Do You Know?: I, the Little Cabinet Elder, Regent of the World.

Chapter 151 The History Book is Repaired!

Chang Chao.

Civil and military officials stood in orderly rows.

On the steps of the imperial palace, Emperor Zhao Zhen lightly pressed his knees, his gaze level.

"When there is something to do, we will start to act, but when there is nothing to do, we will retreat."

Compared to the past, the elderly Emperor Zhao Zhen appeared somewhat more solemn.

"Your subject Han Zhang has something to report."

At the head of the left row, a high-ranking official in a purple robe, with slightly white hair and beard and an exceptionally distinguished demeanor, stepped forward.

All the civil and military officials watched intently.

Head of all officials!

"Since the opening of the border in Xihe, the government has specially ordered the Imperial Historiography Office, the Secretariat, and the Hanlin Academy to compile history together. One book is called 'Xihe Pingrong Lu', which records the history of Xihe's expansion of the border, and another book is called 'Zizhi Tongjian', which records the history from the Warring States period to the opening of the border in Xihe, which spans more than 1,500 years."

"Among them, the 'Record of the Pacification of Xihe' has been completed after three years of revisions," Han Zhang said slowly, holding his official tablet.

As the head of all officials, Han Zhang held many concurrent positions.

One of these tasks was to oversee the compilation of the national history.

Before he finished speaking, all the officials turned to look at Jiang Zhao, who stood solemnly holding his tablet.

Xihe opened up the borders and compiled two volumes of history.

One volume is a biographical history book, centered on individuals, namely "Xihe Pingrong Lu".

One volume is a chronological history book, organized chronologically, namely the Zizhi Tongjian.

Among them, the biographical history is relatively small in scale and has already been completed.

As for the Zizhi Tongjian, it took more than 1,500 years to compile history, and it would have taken at least 10 to 20 years to complete.

The completion of "The Record of Pacifying the Rong in Xihe" signifies something quite obvious.

Jiang Zhao, your name will be remembered in history!
Besides Jiang Zhao, there are a large number of other beneficiaries.

Han Zhang, Zhang Fu, Gu Yankai, Gu Tingye, Wang Shao, and others—all the meritorious officials who participated in the expansion of territory, were around the sixth rank, and almost all of them are worthy of being recorded in history.

After all, the highest-ranking official at that time was Jiang Zhao, who held the rank of fourth grade.

A sixth-rank official is already considered a "high-ranking official".

These "important officials" are very likely to have their biographies written about them, recounting their life stories.

The remaining officials of the seventh and eighth ranks also had the opportunity to be recorded in history.

It might just be a name, or a sentence or two.

But that's still leaving your mark in history!

The imperial court was instantly thrown into an uproar.

Zhang Fu, Gu Tingye, Wang Shao, and the others looked at each other, their faces turning red instantly.

A true man, dwelling between heaven and earth, who can refuse to have his name recorded in history?

The jade pendants jingled, and the discussion was lively and boisterous.

All the civil and military officials began to discuss it together.

In fact, theoretically speaking, many high-ranking officials in purple robes had the opportunity to be remembered in history.

If it comes to compiling the history of the Great Zhou Dynasty in the future, a high-ranking official in purple robes, at the very least, will have his name recorded.

However, there are varying degrees of fame in history.

Simply leaving a name is the pursuit of an ordinary person.

For the high-ranking official in purple robes, the real pursuit was to compile biographical works like Jiang Zhao.

Of course, this possibility is not high.

Once the history of the Great Zhou Dynasty is compiled, the key figures will definitely be the emperor, or a few important ministers.

Most high-ranking officials in purple robes only left behind their names.

The officials were in an uproar and began to argue.

It is quite rare for someone to be alive and compile biographical accounts of their life.

The civil and military officials were filled with a mixture of envy and curiosity.

Who left their names in this "Record of the Pacification of Xihe"?

"Oh?"

On the steps of the imperial palace, the elderly Zhao Zhen suddenly became interested and waved his hand, saying, "Can it be presented?" A biographical history would certainly have Jiang Zhao as its core, along with several key ministers who were responsible for expanding the territory.

However, as a monarch, he must also have some role to play.

An aging monarch has the opportunity to see his own version of himself in history books.

This immediately heightened their interest.

As for whether he might not even be recorded in history books?

Ah!
Then he's the one who should be worried!

"I understand."

Han Zhang nodded and waved his hand: "Officials from the History Bureau, the Secretariat, and the Hanlin Academy, go and bring over the history books."

Several officials in purple and red robes walked out together and strode out.

The time has come to test the results!
The fact that several officials went to fetch history books did not calm the court down; on the contrary, it made it even more bustling.

