Chapter 199: Hereditary Title
In the early morning, a red sun slowly rises from the end of the sea of ​​clouds. The mountains shrouded by the sea of ​​clouds are looming, and the trees are covered with rime, which contrasts with the sunlight, like a fairyland.

As the sun rises, wisps of white mist fill the mountains and forests, and floating clouds linger, forming an endless ink painting wonder.

“The thick frost fell at night, and thousands of forests were covered with rime.”

Tents were densely packed among the knee-high autumn grass. In front of a large tent, Jia Zheng held up a monocular telescope towards Mount Tai, admiring the beautiful scenery of Mount Tai and chanting softly.

At this time, Zhou Rui came out of the tent and said softly, “Master, the water is ready.”

Jia Zheng said “hmm”, and after a while he put down the telescope and turned into the tent.

“It’s already the third day. Should we go back? There are still a lot of official business waiting for the master to deal with at the yamen.” Zhou Rui whispered behind him.

“Be loyal to the person who trusts you,” Jia Zheng said as he walked.

After hearing this, Zhou Rui felt a lump in his chest, unable to breathe. He wanted to knock Jia Zheng unconscious and carry him away, away from this place of trouble!
Jia Zheng ordered the servant standing in the tent, “Go and ask when General Li will be back.”

“Yes.” The servant retreated.

Jia Zheng walked straight to the washstand, picked up the towel in the basin, and slowly began to wash his face.

Zhou Rui hesitated for a moment and whispered, “Master, General Li will not come to see you.”

Jia Zheng stopped washing his face halfway, and turned to look at Zhou Rui: “What did you say?”

Zhou Rui gritted his teeth and said, “General Li is deliberately avoiding you.”

Jia Zheng was startled.

Zhou Rui glanced outside the tent and lowered his voice: “When I went to the kitchen to get hot water, I heard the conversation of General Li’s personal soldiers. They said something unpleasant, such as ‘overestimating one’s own capabilities’, ‘meddling without authorization’, ‘being used as a gun and a monkey’, and ‘causing their general to hide in the mountains and suffer’.”

After a pause, he said, “They said it on purpose for the slaves to hear.”

Hearing this, Jia Zheng was stunned.

Zhou Rui: “Master, the Kong family didn’t tell you the truth. They have ulterior motives. They are using you as a pawn!”

Jia Zheng was even more confused. “This is what Duke Yansheng said to me himself!”

Zhou Rui was anxious: “My master, the surname of the Duke of Yansheng is Kong, not Jia! He can only consider the Kong family!”

Before he could finish his words, he heard footsteps outside and a man came in, wearing a black satin cloak with a hood.

Zhou Ruizheng was annoyed and scolded the man: “Did the master ask you to come in? You have no manners at all!”

The man walked directly to the chair in the middle and sat down, then took off the hood on his head. It was Dai Quan!

Zhou Rui was startled, and Jia Zheng, who was standing in front of the washstand, was also startled.

Dai Quan picked up the tea bowl on the table that belonged to someone unknown and drank it down with a gulp. Then he said to Zhou Rui, “Get out.”

“Yes!” Zhou Rui hurried out.

Jia Zheng finally came to his senses, put the towel back into the basin, walked to the table, and bowed with both hands: “Prime Minister.”

Dai Quan didn’t say anything either, just stared at Jia Zheng.

This look made Jia Zheng feel uneasy.

After a long while, Dai Quan picked up the book on the table and said as he flipped through it, “Jia Xuezheng has a very refined taste. Reading in such a beautiful scenery is no less than those famous scholars of the Wei and Jin dynasties.”

Without waiting for Jia Zheng to speak, Dai Quan continued, “Reading is good! Reading can help people understand the truth, distinguish right from wrong, and know good from evil. It can help people understand what ‘Heaven, Earth, the Emperor, Parents, and Teachers’ are, and what ‘eating the Emperor’s salary, being loyal to the Emperor, and sharing the Emperor’s worries’ are!”

Jia Zheng was stunned for a moment, then he understood what Dai Quan said and explained hastily, “Prime Minister, I was inspecting the official school in Qufu and heard from the local student Yanshenggong that there was some misunderstanding between the younger generation of the Kong family and General Li. I asked you to mediate and reconcile them. I have never forgotten my father’s teachings. I always think about the country. Although I am in a low position, I have never forgotten to worry about the emperor!”

Dai Quan was slightly stunned, then nodded with satisfaction: “It’s good that you can understand, and it’s not in vain. Let me say one more thing, when serving the emperor, loyalty is more important than anything else! Take General Li for example, he has not read a few serious books of sages, and he doesn’t know the words of those sages. The military reports and memorials are full of vernacular. But he always thinks about the country and the people. He thinks about the country of Dashun, not his own official position!”

At this point, he stood up and clasped his hands: “Your Majesty grants me the title of Loyal and Brave Earl, and grants me the title without any downgrade, which will be passed down for the next generation!”

Earl of Loyalty and Bravery? Li Hu was granted a hereditary title?!

