Everyone praised Liu Jin even more, truly a young General of the Han Dynasty, a Qilin Child of the Imperial Clan.
Originally, everyone thought that it was impossible for Liu Jin to defeat the Xianbei. At most, he could rely on the city as a base to wear down the enemy, then wait for the court's reinforcements to arrive and defeat them with a pincer attack.
Unexpectedly, before the court's reinforcements were even mobilized, news came of the Xianbei's defeat.
He Jin, sitting in the principal seat, had a brilliant smile on his face, feeling his back instantly straighten and his gloomy mood vanish.
After all, everyone in the court knew that Liu Jin was under his command. Now, having quelled the Xianbei rebellion and won a splendid victory, he had gained sufficient courage and prestige.
He looked up at the rafters, his eyes filled with excitement, and a loud laugh rang out!
“Good, good, good.”
“Liu Wenyi did a splendid job. He did not let General down.”
The civil officials and strategists around him all smiled, bowing in congratulation.
After laughing for a moment, He Jin stroked his blade, his eyes gleaming sharply, feeling a terrifying aura erupt from his body.
He said coldly!
“Tomorrow at court, I will present this battle report. His Majesty will surely be overjoyed. I'll see who in the court still dares to oppose me.”
Upon hearing this, everyone bowed and said!
“The General's might is unstoppable.”
Inside the Imperial Palace Hall!
On the new day, the morning court officially began. Emperor Liu Hong sat on the dragon throne, his face growing paler and appearing somewhat weak and powerless.
There was even a hint of irritation between his brows. The recent period of turmoil made it difficult for him to sleep, fearing that the rebels would invade Luoyang and depose him, the Emperor of the Han Dynasty, from the dragon throne.
Seeing the civil and military officials gathered in both halls, he still braced himself, maintained a majestic demeanor, and asked in a clear voice!
“My beloved ministers, do you have anything to report?”
After the civil and military officials on both sides chattered for a while!
General He Jin, with a stern expression, immediately stepped forward and reported in a clear voice!
“Reporting to His Majesty, this official has something to report.”
Liu Hong, sitting on the dragon throne, slightly raised his eyelids, glanced at He Jin, and showed a hint of displeasure between his brows.
Evidently, the recent turmoil had made him dissatisfied with this General.
If it weren't for the need to use his status as an imperial relative to suppress the noble families in the court, with his incompetent performance, he would have been removed long ago.
He patiently asked in a calm tone!
“May I ask, what does the General have to report?”
The civil and military officials in the court all looked towards General He Jin, many with cold smiles in their eyes.
During this recent period, He Jin had fallen out of favor with His Majesty, especially at the last court session, where he actually cursed loudly. From the looks of it, it seemed His Majesty wanted to suppress him.
Everyone's minds became active. After the General fell, their aristocratic families would be in charge of the court. As long as they could find a way to eliminate the Eunuchs, the power structure in the court would be theirs to decide.
He Jin sensed those unfriendly gazes and sneered in his heart.
You want me to fall? You're dreaming. As long as I have many capable people under me, I will still stand firm in the court.
He immediately bowed and said in a clear voice!
“Reporting to His Majesty, good news has come from the north! Defender General of the Xiongnu Liu Jin personally led his troops north to Gaoliu City and defeated two tens of thousands of Xianbei troops!”
“A total of over ten thousand enemies were slain, several thousands were captured, shaking the north and upholding the might of our Han Dynasty!”
His voice was exceptionally loud in the hall, reaching the ears of every minister.
Many people showed surprise in their eyes, some even disbelieving.
The three commanderies of Yanmen, Dingxiang, and Cloud Middle Commandery would be considered formidable if they could muster ten thousand troops. That they could defeat two tens of thousands of Xianbei troops with these forces truly shocked them.
Because they knew that the strongest power on the northern grasslands was not the Xiongnu but the Xianbei. With various tribes gathered together, they could command hundreds of thousands of troops, and even tens of thousands of cavalry.
