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

Chapter 209 Grand Secretary of the Wenyuan Pavilion! (4k)

February 23rd, the first year of the Xifeng era.

Xuande Gate.

One could see vermilion lacquer and bronze rings, imperial guards stationed there, one every three steps, the system imposing and orderly.

The city was bustling with activity, shops lined the streets, and people knelt in worship, creating a solemn atmosphere within the forbidden area.

With Xuande Gate as the boundary, the cabinet included Grand Secretaries, Ministers of the Six Ministries, Vice Ministers, Ministers of the Nine Courts, Censors-in-Chief, Directors of the Five Directorates, and Academicians of the Hanlin Academy.
There were thirty or forty people in purple robes and three or four hundred people in red robes, and not a single one of them asked for leave or a day off.

Civil and military officials stood in orderly rows.

The leader wore a red and black imperial robe, adorned with seven jade stars and twenty-four amber and rhinoceros horn bottles. Below, it was embroidered with twelve symbols, including the sun, moon, stars, mountains, dragons, pheasants, and pheasants. He wore a flat crown with twelve tassels.

Every gesture he made exuded the vast majesty of a monarch.

It was Zhao Ceying!

"Your Majesty, why don't we go inside the imperial tent and rest for a while?" Han Zhang suggested, bowing respectfully.

The yellow tent, also known as the temporary palace for the emperor's travels, was generally made of yellow curtains.

The army returned in triumph, and the emperor personally came out of the palace to welcome them—a truly great honor.

However, if the officials are made to wait too long and lose patience, there is a possibility that a "joyful occasion will turn into a tragedy."

"It's alright, we've only been standing here for a short time," Zhao Ceying said, sipping his tea and shaking his head dismissively.

Expanding territory, beheading the king, and capturing Dong Zhan alive—all were immense achievements.

Twenty-eight-year-old Zhao Ceying was very excited and showed no signs of fatigue whatsoever.

Han Zhang was taken aback.

I almost forgot, the Emperor is only twenty-eight or twenty-nine years old, in the prime of his life, not the old and frail late Emperor.

Therefore, he stopped offering advice.

About two incense sticks later, the sound of horses' hooves began to rise.

All the civil and military officials were instantly invigorated.

At the end of the official road, a small black dot grew larger and larger.

In a short while, the "little black dot" transformed into more than a hundred soldiers.

"Shut up!"

"The Emperor?"

Jiang Zhao looked up and caught sight of a figure in a dragon robe. He quickly grabbed the reins, lifted the robe off the saddle, and let his feet touch the ground.

The hundred or so soldiers were also startled and quickly followed suit.

In less than ten breaths, they all dismounted and lined up on either side.

Many people exchanged glances, secretly alarmed.

The emperor personally went to the outskirts of the city to welcome the triumphant returnees; even in historical records, this is quite rare, isn't it?

Even Gu Tingye and Wang Shao couldn't help but be surprised.

It should be noted that when Xihe opened up the borders and expanded the territory by thousands of miles, it was merely a matter of officials bowing and welcoming the emperor.

Adjusting his hat and compose himself, Jiang Zhao stood about a hundred paces away and bowed deeply: "Your humble servant Jiang Zhao greets Your Majesty!"

"Your Majesty, we pay our respects!" A hundred or so people bowed respectfully and shouted in unison.

"Ha ha!"

Zhao Ceying laughed heartily and gladly accepted.

Stepping forward to help the "regent entrusted with the care of the young emperor," Zhao Ceying nodded repeatedly: "You pacified the borders, expanded the territory to five prefectures, beheaded the emperor in battle, and captured Dong Zhan alive. Minister Jiang, you are truly a pillar of the nation and a pillar of the state."

Civil administration can bring peace and stability to the world, while military prowess can secure victory on horseback.

Any monarch with ambition could not possibly dislike such a minister.

"Your humble servant, Chuli, is deeply grateful for Your Majesty's boundless grace. I can only repay your kindness with utmost loyalty," Jiang Zhao said respectfully.

As he spoke, he waved his hand, and someone seized Dong Zhan, who was bound hand and foot.

After nearly ten days of arduous travel, Dong Zhan was listless and in poor condition, looking utterly dejected and miserable.

