Chapter 118: Marquis?

Translator: Atlas Studios  Editor: Atlas Studios

Emperor Yuan Feng was a little dizzy from Yin Wuyou’s chatter. He rubbed his glabella. “Zhou Shuang developed a new weapon?”

“Father, are you listening to me? If you don’t reward him handsomely for such meritorious service, won’t he be bitterly disappointed?” Yin Wuyou stomped her feet.

“Didn’t you already reward him?”

“Does that count? Father, tell me. If not for the Hundred Refinements Ring Pommel Sabers and the Horse Slaying Sabers, would General Meng have been able to achieve such great results so quickly in the southern borders?” Yin Wuyou said.

“Shouldn’t Zhou Shu deserve some credits? Isn’t this military merit?

“He contributed so many powerful weapons to Great Xia, but Great Xia only gave him the title of workshop superintendent. Do you think it’s enough for him?”

“Isn’t there something else? Didn’t I agree to let him participate in the military parade?” Emperor Yuan Feng said patiently to his daughter.

“That’s not a reward. He deserves it! He is capable!” Yin Wuyou said.

Emperor Yuan Feng rolled his eyes. “Daughter, whose side are you on? Are you finding fault with your father?”

“No!” Yin Wuyou pouted.

“I’m just stating a fact!

“He has made many great contributions. I think he deserves to be conferred a rank of nobility!

“Father, take a look at this Great Xia Dragon Sparrow Saber! Shen Yue lost so badly that he had nothing to say! I feel that it might even be ranked first in the Standard Armament Manual!”

Yin Wuyou handed the Great Xia Dragon Sparrow Saber to Emperor Yuan Feng.

“Great Xia Dragon Sparrow Saber?” Emperor Yuan Feng frowned. Not every weapon could claim the title of Great Xia.

He received the Great Xia Dragon Sparrow Saber, and his expression changed slightly.

Although Emperor Yuan Feng was not a forger, he was still a martial artist. When he was young, he had put in hard work in the Martial Dao. After ascending to the throne, he used a secret technique to raise his cultivation to the first rank.

He could still tell whether a weapon was good or bad.

“Wonderful saber!” Emperor Yuan Feng couldn’t help praising. “This saber is even better than the Horse Slaying Saber.”

“Father, don’t you think this Great Xia Dragon Sparrow Saber is considered a great merit?” Yin Wuyou asked.

Emperor Yuan Feng laughed. “I approve of this Great Xia Dragon Sparrow Saber’s name.”

Yin Wuyou opened her mouth. She never knew her father could be so shameless!

He approved the use of the name of Great Xia as a reward?

“This is going down in history!” Emperor Yuanfeng smiled.

Seeing his daughter’s angry face, he stopped joking and said with a smile, “Daughter, how can I not know about Zhou Shu’s contributions?

“I’m well aware of his contributions. However, I’ve discussed this with the great general and feel that a big tree attracts the woodman’s ax. If we give him too many rewards too early, it might not be a good thing for him.”

Emperor Yuan Feng explained, “It’s not uncommon for someone to achieve success at a young age and then waste their natural endowments. Our intention was to reward him after he officially became a Forging Master.”

Emperor Yuan Feng and Meng Bai were worried that if Zhou Shu, a Forging Apprentice, suddenly became rich, perhaps he would lose interest in forging. If that happened, it would instead affect him and waste his talent.

If he was rewarded after he became a Forging Master, his temperament might become more mature.

If not for Yin Wuyou’s questioning, Emperor Yuan Feng wouldn’t have mentioned these considerations to anyone.

Actually, Emperor Yuan Feng attached great importance to Zhou Shu. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have made an exception and allowed him to participate in the military parade as a Forging Apprentice.

“Father, it will be too late by then!” Yin Wuyou said. “Do you know? Today, Shen Yue revealed his intention to poach Zhou Shu several times! If Great Wei invites him with a high official position and a great salary, what do you think Zhou Shu will do?”

“He wouldn’t dare!” Emperor Yuan Feng shouted coldly.

“Father, you can’t blame him! On one side, he can see that they value him highly. But on the other side, he has repeatedly achieved great merits without getting anything in return. Anyone would hesitate.”

“He’s from Great Xia!” Emperor Yuan Feng frowned.

“Father, that is a moral kidnapping!” Yin Wuyou was already biased. “The empire of Great Xia belongs to you, Father. Zhou Shu is just a mere official! Moreover, it’s not like there aren’t people in Great Xia who are officials in other countries!”

“Zhou Shu is already tempted?” Emperor Yuan snorted coldly.

“No.” Yin Wuyou shook her head. “He’s still loyal and devoted to Great Xia. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have taken the initiative to compete with Shen Yue today and defeat him.

“But Father, we can’t bully him just because he’s loyal. He has made great contributions. We can’t take away the rewards that he deserves just because you and the great general said that you’re doing this for his own good.

