Ming Dynasty: I, Yan Maoqing, am truly radiating auspicious energy!

Chapter 266 The Duke of Bai?! [Requesting Monthly Tickets]

Huang Jin believes that it is not unreasonable for the Emperor to be sullen these past few days.

Although Yan Maoqing led his army in a surprise attack on Altan Khan's court and wiped out Altan Khan and a group of Tatar leaders in one fell swoop, it was indeed a good thing that enhanced the prestige of the Ming Dynasty.

However, whether something is good or bad is relative and varies from person to person.

You should first ask what the Emperor can gain from this matter.
He might be hailed in history books as a great ruler who recovered lost territory, but after the Tatars fell into chaos, the lives of soldiers and civilians on the border became more difficult, and the military expenditure of the Ming Dynasty increased year after year, he might also be condemned as someone who easily provoked border conflicts and wasted resources on military expansion.

After all, the pen is in the hands of those civil officials, and people can say one thing and mean another.

The Zhengde Emperor of the previous dynasty was quite martial, and he even personally led an expedition to quell a rebellion and repel the Tatars. Otherwise, he would not have been able to receive the temple name "Wuzong" after his death, and he would still be infamous throughout the world.

As an aside, according to Huang Jin's own understanding, the Leopard House was set up by Emperor Zhengde in the Western Garden.

It wasn't a place of debauchery for keeping male prostitutes, but rather an internal mini-court used to govern military and political affairs, bypassing the constraints of the civil service...

So, compared to what he has gained, what is the emperor about to lose?
First, there is the reward for the soldiers in this battle. Winning a battle naturally requires reward, and such merit should be rewarded generously to show the emperor’s attitude of rewarding merit.

Secondly, the carbon tax authority has already missed out on this opportunity, and it's uncertain when we will be able to resume coal trade with the Tatars in the future.

Furthermore, with the Tatars in chaos, the northern border towns of the Ming Dynasty are unlikely to be peaceful either, and military expenditures will have to increase again.

This cycle of losing money twice in one go is practically losing twice in one go—it's infuriating!
It seems as if a world where only Altan Khan and the Emperor are injured has been achieved...

However, four days later, an even more astonishing piece of good news came back, which had solved the problem perfectly.

Rewards and honors will certainly be given, and perhaps even more will be required.

However, the carbon tax office will soon be established again, only the trading partner will be changed to kiwis.

Furthermore, by replacing Anda with Ji Nang, it would be possible to legitimately stabilize the 30,000 households on the right wing, thus ensuring greater stability for the northern border towns of the Ming Dynasty, and naturally eliminating the need to increase military expenditures.

This changes the situation from one thing in and two things out to one thing in and one thing out.

Furthermore, on this basis, the restoration of the capital was accomplished without bloodshed, which was a win-win situation for the emperor.

No matter how much those civil officials fabricate stories, can they erase the fact that the emperor has recovered the lost territories in this reign? This matter will never be in dispute; it's not something that can be made into a horse just by calling a deer a horse!

Therefore, Yan Maoqing once again precisely understood how to please the Emperor.

At this moment, the gloom in the Emperor's heart must have been swept away, and he once again regarded Yan Maoqing as that "smoking scoundrel" whom he both loved and hated.

Look at what the Emperor said!

The term "bastard" has now been replaced with "bastard monster".

Anyone with a sound mind would know that this is absolutely not a derogatory term, but rather the emperor's highest praise...

"Huang Ban, this time I have wronged Yan Maoqing. I was wrong."

While Huang Jin was lost in thought, Zhu Houcong had become serious again, sighed, and shook his head self-deprecatingly.

"The saying 'If you doubt someone, don't employ them; if you employ someone, don't neglect them. Only then can you win their heart and guide them to the right path' is a profound principle of employing people that you learned when you were my study companion."

"I have been on the throne for twenty years, yet I still cannot do it; this is my fault."

"Yan Maoqing is an extraordinary man. I employed him precisely to accomplish extraordinary tasks, yet his extraordinary actions have repeatedly thrown me off balance, even causing me to resent him, hinder him, and this time it almost..."

"Enough, enough, I know I was wrong."

"From now on, I will no longer interfere with anything I order Yan Maoqing to do. Whether it is good or bad, I will remain calm and wait patiently in the palace for the final result. In any case, Yan Maoqing has never really ruined anything for me."

