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

A spoiled brat has risen to prominence!

"Ah."

Jiang Zhao nodded slightly and looked towards the civil officials.

Apart from Wang Shao, the other civil officials did not have any outstanding achievements.

In comparison, scholars primarily focused on the mobilization of grain and supplies.

In terms of merit, it is relatively vague.

Fortunately, when civil officials rewarded meritorious service, the "first merit" was not considered.

When military officers are rewarded for their merits, the difference in reward can be quite significant, even if the officer is ranked just one rank higher.

On the civil service side, since there were no outstanding achievements, there was actually little difference in rewards.

Ultimately, there were only four main civil officials.

"Xue Xiang, Shen Kuo, Zhang Heng, and Jiang Zhiqi. The four of you should discuss among yourselves and agree on an undisputed order. As for the civil officials, please list out exactly what they have done."

"Yes." The four bowed in unison.

Jiang Zhao hesitated for a moment, then looked toward the generals.

"In this reward ceremony, those who have made great contributions will accompany me to the capital. However, the border regions are volatile and must be guarded; therefore, someone needs to be stationed there. Who is suitable?"

As the Pacification Commissioner, Jiang Zhao would certainly have to go to the capital to reward those who had rendered meritorious service.

In particular, how to deal with the seven prefectures of Xihe is the real focus of rewarding those who have made contributions.

(As shown in the picture: Xihe opened up the border, expanding the territory by two thousand li, almost separating the Tubo and Western Xia)

"I, Zhang, am willing to remain," said Duke Zhang Fu of England, bowing respectfully.

In the world, there are very few people who have the ability to manage 200,000 soldiers.

He is one of them!

"In that case, I'll have to trouble you, General Duke of Ying!" Jiang Zhao nodded.

As he spoke, Jiang Zhao looked down and said, "The battle merit statistics must be compiled quickly, and the news must be relayed to the soldiers to stabilize morale."

"promise!"

Dozens of people bowed in unison.

Chapter 89: Conferring the Title of Duke?

Bianjing, Wende Hall.

All the civil and military officials gathered, and the hall was filled with people dressed in red and purple.

Emperor Zhao Zhen sat upright on his throne, dressed in a ceremonial robe embroidered with imperial emblems, and his head adorned with twelve tassels.

"Since the founding of the nation by Emperor Taizu, this is the first time that our Great Zhou has expanded its territory!"

Zhao Zhen surveyed the officials, his every move revealing his delight.

"Since Jiang Qing submitted his 'Pacifying the Barbarians Strategy', in less than two years, he has already achieved the feat of expanding the territory. He is truly a model of a capable, virtuous, and loyal minister."

"Gentlemen, what do you think the reward should be?"

As he spoke, Zhao Zhen stood up, his hands behind his back, exuding imperial majesty.

The list of meritorious officials on the frontier has not yet been submitted, but the person with the most meritorious record is undoubtedly Commander Jiang Zhao.

While we have some free time, let's discuss the rewards.

Zhao Zhen's attitude was very clear.

A grand prize!

Do it in a big way!

Let history books record it!

As an elderly emperor without children, he suddenly achieved the feat of expanding the territory.

Moreover, he is the only emperor in the history of the dynasty to have made achievements in expanding the territory!

What is this concept?

To put it bluntly, their temple names and posthumous titles would have to be changed one by one, and they would be promoted.

The excitement in Zhao Zhen's heart was beyond the comprehension of ordinary people.

"According to convention, those who expand territory can be granted a hereditary earldom," Grand Secretary Pang Ji stepped forward and slowly replied.

This was a rule set by Emperor Taizong.

Those who expand the territory will be granted titles!

Of course, Emperor Taizong probably did not expect that it would be civil officials who would expand the territory.

Before he could finish speaking, Grand Chancellor Han Zhang exclaimed, "Absolutely not!"

Han Zhang stepped forward, gave Pang Ji a deep look, and said, "In my opinion, it would be best to select the best candidates, bestow honors upon their ancestors, grant hereditary titles to their descendants, and bestow imperial treasures upon them."

Han Zhang added, "They could also be granted a fief and a place of residence."

In short, it boils down to one sentence.

No hereditary earls!

Upon hearing Han Zhang's words, many civil officials nodded in agreement.

Why would a civil official want a hereditary earldom?

"Your Excellency is right!" Wang Yaochen, the Minister of Rites, echoed loudly.

Conventionally speaking, nobles could not leave the capital unless they were ordered to lead troops.

The previous generation laid the foundation, and the next generation inherited the title, thus being confined to Bianjing.

It should be noted that Jiang Zhao was not a military officer by birth, and his influence in the army was not deeply entrenched.

Once the title of earl is inherited, his generation is in good shape, and he is almost certain to be a cabinet member.

But the next generation won't be able to!

The next generation received only an empty title, without any real power.

Over time, the local power diminished, and the earl, who had no real power, was merely somewhat wealthy.

