Chapter 154
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Yuan Li declined the title of duke, purely out of traditional courtesy known as the “three refusals and three offers” custom.
After a moment of surprise, his subordinates also calmed down.
Although in troubled times, the concept of propriety and music might be abandoned, if it were someone else, who would refuse the rewards given to them? They would eagerly accept them without hesitation. However, Yuan Li was a renowned scholar, and every move he made would be scrutinized by people all over the world, especially for such a significant event as being enfeoffed as a duke. At this stage, Yuan Li was not in a hurry and didn’t want to appear unsightly.
Yuan Li’s attitude was too resolute, leaving the envoy with no choice but to hurriedly take the decree and rewards and leave.
After a few days, Chu Hechao finally returned.
Upon hearing of the army’s victory and their return to the camp, the people crowded the streets, joyfully welcoming the victorious soldiers.
A man who had suffered from the atrocities of the Wuwan people shouted with a choked voice, “The General is mighty!”
“The soldiers of Youzhou are mighty!”
Various cheers, filled with the people’s heartfelt emotions of relief and sorrow, resonated in the air. Many people’s eyes became red and filled with complex emotions. Among the excited adults, there were also children watching the soldiers of Youzhou passing by, their eyes gleaming brightly.
In their dark pupils reflected the heroic figures of the Youzhou soldiers.
Under the gaze of the people, the soldiers’ expressions became even more serious, their chests puffed up with firm determination.
The leading officers couldn’t help but sit up straight. However, when they looked to their left and right, they noticed that most of the people were looking at Chu Hechao.
Not only because Chu Hechao was leading the way and had a handsome appearance, but also because of the shining golden armor he wore under the sunlight.
The subordinates exchanged meaningful glances, feeling that their general looked like a person made of gold.
Chu Hechao was unaware of his subordinates’ silent ridicule, as he was in a happy mood. He had a smile on his face, lightly swaying the reins and appearing both elegant and dashing.
Occasionally, when he heard someone excitedly calling out, he would casually glance over, causing the crowd to erupt into another round of cheers and some women to blush and shy away.
Among the crowd on the roadside, Madam Yang stood with her servants, holding her young son’s hand.
Her eyes pierced through the crowd, fixed on the Wuwan people who were cowering and bowing their heads in the back of the army.
Chu Hechao had captured twenty thousand Wuwan soldiers as prisoners of war. These prisoners were bound with ropes and dragged along behind the army. Alongside them were ragged refugees closely following the army.
These refugees were all Northern Zhou people who had been captured by the Wuwan as slaves. After Chu Hechao defeated Gulichi, he rescued them from Gulichi’s tribe.
The Wuwan people kept their heads down, trembling under the gaze of the common people. A few of them glared back in defiance, only to be spat at by the crowd.
Seeing this scene, Madam Yang sneered, “Serves them right!”
If it weren’t for her young son being present, she would have wanted to spit at the Wuwan people herself.
She had looked at the miserable state of these Wuwan people repeatedly, and her eyes slowly became moist.
Tears of joy.
They had finally won against the Wuwan people.
At the entrance of the Chu Wang’s mansion, Yuan Li was eagerly waiting with Yang Zhongfa, Liu Jixin, and others.
When they saw the figures of Chu Hechao and his men from afar, Yuan Li couldn’t help but smile.
Yang Zhongfa was so excited that he almost wanted to run over, repeatedly saying, “Master Yuan, General really won, Gulichi was killed by us, am I not dreaming?”
Yuan Li smiled helplessly, “You’re not dreaming, Gulichi is indeed dead. Your General showed great prowess and avenged you.”
Yang Zhongfa repeated, “Yes,” several times, then suddenly realized something and looked astonished at Yuan Li, “You… knew?”
Yuan Li nodded at him, then turned back to watch Chu Hechao, “I need to find out about the burns on his hand. Why are you so surprised? Is there something wrong?”
After a moment of silence, Yang Zhongfa said in a low voice, “The General never talks about it to others.”
However, his voice was too low, and Yuan Li was completely focused on Chu Hechao, not hearing what Yang Zhongfa said. Yang Zhongfa shook his head, no longer concerned. There was nothing to be surprised about; after all, he had known for a long time that Yuan Li was different in Chu Hechaos eyes.
