However, the current troubles of the ministers were far more than that.
Now the big shots in the cabinet were still arguing about the Emperor's insistence on giving the title of Duke to Xiao Ruxun, which made the ministers in the cabinet anxious and fearful.
Generally speaking, it was normal to increase the title of nobility after winning a battle. There was nothing much to say about it. The ministers were also planning to bestow and increase the title of nobility to those who had performed meritorious service. They were also planning to bestow something to Xiao Ruxun and were about to discuss it with the Emperor.
But the Emperor's request was too much. He not only wanted to give Xiao Ruxun the title of Duke, but also the title of Duke of Qin. Wasn't this reckless?
According to the countries of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty, Xu Da, who made the most contribution to the founding of the country, was only Duke of Wei.
According to their nicknames, Duke Ding and Duke Cheng were the ones who contributed the most to Cheng Zu and Jing Nan.
Xiao Ruxun's contribution was high, but could it be higher than Xu Da's contribution to the founding of the country? Could it be higher than Lan Yu's contribution to the war against Northern Yuan?
But it shouldn't be to the level of Duke of Qin, right?
Qin was the country that the Confucian disciples disliked the most. But it couldn't be denied that Qin was the strongest among the countries of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty. After hundreds of years of chaos, he emerged as the final winner and unified Huaxia. Therefore, later generations conferred titles of nobility, but Qin was not a Duke or a King.
Daming, there was a King of Qin. That was based on blood relations. The ministers couldn't control it. But you couldn't mess around with the meritorious officials. There had to be a distinction between close and distant! You couldn't do whatever you wanted!
Qin was the most important title among the titles. Xu Da didn't get the title of Qin despite his great contribution. He didn't get the title of Duke because of his contribution to the founding of the country. But you want to give the title of Duke of Qin to Xiao Ruxun. This …
You should know that Taizu didn't give Xu Da the title of Duke of Qin because Li Shimin used to be Duke of Qin. It was a taboo. Later in the Song Dynasty, all the Dukes of Qin were from the royal family. Those with different surnames avoided it.
Let's not talk about the barbarian dynasty. Our Daming was the legitimate Han family in the Central Plains. Of course, we have to follow the orthodox rules. Don't you know what it means to give him a title that the Emperor once conferred?
What Zhu Yijun meant was that Xiao Ruxun had beheaded hundreds of thousands of enemies for the Great Ming Dynasty, annihilating countless enemy troops for the Great Ming Dynasty, repeatedly turning the tides, and becoming a famous general of the Great Ming Dynasty. This time, she had even captured a hundred and thirty-six Northern Invaders in a single battle, and annihilated hundreds of thousands of Northern Invaders in a single battle, resolving a decade of troubles for the Great Ming Dynasty.
If he didn't give such a great credit to a Duke, would the world think that I Daming treated the meritorious minister harshly?
If the world thought that Daming treated the meritorious minister harshly, it was the Emperor who was scolded! It was the Emperor who lost the people's support! Not you!
The title of Duke of Qin was given to him because he was from the Xiao family of Yan 'an. Yan' an was ceded by Wei to Qin during the Warring States Period. It belonged to Qin. It was reasonable to give him the title of Duke of Qin. What else did you say?
The ministers in the cabinet insisted that Duke of Qin was a title conferred by Li Shimin, the Emperor Taizong of Tang. All the ministers in the Central Plains should not accept this title. Otherwise, they would be disobedient. This was not what a minister should do. So they didn't accept the Emperor's opinion.
Zhu Yijun was unhappy.
Is it up to you or me to decide whether or not I am a subject?
Are you the Emperor or me the Emperor?
If I say he is my minister, then he is. If I say you are rebels, then you are!
Do you think you can make irresponsible remarks? Does the world still belong to me, Daming?
What are you looking at? You don't like me? Come on, I'll chop you down. Which one of you will be the Emperor? Then it's up to you!
