The only thing in common was that their eyes seemed to be blazing with fire, as if they wanted to eat Zhao Jun alive.
"Is this person Zhao Jun? How come he is so young?"
"I remember that among those who passed the imperial examinations throughout history, I have never heard of the name Zhao Jun."
"He hasn't taken the imperial examination, is so young, and has no experience in local government, yet he has already reached the first rank. How can the emperor grant him such an important position? You gentlemen are also confused. Why don't you persuade the emperor?"
"Could it be some kind of demon? Not only the emperor, but even the gentlemen have been bewitched by him. I'm afraid his magic is incredible."
The officials were discussing in low voices.
In their eyes, Zhao Jun was just a young man in his twenties, completely different from what they had expected.
Although he is quite handsome, being handsome cannot make a living these days.
Therefore, faced with the strong support from the government and prime ministers, everyone was extremely disappointed.
I thought he was some hidden sage.
The result was a young boy.
How could they allow such a young man to easily climb over their heads?
For a moment, all the officials glared at him, thinking that he had somehow bewitched the emperor and the prime minister.
Zhao Jun walked to the door, took two deep breaths, turned a deaf ear to the subtle sounds in the hall, and stepped into the hall proudly.
There were officials on both sides, and their eyes moved as he moved.
Zhao Jun walked down the steps from the passage specially left open for everyone to present their reports. He raised his head, bowed to Zhao Zhen, and said, "Zhao Jun greets the emperor!"
In the Song Dynasty, looking up at the emperor was not as outrageous as in the Qing Dynasty. After all, this was an era when officials dared to pull the emperor's dragon robe and chase him to preach, and even spit on the emperor's face. There was nothing wrong with looking up at the emperor.
Zhao Zhen raised his hands and said, "No need to be polite!"
"Thank you, sir!"
Zhao Jun put his hand down and remained standing there.
"Zhao Jun, you are a man of great talent! I know that for a country to prosper, it must have a mastermind. Only those with far-sighted vision can lead it to prosperity."
Zhao Zhen then looked around at the officials below, finally gazing at Zhao Jun and saying, "Therefore, since I recognize Zhao Jun's talent, I have made an exception and promoted him. I have specially appointed you Duke of Song, and you will be the Jiedushi of Guide, Taining, and Xingguo. You will also be in charge of the Political System Council, leading all officials and bringing prosperity to the Song Dynasty!"
"Thank you again, Your Excellency!"
Zhao Jun bowed again. This meant there were three more military governors than what was agreed upon yesterday.
However, he also knew that the Jiedushi in the Song Dynasty was actually an honorary title, similar to the Shangzhuguo among the honorary officials. It was not a military position. It was basically a job that paid three extra salaries, so it didn't matter.
So let alone three, there would be no point in having thirty.
What Zhao Jun hadn't expected was that once his title and Jiedushi were granted, the ministers below him immediately erupted in commotion. They all whispered to each other in shock.
Even the many censors who had originally planned to submit an impeachment memorial immediately after Zhao Jun came up, to teach him a lesson and let him know how powerful the censors of the Song Dynasty were, all stood there in a daze, silent.
Because the Jiedushi and the fiefdom were too shocking.
From the end of the Northern Song Dynasty to the beginning of the Southern Song Dynasty, Jiedushi were quite common, and there were even more than 60 Jiedushi. Often one person was in charge of two or even three towns. For example, the four great generals Zhang, Han, Liu, and Yue were basically Jiedushi of two towns.
Later, Han Shizhong, Zhang Jun and Liu Qi were in charge of three towns, and their honorary titles reached the extreme.
However, in the early and middle period of the Northern Song Dynasty, Jiedushi were not so common, and only important court officials, relatives of the emperor, and royal aristocrats could get the honor of being a Jiedushi.
For example, Han Qi and Wen Yanbo were the only two military governors of two towns in the Northern Song Dynasty. The rest of the officials, even the prime ministers, were only in charge of one town at most.
But the officials never expected that Zhao Jun would be granted three towns.
And he was granted the title of Duke of Song.
If you want to know the origin of the name of the Song Dynasty, isn’t it because Taizu Zhao Kuang once served as the governor of Songzhou?
Therefore, during the Song Dynasty, other states had dukes except Songzhou.
But now it has.
What's the meaning?
The officials were confused for a moment, and then their imaginations ran wild.
It is thought that the title of Jiedushi is usually only granted to royal family members and princes and nobles.
I also thought of Songzhou, where Taizu started his career and became a fiefdom.
Then think about the fact that Zhao Jun’s surname is Zhao.
The answer is about to come!
This is a member of the royal family!
In an instant, almost most of the officials guessed Zhao Jun's identity.
After all, the official hint was a bit too obvious.
Then the officials started thinking again.
What does official mean?
Let a member of the royal family take charge of national affairs?
Are you planning to appoint a crown prince?
The question is whose child is this royal family member?
Are you qualified to be the crown prince?
Moreover, he is only a few years younger than the emperor. Is this the way to appoint a crown prince?
After all, the official is still young and should still be able to have children.
The officials did not force Zhao Zhen to bring the sons of vassal kings into the palace like they did during the time of Empress Dowager Liu. It made no sense to appoint a crown prince so early.
So why is that?
Could it be that this person is not a descendant of the official family at all, but a descendant of the official family?
In an instant, the officials' thoughts raced.
They almost instinctively thought that the late emperor had used a surrogate mother to have a child again.
"Ahem."
Just as the officials were stunned and lost in thought, Lü Yijian coughed twice and said, "Zhao Zhiyuan has taken up the post of the Political System Council, controlling all officials. He should be the head of all officials. Please stand in front of the left."
After saying that, he took a step back, made some space, and motioned Zhao Jun to stand beside him.
The Song Dynasty inherited the Tang system, respecting the left.
The prime minister, chancellor, chancellor, deputy prime minister, deputy chancellor, deputy chancellor, six ministers, academicians of various palaces, chief censor and other senior officials of the first, second and third ranks all stood on the left in the court, while the rest of the officials below the third rank stood on the right.
As the prime minister, although the Privy Council and the Council of State were two of the two ministries and three departments, the official rank of the Privy Councilor was the same as that of the prime minister, basically the first rank.
However, the prime minister is often the most respected in terms of status, and the Privy Council is slightly lower than the Council of State, so Lu Yijian, Wang Zeng and Wang Sui stand in the first three positions.
Now Lü Yijian gave up his position and gave the first place in the first row of the left team to Zhao Jun, and the rest of the people had to move back one position, causing a commotion in the formation of officials in the rear.
Zhao Jun didn't refuse and just stood there.
It was not until this time that all the officials came to their senses. They looked at each other, not knowing what to say.
Because at this moment, the expressions of all the officials were full of doubts about Zhao Jun's identity.
The government granted him the title of Duke of Song and the governor of three towns?
The three phases and three participants treated him with respect?
Last name Zhao?
Take charge of national affairs?
The head of all officials?
What is his identity?
The late emperor’s youngest son?
For a moment, all the officials who had originally planned to attack Zhao Jun were frightened. The place was so quiet that it seemed as if time had stopped, and no one made any sound.
(End of this chapter)
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