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

"Guo Kui is next."

Guo Kui charged into battle and captured Datong City, risking his life for this achievement.

Such achievements would normally qualify as top merit, but this time, the expansion of territory by five states stretched the battle lines too far.

Charging into battle and breaching city walls is a distinctive trait, but it's not mediocre.

"Very good." The group nodded.

"Zheng Xiao is next."

Jiang Zhao continued, "Yang Wenguang is next."

Of the remaining two, Zheng Xiao and Yang Wenguang, Zheng Xiao was the vanguard and deserves credit for his hard work and contributions.

Yang Wenguang participated in the expansion of four prefectures, but he had no "highlights" and was just a nobody. His achievements were destined to rank at the bottom of the list.

Of course, the so-called "last among the few" should actually be called "the ninth person with military achievements in expanding territory".

This campaign, which expanded territory to five states, resulted in the slaying of a ruler, and the capture of Dong Zhan, was no less significant than the Xihe border expansion during the Jiayou era.

In fact, if it weren't for the fact that the Xihe border expansion was labeled as the "first expansion of territory," the significance of this campaign would have surpassed that of the Xihe border expansion.

They beheaded the king and captured Dong Zhan alive.

These two achievements will be extensively recorded in historical books.

The rewards will certainly be plentiful.

The order is fixed and there are no objections.

"Report the achievements of everyone else one by one." Jiang Zhao looked at the group and then at Zhang Heng on his left.

Zhang Heng was in charge of almost all the tasks, from territorial expansion to the transportation of provisions, making him undoubtedly the most meritorious civil official.

"promise!"

Civil and military officials alike bowed in unison.

Jiang Zhao continued, "Due to the border wars, the imperial examinations of the first year of the Xifeng reign have been postponed to March 11th. I, Jiang, will be the chief examiner. We will discuss the rewards today and set off for the capital tomorrow. As for the list of meritorious officials, it will be sent to the palace by express courier."

Last year, the new emperor ascended the throne and promised to be in charge of both imperial examinations.

That is, the spring imperial examinations of the fourth year of the Zhiping era and the first year of the Xifeng era.

Originally, this exam was scheduled to be held in early February.

At that time, Jiang Zhao was busy expanding the territory and naturally had no time to oversee scientific expeditions.

Logically speaking, the position of chief examiner should be changed.

Fortunately, the government is trustworthy.

The main force of the border troops in expanding the territory came from Shaanxi and Xihe.

The continuous fighting in Shaanxi and Xihe makes it difficult for candidates to travel, so postponing the exam is reasonable, right?

No problem!

In fact, postponing scientific expeditions is not particularly uncommon.

War and disasters can affect scientific expeditions and thus postpone their execution.

In particular, during the Northern Song Dynasty, Emperor Renzong of Song postponed the palace examination by twenty days because Su Zhe fell ill before the examination and considering the reputations of Su Shi and Su Zhe.

Extremely hasty!

Therefore, the imperial examination was postponed, and Jiang Zhao was still in charge of the examination in the first year of the Xifeng reign.

The difference is that the scientific expedition was not held in early February, but was postponed to March 11.

To address the financial concerns of some candidates, they were allowed to receive one string of cash outside the examination hall based on their academic achievement, which would serve as their living expenses from early February to March 11.

There's nothing we can do; the examiners are still expanding their territory!

If the expansion couldn't be completed by March 11th, Zhao Ceying felt he would at least have an explanation and avoid breaking his promise.

Of course, Jiang Zhaoshang's presence on the frontier was only one aspect of the consideration.

The main consideration is the travel arrangements for examinees from Xihe and Shaanxi Second Road.

The border regions are ravaged by war, making travel difficult.

It's mainly for the sake of the test takers.

Jiang Zhao remained calm.

Little did they know that these words would cause quite a stir among others.

Two consecutive imperial examinations conducted by the chief examiner?

And the spring imperial examinations will be postponed?

Even Gu Tingye and Wang Shao, who were familiar with Jiang Zhao, were taken aback.

Is this the favor bestowed upon the young Grand Secretary?

The officials on either side, both civil and military, were engaged in endless discussion.

He was a second-rank official, serving as Minister of Rites, Minister of War, and Duke of Lu. He was in charge of all military and political affairs in Xihe and Shaanxi provinces, and could be considered a half-step Grand Secretary.

Now, the emperor's favor is even greater, and the territory has been expanded to five states.

After arriving in Beijing, what might be the next step?

Hiss~!

Once the achievements were confirmed, they were urgently dispatched.

The following day, the meritorious officials from the frontier all entered the capital.

Bianjing, the Imperial Study.

The dragon smiled, and Zhao Ceying rested his hands on his knees, looking delighted.

Expand territory!

The king was beheaded in battle!

Capture Dong Zhan alive!

Three monumental achievements, enough to be recorded in history, were all suddenly enshrined in the old man's cabinet.

Crucially, he also played a significant role in achieving such monumental accomplishments.

[Externally, the court officials threatened him; internally, the empress remonstrated with him behind closed doors, yet the emperor's will remained steadfast, and he alone decided to expand the territory!]

If a historical record contains such a sentence, then the ruler is undoubtedly a "wise ruler," and the evaluation should be elevated.

For thousands of years to come, the name of a wise ruler will resound, and even monarchs will be excited by it.

"cough!"

With a tactical cough, Zhao Ceying's smile faded slightly as he picked up a memorial to the throne.

I am now among the ranks of wise rulers, so I must naturally display the demeanor of one, and not just grin foolishly!

He glanced at the memorial to retire a few times, and then...

Zhao Ceying realized something and suddenly looked up: "Three refusals and three offers, I remember it should take ten to fifteen days, right?"

"Your Majesty has a good memory," Li Xian quickly replied. "Yesterday, during the regular court session, Wang Yaochen already declined the offer."

"no!"

Zhao Ceying frowned, stood up and paced around in annoyance: "Jiang Qing will probably only be in the capital for six or seven days."

"Wang Yaochen's retirement is a matter of great importance, concerning his most important reward. Minister Jiang should be summoned as soon as he enters the capital. How could it be delayed by two or three days?"

"Then, should we let Wang Yaochen decline the offer twice?" Li Xian asked tentatively.

“No.” Zhao Ceying shook his head.

Doing this would offend too many people!

It might even cause a rift between Wang Yaochen and Jiang Qing.

That was a last resort.

He pondered for a moment.

"Have it!"

Zhao Ceying clapped his hands: "Recently, government affairs have been very busy. I hereby order an additional regular court session in two days for all officials to discuss government matters."

The officials suffer, and I will bear the blame!

Should we hold another court meeting?

Li Xian was shocked; this was a huge amount of face!

Is this what a favored minister is like?

"promise."

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.