Let Chunyu Yue remain your teacher for the rest of your life."
Ying Zheng said coldly, his voice filled with immense disappointment.
"Your Majesty."
Wang Wan and Kui Zhuang exchanged glances, panic flashing in their eyes.
They could hear the deep disappointment in Ying Zheng's tone.
"Hahaha."
"Excellent."
"Brother, oh brother, you are truly foolish."
"Grand Tutor Chunyu has spoken such ignorant words, yet you still support him this is entirely your own doing."
"Father has already lost all hope in you."
Hu Hai laughed internally, delighting in the situation.
"This is perfect."
"Brother, your foolishness has only made my path easier."
"Thank you, truly."
"Thank you for proving that you are unworthy of the throne."
"Thank you for handing me the future of Qin on a silver platter!"
Fusu lowered his head and bowed deeply to Ying Zheng, his eyes filled with a sense of relief.
He was a man of loyalty, filial piety, and righteousness.
He understood that Chunyu Yue had spoken out in his favor, though he had misjudged the situation.
If this incident led to him losing his status as Chunyu Yue's disciple, Fusu would truly feel guilty.
Ying Zheng withdrew his gaze, no longer looking at Fusu.
With a wave of his hand, several imperial guards immediately seized Chunyu Yue and dragged him out of the hall.
Throughout the entire process, no one dared to plead for him.
Nor did anyone want to.
Chunyu Yue's words today had truly opened the eyes of the court officials.
"Zhao Feng led a northern campaign against the foreign tribes, destroyed their royal court, and slew their king."
"He has achieved unparalleled merit."
"He must be rewarded."
"I originally intended to promote Zhao Feng by one rank."
"But now, that is no longer sufficient."
Ying Zheng's voice was calm but resolute.
With this declaration, he effectively endorsed the earlier proposal by Han Fei and Li Si to elevate Zhao Feng further.
One rank was simply not enough!
An elder minister stepped forward.
"In my humble opinion…"
"For the extraordinary achievements of the Supreme General, he should be promoted by another rank."
"That makes it two ranks in total."
"With this, the Supreme General will become the most honored and distinguished general in the empire."
"The Supreme General is already at the highest military rank within our twenty-tier system," said Wang Wan immediately.
The position of Grand Marshal.
Wang Wan was unwilling to see Zhao Feng rise so quickly.
As Prime Minister, he still held a position slightly higher than Zhao Feng in the court's hierarchy. But if Zhao Feng were to become Grand Marshal, he would wield supreme command over all military forces.
At that point, Wang Wan would have no means of restraining him.
Moreover, once Zhao Feng reached such a position…
Unless he committed treason, he would be untouchable.
His power would be so vast that no one could move against him.
Of course, the only exception would be if Ying Zheng abdicated for with a new emperor comes a new court.
That might be the only way to remove Zhao Feng from such an exalted rank.
"Prime Minister Wang, are you suggesting that Zhao Feng is unworthy of becoming Grand Marshal?"
Ying Zheng's gaze locked onto Wang Wan, his expression unreadable.
Wang Wan immediately bowed and spoke loudly:
"Your Majesty, the Supreme General is undoubtedly worthy of this position."
"This campaign, in which he led tens of thousands of troops to assault the northern frontier, slaying countless foreign enemies, is indeed a legendary achievement."
"In fact, not only the title of Grand Marshal even a noble title based on military merit would be justifiable."
"But, Your Majesty, there is one matter to consider."
"The twenty-tier nobility system of our Qin Empire is already at its highest limit."
"The Grand Marshal is the pinnacle of military rank."
"If Zhao Feng ascends to Grand Marshal now, what will happen if he achieves even greater military victories in the future?"
"If we promote him too quickly, there will be no titles left for further rewards."
"This would not be a good outcome."
"Moreover, the Supreme General is only twenty-two years old."
"He still has a long future ahead of him."
Wang Wan's words carried both praise and hidden caution.
And sure enough, upon hearing them, many ministers in the court began nodding in agreement.
"That is true."
"The Supreme General has indeed accomplished astonishing feats, and a promotion to Grand Marshal would be fitting."
"But there are still two rival states left in the world. If Zhao Feng is already Grand Marshal now, how will we reward him if he leads the final conquests?"
"Additionally, as Prime Minister Wang has pointed out he is still so young."
"Look across all the courts of the land where in the world has a man so young ever held such a high position?"
"If we exhaust all possible promotions now, it may lead to difficulties in the future."
"Excessive advancement may not be good for either the empire or the Supreme General himself."
