Chapter 2 The Dingyuan Marquis
Huang Yixing had managed to secure the position of Pacification Commissioner on reputation alone. With Yang Prefecture in a state of rebuilding, it seemed Jiang Wang could do the same. But those were just words. In reality, Chongxuan Sheng would likely have to stake all his accumulated merits to make it happen.
Huang Yixing's ability to pacify Hengyang Prefecture owed much to his political significance as the former Yang Kingdom Prefect who had defected to the righteous side—even if it was only after the war. That carried great political weight.
But lightning rarely strikes twice.
"Why don't you take the position yourself?" Jiang Wang asked.
Chongxuan Sheng replied self-deprecatingly, "My figure is too large, too conspicuous!"
Jiang Wang said, "Everyone knows I'm aligned with you. There would be just as much resistance."
Chongxuan Sheng shook his head. "Though you can represent me, you are not me."
Jiang Wang understood.
The support of a Pacification Commissioner, and the position of Pacification Commissioner itself, served entirely different purposes in Chongxuan Sheng's competition within the Chongxuan family. With Chongxuan Zun's strength and resources, could he not find the support of several Prefects?
For both sides in the competition, it was an all-around contest of strength, influence, potential, status, noble rank, and even official position. If Chongxuan Sheng could become a Pacification Commissioner, with his abilities and the Chongxuan family's influence, the position of Prefect would be his for the taking after a few years of service.
That would give him an advantage in official rank over Chongxuan Zun. As far as anyone knew, Chongxuan Zun had not yet been assigned any post. But regardless, it was unthinkable that he would ascend to the rank of Prefect the moment he entered officialdom.
Therefore, Chongxuan Zun would never allow this to happen.
Once he understood the internal contradictions of the Chongxuan family, he could comprehend why Chongxuan Sheng had shifted his full support behind Jiang Wang.
Having made this realization, and with all the Dao Yuan Stones transferred back to his storage box, Jiang Wang picked up the last jade slip from the box and returned the empty container to Chongxuan Sheng.
A brief touch of his mind revealed that this was a Grade-A, Mid-tier technique related to fire, though not of the fire element. It was a spiritual Dao Art called "Jealousy Flame."
Grade-A, Mid-tier Dao Arts generally involved the Inner Palace realm, but since they pertained to the soul, and after having weathered the Flying Snow Tribulation within the Red Makeup Mirror, Jiang Wang felt reasonably confident.
Just then, Chongxuan Sheng asked, "Do you know who the Pacification Commissioner of Chiwei Prefecture is?"
Watching him put away the empty storage box, Jiang Wang asked, "Who?"
"Gao Shaoling." Chongxuan Sheng snorted, and when he saw Jiang Wang might not understand, he explained, "From the Jinghai Gao clan."
Jiang Wang recalled a poem Xu Xiangqian had recited outside the Heavenly Prefecture Secret Realm, supposedly written by the Great Scholar Mo Ya:
Entangled in luxury unto death, no fame for those who sacrifice themselves for the nation...
He could not help but sigh, "It helps to have someone in the bed!"
"Ha ha ha ha!" Chongxuan Sheng burst out laughing. "Well said!"
During the war to destroy Yang, the Jinghai Gao clan had neither devised strategies nor earned territorial merits. Yet they had ended up with such a large share of the spoils. That showed just how powerful Noble Consort Jing's pillow talk was.
Of course, the Jinghai Gao clan could only claim such a large piece of the pie with Chongxuan Chuliang's approval. As the one who had single-handedly led the war against Yang and achieved a comprehensive victory, anyone with designs on Yang territory would have to go through the Butcher.
If the Butcher simply stated that Gao Shaoling had made private suggestions to him, the merit would be established.
The political exchange behind the scenes went without saying.
Noble Consort Jing's pillow talk being powerful was actually a good thing, for after this exchange, they could be considered on the same side.
It was just a joke, of course. Chongxuan Sheng went on, "This great war has made me realize more than ever that strength is fundamental. Even with Yang Jiande's power, plus that evil creature's interference, this war was far from easy to win!"
Hearing the underlying meaning, this stout fellow referred to the White Bone Dao with extreme caution, using only "that evil creature." It showed that the phrase "an enmity that will last through ten thousand generations" had left a deep impression on him.
Although Jiang Wang was reluctant to touch on the past, he explained to his friend, "That was the body of a Dao Child possessed by the descent of the White Bone Evil God. The city domain of Fenglin in Qinghe Prefecture of the State of Qin—where I was born and raised—was destroyed during that descent."
In just a single sentence, the blood and hatred of life and death defied description.
