When Emperor Taizu of Chen established his title, he removed the viscounts and barons among the princes and uncles, leaving only the third-class title of princes and princes.
These three levels of titles are further divided into rank and title.
To put it simply, they are lifetime titles and hereditary titles.
The so-called Shihou that the emperor told Shen Yi is a hereditary marquis, a marquis that can be "hereditary and replaceable" and passed down from generation to generation.
Because the threshold for titles has been raised, the difficulty of obtaining titles has naturally increased. In addition, the Chen court is very stingy about titles. Except for the few heroes from the founding of the country, there are only a few princes and noble families left.
Later generations of ministers rarely received titles again, and even if they did, they were mostly in the form of rank-and-file knights rather than speign knights.
In the more than sixty years since the southern crossing to the present, only one person in Da Chen has truly gained the status of being a prince, and that is General Zhao Chong, who led the Huaihe Navy and bravely resisted the enemy. General Zhao had outstanding merits and was called
He was granted the title of hereditary Anping Marquis, and this title was passed down from generation to generation. Today, Zhao Lu, the Anping Marquis, is already the third generation Anping Marquis.
Even the scholar who went to Jiankang City alone to meet Emperor Sejong and instruct him to retreat from the barbarians and the Anzong Temple, in the end was only granted a knighthood and did not receive a hereditary title.
Up to now, the vast majority of those who have been awarded titles in the imperial court are relatives of the emperor. For example, the two younger brothers of the current Empress Dowager Sun, one of whom is a biological brother has been granted the title of marquis, and the other cousin has been granted the title of earl.
Even so, the two younger brothers of Empress Dowager Sun are both nobility. After death, the descendants cannot inherit the title.
After all, even if he was a blood relative like the Emperor, like Prince Jin, if Li Mu hadn't done a lot in the past few years, he would have surrendered when he inherited the title, let alone others.
But now, the emperor actually promised Shen Yi a Spylord himself. This was almost a decision that went against his ancestors.
Of course, most of Shandong province is covered with plains and is the hinterland of the Central Plains. It is an extremely important place for both Northern Qi and Dachen. If Shen Yi can really help the imperial court take back Shandong, then it will bring
Emperor Hongde not only had a glorious face, but also had a lot of dignity!
It is worth it to exchange the title of a prince for a province.
Shen Yi bowed slightly and said: "Your Majesty, as long as you can make up your mind to expedition to the north, in the future I, Dachen, will be able to take back more than just Shandong."
Since Brother Cake has drawn a cake for himself, Master Shen cannot show weakness and naturally has to draw a cake for Brother Cake.
He raised his head and glanced at the emperor, and said quietly: "In the future, I will capture the capital of Yan, welcome the Dachen ancestral temple back to my homeland, and bring back all the hanging coffins that were not buried in Dachen decades ago, including Emperor Sejong.
Yanjiao is buried in peace."
Shen Yi's voice was low: "And your Majesty, you will be the first Emperor Chen to return to the capital of Yan in more than sixty years. When mentioning this day in the history books, there are four words that can never be avoided!"
"Hong De Zhong Xing!"
These short words made His Majesty the Emperor's blood boil.
He was a little stunned for a moment, as if the scene of him leaving Jiankang and returning to Yandu with the majestic imperial carriage appeared before his eyes.
His Majesty the Emperor was lost in thought for a long time before he exhaled heavily and murmured: "One day, my father's spirit in heaven will be comforted."
Although the former emperor had great ambitions and little talent, he devoted his whole life to the Northern Expedition. When he died suddenly, the current Emperor Hongde was only ten years old.
When a ten-year-old child suddenly loses his father, how can he not feel sad? How can he not miss him?
It's just that this Hongde Emperor is young and mature. He learned to hide his emotions very well when he was a teenager and never showed his fragile side to outsiders.
However, at this time, the emperor's mood was obviously agitated, so he had no concerns about Shen Yi who was present.
After sighing with emotion, the emperor turned to look at the sky, took a deep breath, sorted out his emotions, and said calmly: "Okay, the lunch break is almost over, we monarchs and ministers should continue to the front hall.
Go and listen to them quarrel, Shen Qing, you should also watch them quarrel more."
The emperor smiled and said: "Those people were quarreling. Although it was a bit boring, if you listen carefully, you can also hear some interesting things."
Shen Yi nodded immediately, lowered his head and said, "Your Majesty, please go to the front hall first."
The emperor thought for a while, nodded in agreement, and said with a smile: "You go alone, and you and I will go together, for fear of causing trouble for you."
Shen Yi breathed a sigh of relief.
He was really afraid that the emperor would suddenly go crazy and go back to the front hall with him. If he went back hand in hand, he would really be jealous.
