At the same time as the new round of knighthoods and honors were awarded, Emperor Liu also formally issued a system of medals that he had previously ordered his uncle Li Ye to create to commend those who have made outstanding contributions to civil and military affairs since the founding of the People's Republic of China.
This is pure honor. Unlike titles and titles, which involve the interests of the nobility, the threshold is relatively low. It is aimed at all people in the universe, regardless of nationality, men and women, old and young, civil and military, as long as they make contributions to the country, society and the people.
Those who have made outstanding and commendable contributions can be awarded on a case-by-case basis.
Of course, the threshold is only relative. Although the target range is wide, the conditions for awarding it are not low at all. Regardless of a small medal, it can also be passed down, and Emperor Liu's original intention was not here, but taking
Going out is enough to improve your social status.
The Imperial Medal is divided into three levels and six levels, one level gold, two levels silver, and three levels bronze. They are engraved with mountains and rivers, cities, and swords and plows respectively. They were jointly designed by doctors under the Ministry of Industry and the Xuanwei Department, and were painstakingly crafted by skilled metallurgical craftsmen in the palace.
The lofty honor, combined with the most advanced technology at the moment, creates an exquisite medal that is of sufficient weight.
In terms of awards, it also reflects the style that Emperor Liu has developed, which is to be few but important. Take the first-level gold medal as an example. Including the twenty-four ministers of Qianyou and other ministers, only ten people can be awarded it.
The rest are all at a lower level, starting from the first-level Silver Medal and descending in a pyramid shape. In the Battle of Dali, some soldiers who performed outstandingly and fought bravely were only awarded the second-level Bronze Medal.
Speaking of which, those who receive these honors must be alive or survived. After all, only those with the capital to survive can be qualified to pursue and enjoy honors. This has an effect on Emperor Liu's spiritual construction and character shaping of the Han Dynasty.
It is also more obvious, after all, it can be recognized by people.
As for those loyal souls who died, they are worthy of admiration and memory, but apart from earning some pension for their families and children, the best destination is to be recruited into the Zhaolie Temple in Kaifeng, have their names on the stele, and receive some sacrifices every year.
Worship with incense.
In addition to the Imperial Medal, there is also a Purple and Gold Medal with dragon and phoenix decorations. Its role is self-evident. It is based on the royal family and is used to award honors to ministers who have made outstanding contributions to the empire or the royal family.
In this regard, the requirements are more stringent and the pressure is higher. It also proves from the side that in the Han Dynasty, imperial power was supreme, at least in the era of Emperor Liu, looking down on everything and overriding everything.
...
For the officials of the Han Dynasty, the most leisurely month is the first month, because there are the most and continuous holidays. The busiest month is also the first month. After the holidays, they have to get involved in trivial and heavy affairs, and deal with those things that have been put aside.
Chores.
Of course, this is only true when the country is stable and the politics is clear. In the past, even in the early years of Kaibao, you still had to work hard when you should.
It was February 2nd of another year. Taking advantage of the good season, Emperor Liu led a group of people to hoe and loosen the soil on the outskirts of Xijing. He had also entered his 22nd year as emperor. In the past twenty years, he had been working as a farmer.
It has also become a normal practice to increase the number of acres to show the emphasis on agriculture.
Even when he was on patrol or on an expedition, there would still be orders coming to the capital to ask the queen, prince, and ministers who stayed in the capital to go to the ground on his behalf. To this day, Emperor Liu still maintains this habit, but the difference is that it is not as showy as it was back then, but also
Find someone specifically to watch.
Thanks to the nourishment of the Yiluo River, the land around Xijing was relatively fertile. At the beginning of mid-spring, vegetation began to multiply, and the land chosen by Emperor Liu belonged to the occupation field.
There are already acres of wheat fields around, and the growth looks good. As expected, there will be a bumper harvest this summer. This situation made Emperor Liu feel better, and he was even more energetic in wielding the hoe.
