Ming Dynasty: I, Yan Maoqing, am truly radiating auspicious energy!

Chapter 267 Duke Jin Bi was bestowed with a golden book and an iron certificate! [Requesting monthly votes]

"You guys are..."

It's no wonder Yan Maoqing wanted to curse; it's just that everyone around him seemed to have some serious illness, completely disregarding historical records.

Especially that bastard Gao Gong!

If the same thing happened to your own brother, you would vehemently oppose it. But if it happened to your younger brother Jingqing, it would be like following ancestral rules in everything, which would be harmful in every way.

This guy even brought up Li Shanchang, a founding hero, to support his fallacies and heresies.

How can Li Shanchang be compared to him? He was directly granted the title of Duke.

They can't even find supporting examples. If they were to give an example, they should take Wang Yangming as an example. That is the true meaning of granting a noble title to a civil official. However, it was not a second-class marquis title, but a third-class earl title.

Or you could take Liu Bowen as an example, even though Liu Bowen was also a third-class earl...

Although Yan Maoqing knew that the term "conferring a title" was actually a general term, whether it was a duke, a marquis, or an earl, it could all be referred to as "conferring a title."

But he insisted that these easily conceived examples were inappropriate.

Shen Kun won't say anything yet. At least he thinks it's normal for Gao Gong to be firmly opposed to this matter. This bastard seems to have some serious illness!
Eh!
That’s all!

People’s hearts are no longer the same as they used to be!
You cried and told me that history books are all lies, and that it was impossible for me to return to my hometown and retire smoothly.

Perhaps you won't understand, but ever since that imperial examination, the sun in my sky has gone out...

Now, his only hope is that his rash attack on Anda has truly angered Zhu Houcong, and has already made Zhu Houcong hold a grudge.

In this way, Zhu Houcong might just teach him a lesson without any intention of granting him a title, and simply promote him to a higher rank and increase his salary as a reward.

In any case, it would be unacceptable not to bestow a reward. Even Yan Maoqing understood that the combined merits of beheading Anda and recovering the Hetao region were too great. From Zhu Houcong's perspective, it would be unreasonable not to reward them and announce it to the world... But wait!
Yan Maoqing suddenly remembered something else.

If he remembered correctly, the Ming Dynasty court had offered a bounty on Anda and Jiyang more than a year ago.

It is said that whoever can kill Ji Nang and Anda will be appointed as a governor and rewarded with a thousand gold pieces.

There's no need for titles like "Governor-General" or anything like that. This "thousand taels of gold" is a real, solid amount. I wonder if he'll be able to claim the reward from the court later.

Hey?

Even a mosquito's leg isn't meat, right? We should save money and spend it wisely. This is what he deserves, it's not shameful at all!
Just as I was thinking this.

"Uncle, I think you are right. Being granted a title of nobility is indeed not a good thing for you."

Yan Shifan approached at some point, his chubby face, still bearing some scars, and spoke in a rather serious manner.

"Oh?"

Yan Maoqing immediately looked at Yan Shifan, and for the first time found this one-eyed fat man quite pleasing to the eye.
"My parents gave me life, and my nephew understands me. Come, come, state your views clearly so that these two fools can truly grasp the spirit of this!"

Encouraged by Yan Maoqing's affirmation, Yan Shifan turned to Gao Gong and Shen Kun and said:

"General Shen, General Gao, let's set aside the matter of whether civil officials can be granted titles for now. The issue my uncle is currently considering is whether military officers can enter the court as officials."

"You two should know that since the founding of the Ming Dynasty, Emperor Taizu established an extremely strict system of separating civil and military affairs."

“This is not like the customary rule that ‘civil officials cannot be granted titles,’ but rather a law written in black and white in the ‘Taizu’s Precious Instructions.’”

"Therefore, there are counterexamples to the rule that civil officials cannot be enfeoffed as marquises, but it is difficult to find any evidence of the rule that military officers cannot serve as officials in the court."

"Indeed, after Wang Shouren was granted the title of Earl of Xinjian a few years ago, he was still able to be promoted to Minister of War in Nanjing. Later, he also served as Left Censor-in-Chief, Governor-General of Guangdong and Guangxi and Governor. This was an extremely rare exception. That was because Wang Shouren was also a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations) and had the dual identity of a civil official and a military officer."

"Furthermore, the country was in a period of turmoil at that time. Whether it was the later Left Censor-in-Chief or the Governor-General of Guangdong and Guangxi concurrently serving as the Governor, they were all temporary official positions temporarily appointed by the court to quell the rebellion in Guangdong and Guangxi. Just like the Duke of Yi's two appointments as Governor of Datong, the official positions would be revoked after the report was completed, and they were not formal appointments by the Ministry of Personnel."

"Besides, look at his descendants. Because they were born into a military family, they lost the opportunity to take the imperial examinations and enter the court from the day they were born."

"Although they can enter officialdom through their fathers' merits and favors, they can only obtain military positions or Jinyiwei positions that have little say in the court, and they will never have a chance to turn the tables in front of the civil official group."

"I think that's what my uncle-in-law is worried about."

"In my personal opinion, my uncle's concerns are not without merit. If he is only granted the title of earl or marquis, it would be better not to grant it at all. Instead, it would add a constraint to him and his descendants. Although the lower limit is guaranteed, the upper limit is also capped."

"However, if my uncle-in-law were to be granted the title of Duke one day, I could barely accept it."

