After hearing this, Zhang Weixian and the other three quickly sat up straight and waited for their Majesty to continue speaking.
"I'm sure you, my dear ministers, have already heard about the battle in Liaodong." Zhu Youxiao glanced at Zhang Weixian and the others and said, "I'm very happy that Liaodong was able to win this time. This shows that Xiong Tingbi deployed the troops well, and the soldiers in Liaodong were willing to fight for their lives."
"What I wish to discuss with you, my dear ministers, is the reward for the soldiers of Liaodong."
After hearing this, Zhang Weixian and others didn't change their expressions, but they couldn't help but feel a little suspicious in their hearts.
Do we need to discuss this matter again?
Hasn't Your Majesty already asked the Cabinet to do this?
Could it be that Your Majesty wants to hand this matter over to the General Staff?
This is indeed a good thing. Being able to take this power from the cabinet is definitely a good thing for the General Staff.
Let’s not talk about whether the cabinet is willing to give it or not. Even if it is willing to give it, isn’t it a little late now?
However, since His Majesty said so, Zhang Weixian and the others could not say anything and could only wait for His Majesty to finish speaking.
"Since the founding of the Ming Dynasty, the highest nobility in the Ming Dynasty has been the baron. I'm sure you all are well aware of this." Zhu Youxiao continued, "I want to change the nobility."
After hearing what Zhu Youxiao said, everyone's face changed, and they really couldn't hold it in any longer.
The title of nobility has always been a very sensitive matter.
There were many titles in the Ming Dynasty, but they were later abolished and only the earl was left, and there were no more titles below that. Therefore, the number of nobles in the Ming Dynasty was indeed not that large.
Another crucial point is that Emperor Taizu killed many nobles. If Emperor Chengzu had not conferred some nobles after his rebellion, the number of nobles would probably be much smaller than it is now.
Now the emperor is going to change the title again, which makes people feel uneasy.
What is your majesty going to do?
Zhu Youxiao did not beat around the bush and said directly: "I want to restore the title of Zinan, starting with this time in Liaodong, to reward the soldiers in Liaodong."
This matter had been lingering in Zhu Youxiao's mind for quite some time. He pondered it for a long time, but there was no suitable opportunity to put it into practice.
Now that Liaodong has such an opportunity this time, how could Zhu Youxiao let it go?
Duke, Marquis, Earl, Viscount and Baron. The Ming Dynasty did not have the latter two, and the control over titles has always been strict.
However, Zhu Youxiao did not think this was a good thing. As the saying goes, running water does not rot, and the door hinge does not rot. If everything is not moved, it will appear particularly rigid. And he himself could not easily move these titles above the court.
No matter what is in this world, if there is too much of it, it becomes worthless. This is how devaluation occurs.
Zhu Youxiao wanted to support new nobles, so he had to change the titles of nobility, and at the same time, he had to give the soldiers in the army a hope. He couldn't give them the titles of dukes and marquises, but he could still consider the titles of viscounts and barons.
Under such circumstances, a group of hard-working men will inevitably emerge from the army. A great reward will always bring out brave men, and a true man's goal is to be honored with a wife and children.
Moreover, the rise of new nobles will inevitably impact the old nobles. When that time comes, they will start to move. These old guys in the court can also be dealt with by themselves.
After the old guys are dealt with, there will be people to take over, and the power in the army will be strengthened. There is no need to worry about the chaos caused by the old guys being dealt with and no one to take over.
This is a matter of great benefit and no harm. Zhu Youxiao's only worry may be that he will have to spend a little more salary.
But Zhu Youxiao didn't take this to heart at all. Money, as it's called, is meant to be spent. An emperor can't be a miser; spending money is only about whether it can create greater benefits. If it can, then the money can be spent.
The imperial court already spent money to support a bunch of useless idle people, such as nobles, relatives of nobles, and members of the royal family.
It is not a big deal to raise some more meritorious soldiers. As long as I can succeed this time, it will be much easier to take action later.
If you want to take something in advance, you must first give it. Zhu Youxiao understood this principle very well.
Zhang Weixian and the others didn't expect that the emperor was talking about this matter. He didn't want to change everyone's titles, but to give them back to barons and viscounts.
It sounds like there is no big problem, and it is indeed a good thing. It is a good thing for both the soldiers fighting outside and the ministers present.
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