Chapter 41: Long Power
"Your Majesty, after some discussion, we feel that Jiang Qingzhi should be granted the title of Earl."
Yan Song submitted a memorial.
Yan Song and Yan Shifan discussed the issue of conferring a title on Jiang Qingzhi. Someone from the Ministry of Rites was demoted to a commoner last time because of this matter, so they were afraid to speak up. So they carefully selected more than ten titles and presented them.
Yan Song carefully watched the expression of Emperor Jiajing.
But what kind of person is Daoye? His face is like a thousand-year-old iceberg, motionless.
After a long time, Emperor Jiajing threw the memorial on the desk.
"Your Majesty..." Yan Song asked tentatively, "Is it inappropriate?"
These more than ten titles are of various styles. Logically, Emperor Jiajing should be satisfied!
"Ominous."
Emperor Jiajing flicked his whisk.
"Then I will think about it when I get back." Yan Song decided to go back and ask Yan Shifan for advice.
"No need."
The Taoist threw down a piece of paper.
Yan Song bent over and picked it up.
"Lord Changyun?"
This!
Yan Song raised his head and said, "Your Majesty, this... this title will probably cause dissatisfaction among the ministers!"
The word "Changyun" can only be used to describe the prosperity of a country or an emperor.
As a subject, who dares to use it?
This is an act of usurpation and disrespect.
"After Zuo Shunmen, I haven't used the imperial cane for a long time."
Emperor Jiajing said calmly.
Yan Song seemed to see the scene at Zuo Shunmen back then: countless officials were stripped of their clothes and pressed to the ground. The wolf-like Jinyiwei raised their boards and beat them hard...
The screams of agony echoed throughout the imperial city.
Bloody.
His body trembled.
"Yes."
……
"Sir, someone from the court has arrived."
Jiang Qingzhi was thinking about how to impress Emperor Jiajing when someone from the court arrived.
Lord Changyun!
"Lord." The official from the Ministry of Rites who was in charge of this matter smiled very fakely, and one could even feel a bit of gloating. "The title of Lord Changyun is unprecedented. Your Majesty's love for you is evident!"
Jiang Qingzhi didn't know much about the title of nobility. "Is it rare?"
"It is unheard of that a minister is given a title of Changyun." The official said with a smile, "Congratulations, Lord."
What the hell!
Isn’t this God’s will?
Jiang Qingzhi felt his hair stand on end.
"Your Majesty actually used the title of Changyun, which is to tell Lord Bo that the Jiang family should prosper along with the Ming Dynasty!"
The official's smile was fake.
"Thank you for your hard work." Jiang Qingzhi said to Fu Cheng, "Where's the tea?"
Fu Cheng quickly apologized, "I was so happy that I forgot about it."
Jiang Qingzhi's apology seemed so sincere that the official could not help but sigh: "Before I came here, my colleagues in the Ministry of Rites said that the Lord was arrogant, but all I saw was humility. It shows that rumors can kill people!"
"Rumors stop with wise men." Jiang Qingzhi sighed as if he had met a bosom friend. This was a roundabout way of praising the officials of the Ministry of Rites as wise men.
Fucheng glanced at the official and then went out.
Sun Chonglou was outside, mumbling excitedly. Fucheng listened carefully and realized that he was reporting the good news to his deceased master Jiang Gan.
"...Master, the young master is an uncle now."
Dou Jialan was also there, and whispered, "I heard that someone in the Ministry of Rites was dismissed because of you, so the officials in the Ministry of Rites are quite dissatisfied with you, so be careful..."
Look for yourself... Fucheng pointed behind him, Dou Jialan took a step forward and looked carefully.
The official from the Ministry of Rites who presided over the matter was all smiles, and looked at Jiang Qingzhi as if they were old friends.
"How could this be?" Dou Jialan was puzzled.
Jiang Qingzhi was able to rise outside the region among a group of ruthless alien races, forming alliances and using all kinds of tricks... It was a waste of his talent to use those methods to trick an official from the Ministry of Rites.
"Young Master's methods..." Fu Cheng shook his head, his voice so low that it could not be heard, "I am beginning to believe that the Jiang family will surely prosper for a hundred years."
He didn't know that what Jiang Qingzhi wanted was for the Ming Dynasty to survive for another 500 years.
Moreover, Jiang Qingzhi had instructed beforehand not to serve tea yet.