Zhao Ceying glanced at it and was overjoyed, clapping his hands repeatedly: "Good, good, good!"

"Dong Zhan, do you recognize me?"

"Your Majesty, the Emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty!" Dong Zhan bowed low and said, his voice trembling slightly.

Zhao Ceying nodded slowly.

Judging from his humble and unassuming demeanor, he must be someone who knows how to adapt to the times.

"Logically speaking, I should kill you and offer you as a sacrifice at the Imperial Ancestral Temple," Zhao Ceying asked calmly. "Are you afraid?"

"I am afraid, of course I am afraid," Dong Zhan quickly replied.

If given the chance to live, who would want to die?

"Throughout history, the small Tibetan kingdom has committed numerous atrocities. Whenever a leader is captured alive, the primary course of action is to kill him. There is only one exception."

Zhao Ceying asked, as if testing a teacher, "Dong Zhan, do you know?"

"Khan Jieli!"

Dong Zhan instantly understood and said from the bottom of his heart, "In my life, I have the utmost respect for Khagan Jieli. He performed a dance for Emperor Taizong and his name will be remembered in history."

Having said that, Zhao Ceying nodded in satisfaction: "Someone, take him away."

After he finished speaking, the Imperial Guards dragged the man away.

"And then enter the palace to celebrate."

"I can't wait for Dong Zhan to perform!" Zhao Ceying laughed heartily.

"promise."

Jiang Zhao bowed respectfully, then waved to Gu Tingye, Wang Shao, and the others.

Grand Chancellor Han Zhang glanced at the scene, straightened his clothes, and proclaimed in a booming voice: "This western expedition, which traversed thousands of miles, has finally expanded our territory. This is a great blessing for the nation and a long-lasting good fortune for the people. The royal army has returned in triumph, bringing honor to the land. The Emperor has prepared fine wine and delicacies to cleanse the dust of war from the journey of these meritorious officials."

"Your Majesty, we thank you for your great kindness." All the civil and military officials bowed in unison.

"Flat body."

About ten breaths later, Zhao Ceying boarded the imperial carriage, and Jiang Zhao, Gu Tingye, Wang Shao, and several others mounted their horses to attend to him.

The remaining civil and military officials, as well as the meritorious officials who had expanded the territory, stood in orderly ranks, following closely behind.

On the imperial carriage, Zhao Ceying, who rarely had his own people around, couldn't stay idle at all.

"Jiang Qing, I have truly suffered a lot in the past hundred days!" Zhao Ceying complained.

Jiang Zhao was startled.

"What hardships has Your Majesty endured?" After a moment's thought, Jiang Zhao echoed.

He received reports from his protégés and former officials about the political situation in Bianjing almost constantly, and his brother-in-law Cai Jing even wrote him a letter every day.

He knew perfectly well what hardships Zhao Ceying had endured.

That's why he knew what the emperor wanted to hear.

“Some people wanted to bring relatives of the empress into the border region, and dozens of memorials were submitted every day.”

Zhao Ceying sighed and waved his sleeves, saying, "I am resolute and unmoved."

"Your Majesty's boundless grace is beyond my ability to repay."

Jiang Zhao, his face filled with gratitude, slowly said, "Your Majesty has suffered for the sake of the country, the people, and all the nation. In my humble opinion, this should be recorded in history and remembered for eternity!"

Their achievements will be recorded in history and their fame will last forever!
“That makes sense.” Zhao Ceying nodded repeatedly.

He loves hearing that.

"So, Scholar Wang, have you made up your mind to switch from a literary to a military career?" Zhao Ceying asked again.

"If there is any hope of transitioning from a civil to a military position, I would be happy to serve Your Majesty!" Wang Shao realized something, glanced at Jiang Zhao, and then quickly said.

After recognizing his merits, Jiang Zhao specifically sought him out to inquire whether he intended to switch from a literary to a military career and try to seek wealth and status.

Wang Shao has no problem with it.

For him, as long as he had Jiang Zhao's support, anything was easy.

Conversely, without Jiang Zhao's support, it would be difficult to do anything.

