What's wrong with me, a powerful minister, supporting a few female officials?

Chapter 291 Conferring a Marquisate!

Su Mo was indeed very curious.

Now that all the powerful families are against him and all the officials want to strip him of his Jinyiwei status, what official position will Zhong Yin propose for him?

Zhong Yin pondered for a moment, then suddenly shook his head: "That's not appropriate!"

Su Mo's face immediately darkened.

You just said it would be better to go somewhere else, but suddenly you say it's not appropriate.
Are you kidding me?

Zhong Yin frowned, pondered for a moment, and then slowly said, "The merits of the County Magistrate of Su are outstanding. I believe he deserves a promotion!"

Su Mo's eyes suddenly lit up.

Titles are a good thing!

Zhong Yin wasn't finished speaking: "Furthermore, I believe that Su Xianzi should be promoted to the position of Commander of the Upper Left Office!"

Upon hearing this, Su Mo was even more bewildered.

The Empress frowned slightly as she looked at Zhong Yin, asking with a hint of suspicion, "The Left Supervisor of the Imperial Household?"

Zhong Yin nodded emphatically: "Yes!"

“Su Xianzi is a sixth-rank centurion. Now that he has contributed his talents by presenting his weapon, it is only natural that he should be promoted to trial centurion.”

The Empress's expression shifted slightly: "Does Minister Zhong really think that it is appropriate for me to promote Minister Su to the position of Trial Commander?"

Zhong Yin said decisively, "I think it's appropriate!"

He paused, then said with a serious expression, "However, there is a difference between civil and military affairs."

"I think it would be best to remove Su Xianzi from his post as the registrar of Tianchang County!"

Su Mo exclaimed, "Holy crap!"
Leng Liuxi had always wanted to become an official in the imperial court, which was obvious to everyone.

Zhong Yin did not propose to serve as a court official, and even asked Leng Liuxi to relieve him of his position as a clerk.
Having served as Minister for so long, how could he not even understand the Emperor's intentions?

How did he become a minister?
As Su Mo thought this to himself, he turned his head and saw that the Empress was frowning and deep in thought.

Even Princess Baicheng showed a thoughtful expression.

After Zhong Yin finished speaking, he cupped his hands to the Empress and said, "I have been away for quite some time. There are many affairs in the Ministry of War at the end of the year, so I need to go back to the Ministry of War."

"Your Majesty, I request to take my leave!"

The Empress nodded: "Go, my dear minister!"

Zhong Yin responded and was about to leave when the Empress suddenly called out to him, "My dear minister, wait a moment."

As he spoke, he took out a scroll from his sleeve: "This is the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, which I copied by hand. I have read this book several times, and each time I open it, I gain a deep understanding."

"I will now give this to Zhong Qing. After reading it carefully, Zhong Qing will surely gain some insights."

Zhong Yin quickly took the scroll with both hands and was astonished to see that it read "Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Volume 1".

What did the Empress mean by giving me this book?
He hesitated for a moment: "Your Majesty, what book is this? How come I have never heard of it before?"

"Also, why is this book only in its first volume? Where is the second volume?"

"Where should I find it?"

He was the Minister of War, but the Minister of War was also a civil official. Zhong Yin's literary level was naturally very high. He considered himself to be well-read, but he had never heard of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms before.

Now it was the Empress's turn to be taken aback: "Zhong Qing, haven't you read the Story Weekly?"

Su Mo's expression immediately turned strange.

Zhong Yin was even more confused and could only honestly say, "Your subject is unaware of the weekly report."

The Empress thought about it and agreed.

After all, it happened just yesterday.

Su Mo sent out 5,000 copies, which meant that there were several hundred people in Shenjing, averaging one copy per person.

As the Minister of War, Zhong Yin was extremely busy with official duties and had no time to read tabloids.

The Empress smiled and said, "I find this tabloid quite interesting."

As he spoke, he pointed at Su Mo: "If Zhong Qing wants the second volume of Romance of the Three Kingdoms, he'll have to find Su Mo!"

"This first volume was given to me by Su Mo; I am still waiting for the second volume."

Zhong Yin looked at Su Mo in surprise: "This book was written by Su Xianzi?"

These days, not everyone can write books and biographies.

This can only be achieved by a great Confucian scholar or a renowned master!
For an ordinary scholar, having one of their poems included in a poetry collection is already a great fortune in life, something to boast about for a lifetime!