"If I ever become suspicious of Yan Maoqing again, you must promptly advise him against it. Do not, as you have done this time, aid and abet the wicked. Do you understand?"

"..."

Huang Jin was speechless for a moment upon hearing this.

Well, in the end, it's all my fault, this servant's fault...

I dare say that, given the state of mind Your Majesty was in when you ordered me to draft the edict, if I had dared to utter a single word, I would have certainly suffered the consequences!
However, this was the first time he had ever heard the Emperor admit his mistakes so frankly.

They even used the phrase "aiding and abetting evil," which is tantamount to not only admitting their mistakes but also defining them as the actions of a tyrant. Isn't that a bit too humble?
This shows just how much this incident affected the Emperor.

Did you hear me clearly?

Seeing that no one responded, Zhu Houcong looked up at Huang Jin.

"The slaves dare not!"

Huang Jin shuddered and immediately knelt down, saying...

"This servant begs Your Majesty not to underestimate yourself. The fault lies not with Your Majesty, but with Minister Yan Mao."

"This servant believes that the reason why there is suspicion in the world is because people cannot speak frankly. If it weren't for Yan Maoqing's tendency to conceal things, act independently, and be accustomed to acting first and reporting later, how could Your Majesty have made such a misunderstanding and misjudgment?"

"Therefore, if I were to offer any advice, it would be to advise Minister Yan Mao to be honest and open with His Majesty from now on, and never to act so rashly again!"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Houcong sighed and shook his head, saying:

"Get up. Over the years, I have been all alone in the court, and I am often paranoid and suspicious."

"You, my servant, have suffered a lot, and your temperament has become more and more cautious. You are less and less willing to speak your heart to me. This matter is also my mistake. I will reflect on myself from now on."

"Your Majesty, this servant is not suffering!"

Huang Jin dared not get up, and even burst into tears, bowing his head and kowtowing.

"This servant has enjoyed countless blessings by following Your Majesty's lead. I implore Your Majesty to retract those words, otherwise this servant will find it impossible to face the consequences!"

"..."

Looking at the yellow brocade, Zhu Houcong was filled with mixed emotions.

He felt that if it were Yan Maoqing, Yan Maoqing would not have reacted this way.

This scoundrel might even take advantage of the situation, wiping his snot and tears on his imperial robes, and encouraging him to reflect on his mistakes and strive to become a good ruler who can correct them in the future.

So, was Yan Maoqing a virtuous minister or a treacherous one?

He suddenly remembered the three paths he had secretly planned out for Yan Maoqing:

Either become a great sage;

Or become a great villain;

Either die young for me.

Now, however, he increasingly felt that Yan Maoqing was a complex person whose line between virtue and wickedness was extremely blurred. Having been on the throne for more than twenty years, he had long since seen through the characteristics of the officials below him.

From the perspective of the Ming emperor, he had his own way of employing people. Virtuous ministers were indispensable, but treacherous ministers were equally indispensable.

Because a virtuous minister is loyal to the world, but betrays the emperor.

The treacherous minister, however, betrays the world but is loyal to the emperor.

An emperor who cares deeply about the world will naturally complement each other if he is assisted by a great sage.

A selfish and self-serving emperor will inevitably have treacherous ministers in power, and they will naturally collude with each other in evil deeds.

But Yan Maoqing is different. This monstrous talent can combine the qualities of both a virtuous minister and a treacherous minister, and can switch between them at will.

Like a beautiful woman who can freely switch between elegance and debauchery, he often feels like he has the best of both worlds. Isn't that amazing?

After pondering for a moment.

"Since I made a mistake this time and almost wronged Minister Yan, I should make amends to him doubly."

Zhu Houcong suddenly pondered for a moment and said,
"Huang Ban, what do you think about bestowing upon him the title of Duke?"

"???"

Huang Jin's heart trembled violently.

Skipping the conferment of a marquisate, the emperor directly intends to make Yan Maoqing a duke?

The last place in the third division!
He was a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations)!
One year in office!
Duke Bai?!

Your Majesty, are you worried that Yan Maoqing doesn't appear captivating enough in the eyes of outsiders?
……

A month and a half later.

Deshengmen.

"Brother Bozai, Brother Suqing, let me ask you, do you think the national system is more important, or personal interests take precedence?"