Chu Hechao also spotted Yuan Li’s figure and his heart flew towards him. He rode ahead of the others, dismounted as soon as he reached the mansion’s gate, and walked quickly to Yuan Li.
He wanted to raise his hand to embrace him, but instead, he restrained himself, only using his eyes to appraise Yuan Li up and down, then uttered two words from his throat, “You’re thinner.”
Yuan Li was wearing a blue outfit today, making his fair face look like jade, extraordinarily handsome. Upon hearing this, he smiled, and there was a playful glimmer in his eyes, “You think I’m thinner because you feel that way.”
“I always thought you were thin,” Chu Hechao said, “but if you get any thinner, I won’t be able to hold you properly.”
Yuan Li gave him a look, asking him not to talk nonsense. Chu Hechao’s lips curled up, feeling itchy in his heart, so he obediently kept quiet.
That evening, everyone had dinner at the Chu Wang’s mansion. At the dining table, Chu Hechao’s soldiers held Gulichi’s head in front of everyone and rotated it.
Yang Zhongfa felt a sense of satisfaction just looking at the head. He drank cup after cup of wine, crying and laughing, pulling Yuan Congyun to drink with him.
Yuan Congyun understood his pain and quietly accompanied him to drink. In the end, this group of people got drunk, with seven or eight of them falling unconscious.
Yuan Li felt helpless and had someone send them back home. As soon as they left, Yuan Li leaned back, stretched his body, and yawned. He still hadn’t eaten enough and turned to Chu Hechao, asking, “Are you still hungry?”
Chu Hechao hadn’t eaten much either and nodded, “Give me a bowl of noodles.”
Yuan Li thought of the chicken soup that had been stewed all day and had the kitchen bring up two hot dishes and two bowls of chicken noodle soup. He had them put a poached egg in the soup for both of them and also brought a plate of refreshing pickled vegetables.
The kitchen had been waiting all along, afraid that they might get hungry. The cook quickly brought the food, and along with it, Yuan Li’s homemade fruit wine.
The fruit wine was clear, with a hint of green, and Chu Hechao found it sweet and refreshing, with a tangy aftertaste. It opened up his appetite instantly, and he suddenly felt hungry.
The two hot dishes were braised pork elbows and charcoal-grilled meat, sizzling with oil, emitting a tantalizing aroma.
Especially the pork elbows, they were crystal-like and trembling. At first glance, they looked soft and sweet.
The kitchen also brought some greens and condiments. This was another eating method devised by Yuan Li, wrapping the meat in vegetable leaves to reduce greasiness and enrich the taste. Now, it was a must-have to serve the meat with vegetable leaves.
Chu Hechao rolled up his sleeves and started eating, sweating with pleasure along with Yuan Li. By the time they finished, there was no food left.
Yuan Li slumped in his chair, “Satisfying.”
Chu Hechao deliberately said, “You can really eat.”
Yuan Li kicked him and glared, “You can eat even more than I can.”
There was still some meat juice in the dish, and Chu Hechao used the dried food to soak it up and finish it, then had two more cups of fruit wine. “This stuff tastes good. How did you make it?”
“Apricot wine, it’s appetizing,” Yuan Li smirked, “you can drink a bit more of the fruit wine.”
Chu Hechao clicked his tongue, “There’s only about five or six cups in this pot.”
The two of them chatted, and Yuan Li’s eyes began to droop with sleepiness. He looked around, no one was there, and he reached out to Chu Hechao, “Brother, I’m sleepy. I want to go back and sleep.”
Chu Hechao’s heart skipped a beat from the way his lover acted cute, and he carried Yuan Li, leading him into the room, “You’re a grown man, yet you’re becoming lazier and lazier.”
Yuan Li had his arms wrapped around Chu Hechao’s neck, and his legs were wrapped around Chu Hechao’s waist as he lazily buried his face in Chu Hechao’s neck. “Can’t carry me anymore? If you can’t, just say so, and I’ll get down and walk myself.”
Chu Hechao said, “I can carry two of you and more.”