In terms of power and influence, he might not even be as powerful as a county magistrate.

At least the county magistrate controlled the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of people!

If any of their descendants produces a scoundrel who takes the path of a military general, then there's nothing left to cry about.

This is not the Wei, Jin, or Three Kingdoms period, where the distinction between civil and military officials was not clear.

Nowadays, the distinction between civil and military affairs is quite clear, and also quite sensitive.

Hereditary titles inevitably give people the impression of being neither cultured nor martial.

Compared to hereditary earldom, granting titles and privileges to one's descendants, ensuring a continuous line of successful candidates in the imperial examinations, and establishing a prominent local family with power and wealth, isn't that more appealing?

A hereditary earldom is certainly not bad.

But for a prestigious clan like the Jiang family of Huaizuo, it wasn't even an added bonus.

"What do you think, Han Qing, should be done to confer the title?" Zhao Zhen smiled.

"According to convention, the title should be hereditary earl. However, it is really inappropriate for civil officials to inherit the title; perhaps a posthumous title could be granted instead."

Han Zhang pondered for a moment and said, "Since it is a title of nobility, it should be a high one."

"How about we just bestow upon him the title of Duke! With a fief of two thousand households!" Han Zhang said without batting an eye, his slender figure exuding an air of elegance.

"Duke?"

All the civil and military officials began to discuss it together.

Generally speaking, when a civil official reaches the top, he will be granted the title of Duke.

Like Yan Shu, Han Zhang, Fu Bi, and Fan Zhongyan, they all held the title of Duke.

However, the vast majority of them were posthumously granted the title of Duke.

Like Yan Shu, he was posthumously granted the title of Duke of Linzi, with a fief of 12,000 households, but in reality, the fief was 3,700 households.

However, since the title was conferred posthumously, the so-called "real fief of 3,700 households" was false, and the descendants could not receive a single penny or the corresponding grain.

Fan Zhongyan was posthumously granted the title of Duke of Runan, with a nominal fief of 2,300 households, but in reality, the fief was only 600 households. This was the same situation.

It's all fake; it's just for show, to convey a sense of honor.

A small number of officials were granted the title of Duke after retiring, even during their lifetime. A representative figure is Boo Bi, the Duke of Han.

The fiefdom was nominally designated as having 1,800 households, but in reality, it consisted of 400 households

As long as Fu Bi was alive, he could receive grain rations from the imperial court for four hundred households every year.

There were a few exceptional individuals who were granted the title of Duke before even retiring from officialdom; Han Zhang was a prime example.

On the day he was appointed Grand Chancellor, he was granted the title of Duke of Yi, with a fief of 8,700 households, of which 3,000 households were actually received – truly the treatment of a favored minister.

In a few years, Han Zhang's title will change again, from Duke of Yi to Duke of Wei, and then to Duke of Wei, with a fief of 13,700 households in name but 5,400 households in reality.

As a regent minister appointed by two dynasties, his status was among the highest in the history of the dynasty.

During the reign of Emperor Huizong, Han Zhang was granted the title of Prince of Wei, and the amount of his fiefdom was outrageously large.

Of course, since the person has passed away, no matter how many titles are bestowed, they will never be received; they are merely symbolic honors.

Now, once Jiang Zhao is granted the title of Duke, he will be one of only three civil officials in the officialdom to have a fiefdom and noble title.

The remaining two are Han Zhang and a 46th-generation descendant of the Duke Yansheng.

Even the other five Grand Secretaries of the Cabinet were most likely posthumously granted titles after their deaths.

Putting everything else aside, just talking about it when you go out will definitely make you look good!

He is a civil official and a duke, yet to retire!

As for whether he was Liu Jue or not, no one cared anymore.

What do civil officials want in the form of hereditary succession?

"quiet!"

A sharp cry from the eunuch silenced the officials who had been discussing the matter.

"What do you think, gentlemen?" Zhao Zhen asked, looking at his officials.

He had already made up his mind.

The main reason for asking this question was to see the reactions of the court officials.

If it's too intense, then reduce it.

Anyway, as long as they don't grant hereditary titles, that's fine.

As for the ancestral instructions of Emperor Taizong?

Emperor Taizong did not manage to expand the territory!

The ancestral precepts of Emperor Taizong may not be unchangeable.

"I believe that he should be granted the title of Duke with a flowing rank." The Duke stepped forward to express his approval.

Overall, this territorial expansion is relatively advantageous to the military commanders.

As the commander, if Jiang Zhao's reward limit is not high, then he has almost set the limit for the rewards given to his subordinates.

This is not a good thing.

"I believe that he should be granted a title of nobility," said Wen Yanbo, a Grand Secretary of the Cabinet, stepping forward in agreement.

The commander-in-chief for this territorial expansion was a civil official.

This undoubtedly highlights the importance of reading.

Military generals and cunning soldiers are truly incapable of achieving great things.