All the officials understood that the easy victory in this battle with minimal losses was due to the cooperation of the hundred schools of thought.
After this battle, the role of the hundred schools of thought immediately rose to a new height. Gradually, the voices of the hundred schools of thought began to appear in the court. It was no longer just the Confucian school of thought. This was what Li Shimin wanted to see. After all, checks and balances were deeply ingrained in the bones of every emperor.
Of course, Li Shimin did not want to shake the Confucian school of thought. After all, ruling a country still relied on the Confucian school of thought. However, there were no longer any voices of resistance in the court against other schools of thought.
"Of course, the greatest individual contribution in this battle goes to Minister Li. Minister Li did not care about his age and coordinated the entire army. That was why we were able to win this battle," Li Shimin solemnly said to Li Jing.
Li Jing hurriedly stepped forward and said, "This is the honor of Minister. Fortunately, I did not disappoint Your Majesty's trust."
"Minister Li has worked hard and performed meritorious deeds for the country. You will be appointed as the Right Servant of the Minister and be conferred the title of Duke of Wei," Li Shimin solemnly said.
The officials in the court could not help but look at Li Jing enviously. Becoming a general or minister was the highest honor for an official, and now Li Jing was the first to do it. However, Li Jing's contributions are indeed the greatest in the Tang dynasty. He deserves such treatment. "
Li Jing was immediately overwhelmed by the favor. He hurriedly bowed and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your kindness. This old minister is already old. I have long felt that my strength was not as great as I wanted to in this western expedition. I was just barely holding on. I really do not have the strength to manage the court. I really do not have the ability to be the Right Servant of the Minister. "
Unexpectedly, Li Jing actually refused the position of the Right Servant of the Minister. Even though Li Shimin repeatedly invited him, Li Jing firmly refused.
In the end, Li Shimin helplessly said, "In that case, Minister Li will be appointed as the Duke of Wei. For the time being, you will be in charge of the recruit plan and the preparation of military academies."
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Li Jing replied.
This was probably the best possible outcome. This way, Li Jing could be said to have left the military camp and no longer commanded the army. Naturally, the rumors of him rebelling would fall apart on their own. At the same time, Li Jing would also be freed from the restrictions of his high position. Everyone knew that Li Jing would no longer be able to lead troops into battle after his retirement. However, with the title of Duke Wei, he would be able to enjoy the rest of his life in peace.
When the important ministers who had followed Li Shimin to the north and south saw Li Jing escape unscathed, it was as if a heavy stone had been lifted from their hearts.
Once the cunning rabbit is dead, the hound is cooked! This was not a joke, but a bloody tragedy!
Almost none of the founding heroes of the past dynasties had a good ending. However, Li Jing had escaped unscathed and created an ending for the founding heroes of the Tang dynasty. This made the other ministers let out a long sigh of relief. Of course, Li Jing's tactfulness played a big part in this. Of course, Li Shimin's magnanimity also played a big part in this.
Even Meton couldn't help but sigh in his heart. This was the best era, whether it was for other people or for the House of Mo.
The atmosphere of the entire imperial court suddenly lightened. Whether it was the generals who were being rewarded or the civil officials who had envious faces, they all couldn't help but reveal relaxed smiles.
"Hou Junji! You will be appointed as the Provincial Governor of Chen Province and Duke of Chen State, "Li Shimin continued to reward.
During the Western Expedition to Tuyuhun, Hou Junji had taken the most difficult route, the Southern Road. In the end, he still won a complete victory. He deserved to be the second most meritorious person.
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Hou Junji revealed a rare smile.
"Cheng Zhijie …" Li Shimin said again.
Cheng Yaojin had traveled 800 miles to the Immensity Sea and returned with Fu Yun's head. His meritorious service was ranked third. If it weren't for the fact that he had been ambushed and lost soldiers, his meritorious service would have been even higher.
However, Cheng Yaojin was already very satisfied. He immediately bowed with a happy face and said, "Minister, thank you, Your Majesty."
Next, Li Daozong, Li Daliang, and the others all received a lot of rewards. Among them, the most eye-catching one was Su Dingfang.
Originally, Su Dingfang was just a logistics officer, but under Morton's suggestion, he formed a highly efficient transport team and led eight thousand wounded soldiers to rescue Li Daoyan's thirty thousand soldiers. This battle could be said to be a brilliant display of strength, and he was directly promoted three ranks, becoming the general of the Sixteenth Guard.
