jdhmnovel Chapter 1323 Shen Zheng Confers a Noble Title
Chapter 1323 Shen Zheng Confers a Noble Title
The emperor's gaze swept over the mournful faces of the officials, finally settling on Lu Botang.
"Just now, Minister Lu said that Minister Shen's efforts in eliminating locusts were a meritorious deed for protecting the country. I think we should confer upon Minister Shen the rank of Marquis of the Third Rank."
A stone stirred up a thousand waves.
"A third-rank official?!"
"Protect the nation?!"
"A marquis?!"
The officials were incredibly sour.
Not only was he given the purple robe of a third-rank official, but he also received the prestigious title of "Guardian of the Nation."
Having such a grand title as "Protector of the Nation" is one thing, but to skip the ranks of "Viscount, Baron, and Earl" and directly confer the title of Marquis?!
There's a saying that goes, "to be ennobled and appointed as prime minister."
Being granted a title of nobility was even placed before being appointed prime minister!
It's easy to imagine how important this marquisate is!
Thinking it over, the officials made a final attempt to persuade him: "Your Majesty, although the real power of a marquis and an earl is not much different, in truth, a marquis is still somewhat higher than an earl..."
After pondering for a moment, they brought up Yu Shizhang: "Your Majesty, the Earl of Yongning is still in Liuyang Prefecture. Your arrival and the granting of a marquisate to Lord Shen leaves the Earl of Yongning in a bad light..."
Yu Zhengqing paused upon hearing this.
The emperor fell into deep thought.
Yu Zhengqing immediately turned his head and said sternly, "I hope that you gentlemen will not sow discord between my Yongning Marquisate and Lord Shen! Lord Shen's achievements in leading the people to exterminate the locusts are outstanding, and he truly deserves the title of Protector of the Nation Marquis. When my father finds out, he will only be happy for Lord Shen and will not have any other thoughts! Your Majesty..."
"I did indeed overlook the Earl of Yongning," the Emperor said with slight regret, then added, "Since that's the case, then..."
The officials looked on with anticipation.
That's right!
Why not just give Lord Shen the title of viscount?
People shouldn't climb too high at once, or they'll easily fall!
"Then let's promote the Earl of Yongning to the Marquis of Yongning," the Emperor said with a smile. "Minister Yu has been a first-rank earl for quite some time now, and according to seniority, it is indeed time for him to be promoted."
Officials: ?
Haha, I must have gotten up too early this morning and my ears aren't working properly.
How could His Majesty not demote Lord Shen, but instead promote the Earl of Yongning?
Haha, you must have misheard.
The hall remained silent for a long time.
The ten breaths were stretched out.
When the eleventh breath arrived, the officials realized that the emperor's expression did not seem to be joking with them.
"Your Majesty..." The few people who had deliberately brought up Yu Shizhang earlier could no longer stand up. "Our worries are probably unnecessary. We hope Your Majesty will not take them to heart."
Throughout history, which dynasty could add two more marquises in a single day?
It's ridiculous!
It's not like the country just started!
The emperor's expression hardened: "A ruler's word is law. Do you, my beloved ministers, want me to be an emperor who breaks his promises?"
The officials: "......"
They couldn't have imagined, no matter how hard they racked their brains, that the Emperor would resolve the conflict between the Yu family and Shen Zheng over their titles in such a way.
"Your Majesty..." Several officials still tried to struggle.
The Emperor interrupted, saying, "The Earl of Yongning should have been promoted long ago. It was my oversight that it was delayed until now. There's no need to say anything more. Let's just settle this matter as it is."
"..."
The officials deeply regretted their actions.
All that they said just now was completely unnecessary!
They lost both their wife and their army!
"Issue my decree." The Emperor raised his hand: "Shen Zheng, the Assistant Minister of the Six Ministries, Prefect of Liuyang, and Magistrate of Tong'an County, remained calm in the face of danger, personally led the people to quell the locust plague that covered the sky, protected the foundation of our Great Zhou, brought peace to the people from fire and water, and demonstrated the power of our Celestial Dynasty. His achievements are remarkable and he deserves the title of 'protector of the country'."
Upon hearing this, the officials ceased their struggle.
Well, it's a done deal.