Zhao Ceying remained noncommittal, then turned to Gu Tingye: "Lord Gu, how are the Shaanxi border troops doing lately?"

"They all died for their country!"

Banners fluttered, bells and drums resounded, and chants never ceased.

After a while, the bells and drums gradually faded away.

Wende Hall.

The candlelight flickered, burning gently and slowly.

Civil and military officials stood in orderly rows.

On the steps of the imperial palace, Zhao Ceying looked on with a joyful expression and calmly gazed at the emperor.

"Xuan——"

"Heroes who have contributed to the expansion of the territory pay homage!"

Led by Jiang Zhao, more than twenty officials in charge of expanding the territory entered the hall together.

"Your Majesty, we, your humble servants, pay our respects!"

More than twenty people bowed in unison.

"Flat body."

Zhao Ceying waved his hand, unable to hide the joy on his face.

The arrival of the meritorious officials who had expanded the territory in the capital meant that he would completely seize military power! "Thank you, Your Majesty." Led by Jiang Zhao, the meritorious officials who had expanded the territory rose in unison.

Many people looked over and were secretly alarmed.

If I remember correctly, Jiang Zichuan entered officialdom in the second year of the Jiayou era, right?

From the second year of the Jiayou era to the first year of the Xifeng era, it was exactly twelve years.

Is this all that has happened after twelve years in office?

Even disregarding whether one joins the cabinet, a position of second rank official for twelve years is still quite impressive.

In terms of the timing of their promotions, they were almost identical to that of Grand Chancellor Ding Wei.

Do not!
Even faster!
Jiang Zichuan entered officialdom and became the Minister of Rites after eleven years, holding the rank of second-grade official.

Ding Wei, the Grand Chancellor, entered officialdom after twelve years and became the Minister of Personnel, holding the rank of Second Grade.

More importantly
Jiang Zhao is very likely to take another step forward soon!
"Since the royal army entered the border, it has pacified the mountains and rivers, expanded the territory to five states, killed the king in battle, and captured Dong Zhan alive. It truly has the style of the Han and Tang dynasties."

Zhao Ceying stood up and walked slowly, his every move exuding an air of authority and confidence.

His eyes flickered slightly, revealing his barely concealed excitement.

"Since the founding emperor ascended the throne, the Western Xia rebels have been arrogant and unruly, and the small Tibetan state has refused to submit to our teachings and harbored rebellious intentions. Since I succeeded to the throne, I have been vigilant day and night, always mindful of the unfulfilled ambition of the founding emperor to expand our territory! Now, we have expanded our territory by five prefectures, the Western Xia have submitted and offered horses, Dong Zhan has been captured alive and brought to the capital, and the traitor Li has been killed by a stray arrow!"

Zhao Ceying waved his sleeves, surveyed the officials, and said in a booming voice: "The border officials have not failed me, so how could I fail them? I shall bestow upon them great favors and rewards, and proclaim this to the world!"

After about three breaths, the eunuch stepped forward with the imperial edict and loudly proclaimed the amnesty:
"The Emperor decreed to the Minister of State:"

I have heard that the strategies for governing the empire rely on capable ministers; and the merits of pacifying the four seas deserve special honors.

Jiang Zhao, Minister of Rites, Minister of War, Duke of Lu, Junior Guardian of the Heir Apparent, and Grand Master of the Palace, possesses profound wisdom and exceptional strategic acumen. He commanded 70,000 elite troops, displaying the might of Heaven, and pacified the vast lands. He expanded the territory of five provinces, wiped away a century of humiliation, and forged the Xi-Feng Alliance. Now, this special honor is hereby bestowed to recognize his extraordinary achievements.

He was specially granted the title of Duke of Zhao, with a fief of 5,000 households, a royal estate of 30 hectares, 1,000 bolts of Shu brocade, 1,000 taels of gold, 10 fine horses from the Western Regions, and permission to establish 40 hectares of land in his hometown for meritorious officials.

He bestowed upon the imperial treasury a number of treasures, ordered the erection of the "Dingxi Stele" on the Imperial Street, and commissioned the Hanlin Academy to compile the "Xifeng Expansion Record" to commemorate this extraordinary honor!

Yu Xi!

