Knighthood, there have been ancient times. At the end of the Shang Dynasty, there were 800 princes in the world. Led by four princes. Xibohou Ji Chang, with a son named Ji Fa, raised an army to defeat the king of the Daoless Dynasty, established the Zhou Dynasty, and later named King Wu of Zhou. Posthumously named Ji Chang as King Wen of Zhou.

King Wu established Zhou, divided the princes of the world, and divided them into the fifth-class titles of princes and princes. All are hereditary, and the fiefs are all called states. Within their fiefdoms, the princes had all the right to rule over conscription, collecting taxes, and minting money.

However, the times changed, and later, the knighthood that originally had an actual fief gradually became a virtual fief. That is, the person who has been knighted only nominally has a certain fief. In fact, they do not personally go to the fiefdom to govern the local people. It is just that the taxes produced in the local area are converted into gold, silver, grain and rice, and then handed over to those who have been knighted.

In today's Great Wei court, there are only three titles: duke, marquis, and earl. Like Xiao Jianshi's Song Guogong of his family. There is also Zhuge Taifu's Marquis of Wuxiang, all of whom are fictitious titles. Cheng was immediately canonized as Longcheng Bo, but it was impossible to be an exception, it was also a false seal.

Even if the prince with the highest title is only about 10,000 taels of silver in taxes every year. Cheng Li, the dragon city uncle, if he can get a thousand taels of silver every year, he will be thankful.

Having said that, there are very few people in the court today who can be knighted. Any one of them is a high-ranking person. No one expected to live by the little taxes produced by the fiefdom.

But although the title has no real power, it is a very noble title after all. It is necessary to know the rank of court officials, the lowest from the ninth grade, and the highest from the first grade. But the title of "Uncle" is equal to that of Congyipin. "Hou" is equivalent to a product. The state is above the first product, second only to the king.

Therefore, I don't know how many court officials have worked hard all their lives and made many contributions to the court and the people, just wanting to win a knighthood, but in the end they can't get it. And once you get the knighthood, it will glorify your ancestors, and future generations will feel the same supreme glory. It is even worthy of being engraved on a stone tablet and passed on to future generations.

Cheng Li has always been called the Marquis of Baihu before, the Marquis of Baihu or something. In fact, there are only 100 households, and it is so far away from the title of "Marquis" that it is almost as far as Hangzhou. But now that the Son of Heaven has officially given him the title of Dragon City Bo, it is really no less than one step to the sky.

But whether it is the name of "earl" or the benefit, for Cheng Li, it is only something outside his body, and it is not worth mentioning. So his mind was as calm as an ancient well, and he just hugged his fists and bowed his hands, and thanked him for a long time.

"Thank you, Your Majesty. Weichen received this knighthood, and in the future, he will be His Majesty, and he will do his best for the hundreds of millions of people in the Great Wei River, and he will die. ”

The Son of Heaven waved his hand and smiled: "Cheng Qing's family, flat." I am very comforted that you have this heart. However, it doesn't need to be so serious after death. After all, the Great Wei Dynasty is now peaceful in the world. ”

Cheng Li frowned, looked back at Zhuge Taifu and asked, "Taifu, didn't you tell Your Majesty about the descendants of Nuwa?"

Zhuge Taifu shook his head and said, "Not yet." After all, the old man had only heard about this matter, and had never experienced it himself. From the old man's point of view, there is always a layer of difference. Or is it easier for you, the person who has experienced it, to be more intriguing. ”

The Son of Heaven was puzzled when he heard this, and asked, "Taifu, Cheng Qing's family, what is the matter?"

Cheng Li sighed and said, "Actually, it's like this. Your Majesty, the Nuwa Niangniang ...... "At the moment, I told in detail about the descendants of Nuwa, such as Sunset, Kun and Gong.

The more the Son of Heaven listened, the tighter his brows wrinkled. Finally listening to Cheng Li's words, the Son of Heaven couldn't help but stand up and asked nervously: "Cheng Aiqing, what you said is true? A group of snake demons who have cultivated for ten thousand years want to subvert the Great Wei Dynasty?"

Cheng Li said calmly: "It's true. If there is half a lie, teach me to immediately thunder five thunders. ”

The Son of Heaven was shocked and said, "How is this good? Taifu, Taifu, you are resourceful, you must have an idea, right?"

Zhuge Taifu comforted: "Your Majesty doesn't need to be too nervous. Although that group of ancient snake demons is powerful, as long as we are united and united as one, what difficulties cannot be overcome? ”

After a pause, Zhuge Taifu said in a condensed voice: "The most critical thing at the moment is that we must reorganize the soldiers and horses as soon as possible, drill the army, and make all preparations. As long as those ancient snake demons dare to come out, we will immediately launch an army and give a head-on attack. Only in this way can we have a chance to survive this catastrophe. ”

The Son of Heaven rectified and asked, "How to rectify the soldiers and horses?"

Zhuge Taifu said: "There are a lot of things to do, what to do specifically, you still need Your Majesty to convene a court meeting, announce the hundred officials, and then the hundred officials discuss together and work together, so that a specific charter can be decided." But first of all, Habayashi Nakaro has been vacant for a long time.

