PFC Chapter 596 Effective immediately, the title 'King' is abolished.
Chapter 596 Effective immediately, the title 'King' is abolished.
February 15th, 3:45 AM.
The bronze bell in the main hall of Xianyang Palace rang out in the morning mist, its deep sound penetrating the palace walls and echoing throughout the entire capital. Officials were already waiting in the square outside the hall, lined up according to rank, civil officials on the left and military officers on the right, solemn and silent.
The surrendered officials filed in through a side gate in a separate line. They wore a motley collection of clothing—the wide-sleeved robes of Wei were dark in color, with cloud patterns embroidered on the cuffs; the brocade robes of Chu were brightly colored, with pearls and jade inlaid on the lapels; and the nomadic riding attire of Zhao consisted of short jackets and narrow sleeves, with leather belts around their waists. These vibrant colors stood out starkly against the uniform black court robes of the Qin officials.
This was specially arranged by Ying Wuyou. Standing in the front row, her gaze swept over everyone in the hall, silently reciting: Allowing them to wear their own national attire is a sign of respect, and also a farewell. From the next court assembly onwards, everyone will have to change into Qin-style court robes.
Integration takes time and patience, but she knew that this process had to be accelerated.
"The King has arrived!"
As soon as the official began to shout, the hall fell silent.
King Ying Zheng of Qin emerged from the rear hall, ascended the throne, and surveyed the entire hall with piercing eyes.
"Kneel—" All the officials bowed in unison, and the surrendered ministers followed suit. Shouts of "Long live the Emperor!" surged up like a tidal wave, crashing against the pillars of the palace and echoing through the dome.
"Rise." The King of Qin's voice was not loud, but it was steady and powerful, and every word clearly reached everyone's ears.
The court assembly proceeded as usual. Prefects from various regions reported on spring planting, water conservancy, and criminal cases, and Chancellor Kui responded to each one. Next came the assessment of military merits in the Battle of Daliang. These procedures took nearly an hour, and finally, the main event of the day arrived.
"Summon Marquis Wei Jia, who has returned to his rightful place, to the palace—" the official drawled.
All eyes in the hall turned to the hall entrance.
Wei Jia—the former King of Wei, now the Marquis of Guiming—walked into the main hall with his head bowed. He wore the ceremonial robes of a Qin king and marquis, a black deep robe, a jade belt, and a golden crown. However, compared to the Qin officials around him, the robes seemed ill-fitting, with sleeves that were too long and hem that were too wide, as if they were wrapped around a shrunken body.
He could feel countless gazes upon him. Those gazes were like needles, piercing through his clothes, into his flesh, and settling into his bones. The Qin officials' eyes were mostly scrutinizing, while the surrendered officials' eyes were far more complex—containing sympathy, mockery, and, more importantly, a poignant sense of shared misfortune.
Finally, he walked to the front of the palace, knelt down, and touched his forehead to the ground: "Your Majesty, I, the guilty subject Wei Jia, pay my respects."
According to custom, a surrendered ruler can speak standing up. Kneeling is a form of self-degradation, but also a declaration of allegiance—I confess my guilt, I submit.
The King of Qin looked at Wei Jia kneeling on the ground and remained silent for about three breaths. This silence froze the atmosphere in the hall.
"Rise," the King of Qin finally spoke, then said something that surprised everyone: "Take a seat."
A low gasp rippled through the hall. A seat bestowed? To a surrendered ruler?
Wei Jia was stunned. He looked up, thinking he had misheard. He looked at the King of Qin, then at Ying Wuyou in the front row. The princess nodded slightly to him.
"Marquis Guiming is getting on in years and it will be tiring for him to stand. Please sit and listen," the King of Qin said casually, as if he were remarking on the pleasant weather.
A eunuch brought in a couch and placed it at the very end of the main hall. Although it was the last seat, it was for sitting, not standing.
Wei Jia's eyes welled up with tears, and he almost cried. He forced himself to speak, thanked the emperor, and rose to walk towards the couch. Each step he took was steady, but his hands trembled in his sleeves.
At that moment, he understood the King of Qin's meaning: surrendering was not a disgrace, and those who understood the times were wise. Sitting down was tantamount to acknowledging his status as a "wise man."