My great-grandfather, Jiang Yuan, was a man of outstanding talent and virtue, and was posthumously awarded the titles of Grand Master of the Palace and Grand Tutor. He was also granted an imperial inscription and permission to build a memorial archway to commemorate his great honors.

Her great-grandmother was née Chen, and her mother was née Fan Shude, who was kind and benevolent. She was granted the title of Grand Lady of Wei and was given 100 mu of sacrificial land.

My grandfather, Jiang Zhi, was a man of great talent and wisdom, whose achievements were outstanding. He was posthumously awarded the title of Grand Chancellor and a golden book was bestowed upon him to record his virtues and accomplishments.

Grandmother Zhang was renowned for her virtuous conduct and chastity. She was granted the title of Grand Lady of Han and bestowed with a jade incense burner.

His father was loyal and taught his son well, raising him to be a man of great talent. He was appointed Transport Commissioner of Huainan East Circuit, promoted to Grand Master of the Palace, bestowed with a jade tablet and ink, and awarded a purple robe and gold belt.

His mother, Lady Hai, was diligent and prudent in managing the household, and was kind, virtuous, and capable. She was granted the title of Lady Tai of Chen State and was bestowed with an ivory comb and hairpin box.

His wife, Lady Sheng, was virtuous and chaste, and assisted her husband in his career. She was granted the title of Lady of Zhao, with an annual salary equivalent to that of a duke, and was bestowed with a nine-pearl and four-phoenix crown.

My younger brother, Jiang Xiao, was a man of great learning and quick wit, and was appointed as a Chaofeng Dafu (a high-ranking official).

My younger brother, Jiang Xu, was intelligent and eloquent, and could write fluently. He was awarded the title of Zhongsan Dafu (a high-ranking official).

He was granted a special privilege, allowing five of his sons and grandsons to be recommended for the imperial examinations and to be granted official positions through hereditary privilege.

By special decree, you are hereby appointed to the Grand Secretariat to oversee all state affairs, and are hereby granted the titles of Vice Chancellor, Grand Secretary of the Wenyuan Pavilion, Grand Master of the Palace, and Junior Guardian of the Heir Apparent!
You must work diligently day and night, forever shouldering the Emperor's heart!
Awesome!

Therefore, this is hereby proclaimed so that all may hear it.

The imperial edict of bestowal of honors took more than a hundred breaths to read.

The resounding voice echoed throughout the main hall.

"Your subject Jiang Zhao thanks Your Majesty for your great kindness!"

Jiang Zhao stepped forward and bowed deeply.

Almost simultaneously, civil and military officials were engaged in a heated discussion.

The main rewards bestowed upon Jiang Zhao can be summarized in five points:
Firstly, the title of the Duke of Liujue was changed.

The title of Duke of Lu was changed to Duke of Zhao, and his fief was expanded from two thousand households to five thousand households.

Secondly, they bestow gifts and money upon the recipients.

Imperial estates, Shu brocade, gold, fine horses, and land granted to meritorious officials all fall under the category of monetary rewards.

Thirdly, the imperial decree posthumously bestowed honors upon his ancestors, and granted titles and privileges to his wife and children, extending the honors to his wife and children as well.

His great-grandfather and grandfather were posthumously awarded the rank of first-grade official, while his father and brother were granted honorary titles. His great-grandmother, grandmother, mother, and wife were all first-grade ladies of the state, enjoying the court's honors, which shows that he did not hold official positions.

Fourth, he joined the cabinet!
He entered the cabinet as Grand Secretary and was appointed Vice Chancellor and Grand Secretary of the Wenyuan Pavilion.

The title "Young Grand Secretary" has truly dropped the "young" part.

The civil and military officials looked at each other, their surprise evident in their eyes.

At the age of thirty, he entered the cabinet and became prime minister!

It should be noted that his teacher, Han Zhang, entered the cabinet at the age of thirty-seven, making him one of the fastest-entering cabinet members.

As a result, the disciples were even worse.

A thirty-year-old Grand Secretary of the Wenyuan Pavilion!

Many people hissed inwardly.

You must understand that the new emperor on the imperial steps has far more trust in Jiang Zhao than just a little bit.

