Chapter 33: The Grand Preceptor of Great Qin and the Ennoblement of Officials

The debate in the Qilin Hall had raged for a full hour without reaching a conclusion. Ying Zheng watched his civil and military officials arguing until their faces were red and their necks were thick, savoring the spectacle with the detached interest of a bystander. He might have continued watching had he not seen someone actually start a physical altercation.

"Stop!" With a single roar from Ying Zheng, the commotion ceased. Officials scrambled to find their lost shoes and caps, hurriedly straightening their robes and returning to their respective seats. If one had not seen it with their own eyes, who would believe that the high-ranking officials of the empire were brawling like commoners in a marketplace?

"Hmph!" Ying Zheng let out a cold snort and signaled for the usher to make the announcement.

"In the seventh year of the First Emperor, early in the sixth month. The people of Great Qin, united in heart and mind, and the soldiers, devoted to their duty, raised an army of over four hundred thousand to strike north into the grasslands. They annihilated the Xiongnu, ending years of border harassment. Returning in triumph, they seized countless spoils to fill the national treasury.

"Grand Master Yang Zimo is credited with the foremost achievement. He is appointed State Preceptor, raised to the rank of Marquis of Zhenguo, and granted the title of Marshal. He is exempt from being addressed by his name, need not hasten when entering the court, and may wear his sword and footwear within the palace. He is further granted the Nine Bestowals, the authority to wield the ceremonial axe and scepter, ten thousand gold, one Da Yuan blood-sweat horse, five hundred fine steeds, three hundred cattle, and five hundred slaves each. Furthermore, the State Preceptor is permitted to form a personal guard of one hundred men to ensure his safety!"

"Your Majesty, this must not be! I am unworthy!" Yang Zimo immediately replied upon hearing the decree.

"State Preceptor, I know your heart, but this is also a token of my own. I hope you will not refuse," Ying Zheng stepped down from the imperial throne, personally lifted Yang Zimo with both hands, and said earnestly.

"Your Majesty..." At this moment, Yang Zimo did not know how to respond. From his humble beginnings as a laborer to his current position as the mentor of an empire, the First Emperor's favor for him was beyond words.

"State Preceptor, please accept it!" Although some officials had reservations, they dared not object after catching a glimpse of Ying Zheng’s expression.

"State Preceptor!"

"I humbly accept!" Yang Zimo finally yielded.

"Congratulations to Your Majesty! Congratulations to the State Preceptor!"

"General Meng Tian, for his steady command and brilliant strategy in leading the army, is enfeoffed as Marquis of Jiuyuan, granted ten thousand gold, one Da Yuan blood-sweat horse, three hundred fine steeds, two hundred cattle, three hundred slaves each, and the rank of General."

"Tian thanks Your Majesty!" Meng Tian bowed deeply, his face radiant with joy. The military ranks were a new system derived from the traditional twenty-grade meritocracy of Qin, modeled after modern structures to foster clear hierarchy, inspire patriotism, and instill a sense of imperial honor. A General was equivalent to the former nineteenth-grade Inner Marquis, and a Marshal was equivalent to the twentieth-grade Che Marquis.

"Wang Li, for breaking the Xiongnu Left Wise King's camp and laying the foundation for our victory, is enfeoffed as Count of Jingbei, granted one thousand gold, one hundred fine horses, one hundred cattle, two hundred slaves each, and the rank of Colonel."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Wang Li accepted the reward with excitement. With his grandfather, Marquis Wucheng Wang Jian, and his father, Marquis Tongwu Wang Ben, casting such long shadows, Wang Li had felt the pressure to prove himself. Now, as a Count, he could finally return home with pride.

"Bai Lie, enfeoffed as Count of Pingbei, rank of Lieutenant Colonel."

"Li Xin, enfeoffed as Count of Dingbei, rank of Colonel."

"Zhongli Mei, enfeoffed as Count of Anbei, rank of Lieutenant Colonel."

"All other soldiers shall be rewarded according to their merit. Twenty percent of the seized supplies must be distributed to every single soldier. Anyone found embezzling shall be executed!"

"Understood!"

The enfeoffment lasted for three hours, and it was already the Shen hour of the afternoon when the court adjourned.

"Congratulations, State Preceptor!" As the officials gathered in small groups after leaving the hall, they greeted Yang Zimo as he emerged.

"Congratulations to you all as well!"

"State Preceptor, surely you must host a banquet for us?" Feng Quji teased.

"No problem at all! I look forward to seeing all of you at the Zuixian Tower!" Yang Zimo replied, greeting everyone in turn.

"That would be wonderful! We have long looked forward to visiting your Zuixian Tower!" Meng Yi added with a smile.

"Three days from now, at the Zuixian Tower! I look forward to your presence!" Yang Zimo announced with a wave of his hand.

"State Preceptor, stay a moment! His Majesty requests your presence at the royal banquet!" An attendant suddenly ran over to say.

"Tell His Majesty I shall be there shortly," Yang Zimo said, bowing to the others. "I must take my leave. Farewell, everyone!"

"The State Preceptor is truly enviable! We shall depart," the others said, heading toward the palace gates.

In the Ganquan Hall of Xianyang Palace, the First Emperor was hosting a banquet for the Ying clan, attended by his consorts, including Li Qiu and Mi Hua, as well as the princes and princesses. The members of the Ying royal family had already arrived with their kin.

Ying Zheng was playing Mahjong—a game Yang Zimo had introduced upon his return—with the State Preceptor, Prince Fusu, and Princess Jingyang Qianyue.

"Two of Bamboo!" Ying Zheng discarded a tile.

"Pong!" Yang Zimo immediately claimed it.

"Eight of Bamboo!" It was Ying Zheng's turn again.

"Mahjong! Pay up, pay up!" Yang Zimo declared without hesitation. Fusu watched with trepidation; aside from Qianyue, none of the princes or princesses dared to speak loudly in front of Ying Zheng, fearing his wrath.

"State Preceptor, your luck is quite good today. You've won half my purse already!" Ying Zheng chuckled.

"Who told Your Majesty to make such a fortune lately? I’m just earning some pocket money!"

"Father, I have more here," Fusu whispered.

"Get lost! I don't need it!" Ying Zheng offered no quarter to his son.

"Father, I'll give you half of mine!" Princess Jingyang Ying Qianyue giggled, placing her coins beside Ying Zheng.

"My daughter is the only one who cares for her father, unlike some people! Hmph!" Ying Zheng praised his youngest daughter happily.

"Daddy! Daddy!" Suddenly, the voices of two little girls echoed from afar.

"Audacious! This is the imperial palace, silence!" An attendant immediately stepped forward to stop them, his fierce demeanor nearly frightening the children to tears.

"My lord, please calm your anger. The children are ignorant," Lin Wanniang stepped forward to explain. Although her husband was the esteemed Marquis of Jingyang, this was the palace, and she feared causing him trouble.

This was Lin Wanniang's first time in the palace. When the usher arrived with soldiers to summon her, she had worried something was wrong. Though relieved to learn it was only for a banquet, she remained a commoner at heart; the transition to nobility was still a process she was navigating.

Hearing his daughters, Yang Zimo looked back to see his wife explaining herself to the attendant. He apologized to Ying Zheng and hurried over.

"Greetings, State Preceptor!" The attendant bowed subserviently.

"Let them in," Yang Zimo commanded.

"Understood!"

After they had passed, a fellow attendant nudged the first. "Are you trying to die? You dared to block the State Preceptor's wife and daughters!"

"I..." The attendant’s face turned deathly pale.