350 – To the North – 2
Marquis, Noble second in fifth class. Needless to say, he is right above the duke, so he has a subtle sense of being Kong, but he is a tremendous nobleman who can have not only the lower nobles, viscounts and barons, but even counts under his command.
In addition, since there were only five dukes in the 5th place in the 300-year history of the empire, it is also the actual threshold for imperial aristocrats to succeed. In other words, it is the dream seat that any aristocrat of the Empire aspires to.
And the fact that everyone aspires means that the competition for a seat is fierce.
‘Isn’t it a guaranteed position like a duke?’
Five first-class contributors who made a decisive contribution to the establishment of the empire. No matter what happens, only the five families that inherit the names of the five meritorious subjects can occupy it. No matter how incompetent a duke is, he will always be a duke, and conversely, no matter how capable a marquis is, he will never be a duke. That is the imperial family’s respect for the heroes who have set the mandate of heaven right.
But the Marquis has no such thing. If you are incompetent, you will be pushed away in an instant, and if you are competent, you can hit and rise. To put it favorably, it’s a selection based on ability, and to be honest, it’s a foreign magic. At worst, it was to the extent that four marquis had changed in one year.
‘Recently, one was pushed out.’
I looked down at the white seal in my hand. A few years ago, this seal was also an owner’s seal.
However, the owner overstepped the line set by the emperor, and eventually the seal was collected, reducing the number of marquis from 13 to 12.
“When the Great Emperor set the Mandate of Heaven right, he respected those who gathered under the name of Kpelofen and bestowed them with titles worthy of them. The Marquess was bestowed on those who led a great power among them.”
“It was possible because the great emperor’s virtue covered the world.”
I instinctively responded to the emperor’s words—but in fact, I liked the way he spoke, respected and bestowed upon him.
In other words, the Marquis at the time was more like an alliance or a warlord than a subordinate of the emperor. Of course, at this point, he was just a servant who wanted the favor of the emperor.
“As the Inspector General said, the great emperor’s virtues were enough to cover the whole world. Also, his benevolence was as deep as the sea, so the great emperor respected the authority of the marquis and limited them to thirteen.”
It was packaged plausibly, but in reality, there were only thirteen because it would be a headache if there were many marquises. And this number of thirteen remained as a tradition, not a tradition, over the course of 300 years, and the seal of the Marquis of the Empire also became thirteen. A kind of marginal line that should not be less or more than that.
“However, how can we not lament that Jim, the descendant of the great emperor, did not live up to his beautiful will?”
“Your Majesty. It was for the sake of the mandate of Heaven and the Empire that you removed the seal of the Marquis from Your Majesty. The Emperor must have watched your noble decision with pleasure.”
By the way, the title of Marquis had been vacant for two years. Not a temporary vacancy, but two years.
Perhaps the talented and prestige counts had the title of marquess flickering in front of them, but they took pride in knowing that the vacancy was the one left after Asilon was destroyed. It’s a lot like a traitor to covet the marquisate that the emperor destroyed and collected even his wife’s family. He can aim up and then fall down.
“I am truly a blessed emperor because I have a servant like the head of the inspection department. However, it is my fault to keep vacating the thirteen positions established by the great emperor.”
Anyway, the reason why the emperor said this while taking out the seal of the marquis is obvious. It must be to refill the thirteenth position that has been vacant for two years.
I will never be the thirteenth. The nobility were shaken by the fact that they were given the title of count, but they also received the title of marquis? Is that also the imperial white heir? No matter how oppressed by the imperial power, there is a high possibility of seizures. There will be many aristocrats who will grab me by the collar, asking why you took it.
And fortunately, this thirteenth seal has a fixed owner.
“Maybe the North fills the thirteenth spot in Asilon.”
I remembered what the minister had said at the time of the convocation order.
Yes, this marquisate is for the northerners, not the imperial nobility. To be precise, the most useful and loyal tribal chief among the northern tribal chiefs will take it.
“The vast northern region will also be embraced by the empire. If so, nomads should also become imperial citizens, so the imperial family should also prepare to embrace them.”
After saying that, the emperor was silent for a moment, then spoke again.
“Chief of Inspection Department.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“You will have to embrace the north to represent my will.”
I bowed my head deeply at those words.
The Marquis’ seal in my hand felt heavy. If he had handed me the seal, the emperor’s calculations would have already been completed. Now contact the tribal chief the emperor has in mind and deliver this seal—
“The owner of the seal will be left to the discretion of the Inspector General. Hand it over to a worthy person in the eyes of the Lord.”
?
Yes?
‘My discretion?’
A Marquess of the Empire at my own discretion? Isn’t that what the emperor dictates?