Even if the Han Dynasty used all its national power, it would not be guaranteed to completely eliminate them.
Unexpectedly, they were defeated by Liu Jin just like that. Although it was not the main Xianbei force, being able to deploy two tens of thousands of troops meant they were certainly not weak.
Even Liu Hong, sitting on the dragon throne, trembled slightly, feeling the hot blood gush forth within him, his eyes filled with excitement.
He immediately stood up and asked in a clear voice!
“Is that true?”
He Jin's mouth curved into a triumphant smile, and he quickly clasped his hands and bowed, saying!
“Reporting to His Majesty, this is absolutely true, without any exaggeration.”
After receiving the accurate news, Liu Hong's pale face became somewhat flushed, his eyes filled with extreme satisfaction, and a hearty voice came through!
“Good, good, good!”
“Liu Wenyi truly did not disappoint Us. He is indeed the Qilin Child of the Imperial Clan that We value, proficient in both civil and military arts. To be able to pacify the Xianbei and stabilize the northern chaos so quickly!”
“For such a great achievement, We must reward him heavily!”
Upon hearing this, He Jin did not hesitate, immediately stood up, bowed, and said!
“What His Majesty says is true. General Liu's great victory over the Xianbei, shaking the grasslands, naturally deserves a heavy reward to demonstrate His Majesty's mighty power.”
“It will even boost the morale of the various Han Army forces, encouraging them to bravely kill the enemy and serve the country.”
The civil and military officials of the General's faction all stepped forward, bowed in agreement, and endless flattery poured forth.
Liu Hong smiled upon hearing this flattery, nodded, and after a moment of thought, his voice slowly came through!
“Since the General and so many court officials agree, We have decided to enfeoff Liu Jin as General Zhenbei and Champion Marquis.”
As soon as these words were spoken, many civil and military officials showed shock in their eyes, their breathing quickening slightly.
They had not expected His Majesty to bestow such a heavy reward. General Zhenbei was one thing; although a high official, it was still not comparable to the rank of Grand Tutor and did not grant the privilege of establishing a personal staff.
But Champion Marquis was more than that. It was inherently a County Marquis title, a position of high status, and it also carried extremely important symbolic meaning.
That represented the bulwark of the Han Dynasty, a pillar of the nation, comparable to Huo Qubing, to be enfeoffed as Champion Marquis.
Since the Han Dynasty's inception, only a handful of people had been enfeoffed as Champion Marquis. Each of them had established world-shaking achievements, renowned throughout the land, with outstanding contributions, before being enfeoffed as Champion Marquis, representing someone who was the bravest of the three armies and capable of supporting half the Han Dynasty's realm.
Unexpectedly, they were now going to enfeoff Liu Jin as Champion Marquis. This truly surprised them; this reward was simply too solemn.
Then, Yuan Wei, the leader of the aristocratic families in the crowd, immediately stepped forward and said in a clear voice!
“Reporting to His Majesty, this official believes this reward is too generous. Liu Jin is not worthy of the position and cannot hold the title of Champion Marquis. If word gets out, it will be difficult for the soldiers in the army to be convinced.”
Yang Biao then also stepped forward and bowed, saying!
“Your Majesty, Yuan Situ is absolutely right. Although Liu Jin is young and has achieved merit, he has not yet had outstanding military achievements.”
“He cannot be called a pillar of the nation, nor a bulwark of the Han Dynasty, and naturally does not qualify for the Champion Marquis. If word gets out, it will surely affect the morale of the frontline Generals, and even rumors will spread throughout the army, leading to a collapse on the front lines.”
“Therefore, I ask Your Majesty to reconsider.”
Many aristocratic families and nobles stepped forward to object. In their eyes, this reward was extremely unreasonable. Although Liu Jin was a Han imperial relative and highly regarded by His Majesty, it was impossible for him to be promoted so quickly.