Being rebuked by the Emperor like this, the ministers of the six departments of the cabinet, from Shen Yi down, were sweating profusely, their faces as white as paper. They hurriedly knelt down and said they did not dare, kowtowing incessantly. Zhu Yijun coldly snorted and told them to scram, the ministers retreated in embarrassment.
After returning to the cabinet, the ministers were still in a panic. Shen Li wanted to prove herself, so she said with a dark face that she could never let the Emperor confer the title of Duke of Qin to Xiao Ruxun. Otherwise, the world would be in chaos. It was unreasonable!
Tsai Kuo-chen also shook his head and said it was impossible. He thought it was not in accordance with the rules of etiquette. The reward of soldiers should be decided by the ministers and the Ministry of Rites, and then decided by the Emperor. But now the Emperor directly conferred the title of Duke of Qin. This was a blatant disregard for the patriarchal rules!
Shen Yicheng squinted at Tsai Kuo-chen.
"Why didn't you say it when His Majesty asked?"
Shen Li and Tsai Kuo-chen were speechless.
Then, Shen Yicheng looked at Song Yingchang.
"Song Butang, what do you think?"
Song Yingchang looked embarrassed. He stroked his beard and frowned, "Xiao Zhennan's meritorious service has never been seen since he became an ancestor. He beheaded 100,000 and 300,000 Northern Barbarians, and the Northern Barbarians will not be a threat in ten years. If such a great service is not rewarded, we can't bear the criticism of the world. But Duke of Qin is really …"
Although Song Yingchang appreciated Xiao Ruxun and supported Xiao Ruxun to make further progress, the title of Duke of Qin was a bit excessive.
Shen Yicheng looked at Song Yingchang, and then looked at Yu Jideng.
"Yu Jideng, what do you think?"
Yu Jideng stroked his beard and said discontentedly, "His Majesty is too reckless. The title of Duke of Qin was the most beautiful before the Tang Dynasty. But Emperor Taizong of Tang used to be Duke of Qin. He was a member of the royal family at that time, and later became the emperor. How could he give the title to an outsider?
In Daming, the most meritorious service is Duke of Wei, Duke of Ding and Duke of Cheng. Duke of Wei has not been conferred the title of Duke of Qin because of his meritorious service. Although Xiao Ruxun has made great contributions, he can't be conferred the title of Duke of Qin. If he must be conferred the title of Duke, Duke of Zhao and Duke of Yan can also be conferred, but not Duke of Qin. "
Shen Yicheng nodded slightly, and then looked at Zhao Shiqing, the Minister of Revenue.
"Zhao Butang, what do you think?"
Zhao Shiqing was promoted by Shen Yicheng, so he naturally understood Shen Yicheng's meaning.
"Not to mention that Duke of Qin has overstepped his authority, Xiao Ruxun sent people to the capital with great fanfare to offer victory and prisoners of war. Isn't it too arrogant and despotic? Of course, winning the battle was gratifying, but to cause such a ruckus in the city, with everyone talking about it and praising him, Xiao Ruxun, was this what he wanted?
He is only 28 years old, but he has become Marquis Zhennan, the governor, and commands more than 100,000 troops. Now he is conferred the title of Duke of Qin, which is the top title of Duke. If he still makes meritorious service in the future, what else can he reward? He is so arrogant now. When he really becomes Duke of Qin, how arrogant will he be?
Besides, if the arrogant soldiers and valiant generals under his command all learn from him and act arrogantly in front of us, do we have to lower our heads and promise him? "
Tsai Kuo-chen said again, "Not to mention other things, His Majesty wants to confer him the title of Duke of Qin. This matter is not only related to us civil officials, but also to those nobles. Let's not talk about Duke of Wei and his family guarding Nanjing for the time being. What about Duke of Ding's family? What about Duke of Cheng's family? Isn't it too much for a 28-year-old boy to step on their heads and become the first noble in Daming in the blink of an eye? "
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