"After all, once a duke succeeds to the throne, he can take charge of the capital's military camp, accompany the emperor on all kinds of important national events such as sacrifices, ceremonies and tours, and often meet with the emperor. Although it is still difficult for him to stand on equal footing with the civil official group in the court, he is not entirely without the power to fight back."

"Am I right, Uncle?"

"..."

Shen Kun and Gao Gong fell silent upon hearing this.

In fact, Gao Gong's older brother, Gao Jie, is not currently facing this issue, so he has not even considered it.

However, both of them were from military backgrounds, so they naturally understood Wu Xun's awkward situation.

Those of military rank, like themselves, could still participate in the imperial examinations and enter officialdom. Furthermore, if they rose to the rank of second-grade minister or higher and received imperial permission, they had the opportunity to shed their military status, and their descendants would also no longer be considered military officials. However, military officers of earl rank and above were different. Like the princes of the Ming Dynasty, while they enjoyed annual stipends, hereditary privileges, land grants, exemption from corvée labor, and legal rights, they were also severely restricted. Aside from having their titles revoked for crimes, escaping military status was virtually impossible.

Especially after the Tumu Crisis, even the Dukes were increasingly marginalized and were constantly monitored and controlled by the civil service through the system of censors.

Any attempt by them to overstep the boundaries will inevitably be met with fierce impeachment and public attacks, even for the Duke of Cheng and the Duke of Yi, who are currently favored by the Emperor.

The recent impeachment of powerful figures in the capital for encroaching on the interests of ordinary people was essentially a political conspiracy targeting several dukes.

Or rather, it was aimed at Duke Guo Xun.

Because Guo Xun has been too arrogant in recent years, especially in the past year. He has twice temporarily served as the governor of Datong, and the matters he handled were not approved by the civil service group.

This is an act that crosses the line, something that the civil service cannot tolerate!
"That's right, you're absolutely right!"

Yan Maoqing immediately patted Yan Shifan on the shoulder, beaming as he addressed the speechless Shen Kun and Gao Gong.
As the saying goes, "He who does not plan for the future will have trouble in the present."

"I had considered these issues just now, which is why I asked you two for your help. Please forgive this selfish motive."

"If you two elder brothers can stop the Emperor from bestowing a title upon me, you will surely be richly rewarded in the future."

"Furthermore, please rest assured, my two elder brothers, you are not alone this time. I will mobilize my colleagues in the Court of Imperial Sacrifices and the Jixia Academy to submit a memorial with you."

"Qing'er, I'm leaving this matter to you. Just tell them what you just said. If they still want to acknowledge me as their minister, please ask them to join me in submitting a memorial to the throne to help me."

Shen Kun and Gao Gong exchanged a glance; such a statement had clearly moved them.

After a brief hesitation, the two finally steeled themselves and bowed to Yan Maoqing, promising:

"If that's the case, how dare I disobey?"

"Very well, very well. Please accept my bow, my two elder brothers. I entrust this matter to you two!"

Yan Maoqing was immediately overjoyed.

With Shen Kun and Gao Gong, along with a bunch of troublemakers, advising Zhu Houcong, the matter was very likely to be accomplished; at least there was a glimmer of hope.

As for Yan Shifan's claim of a barely acceptable title of Duke, that was simply a fantasy. Unless Zhu Houcong was delirious from taking elixirs, why would he so recklessly promote him?

Moreover, doing so will inevitably face tremendous opposition.

If he were granted the title of Earl or Marquis, the civil officials would most likely go along with it and remove this black sheep from the ranks of civil officials, making him easier to deal with in the future.

But if one is a Duke, then one is almost comparable to the Grand Marshal and General of the Han Dynasty.

The civil service group is probably left with nothing but envy, jealousy, and hatred, and they feel that he is a greater threat than before. How can they accept this?

Just as I was thinking this.

"The Duke of Cheng has arrived!"

"The Grand Secretary has arrived!"

With two shouts, the person representing Zhu Houcong to reward all the soldiers of the Heroes' Camp finally arrived.

The visitors were indeed of great importance: one was Zhu Xizhong, the most respected Duke of Cheng, and the other was Xia Yan, the Grand Secretary who had been reinstated.

The arrival of the highest military and civil officials together already represented the supreme will of the Ming Dynasty court. Adding Zhu Houcong's imperial edict, the entire Ming Dynasty court was represented.

then……

By the mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees:

I have heard that a pillar standing in the middle of a stream displays its power to support the heavens.

Only by seasoning with salt and plum can one truly understand the talent to save the world.

Yan Maoqing's aspirations were as pure as frost and snow, and his integrity as firm as metal and stone.

Having broken through the evil influence of the White Lotus, we now reclaim our homeland in the Hetao region.

The night raid on the enemy's court was like a thunderbolt; the morning recapture of lost territory was as easy as turning one's hand.

This achievement rivals that of Wei Qing and Huo Qubing, and surpasses even the brilliance of Li Bai and Guo Si.

In the past, when the Duke of Zhou assisted in governing, he was granted land as a reward; when Pei Du pacified Cai, he bestowed it upon the Duke of Jin.

Now, I hereby bestow upon you the title of Duke Biguo, and grant you a golden book and an iron certificate, which shall be inherited by your descendants without fail, so that you may forever serve as a bulwark of the Great Ming.

The Yellow River is like a belt, and Mount Tai is like a whetstone; you should be as careful from beginning to end as you were at the beginning, so as to preserve your meritorious name.

Respectfully yours!

(End of this chapter)