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

Chapter 255 The Triumphant Return of the Royal Army!

On the sixth day of the third lunar month, the sky was clear and the wind was gentle.

The Secretariat, the Hall of State Affairs.

On a small wooden table about ten feet tall, several documents were laid out. Jiang Zhao picked one up and looked thoughtful.

The remaining Grand Secretaries of the Cabinet took their seats one after another, all looking over.

"Recently, there are three documents that are of particular importance."

After a cursory glance, Jiang Zhao broke the silence and said, "Firstly, the Duke of Yingguo has passed away, and the Ministry of Rites has submitted a document proposing the posthumous title for the Duke of Yingguo."

"Zhongxiang, Zhongsu, Zhongyi."

After the document was passed down, Jiang Zhao slowly said, "If there are no objections, then let it be presented in red and sent to the palace."

The Duke of England is dead!
His hidden illness flared up, and he died with a mournful cry.

Throughout history, military generals have sought wealth and status through combat, and any general with some battlefield experience has suffered some injuries.

If the injury is treated promptly, there shouldn't be any major problems.

However, if the injury is not treated in time, the problem can become serious.

Generally speaking, if the injury is not treated in time, it will likely turn into a lifelong illness or a hidden ailment.

When young, one is full of blood and energy, and has a good physique, so any hidden illnesses will naturally be suppressed and will not show up at all. But once one grows old and falls ill, the hidden injuries will suddenly erupt all at once.

The 66-year-old man caught a cold and struggled through the winter, but eventually succumbed to his illness and passed away.

As a military leader of his generation and a representative of military aristocrats, the Duke of Yingguo was one of the "regent ministers" appointed by the late emperor. He held military power for two or three decades and can be called the "pillar of stability" among military generals. His contributions were immense.

When a high-ranking official dies, in order to show benevolence and respect, he will naturally receive some leniency.

Therefore, the emperor issued a special edict, deciding to suspend court for two days, and bestowed many gifts as a gesture of appeasement.

This kind of "suspending court for the sake of a subject" is a top-tier honor among military generals. Even the late Marquis Wu Xiang, Di Qing, never received such treatment.

Of course, aside from the grand gesture of "suspending court for two days," the rewards of gold and silver were not particularly generous.

If nothing unexpected happens, the real "big prize" will go to his eldest son, Zhang Ding.

With his father seriously ill and passing away, and his descendants still fighting for the country, Zhang Ding's military achievements will certainly have a certain "bonus" attribute.

When it comes to rewarding merits, they are extremely generous.

The death of an important official involves not only showing compassion and offering condolences, but also determining his posthumous title and writing his epitaph.

Sure enough, the Ministry of Rites presented the appropriate posthumous title.

If the cabinet deems the posthumous title correct, it can draft a proposal for the posthumous title and submit it to the emperor for a final decision.

If the cabinet deems certain posthumous titles inappropriate, they are sent back to the Ministry of Rites for revision.

Zhongxiang!

Zhongsu!

Loyalty!

Several Grand Secretaries of the Cabinet fell into deep thought.

To bring peace and stability to the country is called "Xiang," and to expand the territory with virtue is also called "Xiang."

Upright character is called "Su" (肃), and prudent conduct is called "Su" (肃).

Determination is characterized by unwavering will and courage.

“Zhongxiang is the best, followed by Zhongsu and Zhongyi.” Tang Jie, a Grand Secretary of the Wenhua Hall, pondered for a moment and said calmly, “They are all above-average posthumous titles.”

Compared to the posthumous titles of civil officials, the posthumous titles of military generals are not complicated, mainly consisting of three types:

The first-class posthumous title is a single character, that is, a single character such as "loyal" or "martial".

This method of determining posthumous titles is relatively rare.

To date, only Cao Bin, a founding hero, has been included.

Cao Bin!

This is the grandfather of the Empress Dowager. His original posthumous title was Wu Hui, but when the Empress Dowager entered the palace and became Empress, his posthumous title was changed to the single character "Wu".

The second-class posthumous titles begin with the character "忠" (zhong, meaning loyalty), with "忠武" (zhongwu, meaning loyalty and martial prowess) and "忠襄" (zhongxiang, meaning loyalty and righteousness) being the highest, and the rest being slightly lower in rank.

If we disregard some rare and highly sought-after single-character posthumous titles, those beginning with the character "忠" (loyalty) already represent the pinnacle of military posthumous titles.

In particular, the two posthumous titles of Zhongwu and Zhongxiang have been bestowed upon only a handful of military generals over the past century.

The third-class posthumous title is one that is not a single character and does not begin with the character "忠" (loyalty).