Su Mo, a mere brat, dares to write a book and establish a biography?
Zhong Yin immediately awoke and saw the Thousand Character Classic and Pinyin he had seen on Lonely Peak Mountain!
Could it really have been done by Su Mo?
Although the Empress and Yin Rou both said that the Thousand Character Classic was written by Su Mo, to be honest, Zhong Yin didn't believe it from the bottom of his heart!
Seeing Zhong Yin looking at him in shock, Su Mo smiled awkwardly: "I'm sorry for making a fool of myself in front of the Minister."

"This is merely a story, a playful creation of mine."

The look of surprise and doubt on Zhong Yin's face faded.

A storybook is acceptable.

In the eyes of scholars, vernacular stories are not considered books and are not respectable. They are mostly hearsay or ancient legends of gods and immortals, which any literate person can write down.

In the eyes of orthodox scholars, this was a shameful thing, something they were forced to do to earn money by writing stories out of necessity. They kept it a closely guarded secret and didn't even dare to mention their own names.

Zhong Yin said no more, lest the Empress dig another hole for him. He then took the first volume of Romance of the Three Kingdoms and hurriedly left.

After Zhong Yin left, the Empress, Princess Baicheng, Su Mo, and Liu Siyun returned to their camp.

Su Mo was about to take her leave.

The Empress suddenly asked, "Minister Su, what do you think of Minister Zhong's proposal?"

Su Mo was slightly taken aback. After thinking seriously for a moment, he said, "I certainly have no objection to being promoted to a higher rank. However, I am afraid that Your Majesty will criticize me for having successively been promoted to Baron, Viscount, and now Earl."

"Furthermore, didn't His Majesty say that the court officials would definitely not allow me to remain in the Embroidered Uniform Guard or the Phoenix Cry Division?"

The Empress frowned, not replying to Su Mo's words, and turned her gaze to Princess Baicheng.

Princess Baicheng thought for a moment and said, "I also think that what Minister Zhong said is correct."

“It is indeed unsuitable for Su County Magistrate to retain the position of Registrar.”

She paused slightly and then said, "Your Majesty, please do not forget that He Heng was able to file a complaint against Su Xianzi at the Dali Temple because of this clerk!"

The Empress nodded thoughtfully: "Zhong Yin reminded me."

"Fine, I don't need the ninth-rank clerk position."

"Most powerful families are civil servants. If we make Su Qing a civil servant, it will be easier for them to find fault with him!"

Upon hearing this, Su Mo suddenly realized what was going on.

It seems that Zhong Yin is treating me quite well; this is a subtle reminder!
The civil officials are too cunning.

They clearly wanted to strip him of the skins of the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Phoenix Cry Division, and then drag him to a battlefield they knew well to deal with him!
I almost fell for it.

The identities of the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Phoenix Cry Division cannot be lost!
The Empress clearly understood this as well, and then said to Su Mo with a serious expression, "I will appoint you as a probationary commander of the Left Guard, in charge of all affairs of the Qinghefang Hundred-Household Office!"

"in addition……"

Su Mo's ears perked up again.

The real action is yet to come!

Sure enough, the Empress took a light breath: "I plan to confer titles of nobility at the beginning of the year!"

Su Mo was dumbfounded!

Princess Baicheng and Liu Siyun were so shocked that they couldn't speak and stared at the Empress!

How many years has it been since a marquis was granted a title in the Great Wu Dynasty?
The difference in rank between a county magistrate and a marquis is enormous! There's even an earl in between!

Marquis, a second-rank official, nominally equal to the Ministers of the Six Ministries, and does not need to bow to the Ministers of the Six Ministries!
Princess Baicheng is just the Marquis of Dawu Town!

Su Mo presented the Divine Arm Bow and the Eight-Ox Crossbow, and then waited for him.

Will the court officials be convinced?
It has become an unspoken rule that granting titles and ranks to dukes and marquises requires meritorious service in expanding territories!

Besides, how old is Su Mo now? If he's already been granted a marquisate, what kind of reward will he receive in the future? A duke?
After the initial shock, Su Mo understood the Empress's meaning.