The ministers continued murmuring amongst themselves.
Then, another senior official, Kui Zhuang, stepped forward.
"I agree with the Prime Minister's proposal."
"For now, the Supreme General should not be promoted to Grand Marshal, but should instead be elevated by two noble ranks."
"A two-rank promotion would sufficiently recognize his achievements."
"The title of Grand Marshal can be delayed for now."
"I urge Your Majesty to consider this carefully."
"Your ministers support this."
One after another, court officials stepped forward in agreement.
Ying Zheng narrowed his eyes.
"This old fox…"
He glanced at Wang Wan, cursing him internally.
Of course, he understood Wang Wan's true motives.
But ultimately, this was because Zhao Feng was his son.
That was why he was doing everything possible to elevate Zhao Feng's position and consolidate his authority.
If Zhao Feng had been any other general, even if he had accomplished the same unparalleled feats, he would never have been promoted so quickly.
Zhao Feng's military merits granted him legitimacy for advancement, silencing opposition.
But the most critical reason for his rise was his bloodline he was the son of Ying Zheng, the King of Qin.
If it were anyone else, even if Ying Zheng had an open heart, he would have restricted their rapid ascent to maintain balance.
Ying Zheng turned his gaze toward Wang Jian, the empire's most seasoned general.
"What do you think, Supreme General?"
Wang Jian stepped forward and declared loudly:
"I believe the Prime Minister's words have merit."
"However, if we promote Zhao Feng by two ranks now, then in the future, when he leads the conquest of the remaining states, there will be no further excuse to deny him the title of Grand Marshal."
His words carried their implications.
The political maneuvering required carefully chosen words.
Ying Zheng nodded slightly.
Then he looked across the assembled court.
"What do the rest of you think?"
The ministers bowed.
"The Supreme General speaks with wisdom."
"If in the future Zhao Feng achieves the final conquests, he shall surely be promoted to Grand Marshal."
Prime Minister Wang Wan immediately followed up.
"For now, it is best to reward him with two noble ranks rather than the full title of Grand Marshal."
To Wang Wan, this was a strategic victory.
Granting noble titles was preferable to allowing Zhao Feng to gain supreme military authority.
Ying Zheng smirked subtly, his gaze unreadable.
With a wave of his hand, he issued his command.
"Prepare the imperial decree."
The court scribes immediately raised their brushes.
"Zhao Feng led his forces deep into the northern frontier, delivering great service to the state and the people, annihilating enemy tribes, destroying their royal court, and slaying their king."
"His achievements are legendary."
"He shall be rewarded generously."
"Hear my decree"
"Zhao Feng shall be promoted by two noble ranks and granted the title of Marquis of Che."
"He shall be bestowed lands befitting his title, a personal guard of five hundred elite soldiers, bringing his total to three thousand personal troops."
"He shall receive ten thousand gold pieces, one hundred thousand copper coins, one thousand bolts of fine silk, one thousand pieces of jade, and one thousand servants."
"In addition"
"Zhao Feng's martial prowess is unmatched and is honored as the War God of Qin."
"From this day forth"
"I bestow upon Zhao Feng the title of Wu An Jun (Lord of Martial Peace)."
"The elite troops under his command shall be named Wu An Guard."
Ying Zheng's voice echoed throughout the grand hall.
Upon hearing these words, Wang Wan and his allies, who had previously felt quite pleased with themselves, were suddenly taken aback.
"How could His Majesty directly grant Zhao Feng a noble title?"
"Wu Anjun..."
"That is a true noble title!"
"By conferring the title of 'Martial Lord' upon Zhao Feng, his prestige will reach its peak."
"Although he is not being named Grand Marshal (Guo Wei), with this noble title, his promotion to that rank is now inevitable."
"As long as Zhao Feng remains, no one else will have the opportunity to become Grand Marshal."
"His Majesty, you truly are a master strategist..."
Wang Wan's face showed a look of shock.
Even an old fox like him had not anticipated such a move from Ying Zheng.
By sidestepping the direct appointment of Zhao Feng as Grand Marshal, Ying Zheng instead granted him the title of Wu Anjun.
Such an honor was, in some ways, even greater than the rank of Grand Marshal.
But now that the royal decree had been issued, Wang Wan had no way to oppose it. He felt as if he had just swallowed something foul.
He had aimed to block Zhao Feng's promotion to Grand Marshal, but in an unexpected twist, his efforts had inadvertently led to Zhao Feng receiving a noble title, making him the undisputed leader of the court.
It must be noted
Since Bai Qi, no outsider had ever been granted such a noble title.