"Firearms Supervisor Meton!" After Li Shimin rewarded all the generals, it was finally Modun's turn. He had been waiting impatiently for a long time.
"Meton led the Firearms Supervisor to attack Tuyuhun's Three Castles. He accurately predicted the solar eclipse. He used gunpowder to help the army achieve victory. He used mathematics to find the enemy's whereabouts. He repeatedly performed meritorious service. Thirty cavalry charged into the enemy's ranks to rescue the Left Guard …"
Li Shimin listed Meton's meritorious service one by one. The officials couldn't help but gasp. Everyone else's meritorious service was one or two, but Meton's meritorious service came one after the other. Moreover, each of these meritorious service would have been a heaven-defying service for an ordinary general, but Meton had accomplished them all alone. Moreover, this wasn't the end.
Li Shimin took a deep look at Mo Dun, and then continued, "Presented the compass, assisted Cheng Aiqing in pursuing and attacking Fu Yun, and returned with great victory. Shandong was flooded, Mo Dun stayed in Tuyuhun to raise sufficient provisions for disaster relief for the imperial court."
After Li Shimin finished listing Meton's meritorious service, the entire court fell silent. Even the civil officials who hated the Mohists had to admit that in this battle, Meton's role was irreplaceable. Because of Meton's existence, wherever Meton participated, he would achieve dazzling results.
"Mo Jiazi!"
Many officials couldn't help but reevaluate Meton in their hearts. They had always thought that they had overestimated Meton, but now they realized that they had made the mistake of underestimating him. As long as Mo Jiazi was given the right platform, no matter how great this brat's achievements were, they wouldn't be surprised.
Meton immediately revealed a simple and honest smile. With a bashful expression, he said, "Minister, you only did what you could. It was all because of the trust of the other generals that this brat was able to obtain these meritorious services."
Li Shimin saw Meton's smile and couldn't help but snort. This brat's tail was beginning to curl up again.
"Reward those who attack. How can I not distinguish between meritorious service and demerits? I hereby order Beloved Official Mo to be promoted by one rank to Secondary Class Rank Six. He will continue to command the Firearms Division." Li Shimin said unhappily.
"Secondary Class Rank Six." Meton couldn't help but curl his lips. He couldn't help but look down on Li Shimin's stinginess. His position as a Rank Seven Chancellor was already a marvel. A Secondary Class Rank Six Chancellor was also not qualified. Didn't Kong Yingda's Imperial College Chancellor position was Rank Five?
Gao Shilian's heart skipped a beat. He looked at Li Shimin in confusion. He had directly come to Lan Province to oversee the situation. On one hand, he had to stabilize the situation in the northwest. On the other hand, he was the Minister of Personnel, so he could verify the merits of the various officers and soldiers in the army. According to the merit list he had drawn up, Meton should have been promoted by two ranks to Rank Six. Even so, he had already suppressed Meton's results.
The officials in the court were moved. According to Meton's merits, a promotion by one rank might not be enough to reward Meton. There had to be more.
"Grant Princess Changle's hand in marriage!" Li Shimin said through gritted teeth.
Only now did the gathered officials come to a sudden realization. Bestowing Princess Changle's hand in marriage could be said to be a great honor. This meant that Li Shimin had publicly acknowledged this marriage in court. In this way, Modun's promotion by only one rank made sense.
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for granting my wish!" Meton hadn't expected Li Shimin to be so shameless as to use his previous promise as a reward. However, he had no choice but to accept. After all, to him, no matter how great the reward was, it couldn't compare to the recognition of his marriage to Changle.
"Congratulations, Your Majesty, for choosing another good son-in-law."
"Congratulations, Mo Jiu."
"Mo Jiu and Princess Changle are truly a talented man and a beautiful woman. They are a match made in heaven."
For a moment, the entire Taiji Palace was filled with congratulations.
Only the two parties involved were filled with dissatisfaction. Meton despised Li Shimin for being stingy, while Li Shimin disliked Meton. This brat had secretly met with Changle for an hour the moment he entered Changle Palace. If he still didn't grant the marriage, his daughter's reputation would probably be in jeopardy.
Li Shimin waved his hand and said, "The merits of the other officers and soldiers will be distributed as usual. Those who have rendered meritorious service will be given priority in the selection once the preparations for the military academy are complete!"
At this point, the awards were officially over.
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