After the Qin army conquered Shu, Xiao Yuan's strength increased greatly. Not only did he control two places, his territory expanded, and the number of people under his jurisdiction exceeded ten million.
The number of troops under his command has also reached 200,000.
Among them, including the troops who stayed in Qin, the Qinzhou army totaled 140,000, and the Shu army was about 60,000.
For these 200,000 troops, Xiao Yuan naturally made some adjustments and integrations to completely integrate the Yizhou Army and the Qinzhou Army, collectively known as the Qin Army.
Later, he awarded some rewards to his subordinates at all levels, both civil and military, naturally based on their military merits.
His original intention was to confer marquisships and titles on some high-ranking generals, but he was stopped by Shangguan Wenruo and Liu Yuzhi.
Seeing the two of them blocking him, Xiao Yuan immediately frowned and said slightly displeased: "All the generals under my command will follow me through life and death. Now that Qin and Shu have been decided, isn't it natural for them to be awarded titles?"
"Of course it is, but...it can't be done, my lord." Liu Yuzhi couldn't believe it.
"Why is this?" Xiao Yuan asked.
Liu Yuzhi said: "My lord, his official position is just the prefect of Qinzhou. Strictly speaking, he is not qualified to confer titles. The five titles of duke, marquis, uncle, son and son are all orthodox and must be bestowed by the king."
"What if I insist on giving a reward?" Xiao Yuan said displeasedly, wondering where there were so many rules.
"This..." Liu Yuzhi glanced at Shangguan Wenruo. Upon seeing this, the latter quickly cupped his hands and said: "If my lord insists on doing this, then it means that the name is not justified. Even if the generals are awarded titles, they may have flaws in their hearts. "
"Trouble!" Xiao Yuan frowned.
The two civil servants were actually right. For the empire at that time, the power of a title was very powerful. The orthodox title represented a powerful person, and it was not something that a prefect could just grant.
"Then what do you mean?" Xiao Yuan asked again.
The two looked at each other, and Liu Yuzhi said: "Unless, the lord becomes the king."
"Yes, after my lord aspires to the throne, it will be known all over the world. At that time, he will be able to have the power of the King of Qin, grant hundreds of officials, make marquis and worship the prime minister." Shangguan Ruo received the message.
"King of Qin?" Xiao Yuan's eyes flashed. He was also a human being. If he could become king, how could he not be shaken at all?
He narrowed his eyes slightly and said in a serious voice: "If I become king, will all the countries in the world recognize it? The people of Qin and Shu have no objections?"
This was no small matter, and of course he had to think about it carefully.
When Liu Yuzhi heard this, he immediately said: "My lord is now gaining more and more prestige. Although he is not a king, he is already far superior to the king. Therefore, the people will definitely support him. As for the countries in the world, at that time, the emperor of the empire will issue an imperial edict. Granting the throne to the lord will be justifiable."
"Shang Rui?" Xiao Yuan called him by his name and said, "Our Qin army beat him up in front of Shanyuguan last time. How could he agree?"
"The emperor will definitely agree." Shangguan Wenruo took over the words.
"oh?"
"Because the lord now has 200,000 troops and controls Qin and Shu. He has to agree even if he doesn't agree." The meaning of Shangguan Wenruo's words was already clear.
After Xiao Yuan heard this, he couldn't help but think deeply. He first walked back and forth in front of the case with his hands behind his back, then glanced at the two of them, and then suddenly laughed.
Because he suddenly realized that these two literati were deliberately using the matter of conferring titles to push him to the throne!
There is no doubt that Liu Yuzhi is the governor of Qin now, and Shangguan Wen is the military advisor offering wine, but if Xiao Yuan becomes king, then the two of them will no longer have their current status, but will become ministers of the country!
Can that be compared?
After coming back to his senses, Xiao Yuan looked at the two of them and smiled, saying, "Let me think twice about this matter."
"This..." The two looked at each other again, and Liu Yuzhi said anxiously: "At the beginning, my lord only had the land of Qin, which was not enough to claim the title of king. But now, the war in the Central Plains has not ended yet, and the countries are in dispute. If he does not claim the throne, how can Qin become the king? out?"
"Yes, my lord, only a king can give orders to the king's masters, and if my lord is crowned king, it must be what the people want, what the people hope for, and what all the ministers hope for." Shangguan Wenruo followed.
"Okay, you two should step back first." Xiao Yuan did not say any more, but waved his hand.
"This... subordinate is retiring. Please think twice, lord." The two of them bowed.
Liu Yuzhi and Shangguan Wenruo were right. Xiao Yuan could no longer be called the governor of Qin. If his status was not improved, he would not be able to govern the two places.
And when he asked the two to step aside, it was not that he was rejecting them, but that he was preparing to ask other important backbones.
Because this matter is very important, he must listen to everyone's opinions.
Then, Xiao Yuan was the first to call Lian Xiao over.
Lian Xiao is now a general of the Qin Army and followed Xiao Yuan back to Qinzhou. After he came over, Xiao Yuan directly brought up the matter.
After hearing this, Lian Xiao immediately said: "My lord should be crowned king."
"Oh?" Perhaps he didn't expect him to say that, so Xiao Yuan couldn't help but raise his eyebrows.
Lian Xiao said: "My lord's various political orders in Shu have been witnessed by the people, and they all cheered. Moreover, Huang Songyuan was not popular among the people. Now the people are more sympathetic to my lord's governance. If my lord does not take the throne, then in the future, should my lord be called the governor of Qinzhou, or... Should he be called the Lord of Shu? If he is the prefect of Qin, how can he govern Shu? If he is the Lord of Shu, how can he govern Qin? Therefore, the general believes that only by establishing a country can we unite the hearts of the people, unite the morale of the army, and completely unify the two places."
This question he asked was very important. After hearing this, Xiao Yuan nodded secretly and said: "Okay, I understand what the general said. Please step back first."
"Yes, I'm going to leave at the end." Lian Xiao cupped his fists and saluted.
Immediately afterwards, Xiao Yuan called Su Yi again.
After the latter came over, after listening to Xiao Yuan's question, he knelt down directly on the ground and said sternly: "The last general begs the lord, that is, the throne of Qin. If the lord does not respond, the officers and soldiers of the three armies will not comply..."
"Okay, okay, I understand, please step back first." Xiao Yuan waved his hand again.
Next, came Zhao Mu, Peng Shuang and others.
After people came over and heard about this, without exception, they all urged Xiao Yuan to become king. By now, he had understood the thoughts of his subordinate Wen Wu.
Outside the prefect's mansion, after Xiao Yuan summoned everyone one by one, they did not disperse. Instead, they gathered at the door of the mansion and were discussing something in twos and threes.
"My lord just summoned us, what did you say?" Zhao Mu took the lead and asked Su Yi.
"Of course I suggest that my lord be the king. What about your side?" Su Yi asked back.
"It's the same here. Becoming king at this time has more advantages than disadvantages," Zhao Mu said.
"Yes, the world is in chaos and various countries are vying for hegemony. If Qin wants to go east, my lord must command the Qin army as a king..."
"It depends on what the lord thinks..."
"We have so many civil and military officials coming to see us. My lord will not disobey..."
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