Liu Jin was a little surprised to hear this, and after a moment of stunned, he quickly understood that Wen Shu had been enfeoffed as a Marquis because of this battle.
Envy showed in his eyes, but he quickly suppressed it.
Killing tens of thousands of Yellow Turbans was the only great victory during this period; it would certainly cause a stir when reported to the imperial court, so it was very normal for Wen Shu to be enfeoffed as a Marquis.
Although he was basically responsible for everything, there was nothing he could do. He was the Prefect, and Liu Jin was just a general under him. How could he bypass his direct superior and be rewarded himself?
Being able to get a Biebu Sima was already a great fortune.
The messenger on horseback dismounted, came forward, bowed, and handed over the invitation from his Pregnant.
Liu Jin reached out and took it, opening it to examine it carefully. Indeed, Wen Shu had been enfeoffed as Tinghou (Marquis of Pavilion) by the imperial court.
Although he was only the lowest-ranking Marquis among the feudal Lords, he would still wear a gold seal and purple ribbon. No matter where he went, officials below two thousand shi would have to address him as Marquis or Lord. This was a symbol of status.
There was also an honorary Marquis, Guannei Hou (Marquis Within the Passes), which was considered the lowest.
After receiving the invitation, Liu Jin turned to Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and others, and said with a smile!
“If we want to drink heartily, we can only go to the Prefect's Mansion and try the Marquis’s wine.”
“Fourth Brother, prepare one hundred thousand coins, load them onto a carriage, and send them to the Prefect.”
Upon hearing this, several people nodded, feeling somewhat envious in their hearts. That was a Han Dynasty Marquis.
Let alone ordinary people, even two-thousand-shi officials would find it extremely difficult to obtain a Marquis title in their entire lives.
Because the Han Dynasty rules were like this: those without military achievements could not be enfeoffed as a Marquis. However, by the Han Dynasty, during the Three Kingdoms period, it had lost much of its significance.
Soon, several carriages were ready. After everyone got in, the carriages slowly left the military camp and headed towards Zhuo Commandery city along the official road.
At this time, the Prefect's Mansion was decorated with lanterns and streamers, full of joy, and appeared very lively.
Officials of all levels brought generous gifts to pay their respects. Even the powerful families and gentry in the city rushed to prepare carts of gifts to send into the Prefect's Mansion to express their congratulations.
The entire Zhuo Commandery city already knew that the Prefect had been enfeoffed as a Marquis by the imperial court.
Anyone of any standing came to pay their respects and offer lavish gifts.
Even those without any particular status would push their way in, hoping to make connections with the various nobles.
Outside the Prefect's Mansion, several people were approaching, carrying gifts.
They were quickly stopped by the guards at the entrance. The head guard immediately questioned them!
“Who are you? Do you have an invitation?”
Upon hearing this, several people looked at the middle-aged man beside them.
He was dressed in a long robe, and his demeanor carried a hint of official authority. At this moment, he spoke slowly with a fawning smile!
“I am Liu Bi, the Thief Chief of Zhuo County. I am here with my clan’s juniors to congratulate the Prefect on being enfeoffed as a Marquis.”
The head guard frowned upon hearing this. Just a county’s Thief Chief dared to attend their Marquis’s banquet? It would truly be a laughingstock if word got out.
An impatient expression instantly appeared on his face, but he still had some measure of tolerance and did not directly beat these people out with sticks. Instead, he waved his hand and said coldly!
“If you don’t have an invitation, then please leave quickly.”
Liu Bi heard this and couldn't help but feel anxious. He had boasted that he would bring the younger generation of his clan to meet the nobles in the commandery.
As a result, he was driven away before even entering the door. Wouldn't that be a slap in the face?
He immediately took out a few Wuzhu coins from his Pregnant, carefully handed them over, and said with a fawning smile!
“Big brothers, please be accommodating.”
“The few of us will just go in, deliver a gift, and then leave. We won’t disturb the nobles.”
The head guard looked at the few copper coins in front of him, a look of disdain on his face. He directly slapped them, sending the coins to the ground.
He cursed angrily!
“Are these paltry things meant to bribe a beggar?”
“All of you, get out of here quickly, or don’t blame us for being impolite and arresting you.”
After saying this, several guards beside him.
Stepped forward, gripping the blades at their waists, their eyes sharp.
If the people in front of them still didn't leave, they shouldn't blame them for being impolite.
Liu Bi saw that the people in front of him were about to get angry, and quickly said with a ingratiating smile and trembling voice!
“Don’t be angry, big brothers, we’re leaving now.”
At this moment, he no longer cared about his dignity and immediately pulled the young people beside him, preparing to leave the place.
One of the resolute young men among them showed an angry expression and said coldly!
“It’s just a banquet, what’s so great about it? How dare they look down on people?”
Liu Bi was startled to hear this. He quickly reached out and pulled the young man who spoke, saying urgently!
“Xuande, you must not be rude. This is the Marquis’s residence; we cannot afford to offend them.”
The head guard heard this young man speaking so arrogantly, and his eyes showed anger. He shouted coldly!
“You madman, how dare you speak so disrespectfully!”
“Men, arrest all these people and throw them into prison!”
Several guards beside him drew their blades, which gleamed with a cold light, preparing to arrest this group of people and throw them into prison.
Liu Bei was startled to see the guards preparing to act. Without any hesitation, he said coldly!
“How dare you! I am Liu Bei, a descendant of Emperor Jing’s son, Prince Jing of Zhongshan, Liu Sheng!”
The several guards trembled slightly upon hearing this. This person in front of them was actually a descendant of the imperial clan, and a hint of apprehension appeared in their eyes.
After all, there were many Liu clan members in Zhuo Commandery, some with high status, some with low, but they didn't know which branch this young man came from.
Just then, several carriages slowly approached and stopped at the entrance of the Prefect's Mansion.
The carriage curtain was lifted, and Liu Jin, dressed in a brocade robe with a copper seal and black ribbon at his waist, exuding a powerful aura, slowly stepped down.
Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and others followed beside him.
Liu Jin looked at the chaotic scene at the entrance of the Prefect's Mansion, his brows furrowing slightly. He was somewhat puzzled, wondering if someone dared to cause trouble at this time.
The head guard, seeing the person in front of him, showed a respectful expression and quickly trotted over, cupping his fists and saying!
“Greetings, Liu Sima.”
The sound quickly resonated throughout the entire scene, and the people gathered around all looked over.
The young man in front of them had a handsome appearance and a sturdy physique, exuding the aura of a superior. Especially the copper seal and black ribbon at his waist indicated that he was an official of a thousand shi.
The surrounding air instantly stilled, and everyone's eyes showed respect.
Liu Jin was not surprised by the quiet scene.
After all, he was a thousand-shi official of the imperial court. In a commandery, he might not have absolute power, but he was considered a top figure, and few people could afford to provoke him.
He looked at the guard in front of him and asked!
“Why was the Prefect’s entrance so noisy just now?”
The guard leader heard this, a fawning expression on his face. He pointed forward and quickly said!
“Reporting to Liu Sima, this group of people came to cause trouble without an invitation. I drove them away, but they wouldn’t listen and even spoke arrogantly.”
