300,000 Han troops continued to stay in Nanban, responsible for the stability of this place, although Meng Zhun led the crowd to express their attachment to the Han, but still can not be careless, no one dares to guarantee that more than a million barbarian soldiers are all sincerely attached, once a rebellion occurs, it may become more and more intense, so it must be handled carefully.

The deputy marshal Yin Falcon sat in the camp of the Han army, and Ye Yunyang led a part of the meritorious ministers to the imperial capital to report to the emperor.

Going back with him was also the Eastern Barbarian King Meng Zhun, the emperor said in his will that he would let him come to the imperial capital to receive the award, in fact, everyone knew that he would not want to come back again.

Several flying wings sent from the imperial capital landed in the camp one after another, and the scene was spectacular, with a total of four medium-sized flying wings and eight individual flying wings, which was a specification that the prince could only enjoy when he went out on patrol.

It can be seen that the emperor attaches great importance to Ye Yunyang and affirms this victory.

Meng Zhun arranged for several entourages to board a flying wing, and then came to Ye Yunyang's side with a shy face, asking to share a plane with him.

Ye Yunyang frowned and said: "King Dongban, you are living the belly of a gentleman with the heart of a villain, let's set off together, we will take care of each other on the road, don't worry about safety." ”

Meng Zhun cheekily said: "That's not good, if there is a problem with the flying wing that Xiao Wang is riding, wouldn't he have to die like Meng Tu?"

Ye Yunyang smiled bitterly: "Then why are you sure that there will be no problems with the flying wing I am sitting on?"

Meng Zhun swore and said: "You are the person valued by the emperor and the crown prince, the flying wings arranged for you must be the best, and it is safer to follow you." ”

"But our side is full, and there are no spare seats. Ye Yunyang spread his hands.

Including him, plus Dongfang Yixue, Liu Yuying and Chen Shilai, plus Zheng Zhiyuan and Gu Zhengxiang, there were just six people, and even the original pilot had to move to other flying wings.

Meng Zhun said to Chen Shilai Nunu: "Let your entourage sit on another plane, and there will be no place." ”

Ye Yun raised his eyebrows and frowned, and then instructed Zheng Zhiyuan: "If anyone dares to come over and twitter, kick it out directly." ”

Zheng Zhiyuan glanced at Meng Zhun with a dark face: "Do you want to be kicked, don't you get out of here." ”

Meng Zhun had no choice but to leave and return to the original flying wing.

......

The Great Han Palace, the Imperial Study.

The crown prince walked over with a thick notebook and said, "Father, according to the merit book sent by Cao Cao of the Southern Expedition, the military department has calculated the military merits of the soldiers, and I hereby invite you to take a look." ”

The emperor raised his head and asked, "Is Yun Yang the first meritorious?"

The prince nodded: "Yes, he is the commander of the three armies, and this Nanban victory is thanks to his strategic planning and good command, and the first credit is expected by everyone." ”

The emperor opened the first page of the military merit book, which recorded in detail each of Ye Yunyang's schemes, as well as the capture and capture of each major battle.

In the Battle of Nanban, the coalition forces killed more than 300,000 enemies in total, and lured and forced the enemy to surrender and forced nearly one million, which was the first merit.

Secondly, Ye Yunyang persuaded Meng Zhun, the king of the Eastern Barbarians, to lead 1.5 million of his subordinates to surrender to the Han Dynasty and sacrifice the command of the army and the land of the Southern Barbarians, which was another great achievement.

The first merit alone is enough to make Ye Yunyang Jue upgrade to one level, and the second one can be promoted to another level.

"Is it another double rise?" the Emperor frowned.

Seeing this, the prince hurriedly asked: "Is there anything wrong, this is the conclusion reached by the military department after strict calculation according to the regulations, did they miscalculate?"

The emperor shook his head, it was not that the officials of the Ministry of War had miscalculated, and there was no problem with the conclusion they gave, but that Ye Yunyang had just been promoted from county prince to county prince half a year ago, and he had crossed the county marquis level in the middle.

