The emperor believed in the system, supervision and constraints, which freed him from concerns about people's hearts.
Moreover, after defeating the Jiannu, the formidable enemy, the Ming Empire was in a period of recovery and growth, so he did not have to worry too much about who would lead an army to cause chaos.
Furthermore, the emperor had already made his decision, based on the secret reports of Xiong Tingbi and Yuan Keli, as well as Wu Yongxian's assessment. This audience was simply to meet Mao Wenlong, listen to his insights, and help him better understand the emperor's will. Meanwhile, rewards were necessary, and there was a difference in effect between bestowing them in person and having them announced by palace eunuchs.
"Your humble servant bows to thank God for His grace. Long live the Lord, long live the Lord, long, long live the Lord!"
After the palace maid finished reading the decree, Mao Wenlong's voice was trembling with excitement and he kowtowed deeply.
The early Ming Dynasty followed the Yuan Dynasty's system. In the third year of the Hongwu reign, the system of conferring titles was established, dividing the ranks into duke, marquis, and earl, while abolishing the titles for sons and barons. Throughout the Ming Dynasty, those who received the titles of duke, marquis, and earl included not only meritorious officials and relatives of the emperor's wife, but also the children of eunuchs and ethnic minority leaders.
Those who received an iron certificate of nobility were granted hereditary nobility; otherwise, it was a temporary nobility. If the nobility was inherited, the certificate of nobility was returned, and the rank of nobility was determined. Noble titles were hereditary, or they could be inherited by descending a rank, such as a marquis being hereditary and a baron being hereditary.
The three titles of duke, marquis and earl were also divided into four levels: those who assisted Taizu in conquering the world were called Kaiguo Fuyun Tuicheng; those who followed Chengzu in starting the army were called Fengtian Jingnan Tuicheng; the rest were called Fengtian Yiyun Tuicheng and Fengtian Yiwei Tuicheng.
Mao Wenlong was granted the title of the fourth-rank Fengtian Yiwei Tuicheng Zhenjiang Earl. Even though it was the fourth rank, it only had Fengtian Yiyun Tuicheng above it. He could not get the other titles of founding the country and pacifying the rebellion.
According to Mao Wenlong's understanding, this earldom was a temporary title, and the next level was hereditary. Even so, it was a huge surprise to him, and he never expected to be awarded it at this time.
You should know that the standard of earl was raised in the middle and late Ming Dynasty. During the reigns of Wanli, Taichang and Tianqi, it seems that there was only one Earl of Ningyuan, Li Chengliang.
Judging from his military achievements, Mao Wenlong felt that he was still far behind Li Chengliang. Thinking about the difficulties Li Chengliang faced in becoming a baron, it is understandable that he was extremely excited and could hardly control himself.
The emperor smiled on the throne as the palace servants continued to read out the imperial edict, the rewards of money and property, and the imperial edict to confer the title of Marquis on Mao Wenlong's wife, Zhang.
Don’t you want a title? I’ll give it to you. Don’t you want the military command of Liaodong? I’ll give it to you too. Don’t you want a title for your wife and children? I’ll give it to you too.
Watching Mao Wenlong kowtow again to express his gratitude, the emperor slowly spoke, "From today on, the hereditary nature of titles in the Ming Dynasty will be abolished. Mr. Mao, tell your descendants that if they want a title, they must earn it through merit."
Mao Wenlong was startled. This was completely different from what he had guessed. In other words, there was still room for advancement in the nobility, but there was no longer a distinction between hereditary and ephemeral nobility.
"Your Majesty, your wisdom! I don't want my descendants to inherit my father's influence, gain something for nothing, and become useless." Mao Wenlong thought quickly and remembered the emperor's words in the newspaper: "Wealth does not last for more than three generations, and the grace of a gentleman will be cut off after five generations."
The emperor nodded slightly and said, "I am very pleased that Mr. Mao has come to this realization. Although the title is no longer hereditary, I will grant him land and a title. When Mr. Mao retires, I will reward him with land."
Granting land and titles, dividing the land and dividing it?
Mao Wenlong was stunned by the emperor's words and stared wide-eyed in disbelief.
You know, the term "conferring a title" does have the meaning of granting land and titles, but that seems to have been around during the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period. Although people with titles may later have fiefs similar to fiefdoms, it was only formal.
In other words, being granted a title does not equate to being a feudal lord. Mao Wenlong simply did not dare to imagine it, nor could he have imagined it.
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