Jia Zheng stared at Dai Quan in a daze.

Dai Quan looked at him and said, “Your Majesty said that anyone who has made contributions to the country will be rewarded!”

“Your Majesty is wise!” Jia Zheng responded loudly.

At this moment, a red-robed eunuch from the Imperial Household Department hurried in and reported to Dai Quan: “Grandfather, all the people from the Kong family have been captured!”

Dai Quan saw Jia Zheng still standing there, “Do you have anything else to do?”

This is my tent! Jia Zheng was stunned for a moment, then understood and said quickly: “I will go back to Qufu, ahem. Ziyang, no, I will go to Tai’an Prefecture to inspect the official school and local students.”

Dai Quan nodded and asked the eunuch, “Has General Li returned?” The chief eunuch said, “He has returned and is waiting in the central army tent.”

Dai Quan: “Let’s go.” Then he strode out.

Jia Zheng watched Dai Quan’s back disappear outside the tent, then he breathed a sigh of relief. He tried to take a step toward the back tent, but his leg felt like it was filled with lead and he couldn’t lift it for a while.

Zhou Rui walked in at this time, and seeing the situation, he hurried forward to help Jia Zheng.

Jia Zheng: “Help me sit on the chair.”

Zhou Rui: “Yes.” He helped Jia Zheng sit down on the chair and poured him a bowl of hot tea.

Jia Zheng drank several sips before he recovered his breath and said to Zhou Rui, “Pack your things and let’s go now.”

Inside the big tent, Li Hu carefully put the imperial edict back into the box.

Dai Quan smiled and said, “From now on, you should call me ‘Loyal and Brave Earl’.”

Li Hu smiled and said, “The Minister is joking.” He then said to Wang Daniu, “The Minister probably hasn’t had breakfast either. Tell the kitchen to prepare a meal for two people.”

“Yes.” Wang Daniu stepped out.

Li Hu dragged a chair over, sat down next to Dai Quan, and asked in a low voice: “What’s going on?”

Dai Quan looked at him with a smile.

Li Hu understood and said with a smile: “This year’s annual gift will be increased by 20%.”

“Your title was originally suppressed.”

Dai Quan picked up the tea bowl and took a sip, then said: “It’s not entirely because of your great contribution, but also because of the prince.” Then he told Li Hu some things in the palace.

Li Hu smiled in his heart, he had picked up a great bargain, the Crown Prince had known about the Fourth Prince’s affairs for a long time, and the Emperor was still trying to “treat everyone equally”, how ridiculous and pathetic!
“How does your majesty intend to deal with this?”

“Sage Confucius is a very good amulet. As long as the Kong family does not directly participate in the rebellion, this is a golden ticket to immunity from death. This is the confidence of the Kong family, unless they have a falling out!”

“Let them go?”

Dai Quan sighed and said, “It’s not easy to kill the Kong family, so why not take this opportunity to eliminate the Kong family’s influence in Shandong, and try out the ‘tax-sharing policy’ in Shandong. With the cooperation of the Kong family, it will be easier to promote it in other provinces. In addition, with this incident, there will be conflicts within the Kong family, and they are no longer united.”

After a pause, he said, “This was decided after discussion between your majesty and the crown prince.”

Li Hu was silent for a moment, “Did the second prince’s uncle die in vain?”

Dai Quan did not answer, but just looked at Li Hu quietly.

Li Hu was a little unhappy with his gaze: “What’s that look?!”

Dai Quan changed the subject: “You can go back to Beijing now.”

Li Hu: “Oh?”

Dai Quan turned his head and whispered something in his ear.

Li Hu was secretly shocked. The emperor was playing with fire!

Dai Quan seemed to have seen through Li Hu’s thoughts and continued, “Those officials are just dogs raised by the gentry. As long as their fundamental interests are not affected, they will not move. If this batch dies, we can just raise another batch.”

Li Hu thought about it and it made sense.

Dai Quan: “Do you want to go back now, or come with me to the Duke of Yansheng’s Mansion to broaden your horizons?”

Li Hu smiled and said, “I’m going to see my father-in-law.”

“You~” Dai Quan shook his head, “No more talking, I’m leaving”

Li Hu: “So anxious? Have dinner.”

Dai Quan: “No, the cavalry led by General Shenwu is still waiting at the post road.” Then he stood up and walked out.

Li Hu followed him out.

Dai Quan took the reins and suddenly remembered: “Remind Jia Zheng not to interfere.” After saying that, he mounted the horse.

The chief eunuch and the guards from the Imperial Household Department all mounted their horses.

Dai Quan waved his whip and the horse rushed forward.

Li Hu looked at the flying dust and shook his head. The emperor wanted too many things, but he didn’t want to pay the price. Where in the world could such a good thing happen? If they were to make such a fuss, something big would happen sooner or later!
Hey, what did Dai Quan say just now? Remind Jia Zheng? I reminded him a fool!
Eat, hunt, and visit my father-in-law tomorrow!

(End of this chapter)