From October to December, in order to fully support Jiang Zhao, the new emperor even suspended court meetings and stopped visiting the empress.

What level of support is this?
Throughout history, only legendary rulers and ministers have had the opportunity to achieve such a feat.

The trust shown in this is evident.

It is almost certain that as long as the government is in power, Jiang Zichuan will never fall!

After all, the government's ambition to expand its territory is common knowledge.

Among the civil officials, only Jiang Zichuan was knowledgeable in military affairs.

The secret method of establishing an heir propelled the emperor to the throne. Entering the palace to teach was tantamount to being half an imperial tutor, and he could even expand the territory, which was in line with the emperor's ambition.

All the civil and military officials looked over.

Generations and versions of gods.

If nothing unexpected happens, the true god of this version has already ascended to the throne!

The civil and military officials kept glancing at Han Zhang and Jiang Zhao.

Both master and disciple held extremely high positions in the government!
With two high-ranking officials from one family, the teacher being the head of all officials, and the disciple expanding the territory, it is naturally another story worthy of being spread throughout the world.

If I remember correctly, the master and apprentice were already known for the famous story of "Standing in the Snow at Han's Door".

Now, this has become an even more beautiful story, truly enviable.

On the left, all the South Korean officials looked delighted.

Jiang Ge Lao's ability to maintain appearances is unmatched.

With such a leader, the Korean faction is destined for continued glory!

Grand Chancellor Han Zhang held his tablet, looking at his disciple with great satisfaction.

He taught me from the age of six, imparting knowledge and skills, and observing the world's affairs. It is no exaggeration to say that the two were comparable to father and son.

He even insisted on choosing between his disciple and his son.

Han Zhang will definitely be choosing disciples!
Now, twenty-four years later, the disciple has finally "graduated" and become a pillar supporting the nation.

In the officialdom, it's not just about climbing to a high position, but also about landing safely.

His disciple has made a great contribution, and in the future, he can retire peacefully and enjoy his old age!
Several Grand Secretaries of the Cabinet exchanged glances, a rare hint of envy in their expressions.

It wasn't that I envied Jiang Zhao for entering the cabinet at the age of thirty, but rather Han Zhang.

To be honest, the Grand Secretaries of the Cabinet may not envy Han Zhang's position as the head of all officials, but they must envy him for having such a good disciple.

A disciple personally taught is the teacher's successor, and only those who have been in officialdom can truly understand the value of this position.

As the saying goes, "When people leave, the tea grows cold," but someone has warmed the tea in Han Zhang's hand!
The sound of discussion never ceases.

All the civil and military officials watched intently.

Jiang Zhao held the tablet in his hand, a hint of joy flashing in his eyes, his face calm as still water, his posture upright and unmoving.

On the steps of the imperial palace, Zhao Ceying smiled, quite satisfied with his arrangements.

From ancient times to the present, the greatest emperor and the greatest prime minister of all time are a perfect match!

The officials discussed it endlessly.

The civil and military officials were filled with envy, admiration, or jealousy.
Jealousy is the only thing that's rarely seen!
There's no way around it, the gap is just too big.

In fact, Jiang Zhao's path to promotion has always been open and transparent.

Everyone knows that if you follow Jiang Zhao's path, you're guaranteed a promotion.

But the problem is, you can't learn it!

Sixth-rank, fifth-rank, fourth-rank, third-rank—from beginning to end, it was almost all about beating up Grand Secretaries of the Cabinet.

It also resolved the dispute over the succession and provided instruction to the monarch.

Then?

Then came the conquest of new territories, earning the late emperor the posthumous title of "Gaozong" and securing a lasting reputation for the emperor.

There's no doubt about that.

During this territorial expansion, the emperor had many "glorious moments." If he hadn't followed the example of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang (Li Longji) in the latter half of his life, he would have been a true "virtuous ruler."

But this kind of promotion path is something that can't be learned.

If you can't learn it, and the gap is too big, it's hard to feel jealousy.

The achievements of the young Grand Secretary—no, the achievements of Grand Secretary Jiang—have always been evident to all!
Many people sighed inwardly.

We should start addressing him as Grand Secretary Jiang!

(End of this chapter)