This time, Emperor Liu dressed lightly and obeyed. In addition to the prince Liu Yang and the prime minister Zhao Pu, he was accompanied by a group of newly promoted military nobles including Wang Quanbin and Pan Mei.
As the hoe flew around, Prince Yansheng of Pingxi County wasted a lot of energy. He stepped hard into the soil, spat, and complained: "This is bullying me because I don't know how to cultivate the land!"
On his side, his comrade-in-arms in the Western Expedition, the newly promoted Bowang Marquis Guo Jin couldn't help but smile and said: "Your Majesty spared no effort to cultivate the land, so why should I complain?"
Wang Yansheng looked towards Emperor Liu and said immediately: "I don't dare to complain. It's just that we have oxen and plows that we don't need. Why do we have to do hard work?
Furthermore, if you use the same hands that carry swords and knives, and go into battle to kill the enemy, to play with these picks and tools, isn’t it like killing a chicken with a sledgehammer?”
Having said that, Wang Yansheng still seemed very happy. After all, although the newly awarded title was only a county prince, he had also crossed the natural chasm from marquis to Duke. His mood could not be worse.
The same goes for Guo Jin. He was promoted to a first-class marquis and received a second-class Silver Medal. After all, he was a direct descendant of the old Liu family, and Emperor Liu was still very fond of him.
Obviously, they had received some criticism and suppression because of the massacre in Gansu, but Emperor Liu still recognized their achievements. After the conferment, the little resentment that they had had dissipated.
After hearing this, Guo Jin said: "Didn't Your Majesty say it before? A soldier of the Han Dynasty should hold a sword in one hand and a plow in the other to open up territories and leave a name in history!"
"You really can't let me wait until I start farming!" Wang Yansheng muttered. As he spoke, a strange color flashed through his tiger eyes. He approached Guo Jin and whispered: "Brother Guo, you said His Majesty wants us to do this."
The military minister accompanied us to the field, does he mean to let us take off our armor and return to the field?"
Hearing what he said, Guo Jin looked at Wang Yansheng in surprise. When did "Wang Jian'er" have such thoughts? In response, Guo Jin said calmly with a face that seemed to have a bit of evil spirit: "
If the enemy in the north has not been eliminated, how can it be the time to let the horse go to the south?"
"That's right! When it comes to fighting barbarians, Wang is not weak to others. Your Majesty will definitely be able to use me!" Wang Yansheng smiled confidently.
"Brother Wang, you still want to upgrade your title?" Guo Jin said.
"Isn't it possible?" Wang Yansheng said: "I don't dare to hope for the position of Duke, but I still dare to think about it as a county prince. I regard Yang Ye and his like as my nephews, but they have made some small achievements relying on His Majesty's excessive favor.
He was actually promoted to the rank of Duke..."
Obviously, Wang Yansheng was a little dissatisfied. However, what he didn't know was that many people were dissatisfied with his title as Duke of Pingxi County because he had made too many mistakes in the past...
In comparison, Guo Jin has an equally strong temperament, but he despises fame and wealth, so he seems to be unconcerned: "Your Majesty rewards and punishes Shang Gong, why do you care so much about it?"
Upon hearing this, Wang Yansheng was stunned for a moment, looked at this brother who was several years younger than him, and sighed: "I'm not as good as Brother Guo!"
"It's getting late, you and I should finish cultivating this half acre of land as soon as possible!" Guo Jin responded with a smile.
"We have been in the Forbidden Army for several years, and it is very boring. I don't know when His Majesty will start the Northern Expedition again? Last time, I missed it. This time, we must send troops out of the north of the Great Wall and sweep across Monan!" Wang Yansheng seemed to be making a vow.
, swung the hoe in his hand hard.
"The war situation in the southwest has been initially determined, and Dali has not yet been completely taken over. In a short time, it may be difficult to do so!" Guo Jin shook his head and said, but the light of expectation was also flashing in his eyes.
The ambition and vigor of generals like them on the battlefield will be blunted in a few more years of peace.