Yuan Li didn’t say whether he believed it or not, but while resting with his eyes closed, he felt Chu Hechao’s hand wandering and becoming more passionate.
He opened his eyes and said softly, “Didn’t you say I’m too thin and you can’t hold me properly? Why are you touching me so vigorously now?”
“It’s not uncomfortable. This is just right,” Chu Hechao patted Yuan Li and breathed slightly heavily, “neither fat nor thin, soft where there’s flesh, and firm where there isn’t. I love you like this the most. Le Jun, before we sleep, let’s have some fun first?”
Yuan Li didn’t say anything but lightly bit Chu Hechao’s Adam’s apple.
Chu Hechao inhaled sharply, feeling like his whole body was about to explode. He held Yuan Li in his arms and hurriedly carried him to the bedroom, pressing him against the door as soon as they entered.
The room was pitch-dark, but their voices echoed loudly. After a long while, Yuan Li swallowed the saliva in his mouth. The man moved down his neck, tasting a salty flavor, and chuckled, “You haven’t bathed.”
Yuan Li blushed, “Then let’s forget it and go to sleep.”
“How could we?” Chu Hechao’s voice became increasingly hoarse and sexy, his breath heavy, “I don’t mind.”
Yuan Li rolled his eyes quietly.
As if Chu Hechao could see him, he said, “Did you just roll your eyes at me?”
“…” Yuan Li retorted, “No.”
Chu Hechao chuckled, then continued to kiss downwards. He took a big bite on Yuan Li’s mosquito bite and had a couple more mouthfuls.
Incoherently, he said, “Missed you, brother.”
Yuan Li tilted his head back, and his neck was covered in fine sweat. His breath became erratic.
The next day, when they opened their eyes, the sunlight was already shining on their buttocks.
Occasionally, sleeping in a little longer felt really comfortable. Yuan Li laid like a corpse for a while before getting up with Chu Hechao to have breakfast.
After dealing with the matters of settling refugees and the Wuwan captives, Yuan Li grabbed Chu Hechao and asked him about the battlefield situation.
Chu Hechao briefly explained, then said, “Yuan Li, you should visit the camp of the Youzhou soldiers more often, let them become familiar and recognize your face.”
Yuan Li was puzzled, “Why?”
Chu Hechao patiently explained the reasoning, “The Youzhou soldiers are very loyal to you, and their existence is also crucial to you. If you want to ascend to that position, you can’t be without military force. It’s dangerous if the soldiers don’t know the leaders. If they only know the officers immediately above them, their trust will slowly shift to those familiar officers. Then, if there’s a traitorous officer, they will rally around him, taking many soldiers with him. Over time, the Youzhou soldiers won’t be your Youzhou soldiers anymore.”
Yuan Li suddenly understood and felt fortunate. He held Chu Hechao’s face and kissed him loudly, “Brother, I’m glad you told me this. I didn’t think of it before.”
“It’s not too late to know now,” Chu Hechao suppressed a smile, “So you should frequently go to the military camp, whether to visit the wounded or inspect the soldiers’ training. Let them know what you look like as much as possible.”
Yuan Li nodded and remembered it. The next day, he went to the military camp. Over the following months, he visited the camp four or five times every month. By the time winter came, every Youzhou soldier had seen his face, near or far.
When Yuan Li went to the military camp, he never put on airs. He was approachable, personally dressing the wounded was a trivial matter, and once in the camp, he ate and drank with the soldiers without any disdain.
Knowing the day when the military pay was distributed, Yuan Li even went to the camp specifically on that day, staying in the tent where the pay was distributed all day, keeping an eye on whether the accountants were honest and if the officer in charge of supplies was corrupt.
Since he started doing this, the Youzhou soldiers were surprised and deeply grateful. Praises and admiration for Yuan Li could be heard all around the camp.
As Chu Hechao had said, their loyalty to Yuan Li became even stronger.
Amidst the busy schedule, time passed quietly. In the blink of an eye, it was the new year. After the new year, the emperor’s second edict for Yuan Li to be conferred as a duke arrived in Ji County once again.
And this time, Yuan Li naturally refused.
