After the Qin army conquered Shu, Xiao Yuan's strength increased greatly. Not only did he control two places, his territory expanded, and the number of people under his jurisdiction exceeded ten million.

The number of troops under his command has also reached 200,000.

Among them, including the troops who stayed in Qin, the Qinzhou army totaled 140,000, and the Shu army was about 60,000.

For these 200,000 troops, Xiao Yuan naturally made some adjustments and integrations, completely integrating the Yizhou Army and the Qinzhou Army, collectively known as the Qin Army.

Later, he awarded some rewards to his subordinates at all levels, both civil and military, naturally based on their military merits.

His original intention was to confer marquisships and titles on some high-ranking generals, but he was stopped by Shangguan Wenruo and Liu Yuzhi.

Seeing the two of them blocking him, Xiao Yuan immediately raised his eyebrows and said slightly displeased: "All the generals under my command have followed me through life and death. Now Qin and Shu have been decided. Isn't it natural for me to be awarded a title?"

"It's natural, but...it can't be done, my lord." Liu Yuzhi said.

"Why is this?" Xiao Yuan asked.

Liu Yuzhi said: "My lord, your current official position is just the governor of Qinzhou. Strictly speaking, you are not qualified to confer titles. The five major titles of Duke, Marquis, Uncle, Son, and Male are all orthodox and must be bestowed by the king."

"What if I insist on giving a reward?" Xiao Yuan said displeasedly, wondering where there were so many rules.

"This..." Liu Yuzhi glanced at Shangguan Wenruo. Upon seeing this, the latter quickly raised his hands and said: "If my lord insists on doing this, then it means that the name is not justified. Even if the generals are awarded titles, they may have flaws in their hearts.

"

"Trouble!" Xiao Yuan frowned.

The two civil servants were actually right. For the empire at that time, the power of a title was very powerful. The orthodox title represented a powerful person, and it was not something that you, the prefect, could just grant.

"Then what do you mean?" Xiao Yuan asked again.

The two of them looked at each other, and Liu Yuzhi said: "Unless the lord becomes the king."

"Yes, after my lord aspires to the throne, it will be known all over the world. At that time, he will be able to have the power of the King of Qin, grant hundreds of officials, make marquis and worship the prime minister." Shangguan Ruo received it.

"King of Qin?" Xiao Yuan's eyes flashed. He is also a human being. If he can become king, how can he not be shaken at all?

He narrowed his eyes slightly and said in a serious voice: "If you become king, will all the countries in the world recognize it? The people of Qin and Shu have no objections?"

This was no small matter, and of course he had to think about it carefully.

When Liu Yuzhi heard this, he immediately said: "My lord is now becoming more and more prestigious. Although he is not a king, he has already been far better than the king. Therefore, the people will definitely support him. As for the countries in the world, at that time, the emperor of the empire will issue an imperial edict.

If you confer the throne on your lord, it will be justifiable."

"Shang Rui?" Xiao Yuan called him by his name and said, "Our Qin army beat him up in front of Shanyuguan last time. How could he agree?"

"The emperor will definitely agree." Shangguan Wenruo took over the words.

"oh?"

"Because my lord now has 200,000 troops and controls Qin and Shu, he has to agree even if he doesn't agree." The meaning of Shangguan Wenruo's words was already very clear.

After Xiao Yuan heard this, he couldn't help but think deeply. He first walked back and forth in front of the case with his hands behind his back, then glanced at the two of them, and then suddenly burst into laughter.

Because he suddenly realized that these two literati were deliberately using the matter of conferring titles to push him to the throne!

There is no doubt that Liu Yuzhi is the governor of Qin now, and Shangguan Wen is the military advisor offering wine, but if Xiao Yuan becomes king, then the two of them will no longer have their current status, but will become ministers of the country!

Can that be compared?

After coming back to his senses, Xiao Yuan looked at the two of them and smiled, saying: "Let me think twice about this matter."

"This..." The two looked at each other again, and Liu Yu said anxiously: "At the beginning, my lord only had the land of Qin, which was not enough to claim the title of king. But now, the war in the Central Plains has not ended yet, and the countries are in dispute. If he does not claim the throne, how can Qin become the king?

out?"

"Yes, my lord, only a king can give orders to the king's masters, and if my lord is crowned king, it must be what the people want, what the people hope for, and what all the ministers hope for." Shangguan Wenruo followed.

"Okay, you two should step aside first." Xiao Yuan did not say any more, but waved his hand.

"This... subordinate is retiring. Please think again, lord." The two of them bowed.

Liu Yuzhi and Shangguan Wenruo were right. Xiao Yuan can no longer be called the governor of Qin. If his status is not improved, he will not be able to govern the two places.

And when he asked the two of them to step aside, it was not that he was rejecting them, but that he was preparing to ask other important backbones.

Because this matter is very important, he must listen to everyone's opinions.

Afterwards, Xiao Yuan was the first to call Lian Xiao over.

Lian Xiao is now a general of the Qin Army and followed Xiao Yuan back to Qinzhou. After he came over, Xiao Yuan directly brought up the matter.

After Lian Xiao heard this, he immediately said: "My lord should be crowned king."

"Oh?" Perhaps because he didn't expect him to say that, Xiao Yuan couldn't help but raise his eyebrows.

Lian Xiao said: "My lord's various political orders in Shu have been witnessed by the people, and they all cheered. Moreover, Huang Songyuan was not popular among the people. Now the people are more sympathetic to my lord's governance. If my lord does not take the throne, then my lord should be called

Should the governor of Qinzhou be called the lord of Shu? If he were the governor of Qin, how would he govern Shu? If he were the lord of Shu, how would he govern Qin? Therefore, the general believed that only by establishing a country could he unite the people and the military and completely unify the two places.

."

His question was very crucial. After hearing this, Xiao Yuan nodded secretly and said: "Okay, I understand what the general said. Please step back first."

"Yes, I will retire at the end." Lian Xiao cupped his fists and saluted.

Immediately afterwards, Xiao Yuan called Su Yi again.

After the latter came over, after listening to Xiao Yuan's question, he knelt down directly on the ground and said seriously: "The last general beseeches the lord, that is, the throne of Qin. If the lord does not respond, the officers and soldiers of the three armies will not comply..."

"Okay, okay, I understand, please step back first." Xiao Yuan waved his hand again.

Next, came Zhao Mu, Peng Shuang and others.

After people came over and heard about this, without exception, they all urged Xiao Yuan to become king. By now, he had understood the thoughts of his subordinate Wenwu.

Outside the prefect's mansion, after Xiao Yuan summoned everyone one by one, they did not disperse. Instead, they gathered at the door of the mansion and were discussing something in twos and threes.

"My lord just summoned us, what did you say?" Zhao Mu took the lead and asked Su Yi.

"Of course I suggest that my lord be the king. What about your side?" Su Yi asked back.

"It's the same here. Becoming king at this time has more advantages than disadvantages," Zhao Mu said.

"Yes, the world is in chaos, countries are vying for hegemony, and Qin wants to go east, so the lord must command the Qin army as a king..."

"It depends on what the lord thinks..."
Chapter completed!