Context: Year 3 of the Northern Conflict
For three years, the young commander Li Wei, grandson of a frontier marquis, became the unbreakable wall against the combined forces of the Ye and Chu clans. He never lost a defensive campaign. His innovative tactics, ruthless discipline, and the unwavering loyalty of his troops turned the Blue Lion Pass into legend.
His accomplishments inevitably reached the ears of the Emperor of the Qing Empire, a shrewd sovereign surrounded by nobles competing for imperial favor. Some downplayed Li Wei's feats, dismissing him as a mere "mountain commander," but others — especially the court's military strategists — insisted that the young man had shown rare brilliance.
Finally, an imperial decree arrives:
"Let Li Wei of Clan Li, defender of the Blue Lion Pass, appear before the Jade Throne to swear his oath and receive his reward for years of service."
The Imperial Court
The ceremony is held in the Hall of the Celestial Mirror, a secondary palace within the imperial complex in Fengliang, the capital — a place where only the truly worthy may enter. The hall is filled with nobles of various ranks:
Rural barons, dressed in modest but dignified robes.
Counts and viscounts, more urbane, observing with disdain or curiosity.
A few dukes, escorted by bodyguards, clad in crimson or jade silk.
When Li Wei enters, he wears the ceremonial armor of his unit — not silk. The audience murmurs:"He's not wearing formal robes?""Is this how a commander presents himself before the Emperor?""No… this is how a warrior presents himself."
His gait is steady, though still young. His eyes, tempered by war. A scar crossing his left brow speaks of sieges and midnight charges.
The Oath
The Emperor, hidden behind a golden gauze veil, speaks:
"Li Wei, grandson of Marquis Li Feng, protector of the north, you who withstood three winters of blood, three years of sieges, three generations of clan hatred... Do you swear loyalty to the Qing Empire and its eternal throne?"
Li Wei kneels upon a ritual stone engraved with the characters: Loyalty, Honor, and Service.
"I swear eternal loyalty to the Emperor. May my life, my sword, and my clan serve until extinction."
The Emperor rises — breaking protocol, an act seen once a decade — and declares:
"From this day forward, you are Li Wei, Count of the Blue Lion Pass."
Title and Territory
He is granted the title of Count (Rank 12) and full administration over the fortified city of Beiyang, about 60 li from the pass he defended. Though smaller than a regional capital, Beiyang is a strategic point in the corridor between Chu and Qing.
With it, he is granted authority to:
Collect taxes.
Issue local seals.
Appoint civilian and military officers.
Administer justice within his jurisdiction.