The Yulin Army has been in ruin for a long time, and although it enjoys the benefits of the country, it has long been unable to go into battle. After there were many meritorious heroes and honors in the army, ordinary officials could not be restrained at all. If this continues, it will only become a great harm to the country. Therefore, Your Majesty, the old minister is courageous, and asks His Majesty to appoint Long Chengbo as the general of Yulin Zhonglang, rectify the Yulin army, and revitalize the prestige of Yulin. Prepare for the big battle. ”

The army of the Great Wei Dynasty was divided into two types: the forbidden army and the box army. The Xiang Army is the equivalent of a local militia, not a regular army. It only works in terms of local policing. At most, it is just to sweep away the bandits who occupy the mountains everywhere. Once the war is officially fought, there will be no need for the van army.

As for the forbidden army, it was the national regular army of the Great Wei Dynasty, and it was a real warlike army. But there are also two types of forbidden armies. One is also called the border army, which is stationed on the frontier in peacetime to guard against the invasion of enemies such as Rongdi in the north, barbarians in the south, and overseas pirates.

The other part was the Beijing army, which was stationed near Baiyujing and was responsible for guarding the imperial capital of the Great Wei Dynasty in peacetime. As soon as there is a need in the frontier, the Beijing army must be dispatched to support. It can be said that the Beijing army is the real pillar of the Great Wei Dynasty.

However, regardless of whether it is a forbidden army or a box army, the command is vested in the military department. The Son of Heaven could not go beyond the military headquarters and directly command. Therefore, the Great Wei Dynasty also had a third army, called the Yulin Army, which was truly an armed force directly under the Son of Heaven. No matter how well equipped, how rich the food is, and how superior the treatment is, it is the best in the Great Wei Dynasty.

The number of the Yulin Army was not large, only 10,000 people. However, it is stipulated that the shortage of personnel will be filled, and it must be guaranteed that the full quota of 10,000 people will always be full. General Habayashi Nakaro is the general who commands the Habayashi Army.

However, in the nearly 60 years since the founding of the Great Wei Dynasty, except for the first ten years because the world was undecided, the Yulin Army often followed Emperor Taizu to drive the expedition in person, and in the following 40 years, the Yulin Army has never taken another step out of Bai Yujing.

The treatment is good, and he can get close to the Son of Heaven, and he doesn't have to fight. Such advantages and differences, of course, everyone is rushing to ask for it. So over the past few decades, the Yulin Army, up and down, has long been stuffed with all kinds of noble children.

These noble sons and daughters will not be able to fight. Horseback archery, sword dancing and spear wielding and other skills are all sparse to the extreme. On the contrary, all kinds of bastards are capable, but they are capable of racing one by one. So the Yulin Army was turned into a miasma, and it existed in name only. Although the first emperor rectified several times, after all, because the resistance was too great, he failed to make a heavy hand, so that the whole had little effect.

When today's son ascended the throne, because there were many other more important things, he didn't put much effort into rectification. But Zhuge Taifu saw the current situation of the Yulin Army in his eyes and was anxious in his heart, and he had already intended to completely and vigorously rectify the Yulin Army. This time, Sunset Kun and other descendants of Nuwa were going to launch a catastrophe, but it gave Zhuge Taifu a good opportunity that he had been waiting for for a long time - to completely rectify the interior with the help of external pressure.

But after listening to Zhuge Taifu's proposal, the Son of Heaven was embarrassed. Hesitantly: "Well...... With Cheng Qing's family's ability, being a general in the feather forest is not too much to do with it. But...... But...... Fu, you're too late. I've already promised someone else this position. ”

Zhuge Taifu was stunned for a moment and asked, "Your Majesty, I don't know who else is also interested in the position of General Yulin Zhonglang?"

The Son of Heaven sighed and said, "It's Zeng Guogong and Old Master Yan." They had just been here in the morning. Xiang Zhen proposed to recommend Shen Yong Bo Lianchenghuo to serve as the general of Yulin Zhonglang. ”

Zhuge Taifu frowned deeply and asked, "Your Majesty agreed?"

The Son of Heaven smiled bitterly: "Yes." At that time, I didn't know the intentions of Zeng Guogong and Yan Laoye, so I agreed to them in a daze. Now that Taifu has recommended Cheng Aiqing again, I really don't know how to answer Zeng Guogong and Yan Laoye. ”

Cheng Li's heart was suddenly. It turned out that when Lianchenghuo left just now, he let out a sneer of unknown meaning, and the reason was here.

Zhuge Taifu thought about it, and suddenly smiled again: "Actually, it is not difficult to solve this problem. Since the founding of the Great Wei Dynasty, Yulin Zhonglang has held this position successively. All three of them, without exception, were all captains of horses.

The first concubine married Princess Taining, the sister of Emperor Taizu. The second concubine married Princess Yongjia, the sister of the first emperor. The third colt is also married to Princess Yongcheng, the sister of the first emperor.

