Fengtian Palace, thirty feet wide and fifteen feet deep, is subtle and deep, just like a drama, divided into scenes. The five-layer palace gate divides the five scenes of the drama, with twists and turns, gradually reaching a climax.
The eunuch stood in front of the main entrance of the hall and shouted: "General, please remove your armor!"
Zhu Gaojie and Zhang Fu didn't think too much and allowed their weathered battle armor to be removed, leaving only the court uniform and saber.
Then, the eunuch said again: "General, please remove the sword!"
Zhu Gaojie threw the saber to the guard, and Zhang Fu hesitated for a moment and took off the saber.
For Zhang Fu, this was not just taking off his sword, but also taking off his military power.
After taking off his armor and sword, the eunuch said: "Please, Qi King Zhu Gaojie enter the palace to face the Holy Spirit!"
"Please invite General Zhengpi and the British Duke Zhang Fu to come to the palace to meet the Holy Spirit!"
The two of them walked into this magnificent Fengtian Hall with their heads held high.
All civil and military officials were waiting on both sides. In the deepest part of the hall, Zhu Di sat on a gilded dragon chair, stroking his beard with a happy smile on his face.
"Your Majesty, Zhang Fu, greetings from the Lord!"
"Your Majesty Zhu Gaojie, I wish you the best!"
Zhu Di opened his mouth and said: "Hello, Lord British, how is the war in Jiaozhi?"
Although he already knew the result, he still had to ask politely according to the regulations.
"Your Majesty, Zhang Fu, will live up to His Majesty's expectations!"
Zhang Fu raised his head and said, "This time I was ordered to go to the south to pacify the Jiaozhi War, defeat the enemy army, capture the enemy Chen Jikou and his wife and children alive, quell the rebellion, and in accordance with the Ming Dynasty system, the land captured by the rebels in the Champa Kingdom will be divided into three levels. In the four prefectures of Hua, Hua, Si, and Yi, additional guard posts were established, those who surrendered were granted official positions, and troops were left to garrison before returning."
After saying this, thunderous applause erupted in the hall.
"Young Master, you should take the lead in this battle!" Zhu Di stood up and said.
"I have no merit to speak of. This battle was won by the concerted efforts of the army and the generals." Zhang Fu said humbly, "His Royal Highness King Qi deserves the first credit. He commanded the entire army during the war and won five battles and five victories. The second is Anyuan Hou Liu Sheng, pioneer officer Liu Pu and others all have meritorious service."
Having said this, everyone in the hall turned their attention to Prince Qi.
Zhu Gaojie's face was plain, unfazed by favors and humiliations, and his temperament was as natural as jade, as if he was an immortal banished from heaven.
Zhu Di chuckled lightly and began to announce the list of rewards: "Add the British Duke Zhang Fu's annual salary to 4,500 shi, and give him gold, silver, banknotes, and five horses..."
"Add Anyuan Marquis Liu Sheng to have an annual salary of 500 shi, making him a hereditary marquis..."
"..."
This is a long list. The generals of the Southern Expeditionary Army were awarded more or less rewards. Among them, the rewards from the British Duke's Palace and the Anyuan Marquis' Palace were the most generous.
The emperor directly increased Zhang Fu's annual salary from 3,500 shi to 4,500 shi!
In the Ming Dynasty, yearly salary not only meant food and money, but the real meaning was a symbol of status. The higher the yearly salary, the higher the status.
Zhu Neng, King of Dongping, who ranked second in the battle of Jingnan, had an annual salary of only 3,200 shi. Xu Zengshou, Zhu Di's brother-in-law, collaborated with Zhu Di in the court during the Jingnan War, and was eventually hacked to death by Emperor Jianwen. He exchanged his life for his descendants in exchange for an annual salary of 2,200 shi and the title of Duke Dingguo.
Zhang Fu's annual salary of 4,500 shi is the highest among the nobles in the Ming Dynasty, and the British government has become the first noble in the Ming Dynasty after the Xu family!
Anyuan Hou Liu Sheng's reward was second only to Zhang Fu. Not only did he receive an additional salary of five hundred dan, but his title was changed from a hereditary earl to a hereditary marquis.