Although this type of posthumous title is said to be "third-class," its value is by no means low.

After all, those who were qualified to have their posthumous titles decided by the Ministry of Rites were basically people who held power for a period of time.

The so-called third rank only applies to the small circle of "high-ranking officials".

However, even a third-rank "important minister" is still an important minister.

Before his death, he was likely a figure who could command the wind and rain among the officials.

This shows how high the threshold is for determining posthumous titles.

Zhongxiang, Zhongsu, Zhongyi!
The three posthumous titles proposed by the Ministry of Rites all begin with the character "忠" (loyalty), making them the best posthumous titles for military generals.

Among them, Zhongxiang is the best of the best, with a status similar to Wenzheng, Wenzhong, and Wenxian among civil officials.

“Then let’s go with Zhongxiang,” said Han Jiangping, a Grand Academician of the Zizheng Hall.

Duke Zhang Fu of Yingguo was considered one of the more "well-behaved" military generals, honestly holding onto his military power and not causing any trouble.

Since the person has passed away, and their achievements and qualifications are beyond reproach, then a superior posthumous title should be bestowed upon them.

"also."

"can."

The remaining two then expressed their opinions.

Jiang Zhao nodded, not surprised.

You want to ask why?
All I can say is that it's all thanks to the contrast with its competitors!

Since Emperor Taizu established the foundation of the dynasty, Emperors Taizong, Zhenzong, and Gaozong followed.
Apart from the Xihe Expedition, which gave the late emperor the achievement of expanding the territory and brought forth a group of civil and military officials with similar achievements, neither Emperor Taizong nor Emperor Zhenzong had any other achievements in expanding the territory.

Since none of the emperors had the merit of expanding the territory, the ministers under Emperor Taizong and Emperor Zhenzong naturally had no merit of expanding the territory either.

Unfortunately, both of the superior posthumous titles, Zhongwu and Zhongxiang, are related to territorial expansion and outstanding achievements.

This means that the competition for the two posthumous titles of Zhongwu and Zhongxiang was not so great, but rather that our ancestors were simply not qualified to meet the basic requirements for these two titles.

He couldn't even get close to the threshold, so naturally he couldn't receive the two posthumous titles of Zhongwu and Zhongxiang.

Now, the Duke of Ying has benefited from the expansion of the Xihe border, and can be considered a military general with the merit of expanding territory, reaching the threshold for the two posthumous titles of Zhongwu and Zhongxiang.

It is rare for someone to have both the merit of expanding territory and the experience of commanding troops, so it is not surprising that he was given the posthumous title of "Wu Xiang".

"Then let's drape it in red." Jiang Zhao took up his brush and draped it in red.

About ten breaths.

Picking up one document, Jiang Zhao continued, "The second document, submitted by the Ministry of War, concerns statistics on grain transport to the frontier."

"clatter!"

"clatter!"

Before he could finish speaking, a continuous series of footsteps began, growing heavier and heavier.

"Grand Secretary!"

At a call, several people turned their attention to the doorway.

In an instant, a figure appeared; it was Shen Kuo, the Commissioner of the Court of State Affairs.

"Your Excellency, good news from the frontier!" Shen Kuo stood at the door, bowing with excitement.

"Good news from the frontier?"

Jiang Zhao's heart skipped a beat, and he beckoned, "Come in and let's talk."

Both the Cabinet and the Privy Council are important military and political institutions. To prevent the leakage of secrets, other officials are usually not allowed to enter them without permission.

However, documents concerning military and political affairs had to be submitted to the Cabinet and the Privy Council.

This necessitates a specific "intermediary" for the transmission of documents.

The Office of Transmission was an intermediary for conveying official documents.

Its main duty was to present local memorials and memorials from officials.

Generally, reports of victories on the frontier were submitted to the Office of Transmission, which then reported them to the Cabinet or the Privy Council, and finally to the Emperor.

"Yes."

Shen Kuo, holding the document, strode forward with excitement on his face.

A short while later, the document was presented to Jiang Zhao.

The remaining Grand Secretaries of the Cabinet occasionally squinted and watched.

Good news from the frontier!

The few simple words are quite captivating.

I just don't know to what extent it's "fast".
The document is relatively long, about ten pages long, but if you are focused on finding the key information, it is not difficult to read even if you skim through it.

"call!"

Jiang Zhao breathed a long sigh of relief.

"At Yanmen Valley, 30,000 people were beheaded, 25,000 were captured alive, and nearly 40,000 horses were seized."

"A great victory on the frontier!" Jiang Zhao said emphatically.