Whether or not a marquis can be granted depends entirely on the sweet potato!
If the sweet potatoes were truly as he claimed, yielding tens or hundreds of bushels per mu, the Empress would bestow upon him the title of Marquis after the sacrifice to Heaven. Who would dare to disobey?
This is also why the Empress said she only granted herself a marquisate at the beginning of the year!
After the Empress finished speaking, she turned to Princess Baicheng and said, "General Leng, please don't ask me about military expenses! I really don't have any money!"

"Go and tell Su Qing that I must return to the palace!"

It took two or three hours to watch the military exercise, and now the sun is setting.

As soon as the Empress stepped out of her tent, Princess Baicheng stared intently at Su Mo, fearing that he might slip away with her.

Su Mo was both amused and exasperated: "Princess, I don't have any money either..."

He immediately began to complain: "I am currently supporting twenty or thirty thousand people, and my fiefdom has also been acquired..."

Princess Baicheng seemed not to hear Su Mo's words, giving him no chance to object: "This general only wants ten thousand taels!"

Su Mo coughed and said, "Ten thousand taels... I'll try to squeeze it out, I should be able to!"

"However... I have a condition." Princess Baicheng: "Speak!"

Su Mo said without ceremony, "My clothing shop and bookstore will open for business the day after tomorrow."

"I fear that some fools might try to cause trouble, so I hope the princess can send some of her personal guards to maintain order!"

Princess Baicheng nodded without hesitation: "Yes!"

Su Mo was surprised that she agreed so readily. As expected of a professional soldier, she was efficient and decisive. After thinking for a moment, he added, "Remember to send out those female guards."

"I will have someone send woolen garments tomorrow; Your personal guards may wear my clothes."

"Hmm, I want someone who's good-looking and has a good figure."

After a pause, Su Mo, oblivious to the increasingly grim expression on Princess Baicheng's face, added, "However, the clothes I sent must fit a person with a good figure."

Princess Baicheng's face turned ashen: "Why?"

She stared at Su Mo with a gloomy expression: "Why send female guards over? And they have to be good-looking and have good figures!"

Feeling uneasy under the condescending gaze of Princess Baicheng, Su Mo felt a little uneasy.

Despite her good looks and amazing figure, Princess Baicheng was destined to be a supermodel in later generations.

But Su Mo knew that the stunning beauty in front of him was a ruthless killer who killed without blinking an eye and had taken hundreds of lives by her hand!
Most importantly, Su Mo couldn't see the other person's level of affection!
He took a deep breath and said solemnly, "Princess, please don't misunderstand!"

"If we want to sell wool sweaters like hotcakes, quickly recoup our costs, and provide what the army needs, we can't follow the rules; we have to find another way."

"Princess, think about it. In this harsh winter, a beautiful woman with a graceful figure can withstand the cold by wearing a thin wool skirt. If it were you, wouldn't you be curious enough to go into the store and find out?"

"This is to spread the word widely!"

Princess Baicheng's expression softened somewhat, but she still coldly asked, "What about the bookstore?"

Su Mo's eyes widened: "The bookstore is the same!"

Confucius said, "A slender and graceful lady is the object of a gentleman's affections!"

"Furthermore, the saying 'There are houses of gold in books, and beauties like jade in books' shows that scholars also appreciate beautiful women!"

Princess Baicheng was instantly enraged by Su Mo, gritting her teeth as she said, "When did Confucius ever say such a thing!"

"This is what the Book of Songs says!"

Su Mo blinked, surprised, and said, "Isn't this what Confucius said? Am I remembering wrong?"

Princess Baicheng was utterly speechless: "Of course not!"

"Furthermore, Confucius is Confucius, don't spout nonsense like 'Kong... Kong Lao Er,' aren't you afraid of being criticized by scholars!"

Su Mo immediately rolled her eyes.

Confucius is just Confucius, don't call him the Sage Confucius!

The Kong family of later generations, who kept submitting to the emperor, were countless servants of all surnames!
However, the fact that there is a Confucius in this world is something that Su Mo finds hard to understand.

It felt as if the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods were exactly the same as the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods in my memory.

Princess Baicheng's expression softened: "However, the saying 'There are houses of gold and beauties in books' does indeed make sense!"

She glanced at Su Mo again and couldn't help but snort in annoyance.

You really have to admire him.

This guy's talent is practically overflowing; he can compose poems and songs effortlessly!
Comparing yourself to others can be incredibly frustrating!

After a pause, Princess Baicheng said with a dark face, "If you want me to send out my personal guards, you can wear the wool sweater you mentioned, but I also have one condition!"