"My brother, let us cultivate diligently. One day, we may descend into the netherworld and slay this evil god!" Chongxuan Sheng patted his shoulder.
That day was still far away.
So the stout fellow changed the subject again. "In this great war, the Grand Marshal's best choice was to wait for the White Bone Evil God to complete its sacrificial refinement and depart peacefully, then lead the army to engage."
The war had ended not long ago, and the title "Grand Marshal" had not yet been changed.
"This actually demonstrates the Grand Marshal's broad perspective."
"Indeed. It may have been a purely military error, but in the long run, it may not have been wrong. And fundamentally, it was because our army was strong enough to afford mistakes!"
There was logic in that. Jiang Wang thought for a moment and said, "Within three generations, customs will change, and this place will truly become Qi territory. Securing all of Yang Prefecture for the Qi Kingdom and expanding the borders by three—the Grand Marshal gained quite a lot from this?"
"The title of Marquis has been confirmed!" Chongxuan Sheng could not help but beam with excitement. "The title is Dingyuan."
That single title encapsulated both the ambitions of the Qi Emperor and the trust he placed in Chongxuan Chuliang.
But then the stout fellow suddenly looked downcast and clenched his fist. "This Marquis position came thirty years too late!"
Jiang Wang had always wondered how Chongxuan Chuliang, who had earned the greatest merit for destroying the Xia Kingdom, had failed to receive a Marquis title.
Chongxuan Sheng explained, "Back then, because of some family matters... it affected my uncle. He had immense merit, yet in the end received only the title of Count Shenhuai."
Shenhuai—these were not unpleasant characters, but paired with the Butcher, the implication of a warning was unmistakable.
No wonder. Destroying Yang was certainly a great merit, but given the Qi Kingdom's strength, even though Yang Jiande had been extremely difficult to deal with, the Qi court's attitude had inevitably been dismissive. The reward for merit may not have been as generous as expected.
The reason Chongxuan Chuliang could become a Marquis in a single war was probably because his earlier merits had not been fully rewarded. There was also the possibility that the Qi Emperor wished to offer compensation.
"What are your own plans?" Jiang Wang asked.
Chongxuan Sheng had long considered this. "I won't get a good official position, and a title alone is meaningless. I'm looking to see if I can find an opportunity to enter the Jixia Academy and learn something. The greatest gap between Chongxuan Zun and myself right now is in cultivation."
For Chongxuan Sheng, his goal was the position of Patriarch of the Chongxuan clan. The Patriarch of the Chongxuan family had always been one who could inherit a Marquis title.
In the hierarchy of noble titles, a substantive fief was superior to an honorary title, and a hereditary, non-degrading title was greater still.
The Patriarch of the Chongxuan family held a hereditary, non-degrading Marquis title, with the family estate as the fief—a dignity beyond ordinary measure. Therefore, an ordinary Marquis title was beneath Chongxuan Sheng's notice.
The Jixia Academy was the most renowned cultivation ground in the Qi Kingdom. It did not belong to any sect or school, but to the empire itself. Across the vast Qi Kingdom, numerous grandmasters took turns teaching there.
It was known as the Dragon Gate of Qi.
To cultivate within this Academy was like a carp leaping over the dragon gate—it often resulted in a complete transformation.
But it was not open to the public under ordinary circumstances.
Whether princes, nobles, or even imperial princes and grandsons, none could enter without having rendered service to the nation.
Jiang Wang asked with curiosity, "They all say the Jixia Academy is the Dragon Gate of Qi. What secrets lie within?"
"First, the most important: all major and minor sects across Qi, any Outer Tower realm expert and above, must take turns lecturing at the Jixia Academy for ten days each year. Any student at the Academy who has a question may request guidance from any lecturer at any time. Everyone must do their utmost to answer thoroughly. If the response is insincere, untruthful, or incomplete, the questioner may report it to the Academy at any time. Once verified, severe punishment will follow."
"Just this alone makes it immensely worthwhile!" Jiang Wang praised.
He knew all too well the hardships of having no mentor.
"Second..." Speaking of the Jixia Academy, Chongxuan Sheng also felt the pride of being a citizen of Qi. "Within the Academy, the concentration of elemental energy goes without saying, but there is also the aura of national fortune surging throughout. To cultivate here, even in silent meditation, one would achieve twice the result with half the effort."
The aura of national fortune surging throughout... In a powerhouse like the Qi Kingdom, what would it feel like to cultivate there?
Jiang Wang could not help but feel drawn to the idea.
"Third..." Chongxuan Sheng suddenly smiled. "I won't tell you, lest you grow restless with longing!"