With a wave of his hand, the document was passed down.

Several Grand Secretaries of the Cabinet watched in turn, and were all shocked.

Sixty thousand cavalrymen passed through Yanmen Valley, but only five thousand escaped?

this.
This is absolutely bizarre!
But, ironically, it really is true.

After all, the Grand Master is about to retire, so there is no need for him to submit data haphazardly.

The relevant data from the Ministry of War statistics are also reliable. Moreover, the bombs from the Ordnance Bureau, which are almost "epoch-making" military weapons, could indeed achieve the effect of "startling the horses" if deployed properly.

"To wipe away the shame of Yan and Yun!" exclaimed Han Jiang, a Grand Academician of the Zizheng Hall.

Since the Treaty of Chanyuan, the Great Zhou Dynasty has been fighting against the Liao Dynasty, but has repeatedly suffered setbacks, and even the soldiers on the frontier have been defeated and rendered helpless.

This time, the annihilation of 55,000 Liao cavalry was truly a triumphant moment.

The others nodded in agreement.

We are all Han Chinese. If we can stand tall and look down on other countries, who would want to be subservient?

This has nothing to do with interests; it's solely about identity!
The document circulated around and eventually ended up in Jiang Zhao's hands again.

"Walk."

Jiang Zhao stood up and beckoned, saying, "Let's go to the palace together and report the good news!"

One wave caused the Liao Kingdom to lose a full 55,000 iron cavalry.

Such achievements, barring unforeseen circumstances, will certainly be accompanied by territorial expansion.

The difference lies in whether one, two, or three states are opened up.

Such an achievement must be celebrated, publicized, and widely publicized!
Below, Shen Kuo hesitated, unsure whether the so-called "together" included himself.

Jiang Zhao glanced at him and gave him a subtle look.

He is a rare genius when it comes to bombs, and recently he has also made considerable progress in the research of firearms and artillery.

Shen Kuo was startled, then overjoyed, and silently bowed.

So, the group set off for the palace one after another.

Royal study room.

On a small wooden table, about ten feet tall, lay a stack of memorials and a map of the frontier.

Zhao Ceying was reviewing the memorials, lost in thought, somewhat absent-minded.

The expedition of 100,000 cavalrymen to the south was an enormous undertaking, so large that it was no exaggeration to say it concerned the fate of the nation.

Neither the Great Zhou nor the Liao Kingdom can afford to lose!

Therefore, Zhao Ceying could not help but be distracted by the frontier.

With bombs and a steady supply of money and food, we should be able to win, right?

Zhao Ceying muttered to himself.

Just then, the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial approached and respectfully reported: "Your Majesty, the five Grand Secretaries of the Cabinet, along with the Commissioner of the Court of State Ceremonies, request an audience."

"Five Grand Secretaries and the Commissioner of the Court of Judicial Review?"

Zhao Ceying was taken aback.

This combination, seeking an audience together?
In an instant, Zhao Ceying's eyes lit up, and he quickly waved his hand and said, "Let them all come in."

About ten breaths later, Jiang Zhao and the other six entered together.

"Greetings to Your Majesty."

The six of them bowed in unison.

"No gift."

Zhao Ceying waved his hand and asked eagerly, "Jiang Qing, has a military report come from the border?"

The Office of General Affairs is in charge of document transmission, while the Cabinet is in charge of document printing and administration.

Such a combination entering the palace must be related to military reports.

"Military reports have arrived from the frontier." Jiang Zhao nodded.

"How is it?" Zhao Ceying quickly looked over.

Jiang Zhao pondered for a moment, then slowly uttered two words:

"Big victory!"

A resounding victory?!
Zhao Ceying's face flushed instantly, and she stood up abruptly.

Even Jiang Qing said it was a great victory; it was definitely a grand spectacle!

Upon receiving the document, Zhao Ceying quickly opened it and began to read.

The document, consisting of ten pages, contains quite detailed information.

The descriptions of food and fodder consumption, ambush setups, and the effects of bombings are all quite detailed.

In addition, Han Zhang recorded the "worst-case scenario" regarding the layout.

If the bombs fail, then rely on the financial and food reserves of the border region to defend the city.

In any case, the implementation of the new policies has accumulated a considerable amount of money and grain, so there is no fear of depletion.

In short, it all means the same thing.

Han made a significant contribution, but ultimately the credit goes to the government and the reformers.

Without the government and reformers' firm commitment to reform and ample funds and provisions, the Great Zhou's fiscal deficit might not even be enough to support the 110,000 border troops fighting on the battlefield.

