After traveling through time, I became Han Zhang’s grandson?

Chapter 171 Rewards based on merit

The news of Han Ming being "ennobled" swept the whole country, and even the Liao emperor Yelu Hongji who was in charge of Nanjing Road (Liao), and Li Liangzuo and Mo Zang Epang who returned to Xingqing Prefecture to lick their wounds silently knew about it.

In this regard, the Xixia duo felt confused and helpless, with a hint of anger and powerlessness.

For Yelu Hongji, it fostered his ambition to invade the Song Dynasty and unify China.

After all, there are not many opponents like Han Ming in the Song Dynasty.

Yelu Hongji valued and admired the character of the literati of the Song Dynasty, but as for those who had both character and ability, he wished to recruit them all as his own.

He was very enthusiastic about people like Fan Wencheng in the past and Han Zhang, the current Prime Minister.

Only for Han Ming, his bones and heart told him that this was an extremely dangerous person, not even a human being, but a beast waiting for an opportunity to bare its fangs.

It just so happens that Yelu Hongji himself is also such a beast, a monster that chooses its prey.

In short, he was just unhappy with Han Ming. He felt that Han Ming's appearance seemed to announce the end of something, and he, Yelu Hongji, was the only one who could stop him!

"Han Ming...Han Jingyuan, you are very good. Compared to your grandfather and father, you are a good opponent."

"Today's defeat was not caused by you, but by you taking control of the overall situation."

"Next time, your luck won't be so good. I will completely crush all your pride and ambitions in these Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun!"

"..."

Han Ming, who was enjoying the joy of being made a marquis, never expected that he had been targeted by the most powerful and dangerous enemy leader in the northern border of the Song Dynasty.

Of course, Yelu Hongji was not the only one eyeing Han Ming. There were also countless people who were eagerly looking forward to the new 'Marquis of Anyang'!

By mid-July, the Song army's western expeditionary force had basically returned to the Huanzhou area and stationed there.

At the same time, due to the signing of the "Jiayou Peace Agreement", Li Moling of the "Black Mountain Army" who traveled thousands of miles to serve the king, finally came and went in a hurry under the intimidation of Duke of England Zhang Wenbi and the commander of the four wings of the Dragon God Guard Yang Wenguang, without causing any trouble.

In order to better occupy and repair the prefectures and cities ceded by Western Xia, Han Ming immediately started the "Shaanxi Road Supreme Political and Military Conference" at Anbian City, at the junction of Yongxingjun Road and Qinfeng Road, after arriving at the "original" border Huanzhou.

The participants were mainly the commander of the central imperial guards headed by Duke of Yingguo Zhang Wenbi, and the commanders of the western army headed by Zhe, Zhong, Yao, Di and others.

Of course, there is also Han Ming, the supreme commander who controls all parties, and the two big men in power in Shaanxi, Xue Xiang, the deputy transport envoy of Yongxingjun Road, and Chen Han, the transport envoy of Qinfeng Road.

Seeing the crowds of people in the hall, Han Ming couldn't help but sigh in his heart. If he could completely control these 180,000 elite soldiers of the Song Dynasty at this time and become the person who had the final say, then whether it was the Northern Expedition or the Western Expedition, it would be as easy as taking something out of a bag.

But the court will not do so for the time being, and Han Ming himself knows the situation clearly.

In a nutshell, the national strength of the Song Dynasty and the health of the emperor did not support Han Ming's unscrupulous expedition to the north and west with an army of 180,000.

What kind of person will be the next leader of the Song Dynasty? Only Han Ming himself has some idea, and the entire court is now full of worries.

Han Ming shook his head gently, putting aside the unnecessary thoughts in his mind, then coughed, and the entire government hall became quiet in an instant.

"Everyone, this meeting is the highest political and military meeting held to discuss the impact of the Second Song-Xia War, as well as the personnel arrangements and governance of the six border states."

"Of course, I will also join in the awarding and rewarding process that you all love to see."

Hearing this, everyone applauded and expressed their warm welcome.

"I won't be polite with you guys anymore, I'll just serve you the real food."

"Where is Duke of England Zhang Wenbi?"

Han Ming directly took out the imperial edict and read it out.

Basically, for the old man Zhang Wenbi, who was at the highest position in the country, it was just great verbal praise and financial rewards, and of course, an unnecessary honorary title of "Prince's Guardian".

This attracted the attention of the Duke of England. He looked at Han Ming in the hall and saw a hint of strangeness in each other's eyes.

"I thank your Majesty!"

Zhang Wenbi shouted loudly and raised his hands above his head to receive the imperial edict.

"Yang Wenguang, the commander of the fourth division of the Dragon God Guard..."

"He was promoted to Xingzhou Defense Commissioner and Deputy Chief of Qinfeng Road."

Yang Wenguang, dressed in military uniform and with white hair and beard, stepped forward and took the imperial edict from Han Ming's hand.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

"Huanqing Road's jurisdiction..."

"Yao Si, the governor of Huanqing Road..."

"Zhe Jizu, the commander of the Dingbian Army..."

"Zhe Jishi, the commander of the Dingbian Army..."

"Suide Military Commander Zhong Yan..."

"Security Army Wang Shao..."

"..."

As Han Ming called out their names one by one, all the generals stood up and saluted to receive his orders. For a moment, the entire government hall was filled with laughter and joy, making people feel the long-lost warmth.

Until the end, he handed a letter of reward written by himself to his personal guard Yong Zeng. After the other party took it with a smile, the entire reward ceremony was declared over.

"It seems that you all have no objection to the imperial court's reward. This makes me feel relieved."

Han Ming chuckled, walked down from behind the desk, and came to a huge military deployment map on the side.

"Just because the Marquis is so strict in rewarding and punishing, I, Old Yao, am the first one to have nothing to say!"

Yao Si immediately gave a thumbs up and praised.

There is no way around it. These military generals have been suppressed for too long, and usually when it comes to rewards and honors after a war, they are the ones who take the blame.

The victory was achieved, and most of the credit went to the civil officials in power in the court and the imperial military supervisors sent by the government.

For these military generals, apart from honorary titles and money, they have no real power.

There are even unethical civil servants who will usurp the honors and money of their military generals and are determined to kill these soldiers.

In short, in the Song Dynasty, military generals were a group of marginalized people who were not loved by their grandparents.

As for Han Ming, he is generous with basic respect and rewards, and can give warriors the greatest sense of security and mission.

"Wu Zhi is right. Just for this point, I, Zhe Jishi, have nothing to say."

The Zhe family came from the Dangxiang clan. Like many foreign generals in the pre-Tang period, most of them respected the Central Plains dynasty as orthodox.

The Zhe family guarded the northwest for the Song Dynasty for nearly a hundred years, but all they received was vain fame without any tangible rewards.

This made the generals of all ethnic groups and local generals who were soldiers of the Song Dynasty feel depressed and painful.

"Stop complimenting me here. Just don't curse me behind my back outside. That's all that's good."

Han Ming pointed at these military generals who had learned the political tactics of the officialdom and said with a smile.

"Hahaha...."

The generals smiled at each other, feeling that this harmonious and wonderful atmosphere of getting along was something that was rarely seen in a century.

"Remember, thunder, lightning, rain, and dew are all grace from the emperor, the best arrangements made by the court and the government. Remember the principle of 'doing your job well while you're in office.'"

Han Ming briefly gave a summary speech on the conferment, which made Zhang Wenbi, who had been observing him, nod secretly.

"I understand!"

The generals hurriedly bowed and saluted, not daring to have any more extra thoughts.