The envoys had guessed that it might be the “Three Refusals, Three Offers” ritual, so they left without the panic of the first time, obediently returning to Yangzhou.
Everyone who had a relationship with Yuan Li wrote him letters, trying to probe whether his refusal to be conferred as a duke was due to the “Three Refusals, Three Offers” or if he genuinely didn’t want to be a duke.
Not everyone wanted to see Yuan Li be conferred as a duke, and the ones who least wanted to witness that scene were the two imperial uncles of the emperor.
Piles of letters were piled up in the government office. Trivial matters were replied to by the officials in the office, but the letters from Zhang Liangdong and Master Ouyang had to be answered by Yuan Li himself.
In front of these two senior figures, Yuan Li did not conceal anything and honestly expressed that he would accept the Emperor’s decree to be enfeoffed as a Duke after the “Three Declines and Three Offers.”
Zhang Liangdong, who was in Bingzhou, was the first to receive the reply. After reading the contents of the letter, he couldn’t tell whether he was happy or sad; he just let out a light sigh.
One of his disciples asked, “Didn’t you want Yuan Li to become an important minister of the Emperor and help stabilize the Northern Zhou? Now, he has already achieved great accomplishments at such a young age. He is already one of the most outstanding figures of his time. With his strength, he can govern the country even better. Why do you still sigh?”
“I did have such thoughts. That’s why I secretly urged him to kill Li Li and gain merit. But I didn’t expect Yuan Li to reach this stage so quickly…” Zhang Liangdong sighed lightly, “He’s only twenty-five years old, and he’s already enfeoffed as a Duke. After this, what rewards can the Emperor give him for his future achievements?”
The disciple was puzzled, “It depends on the kind of merits he makes.”
“In these troubled times, the last thing lacking is great merits,” Zhang Liangdong sighed again.
The disciple tentatively asked, “Then… would he be enfeoffed as a Wang?”
Zhang Liangdong remained silent for a long time. The disciple thought he had indeed fallen asleep, until Zhang Liangdong spoke slowly, “What happens after he is enfeoffed as a Wang?”
If Yuan Li is enfeoffed as a Wang, what else can the Emperor give him in the future?
Zhang Liangdong remained silent for a while longer before shaking his head.
No, Yuan Li is not the kind of audacious and rebellious person.
He shouldn’t think that way.
Zhang Liangdong was troubled for a moment, but then he comforted himself. Yuan Li is Ouyang Ting’s disciple and a loyal minister of Northern Zhou. He has always worked for the country and the people. How could he do anything harmful to the country?
Thinking this way, Zhang Liangdong eased his worries.
***
Everyone was paying attention to Yuan Li’s ennoblement as a Duke, and naturally, the Yuan family members were no exception. When Yuan Li refused the second ennoblement, he was invited back to the Yuan residence.
In the study, his father, Yuan Song, was waiting for him. Yuan Li entered the room and greeted his father before asking, “Father, why did you summon me here?”
“Le Jun,” Yuan Song hesitated for a moment and quickly asked him to take a seat. “Let’s sit down and talk. Have you been busy recently? I haven’t had a chance to talk to you for a long time.”
Both Yuan Li and Yuan Song were indeed busy, and with the recent conquest of Ji zhou, there were many matters that required their attention, and they couldn’t afford to neglect any of them.
Yuan Li smiled and said, “If father wants to talk to me, then let’s have a good chat today.”
Yuan Song agreed several times and pushed the prepared tea in front of Yuan Li. As he watched Yuan Li drink his tea, he felt a bit hesitant, not knowing how to start the conversation.
As Yuan Li’s status and power grew, Yuan Song also felt a bit reserved in front of his son. There was always a sense of not knowing what to say. It wasn’t just Yuan Song; everyone in the Yuan family, except for Yuan Li’s mother, Lady Chen, treated him with both respect and fear.
They didn’t dare to get too close or offend him. They were afraid to speak too casually, and their attitudes towards Yuan Li were no longer as relaxed as before; it was more like that of a king and his subjects.
Seeing Yuan Song’s expression, Yuan Li gently said, “Father, whatever you want to say, just say it. We are the only ones here, and what do we have to be concerned about between father and son?”