Even if the people present are all high-ranking officials of level three or above, they will still be jealous.
After returning to the front hall, all the adults in the hall had finished their meals. Shen Yi glanced around and found that Jiang Jian had left and returned.
He was an official of the Ministry of War, at least an official on temporary duty in the Ministry of War. After Jiang Jian came back, he could no longer stand behind Zhao Changping, so after saying hello to Uncle Zhao, he stood silently behind Old Jiang, smiling.
Said: "Why didn't you arrive this morning? Did you send Young Master Jiang home?"
Old Man Jiang glanced back at Shen Yi and rolled his eyes slightly: "I came here early in the morning, wasn't I ordered to greet you?"
Having said this, the Minister of the Ministry of War squinted his eyes and smiled, and said: "Thanks to you, Ziheng, our Ministry of War's expenditure for next year has been passed by the Ministry of Household Affairs a few days ago, and our Ministry of War has no
There are other things that can be discussed. When I come here today, it’s just a formality. It doesn’t make any difference whether I come or not.”
Shen Yi said with a smile: "So, your Majesty has made a fortune."
"Then next year, how about giving Xiaguan 20,000 armor stomachs?"
Old Man Jiang turned around, glared at Shen Yi angrily, then coughed twice, and said angrily: "What do you mean, I've made a fortune? Those are the expenses of our Ministry of War, and every penny has to be accounted for. If I make a fortune,
What wealth?"
Seeing that he was coughing badly, Shen Yi quickly stepped forward, patted his back, and said with a smile: "My lord, don't be anxious, I'm just talking about the Ministry of War, not you."
"Return 20,000 armor stomachs!"
Old Man Jiang finally regained his composure, and said angrily: "You have emptied the Ministry of War warehouse. If you want it again, just bring a knife, wipe my neck off, and become the Minister of the Ministry of War yourself!
"
Mr. Shen said with a smile: "What you said, sir, we have worked together in the same yamen for so many years. How can I be willing to harm you?"
"When you retire and return to your hometown one day, all you have to do is recommend him to your Majesty for a lower position."
Jiang Jian knew that Shen Yi was joking with her. The little old man snorted, turned his head away, and stopped talking to Shen Yi.
Mr. Shen still patted Jiang Shangshu on the back.
"Your Majesty, I really want to have a stomach, I'm not joking."
Jiang Jian looked back at Shen Yi thoughtfully, and then said in a low voice: "Then I can't conjure it up for you. If you want a stomach, you have to get the nod from the court and let the weapons supervisor rush to make it. At most, the weapons supervisor will be able to make it by then.
When it's time to send it to the Ministry of War, I'll just ask someone to send it to you as soon as possible."
This is what Shen Yi wants.
With the cooperation of this old man, it will be much easier for him to get the equipment next year.
After all, this is an era of appalling inefficiency. If he doesn't urge him, he may not even be able to get the equipment he deserves by the end of next year.
After chatting with Old Man Jiang for a while, His Majesty the Emperor left and returned to continue presiding over the small court meeting.
Because there was nothing going on at the Ministry of War in the afternoon, Shen Yi, Jiang Jian, an old man and a young man, as well as the other two ministers of the Ministry of War, were all yawning and falling asleep.
Finally, at Shenshi, the Umrah meeting finally ended, and Shen Yi followed Jiang Jian to leave.
After the four people from the Ministry of War walked out of Deqing Palace, Shen Yi bowed his hands to the other two ministers and said goodbye, then looked at Jiang Jian and said with a smile: "Your Majesty, I just saw that many of the Great Nine Ministers took the initiative to say hello and salute to your Majesty.
It seems that our Ministry of War is in the imperial court..."
"It's so loud."
Jiang Shang hesitated for a moment, then nodded and said: "I do have to thank you Ziheng for this matter. With you in Huai'an, our Ministry of War is indeed much more prosperous than before. How could anyone pay attention to our Ministry of War when we came to the court to discuss it?"
The old man and the young man were walking and talking, and soon they arrived at the palace gate. Shen Yi was not going to report to the Ministry of War, so he said goodbye to the little old man.
Zhao Changping on the side was already waiting for Shen Yi.
Shen Yi walked up, saluted Zhao Shangshu, and said with a smile: "Uncle, aren't you going back to the household department?"
We have just entered Shenshi not long ago, and if we consider the time in another world, it has not yet reached four o'clock in the afternoon.
For a workaholic like Zhao Changping, he rarely misses work at this time.
Zhao Changping looked at Shen Yi's sleeves with a smile on his face: "Today's court meeting, the two ministers from the Ministry of Revenue are also here, and everything that should be decided has been decided. There is nothing too important, so I won't
Back to the Yamen."