When the officials from the Ministry of Rites came to the Jiang family and saw that there was not even a cup of tea, they were already dissatisfied with Jiang Qingzhi, so they were bound to be furious.
At this time, Jiang Qingzhi's humble attitude surprised the officials of the Ministry of Rites, who felt that it was inconsistent with the rumors.
This is the effect of the psychological gap caused by first suppressing and then praising.
Jiang Qingzhi was adept at this kind of psychological trick and easily fooled the official from the Ministry of Rites.
"please."
Tea was delivered.
The official from the Ministry of Personnel took a sip and squinted his eyes. "This is... wonderful!"
"It's a gift from His Majesty, and I'll keep it." Jiang Qingzhi took a sip carefully. In the corner of Jiang Qingzhi's study, a large jar of tea was placed casually.
It turns out that Lord Changyun is so generous... The officials of the Ministry of Rites felt a surge of warmth in their hearts, but then Jiang Qingzhi shook his head and said, "I dare not accept this title."
Later, the official said goodbye and went back to the Ministry of Rites first. Someone came to ask him if Jiang Qingzhi had been rude, and he scolded him.
"Mr. Jiang is such a kind person, but you slandered him like this, you are not worthy of being a human being!"
The officials of the Ministry of Rites were furious. One of them sneered, "To confer a title based on blood relationship, bah!"
"Haha!" The official from the Ministry of Rites laughed in anger, "Do you know why I still call him Mr. Jiang?"
Everyone is puzzled.
The official from the Ministry of Rites pointed in the direction of Mingyufang and said, "Mr. Jiang did not receive the imperial edict and immediately submitted a memorial, saying that he was not talented enough and did not dare to use Changyun as his title. I beg Your Majesty to revoke the order."
"This man... is extremely cunning!"
"Exactly."
The official from the Ministry of Rites sneered and walked away.
Someone said: "We should submit a letter to the court."
"That's how it should be."
The memorials were sent to the court, and Yan Song read them. Most of them criticized Jiang Qingzhi for receiving the title without any merit.
Yan Song withheld the memorial.
Emperor Jiajing is still sleeping at this moment.
I didn't know that there was an uproar outside about my decision.
"Motosuke!"
In the afternoon, Yan Song was intercepted when he came from Xiyuan to the office of the six ministries outside the palace.
Dozens of officials angrily opened fire on Jiang Qingzhi.
"Your Majesty once said that it is inappropriate for relatives to receive titles without merit, but now Jiang Qingzhi has been granted the title of Earl. Why didn't the Prime Minister speak up?" "We should go to their house and beat them!"
The scholars love to be unreasonable. When they get together, they beat up anyone they are dissatisfied with. Who dares to punish us?
This is exactly the situation where the law does not punish the masses. Do you really think that if the common people take action in large numbers, nothing will happen to them afterwards?
If you have the guts, go and try it. I guarantee that no one will escape.
The so-called "the law does not hold everyone responsible" refers to these scholars and officials.
A group of people looked at Yan Song eagerly.
Yan Song coughed dryly, and his swollen eyes suddenly became sharp.
"Who gave you the courage to discuss state affairs?"
When a big hat was put on them, everyone's face changed.
It is better for the county magistrate to be in charge now. The emperor has no time to manage these officials, but Yan Song, as the prime minister, can ruin them with just one word.
"Your Majesty will make the decision. If you discuss this matter any further, I will punish you severely!"
In the afternoon, Emperor Jiajing was awakened by his beloved pet Shuangmei.
"Meow!"
Frosty Eyebrows lay on the chest of Emperor Jiajing.
"Hmm!" Emperor Jiajing stroked his beloved pet.
……
"Sir, His Majesty is a person who will not tolerate rejection." Fu Cheng thought his master was crazy. "Someone rejected His Majesty's reward and was soon sent to the northwest to serve as an official. Now that person regrets it so much that he submits petitions to the court every now and then to flatter His Majesty, but His Majesty will not pay any attention to him."
"Old Fu, just wait and see. His Majesty will definitely change his title and be happy." Jiang Qingzhi took a sip of tea and frowned, "This is the tea His Majesty drinks. Is this the taste?"
Fu Cheng stamped his feet, "Sir, this matter needs to be remedied!"
"Old Fu, calm down." Jiang Qingzhi thought to himself: The Taoist's methods are perfect. If I hadn't been tested a lot in my previous life, I would have been thrown into the fire pit by him.
