The cheers of the common people were endless, and they bowed repeatedly to Liang Xiao with gratitude.
Long before they attended the grand ceremony, they had been informed: Marquis An Guo had decreed that they should never kneel to him.
The people found this directive curious, and even Wang Canghai and others expressed opposition, believing it might lead the populace to disrespect hierarchy. However, Liang Xiao, overcoming all objections, insisted on it.
Currently, the military and civilian populace of Da Gan would only kneel to the Son of Heaven, and no one below him, including future princes and crown princes.
This was a small step for the era, but a giant leap for this nation towards a new future.
Thousands of years of feudalism were slowly but steadily transitioning towards freedom and democracy.
Under Ding Wu Yi's arrangements, the Shadow Guards beneath the high platform unveiled the red cloths covering the Nine Cauldrons. The Golden Jade Robe was displayed before Xiao Qing and Liang Xiao, while Xiao Qing held aloft two Imperial Seals of Succession, one from the First Emperor and the other chosen by Da Gan's founding ancestor at the inception of the dynasty.
"The Nine Cauldrons, the Imperial Seal of Succession, the Golden Jade Robe, lost and now recovered!"
"The nation unified, the realm at peace!"
With each utterance from the Shadow Guards, a resounding wave of cheers and applause erupted from below, the crowd deeply moved.
From the moment Liang Xiao shaped the national soul for this land, from the day Xiao Qing defined the people of this land by the name "Gan," they had possessed an unprecedented sense of honor.
"I have a husband, Liang Xiao, whose merits encompass the universe, transcend ages, and are deeply cherished by the army and the populace. I hereby decree to the world that my husband shall be conferred the title of Emperor of Da Gan, commanding all the armed forces of the realm. He may make decisions on all domestic military and political matters on my behalf, and seeing the Emperor shall be like seeing me. I bestow upon my husband the Emperor's attire and the Emperor's seal, a unique honor! Furthermore, I grant him the Golden Jade Robe!"
As Xiao Qing's command rang out, the imperial decree read similar content, greatly exciting the populace.
With Empress Da Liang Youren and Qin Feng as precedents, Qin Feng's ascension to Emperor of Da Gan did not strike people as overly unbelievable; instead, it was met with widespread support.
Under the watchful eyes of the excited populace, Liang Xiao received the decree with both hands. Xiao Qing's gaze was dazed as she personally draped him in the Emperor of Da Gan's robe embroidered with qilin, the hem of which was made from the same material as a dragon robe.
Majestic and handsome, as radiant as the sun and stars!
Xiao Qing gazed at Liang Xiao, who held the Emperor's seal and the Golden Jade Robe, completely mesmerized.
It wasn't until Liang Xiao re-secured the items and took her hand that she snapped back to reality. Her pretty face flushed, and she allowed Liang Xiao to lead her towards the high platform to listen to the blessings of the army and the populace.
After a long while, another imperial decree was promulgated.
"By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: I rule the four seas, and the realm is united. For all eternity to come, our territory shall only expand, never diminish. The passage of the sun and moon, the brilliance of the stars, all shall belong to the mountains and seas of Da Gan! Future generations and subjects shall remember: no intermarriage, no indemnities, no ceding of territory, no tribute. The Son of Heaven guards the nation's gates, and the monarch dies for the state!"
"However, since the Emperor's service, his peerless merits are too numerous to list. He has reformed the court, swept across the six directions, vanquished foreign states, and expanded our territory, striking awe into the eight directions! The army and populace shall not forget the merits of Da Gan's Heavenly General and Marquis An Guo, Liang Xiao. After one hundred years, his noble spirit shall endure, and his monument shall stand eternally! So decreed."
As the imperial decree concluded, the populace was filled with pride, and they involuntarily raised their arms and shouted, "Eternal sage, monument eternal!"
"Furthermore, the nation is at peace, and this grand era is not solely the achievement of me and the Emperor, but relies on the unity of the entire Gan people! Such as Li Xiuyun and Zhang Yang, who assisted in governing the people and upholding the state; such as Lü Changhe and Nan Jiyun, who selected officials and traveled to all corners. Cultivating military and civil preparedness, achieving peace and order! The Emperor and I, along with the officials, have discussed and shall today promote meritorious officials and adjust personnel!"
Another imperial decree was read, confirming the officials' ranks.
Liang Xiao retained the official post of Divine Might Heavenly General, with other positions allocated to his colleagues.
On the military side, General of Chariots and Cavalry Gongsun Ye, nearing eighty, retired. However, the court permanently reserved a third-rank military official position for the Marquis Dingguo's residence. If his descendants could pass the examination, they could assume the post. If they were unable to, they would be granted a nominal third-rank position until the Marquis Dingguo's residence had a descendant capable of filling the role. Concurrently, Gongsun Ye retained the right to participate in and decide on military matters in Jiangnan. The death-exempt gold token left by Marshal Gongsun Wuji remained valid, and he was further granted a Dan Shu Tie Quan (a royal pardon).
General Lü Yi's official position remained unchanged. General of the Rear Lü Changhe was promoted to General of Cavalry and Infantry. General of the Front Nan Jiyun was promoted to General of Chariots and Cavalry, forming the "Three Generals."