Han's contribution was minor; the real merit lay with the officials and the reformers!
A single, accidental victory means nothing, but the success of the reform signifies a strong nation.

A strong nation with all its accumulated problems eliminated is a long-term victory, a victory that "safeguards" the country, and a victory that helps achieve unification.

In addition, the bombs played a crucial role.

Jiang Zhao, who laid out the bomb, and Shen Kuo, who created it, are naturally the true "great contributors".

Zhao Ceying largely agreed with his words.

A prosperous nation and a strong military are the only true paths forward!
The suppression of national power is essentially about using strength to defeat weakness, which surpasses any military strategy in the world.

"call!"

Zhao Ceying let out a long breath and closed his eyes.

After a long pause, he sighed and said, "My presence with Minister Han is truly a result of the late Emperor's legacy."

"I have Minister Jiang, which is a blessing from Heaven!"

The seventh day of the third month in the fourth year of the Xifeng era.

Since the Liao army's defeat, the main force has been pursuing them relentlessly and has already captured Yingzhou.

Yingzhou, the central command tent.

Civil and military officials stood in solemn rows.

Many people exchanged glances, their excitement palpable.

This is the Liao Dynasty!

Since Emperor Zhenzong signed the Treaty of Shanyuan, the Liao and Zhou states had engaged in numerous small-scale conflicts, with the Zhou side almost always suffering defeats.

The Liao cavalry were invincible, to the point that they inspired fear in everyone.

But who would have thought that the Liao Kingdom would suffer a crushing defeat, with the offensive and defensive positions shifting dramatically?

Perhaps, the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun may truly return to Han territory?

At the head of the table, Grand Chancellor Han Zhang picked up the document and nodded repeatedly.

After this battle, the humiliating assessment that "Han Zhang is nothing special" is now just a joke.

In the Battle of Yanmen Valley, 5,000 out of 60,000 men fled.

With such a record, he would be considered quite formidable even among military generals. Do you dare say that I am "not surprising"?
funny!

"cough!"

Clearing his throat, Han Zhang looked down and analyzed, "In the battle of Yanmen Valley, Yelü Hongji was severely weakened and has already abandoned Yingzhou and fled."

"According to reports from scouts, Yelü Hongji has already temporarily reinforced his troops in the areas of Xinzhou and Weizhou to defend the cities."

"In that case, the army will advance westward to expand its territory to the three prefectures of Yun, Huan, and Shuo, and will not contend with them."

(As shown in the figure: general layout)

Upon hearing this, both Gu Tingye and Wang Shao nodded in agreement.

The territories of Xinzhou and Weizhou are already located in the "middle section" of the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun. If reinforcements are temporarily sent, there is no need to deliberately expend troops to attack them.

Firstly, the temporary reinforcement of troops increases the difficulty of attacking the city. If a forceful attack is launched, there is a risk of heavy casualties, turning a joyous occasion into a tragedy.

Secondly, the borders of Xinzhou and Weizhou are already located in the "middle section" of the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun.

If you expand into the middle section but not the east and west sections, you will most likely be attacked from both sides, expanding your territory but unable to hold it.

Under the circumstances, Ying, Yun, Huan, and Shuo are all typical western territories. Further west lies the Western Xia. Once the territory is successfully expanded, it is highly likely that it can be successfully assimilated.

After glancing around and seeing no objections in the tent, Han Zhang ordered, "I hereby command 10,000 troops to guard Yingzhou, and 20,000 troops to guard Yanmen Pass and Yanmen Valley. The remaining 70,000 troops will rest for a day and then head north to Yunzhou."

"promise."

Thirty or forty people bowed in unison.

On the eighth day of the third month, an army of 70,000 marched north to Yunzhou.

Yunzhou was originally home to Datong Prefecture, the western capital of the Liao Dynasty.

However, the Liao Dynasty was a Khitan regime, which was actually a nomadic people. They had a system of "seasonal hunting" and the capital was not fixed. The army usually moved with the emperor.

In March, the real capital was Shangjing Linhuang Prefecture, while Datong Prefecture had a much smaller military force.

In less than ten days, Yunzhou was completely captured.

On March 21, the army split into two routes, one heading south to Huanzhou and the other heading south to Shuozhou.

The army won one victory after another, its morale was high, and it was invincible.

On March 27th, we expanded our territory to the whole country.

On March 29th, we expanded our territory to Shuozhou.

Perhaps fearing for the stability of his throne, Yelü Hongji dared not lose any more of his loyal troops, and merely ordered a symbolic seizure of the lost territories before letting the matter drop.

Thus, the third day of the fifth lunar month.

Great army, return home in triumph!
……

(End of this chapter)