Jiang Qingzhi ordered, "Shitou, ask them to make a cup of sour plum soup."
……
The weather was a little hot. After drinking a cup of sour and sweet plum soup, Emperor Jiajing listened to Huang Jin's report.
"Mr. Jiang said that the title of Changyun is so precious that he dare not accept it."
"Hmm!" As expected, Emperor Jiajing snorted coldly.
This time, Jiang Qingzhi hit a wall... Huang Jin laughed secretly in his heart.
"Your Majesty, this is a memorial."
There was a hint of coldness in Emperor Jiajing's eyes. He took the memorial and glanced at it casually.
This one glance, and I was fixed.
——The ministers have ulterior motives, but the overall situation is more important. I am unwilling to cause discord between Your Majesty and the ministers again because of one person.
Emperor Jiajing was extremely intelligent, and extremely intelligent people cannot tolerate opposition.
If you want to impress such people, you must start from their fundamental interests and the things they care about.
What did Emperor Jiajing care about?
Monasticism?
Wrong, practicing Buddhism is just his solace.
What he cared about most was the destiny of the Ming Dynasty.
However, his ministers said that the emperor was absurd and ignored the affairs of state, which showed that he did not care about the Ming Dynasty.
What a bunch of idiots!
Jiang Qingzhi felt that it was no wonder that these ministers were defeated by Emperor Jiajing alone.
If Emperor Jiajing didn't care, how could he have hidden himself in the Western Garden for many years and still been able to keep the government firmly in his hands?
Xia Yan, Yan Song, Xu Jie... Which of these people is not powerful? In another dynasty, under another emperor, they could become powerful ministers, but they trembled in fear under the Jiajing Emperor who seemed to ignore state affairs and did not dare to step out of line.
How many emperors in history can compare with this superb method?
Therefore, Jiang Qingzhi took action from the area that Emperor Jiajing cared about most.
Huang Jin was waiting for his master's wrath to come.
That upstart has been too successful, it's time for him to learn a lesson.
He looked down at the shoe surface, thinking about Jiang Qingzhi's attitude towards him.
He seemed neither humble nor arrogant, and even... looked at me with some scrutiny, as if he had heard of me many years ago.
"Huang Jin."
"I'm here, slave."
"How is Jing'an?"
what?
Huang Jin didn't react.
"You little dog slave!" The Emperor Jiajing suddenly exploded with anger.
Huang Jin knelt down in panic, "Your Majesty, Jing'an... Your Majesty is talking about..."
"I asked, how does the Earl of Qingzhi use Jing'an?" Emperor Jiajing raised his eyes, "Never mind, it's too ordinary."
what?
Huang Jin looked up in dismay, thinking that His Majesty actually listened to Jiang Qingzhi's advice.
Is there something wrong with my ears?
"Qingzhi is so considerate of me, this title should be taken seriously."
There was a hint of amusement in Emperor Jiajing's eyes, and Huang Jin's body trembled.
The word "Changyun" seems to be pampering Jiang Qingzhi, but it is also putting Jiang Qingzhi on the fire!
……
"This is putting Jiang Qingzhi on the fire."
At the Yan family, Yan Shifan, who had just woken up from a hangover, heard about this and said to Yan Song: "If Jiang Qingzhi accepts it calmly, he will be unworthy of great use! This is your majesty testing Jiang Qingzhi's vision and response methods. Dad, good news."
Yan Song smiled and said, "So, today, I am frightening those officials to remind Your Majesty that Jiang Qingzhi is too favored, which is not a blessing!"
"Hahahaha!"
……
“How many people are waiting to see the joke.”
Emperor Jiajing suddenly looked at Huang Jin, "Are you the same?"
"I dare not." Huang Jin's thoughts were exposed and he broke out in a sweat.
"Dog slave!"
Emperor Jiajing snorted coldly, "Jing'an is not good enough, so..."
After a while, someone went to Yan's house to report the news.
"Your Majesty has just changed his mind."
what?
That stubborn emperor actually changed his mind?
Is this the sun coming out in the west?
Even Yan Shifan was shocked.
"What was it changed to?"
"Jiang Qingzhi's title of Earl was changed from Earl of Changyun to... Earl of Changwei."
"Changwei..." Yan Song sighed, "What a good name!"
……
Asking for votes.
(End of this chapter)