Zhuo Wulüe served as Minister of War and concurrently as General of the Left. Mu Hong was promoted to General of the Front and concurrently served as Assistant Minister of War. Grand General of the East Nie Yuan was promoted to General of the Right. Grand General of the South Zhuo Ying was promoted to General of the Rear, forming the "Four Generals of Da Gan."
Qin Feng was enfeoffed as Grand General of the East. Yue Yun was promoted to Grand General of the West. Shi Liuyun was promoted to Grand General of the South. Zuo Wuji was promoted to Grand General of the North, forming the "Four Expeditionary Grand Generals of the nation."
Liang Feng's father-in-law, Yang Huan, was promoted to General of the East. Hirakuro was promoted to General of the West. Liang's capital defender, Gongsun Dingjun, was promoted to General of the South. The Western border defender, Wang Chunqiu, was promoted to General of the North, forming the "Four Pacifying Generals of the nation."
Additionally, there were the "Four Pacifying Generals." Liang Qing's household retainer, Liang Zhan, was promoted to General of Pacifying the North. Yue Qing Tian was promoted to General of Pacifying the West. The governor of Wuyuan Prefecture, Liu Nanfeng, was promoted to General of Pacifying the South. The former commander of the Xuan Guard of Da Liang, Ye Chengxiu, was appointed General of Pacifying the East and concurrently commanded the Xuan Guard, with the authority to accompany Qin Feng and Nie Yuan on expeditions to the Cloud Continent.
Liang Feng served as Zhonglang General of the Feathered Forest and concurrently as General of Loyalty and Righteousness. Zuo Wushang was promoted to General of the Imperial Guard.
...
On the civil official side, in addition to promotions, there were adjustments.
Li Xiuyun, the Prefect of Jiaozhou, and Liu Fan, the Prefect of Yizhou, were recorded for their merits and would receive promotions upon returning to the capital after their terms concluded. Mo Hongming, an advisor in Liaodong, concurrently served as the Prefect of Liaodong. Mu Lingming, the Prefect of Jingzhao, was promoted to Minister of the Imperial Secretariat. Gu Hong, Minister of Revenue, concurrently served as Vice Minister of the Imperial Secretariat. Gu Shaoyan, Assistant Minister of Revenue, continued to serve as Left Censor of the Imperial Secretariat. Zhang Yang, Grand Master of the Palace, was reassigned as Right Censor of the Imperial Secretariat and concurrently served as Assistant Minister of Works.
Li You, the former head of the Li family of Da Liang, was enfeoffed as Grand Master of Ceremonies. Cheng Qing, the former Chancellor of Da Liang, was enfeoffed as Grand Master of the Palace and concurrently served as Prefect of Da Liang. Lin Xiu was promoted to Grand Master of Deliberation. Hong Jie was promoted to Minister of the Grand Court of Judicial Review. Zhuo Wentao, son of Zhuo Zifang, was promoted to Assistant Minister of Rites and concurrently served as Doctor of the Five Classics.
Other officials received promotions or dismissals based on their performance. If their official positions were demoted, they were granted compensatory rewards of gold, silver, pearls, and jade.
...
Da Gan had abolished the head tax but still granted titles to meritorious officials. However, the tax revenue derived from feudal lords was now converted into annual stipends, and the conferment of Marquis titles had become more stringent.
Soldiers who defended the borders and fought in campaigns in the east and west also received monetary rewards, ranging from ten taels to five hundred taels, to be audited and disbursed jointly by the Ministry of Revenue, the Ministry of Personnel, and the Ministry of War.
The army, populace, and officials alike praised the sagacity of the emperor and expressed their boundless gratitude, leading to universal joy!
The numerous enfeoffments during this grand ceremony of unified rule cost the national treasury over twelve million taels of silver. However, Liang Xiao had previously confiscated the wealth of the Jiaozhou warlords and aristocratic families, increasing the national treasury's revenue by over thirty million taels, making the rewards more than sufficient.
"The four seas are united, and the nation celebrates! From this day forward, granaries shall be opened throughout the land to provide relief to the people and replenish reserves for disaster years. The central government will also improve the livelihoods of the people, construct water conservancy projects, and reclaim barren land!"
As Xiao Qing's words spread, another wave of cheers erupted from below.
These were tangible benefits, and they wished the imperial court would establish even more farmland.
The current distribution of benefits from farmland cultivation, where officials received three-tenths when using official oxen and seven-tenths when using their own, and civilians received seven-tenths when using official oxen and eight-tenths when using their own, represented the maximum possible concession!
Even so, the national treasury's grain revenue had not decreased but slightly increased. This was due to the promotion of new agricultural tools and the dramatic increase in the output of draft oxen. With the abolition of the head tax, the entire family's productive enthusiasm had greatly improved, and hidden households and unregistered individuals, under the government's exemption, bravely registered their households.
At this moment, smiles of joy adorned the faces of the military, civilian, and civil and military officials present.
To the south, Zhuo Yun, Yue Wenxin, and Zhen Mi sat side by side in the audience, their bodies trembling, not daring to utter a sound.
"Furthermore, there is still joyous news!"
Under the tense gaze of the three women, Liang Xiao and Xiao Qing walked towards them simultaneously.