“Father, if you don’t reward or penalize people for doing a good or a bad job, then I won’t be the grand minister of the Forging Division anymore! I won’t have the face to see Zhou Shu anymore!

“It’s too disappointing!” Yin Wuyou added.

She kept talking, but Emperor Yuan Feng didn’t find a chance to interrupt.

“I did not consider it carefully.” Emperor Yuan Feng was exceptionally patient in front of his daughter. “I didn’t expect Zhou Shu’s talent in forging to be so outstanding. In such a short period of time, he was actually able to continuously develop new standard weapons, each one better than the last.”

Originally, he had thought that after Zhou Shu trained for a period of time and advanced to Forging Master, he could directly bestow him a noble title.

But who would have thought that in such a short time, Zhou Shu would take out new standard weapons one after another!

His reputation had already spread to Great Wei.

If he still didn’t reward him, it wouldn’t be acceptable.

But what to reward him was a problem.

“I knew it! He’s already made such great contributions. Wouldn’t it be bitterly disappointing if you don’t confer him the title of marquis?” Yin Wuyou replied. “No matter what, Zhou Shu should be conferred the title of marquis!”

Emperor Yuan Feng’s face darkened.

Marquis?

How is that possible!

Becoming a marquis is no joke!

Zhou Shu had rendered meritorious service, but his meritorious service wasn’t that great.

Unless the Great Xia Dragon Sparrow Saber could really rank first in the Standard Armament Manual and help Great Xia defeat Great Wei and take back the two prefectures…!

The meritorious service of recovering the lost land would be worthy of conferring him the title of marquis.

However, it was definitely impossible now.

If he conferred him the title of marquis, what if the Great Xia Dragon Sparrow Saber ranked first in the Standard Armament Manual later?

When the time came, would he confer him the title of king?

A Forging Apprentice, a workshop superintendent of the Forging Divison, suddenly became a king of Great Xia?

Emperor Yuan Feng found it unbelievable.

Pfft! Wuyou has gone astray! How could Zhou Shu’s current achievements allow him to become a marquis?!

Conferring him a rank of nobility is already a huge reward!

“It’s impossible to confer him the title of marquis unless the Great Xia Dragon Sparrow Saber can help Great Xia take back the You and Bing prefectures!” Emperor Yuan Feng said.

“However, I am not someone who doesn’t know when rewards or punishments should be given. As a workshop superintendent of the Forging Division, Zhou Shu contributed six standard long sabers in a row. His achievements are outstanding, so let’s make him a county baron.”

“County baron? Isn’t that position too low?” Yin Wuyou said unhappily.

She was talking about conferring Zhou Shu the title of marquis, but the emperor wanted to make him a county baron?

Duke, marquis, count, viscount, followed by baron, the difference was several levels.

“Still too low?” Emperor Yuan Feng was speechless. A workshop superintendent of the Forging Division was a ninth-rank official, while a county baron was a fifth-rank official. This was already equivalent to advancing four ranks in a row!

In the history of Great Xia, he was one of the fastest to ascend. Wasn’t this enough?

“Six standard long sabers and a divine weapon like the Great Xia Dragon Sparrow Saber!” Yin Wuyou said with dissatisfaction. “Are these only worth a county baron?”

“What do you think? How many meritorious deeds do the soldiers on the front lines have to make in order to obtain a noble title? Do you know how many meritorious deeds are required to obtain a noble title?” Emperor Yuan said unhappily.

The titles of Great Xia were not that worthless!

This title was not just a title. It also had a fief!

A county baron would be given a fief of three hundred households!

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that even if he didn’t do anything else in his life, he wouldn’t have to worry about food.

“Making him a county baron is already a very good reward for his current contributions. Any more would be too much.” Emperor Yuan Feng waved his hand. “In that case, I would truly not be giving rewards or punishments where it’s due!

“It’s not difficult for him to be conferred the title of marquis. I’ve already issued a decree. Whoever can rank first in the Standard Armament Manual will be conferred the title of marquis!” Emperor Yuanfeng said.

He had indeed issued this imperial decree. This was also to encourage Great Xia’s Forging Masters, or even Grand Craftsmen, to develop standard weapons.

After all, it was extremely rare for a Grand Craftsman to be a marquis.

The titles of nobility in Great Xia were all real nobility and could only be obtained through military achievements.

Although Grand Craftsmen were highly respected, not everyone could obtain a noble title. Even if they cuold, they were usually viscounts and barons. Never were they conferred as counts.

Becoming a marquis was attractive even to Grand Craftsmen.

“Alright then.” Yin Wuyou thought about it. It was indeed a bit difficult to confer him a marquis title directly.

However, the Great Xia Dragon Sparrow Saber still had a high chance of ranking first in the Standard Armament Manual.

