Chapter 398: Reopening the Noble Titles

"We need to think of a way too."

Huang Kezuan glanced at Han Kuang and said with a somewhat helpless tone: "This matter, I'm afraid we can't get our hands into it. The Ministry of War is in Sun Chengzong's hands, and the Hundred Crafts Institute is in Xu Guangqi's hands. If we want to intervene, we'd have to seize power from them, which won't be easy."

"Besides, there's also the Staff Office eyeing us covetously from the side. For us to advance even one step is too difficult."

"Indeed." Han Kuang also nodded and said: "But everything depends on human effort; there's always a chance after all. If we put some work into Liaodong, whether it's Wang Zaijin of Liaodong or Xiong Tingbi, we can make contact with either of them."

"If we can't do it in the court, then think of other ways. Solutions are always thought up by people."

"That works too." Huang Kezuan nodded and said: "But this matter cannot be rushed. Our current focus should still be the Imperial Academy reform. Have people keep an eye on it—we can't let Cui Chengxiu's credit be reaped too high, and we can't let things get screwed up either."

"If things do get screwed up, it wouldn't be bad to have our own people take over." Han Kuang said after thinking for a moment.

Huang Kezuan shook his head and said with a grave face: "This matter offends too many people and is too difficult. If our people did it, the gains wouldn't be worth the losses. Let Cui Chengxiu do it well for now. Once there are achievements later, it won't be too late for us to reach in. After all, everyone knows that the difficulty of the Imperial Academy reform lies not in the capital, but in Jiangnan."

"When the reform truly meets resistance, we'll still have room to maneuver. Just have Feng Congwu and the others make their preparations—there will be plenty of opportunities in this matter. As long as we don't get hit with a dirty trick."

"What you say makes sense. Let's do it as you say." Han Kuang nodded.

"It's about time. We should head out as well." Huang Kezuan put down the teacup in his hand and said: "The people outside must be getting impatient, wondering what we're discussing in here."

"Let them think what they will." Han Kuang said in a casual tone.

As the two walked out of the room, they happened to run into Sun Chengzong and Xu Guangqi.

The four of them smiled at each other and exchanged greetings, then went their separate ways.

Everyone understood in their hearts that a new struggle had already begun.

As for Sun Chengzong and Xu Guangqi, the two of them didn't have any deep contradictions between themselves—cooperating benefited both.

Besides, in the court, it had always been allies today and rivals tomorrow. Everyone was already used to it, so no one found it strange.

They each returned to their work with their own thoughts, and for a time, the Grand Secretariat fell quiet.

At this moment, inside the imperial palace.

Zhu Youxiao was deep in thought.

After thinking it over, Zhu Youxiao turned his head to look at Chen Hong and said: "Summon the people of the Staff Office for a meeting."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Chen Hong quickly acknowledged and turned to walk out.

Since the establishment of the Staff Office, although Zhu Youxiao had taken them to Shandong and had been supporting them all along, in terms of actual power, the Staff Office still fell far short. This was not what Zhu Youxiao wanted to see.

For instance, with this Liaodong war report, it was the Ministry of War and the Grand Secretariat that received it first. Though this seemed like a trivial matter, in reality it represented power.

To change this would require extra time and effort, because this was a reform from the top down.

However, there was one thing Zhu Youxiao could do now.

Before long, Chen Hong walked back in from outside.

He said respectfully: "Your Majesty, regarding the Liaodong war report, the Embroidered Uniform Guard has sent over new intelligence."

Though it was called new intelligence, it was actually not a report of victory.

The court's victory reports used fast horses and traveled through the relay stations, so they were extremely quick.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard also used fast horses and relay stations, and could match the speed, but since this was not a victory announcement, the contents were far more detailed, so it arrived later.

This was a secret memorial.

Zhu Youxiao reached out and took it.

While flipping through the secret memorial, Zhu Youxiao looked at Chen Hong and asked: "Have all the people of the Staff Office arrived?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, they have arrived." Chen Hong quickly answered.

Zhu Youxiao nodded.

In this secret memorial, the Embroidered Uniform Guard gave a detailed account of this campaign in Liaodong, from troop deployments to personnel arrangements, and then to the entire course of the battle—it could be said that nothing was omitted.