As was customary, the Heroes' Battalion was stationed outside Desheng Gate, awaiting the Emperor's special envoy to bestow rewards. Yan Maoqing then summoned Shen Kun and Gao Gong and asked them in an extremely solemn tone.

He had already been to Pingyang Prefecture and completed the tasks assigned in Zhu Houcong's edict.

That's why it took him so long to return to the capital.

However, to be honest, things in Pingyang Prefecture are actually simpler to handle than those in Taiyuan Prefecture.

Because the place had already been inspected by an imperial censor, who was a troublemaker from the Jixia Academy and was known for his upright and incorruptible handling of matters there.

The only problem is that even a troublemaker can't suppress the local bullies, so he is always subject to some overt and covert constraints, and even personal threats.

But once the news of "Yan Maoqing leading his army" came along, the problem was solved.

Even before Yan Maoqing arrived in Pingyang Prefecture, the officials, powerful families, merchants, and even scoundrels in Pingyang Prefecture all became kind and benevolent, cooperating fully with the work of the imperial inspector. Some even voluntarily surrendered themselves to the authorities in hopes of leniency.

As for his trip to Pingyang Prefecture, Yan Maoqing felt it could be summarized in just four words:

—A very fruitful harvest!
However, now is clearly not the time to care about these material possessions; he needs to reconsider how to proceed in the future...

"This……"

Shen Kun and Gao Gong exchanged glances, wondering why Yan Maoqing had suddenly asked such a question, but in the end they answered seriously.
"Without rules, nothing can be accomplished. Naturally, the national system is important, but how can personal interests supersede the system?"

"That's good!"

Yan Maoqing nodded, then continued,

"Please consider the national system. I remember there is a rule in the imperial ancestral system that 'civil officials shall not be granted the title of marquis'."

"If His Majesty does not abide by ancestral rules and intends to grant me a marquisate as an exception, I urge you two to submit a memorial to remonstrate with him to the death, and do your utmost to prevent His Majesty from violating ancestral rules and ruining the foundation of the country."

"what?"

Shen Kun and Gao Gong were both stunned upon hearing this, feeling that Yan Maoqing seemed to be seriously ill.

"I suppose Brother Suqing shouldn't feel any burden about this matter?"

Yan Maoqing then looked at Gao Gong and asked.

Gao Gongke did something similar in history, namely, preventing his elder brother Gao Jie from being granted a title for his meritorious service.

If he can be so selfless with his own brother, how much more so with his classmate with whom he has a slightly better relationship?

"Not only is it a burden, it's a huge one!"

Gao Gong immediately shook his large beard and said without hesitation,

"Minister Yan, times have changed. I personally believe that even the ancestral rules of the dynasty should be updated with the times and follow the current trend. Otherwise, the ancestral rules may become a shackle that hinders the development of the country."

"Besides, it's not without precedent that civil officials were granted titles of nobility or dukedom. Li Shanchang, a founding hero, was a civil official, yet he was still granted the title of Duke of Han."

Shen Kun chimed in from the side:

“Brother Suqing is right. The current chaos in the Ming court is due to the stagnation and backlash of the system, which is why His Majesty implemented the reforms a few years ago.”

"If everything is done according to ancestral rules, I'm afraid it will do more harm than good. I urge Minister Yan to consider this carefully!"

"..."

Yan Maoqing's face immediately darkened, and he glared angrily at the two treacherous officials in front of him who did not know when to advance or retreat.

On the way back, everyone said he would definitely be rewarded with a title for his merits, and he also suspected that Zhu Houcong would do so...

However, if Zhu Houcong had indeed granted him a marquisate, his plan to retire and return to his hometown would have been extremely difficult.

Having developed the situation to this point, he had no choice but to change his approach and officially begin the "merits overshadowing the emperor" mode, letting Zhu Houcong know what it meant to feel "like a thorn in one's back".

This was the alternative he had thought of in advance on his way back.

This model is actually based on the historical deeds of Wei Qing...

As long as he can achieve great merit and overshadow the emperor, and at the same time, use his position as the Crown Prince's tutor to become very close to the Crown Prince.

Zhu Houcong felt threatened, but he couldn't kill him because of his great achievements.

The only option is probably to do what Emperor Wu of Han did with Wei Qing: put him on the sidelines and let him receive his title and salary in retirement ahead of time... The only downside is that he will probably have to settle in the capital in the future, and it will be almost impossible for him to return to his hometown to live a leisurely life.

(End of this chapter)