This is a signal, a signal to all those who have surrendered—those who sincerely submit will be treated with courtesy.
Next came the rewarding of meritorious officials.
First, there's Han Xin. This young man, who rose directly from a high-ranking official to "Zuo Shuzhang," has now been appointed "Zhenshou Shi of Wei," fully responsible for the military and political transition in Wei. This means that he has not only been promoted in rank but has also become a powerful regional official.
"Your Majesty, I thank you for your great favor!" Han Xin knelt on one knee, his voice resounding, the sound of his armor clashing crisply.
Then came Chunyu Yue. This old Confucian scholar was designated a "model essay for national policy" for his essay "On the Unification of the World and the Blessing of All People," and was awarded a thousand taels of gold and the plaque of "Master of Literature." Although he was already a Doctor, this honor of "Master of Literature" greatly enhanced his status in the Confucian community. The old Confucian scholar held the imperial edict, his hands trembling violently.
The most surprising one was Wei Ji.
When the court official announced "Prince Ji of Wei," another commotion erupted in the hall. The Crown Prince of Wei, a member of the fallen royal family, was already fortunate to be alive; why should he be granted any rewards?
Wei Ji stepped forward and knelt before the hall. He was dressed in the student robes of the Great Qin Academy, a simple yet neat dark blue robe, which stood out starkly against the brocade and fine clothes around him.
The King of Qin looked at him and said slowly, "Prince Ji of Wei has been diligent in his studies at the Great Qin Academy, is deeply righteous, and has rendered meritorious service in the surrender of Wei. He is hereby granted the title of 'Guest Minister' and appointed as an advisor in the Newspaper Department, and may continue his studies."
Guest!
This term sent a collective gasp through the hall. "Guest Minister" was not a substantive position, but an honorary title, yet it represented the highest honor Qin bestowed upon talented individuals from foreign lands. In the past, figures like Zhang Yi and Fan Ju both rose through the ranks from guest minister to become prime ministers.
Giving a prince of a fallen kingdom the title of guest advisor sends a very strong signal.
Wei Ji was also stunned. He had thought he would be lucky to save his life, but he never expected there would be a future for him. Although the guest ministers had no real power, they could participate in court discussions, submit memorials to the emperor, and more importantly—this was a starting point.
"Your Majesty, I thank you for your great favor!" Wei Ji's voice trembled slightly. He prostrated himself, pressing his forehead to the back of his hand, and only rose after a long while.
He looked up at the palace entrance, and Ying Wuyou nodded slightly to him. At that moment, Wei Ji was overwhelmed with mixed emotions. His country was gone, but his personal future had unexpectedly unfolded. Perhaps, as the princess had said, this was "integration," not "destruction."
After the bestowal of rewards was completed, the King of Qin stood up.
The hall immediately fell silent; everyone knew that the most important moment had arrived.
"Gentlemen," the King of Qin's voice echoed in the hall, each word like a nail driven into people's hearts, "Since the decline of the Zhou Dynasty, the world has been in turmoil for more than five hundred years. During these five hundred years, wars have never ceased, and the people have suffered. I, by the mandate of Heaven, relying on the legacy of my ancestors and the remaining prestige of six generations, marched east out of Hangu Pass and swept away all the heroes."
He paused, his gaze sweeping across the entire room like lightning: "Now that Han, Zhao, Chu, and Wei have been pacified, Yan is clinging to Liaodong, and Qi is isolated in the East Sea. The unification of the world is just around the corner."
The hall was completely silent; everyone held their breath, waiting for what was to come.
“Indeed,” the King of Qin continued, his voice even deeper, “with the unification of the world, there should be a new atmosphere, new systems, and new commands. The title of ‘King’ has been used for thousands of years and is no longer sufficient to respond to this great change.”
He looked at the officials of the Ministry of Rites and Literature: "Effective immediately, the title of 'King' is abolished. I am of meager virtue and dare not claim to be emperor or king. However, with the world unified, a new title should be adopted to accord with the Mandate of Heaven. I hereby order the Ministry of Rites and Literature, the Ministry of History, and the Imperial Observatory to submit their proposals for a new title within three months."
After he finished speaking, the hall fell into a deathly silence for a moment.