Now that he is going to be promoted from a county prince to a national prince, crossing the level of a prince, is it too fast?

You must know that above the prince is the prince, that is to say, in addition to the vassal king, the prince and the county king, the prince is the highest level of nobles.

Ye Yunyang is only eighteen years old, and he is already at the top of the aristocratic titles, with his age, he can at least serve the Han for decades, and if he makes war exploits in the future, how can he be rewarded?

Although there are third-level princes above the princes, the vassal kings have always been the children of the royal family to be crowned, and Ye Yunyang has no chance to become the vassal king even if he has made great contributions.

The empire is vigorously cutting the vassals, and the target is the vassal states, how can the emperor be crowned princes and kings again in this situation, it is destined that Ye Yunyang will not have a chance with this level of title.

Then only the king of the county is left, and the prince and the king of the county are only one step away, which means that Ye Yunyang can still be sealed once, and there will be an embarrassing situation where there is no seal.

At that time, it is not only Ye Yunyang himself who is embarrassed, but also the emperor, who has made new contributions, and he can't help but be rewarded, but how to seal it?

In order to avoid this situation, let him be idle at home and not give him the opportunity to make meritorious contributions?

What are you kidding, you'll have to rely on him to deal with the ghost-faced colt in the future!

You have to use it again, and there is no way to reward it, this is definitely the rhythm of the master.

What will happen to the master, there is only one way to die.

"It's really troublesome. The crown prince frowned and said, "Erchen didn't think about it so much, he just felt that he should be rewarded for his meritorious deeds, who would have thought that Yun Yang's title was about to rise to the top." ”

The emperor sighed and said, "On the one hand, I hope that Yun Yang will become a pillar of the Han Dynasty, and on the other hand, I don't want him to be a master of high merit, it is difficult to have both!"

The prince had an idea and said, "Why don't we talk to him privately and see what he means, as long as he has no opinion, we can slow down his promotion, and this time we will be promoted to one level." ”

The emperor nodded: "That's the only way, I hope that this kid Yunyang can understand the general situation and understand our painstaking efforts in doing this." ”

......

After a long flight, everyone came to the imperial capital smoothly, and it was not until their feet touched the ground that Meng Zhun's hanging heart landed together.

Looking at the majestic palace in front of him, he was full of emotion.

Just last year, when he saw the palace for the first time, he was directly shocked by its luxury, and suddenly realized that his father, King Menghuo, was the right idea.

At that time, their father and son were honored guests of the Han Dynasty, and now his status is not much better than that of a prisoner, so he has a different feeling: only a powerful empire is equipped with such a gorgeous palace, and only a truly strong person is worthy of living here.

Seeing that he was stunned, Ye Yunyang walked over and said, "King Dongban, do you still hold grudges?"

Meng Zhun didn't even dare to say it, although he was rejected, but finally came here safely, and he didn't hold a grudge against Ye Yunyang in his heart, and said: "Appreciate the majesty of the palace again, Xiao Wang feels a lot. ”

Ye Yunyang shrugged: "You are good, at least come here as a hero, you can think about it, if Meng Tu's flying wing did not have an accident, what kind of feeling would he feel when he stood here?"

Meng Zhun smiled bitterly, thinking that I am not much better than him, I should be ridiculed and ridiculed, he is nothing more than the name of a prisoner, and he will not be executed, and he can be a marquis.

Is there any difference between a prince and a marquis who are confined in the imperial capital?

A team of eunuchs walked over briskly surrounded by the Imperial Forest Army, led by a middle-aged man with a white face and beard, and saluted Ye Yunyang and said: "The slave greets the Duke of Nanshan County, His Majesty the Emperor, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and hundreds of civil and military officials are waiting for you in the court, please follow me to the palace." ”

Liu Yuying interjected and asked, "Is Grandpa Huang also going to summon me?"

The eunuch nodded: "Your Majesty specially explained, let the Lord of Yuying, the Eastern Academician and several generals go to the palace with the Duke of Ye and the King of the Eastern Barbarians." ”

Liu Yuying smiled happily, and asked Ye Yunyang instead: "Grandpa Huang won't be rewarded for meritorious deeds, do you think he will make me an official?"