“Your Majesty. I’m sorry to inform you, but I can’t bear to follow that order because my eyesight doesn’t even reach your toes.”
First, I got down on my knees and put the seal on the floor. I don’t know if that’s true or if it’s a surprise loyalty test, but I have to bounce it now.
I would rather have been entrusted with an unlimited number of counts, but they are the only 13 marquesses in the empire. Leaving it to the discretion of an official rather than the will of the emperor? Are you crazy
“I cannot directly see the tribal chiefs in the north. No matter how many reports come up, it’s only letters. The one who can see and judge them directly is the inspector general.”
The emperor lifted up the seal I had put down on the floor and personally placed the seal in my hand.
“Do not be afraid. Trust your eyes. The one you choose is the Marquis, and I will consider that choice correct.”
I could feel my eyes trembling like crazy at those words.
Even if the seal is handed over to someone who does not fit for a marquis, the imperial family will support the tribal chief and make him a worthy being, so be at ease.
‘f*ck.’
It’s more burdensome. There is no civil servant who will not be upset when he hears that the top decision-maker gives his full support. Trust is so heavy that it weighs on me.
“…I will definitely repay your Majesty’s great trust.”
Of course, if the situation has reached this point, it can no longer bounce.
Starting today, I am a Marquis Maker.
Just before I left my office, I was told to give counts to some decent tribal chiefs as well. The Countess isn’t a lump of stone, can it be just sprinkled like this?
‘It’s a stone.’
Coming to think of it, from the point of view of the emperor, a count would be a title that would be no problem. It’s like a stone.
Starting today, I am a stone maker.
***
I sat down after confirming that the inspector general had left. Perhaps because of my age, even a short meeting was enough to build up my fatigue.
However, unlike the physical exhaustion, the mind was intact. It seems that things to be dealt with will be solved smoothly.
‘You don’t have to worry about the distribution of ranks.’
When I entrusted the seal of the Marquis to the head of the inspection department and mentioned the county, what appeared on the head of the inspection department was embarrassment and burden. He showed no greed or calculation.
Aristocrats who would use it if they had the right to grant titles in their own hands were far and wide. We will play at the precarious boundary between national interest and private interest.
‘It’s the red suit of the empire.’
However, the inspector general didn’t. Saik didn’t think about it and focused on his mission itself.
There are few nobles who can be entrusted with any mission, and even fewer are those who focus only on the mission without any selfishness. It made me happy that such a rare aristocrat was only in his 20s, and that he had a close relationship with the crown prince. Even if the director of the inspection department is handled properly, there is no way that the hands and feet will be tied up due to a lack of talented people.
It is important to have trustworthy trustees. To the extent that I would not have been able to come this far without the Minister of the Imperial Household.
‘…It’s really Hongbok.’
His head pounded as he put aside his worries about the distribution of titles and reached for the papers.
‘It’s like this again.’
Involuntarily, the brow furrowed. No matter how hard you try, you can’t fake your age. A warrior who has reached the state can live a long life with a youthful appearance compared to his age, but I am just an ordinary person who is far from martial arts.
Besides, I haven’t lived a very peaceful life, so it’s inevitable that my body is strained.
‘I just need to endure a little bit.’
He let out a slight sigh and picked up the papers.
Yes, a little further. My mission is over as long as I get rid of the troubles in the north and appoint the soon-to-be born royal son as the crown prince. I can do everything I can and pass on the throne to the Crown Prince.
So you have to endure it. For the Mandate of Heaven, for the Imperial Family.
For the Empire and its subjects.
***
A few more days have passed since I received the emperor’s surprise gift.
At first, whenever I saw the seal sleeping quietly in my arms, I was confused, but as time passed, I got used to it. It was to the point where I wondered what would happen if I took out the seal of the Marquis by mistake when I had to take the seal of the inspector general.
‘Should I just pretend to be crazy?’
For a moment, that thought passed by. Wouldn’t the emperor take it back if I used up the seal of the Marquis?
It’s a problem, though, that he seems to take my head with him.
‘Damn it.’
He rubbed the back of his neck and sighed. I really haven’t gotten used to it. There is an object in his hand that is far beyond his authority, and who can get used to it? The Maginot Line in my mind is the count’s seal.
However, I received the seal of the count and gave the seal of the marquis to someone with heavy pockets. The emperor’s heavy trust brought tears to his eyes.
‘It’s my discretion.’
That’s why I made a promise. I don’t know which chick will catch my eye, but if it’s okay, I’ll throw the seal right away. I will make you the first nomadic noble and nomadic marquis of the empire.
It’s a title he didn’t choose, but he’ll have to endure it with dedication and duty.
‘…I’ll give the county to someone else.’
There is at least one Marquis, but even if you can’t count, you should appoint six.
I’m really excited.