Emperor Zhao Zhen was deeply moved; even his old bones were filled with passion, and he unusually stepped down from the imperial steps.

"Jiang Qing is truly a pillar of the nation!" Zhao Zhen smiled gently.

"It is all thanks to Your Majesty's discerning eye that you made an exception and selected me." Jiang Zhao quickly bowed.

Zhao Zhen nodded, glanced at Han Zhang, and affirmed, "Minister Han and Minister Jiang are both pillars of the nation!"

"Your Majesty flatters me." Han Zhang bowed and smiled with satisfaction.

For a time, the emperor and his ministers lived in harmony.

In less than a quarter of an hour, the "Record of the Pacification of Xihe" was presented to the imperial court.

This book records the life stories of key figures in the Xihe border expansion, as well as major generals and ethnic minority leaders, comprising more than ten biographies.

Detailed records are also kept of the battles involved in the process of territorial expansion.

In addition, the annals focus on recording Jiang Zhao's relevant decisions, the emperor's relevant stances, and the resolutions of the officials, while the chronicles record geography, military systems, ethnic integration, and other content.

From specific decisions to detailed operational processes, and by sorting out related events and relationships, the records are compiled.

The book contains 36 volumes in total, including one volume of the Emperor's Annals, five volumes of the Military and Political Annals, five volumes of the Annals of Key Figures, ten volumes of the Annals of Major Figures, two volumes of the Geography, three volumes of the Military Affairs, three volumes of the Ethnic Studies, three volumes of the Food and Commodities, two volumes of the Genealogical Tables of the Leaders of the Tribal Regions, one volume of the Chronological Tables of Battles, and one volume of the Rewards and Conferments of Titles. It contains more than 400,000 words.

Among them, as the undisputed core figure in Xihe's expansion of the border, it took two whole volumes just to explain Jiang Zhao's experiences before the age of twenty-one.

It includes introductions to Jiang Yuan, Jiang Zhi, and Jiang Zhong of the Huaizuo Jiang clan, Sheng Hong and Wang Ruofu of the Youyang Sheng clan, and the Seven Sons of Jiayou, to illustrate their experiences of studying, learning from teachers, traveling, taking the imperial examinations, getting married, and making friends, thus extending to the historical facts of Xihe serving as an official and expanding its territory.

The biographies of the remaining Gu Tingye, Wang Shao, and others simply introduce their early life experiences, and then introduce Jiang Zhao, describing his experiences and achievements in expanding territory.

A biographical history book records the names of about twenty or thirty people in detail, and about a hundred or so people in brief.

The officials watched and argued endlessly.

After a long while, Zhao Zhen slowly walked up the steps.

"This book is clearly structured, distinguishing between good and evil, and is based on detailed research, ultimately becoming a reliable history. Its elegant writing and meticulous narration truly represent a glorious achievement of the court's civil and military affairs."

Once this book is completed, it should be distributed throughout the land so that all people may know the hardships their ancestors endured in expanding the territory, and be inspired to be loyal to the emperor and love their country, working together to protect our land forever.

"Your Majesty, Holy Might!"

Led by Han Zhang, all the civil and military officials bowed down.

"Han Zhang, who was in charge of supervising the compilation of the national history, was granted the title of 'Meritorious Minister of Loyalty and Assistance in Governing the State,' and was enfeoffed as Duke of Wei with a fief of 9,300 households; Fan Zhen, the Secretary of the Secretariat, was promoted to the position of Imperial Secretary; Liu Shu, the Compiler of Imperial Records, was appointed Academician of the Tianzhang Pavilion and continued to compile the history."

The supervising official was awarded one hundred taels of silver and thirty bolts of silk; the chief editor was awarded one hundred taels of silver and twenty bolts of silk; the rest, the historians, were granted the title of "Pavilion Attendant," four writing implements, and permission to lecture on history at the Imperial Academy.

Zhao Zhen announced them one by one.

The main content is the reward for historians who compile books.

Writing history isn't exactly hard work, but it's still incredibly demanding.

Some historians may have to endure more than ten years, or even decades, before they have the opportunity to participate in compiling history and complete a historical book.

Therefore, the rewards for historians have always been quite generous.

Of the officials in charge of compiling the history, apart from Han Zhang who was granted the title of "Meritorious Minister of Loyalty, Assistance and Advice," almost all the rest were promoted in rank.

Most historians were awarded the honorary title of "Gemen Zhihou," which theoretically corresponds to the seventh rank.

"Your Majesty, we thank you for your great kindness!"

The officials in charge of compiling the history bowed deeply in unison.

"Rise," Zhao Zhen waved his hand.

The civil and military officials were engaged in heated discussions.

The focus, naturally, is Jiang Zhao!
Without him, there would be no opening of the Xihe border!
(End of this chapter)