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

The bandits were all dispersed, and Miaochuan was pacified.

Your Majesty, I humbly submit this memorial.

[Memorial submitted on the 25th day of the 12th month of the Gengzi year of the Zhiping era!]

A military report, approximately a thousand words long.

[Liang Zuo was struck by a stray arrow and killed!]

These few words possess endless charm, sending a shiver down one's spine.

After glancing at it several times, Zhao Ceying felt a surge of emotions, and his hand holding the military newspaper trembled slightly.

The King of Western Xia was killed in battle!

With the ascension of the new emperor, the ruler of Western Xia refused to submit to the emperor's rule and harbored rebellious intentions.

Less than six months later, he was killed in battle!

Zhao Ceying could hardly calm down and hissed.

Such achievements should be prominently recorded in history books, right?

To repel external threats and pacify internal strife, thereby extending our power to all corners of the world?

In an era where monarchical power was supreme, the merits of a subject were equivalent to those of the monarch.

The ministers and the king both achieved political success by beheading the ruler of Western Xia.

Moreover, the value of such achievements is by no means low.

To kill the king of an enemy state is a symbol of "the mandate of heaven"!

Throughout history, few monarchs have personally led armies into battle, which has resulted in a scarcity of rulers being killed in action.

A rough calculation shows that the number is less than two hands' worth.

Emperor Wu of Han, Liu Che, killed Zhao Jiande, the king of Vietnam, in battle, which was recorded in history as an important achievement in expanding the territory.

Emperor He of Han, Liu Zhao, killed the Xiongnu Chanyu in battle, which was recorded in historical records as an important achievement in protecting the territory.

Emperor Taiwu of Northern Wei, Tuoba Tao, killed two successive rulers of the Hu and Xia dynasties, which is recorded in history as an important achievement in unifying the north.

Emperor Wu of the Liu Song dynasty, Liu Yu, executed the rulers of Heng Chu, Southern Yan, Western Shu, and Later Qin, which historical records consider an important support for the legitimacy of his regime.

Emperor Taizong of Tang, Li Shimin, conquered countless kingdoms, establishing his supreme reputation as the "Heavenly Khan".

Emperor Gaozong of Tang, Li Zhi, conquered Baekje, which was recorded in historical records as an important achievement in territorial expansion.

Apart from this, the occasional small tribal chiefs and short-lived rulers of regimes were killed in battle, but this number is negligible.

In other words, even including the periods of moral decay and political instability such as the Five Barbarian Invasions, the Jin and Southern and Northern Dynasties, and the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms, there were fewer than ten emperors who truly had the achievement of "slaying the ruler of an enemy state in battle."

After all, even kings have their own way of dying.

Generally speaking, defeated monarchs usually resort to surrender or suicide.

The number of monarchs who were actually killed in battle was truly small.

Throughout history, emperors who achieved the feat of "slaying the ruler of an enemy state" have received the highest honors in terms of posthumous titles and temple names.

Emperor Gaozong, Emperor Taizong, Emperor Taizu—they all seem to have been mass-produced.

More importantly, the fact that two out of six were chosen represents a feat accomplished by two emperors of unparalleled historical significance.

Conversely, this means that nearly one-third of them became emperors of all time!

An indescribable feeling welled up in Zhao Ceying's heart, and she subconsciously sat up straight.

Emperor Shizong, a great emperor throughout history!

I might not be incapable!

The late emperor ruled mediocrely for forty years, and only once expanded the territory before becoming "Emperor Gaozong".

If I had worked diligently for decades and destroyed the Western Xia and Liao dynasties, achieving a unified regime, wouldn't I have become a true emperor for all time?

Her breathing, which had been steady, gradually became heavy.

Jiang Qing is truly a "family heirloom"!

After a long while, Zhao Ceying let out a long breath.

Since October, many civil officials have harbored ulterior motives and have been questioning the military and political situation on the frontier.

Memorials were submitted one after another requesting the addition of generals to the frontier and the entry of imperial relatives into the border regions.

Even his wife, Gao, repeatedly advised him against it, refusing to give up until he reached the Yellow River.

Inside and outside the palace, there was nothing but advice and coercion.

Fortunately, he withstood the pressure!

I withstood it!

All the officials were suspicious, but I was not!

All the officials slander me, but I do not!

Zhao Ceying clenched his fists tightly, his gaze slightly narrowed.

A great victory was achieved on the frontier, with the Western Xia king killed in battle, greatly enhancing the nation's prestige.

Jiang Qing, you have not let me down!

The killing of the Western Xia emperor proves that I was right.

Once you've chosen someone, you can't doubt them.

I have not failed my late emperor, nor my founding emperor, nor my ancestors.

Once I achieve unification and revive the nation, I will surpass Emperor Taizu and Emperor Taizong, becoming one of the greatest emperors of all time, enjoying eternal praise and veneration.

Emperor Shizong, a great emperor throughout history, might very well be within my grasp!

