Chang 'an City, North Gate.
Today, there were troops stationed outside the northern gate, as well as many officials from the imperial court. The one at the front was Li Shimin. He had come on Li Yuan's orders to personally welcome Du Qi's party.
In addition, he was here to welcome Shbargha, the Tuli Khagan, to Chang 'an.
In Zhangsun Shunde's secret memorial, he had mentioned Shbargha's situation. However, Li Yuan was no longer worried about the threat of the Turks, so he didn't take Shbargha to heart and only arranged for Li Shimin to come. When welcoming Du Qi, he also welcomed Shbargha.
Beside Li Shimin, Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui were also present. In addition, the officials of the Duke of Qin's Residence were also present. Everyone's faces were brimming with smiles.
Only some of the officials at the back, those who belonged to the Crown Prince's faction, looked dispirited and listless.
As for those at the back, there were some insignificant court officials.
These people were just there to make up the numbers.
The real big shots of the imperial court, ministers like Pei Ji and Xiao Yu, however, didn't come.
As everyone waited, a group of people arrived on the official road not far away.
The ones who came were shockingly Du Qi's group.
Du Qi and Zhangsun Shunde were at the front, with Shbargha behind. There were hundreds of them. At this time, Du Qi was no longer in a carriage, but riding a slightly smaller pony.
He looked up at the majestic Chang 'an City, a bright smile appearing on his slightly young face.
He was back!
He was finally back!
However, it was now the end of October. The weather had turned cold, so their clothes were relatively thicker.
When Du Qi saw Li Shimin and the others, he dismounted and walked forward with Zhangsun Shunde. When they arrived in front of Li Shimin, they bowed and said, "Your Highness Duke of Qin!"
"You've worked hard, you've worked hard!"
Li Shimin looked at Zhangsun Shunde and Du Qi and said in a low voice, "Imperial Father is already in the palace and has been waiting for you for a long time. Since you've returned, follow me into the city to see Imperial Father. "
"Yes!"
Zhangsun Shunde and Du Qi responded in unison.
Li Shimin glanced at Shiluo again, not saying anything, and then said, "Enter the city!"
Following Li Shimin's order, the group began to enter the city.
Entering Chang 'an through the North Gate was the closest to the Imperial City. Before long, the group of people entered the Imperial City and arrived outside the Sweet Dew Hall. However, Shbargha and his group were temporarily outside the Ganlu Hall and were not summoned.
After all, Du Qi needed to talk to Li Yuan about the matter of Shbarghu's diplomatic mission first.
Li Yuan summoned Du Qi, Zhangsun Shunde, and the others. The princes, dukes, and high-ranking ministers of the imperial court were all present. Li Yuan spoke some polite words first, praising Zhangsun Shunde and Du Qi for their meritorious service to the country. After a round of formal praise, Li Yuan changed the topic, saying, "This time Erlang went on a diplomatic mission to the Tujue, his experience has been enriched, he has grown somewhat taller, somewhat darker, somewhat thinner. What do you think, Turks traveling north? "
As soon as these words came out, the entire hall was stunned.
This was an important matter of state affairs being discussed in the Imperial Court. Yet, when Li Yuan talked about proper business, he began to converse with Du Qi in a tone of casual chatter. This was shocking.
Originally, some people did not know that Du Qi was highly regarded by Li Yuan. Now, however, it was completely spread out. Everyone knew that Du Qi really received Li Yuan's favor.
Du Qi reported, "Your Majesty, this subject went on a diplomatic mission to the North, I am quite moved. After leaving Chang 'an and entering Hedong Road, the further north we go, the harder it is for the common people at the border, their lives are not easy. The world has just settled down, their days are very poor, especially when many people have left their homes to avoid being attacked by the Tujue people. The Tang Dynasty urgently needs to improve its strength to protect the border and the people. "
Li Yuan nodded. As the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty, he was naturally clear about the situation of the Tang Dynasty. Nowadays, in the Tang Dynasty, not to mention the border, even many common people in various places were poor, food was scarce, not to mention the border.
