Chapter 97: A Duke at Twenty

amily. He drank and chatted happily with Zhou Kun and his son.After three rounds of wine and five courses of dishes, Zhou Zhengyang got down to business."Tiger Brother, this is a small matter for me,...Li Yuxiang gritted her teeth, she was going to do it this way!

Even if the other party could verify the authenticity of the imperial edict, it would still take several months to check with the Ministry of Personnel.

Now, the situation is pressing and we can only go all in.

Just as Li Yunyao was about to pick up her brush and write the imperial decree herself, Ziyi, standing beside her, said, “Your Majesty, I have another way.”

"Oh"

The process of granting official titles is complex and involves many procedures, but I can grant your son a title!

Zǐyī de huà ràng Lǐ Yù yáo yǎnjīng yìlìang.

"Right!"

When it comes to Yang Lin, she loses her usual composure for some unknown reason.

Upon being reminded by Ziyi, Li Yuyao suddenly realized.

She naturally understood the difference between titles of nobility and official positions.

Having a title means becoming a nobleman, enjoying privileges! Even without an official position, one wouldn't be bullied by low-ranking officials in small counties.

Most titles are bestowed upon members of the royal family and those who have distinguished themselves in service. Although it is an honor and a status symbol, the privileges that come with it are very real.

For example, one might not have to bow before an official, or they might be exempt from punishment for minor offenses, or they might have their own territory. Moreover, they could petition the emperor directly!

To be able to petition the emperor alone is a big deal! It means you can write to him anytime, anywhere and file a complaint.

Of course, the emperor couldn't personally handle such trivial matters, so whenever a nobleman petitioned the emperor, regardless of the reason, the final outcome was inevitably in favor of the nobility.

Because the emperor himself is the greatest nobleman in the land! Nobles and nobles are their own people, and one could even say that nobles are the masters of this world, while officials are merely helping the master manage the world.

So, even if it is just the smallest rank, it can reach heaven's ears and make many officials without titles fear.

Li Yuxiang picked up her pen and started writing.

But what title should they give him

Li Yuyao actually wanted to go all the way and directly bestow Yang Lin with the title of duke!

But she herself knew it was too fake.

Any official, be it a duke or marquis, is a heavy minister of the state. He either has made extraordinary contributions himself, or his ancestors have accomplished unparalleled deeds.

A twenty-year-old marquis That's too unbelievable!

Even if the other party has no right to verify, a title that is too outrageous is unacceptable.

Ultimately, Li Yuyao could only bestow upon Yang Lin the smallest possible rank....

Sealing the jade seal, wiping away the ink, and placing the package back into the well, the two hurried back to the front courtyard with the imperial decree.

The courtyard was still tense with the standoff between the commoners and the government officials. Especially under Zhao Deyi's instigation, the officials deliberately provoked the commoners, taking the opportunity to beat up those at the front line. For a moment, many commoners were beaten and cried out in pain.

The archers from the countryside and nearly a hundred government soldiers have also entered the village by now, forming a line and completely encircling the villagers.

Seeing that the situation was irreversible, Zhou Kun became even more excited and shouted: "Yang Lin, you are cornered with no escape. Why don't you confess and surrender to justice"

Zhao Deyi also sneered: "You hillbillies from Koushan Village, listen up! This old master has limited patience. I give you three breaths of time. If you dare to obstruct my tax collectors again, I will kill you where you stand!"

"Bang!"

The constables drew their swords from their waists and pointed them at the commoners.

"One."

"Two!"

Seeing the officials getting serious, the villagers' faces also changed.

But no one gave way, instead they stood their ground, chests puffed out, using their bodies to block the officers' path.

"Come on! If you want to catch Yang Lin, step over my corpse first!"

Fellow countrymen, if they dare to lay a hand on us, we will fight them to the death!

"Swear to defend Mount Reliance Village to the death!!"

The shouts shook the heavens, and the villagers were filled with fervor.

At this sight, Zhou Kun and Zhao Deyi were also greatly shocked.

All the common people they had met before, every single one of them, would tremble in fear when facing them, not even daring to take a breath.

Don't these people from reliable mountain villages not fear death Yang Lin was also very touched.

"Guard team!"

He shouted loudly.

"Here!"

"Here!"

"Here it is!"

The guards on either side, roared, brandishing their crossbows, stepped forward.

Yang Lin shouted: "If they dare to touch our villagers again, shoot them! Not one should be let go!"

"Yes!"

"Yes!"

"Yes!!"

Although not neat, the extremely loud voice echoed through the night sky.

Zhou Kun and Zhao Deyi were completely shocked.

Although the guard squad only had thirty men, their days of training and the battle with the bandits had made them completely different from those constables who had never even fought bandits, only bullied the common people. Their killing intent and imposing presence instantly extinguished any confidence Zhao Deyi and his men might have had.

Zhao Deyi and Zhou Kun are both dumbfounded now.

Originally, they tried to provoke Yang Lin into violence, even willing to kill several civilians to make him do it!

Now, seeing hundreds of villagers with red-rimmed eyes, their emotions running high; the guard squad, each man armed with crossbows, swords, spears, radiated killing intent. Every gaze seemed to threaten to devour them alive...

Thus, not only the constables, but even Zhou Kun and Zhao Deyi were all scared off.

The word "three" was almost at the tip of my tongue, but after struggling for a long time, I couldn't bring myself to utter it.

Now they finally understand that once they actually kill someone, it will indeed anger Yang Lin.

But that way, Yang Lin would definitely do anything to kill them!

Although there were over a hundred guards with swords and bows behind them, facing these commoners, they just felt, for some reason, that they had no chance of winning.

Cold sweat flowed down his face unconsciously. The menacing officers with their swords brandished, instinctively dared not approach.

At that moment, Li Yuyáo and Ziyi walked over.

"Dare you, Zhao Deyi, are you rebelling"

As soon as Li Yuyao stepped out, she immediately put a hat on the other party.

But her voice, though cold, was filled with majesty and an irresistible power that, in this tense standoff, struck everyone like a bolt from the blue.

After being stunned for a moment, Zhao Deyi came to his senses.

What did you say

"You say that this official wants to rebel Be bold!"

Zhao Deyi opened his mouth to retort, but his rebuttal was so feeble.

"Humph!"

"Don't you admit it yet"

"What are you doing"

"To bring troops to harm nobles without cause, is this not treason"

As soon as Li Yuyao said this, not only Zhao Deyi and the others, but even Yang Lin and the rest were taken aback.

What Nobility

Yang Lin stared blankly at Li Yuyao.

He guessed that Li Yuxiang might have some trump cards.

But I didn't expect Li Yuyao to be a noble

Yang Lin also knows some historical knowledge, knowing that in ancient times, the status of nobles and commoners was worlds apart!

Even an ordinary official cannot afford to offend a nobleman.

At this moment, he finally realized, his wife was actually a noblewoman!akable.At this moment, Zhao Kang understood that whether the imperial edict was real or fake no longer mattered."What do you want to do"Zhao Kang stopped looking at the imperial edict and turned his g...