Chapter 266 The Twenty-Seven-Year-Old Duke
The emperor first rewarded the three armies, and then distributed rewards according to merit. Xiao Wu was awarded the title of Protector General of the Nation. Feng Wei and the scholar named Feng Bo, who were his two favorite generals, were also awarded the titles of Protector General of the Left and Protector General of the Nation, respectively. Li Changyi was originally the Prince of Anding, and the emperor directly allocated Lingnan to him as his fief. Everyone else also received their own rewards. Overall, everyone was happy.
Having appeased all those who needed to be appeased, and with the original monarchs of various countries properly taken care of, Li Chang'an went to see the retired emperor and asked if Zhao Yunjing should be promoted and given a higher rank.
Zhao Yunjing is twenty-seven years old this year. Two years ago, he became the youngest chief minister in the history of the Great Liang Kingdom. The next step would be to be granted the title of Duke. Is it appropriate for a twenty-seven-year-old to be a Duke?
The retired emperor countered, "Then do you think it's appropriate?"
"I believe that Lord Zhao and his team have made great contributions to the current situation of the Great Liang Dynasty. It would be appropriate to bestow the imperial surname upon him. However, while it is a bestowal of the imperial surname for the royal family, it would be an insult to Lord Zhao. Therefore, I think he should be granted the title of Duke Protector of the State for his merits."
"The Duke of Protectorate, the General of Protectorate, and the Left and Right Generals of Protectorate are all his relatives and friends. Aren't you afraid that one day this Duke of Protectorate will become the ruler of Liang?"
“If that day ever comes, it means that I must have done something to disappoint Lord Zhao and the people. Since I am not kind and decisive enough and cannot fulfill my promise to let all the people of Daliang live in peace and prosperity, then the throne should be given to someone with the ability.”
"You have a good temperament, naturally open-minded," the Emperor Emeritus laughed.
"It's not that I'm naturally magnanimous, but rather that Father Emperor has set a good example. Back then, Father Emperor trusted me and gave me the throne without hesitation. Now that I trust Lord Zhao, I can't give up the throne. If I'm still reluctant to part with the title of Duke Protector of the Nation, wouldn't that disappoint Lord Zhao?"
"Moreover, from the moment Lord Zhao appeared in our sight, every step he took was unprecedented. He was the top scholar in the imperial examination, a first-class scholar in the Great Liang Kingdom. He was also the first prime minister at the age of twenty-five, a first-class scholar in the Great Liang Kingdom, and probably will never be repeated. Now, with the addition of the title of Duke of Protector of the Nation at the age of twenty-seven, it doesn't seem so strange."
Any outrageous thing that happens to Zhao Yunjing becomes perfectly reasonable. But if it were someone else, a twenty-seven-year-old Duke of Protectorate? Ha, you're dreaming.
The Emperor had made up his mind, but he could not act unilaterally, so he summoned several Grand Secretaries to discuss the matter. As a result, some people actually voted against it, arguing that Zhao Yunjing had been promoted too quickly and that if he made another great contribution, should the throne be given to him?
This man's surname was Wang. He was twenty years older than Zhao Yunjing. In all dynasties, it was considered young to enter the cabinet at the age of forty-seven. Yet Zhao Yunjing accomplished at the age of twenty-five what Wang could not do for most of his life. And only a few years later, he was to be granted the title of Duke Protector of the State. This was an immense honor. Everyone who had endured these past few years with him had received the honor alone, while they had nothing!
The Emperor stared at Scholar Wang and smiled faintly: "Then, according to Scholar Wang's suggestion, Lord Zhao should not receive this honor?"
Scholar Wang said, "Your Majesty, Lord Zhao certainly deserves it, but I am worried that Lord Zhao is too young and may not be able to bear such a heavy burden of wealth and honor all at once."
“I don’t know if others can bear it, but even the throne, Lord Zhao can bear it. He was just not born into the royal family. If he had been born into the royal family, the person sitting here today discussing matters with you all would be Lord Zhao, not me.”
Scholar Wang gasped, "Your Majesty—"
"The day that Scholar Wang achieves the same great merit as Lord Zhao, the throne of the Great Liang Kingdom will be yours."
Everyone present changed their expressions, and Scholar Wang was so frightened that he almost knelt down. The reason it was said that he almost knelt down was because the Emperor anticipated his movements and stopped him in his tracks.
This was the closest Scholar Wang had ever been to the Emperor, and also the closest he had ever been to death. Even after leaving the palace, he felt as if he were walking on cotton, his whole being feeling weak.
Scholar Lin patted his shoulder with a sympathetic look: "Brother Wang, you are good in every way, but you are easily confused about the situation. I don't know how you have survived to this day. Putting aside the fact that Lord Zhao's merits are unmatched, even if he were slightly unqualified, the Emperor is determined to give him this title today. He called us here today not to discuss matters, but to inform us."
Scholar Wang was speechless.
Scholar Lin added, "You'll know what to say when you get back, right? Lord Zhao's experience is so inspiring! Which of those poor scholars, or those young people just starting out in officialdom, doesn't want to become a legend like him?"
Scholar Wang understood, and upon regaining his composure, he went back and summoned all his subordinates and younger family members, giving them a good lesson in encouragement.
The imperial edict was delivered to the Zhao residence at noon the next day. At the same time, officials from the Ministry of Rites read the edict aloud at the city gate. Just as Li Chang'an had said, the people felt it was only natural because it was Zhao Yun Jing, so everything he did was reasonable and worthy of emulation.
The Zhao family produced two top scholars in the imperial examinations. With two top scholars living in one mansion, it was a bit crowded. So Zhao Yunjing and Zhou Mujiao moved back to the Li residence and hung up the plaque of the Duke of Huguo's Mansion. Suddenly, the street became much more upscale.
As for Xiao Wu's residence, it was originally the Zhou residence. The plaque for the Protector General's Mansion was only hung up last month. Next to it was originally the Zhao residence, which will be prepared for Zhao Chu Jiu in the future. The large house diagonally opposite is prepared for Xiao Jiu. As a result, this road has become much more upscale.
Because these two roads are only one street apart, both located in the southwest of the capital, and in the southwest there is Canglan Academy, which is the home of the Left General of the State Protection Army, and Zhao Yunjing's hometown is also located in the southwest of the capital.
Upon counting, it was found that the talented young people who had emerged in Daliang in recent years all came from the southwest. The people realized that lucky stars liked to live in the southwest, so those who could afford it moved to this direction. One day, someone blurted out that this place was a blessed land, and the name "blessed land" quickly spread.
Upon hearing the news, the emperor laughed: "According to this logic, shouldn't I move my palace to the princes' quarters?"
Of course, this is just a joke. Emperors of all dynasties have lived in Qianyuan Palace. This location truly embodies the auspicious energy coming from the east. As for the princes' quarters being a blessed place, isn't that perfect? The previous, current, and next emperors of the Great Liang Dynasty all came from the princes' quarters. How could it not be a blessed place?
The imperial examinations of the following year arrived as scheduled. Zhou Mujiao sent Chu Jiu and Xiao Jiu to the examination hall at the same time. After Chu Jiu won the top score and created the legend of three top scorers in one family in the Zhao family, she and Zhao Yunjing set off to leave the capital.
When she left Lingnan, she thought she would be back in less than six months, but she ended up being busy for five or six years, and she was already twenty-five years old.
"Once I return to Lingnan, I won't leave again."
Zhao Yunjing thought.
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