At this moment, Chen Cheng was covered in blood, but Liu Bang showed no sign of disdain. Instead, he stepped forward, grasped Chen Cheng's hands, and said with deep emotion, "If not for Le Zhi's bravery, I would have had to pay a much greater price to unify the world and eliminate Xiang Yu."
These words were highly complimentary, yet neither Zhang Liang, Chen Ping, nor even Han Xin had any objections.
After all, the person before them was a fierce warrior capable of chasing after Xiang Yu!
Who could object to him?
At this moment, Chen Cheng still held the "great halberd" that had killed Xiang Yu.
Chen Cheng's expression was humble, and he whispered, "Your Majesty exaggerates. Chen Xi merely contributed a small, insignificant effort."
Liu Bang, however, ignored these humble words. Holding Chen Cheng's hand, he stood at the peak of the mountain, observing the scene below, his expression becoming even more unrestrained and assertive.
Suddenly, he began to recite:
"A great wind rises, clouds fly high—",
"Where can I find brave warriors to guard the four directions—?"
"Now, the world is unified, and all within the four seas are devoted. Can I… perhaps call myself 'I' (I is the imperial 'I')?"
Liu Bang turned his head, looking at everyone, with a hint of a smile and the unique dominance of Emperor Gaozu Liu Bang!
To call himself 'I'!
This was a very profound and typical question.
Ever since the First Emperor unified the world and changed the title of 'Son of Heaven' to 'Emperor,' the address 'I' could only be used by the Emperor himself.
Liu Bang's question at this time, "Can I perhaps call myself 'I'?" simply meant, "Can I become Emperor?"
Zhang Liang smiled gently, then stepped forward, his face composed: "Your Majesty's achievements have recreated the world. Naturally, you may call yourself 'I'.
Now that the world is unified, why not choose a date to ascend the throne, select a capital, and a dynastic title?"
Liu Bang's earlier assertiveness seemed to instantly "leak away." He scratched his head, a look of helplessness and weariness on his face: "Oh, with so many things, how can I manage it all?"
"Let's discuss it slowly."
He blinked, holding Chen Cheng's hand and said, "Isn't the most important thing now to commend Chen Xi for his achievement ?"
"Chen Xi eliminated Xiang Yu; this is a great achievement!"
"Earlier, I said that whoever eliminated Xiang Yu would be enfeoffed as a Marquis of Distinction. But Le Zhi is already the head of the Marquises of Distinction. How should he be further enfeoffed?"
In fact, this enfeoffment was not difficult; it was just that Liu Bang was somewhat unwilling to grant it.
Above a Marquis of Distinction, wasn't there still the existence of a King?
And wasn't there already a "King of Qi" on this very mountain?
Given Chen Xi's merits, shouldn't he be able to be enfeoffed as a King? Although Han Xin's merits were vast, Chen Xi's merits were even broader: saving the Emperor and being the primary contributor to the elimination of the King of Chu. Such merits…
A glimmer of light flickered in Han Xin's eyes.
In his opinion, this was the best time to shed his "prominent target" status!
Now that the world had stabilized and Xiang Yu had been eliminated, he was the only remaining "King" in the entire realm. Wouldn't he then become the first prominent target for Liu Bang to suppress?
But… what if this incomparably brave Chen Xi could be dragged into this?
Make him a King too!
Once he became a King, he would no longer be alone.
When there was only one King, that person would naturally become a prominent target to be suppressed and retaliated against by the Emperor. But what if there were two? Then the other meritorious officials would also want to become Kings one after another!
So Han Xin immediately stepped forward, just about to speak, when another voice spoke.
As soon as this person spoke, Han Xin couldn't even voice his own thoughts anymore.
Because this person was… Chen Xi!
Only "Chen Xi" was heard saying with a smile, "Reporting to Your Majesty, my achievement in eliminating Xiang Yu was entirely due to the soldiers having greatly exhausted Xiang Yu's strength. Only then was I able to eliminate Xiang Yu."
"If I have any small, insignificant merit, then it is all the merit of Your Majesty's soldiers."