The Emperor continued, "Today, I break with ancestral rules and set a precedent, bestowing upon Shen Zheng the title of Marquis of the Third Rank, granting him a silver seal and blue ribbon, a fief of five hundred households in Liuyang Prefecture, and a hereditary title; I also bestow upon him a purple robe and jade belt, and the right to ride in the imperial city; and I reward him with a thousand taels of gold, ten thousand taels of silver, a hundred acres of fertile land in Liuyang Prefecture, a hundred pieces of official kiln white porcelain, and a hundred pearls..."
As they listened, the officials became numb.
Lord Shen's title is actually hereditary...
But the emperor had not yet finished speaking: "Furthermore, Shen Qing's adoptive father is posthumously granted the rank of Wenlin Lang, a seventh-grade official, and is hereby commended with an imperial edict to recognize his virtue in raising and educating him."
Officials: ......
Good, good, good! Not only will the title be hereditary, but even the deceased members of the Shen family will have a share!
The officials were green with envy, and the emperor continued, "Minister Yu has served as the Earl of Yongning for many years and has made outstanding contributions. He is hereby promoted to the rank of First-Rank Marquis of Yongning, and is granted a gold seal and purple ribbon, a fief of one thousand households, and the title is hereditary!"
Finally, the Emperor's tone hardened: "All meritorious officials of my Great Zhou, regardless of gender or kinship, shall be rewarded for their abilities and honored for their loyalty! Minister Shen and Minister Yu are both my confidants and pillars of the nation. From now on, all my beloved ministers should take them as their role models and work together with one heart and one mind! If anyone harbors jealousy or attempts to sow discord, I will not let them off lightly!"
After these words of reprimand, several officials secretly lowered their heads.
At this point, almost everyone forgot that several Japanese envoys were still huddled in the corner of the palace.
The Emperor then turned to them and said, “You covet our dynasty’s high-yield rice seeds and intend to take advantage of our locust plague to plunder them, offering meager profits in exchange for half of our rice seeds. This violates the etiquette of diplomatic relations! From this day forward, you shall remain in the capital until your rulers sincerely come to redeem you, and then we will discuss your return!”
The officials were secretly alarmed.
Your Majesty is declaring war on Japan!
Ōtomo no Maro was utterly despondent.
From the moment he learned that the locust plague had been eradicated, he knew that the Emperor of Great Zhou would not let them off easily.
But he never imagined that the Emperor of Great Zhou would be so ruthless as to detain them.
"Your Majesty..." Ōtomo no Maro forced himself to stand up straight and forced a smile, "Could our country use gold to buy rice seeds? And...and also give you a thousand Japanese swords..."
The emperor waved his hand: "Take him away."
Lu Botang jumped forward: "Your Majesty, I wish to escort..."
"Go," the emperor waved his hand again.
Lu Botang was overjoyed and walked toward Ōtomo no Maro and the others with a sinister grin.
"Be good, don't struggle, or I won't hold back..."
Upon seeing this, the officials felt their hair stand on end and quickly made way for Lu Botang.
"Retreat—"
As Lord Hong began to speak, the officials, feeling helpless, bowed and slowly headed out of the hall.
A familiar topic resurfaced among them: "Lord Shen's promotion is too fast. She's only been in office for a little over a year, and she's already a marquis. In another two years, we probably won't even be able to touch the hem of her robe..."
"Why call me 'Lord Shen'? I should call me Marquis Shen!"
"...Lord Niu, you are truly a fickle opportunist."
“Lord Ma, I believe that those who know when to yield are the wise. Look at those Japanese envoys, they didn’t know when to yield, and look how His Majesty and General Lu dealt with them. I still want to live a few more years.”
Yu Zhengqing followed behind them, about to walk out of the palace gate, when Chen Shengshen suddenly called out to him: "Lord Yu, Lord Yu! Lord Ji has something to say to you!"
Yu Zhengqing stopped in his tracks.
I almost forgot about Ji Benchang, who was so angry he almost fainted!
What a sin!
He quickly turned around, went against the crowd to the pillar, squatted down in front of Ji Benchang, and asked, "Lord Ji, are you alright?"
“Good, good…” Ji Benchang closed his eyes and beckoned to him, “Come closer, come closer to my ear.”
Yu Zhengqing quickly turned his ear over.
Listen to Ji Benchang say, "Huai Gongwang's family fortune... the Ministry of Revenue doesn't want it anymore, give it all to Xiao Shen, tell her to be frugal with it..."