Su Mo's face immediately fell: "Princess, it's ten thousand taels of silver!"

"The princess probably doesn't know how much ten thousand taels of silver is..."

Princess Baicheng waved her hand, interrupting Su Mo: "This princess doesn't want money!"

Su Mo was stunned.

In his opinion, Leng Li and Leng Liuxi were indeed of the same surname, both obsessed with making money.

This time it's free?
However, if it's free, then it's negotiable. Su Mo smiled and said, "May I ask what the princess desires?"

Princess Baicheng said calmly, "Romance of the Three Kingdoms!"

Su Mo...

This thing isn't very valuable, and many copies of the first volume were printed at once.

"That!"

"However, only the first volume of Romance of the Three Kingdoms has been completed so far; the second volume will have to wait some more time."

Princess Baicheng nodded expressionlessly.

She hadn't even gotten the Empress yet, so of course she wouldn't force Su Mo.

Since Leng Li made another request, Su Mo also put forward a new condition without any hesitation: "This humble official hopes that when the clothing store opens the day after tomorrow, the princess can wear the wool coat that this official gave me to cut the ribbon."

Princess Baicheng hesitated for a moment, then said, "Agreed!"

This surprised Su Mo: "The princess knows about ribbon-cutting?"

Princess Baicheng said calmly, "Just like when His Majesty cut the ribbon at Baiyujing last time!"

Su Mo...

It seems that his background has been thoroughly investigated by the powerful figures in the capital.

Princess Baicheng's expression suddenly turned strange, and she asked again, "You don't mean to invite His Majesty to the ribbon-cutting ceremony again, do you?"

Su Mo subconsciously shook her head and said, "No!"

"His Majesty has no time during the New Year!"

Princess Baicheng...

It seems this guy really believes that His Majesty will come over whenever he has time!
The court officials were right to label this guy a treacherous minister!

If this isn't a treacherous minister, then who is?

Is it permissible for Your Majesty to use it like that? Pshaw, Your Majesty, that's not how you use it... No, that's not right either...

Princess Baicheng was utterly speechless.

Su Mo then added, "This humble official intends to invite Lord Nangong over as well."

Princess Baicheng frowned: "A bookstore?"

“No!” Su Mo shook his head and said, “A bookstore is not suitable.”

"Regarding the bookstore, I was planning to invite Minister Zhong over... Hmm, I wonder if Chi Wulei is available?"

Su Mo muttered to himself, "She is a senior official in the Ministry of Personnel, and she is about to be promoted. She is also good-looking, so she will definitely attract the attention of scholars."

Princess Baicheng was speechless upon hearing this.

Who do you think the Ministers of the Six Ministries are? You think they'll just cut ribbons whenever you tell them to?

Furthermore, although Chi Wulei was only a fifth-rank official, his power in the Ministry of Personnel was second only to He Jiang and the Left and Right Vice Ministers.

This is why he can summon people at will and dismiss them at will.

Princess Baicheng was too lazy to listen to Su Mo's boasting.

If he could get Zhong Yin and Chi Wulei to the bookstore for the ribbon-cutting ceremony, he would even write a word of admiration for them in public!
She snorted, "You really have no tact! No wonder Zhong Yin called you a brat!"

"Remember to send ten thousand taels of silver tomorrow!"

He then picked up the teacup and drank it all in one gulp.

Su Mo was speechless.

This is kicking them out; the locals are so rude!

They didn't even allow themselves to eat in the military camp.

Even though I said I wouldn't keep it, wouldn't it be impolite not to say so?

However, Su Mo figured that was just his proud and aloof personality, so he didn't bother to say anything more.

After greeting Liu Siyun, he left the military camp.

While pondering how to invite Zhong Yin over!
There's not much of a problem with Chi Wulei.

She owed her boss a favor, and this was a good opportunity to repay it and also to collect the reward from the previous mission.

Another one received a certificate of appointment from the eighth rank.

Even if you don't need it yourself, you can give it away as a favor.

Even an eighth-rank civil official's certificate, once sold, would be worth at least a thousand or eight hundred taels of silver.

　I was terrified to see another author die suddenly yesterday. Their lifestyle was exactly like mine. I felt so tired last night that I didn't dare to write. Now I'm trying to get back to a normal routine, writing early and going to bed early, and making up for the chapter I owe as soon as possible.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)