Chen Cheng said very sincerely, "If Your Majesty wishes to reward me, then just grant me a pot of good wine and the thousand pieces of gold promised for eliminating Xiang Yu. That would be enough."
"As for the title of Marquis of Ten Thousand Households, I ask Your Majesty to distribute the stipends of these titles among the meritorious officials who managed to seize Xiang Yu's body!"
Liu Bang stood there, a hint of amusement in his eyes. He simply looked at Chen Cheng, then let out a long laugh: "Hahahahahahaha, what a Le Zhi!"
He stepped forward, patted Chen Cheng's shoulder, and said, "How could I mistreat a meritorious official?"
"As Le Zhi suggested, divide the title of Marquis of Ten Thousand Households into several equal shares and distribute them among those who seized the body."
Liu Bang's expression remained unchanged, and he continued, "But… Le Zhi's deserved fief will not be reduced."
"Originally, Le Zhi was the head of the Marquises of Distinction, with the title Guandu Marquis and a fief of ten thousand households. Now, having performed a great service to the state, the two pavilions near Guandu will be merged into Guandu, making Guandu a county!"
"Le Zhi will now enjoy a fief of twenty thousand households in Guandu!"
Twenty thousand households!
What kind of concept was this?
In the original historical trajectory, the foremost meritorious official in the early Han Dynasty was Xiao He. Liu Bang granted Xiao He a fief of eight thousand households. Later, feeling that Xiao He's contributions were immense and that he had given him more money than others in Pei County, he added another two thousand households, making it ten thousand households.
This was the standard "Marquis of Ten Thousand Households."
Later, Xiao He cooperated with Lü Hou to eliminate Han Xin, and Lü Hou again rewarded Xiao He with five thousand households, bringing Xiao He's fief to fifteen thousand households!
This was already the highest among the meritorious officials of the early Han Dynasty!
Even Zhang Liang only had a fief of ten thousand households.
At this time, "Chen Xi's" fief had already reached twenty thousand households!
It was the combined fiefs of Xiao He and Zhang Liang!
But neither Zhang Liang nor Xiao He spoke, because they knew that this was what Chen Xi deserved!
Just look at the merits "Chen Xi" had accumulated in this short year.
Initially, when he was enfeoffed as a Marquis within the Passes, he only had a fief of fifteen hundred households. This was his reward for reporting Xiang Yu's escape route.
Later, when Xiang Yu besieged Liu Bang, he rescued Liu Bang and performed a great service.
At this time, he was given an additional six thousand five hundred households, reaching eight thousand households!
Liu Bang, seeing that Chen Xi could chase after Xiang Yu and had sincerely stated that Xiang Yu had tried to win him over but he refused, added another thousand households, bringing it to nine thousand households.
Afterward, he offered strategies and settled Han Xin as the King of Qi. Liu Bang added another thousand households to Chen Xi's fief, making him a true Marquis of Ten Thousand Households.
Today, whether it was eliminating Xiang Yu, besieging Xiang Yu, or finally refusing the title of King, all these merits made Liu Bang very happy and also served as a small warning to Han Xin.
So another ten thousand households were added!
This was the "fief" included in the "Marquis of Ten Thousand Households" title that Liu Bang had promised!
As for the others who divided Xiang Yu's body?
The others did not obtain a complete corpse, so they were enfeoffed with different fiefs according to the size of the body parts they acquired.
.... .....
"Book of Han, Annals of Emperor Gaozu": In the fifth year, Emperor Gaozu and the armies of the various lords jointly attacked the Chu army, and fought a decisive battle with Xiang Yu at Gaixia. The Huaiyin Marquis led three hundred thousand men to engage them, General Kong was on the left, General Fei was on the right, the Emperor was in the rear, the Marquis of Jiang and General Chai were behind the Emperor, and the Guandu Marquis was at the Emperor's side.
Xiang Yu's troops numbered about one hundred thousand.
Huaiyin engaged first, but was unsuccessful and retreated.