Yuan Song nodded and relaxed a bit. He asked, “Yuan Li, I want to ask, will you accept the emperor’s dukedom?”
Yuan Li countered, “Does father want me to accept the dukedom?”
After thinking for a moment, Yuan Song’s expression turned serious as he nodded and then shook his head.
Yuan Li raised an eyebrow, “What does father mean?”
“I both want you to be ennobled and do not want it at the same time,” Yuan Song said with concern, “You are not yet thirty and being granted the title of Duke is unprecedented in our dynasty. I worry that once you are ennobled, you might attract envy and resentment from others. Look at the two imperial uncles, Qin Pai and Qin Meng; they are members of the royal family and are only provincial governors, not Dukes. If our humble family hastily accepts the title of Duke, wouldn’t it unnecessarily offend these two, as well as other influential clans in the realm? Yuan Li, we don’t need to draw too much attention to ourselves; acting discreetly will ensure a more stable and secure path.”
Yuan Li fell silent.
Yuan Song thought he was right, but seeing him not respond, he couldn’t help feeling uneasy and unsure.
Yuan Li had mastered the art of hiding his emotions, making it impossible for Yuan Song to read anything from his face. Anxiously, he said, “My son, did I say something wrong?”
Yuan Li indeed felt a bit disappointed, but at the same time, he understood Yuan Song’s perspective.
Yuan Song was not him and didn’t have the far-reaching ambitions and broad vision from the future. He had a commoner’s mindset, worried about offending people and feared the powerful clans. Therefore, he believed that staying low-profile was the right approach.
Given Yuan Song’s knowledge and experiences, such thoughts were not surprising.
Because perhaps he couldn’t imagine what his son was truly planning. Yuan Li suppressed a sigh and patiently explained, “Father, even if I don’t accept the title of Duke, there will still be people who envy and resent me.”
Yuan Song was taken aback.
“My son, is that true?”
“Yes, father,” Yuan Li said with a measured tone, “In turbulent times, those who oppose me are like ferocious beasts. If I show any signs of weakness, they will tear me apart. Retreating won’t make them fear me, but asserting my strength will make them wary. If I reject the title of Duke due to various considerations, it won’t make them treat me kindly; instead, it will signal my weakness and make them think they can take advantage of me. That’s why I won’t refuse. Not only will I not refuse, but I will openly and proudly accept it, so they dare not make a move and dare not offend me.”
Silence filled the study.
After a long time, Yuan Song returned to his senses from the shock and looked at Yuan Li with a complex expression. He nodded and said, “I understand. I will prepare for your ennoblement.”
Putting the teacup down, Yuan Li smiled and nodded, “Thank you, father.”
After discussing this matter, Yuan Song then presented a stack of letters to Yuan Li, saying, “These are from people who wanted me to recommend them to you recently. Many of them are talents and members of influential families, hoping to use my connections to approach you. I don’t understand these matters, so I haven’t given them a definitive answer. Take a look at them.”
Yuan Li glanced through several letters. These people were all well-known figures, representing their entire clans, and they wanted to bring their entire families to serve under Yuan Li.
Thinking back to a few years ago, Yuan Li had only a few scattered followers. Even Liu Jixin recognized him as his lord only after a few months by his side. Who would have thought things would turn out this way now?
Yuan Li closed the letters, “Next time, father, just tell them to send their letters directly to the Ministry of Government Affairs. This kind of thing will only increase in the future, and you should not start this precedent.”
Yuan Song nodded repeatedly, “I understand. I won’t burden you with these matters.”
“What do you mean by burden?” Yuan Li chuckled, “You are my father, and I am your son. Together, we can handle any challenge.”
Yuan Song was amused by Yuan Li’s words and shook his head. Suddenly, he remembered something, “Your younger brother will reach the age of marriage in two years, and I am currently selecting a wife for him. Le Jun, you…”
Yuan Li stood up, seemingly casual, “Father, I suddenly remembered that I need to visit the military camp today. It’s getting late now, so I’ll take my leave.”
Watching Yuan Li’s departing figure, even the slow-witted Yuan Song sensed that something was amiss.