Holding the military report tightly, Zhao Ceying calmed himself down and closed his eyes slightly.

You have not failed me, and I will not fail you!

The late emperor was like this, and so am I!

Jinming Pond.

Civil and military officials were seated in order of rank.

People would occasionally walk around with their glasses raised, offering toasts and urging others to drink.

Without the emperor in attendance, the Laba Festival lacks a certain grandeur and the revered sense of universal celebration.

Fortunately, the Emperor did not attend the meeting, but more than thirty high-ranking officials in purple robes, including the chief officials of the Three Departments, the ministers of the Six Ministries, the left and right vice ministers, the chief officials of the Five Directorates, the chief officials of the Nine Courts, the chief officials of the Censorate, and the Hanlin Academicians, were present.

It lacked the sense of universal celebration, but it was still a banquet for all officials, so the scale was not low.

For a time, the atmosphere wasn't too gloomy.

Looking around, one can see that all the civil and military officials have their own cliques to varying degrees.

Centered around the six cabinet ministers, it forms the largest circle.

Beneath the larger circle, there are even smaller circles.

It could be either urging someone to drink or offering a toast.

Among those of the third rank and above, there is no such thing as urging others to drink; it is almost always a matter of offering a toast.

If you give me face, I'll give you face in return.

It was either a toast between officials of the third rank or a toast between officials of the fourth or fifth rank in red robes to officials of the third rank or above.

As for the Grand Secretaries of the Cabinet, apart from high-ranking officials in purple robes who were qualified to offer toasts, very few officials of the fourth or fifth rank would step forward to offer toasts.

The gap between the third rank and the fourth or fifth rank is already as heavy as a mountain.

However, there is still a considerable gap between those of the third rank and those of the Grand Secretary of the Cabinet.

As a result, the gap between those below the third rank and Grand Secretaries of the Cabinet became as vast as an insurmountable chasm.

Grand Secretaries of the Cabinet could even mass-produce local officials of the fifth rank.

The gap is too large; they are not qualified to offer a toast.

There were three or four hundred people below the third rank, and several dozen or a hundred in smaller circles, where toasting and urging others to drink were common occurrences.

They either centered around newly rich political figures, toasting and chatting, just like Wang Anshi, the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, Han Jiayan, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, and Lü Huiqing, the Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Justice.

They either center around promising "political prodigies" and flatter each other, like the newly appointed top three scholars Xu Anshi, Huang Shang, and Liu Zhi.

Either it's centered around a seasoned veteran with powerful connections, like Sheng Hong, a secretary in the Ministry of Rites.

Or they might simply be members of the imperial family, like Cao Yi, Gao Zunyu, and Shen Congxing.

In any case, those with power and influence are destined to be the focus of toasts and encouragement to drink, and they are never short of attention.

At the hour of Xu (7-9 PM), the officials were drinking merrily.

"Your Majesty is here!"

A sharp, long cry rang out, startling all the officials.

In an instant, Jinming Pond fell silent.

Many officials who had left their seats rushed back.

Some officials, their faces flushed and slightly tipsy, were jolted awake and sobered up considerably.

All the civil and military officials rose to their feet.

About twenty breaths later, a man dressed in a dragon robe, holding a silk book, walked in with his head held high and chest out.

"Your Majesty, we respectfully welcome you!"

All the officials bowed and paid their respects in unison.

Zhao Ceying strolled leisurely with his hands behind his back.

Ever since he learned of Jiang Zhao's great victory, he felt a strange sense of confidence.

The way you walk naturally gives you a sense of lightness.

Under your gaze, the flowers and plants in Jinming Pond appear even more vibrant.

Even breathing felt like a pleasure.

In short, Zhao Ceying felt extremely pleased.

……

Chapter 201 Two Grand Secretaries from One Family!

About ten breaths later, Zhao Ceying took the seat of honor.

Perhaps it's a sense of self-confidence.

The sitting posture is not very upright.

Grand Chancellor Han Zhang stepped forward and, as usual, praised the emperor's benevolent rule: "On the day of the Laba Festival, we offer sacrifices to the gods to pray for a bountiful harvest. Since Your Majesty assumed the throne, you have reduced taxes and levies, and the people live in peace. On this auspicious day, the heavens have bestowed auspicious omens, all of which are proof of Your Majesty's benevolence throughout the land. We humbly wish Your Majesty good health and a long and prosperous reign!"

"May Your Majesty enjoy good health and a long and prosperous reign!"

"May Your Majesty enjoy good health and a long and prosperous reign!"

"May Your Majesty enjoy good health and a long and prosperous reign!"

All the officials bowed in unison.

"Ha ha!"

Zhao Ceying laughed heartily: "Auspicious omens from heaven, you're absolutely right!"

"My lords, you may rise." Zhao Ceying said slowly.

Holding the news of victory, he exuded an air of confidence and composure.

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

The officials straightened themselves and took their seats one after another.