The next morning, Li Xuan received the imperial envoy and a whole heap of imperial rewards and gifts.
As expected, the Court had conferred upon him the hereditary title of Earl, with a rank equivalent to 'The Emperor's Heavenly Fortune Earl Jingan', a highly significant reward. Henceforth, he and his descendants will be nobles sharing the fate of the nation. (Note: In the Ming Dynasty, the title of Earl exceeds rank, in this book it is set as the third-rank official)
Ever since the establishment of the Jin Dynasty, a hereditary title was given only for military merits and close imperial relatives.
Even though Li Xuan had considerably contributed this time, bringing peace to south Zhili, and even averting a great calamity in Jiangnan, he technically did not meet the criteria for a noble title.
