It was not until the sixth day after the battle report of the frontline victory arrived in the imperial capital that the decision on the award was finally conveyed from the palace.
Soldiers on the Eastern Front and officers who performed outstandingly in battle were rewarded according to the list submitted by the Duke of Tulip himself, and in accordance with the provisions of the Imperial Military Law for military exploits. The rest of the soldiers were all rewarded with military merits - this is not surprising.
The only thing that attracted everyone's attention was the reward for Du Wei himself.
Under the premise that the official positions and titles have reached their peak, everyone is guessing what the regent is going to reward Du Wei.
Could it be... Prince Feng? Or add the rank of Marshal
Neither seems likely. The Prince is the direct official of the royal family. And the marshal... a twenty-year-old marshal? Moreover, Du Wei's qualifications are far from enough.
However, when the details of the reward were announced, everything became clear.
It seems that the first beneficiary is Du Wei's younger brother, Earl Gabriel of the Rollins family. Because of his outstanding performance in the battle, Gabriel was directly awarded the rank of major general—this is considered a jump reward. Gabriel was just a cavalry commander before. If he followed the normal path of promotion, he should be promoted to the first rank of commander (this is already the speed that nobles usually enjoy), but this time, he skipped the rank of commander and was directly promoted to the rank of commander. General level.
Anyone with a discerning eye knows that this is a disguised reward for Du Wei: Since you can't be promoted to Du Wei's official position, then you can simply promote your younger brother. Anyway, the two of you brothers are a family, and everyone is rewarded the same.
But with such a great achievement in battle, it is not enough to be promoted to Gabriel's official position. The reward for Du Wei himself becomes...
manor.
Province of Calderon. This is a province located in the south of the empire. It is not too far from the famous southern swamp on the mainland. It is famous for producing several southern fruits.
The reward for Du Wei is to designate a population of 250,000 people in Calderon Province, including three cities and 16 surrounding villages and towns, as Du Wei's new territory!
Calculated in terms of income, these three cities plus the 250,000 population of the 16 surrounding villages and towns can bring Du Wei about 80,000 gold coins in tax revenue every year (including the commercial tax for fruit trade).
In terms of area. This fief is located in the southernmost part of the province of Calderón, and its geographical area occupies about a quarter of the province.
This is the first thought that popped up in the minds of all the bigwigs in the imperial capital after learning the content of this reward.
Everyone knows that the base camp of the Duke of Tulip is in the Northwest Desa Province, which has been operated by Du Wei for several years. It has completely become the sphere of influence of the Tulip family, relying on the control of the border of the grassland, the large taxation of the chamber of commerce and caravans, and the trade of various materials to and from the grassland, the sale of cattle, sheep and horses, etc. Wait, etc., you can get a considerable income every year in the Northwest. Du Wei's prestige is extremely high. They have money and soldiers.
However, this new enclave is thousands of kilometers away from Du Wei's base camp. Du Wei got this fief, how will he manage it? It is too far away from the northwest, and his original power is beyond his reach. Even if he wants to manage it well, he can't give up the base camp in the northwest. The main strength must take into account the old nest in the northwest. Then this new fiefdom must not be able to devote too much energy to the operation...
"A brilliant move."
This is the consensus in the hearts of every big boss in the imperial capital. Regent to means. Very clever!
This kind of reward satisfies the need for rewarding military exploits - if there are great military exploits that are not rewarded, the hearts of frontline soldiers will be chilled. And such a reward also largely restricted Du Wei's influence from further expansion.
And Du Wei himself received a reward order from the imperial capital. After watching it, I just smiled. There was no dissatisfaction at all, and I accepted the reward very happily. He even invited the envoys from the imperial capital to have a big meal, and gave him a valuable gift as well.
His Excellency the Duke is very satisfied—this is the news brought back by the messenger. However, everyone knows that this is mostly just Du Wei's face expression.
Now, everyone knows that the Prince Regent has begun to limit the power of Duke Tulip.
"I'm really satisfied, who said I'm not happy?"
At night, in Du Wei's own tent, he looked at his young brother: "Do you think I should be dissatisfied? This is three cities and sixteen villages and towns, a huge piece of land. It's already quite a lot. That piece of land The territory is close to the southern swamp. In the future, the empire will not be able to hunt monsters from the frozen forest, and the southern swamp will be the only area to hunt monsters. We can develop a lot of business if we get a territory there."
"But..." Gabriel frowned as he looked at his brother's nonchalant expression, "Brother!"
"What do you want to say?" Du Wei raised his eyelids and glanced at his younger brother.
"I..." Gabriel took a deep breath, and the young man mustered up his courage. Looking at his brother, he seemed to hesitate, and slowly gritted his teeth: "Brother, I'm not a child anymore."
"Of course you are not." Du Wei's tone was still very relaxed: "You are already an adult. Look, you are now a major general of the empire. I am having a headache to promote you. Since the rank is major general, then you should You are qualified to command a division, but I think you are still too young and you need to sharpen, so I don't plan to really give you a division, but assign you an infantry regiment to command. Hold the rank of major general and act as commander Authority."
"I don't care about these." Gabriel shook his head, his eyes were shining, he suddenly walked to the entrance of the tent, looked out a few times, pulled down the curtain of the tent, came to Du Wei, leaned closer, and whispered: "Brother, I'm not a child anymore. We can talk about some things directly! You don't have to carry it alone!"
