It was not until the report of the victory at the front reached the sixth rì after dìdū that the resolution on this reward was finally conveyed from the palace.

The officers and men of the Eastern Front and the officers who performed outstanding in the battle were rewarded according to the list submitted by the Duke of Tulip himself, and the provisions of the Emperor's Law on their exploits in battle. The rest of the officers and men were rewarded for their military merits -- this is not surprising.

The only thing that caught everyone's attention was the reward for Du Wei himself.

On the premise that the official position and title have been at the top, everyone is speculating about what the regent is going to use to reward Du Wei.

Don't...... Crowned prince?or added the title of marshal?

Neither of these seems likely. The Prince is the direct authority of the royal family. And the marshal ...... A 20-year-old marshal? Moreover, Du Wei's qualifications are far from sufficient.

However, when the details of the reward were announced, everything became clear.

It seems that the first beneficiary is Du Wei's younger brother, Gabrie, the Count of the Rollin family. Because of his outstanding performance in battle, Gabrie was directly awarded the rank of major general - which is a reward for skipping grades. Gabry was only a cavalry commander before, and if he was promoted according to the normal trajectory, he should be promoted to the rank of commander (which is already a speed that nobles usually enjoy), but this time, he skipped the commander rank and was directly promoted to the rank of general.

Clear-eyed people know that this is a kind of disguised reward for Du Wei: since you can't promote Du Wei's official, then simply promote your younger brother. Anyway, you brothers and sons are a family, and everyone will be rewarded the same.

But with such a big military achievement, it is not enough to jump to Gabbri's official position, and the reward for Du Wei himself has become......

Fief.

Province of Calderón. It is a province located in the southern part of the empire, not too far from the famous Southern Marshes on the mainland, and is famous for producing several southern fruits.

The reward for Du Wei is to set aside a population of 250,000 people in Calderón Province to encompass three cities and sixteen surrounding villages and towns, as Du Wei's new territory!

In terms of income, these three cities, together with the 250,000 people in the surrounding 16 villages and towns, can bring about 80,000 gold in taxes to Du Wei every year (including the commercial tax on the fruit trade).

In terms of area. This fief is located in the southernmost part of the province of Calderón and occupies about a quarter of the province's geographical area.

After learning about the content of this reward, the first thought that popped into my heart was like this.

Everyone knows that the base camp of the Duke of Tulip is in the northwestern province of Dessa, which was run by Dewey for several years. It has become the sphere of influence of the Tulip family, relying on the control of the border to the grassland, a large amount of tax revenue from the chamber of commerce, and all kinds of trade in materials to and from the grassland, the sale of cattle, sheep and horses, etc., etc., can get a considerable income every year

In the northwest. Dewey's prestige was extremely high. There is money and soldiers in hand.

However, this new enclave is thousands of kilometers away from Du Wei's base camp. Du Wei got this fief, how did he manage it? It was too far away from the northwest for his original power to reach it. Even if he wants to run it well, it is impossible for him to give up the base camp in the northwest, and the main strength must take into account the old nest in the northwest, so this new fiefdom must not be able to invest too much jīng power to operate......

"A clever move. ”

This is the consensus in the heart of every dìdū bigwig. Regent means of the land. Very clever!

This kind of reward satisfies the need to reward the land for meritorious service -- if there is a great military merit and is not rewarded, it will chill the hearts of the front-line soldiers. And such a reward also greatly limited Du Wei's power from further expansion.

And Du Wei himself received a reward order from Dìdū. After reading it, I just smiled. I didn't mean to be dissatisfied at all, and I accepted the reward very happily. He even invited the envoy of Dìdū to have a big meal, and gave him a generous gift of great value.

The Duke was satisfied—this was the news that the messenger had brought back. It's just that everyone knows that this is mostly just a face-saving expression for Du Wei.

Now, everyone knows that the regent is already working to limit the power of Duke Tulip.

"I'm really satisfied, who says I'm not happy?"

In the evening, in his tent, Du Wei looked at his younger brother: "Do you think I should be dissatisfied? This is three cities and sixteen villages and towns, a large piece of land. It's quite a bit. The territory was close to the Southern Marshes. In the future, the empire will not be able to hunt monsters from the frozen forest, and the southern swamps will be the only area to hunt monsters, and if we get a territory there, we can also develop a lot of business. ”

"But......" Gabry looked at his brother's casual appearance, and he frowned: "Brother!"

"What do you want to say?" Du Wei raised his eyelids and glanced at his brother.

"I ......" Gabre took a deep breath, the young man mustered up his courage, looked at his brother, he seemed to hesitate, and slowly gritted his teeth: "Brother, I'm not a child anymore." ”

"Of course you're not. Du Wei's tone was still relaxed: "You are already an adult." Look, you're now a major general of the Empire. I'm having a headache about what official position to get you. Since the rank is major general, then you should be qualified to command a division, but, I think you are still too young now, and you need to sharpen, so I don't plan to really give you a division, but transfer an infantry regiment to you to command. With the rank of major general, he has the authority to command. ”

"I don't care about that. Gabri shook his head, his eyes were blazing, he suddenly walked to the entrance of the tent, looked out a few times, pulled down the curtain of the tent, came to Du Wei, got closer, and whispered: "Brother, I'm not a child anymore." There are some things that we can say directly! You don't have to carry them alone!"

"What do you say?" said Du Wei smirked.

