"What?!"
"You mean he thought the official position was too lowly?"
After Zuo Feng had explained everything meticulously, Emperor Ling's expression turned somewhat awkward.
"Scoundrel!"
"He's a mere commoner without even a proper title, and I was already bestowing a great favor by making him a Prefect. How dare he, how dare he, show such disdain?"
"This is utterly outrageous!"
"This..."
Zuo Feng, having received quite a few benefits, his eyes flickered as he chuckled and added,
"Your Majesty, this person is aware of his own impertinence. He specifically sent two thousand taels of gold through this humble servant as an offering to you."
"Oh?"
"There's such a thing?"
Upon hearing that he could receive 2,200 taels of gold, Emperor Ling's demeanor improved considerably.
Who wouldn't be given an official position?
Even though Qin Feng was a rebel, and even though he lacked any official standing...
He paid money!
Since that was the case, what if he was indeed given a Provincial Governor position?
However,
Just as Emperor Ling was about to issue the decree, Yuan Wei, who was in the hall, became displeased.
What a joke!
That You Province was a region his Yuan family had set their sights on. Granting him a Prefect position was already showing him great consideration, and he still dared to dream of becoming a Provincial Governor?
Impossible!
Doesn't this scoundrel know that these things have to be bought with money?
You even gave the Emperor his share, but you won't give me mine?
Are you looking down on me?
Yuan Wei, feeling extremely annoyed, spoke without hesitation and directly said,
"Reporting to Your Majesty, the Provincial Governor of You Province has only recently taken office. If we were to make a hasty change now, it might not be appropriate, Your Majesty."
"Eh?"
"The Provincial Governor of You Province is already appointed?"
Hearing Yuan Wei's words, Emperor Ling raised an eyebrow and found the situation a bit difficult.
The other party had also paid money.
If he were to dismiss someone without any valid reason, who would dare to buy positions from him in the future?
Perhaps he could offer him a different position?
Just as Emperor Ling was contemplating whether to find another place for Qin Feng, Zuo Feng smiled and added,
"Your Majesty, as far as this humble servant knows, there is no one currently serving as the Provincial Governor of You Province!"
"Nonsense!"
Yuan Wei glared at Zuo Feng with dissatisfaction, thinking to himself, would I not know if the Provincial Governor of You Province was vacant?
The gold he gave me is still in my treasury!
With that thought,
Yuan Wei, disregarding Emperor Ling on the dragon throne, reprimanded him righteously,
"The Provincial Governor of You Province took office at the end of last year. How could there be no one holding the position?"
"But he's dead!"
After being rebuked by Yuan Wei, Zuo Feng weakly reminded him,
"On my way back, this humble servant heard that Guo Wei has already been killed by the Yellow Turban rebels!"
"Ah?"
Yuan Wei, who had been full of confidence, was stunned.
Is it true?
Such a coincidence?
Killed by the Yellow Turbans?
Could it be... that the scoundrel surnamed Qin sent someone to kill him?
Although Yuan Wei was filled with surprise, he couldn't find any good reason to object.
Seeing this,
Emperor Ling simply went with the flow and, with a relaxed expression, ordered,
"Since that is the case, let's appoint Qin Feng as the Provincial Governor of You Province!"
"And also..."
"Order him to quickly dispatch troops to cooperate with Lord Dong and resolve the Yellow Turbans in Ji Province for me!"
"Yes!"
Hearing the simultaneous "Yes!" that echoed in his ears, Liu Bei was utterly dumbfounded.
This also works?!
Right before his eyes, and shortly after he had declared Qin Feng a rebel,
Qin Feng, from a rebel, had transformed into a Provincial Governor, second only to the highest-ranking officials?
Is this really happening?
"By the way..."
Having dealt with the important matters, Emperor Ling finally remembered the person who hadn't been addressed.
He looked down at the silent Liu Bei and frowned, reprimanding,
"Since Lord Qin harbors no ill intentions, why did you falsely accuse him of killing my envoy?"
"This..."
As Emperor Ling's words fell, the expressions of everyone in the hall became somewhat strange.
Don't you know whether Qin Feng harbors ill intentions or not?
And you still dare to ask?
Without reason,
These old foxes who had navigated the officialdom for many years felt a sense of sympathy for Liu Bei.
Although they were not directly involved, they had roughly guessed Liu Bei's intentions.
It was nothing more than exaggerating the situation a little, so that the imperial court would send troops to suppress the rebels.
What's wrong with that?
He was doing it for the sake of the court!
But the problem was,
The rebel who should have been suppressed had now become an ally?
Then his role as an informant became rather awkward!
But if you say he is guilty?
It's not appropriate!
After all,
Qin Feng was indeed rebelling at the beginning. The man had diligently rushed to deliver the news, and even if he had no merit, he had at least rendered a service.
But if you say he is innocent?
That's also not appropriate!
Regardless of his motive, he had already committed the crime of deceiving the emperor.
Therefore,
Before Emperor Ling made his decision, they really couldn't say anything on his behalf.
Fortunately,
After a brief period of contemplation, Emperor Ling also came to his senses.
How embarrassing!
The man had diligently come to inform you of a rebellion, and then you immediately allied with the rebel?
Although Emperor Ling was inherently absurd, he was not someone who repaid kindness with enmity. At this moment, he felt his own face burning with embarrassment.
"That, um..."
Slightly embarrassed, he touched his nose and decisively bypassed the topic, turning instead to ask,
"Liu Bei, is it?"
"I heard you are also a descendant of King Jing? Do you have any other family members?"
"Reporting to Your Majesty, I am the eighteenth-generation descendant of King Jing of Zhongshan."
Liu Bei, having completely given up, instead seemed to have come to terms with it, sighing,
"Unfortunately, due to the decline of my family, there are no other living relatives."
"Oh?"
"By that calculation, you are my cousin?"
Emperor Ling raised an eyebrow, and his gaze towards Liu Bei became considerably more affectionate.
It's still family that is reliable!
When the rebellion broke out, only he was the one running around.
If possible, Emperor Ling truly wished he could send troops to suppress that Qin Feng.
But the reality was,
He not only lacked the ability to suppress the rebels, but he could only bribe and appease them with official positions, lest that fellow collude with the Yellow Turban bandits.
"Alas~!"
The more he thought about it, the more agitated Emperor Ling became, sighing helplessly.
Although all of this was out of necessity, it was indeed unfair to this meritorious official.
Emperor Ling hesitated for a moment, then finally asked directly,
"Xuande, you have also been running around for quite some time. Even without merit, you have rendered service."
"How about this..."
"Would you prefer to remain in Luoyang, or would you like to serve in a certain prefecture or county?"
"Ah?!"
Liu Bei raised his head in astonishment, his eyes filled with disbelief.
He suspected he had misheard.
Given that he had committed the crime of deceiving the emperor, how could he still have the opportunity to hold an official position?
Despite this,
Liu Bei still held onto a one-in-ten-thousand hope and said with anticipation,
"Reporting to Your Majesty, I wish to serve in a local position and share Your Majesty's worries!"
"Very good!"
Emperor Ling heard this and nodded with satisfaction, beckoning to a nearby eunuch,
"Someone!"
"Draft an imperial decree!"
"Your brother Liu Xuande, although without official title, possesses a pure and loyal heart!"
"Be it hereby ordered..."
"He is specially promoted to the position of Prefect of Guangyang Commandery, You Province. He is to organize troops, prepare for battle, and exterminate the rebels on a chosen date!"
"Huh?!"
Hearing Emperor Liu Hong's bestowal of office upon him, Liu Bei's smile instantly froze.
Guang... Guangyang Commandery?