Now that His Majesty wants to re-grant the post of General of Yulin Zhonglang, the practice of Emperor Taizu and the first emperor is of course not easy to break. This Yulin Zhonglang general must also be a lieutenant of the horse. ”

The Son of Heaven was stunned, then slapped his thigh hard, and shouted: "Yes, yes, Taifu is very right." Taking charge of the Yulin Army with the Captain of the Horse is the ancestral family law of this dynasty, and of course it is not easy to break. However, Taifu, I have eight sisters, although three of them have been married, but there are still five of them to be written. In your opinion, which princess should be allowed to marry, and who should be a princess?"

Zhuge Taifu said seriously: "Men should get married, and women should get married, this is the right way of heaven." Marriage and marriage should also be sorted according to age, it is not good for the younger sister to overtake the elder sister and rush to get married, right? ”

The Son of Heaven nodded again and again: "It makes sense, it makes sense." In this way, it should be my fourth sister, Princess Qingyang. However, Taifu, I only have one fourth sister, but those who want to be the generals of Yulin Zhonglang are Cheng Aiqing and Lian Aiqing. So who should I marry the fourth sister?"

Zhuge Taifu twisted his beard and said: "Well, although since ancient times, it has been the order of parents and the words of the matchmaker." And there is also the habit of the eldest brother being the father. However, blind marriage and dumb marriage are not appropriate after all. Why don't you do it like this? Let Princess Qingyang choose for herself. Cheng Li and Lian Chenghuo, whoever can win the heart of Princess Qingyang first, then His Majesty will recruit whoever is the concubine. How about granting the position of general of Habayashi Zhonglang to the next logical step?"

The Son of Heaven was overjoyed and said: "Taifu's words are very reasonable. Case...... Cheng Aiqing, what do you think?"

Cheng Li looked up and looked at Zhuge Taifu again, only to see him smiling and nodding lightly at himself. Cheng Li couldn't help but smile bitterly, stood up straight, shook his fist at the Son of Heaven, and said in a condensed voice: "Weichen has no other objections, and he respectfully obeys His Majesty's holy orders." ”

————

After the deliberations were over, Cheng Li, Zhuge Taifu, and Shui Longyin retired to the Son of Heaven and left the Heart Cultivation Palace.

The three of them walked side by side on the corridor, and Cheng Li couldn't help but sigh: "Taifu, you are really calculating. ”

Zhuge Taifu smiled and said, "Actually, there is nothing. However, due to the situation, it is just a matter of pushing the boat with the current. Now that's actually pretty good. As long as you successfully win the heart of Princess Qingyang, then you can not only marry back a beautiful woman like flowers and jade, but also serve as the general of Yulin Zhonglang and master the 10,000 soldiers and horses of the Yulin Army. With this military power in hand, the rest of the matter will be much easier. ”

Cheng Li frowned and said, "That's what I said. But Princess Qingyang and I have never even met, and suddenly said that I want to win her heart, to be honest, I always feel a little sorry for her. It's as if he deliberately used her for his own purposes. ”

The water dragon sighed: "Cheng Shao, don't think like this. In fact, since ancient times, when the princess got married, which one of them had already been in love with the concubine in advance, and then was appointed by the Son of Heaven to marry?

From ancient times to the present, the number of unhappy marriages caused by this can be said to be innumerable. Princess Qingyang can at least choose who she doesn't like, then she won't marry anyone. In comparison, it is already very lucky. ”

Zhuge Taifu bowed his head slightly and said, "Long Yin is right. Cheng Li, if you feel that you are a little sorry for Princess Qingyang, then at most treat her better after marriage, and don't you make up for it?"

Cheng Li sighed: "It's just like this." But then again, I really don't have a clue how to win the heart of Princess Qingyang. Because I've never had a similar experience. ”

Zhuge Taifu smiled: "Why did the old man let you pursue Princess Qingyang? Among the daughters of the first emperor, Princess Qingyang is the most lively and active by nature, and she also worships heroes the most. What kind of poetry and songs, literary style and other things, Princess Qingyang doesn't like it. So Cheng Li, work hard. The old man is optimistic about you. As long as you can show your most heroic side, Princess Qingyang will definitely like you. ”

Cheng Li suddenly realized, then shook his head and said with a smile: "Taifu, you are really scheming." No wonder people outside say that you are the reincarnation of Kong Ming. ”

Zhuge Taifu sighed: "Zhuge is a scholar of heaven and man, and his wisdom is as deep as the sea, far better than the old man. It can also get the credit of the queen without doubt. Even if the Northern Expedition is a major event, you can do it freely. At this point, the old man is even more incomparable. Therefore, it is always Prime Minister Zhuge Cheng's sentence: Do your best, and then die. As for success or failure, it is not something that can be reversed. ”

Cheng Li arched his hand and said: "Taifu is sincere, there must be a time when the clouds open and the moon is bright." But...... Strange. That Lianchenghuo, why didn't he come early or late, but at this time he came to ask for the position of Yulin Zhonglang General? Also, how could Yan Chong support him?"