This could not be helped.
After all, there were still many enemies around the Tang Dynasty, which needed to be suppressed one by one, and this needed time.
Fortunately, Du Qi fought for time.
Li Yuan praised Du Qi again. In front of the courtiers, he once again praised Li Daen, conferred Li Daen the title of Dingxiang Prince, and conferred him the title of General of Agile Cavalry, and then transferred him to the imperial court to serve as the Minister of War.
This was a reward for Li Daen.
Everyone also agreed.
Li Yuan also praised Zhangsun Shunde and conferred him the title of General of the Army. This was equivalent to promoting Zhangsun Shunde, causing him to have the position of a scattered official.
Originally, after Li Yuan ascended the throne, in view of Zhangsun Shunde's meritorious service, he appointed Zhangsun Shunde as General Zuo Xiao Wei and conferred him the title of Duke Xue. This was a position and title, and General Zuo Xiao Wei was only a third-rank official.
As for the title of Duke Xue, in fact, the influence of the title was not big. Because when the Tang Dynasty was founded, there were many dukes. On the contrary, there were very few scattered officials. The scattered official position of General of the Army determined Zhangsun Shunde's rank, causing Zhangsun Shunde to enter the circle of second-rank officials at once.
The higher one went, the more difficult it was to raise one's rank.
Although Zhangsun Shunde made meritorious service on the diplomatic mission, in fact, he mainly entrusted Du Qi to plan. Li Yuan gave Zhangsun Shunde the scattered official position of General of the Army. Zhangsun Shunde was also very happy and very happy.
After Li Yuan finished arranging Zhangsun Shunde's official position, his gaze finally turned and fell on Du Qi. He said, "Du Qi, hear my order!"
"This official is here!"
Du Qi immediately stepped forward and bowed.
Li Yuan said, "This time, in the great victory at Yanmen Pass, we defeated Xieli Khan of the Tujue and achieved great results. Not only did we capture countless prisoners, but we also resolved the threat of the Tujue for quite a long time. Your meritorious service, we have seen it. "
Du Qi said, "Your Majesty, this is what this official should do."
Li Yuan said, "You did what you should do, but we reward and punish clearly. Erlang, you have rendered meritorious service to the country. Seeing that you are young, we bestow upon you the title of Baron of the founding county, your fief of Lantian, and also bestow upon you the position of imperial physician. "
Originally, Du Qi was a seventh-rank Xuan Yilang.
But now, his title was Baron of Lantian County, a fifth-rank noble title. Especially since Lantian County was not some small county, it was a serious big county, and it was also close to Chang 'an. This fief was in Lantian County.
Even though Du Qi actually did not have the authority to govern, he only had tax revenue and other benefits. But to Du Qi, this was already a great favor. Even in the entire court, there were not many people who could compare to Du Qi.
As for the imperial physician, he was also a fifth-rank scattered official. He did not need to do anything and did not need to attend court, he could receive a salary.
In other words, Du Qi now had two salaries.
One from the fief, the other from the scattered official.
At this time, all the officials in the court looked at Du Qi one by one, their eyes were filled with envy. Even some people's eyes were filled with jealousy. Because Du Qi became the Baron of the founding county at such a young age, he had the title of nobility.
One must know that this could be inherited.
After Li Jiancheng heard Li Yuan's arrangement for Du Qi, his hands in his sleeves had already clenched into fists, his five fingers tightly clenched. If he did not know that Du Qi was in the limelight, stopping him at this time was tantamount to hitting a stone with an egg, he would definitely have sent someone to stop him.
However, Li Jiancheng also knew that Du Qi had made a great contribution, he could not stop him at this time. The great victory at Yanmen Pass could be exchanged for several years of peace at the borders of the Tang dynasty. Rewarding Du Qi with the title of Baron of the founding county was not excessive.
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