"Thunder, rain, and dew are all the emperor's grace. What is fair or unfair?"
"I am the emperor's salary, and I am loyal to him. This is my duty."
Cui Kaiji immediately said with a forced smile.
Yang Dingguo was speechless immediately. If he continued to fight for and defend Zhao Muyun, he would probably be accused of forming a clique by Cui Kaiji and others.
"Your Majesty, I think it's appropriate to grant Zhao Muyun a title. With his achievements, it wouldn't be excessive to grant him a title of county baron!"
At this moment, Lu Chunfang suddenly said.
What!
The five ministers and the chief censor all glared at Lu Chunfang angrily.
Why is this old eunuch so talkative? What does he have to do with himself?
You should know that the titles of Dayin are divided into ten ranks: Prince, Heir to the Prince (the one who inherits the prince is the Heir to the Prince), Prince of a County, Duke of a State, Duke of a County, Duke of a County, Marquis of a County, Earl of a County, Son of a County, and Baron of a County.
But these titles cannot be conferred at will.
Only the royal family, in-laws, and the nobles who were conferred titles at the founding of the country could inherit it.
This group of people with titles became the core and powerful class of the Dayin Empire.
Next came the scholar-official class, which was formed by scholars such as the six ministers who passed the imperial examinations and entered the officialdom.
The senior officers in Dayin's army came from either hereditary nobles or the scholar-official class.
For ordinary soldiers, the ceiling for promotion is the rank of captain.
Zhao Muyun, a boy from a farming family, was able to rise from a small soldier in the border army to a captain, which had already broken many rules and balances.
If he had not been given the task in a time of crisis, if the border troops in Hedong Road had not been so empty, and if Pei Lun had not had those little thoughts, Zhao Muyun would not have been able to become the captain.
Moreover, this captain was initially expected to take the blame and carry out an impossible mission.
Unexpectedly, Zhao Muyun managed to accomplish this task with a weak force of only 5,000 soldiers.
Now, the old eunuch Lu Chunfang was so talkative that he proposed to confer a title on Zhao Muyun without giving him a promotion.
Cui Kaiji looked suspicious.
After a little thought, he realized that this was definitely not something Lu Chunfang said casually, and there must be the instruction of Emperor Yongchang behind it.
It seems that when the emperor said he wanted to scrape the bone to heal his wound, he was serious about it.
Those who hold titles have been resting on the merits of their ancestors for too long, and they really need people like Zhao Muyun who come from poor families to act as catfish.
As expected, he saw Emperor Yongchang smiling.
This time the emperor insisted on giving Zhao Muyun an explanation before he would stop.
"Your Majesty, what Eunuch Lu is proposing is completely nonsense. The matter of conferring a title is of great importance and we must not break the rules."
Su Yayan immediately stood up to object.
None of these six ministers had a title, so why did Zhao Muyun come out on top?
If Zhao Muyun were granted the title of county baron, he would definitely face opposition from the royal family and the powerful.
It's not a circle that anyone can enter casually!
"Yes! Your Majesty, please think twice. This matter of conferring a title cannot be done arbitrarily." The other ministers objected, and even Yang Dingguo spoke out.
He only defined Zhao Muyun as a member of the scholar-official class, so how could he allow him to be among the powerful and wealthy?
"Lu Chunfang, this title is indeed not easy to obtain!" Emperor Yongchang pretended to have a headache and touched his forehead.
"Your Majesty, I know that Zhao Muyun is still unmarried. If you choose a virtuous princess to marry him and then make him a county baron, wouldn't that be a natural thing?" Lu Chunfang said confidently.
As soon as these words were spoken, Cui Kaiji knew that Zhao Muyun's title was a foregone conclusion.
The other ministers and Gu Dingming looked at each other in confusion.
Cui Kaiji looked at Cao Chunfeng, who had been silent all the time. This secret ally hadn't said a word so far.
And from the confused look on Cao Chunfeng's face, it seemed that he had no idea what Emperor Yongchang and Lu Chunfang were talking about.
It seems that Emperor Yongchang wants to use Zhao Muyun to break the current situation of the Dayin court.
It is said that when Emperor Yongchang learned that Zhao Muyun and Pei Lun were smuggling salt in Hedong Road, he not only did not punish them, but turned a blind eye to it.
As a result, the people from the Salt and Iron Bureau were forced to call together all the people in the workshops to improve the new salt production and purification technology.
The Salt and Iron Bureau was an inner court department headed by Cao Chunfeng.
"Oh, Chunfang's idea is good, why didn't I think of it!" Emperor Yongchang slapped his thigh and asked the question even though he knew the answer.
A general as capable of fighting as Zhao Muyun must be an absolutely loyal subject.
The best way is to arrange marriage through a princess of the royal family.
Why not a princess?
Once Zhao Muyun becomes the son-in-law, it will be a waste!
The son-in-law of the Dayin Dynasty could not serve as an official or lead an army. At most, he could be granted a title and hold the idle position of the son-in-law commander.
Emperor Yongchang needs Zhao Muyun in too many ways now, and he cannot be abandoned.
"Chunfang, you will take care of this matter. As for the princess, I will discuss it with the Queen after returning to the palace."
Emperor Yongchang looked at the silent ministers and chuckled in his heart.
These ministers never expected that he would use such a trick!
"I obey your command!"
Lu Chunfang agreed loudly.
"Alright, let's leave Zhao Muyun's matter for now. As for the other meritorious officers and soldiers, the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Rites will draft a charter and reward those who deserve it!"
Emperor Yongchang waved the sleeves of his dragon robe, "Minister Cui, next item on the agenda!"
Just as Cui Kaiji was about to speak, an imperial guard hurried in and handed a secret letter engraved with wax to Lu Chunfang.
Lu Chunfang hurriedly presented it to Emperor Yongchang.
Emperor Yongchang frowned and asked Lu Chunfang to open the letter and read it in public.
"Your Majesty, the Dragon Inspection Division has an urgent report: Li Jingang has been stalemating our army in Haoshuichuan for half a month, but has been avoiding fighting."
"Recently, he made a feint, leaving 50,000 troops in Haoshuichuan to confuse General Li Chenghua. His army of over 200,000 broke through Fenghuang Valley in Fangzhou and entered Xijing!"
What!
Everyone's face suddenly changed and they took a breath of cold air.
Xijing, like the capital, is an important place in the capital of Dayin.
If Xijing fell into the hands of the rebels, Longyou Road and Guannei Road would lose contact with the imperial court.
Moreover, it has jurisdiction over thirteen prefectures with a large population of tens of millions and sufficient food and grass.
If Li Jingang occupies this place, his strength will undoubtedly increase exponentially, and he will be able to establish his own territory and compete with the imperial court.
Emperor Yongchang slammed the table in anger, "Where have Pei Lun and Tian Zun been? And Li Chenghua is also a veteran general, how come he didn't even notice Li Jingang's big move!"
"How could they disappoint me so much?"
"Minister Yang, you are the Minister of War. Li Jingang is becoming increasingly powerful. You must come up with a set of rules!"
"Otherwise, if he takes over Xijing, he will come and seize my kingdom of Dayin next!"
Yang Dingguo stood up with a solemn expression. "Your Majesty, I beg to personally go to Xijing and lead the troops to suppress the rebellion! If you are not satisfied, I will bring my head to you."
Cui Kaiji secretly said that this Old Yang was really cruel! He didn't even leave himself any way out.
"OK!"
"Gather the three battalions of the capital and march out together!"
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