Xu Guozhong harbors deep resentment towards the Liang Family and Prince Chong.

If not for them, he would not have been forced to relocate the capital to Luonan.

So, once he stabilized in Luonan, he dismissed the positions of Prince Huai, Prince Chong, Liang Mu, and everyone colluding with them in the court, labeling them as traitorous rebels.

Now, with the opportunity to retaliate against Prince Chong once more, Xu Guozhong naturally would not let it slip by.

He first began investigating Chen Mo's identity.

He then personally drafted an edict, appointing Chen Mo as the Prefect of Yu and Qing States, promoting him to Third-Grade General Anxi, and further bestowing him the title of Marquis of Fu Ze Pavilion, granting him the authority to act expediently.

The titles in the Great Song Dynasty are divided into five levels: Duke, Marquis, Earl, Viscount, and Baron.

Of which, Marquis is further divided into County Marquis, Township Marquis, and Pavilion Marquis.

How to command is based on adding a place name before the title.

Chen Mo, born in Fu Ze Village of Pingting County, was conferred as Pavilion Marquis, thus Marquis of Fu Ze Pavilion.

There are various reasons why Xu Guozhong favored Chen Mo so greatly.

The first is that Chen Mo retook Yu State, captured Liang Song, achieving significant merit.

The second is that he wanted to use this event to boost morale and clean up the court's governance.

The third is that Chen Mo's battle report hinted at a desire to detach from the Celestial Master Army, which he naturally wanted to recruit.

The fourth is to strike at the Liang Family.

After bestowing honors upon Chen Mo, Xu Guozhong further, in the name of the Emperor, betrothed Liang Song's legitimate daughter, Liang Xue, to Chen Mo as a concubine.

The dignified legitimate daughter of the Liang Family, the heir's consort of Crown Prince Chong before the wedding, now given to another as a concubine — if this news spreads, it will surely shock the world.

Xu Guozhong even imagined Prince Chong and Liang Mu's enraged and exasperated expressions.

Subsequently, Xu Guozhong stamped it with the Heirloom Seal of the Realm and proclaimed it to the whole world.

...

Sure enough, shortly after the announcement, the Liang Family in Hedong was the first to find out.

In the ancestral residence of the Liang Family.

"Bang..."

A teacup shattered, and everyone around the hall remained silent as cicadas in winter, except a maid hurriedly bent down to clean up the pieces.

At the head, Liang Mu, who had been stripped of his title and removed from the Situ office, stood with one hand on his hip, the other resting on the back of a master's chair, angrily said, "That damned Xu Thief, he's gone too far, first destroying our family's status as Empress, now allowing our Liang Family girl to become a concubine to a villain, an old man like me wishes to devour his flesh, flay his skin, only then can I relieve the hatred in my heart."

"Blame Ma Lie's Xiliang Army, were it not for their detachment from the allied forces and solo entry into Celestial River, last time the alliance's expedition would not have failed," said a member of the Liang Family below.

"The main issue is not Xiliang Army but Gongsun Yan. If not for his seeking of head credit, wishing to intercept Xu Thief before General Chu Ce, leading to an ambush and troop losses, we would have stopped Xu Thief long ago and wouldn't have failed this time," said another Liang Family member who attended the alliance.

"Liang He, stop talking nonsense." Liang Mu glared at Liang He, the close relationship between the Liang Family and Prince Chong must not be disrupted because of this.

"I'm not wrong; Prince Huai also has problems. If not for his indecisiveness and uneven allocation..."

"Enough." Liang Mu, seeing Liang He was still speaking, immediately shouted angrily, "No discipline, get out."

"Cough, cough..."

At this moment, an elder of the clan, supporting himself with a cane, lightly coughed, stepping forward to mediate, "Who exactly is this Chen Mo? How come we've never heard of him? Liang Song was the top talent of our last generation, whether in strategy or cultivation, he stood out among his peers. How could he fall into the hands of this unknown? Could it be a mistake in the information?"

"It shouldn't be wrong; we have indeed lost contact with Yu State." Liang Mu shook his head, then said, "This information came from Prince Huai, claiming Brother Song has already surrendered to Chen Mo and even promised Xue'Er to him.

But this should be fabricated or perhaps to coerce Brother Song.

As for this Chen Mo, I have heard of him before, Brother Song mentioned in a letter that Xu Jie died at this man's hands, claiming he's only seventeen. At such a young age, he surely doesn't have the capability to capture Brother Song, surely having used some trickery."

Liang Mu found it hard to believe that someone of such age could be stronger than Brother Song, or perhaps Brother Song got the age wrong.

The elder's face became more severe as he tapped his cane and then said, "Regardless, first find out clearly the identity and background of this person."

Liang Mu nodded, saying, "Anyway, this so-called marriage grant, our Liang Family will not acknowledge it."

"How do we explain to Prince Chong?" Liang He spoke up again.

"First send someone to communicate with Prince Chong, see if we can send troops to rescue Xue'Er. If not, we can select someone to marry off, and our marriage alliance with Prince Chong mustn't be broken." Liang Mu said.

Now in these troubled times, noble families like theirs must firmly bind themselves to those with military power.

...

Chongzhou.

Prince Chong's Mansion.

Prince Chong found out about the court's proclamation slightly later than Liang Mu, his entire face ashen, as if he had swallowed several pounds of flies.

For him, Prince Chong, one of the rare princes with military power in the world, wherever he went, he was a respected presence, everyone would afford him some face.

But now his daughter-in-law has been snatched away and made a concubine.