"Being an official?" Ye Yunyang's eyes widened: "How can you think about this, a girl's family should stay in the harem honestly, I have never heard that a girl can be an official." ”

The little girl said-for-tat: "Why can't you, is there a big difference between men and women, why can men be officials, but not women? Do you have two heads on your shoulders, or do you have two mouths on your face?"

Ye Yunyang was about to refute, but the eunuch said in a begging tone: "Don't quarrel with the two, Your Majesty and the hundred officials are waiting, it will take a lot of time to get from here to the main hall, how can you keep Your Majesty waiting." ”

Liu Yuying took the initiative to retreat: "Okay, then hurry into the palace and discuss this matter later." ”

Everyone entered the palace, although they hurried slowly, but it still took more than half an hour to reach the door of the council hall, and the eunuch immediately shouted loudly: "Nanshan County Duke, General Fulin, Southern Expedition Commander Ye Yunyang, the county lord of the supervising army Yuying, the academician of the Imperial Capital Temple, Dongfang Yixue, and the Eastern Barbarian King Meng Zhun are ordered to meet you." ”

Soon, a voice of response came from the main hall: "Please come to the palace to meet Ye Jungong, Yuying County Lord and others." ”

Ye Yunyang took a big stride, Liu Yuying and Dongfang Yixue behaved generously, but Meng Zhun and several generals showed nervous expressions, and followed behind the three of them, not only their legs trembled, but they didn't even dare to raise their heads.

When everyone entered the hall, all the officials looked at Ye Yunyang with envious eyes, and made such a great contribution, it must be indispensable to be crowned an official and knighted, he was young and destined to become an upstart in the imperial court.

The people present are all clear-eyed people, and they can see the importance that the emperor and the crown prince attach to Ye Yunyang, which means that in the decades that his father and son have been in power, Ye Yunyang will stand tall.

"Minister Ye Yunyang greets Your Majesty. ”

"The grandson visits the emperor's grandfather. ”

"Dongfang Yixue greets Your Majesty. ”

"The guilty minister Meng Zhun paid a visit to His Majesty. ”

Everyone saluted, and the emperor smiled and said: "Aiqing, you are exempt, this time the Nanban victory, you are all the first heroes, I am very pleased to see you come back unscathed." ”

The crown prince continued: "The Ministry of War has recorded your military exploits, and Your Majesty will reward your merits in the near future. ”

Everyone clasped their fists: "Thank you, Your Majesty, Longen." ”

Liu Yuying thought that he would be rewarded as soon as he went to the palace, but he didn't expect to have to continue to wait, so he asked unwillingly: "Grandpa Huang, how do you want to reward me, can you leak some news first?"

The prince hurriedly shouted: "You must not be rude, in front of the civil and military officials to ask for a reward from Your Majesty, what kind of system." ”

The emperor waved his hand: "The emperor is innocent and pure, and there is no hindrance." The rewards of the soldiers, I naturally want a bowl of water to be flat, but I am my own family, I might as well give her a reward in advance, and Liu Yuying listens to the reward. ”

The little girl stepped forward and said with full courtesy: "Listen to the seal." ”

"There is the eldest granddaughter of the emperor, Liu Yuying, who is gifted and intelligent, served as the supervisor of the army in the Nanban War, and was conscientious and conscientious, and was specially crowned as the princess of Yuying, and enjoyed the treatment of the prince from today. ”

The prince is equivalent to the princes and kings, and is much higher than the princess and the prince of the county.

You must know that among the many sons of Emperor Liu Qi, except for Liu Rong, who was made the crown prince, only a few were named princes, and most of them were nominal county kings.

Liu Yuying just followed a trip to Nanban, strictly speaking, she didn't do anything, except for secretly staring at Ye Yunyang, plus writing dozens of secret letters, she was awarded the title of a prince, which shows the emperor's favor for her.