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

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 focus on Jiang Zhao as the 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!

Chapter 152 Jiang Zhi is seriously ill!

The Record of Xihe's Expansion of the Borders records the historical facts of Xihe's expansion of the borders. It consists of 36 volumes, more than 400,000 words, more than ten biographies, and more than 100 people whose names are recorded in history books.

Upon the completion of the book, all officials were greatly alarmed.

Whether civil or military, everyone cast their gazes at Jiang Zhao to varying degrees.

To have one's name recorded in history and to have one's biography written is the mark of a true hero!

Gu Tingye, Wang Shao, Zhang Fu, and the others blushed and were filled with excitement.

The most excited person was none other than Sheng Hong.

He, a minor official of the fifth rank, has left his mark on history!

He was a minor official of the fifth rank, with no legendary experiences, and his story only occupied a little over a hundred words.

The "Record of the Pacification of Xihe" contains over 400,000 characters, but only a little over 100 characters occupy this space, which is extremely small.

However, from the perspective of historical records, a record of just over a hundred words is already quite remarkable.

Holding his official tablet, Sheng Hong, his face flushed with sweat, exchanged pleasantries with several congratulatory colleagues in a calm and humble manner.

Gu Tingye, Wang Shao, Zhang Fu, and others were in similar situations.

Among them, Wang Shao and Gu Tingye, being less refined in their manners, could not hide their excitement at all.

Ultimately, neither of them is even thirty years old.

On the imperial steps, the emperor smiled and did not stop the officials from discussing the matter.

The annals contain a detailed account of him.

Excellent rating!

He ascended the throne in peace and allowed the people to rest for thirty years. In his later years, he displayed his imperial power and expanded the territory!

Perhaps he made some inappropriate decisions in the first half of his life, and was only of average ability.

However, the achievements in territorial expansion can overshadow some of the negative shortcomings.

From average to at least above average, or even superior, aptitude!

Zhao Zhen nodded with a smile and looked down.

That calm, confident, and composed figure in purple robes is undoubtedly a pillar of the nation!

After a while, the murmurs gradually subsided.

Several officials in charge of compiling history received their rewards by imperial decree and returned to their posts in turn.

Han Zhang waved his sleeve and cupped his hands, saying, "Your Majesty, the general outline of the 'Record of the Pacification of Xihe' has been completed. However, the writing of history emphasizes writing truthfully, applying it to practical use, and investigating good and evil. The specific conclusions of the biographies will probably take about fifty or sixty years."

The border expansion in Xihe has long since ended.

Therefore, more than ten volumes, including military and political chronicles, geography, military affairs, ethnic affairs, food and commodities, battle chronology, and bestowal of titles and honors, have been definitively concluded.

However, not all the heroes who contributed to the expansion of the borders have died, and the records concerning these figures are difficult to definitively conclude.

In other words, the future of some people is uncertain, and biographies of these individuals will have some impact on them.

Especially people like Jiang Zhao, Gu Tingye, and Wang Shao, who are only in their twenties or thirties, have a long life ahead of them.

Only after several decades, when all those involved in the expansion of the border have passed away, can the true conclusion be reached.

At that time, the "Xihe Pacification Record" will have to be revised again.

Of course, the content will be roughly the same.

However, the next large-scale revision of history will not take until at least 56 years later, and it will certainly not be the turn of this group of historians.

This time, as the supervisor of the national history and the superior of the historians, Han Zhang specially submitted a memorial, mainly to seek some rewards for the historians.

On the steps of the imperial palace, Zhao Zhen slowly nodded.

"A royal banquet shall be bestowed upon you, firstly to celebrate the completion of the classics, which will serve as a model for future generations; and secondly to congratulate the historians on their diligence in accomplishing this task."

"Your Majesty, Holy Might!"

All the officials bowed in unison.

The court officials dispersed, and those in red and purple robes left.

Jiang Zhao greeted his teacher Han Zhang and walked out with his hands behind his back.

Court discussions are one thing, but the tasks that still need to be done still need to be done.

As the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel and the Grand Master of the Palace, his daily administrative duties were by no means easy.

"Zichuan." Jiang Zhao turned around at the call.

Gu Tingye waved and walked towards him.

In less than ten breaths, the two were together.

"How does it feel to have your name recorded in history?" Jiang Zhao asked with a smile as he walked slowly with his hands behind his back.

As a key figure in the expansion of Xihe, Gu Tingye has his own biography.

In addition, his father, Gu Yankai, also has a separate biography.

Both father and son are remembered in history; the saying "like father, like son" is a beautiful tale.