"What?" Du Wei smiled.
Gabriel hesitated for a moment, a look of determination flashed in his eyes, and finally lowered his voice, his voice was very low. But there is no doubt that the tone is very firm: "Brother, I have never had a good impression of the royal family!"
Du Wei's heart moved, and he raised his eyebrows involuntarily. He stared at his younger brother's eyes, but found that there was no hesitation in his eyes. Showing the perseverance of young people: "What do you mean?"
Gabriel said with a sullen face, "I will never forget how my father died!"
After saying these words, Du Wei looked at his younger brother's young face. After several months of military career, a trace of childishness had gradually faded away, young brother. Already a resolute young man!
Seeing that Du Wei didn't speak, Gabriel felt overwhelmed!
"Brother! My father's illness is due to a heart knot, a heart disease! He died of depression, I understand this very well! Yes, our family participated in that coup...but what was the coup itself? It was inside the royal family Fighting for power! Our family is just on the wrong side. The first prince and the prince Chen are fighting for the throne, but they are all royal families. Father, I just worked hard for them. "
Gabriel said. He clenched his fists: "I know, the winner is the king, and the loser is the bandit! I understand this truth. If the camp where my father is located loses, the family fortune is ruined. There is nothing to say..."
Speaking of this, he raised his voice slightly and stared into Du Wei's eyes: "But I know better—father, he died because of it!!"
Du Wei was silent.
He has always ignored his brother's thoughts. really. Speaking of the royal family, Gabriel's eyes showed a deep disgust at the moment.
"you… "
"I don't have any ideas." Gabriel shook his head: "If it was a few months ago, I would not have said these things, I would have kept these thoughts deeply in my heart. After all, the family can recover. I am very lucky. I will work hard Revitalize the Luo Lin family. Be an earl with peace of mind, even if I don't like the royal family in my heart. But at least, I will try my best to play my role well, and on the surface, I will not show my emotions."
"You said if." Du Wei smiled lightly: "Then what do you mean now?"
"I'm not blind, I'm not deaf, and I'm not a fool." Gabriel stared into Du Wei's eyes, opened his hands, and said solemnly: "Brother, the relationship between you and the royal family has undergone subtle changes in the past few months. I can see this! The royal guards ran to the northwest to confront your private army. When that incident happened, I was in the academy, and I could feel the way the people around me looked at me in those few days. Somewhat different! Even, earlier... You handed over the Northwest Independent Division, handed over the duties of the Northwest Military and Political Minister, but became the dean of that military academy—since then, I began to understand in my heart! The imperial family seems to be interested in attacking you! Even if it is not now, it has already begun to test you!"
Looking into his younger brother's eyes, Gabriel's voice was a little hoarse, his eyes were full of determination and determination, and his tone was even more...
Du Wei sighed, closed his eyes and thought for a while: "What do you want me to do?"
"I have no hope." Gabriel shook his head, but what he said next really surprised Du Wei!
Gabriel said: "Brother, if you want to do something... No matter what it is, any choice you make! I will definitely support you firmly!"
Looking at his younger brother's excited expression, Du Wei seemed to be smiling. He walked to the edge of the tent, stretched out his finger, and gently stroked the burning candle flame. His fingertips seemed to be sweeping over the flame, feeling the trace of the flame. hot feeling...
"You mean, treason?"
Du Wei smiled lightly, his expression seemed relaxed, but he said the word "rebellion" casually, and said it so casually and casually.
Although his eyes were peaceful, it seemed that Gabriel felt a little heavy, but the young man did not dodge, he gritted his teeth: "If there is such a day, I will stand by your side!" After saying this, Gabriel took the He picked up his helmet, put it on, and after straightening it, he nodded to Du Wei, turned around and was about to leave.
"etc."
When Gabriel reached the entrance of the tent, Du Wei called out to stop his younger brother.
"I ask you a question, and you answer me honestly." Du Wei looked into his younger brother's eyes: "That day, at the banquet in the palace... did you invite the Muse to dance on purpose?"
Gabriel stopped in his tracks. He thought for a while and looked at Du Wei: "I really like Muse... However, I admit that I don't like the royal family, including that little emperor. Deliberate thoughts."
"So, do you want me to rebel?" Du Wei said calmly, looking at his younger brother calmly.
"That's your choice." Gabriel shook his head: "Brother, I will listen to you all my life! But what I want to say is: If the royal family has already made up their minds to deal with you, then...you can't continue to hesitate !"
Gabriel strode out of the tent, and when the curtain fell, Du Wei sighed a long time, with a difficult smile on the corner of his mouth.
Sixteen years old! Sixteen year old brother!
What's going on in your head now, little guy...
He forgot that according to the age of this world, he is only twenty years old.
"I only know how my father died!"
Thinking of what Gabriel said just now, Du Wei suddenly felt a headache.
This child... thinks too much in his heart. In this way, it may not be a good thing.
I have been thinking hard, hoping that Gabriel's life can be simpler and simpler. I don't want him to fall into those complicated power struggles. He hopes that he can play the same role as his younger brother's umbrella.
But now it seems that although my younger brother is young, he has his own ideas...
That dance with the Muse... was really intentional!
What does he want to do? Youthful impulse? still…
Thinking of this, Du Wei refused to continue thinking about it. He didn't want to imagine this younger brother as the kind of person with deep thoughts.