Gabrie hesitated for a moment, a hint of absoluteness flashed in his eyes, and finally lowered his voice, his voice was low. But there is no doubt that the tone is very resolute:

"Brother, I have never had a good impression of the royal family!"

Du Wei's heart moved, his eyebrows involuntarily raised, he stared into his brother's eyes, but found that there was no hesitation in his eyes. The perseverance of young people is revealed: "You...... What do you mean?"

Gabry yīn face: "How my father died, I won't forget!"

When this sentence was spoken, Du Wei looked at his younger brother's young face, a few months of military career, a trace of childishness has gradually faded, young brother. Already a resolute lad!

Seeing that Du Wei didn't speak, Gabry's heart was crossed!

"Brother! My father's illness was due to a knot in his heart, and he died of depression, and I know this very well! Yes, our family was involved in that coup d'état...... But what was the coup d'état itself? It was a struggle for power within the royal family! Our family was just on the wrong side. The eldest prince and the prince Chen seized the throne, but they can fight for each other, they are both royals. Father. It's just a matter of dying for them. ”

Gabby said. He clenched his fists: "I know, the winner is the king, and the loser is the loser!" I understand this truth, my father's camp is lost, and the family is defeated, which is nothing to say......

Saying this, his voice raised slightly and stared at Du Wei's eyes: "But I know better - father, he died because of this!!"

Du Wei was silent.

He had been ignoring his brother's thoughts. Really. Speaking of the royal family, Gabry's eyes revealed a deep disgust at the moment.

"You ......"

"I don't have any ideas. Gabri shook his head: "If it had been a few months ago, I wouldn't have said this, I would have kept these thoughts deep in my heart." After all. The family can be restored. Already very lucky. I will try to revitalize the Rollin family. Feel at ease to be an earl, even if I don't like royalty in my heart. But at the very least, I'll try to play my role well, and on the surface, I won't show this emotion of mine. ”

"You say if. Du Wei smiled lightly: "So what do you mean now?"

"I'm not blind, I'm not deaf, I'm not stupid. Gabry stared at Du Wei's eyes, he opened his hands, and said solemnly: "Brother, in the past few months, there have been subtle changes in the relationship between you and the royal family, I can see this! The Wangcheng Guards went to the northwest to confront your private army, and when that incident happened, I was in the academy, and I could feel that in the past few days, the eyes of the people around me were a little different! Even earlier...... You have surrendered the Northwest Division and the duties of the Minister of Military Affairs of the Northwest, but you have become the dean of the Military Academy -- from that time on, I have already begun to understand in my heart! The royal family seems to be interested in attacking you! Even if it is not now, it has already begun to test you!"

Looking at his brother's eyes, Gabby's voice was a little hoarse, his eyes were full of determination and determination, and in that tone, it was even more ......

Du Wei sighed, he closed his eyes and thought for a while: "What do you want me to do?"

"I don't have much hope. Gabri shook his head, but his next sentence really surprised Du Wei's heart!

Gabre said, "Brother, what do you want to do...... No matter what, whatever your choice! I will definitely support you resolutely!"

Looking at his brother's excited expression, Du Wei seemed to smile, he walked to the edge of the tent, stretched out his fingers, and gently stroked the flame of the burning candle, his fingertips seemed to sweep over the flames, feeling the hot feeling......

"You mean, rebellion?"

Du Wei smiled lightly, his expression seemed relaxed, but he casually said the word "rebellion", and said it so easily and carelessly.

Although his eyes were peaceful, it seemed to make Gabri feel a little heavy, but the young man did not dodge, he gritted his teeth: "If there is really that day, I will also stand by your side!" After saying this, Gabrie picked up his helmet from the table, put it on, straightened it, nodded to Du Wei, turned around and left.

"Wait. ”

When Gabbrey reached the entrance of the tent, Du Wei stopped his brother.

"I asked you a question, and you answered me honestly. Du Wei looked at his younger brother's eyes: "That day, at the banquet in the palace...... Did you invite the Muse to dance, did you mean it?"

Gabre stopped, he thought for a moment, and looked at Du Wei: "I really like the muse...... However, I admit that I don't like the royal family, including the little emperor. So, at that time, there were some deliberate thoughts in my heart. ”

"So, do you want me to rebel?" Du Wei said in a calm tone, his eyes were very calm, and he looked at his younger brother.

"That's your choice. Gabriel shook his head: "Brother, I will listen to you for the rest of my life!" But what I want to say is: If the royal family has made up its mind to deal with you, then ...... You can't continue to hesitate!"

Gabriel strode out of the tent, the curtain dropping, and Du Wei let out a long sigh, a sinister smile on his lips.

Sixteen years old! Sixteen-year-old brother!

Now the little guy is thinking about something......

He had forgotten that he was only twenty years old in terms of the age of the world.

"All I know is how my father died!"

Thinking of Gabby's words just now, Du Wei suddenly felt a little headache.

This kid ...... I think about it a little too much. This is not necessarily a good thing.

I have been working hard to hope that Gabbri's life can be simpler and simpler. I don't want him to fall into those complicated power struggles. He prefers that he can act as an umbrella for his younger brother.

But now it seems that although my younger brother is young, he also has his own ideas......

and the dance of the muse...... Sure enough, it was deliberate!

What does he want to do? Young impulse? Or ......

Thinking of this, Du Wei refused to continue thinking about it. He didn't want to imagine this younger brother in his heart as the kind of person who had a deep heart for the city.