The series of rewards left the assembled civil and military officials dumbstruck. The thought that they would henceforth have to salute a group of young people not yet twenty-Jiang Hailong and Zhang Jun excepted-made them feel thoroughly unwell.
Yet they dared not object, because whether they could go on living well and standing safely in this hall depended on these young people. For every day the Northern Barbarians remained, their hearts would know no peace.
As for the rewards that followed, Jiang Hao and the others really had little interest in them. The Shenzhou Kingdom did not grant land as fiefs, so apart from marquisates and generalships, the rewards consisted of gold, silver, jewels, Beast Crystals, and the like. To the Self-Defense Army, which was practically dripping with wealth, these were hardly worth mentioning.
Once the rewards had been bestowed, the state banquet came next.
King Han had spared no expense to celebrate Jiang Hao and his companions' achievements. The last state banquet had been held ten years ago, when Long Yun was appointed commander-in-chief.
What followed was Jiang Hao's moment in the spotlight. Civil and military officials flocked over to make his acquaintance, and even the Eldest Prince and Second Prince were no exception. Becoming a First-Rank Great General at such a young age was proof enough of his importance in King Han's eyes. If not for his elder brother Long Yun, he would probably have been the next commander-in-chief.
If they did not cultivate a friendship with such a person before his wings had fully grown, trying to do so after he had established himself would mean reaching far above their station.
"Marquis Champion, congratulations! Once the state banquet is over, might you come to my Purple Qi Palace for a chat?"
Han Su wore a smile. Nothing