After returning to Chang 'an, Meton had just enjoyed a few days of leisure when he received the notice of the imperial court meeting.
The Western Expedition had ended long ago. Logically speaking, the imperial court should have rewarded him based on his contributions. However, due to the flood in Shandong, the imperial court's finances were tight. Even though Meton had obtained a large amount of wealth from Tuyuhun, it was barely enough. Now that the autumn tax had been collected, the imperial court's finances were gradually getting better. That was why there was this time's reward.
Following the officials to Taiji Palace again, Meton consciously walked to the end of the line of generals under the complicated gazes of the Confucian scholars.
Li Shimin appeared on the dragon throne. Looking at the officials, he could not help but say in high spirits, "In this Western Expedition, the Tang dynasty has won a great victory. My dear officials, thank you for your hard work!"
Li Jing took the lead and said solemnly, "Your Majesty, you flatter us. Fighting for the country is the responsibility of us generals."
Zhangsun Wuji also said with a smile, "After defeating Tuyuhun, the Tang dynasty has shaken the Western Regions. The Silk Road will no longer be obstructed and the road will be smooth. Your Majesty's name will definitely be famous."
"Congratulations, Your Majesty!" The officials said in unison.
After defeating Tuyuhun, the Tang dynasty's reputation was even better. This was the common glory of the Tang dynasty. Naturally, the officials were also honored.
Li Shimin nodded. Suddenly, his face became serious and he said, "In this Western Expedition, the main contribution is the countless soldiers who died in battle. If it were not for these soldiers who sacrificed themselves for the country, how could the Tang dynasty have won such a great victory?"
The officials also nodded solemnly. Although the Tang dynasty won a great victory, they also suffered heavy losses. In the entire war, nearly 10,000 soldiers died in battle. Moreover, this was the result of the medical school's all-out treatment. Otherwise, this number would have more than doubled. "
"Dai, have you distributed the compensation for the soldiers who died in battle?" Li Shimin asked solemnly.
Dai Ren nodded and said, "Replying to Your Majesty, the Minister of Foreign Affairs has already followed Your Majesty's instructions and issued the highest standard."
Li Shimin nodded and said solemnly, "Make sure that these pensions are sent to the families of these sacrificed soldiers, not one cent less."
"Yes!" Dai Zhou said seriously.
"This subject thanks Your Majesty for your kindness on behalf of the sacrificed soldiers," Li Jing said solemnly.
After all, these soldiers had followed him and died on the battlefield. Now that they had received a reward and some compensation, it made him feel a little better.
When Meton heard the amount of compensation, he sighed in his heart. This amount of money seemed to be a lot, but for a family, it probably wouldn't last for long. His heart moved, and he stepped out and said, "Reporting to Your Majesty, these sacrificed soldiers are the pillars of the family. Even if it is a temporary compensation, it probably won't last long. In the future, the family will definitely be in trouble."
Li Shimin also nodded solemnly. In this era, the life of a family without a man, leaving only orphans and widows, would be very difficult.
"In the opinion of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, it's better for the imperial court to come forward and award the title of Martyr's Family to these soldiers who died in battle. On the one hand, these heroes' souls can be righted and glorified in their villages. At the same time, they can be taken care of by their counties and villages. Under the same conditions, military families will be given priority. In this way, the cost will not be much, and the soldiers can be reassured and loyal to the country. The families of the martyrs can also be properly settled."
After Meton finished speaking, Li Shimin's eyes suddenly lit up and he asked, "What do you think?"
Li Jing also nodded and said, "Mo Jiu's words are very good. With this plan, the soldiers of the Tang dynasty will definitely be loyal to Your Majesty."
As the head of the officials, Fang Xuanling also nodded and said, "The Martyr's Family is loyal to Heaven and Earth. Your Majesty will give preferential treatment to the martyr's Family. After 18 years, the Martyr's Family will definitely be loyal to Your Majesty again."
Li Shimin was very happy when he heard this. It didn't cost much, but it could make the soldiers loyal and cultivate a group of loyal soldiers for the imperial court. It was really the best plan.