Now, Zhao Feng had once again set a new precedent.
Wu Anjun!
A noble title granted for military merit.
Hearing the title "Wu Anjun," many would immediately think of Bai Qi as if that title was solely meant for him.
However
Not only in Qin but also in other states across China, there was a tradition of conferring noble titles for military prowess.
For example, in the state of Zhao, Li Mu had also been honored with such a title.
Besides Li Mu, there were many others.
But among all of them, the only name truly remembered by history was Bai Qi.
He had become synonymous with the title of Wu Anjun.
"His Majesty is wise!"
Wang Jian immediately stepped forward and loudly proclaimed.
Han Fei and Li Si exchanged glances.
The two disciples, now aligned in their interests, tacitly agreed and stepped forward in unison, also declaring, "His Majesty is wise!"
Wei Liao followed suit, standing forth to voice his support.
In an instant
The entire court resounded with unanimous agreement.
"Wang Wan, you old fox."
"You tried to block my son's promotion to Grand Marshal?"
"Then I will simply make him a noble lord!"
Ying Zheng laughed in his heart.
His ultimate goal
Before unifying the land and publicly recognizing Zhao Feng as his son, he wanted to elevate Zhao Feng's status to its peak, granting him enough power to command absolute authority over the court.
Now
Ying Zheng had taken a critical step toward that goal.
The next step
This would be Zhao Feng's appointment as Grand Marshal, the supreme leader of all military forces.
The pinnacle of military authority.
The undisputed first warrior of Qin.
"As for Zhao Feng's honors,"
"They shall be officially announced upon his return to the capital."
"Ren Xiao."
"When does Zhao Feng plan to return?" Ying Zheng turned to ask.
"Your Majesty," Ren Xiao respectfully replied, "The Supreme General has stated that after settling affairs in Xiangping, he will first visit Shachiu to pay respects to his mother."
"Afterward, he will return to Xianyang."
Ying Zheng nodded. "I see."
"He led his cavalry deep into the northern frontier, causing such a stir his mother must have been terrified."
Knowing that Zhao Feng intended to visit Shachiu first
Ying Zheng felt relieved.
The news of Zhao Feng leading 10,000 elite riders into the northern barbarian lands had already spread, and his beloved Afang surely knew of it.
She must have spent every day in constant worry.
Ying Zheng wished to comfort her, but he had no opportunity to do so.
His thoughts shifted
"Your Majesty,"
"The Supreme General has also requested double compensation for soldiers who perished in battle against the barbarians."
"I believe this should be approved to encourage the entire army."
"Furthermore,"
"The same compensation should be granted to all soldiers who have died in battles against the barbarians." Wei Liao formally proposed.
"How could I not approve such a request?" Ying Zheng chuckled, then looked at Wei Liao.
"You shall personally oversee this matter, ensuring that no soldier who fought in the northern campaign feels abandoned."
"Wei Liao humbly accepts the decree."
The court session continued.
Though Zhao Feng had caused a slight delay in proceedings, the primary focus of the meeting soon returned to the governance of the former Yan territory.
With the fall of the Yan state
Qin now had an overwhelming amount of work to do.
Governance.
Pacification.
Military organization.
Compensation for fallen soldiers.
Each of these matters was of utmost importance.
When the court session finally concluded
"General Wang, congratulations."
"Now that Zhao Feng has been conferred the title of Wu Anjun, this truly calls for celebration!"
"Indeed."
"A title of nobility for military merit it has been many years since such an honor was granted."
"Now, Zhao Feng has become the undisputed leader of Qin's military."
"Congratulations..."
Several ministers close to Wang Jian stepped forward to offer their congratulations.
"Gentlemen, you are too kind."
"Tomorrow"
"Yes, tomorrow, at Jiuxian Tavern."
"I will personally host a banquet for all of you!" Wang Jian beamed as he clasped his hands together.
The scene was one of warmth and camaraderie.
At that moment
Wang Jian caught sight of Wang Wan's darkened expression from the corner of his eye.
He wasn't about to let this opportunity slip away.
Stepping forward, he chuckled, "Many thanks to Prime Minister Wang."
"If not for your intervention, my son-in-law Zhao Feng would not have received this opportunity to be honored as Wu Anjun."
"When Zhao Feng returns, I will make sure he thanks you."
"Of course."
"Also, be sure to remind that old pedant Chunyu Yue he must come to apologize in person, or else I will formally petition His Majesty to punish him."
With that, Wang Jian turned away, laughing heartily as he left, ignoring Wang Wan's increasingly grim expression.
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