How will people view this?

The dignified heir's consort, fit only to be a concubine?

This was a direct slap to his face.

"That Xu Thief is too much to bear. Spread the order, I want to send troops to Luonan." This edict, betrothing Chen Mo as a concubine, was issued by Xu Guozhong. The first person Prince Chong resents is Xu Guozhong. After all, once this edict is issued, it takes on legal effect, and in the eyes of the world, the matter is settled like this.

The next person he resents is Chen Mo.

"Your Highness, please reconsider."

"Your Highness, you must not."

"With just our family, the military strength is entirely insufficient. We hope Your Highness will reconsider."

Upon hearing these words, the staff officers below started advising fervently.

Prince Chong naturally knew that his side couldn't engage Xu Guozhong, but he still needed to show his stance. As the saying goes, a man needs face like a tree needs bark. Even if pretending, the act must be seen by others. He said, "Such a great humiliation, if we don't raise troops to seek justice, where will the face of Prince Chong's Mansion be placed?"

"Your Highness, no. The last expedition was unsuccessful, morale is low, and we just returned to Chongzhou not long ago. If we rashly send troops now, it will be extremely disadvantageous to us. We hope Your Highness will reconsider."

"That's right. As the saying goes, a gentleman takes revenge even if it takes ten years. Your Highness has great ambitions and popular support, whereas Xu Thief is but a mere clown. Given time, Your Highness will surely capture Xu Thief and avenge this grudge. But for now, we must proceed carefully."

"..."

Under the continual persuasion of his staff officers, Prince Chong's anger subsided significantly. He looked towards a young man below, his eldest legitimate son: "Shuo'er, what do you think?"

As for Liang Xue, the wife he hadn't yet married, Chu Shuo didn't particularly care. Regardless of how beautiful she purportedly was, with his status, he could have any woman. However, she was his fiancée, and there was a marriage contract. Now, she was snatched by a thief, and the Emperor even sanctioned the marriage. If he wasn't angry, it would be a lie.

But for someone destined to inherit Prince Chong's Mansion, he must consider all aspects and weigh the pros and cons, not letting hatred cloud his judgment. He said:

"Father, I believe everyone is right. Now is not the time to send troops; we should bide our time. When circumstances change in the future, it won't be too late to strike back."

The staff officers all unanimously agreed.

Prince Chong nodded with satisfaction at Chu Shuo's response, saying, "Then we shall follow everyone's advice. But we cannot do nothing."

"Jiuran."

"Your Highness." A scholar came forward and bowed slightly.

"I want you to investigate Chen Mo's background immediately—his age, cultivation, origin, and the people around him. I want to know everything in detail."

"Understood."

...

Jing County.

With Prince Huai returning to aid Huai State, the Celestial Master Army had to retreat as well.

"Report—"

A follower of the Celestial Master Sect rushed into the central army tent.

Luo Guang and others, who were discussing matters, all turned their heads to look.

"Celestial Master, a report from the front says that the court has issued an edict appointing Chen Mo as Prefect of the Qing and Yu States, bestowing upon him the title of Third-Grade General Anxi, advancing him to Marquis of Fu Ze Pavilion, and allowing him to act at his discretion. They've even betrothed the daughter of Liang Song, the Prefect of Yuzhou, to him as a concubine," the follower reported respectfully.

Upon hearing this, everyone in the military tent was at a loss.

Luo Guang's mind buzzed as he said, "Wait a minute, the Chen Mo you're referring to, is it Chen Mo from Pingting County, General Xuanwei Chen Mo?"

"Replying to Celestial Master, it is him."

"Why on earth is the court conferring a marquisate upon him?" Luo Guang was puzzled.

"Replying to Celestial Master, it is said that Chen Mo captured Yuzhou, seized Liang Song, and claimed a great victory," the follower said.

Luo Guang was stunned and then glanced around the tent, saying in a heavy tone, "Why didn't anyone inform me of the major news of Chen Mo capturing Yuzhou before the court knew? Where is the battle report from Chen Mo's forces?"

In Luo Guang's view, after Chen Mo captured Yuzhou, his first step should have been to report to him; instead, he learned of it later than the court.

The commanders looked at each other in dismay, as they had just learned of the situation too.

The confidant in charge of such matters stated, "Reporting to Celestial Master, we haven't received any battle report from Chen Mo's forces. We also just learned of this incident."

Hearing this, Luo Guang seemed to realize something. His face darkened, and he said, "Issue an order to Chen Mo's forces, commanding them to immediately march west into the Longyou Region."

Luo Guang realized that Chen Mo might be defying or bought off and no longer obeying the Celestial Master Army's orders, so he planned to confirm his suspicions.

If Chen Mo's forces don't march west after receiving the order, it will prove he's right.

...

Huai State.

Prince Huai's Mansion.

"What a Marquis of Fu Ze Pavilion." Prince Huai, upon receiving the news, said with a sinister tone. He immediately fetched a map of Yuzhou.

Prince Huai was unaware of Chen Mo's intention to break from the Celestial Master Army. Thus, he considered Chen Mo as part of the Celestial Master Army, murmuring, "Yuzhou is occupied. If I were Luo Guang, I would certainly march west into the Longyou Region, cross Qin Pass, and threaten the Western River Land."

"Someone come."

"Your Highness."

"Dispatch my orders to notify the garrison in the Longyou Region to strengthen their defenses."

"Understood."

...

ps: In chaotic times, it's quite easy to be conferred a marquisate. You can refer to the Three Kingdoms.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.