When he was young, Yuan Li couldn’t wait to become an adult and get married. Now, he seemed to have no eagerness for marriage, and there was even a hint of resistance.
That night, Yuan Song couldn’t help but ask Lady Chen, “Is Le Jun in love with someone and reluctant to marry?”
Lady Chen’s face turned pale for a moment, but she forced a smile, “Why would you say that?”
“I feel that he truly doesn’t want to get married,” Yuan Song sighed, “but at his age, how can he resist these urges? Could it be that he likes someone whose background is not good, and he’s keeping it a secret from us?”
“Master, you’re overthinking it,” Lady Chen chuckled, “Our son is just very busy. Don’t worry too much. Look at the Great General; he hasn’t married yet either, right?”
Something flashed in Yuan Song’s mind, but he didn’t catch it. After a moment of confusion, he decided not to think too much about it and nodded, “You’re right.”
In early summer, the emperor’s third enfeoffment edict arrived in Youzhou once again.
Everyone knew that two times were enough; there wouldn’t be a third. If Yuan Li intended to accept the enfeoffment, he wouldn’t reject it this time. If he genuinely didn’t want to be enfeoffed, the emperor wouldn’t insist after this rejection.
Many people were waiting for Yuan Li’s decision.
On the 20th of the sixth month in the sixth year of Zhou Yan, the imperial delegation arrived in Youzhou.
Yuan Li led his officials and subordinates to welcome them outside the city. He purified himself, observed fasting, and respectfully accepted the emperor’s edict.
He was enfeoffed as a duke, with nine counties and principalities in Youzhou, including Wei, Julu, Bohai, Qinghe, and Zhao, as well as nine Governorates in Bingzhou, including Shangdang, Taiyuan, Xihe, and Yanmen. From then on, he became the true master of these counties and principalities.
Now, Yuan Li needed to give a name to his fief.
For example, Chu Wang’s Youzhou was formerly known as “Yan.” However, Chu Wang used his own surname as the fief’s name, and Youzhou could also be called the Chu Principality. The same applied to the Chen Wang, and his Yangzhou was named the Chen Principality.
This is different from the rules known in history. If Yuan Li wishes, he can use his surname as the title for both Youzhou and Bingzhou, and be called the “Yuan Principality.” His title would also change from “Marquis of Yan” to “Duke Yuan.”
Of course, Yuan Li’s fief couldn’t be other than Youzhou, as he still carried the ancient name of Youzhou, “Yan.”
Regarding the title, Yuan Li had actually thought about it for a long time.
Naturally, he wouldn’t use his surname as the title because if he could indeed achieve his ultimate goal, his current title could very well become the name of the new dynasty.
So, what should he use?
As the precedents of Chen Wang and Chu Wang had set, Yuan Li didn’t need to strictly follow the old rules for selecting his title. He could choose whatever he liked. However, Yuan Li still researched and carefully looked up the ancient names of Youzhou and Bingzhou in books.
The historical development in this world was different from what Yuan Li was familiar with, and he finally found four ancient names: Jinyang, Liang, Wei, and Wen.
Each title had its own history and significance. After several days of discussion and debate among his subordinates, they couldn’t agree on which title was the best. When they asked Yuan Li, his gaze remained fixed on the character “Wen,” unable to move away.
Following his gaze, his subordinates asked, “My lord, do you favor the title ‘Wen’?”
Lin Tian seemed to recall something with great excitement, “I remember when my lord took us to Chu Wang’s residence in Luoyang, the courtyard we stayed in was named ‘Wendao Courtyard.'”
“That’s right,” Yuan Li smiled and stroked the character, his eyes seemingly holding brilliant stars, “Let’s use ‘Wen’ as the title for my fief.”
To hear the Dao and die contented.
In a way, this phrase was very fitting for Yuan Li. He had once named his courtyard “Wendao Courtyard,” and now he wanted to name his fief “Wen.”
“Wen” has the meaning of “hearing” and “perceiving.”
Yuan Li’s idea was actually straightforward.
To listen to the voices of the people all over the world and do what the people wanted him to do, that’s it.
In the future, he would be known as “Duke Wen.”
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