The rewards for the Southern Expeditionary Army were over, but someone noticed something was wrong.
Two people were not rewarded.
One is the pioneer officer Liu Pu. The pioneer battalion he led has made great contributions. If he had not been a nobleman, he would have been made a count directly. However, the emperor attributed his contribution to his father Liu Sheng. Otherwise, Liu Pu's performance in this battle would not have been such a generous reward.
When Liu Sheng dies, Liu Pu will naturally inherit the title, so it's not surprising.
The other person who was not rewarded was King Qi.
King Qi commanded the military camp and won five battles and five victories. This achievement was second only to Zhang Fu, but he did not receive any reward!
Outrageous!
However, Zhu Gaojie was not surprised, his expression was indifferent, as if he didn't care.
Because he knew that his reward was not in Fengtian Palace, but in Qianqing Palace.
"Prince, make arrangements to reward the soldiers." After talking about the reward, Zhu Di handed over the rest of the work to the prince and left gracefully.
After the emperor left, everyone in Fengtian Hall chatted animatedly.
Zhang Fu bowed to Prince Zhu Gaochi and said: "Your Highness, may you be blessed and safe."
"Why should the British prince be so polite? You are a great hero." The prince said with a smile, "Your daughter is going to marry my fourth brother. From now on, we will all be a family."
Zhu Gaojie came over and said with a smile: "Brother, you have to come and drink my wedding wine when the time comes."
The prince said cheerfully: "That's natural. You and I are brothers and we don't speak the same language. When the time comes to prepare a banquet, remember to say hello to me so that I can ask the people from the East Palace to help you."
Zhang Fu, who had always been serious about his words, now had a smile on his lips and said: "By marrying Prince Qi, I am climbing a high tree this time. I have to prepare a generous dowry for my little girl."
"Ha ha."
The three of them were chatting and laughing, and then another person came over and said, "The fourth brother is getting married. I don't know if I, the second brother, will be happy to have a few cups of wine."
It turned out that the King of Han came over and interrupted.
Zhu Gaojie said with a smile: "If the second brother comes, how dare I not welcome him as the younger brother."
He also said, "It's best to take Prince Han Han's head with you when you follow him."
"Remember to send the invitation to my palace when the time comes." King Han said calmly, "I can go and cheer you up."
"I haven't returned home for a long time, and there are still some matters that have not been dealt with at home. I will take my leave first." Zhang Fu looked cold, bowed his hands, and turned to leave.
The King of Han looked a little embarrassed. They were chatting happily just now. As soon as he came, Zhang Fu had to leave. Wasn't this not giving him face?
"Your Majesty, please go slowly without seeing me off." The King of Han said with a gloomy expression.
Zhang Fu paused for a moment and turned to look at the King of Han: "Your Majesty Han, I heard that during my absence in Jinling City, I was impeached by Chen Jin, the former Youdu Censor of the Metropolitan Procuratorate. Do you know about this matter? ?"
Chen Jin, the former censor of the right capital of the Metropolitan Procuratorate, was a member of the iron-clad Han Dynasty Party. He once impeached the British Duke Zhang Fu in the Fengtian Palace and was beaten to death by Zhu Gaojie with a sword.
How could the King of Han not know about this, because this was originally his designation to frame Zhang Fu.
Now that Zhang Fu has brought up old matters again, he is not afraid of the power of the King of Han at all.
"Is there anything else about this?" King Han's eyes were cold, "I can't remember clearly."
I can't remember clearly. He was replying to Zhang Fu. A mere Chen Jin was nothing.
"It's okay. Kill a few more Chen Jin, and you will remember it, second brother." Zhu Gaojie grinned.
Chen Jin is dead, but the Han Wang Party is still powerful.
Zhu Gaojie's words clearly told King Han: I'm eyeing you, so be careful.
The death of Chen Jin will not damage your Hanwang party.
But if I continue to kill and the blood flows like a river, how can you, King of Han, still sit on Mount Tai?
King Han smiled: "Fourth, you are very good, very good."
"Thank you for the compliment, second brother." Zhu Gaojie smiled.
The prince on the side touched his chin, wondering what he was planning.
The three brothers each have their own evil intentions. They appear to be brothers but stab each other in the back.
