Chapter 531 Forty Envoys Return to the Capital!
The foreigners from the southwest witnessed the power and profound heritage of the Great Zhou Dynasty as they visited its shops, farms, factories, and academies. Finally, they were awestruck and had their eyes opened when they saw Shen Lanxi's powerful ascension to the throne.
They all felt that the trip was worthwhile. Even if they only came to the Great Zhou once in their lives, being able to see Shen Lanxi ascend the throne as an empress as a woman was already very worthwhile and lucky.
When Shen Lanxi ascended the throne, her first act was to proclaim the news to the world and inform the nation.
The news was printed immediately to spread the word that Shen Lanxi had been given the title of Emperor Chongwu.
Next came the welcoming of the forty envoys who were about to return to the capital and be sent to the southwest for cultural exchanges.
The reason for sending forty envoys to cover the rear was twofold: firstly, their physical condition was unsuitable for a long march, and secondly, it was a deliberate act to cover the rear.
Shen Lanxi intended to portray them as heroes who had fought against foreign tribes, so naturally they had to return to the capital in glory and be the center of attention, rather than following behind them. Otherwise, the world would only see Shen Lanxi and not the meritorious officials who had risked their lives for the Great Zhou.
Under her deliberate arrangement, the forty envoys, though thin and wounded, sat in large carriages like heroes, receiving cheers and welcome from the people of the capital.
Shen Lanxi looked at the forty people, dressed in flamboyant attire, standing on the carriage like peacocks displaying their plumage, and silently looked away.
All I can say is that they have a patriotic heart, but they really don't have much talent!
Shen Lanxi stood on the city wall and introduced herself to the officials.
"Standing at the front is the second son of the Marquis of Xing'an. He has shown courage and resourcefulness on his trip to the southwest, and has demonstrated excellent diplomatic skills. He is very suitable to sit at the negotiating table."
The courtiers looked puzzled. The second young master of the Marquis of Xing'an's mansion? That playboy who took the imperial examinations six times but failed every time, and who only knew how to flirt with young girls every day with a pale face?
"The one with a bandage wrapped around his face is Uncle Wu Ning's third son. This time, he cooperated with me from the inside to take down the southwestern tribes. He's a quick-witted guy."
The Earl of Wuning? That declining earldom? By the time of the Earl of Wuning's generation, the title must have reached its limit, right? I heard that he was neither good at literature nor martial arts, and that he only became famous because he had many children. Otherwise, who would even know that there was an Earl of Wuning's mansion!
"The one waving from the carriage, the one wiping his face with a handkerchief, he's got a real knack for dealing with foreign leaders," Shen Lanxi said with a smile, offering a very sincere compliment.
Which one is Your Majesty referring to?
The departure of those forty envoys boosted the capital's economy for a considerable period, a fact the Ministry of Revenue remembers vividly.
Those forty people had only one redeeming quality: they were good-looking.
The Minister of Revenue looked thoughtfully at Shen Lanxi, seeing that she knew everyone's name, whose child they were, and what merits they had made, and he forgot about the thought that had just flashed through his mind.
"Your Majesty, you have such a good memory!" Liu Yan replied.
Shen Lanxi: "I will never forget everyone who has rendered meritorious service to my Great Zhou!"
These words sent a jolt through the hearts of all the officials.
Forty envoys, each wearing a red flower bestowed upon them by Shen Lanxi, paraded through the streets three times, receiving cheers from the people and countless purses and handkerchiefs from young girls along the way, before heading in a grand procession towards the palace.
Shen Lanxi, along with all the officials, was already waiting in the Golden Palace.
The forty envoys received the news of Shen Lanxi's ascension to the throne just before entering the capital. They were in a daze the whole way, but after receiving a warm welcome from the people of the capital, they had already accepted the fact that Shen Lanxi had become emperor.
"Greetings, Your Majesty, long live the Emperor..." Forty people knelt respectfully.
Shen Lanxi was still wearing the regent's court robes. Although she now had a title and had begun to officially preside over state affairs, the investiture ceremony had not yet been held, and the court robes and crown had not yet been made.
"My esteemed heroes, please rise!" Shen Lanxi said kindly.
The forty people helped each other to their feet. Shen Lanxi hadn't missed the fact that some of them had limped when they first entered the hall.
"You have risked your lives for our Great Zhou and made great contributions. Your efforts will be rewarded. I see that you are all ambitious and talented people, so I hereby grant you the privilege of entering the court as officials without having to take the imperial examination!"
The officials frowned, wanting to refute.
The forty envoys were initially pleased, but soon began to worry.
They were all scholars who had repeatedly failed the imperial examinations; they knew their own limitations. It was certainly desirable to enter officialdom without taking the exams, but what official positions should they hold?
What are they capable of doing?
Shen Lanxi: "I intend to appoint you as imperial envoys to inspect the Great Zhou on my behalf. After my enthronement ceremony, you will officially report to the Ministry of Rites. After that, you will go down to the provinces to inspect on behalf of the Emperor!"
The officials stared wide-eyed. How could these forty flashy but ineffective people be competent for such an important task?
Shen Lanxi glanced at the disgruntled ministers and then said, "Today is a joyous day, and I do not wish to hear any words that would spoil the mood!"
The officials reluctantly gave up.
"I know you all have wealthy families, so I won't bestow upon you vulgar things like gold and silver. The titles in your families that have reached this generation will be passed on to the next generation!"
Half of the forty people were overjoyed, more so than if they had received mountains of gold and silver.
"Those whose titles have not yet reached their full potential, and whose families have not yet appointed a heir apparent, may request that they be appointed a heir apparent!"
Many people were happy.
"If a family has a noble title and a son who is not ranked high in the family, they can tell me what reward they want. Within reasonable limits, I will definitely grant it!"
Two people actually stepped forward.
"Your Majesty, I wish to separate from the family and live separately with my mother."
"Your Majesty, I also wish to separate from the family and live separately, taking my mother and sister with me."
Shen Lanxi smiled and said, "Alright, I will have the Ministry of Revenue investigate this matter. If your family's assets are allocated less, the Ministry of Revenue will arrange for them to be given separate residences!"
Liu Yanhui smiled as well: "Your Majesty, I will obey your decree and ensure that the division of the family property is done very fairly!"
Recently, the Ministry of Revenue has had some extra funds due to issues such as the concubinage tax, confiscation of property, and unequal division of family assets. Their favorite task is to oversee the division of property for wealthy households.
The officials were slow to realize that Shen Lanxi had become stingy.
The Ministry of Revenue has become even more cunning.
The forty people left with profuse thanks, and Shen Lanxi continued to deal with the matters left over from the change of dynasty.
"Your Majesty, many of the concubines have been taken away by their families. For each concubine who was taken away, this old servant followed your orders and allowed them to take their personal belongings and the wealth bestowed upon them by the palace. In addition, each of them was given 20,000 taels of silver as a settlement allowance."
Shen Lanxi: "Did this money go through the Ministry of Revenue or the Palace?"
Wang Bao: "The late emperor's private treasury has not yet been inventoried. For now, the money is being transferred from the private treasury. Once the palace's finances have been accounted for, it will be returned to the Ministry of Revenue."
Shen Lanxi: "Thank you for your hard work, Ministry of Revenue."
Liu Yan replied respectfully and truthfully, “It’s not hard work, but the late emperor had many concubines in his palace, and each of them cost 20,000 taels of silver, which is quite an expense!”
Emperor Renxiao is already dead, so his merits and demerits can no longer be discussed openly.
All the officials knew that Emperor Renxiao was a wise ruler before he was poisoned, but he became muddleheaded after the poisoning.
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