When the time came, he would be conferred the title of marquis. This was fine too. After all, there were only a few days left.

“Father, if you confer Zhou Shu the title of the county baron, shouldn’t there be a baron’s manor? I know there’s a good piece of land…” Yin Wuyou continued to fight for Zhou Shu’s welfare.

The veins on Emperor Yuan Feng’s forehead throbbed. He was about to lose his patience!

…

“Great Xia Dragon Sparrow Saber?” Great Wei’s Imperial Preceptor Xiao Shunzhi frowned slightly. He looked at Shen Yue and asked, “Is it really that strong?”

“My Dragon Slaying Saber broke into two upon collision,” Shen Yue said with a serious expression. “Although I didn’t get to use it, I can be sure that in terms of sharpness and toughness, even ordinary yellow-grade weapons might not be able to compare to it!”

“In that case, it will be somewhat troublesome,” Xiao Shunzhi said in a low voice. “Is it possible for Zhou Shu to join our side?”

“No.” Shen Yue shook his head. “I saw him flirting with Great Xia’s Princess Yin Wuyou, and they seemed to have an affair. I’m afraid it’s impossible that he will betray Great Xia.

“The spies from before had already reported and suggested that we kill Zhou Shu immediately. Unfortunately, our men were eliminated before they could take action!” Shen Yue said with hatred.

Xiao Shunzhi glanced at Shen Yue. “I know you have hatred in your heart, but Shen Ye died for the sake of Great Wei. Great Wei will not forget him. This hatred will be avenged sooner or later. We have a mission this time, so don’t mess around.

“If anything goes wrong, I won’t be able to protect you!”

“Teacher, Zhou Shu is Mi Ziwen’s sworn brother. He threatened our mission again…” Shen Yue said indignantly.

“My every move is being watched by Yin Changhao. If I don’t take action, do you think you can kill him?” Xiao Shunzhi said coldly.

“Even if you kill him, can you escape unscathed? How can a genius who can forge such a powerful weapon not have experts protecting him?

“Even if he didn’t have anyone protecting him in the past, now that he has forged the Great Xia Dragon Sparrow Saber, as long as the Great Xia Imperial Court isn’t stupid, they will be on guard against anyone trying to assassinate him!

“I’m telling you again. Shen Ye will be avenged! Mi Ziwen will also die! You are not allowed to act recklessly in Chang’an!”

“I understand.” Shen Yue lowered his head, but his eyes were full of hatred.

Shen Ye was his elder brother, albeit his elder brother of a different mother. Since Mi Ziwen dared to kill his elder brother, he would destroy the entire Mi family! He would kill everyone around him!

“If the Great Xia Dragon Sparrow Saber is really that strong, then our previous plan might not be guaranteed.” Xiao Shunzhi did not notice Shen Yue’s expression. He pondered for a moment before saying, “It seems that we still have to improve it. We cannot afford to have any accidents!”

“Yes, Teacher.” Shen Yue bowed.

…

Forging Division, 0th Workshop…

Zhou Shu was still indignantly complaining about Yin Wuyou when an uninvited guest arrived at the 0th Workshop.

“Divine Constable Yang, why are you here?” Zhou Shu looked at Yang Hong. People really rely on clothes.

Yang Hong, who had changed into the Divine Constable uniform, had an ordinary face, but his aura had clearly improved by a level.

“Superintendent Zhou, are you in a bad mood? Who provoked you? Do you need me to help you vent your anger?” Yang Hong said in high spirits.

“Sure. Someone owes me money,” Zhou Shu said casually.

“Who’s so bold? Tell me. I’ll get it back for you!” Yang Hong patted his chest. He was now a divine constable of the Divine Constable Bureau. Who in the capital wouldn’t give him some face?

“Yin Wuyou,” Zhou Shu said calmly.

“Who?” Yang Hong almost choked on his own saliva. Yin Wuyou? Her Highness the Princess?

Can you be more logical?

You want me to ask the princess for money?

Am I tired of living?

Yang Hong wished he could slap himself a few times in his head. Have you forgotten what kind of person Superintendent Zhou is? You still dare to offer your assistance? You really don’t learn!

“Superintendent Zhou, this…” Yang Hong said weakly.

“Let’s get down to business. Divine Constable Yang, you have something to tell me?”

Zhou Shu was only joking, and he naturally didn’t expect Yang Hong to ask for money from Yin Wuyou.

“It’s the traitor from last time,” Yang Hong said after calming down.

“The traitor who caused you to be stained with excrement?” Zhou Shu said.

Yang Hong’s face darkened. Let’s not talk about this. We’re still friends…

“Yes, that’s the guy.” Yang Hong said in a low voice. “I investigated him thoroughly and found some things.. You were the one who reported him, so I felt that I had to tell you.”

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