Meton heard this and said, "In this matter, the Mo Family's Village will set an example. In the future, when the Mo Family's Village recruits workers, the families of the martyrs will be given priority. We will not let the families of the martyrs be wronged."
When Kong Yingda heard this, he couldn't help but raise his eyebrows. Not to be outdone, he stepped forward and said, "In the future, when the imperial court recruits official schools, under the same conditions, the families of the martyrs will be given priority."
Hearing that the Confucian School and the School of Mo were fighting, Li Shimin was not angry this time. Instead, he was happy. He laughed and said, "My dear ministers, you are so considerate. With your devotion to the country, the Tang dynasty will be prosperous."
Li Jing looked at the officials gratefully and said, "Old Man, thank you very much."
Li Shimin was secretly proud. Now, in the competition of the hundred schools, the ultimate beneficiary was the Tang dynasty. It was much better than the stagnant pool of the former Tang dynasty. Seeing Meton retreat to the corner of the Taiji Palace, Li Shimin was suddenly enlightened and had a deeper understanding of the catfish effect.
Li Shimin said loudly, "I believe that in this battle, other than the unity of the soldiers, the School of Medicine also contributed greatly. During the Western Expedition, tens of thousands of soldiers were cured by the School of Medicine. The School of Medicine's Mo Wu even found the cause of night blindness and solved the problem that had plagued the Tang dynasty for thousands of years. He even set an example by cutting off hair to cure the head lice in the army. He is the model of the world's medical practitioners."
The officials couldn't help but nod. This battle could be said to be the battle that made the School of Medicine famous. When the Tang dynasty attacked the Eastern Turks four years ago, the recovery rate of the injured soldiers was only 30%. However, in less than four years, the recovery rate of the injured soldiers was as high as 95%, and countless soldiers were spared.
In comparison, the role of the School of Medicine was immediately increased by countless times. The establishment of the medical corps had long been put on the agenda.
"I hereby confer the title of Baron to Mo Wu. The other School of Medicine's rewards will be doubled." Li Shimin said loudly.
After Li Shimin finished conferring rewards, everyone immediately looked at Meton in the last row. Now, after Mochi was conferred a title for inventing printing, Mo Wu was conferred another title for the School of Medicine. Now, the Mo Family Village had three titles, which was extremely rare in the Tang dynasty.
However, Mo Wu's title was well deserved, and everyone was convinced.
"In addition, Zu Mingjun used his mathematical knowledge to modify the trebuchet, which will be credited. The Taoist School of Taoism's Divine Firmament Priest contributed the gunpowder formula, which will not go unnoticed. I hereby confer the title of Divine Firmament Priest! " Li Shimin conferred the titles of Zu Mingjun and Priest Divine Firmament consecutively. However, Priest Divine Firmament had already passed away and only left behind his title. The real credit would probably still be given to the School of Taoism.
In the imperial court, some of the Confucian officials had extremely grim expressions. Now that the School of Medicine had completely revived, the Military School's plan to recruit soldiers had been handed over to the three provinces and six ministries for discussion. The School of Taoism had shocked the world with its gunpowder, the School of Medicine had established the Mo Hospital, and had even found a cure for night blindness. The School of Medicine had also received the help of new farming tools and foreign seeds, and was at the peak of its power. The School of Legalism lay dormant in the Mo Family Village.
The hundred schools of thought advanced bravely, while the Confucian school suffered heavy losses. Now that the Confucian school had lost its Heaven's Perception and was only left with the ability to make a comeback, it was already difficult for it to survive alone. However, the other hundred schools of thought continued to exert their strength and continued to catch up. Their influence was not to be underestimated, and they had even started to influence all aspects of the Tang dynasty.
Meton could not help but feel extremely emotional. The hundred schools of thought had been competing with each other. From the Pre-Qin period, the four strongest schools of thought, Confucianism, Taoism, and Taoism had competed for supremacy, and then to the Han Dynasty, where only Confucianism was revered. Finally, in the Tang dynasty, there were many strong schools of thought.
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