"It's rare that you come back, Zi Heng. Let's go to my house together. I'll ask someone to call Qingque, mother and son, and we'll have a meal at my house in the evening."
Shen Yi was about to refuse when he heard Zhao Shangshu cough and said: "Your second brother didn't come back for the first time during the New Year. Your aunt will inevitably be worried about it. She may not believe what the master said, and she still wants you to go and talk to her."
say something."
Hearing this, Shen Yi nodded to express his understanding. He thought for a moment and said, "That's it, uncle. You go home first, and my nephew will go home as well."
He lowered his head and looked at the python robe on his body, and said with a wry smile: "I feel really uncomfortable wearing this outfit. I will go back and change my clothes, and soon I will take Qingque mother and son to my uncle's house to make trouble."
"What to change for?"
Zhao Shangshu looked at the python robe and laughed and said: "Others want to wear it, but they haven't had the opportunity yet. This dress is good. You can wear it and show it to your aunt."
After that, he couldn't help but watch Shen Yi walk to the entrance of the imperial city and get on the Zhao family's carriage.
The carriage soon stopped at the door of Zhao's house. Shen Yi, who was wearing a red embroidered python suit, got out of the carriage feeling uneasy and was pulled by Zhao Changping into Zhao's house.
When we arrived at Zhao's house, we naturally had to meet Mrs. Zhao.
Mrs. Zhao stretched out her hand to help Shen Yi up, then looked at the clothes Shen Yi was wearing, admiring her repeatedly. She first asked Shen Yi to sit down, then glanced at her husband, smiled at Shen Yi and said: "When Qilang came to our house
, I felt that Qilang was different from ordinary people, and he would definitely have a prosperous career in the future, and he has indeed prospered now."
Along the way, she glanced at Zhao Changping, smiled at Shen Yi and said, "Your uncle has been in the court for decades, and he has never seen the emperor reward him with such clothes."
Shen Yi couldn't sit still and said with a wry smile: "It was originally locked in the cabinet and I didn't plan to wear it. Today is His Majesty's special order and I have to wear it..."
He wiped the sweat from his forehead.
"It made my aunt laugh."
"How funny is this?"
Mrs. Zhao looked at Shen Yi's sleeves and let out a long sigh: "As long as your two senior brothers at home are as good as Qilang and you, my aunt will leave with a smile if she closes her eyes now."
Hearing this and seeing Zhao Changping standing aside, Shen Yi immediately understood and said with a smile: "Auntie is wrong. The eldest brother is studying at home. Not to mention, the second brother has really done a lot for the court in Huai'an in the past six months.
Less things to do.”
"Now, he is still in Huai'an handling gunpowder and firearms for military use. He is inseparable."
Shen Yi smiled and said: "Some time ago, my nephew reported his merits to the court. When the court discusses his merits and rewards, my second brother will definitely be rewarded."
"In the future, my second brother will not have a bright future."
"future?"
Mrs. Zhao was happy when she heard this. Although her eyes were full of smiles, she still said: "What future can he have? If he doesn't cause trouble to the family, my aunt will burn incense to fulfill her wish."
Shen Yi smiled and said: "That's not necessarily the case. I dare not say anything else. It may not be worse than Senior Brother Song."
As a mother, Mrs. Zhao was naturally happy when others praised her son, so she pulled Shen Yi to ask questions about Zhao Jizhou's actions in the army, and Shen Yi answered them truthfully.
While the two were talking, the Zhao family's daughter and son-in-law Song Ying also arrived at the Zhao Mansion. A moment later, Lu Ruoxi rushed over with her eldest son Shen Yuan. Zhao Shangshu was in a good mood and bent down to hug Shen Yuan.
I held him in my arms and played with him for a while.
Two families... or rather three families, had dinner at Zhao's house.
At the dinner table, everyone's eyes basically fell on Shen Yi's python robe, and Mr. Shen felt uncomfortable all over.
He has some social fears to some extent.
After drinking and eating, Lu Ruoxi took her son to play with the girls and children of the Zhao family, while Shen Yi followed Zhao Changping into the study of the Zhao family.
After the two people took their seats, Zhao Shangshu looked at Shen Yi and said with a smile: "After today's court discussion, no one dares to use their seniority to deny you, Ziheng, as the Minister of War!"
Shen Yi shook his head and said: "I am not a serious minister of the Ministry of War, and I have no real responsibility."
Zhao Shangshu said with a smile: "When the level is reached, the authority will come sooner or later."
"I don't know how many people in the imperial court are trapped in the fourth rank, unable to move for the rest of their lives."
Having said this, he looked up at Shen Yi and asked, "Is Ziheng going to go on the Northern Expedition next year?"
Shen Yi lowered his head and took a sip of tea. He was silent for a while and nodded.