General Kong and General Fei advanced, the Chu army was at a disadvantage, and the Huaiyin Marquis again pressed the attack, utterly defeating them at Gaixia. When Xiang Yu's soldiers heard the Han army's Chu songs, they believed that Han had completely occupied the Chu territory, so Xiang Yu was defeated and fled, thus his army suffered a great defeat.
At this time, the Guandu Marquis pursued him and killed Yu with a halberd.
Emperor Gaozu said to him: "You have achieved this merit, and you should be rewarded." At this time, the Huaiyin Marquis spoke, wishing to propose his enfeoffment as King. However, the Guandu Marquis said: "My merit is insignificant; I dare not accept Your Majesty's divine grace. That I could achieve this merit was due to the encirclement by the soldiers. Please reward the soldiers, and grant me fine wine and delicacies; my heart will already be content."
Emperor Gaozu heard this and was greatly pleased. He stepped forward and said: "Your merit is supreme, unparalleled in the world. You should be enfeoffed with ten thousand households." Thereupon, the Guandu Marquis's fief was increased by ten thousand, becoming twenty thousand households. At this time, the Zan Marquis's fief was eight thousand, and the Marquis of Liu's fief was ten thousand, neither of which matched the Guandu Marquis's imperial favor.
..... ...
Luoyang
In the courtyard.
Chen Cheng sat there, a hint of "serenity" on his face. He merely listened to the people in the main hall arguing over the capital, but he did not utter a single word.
At this moment, everyone in the main hall was arguing frantically about the capital city.
Liu Bang believed that Luoyang was the heart of the Central Plains, making it the most suitable place for the capital, and also ideal for governing the Central Plains. However, Zhang Liang, Xiao He, and others held opposing views.
Zhang Liang sighed softly, then said, "Your Majesty, although Luoyang is located in the Central Plains, it is on the bank of the Great River, where floods are frequent. How can it become the capital?"
"Now that the world is newly settled, a more suitable place of imperial rise should be chosen."
Xiao He also agreed with Zhang Liang's opinion, a serious expression on his face: "Your Majesty, I believe that the Guanzhong region is the place where Your Majesty rose to power, and it also possesses the centrality of the world, though slightly Biased ."
"The area of Xianyang Palace, located near Chang'an, can be used to rebuild a city, or utilize the Qin-era palaces for construction."
Xiao He's objections were quite substantial. He looked at Liu Bang and said, "Your Majesty, now that the world has just been unified, having suffered the disasters of the Qin era, it is already impoverished. Yet, neither a new capital nor a palace city can be easily constructed."
"Building the capital by utilizing the Guanzhong region might…."
Liu Bang felt somewhat disappointed upon hearing this. After all, in his view, having become Emperor, he had not yet enjoyed the prosperity of the world.
However, since the world had come to such a state, wasn't the Emperor's task precisely to develop it further?
As for enjoyment?
When could he not enjoy it?
.... ...
"Book of Han, Annals of Emperor Gaozu": "In the fifth year of the King of Han, Emperor Gaozu wished to establish Luoyang as the capital. However, out of compassion for the common people, he was unwilling to impose further labor. Thus, he established the capital in Guanzhong, renaming it Chang'an, meaning 'long-lasting peace for the world'."
"The lords, generals, and ministers all praised him, saying: 'The Emperor possesses the appearance of benevolent virtue and sagely governance'."
.... .....
Sixth year of the King of Han.
Outside Chang'an city
A tall altar was erected, and Liu Bang ascended the platform, dressed in the pre-determined color of the imperial robe, standing beneath the sky.
In the distance, the wind suddenly rose, and the "Han" banner, high in the air, fluttered and waved.
Amidst countless solemn and grand sacrificial songs, amidst the boundless sounds of chimes echoing through the clouds.
The Great Han Dynasty was established!
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
It was as if countless scenes flickered before Chen Cheng's eyes. The aura of the Great Han's fireworks slowly drifted before him, then settled into his body.
In his ears, a voice seemed to come from unknown depths.
The voice said: "Enfeoff—Chen Xi, Guandu Marquis, with a fief of twenty thousand households, ennobled at Guandu!"