After reading this secret memorial, Zhu Youxiao finally breathed a sigh of relief inside.

Clearly, Xiong Tingbi had not rashly gone into battle, but had made thorough preparations, and had not considered victory first, but had considered defeat first. This point made Zhu Youxiao quite satisfied, as it aligned with the general direction of his own arrangements.

Moreover, after the great victory, Xiong Tingbi had not rashly pressed the attack, but had continued to maintain the proper posture, and his cautious mindset had not changed either. This was very good.

Putting down the secret memorial in his hand, Zhu Youxiao said: "Have them come in."

Before long, several people from the Staff Office walked in from outside.

The people of the Staff Office were all somewhat excited. This was the first time His Majesty had summoned them for a meeting since the Staff Office was established, and especially at this juncture right after Liaodong had won. Clearly, the significance of this meeting was extraordinary.

Zhu Youxiao's gaze swept over the several people, and he said: "Beloved ministers, no need for ceremony."

Among the several people of the Staff Office were Zhang Weixian, the Duke of Ying, Zhu Chunchen, the Duke of Cheng, as well as Yuan Keli and Li Zhizao.

As for Sun Chuanting, he was no longer in the Staff Office at this time, but had gone to the Western Imperial Guard Command Office.

So now, within the Staff Office, there were only these four people before him.

After Zhang Weixian and the others had all sat down, Zhu Youxiao said: "This time, I have summoned you beloved ministers because there is a matter I wish to discuss with you."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Weixian and the other three quickly sat up straight, waiting for His Majesty to continue.

"I imagine you beloved ministers have already learned of the Liaodong campaign." Zhu Youxiao's gaze swept over Zhang Weixian and the others as he said: "That Liaodong was able to win this time fills my heart with joy. It shows that Xiong Tingbi deployed things properly, and that the officers and soldiers of Liaodong all did their duty."

"The matter I wish to discuss with you beloved ministers concerns the rewards for the officers and soldiers of Liaodong."

After hearing these words, the expressions on Zhang Weixian and the others' faces did not change, but inwardly they could not help but feel somewhat puzzled.

Did this matter really need to be discussed?

Had His Majesty not already tasked the Grand Secretariat with handling this matter?

Could it be that His Majesty wanted to hand this matter over to the Staff Office?

That would indeed be a good thing. Being able to take this power away from the Grand Secretariat would definitely be a good thing for the Staff Office.

Setting aside whether the Grand Secretariat was willing to give it up, even if they were willing, wasn't it a bit late now?

But since His Majesty had 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 Great Ming, the titles of nobility in the Great Ming have only gone up to earl. I believe you beloved ministers are all well aware of this point." Zhu Youxiao continued: "What I mean to do is to revise the system of noble titles."

Upon hearing Zhu Youxiao's words, the faces of everyone changed color—they truly could not maintain their composure.

Noble titles had always been an extremely sensitive matter.

The Ming Dynasty once had many noble titles, but later they were abolished until only the rank of Earl remained, with nothing below it. So the number of meritorious aristocrats in the Ming Dynasty was indeed not that great.

There was another crucial point — back in the day, the Founding Emperor had killed quite a few meritorious aristocrats. If not for the fact that after Ancestor Emperor's rebellion he enfeoffed some new meritorious aristocrats, their numbers would probably be far fewer than they are now.

Now the Emperor was making moves on noble titles again — it was impossible not to feel uneasy at heart.

What was His Majesty planning to do?

Zhu Youxiao did not beat around the bush either, and said directly: "I wish to reopen the ranks of Viscount and Baron, starting this time with Liaodong, to be used as heavy rewards for the officers and soldiers of Liaodong."

This matter had been circling in Zhu Youxiao's mind for quite some time. He had pondered it for a long while, but simply had never found an appropriate opportunity to put it into practice.

Since Liaodong had now presented such an opportunity, how could Zhu Youxiao possibly let it pass?

Duke, Marquis, Earl, Viscount, Baron — the Ming Dynasty did not have the latter two, and control over noble titles had always been relatively strict.

But Zhu Youxiao did not think this was a good thing either. As the saying goes, flowing water never stagnates, and a door hinge never gets worm-eaten — when nothing moves, everything becomes especially rigid. And these noble titles at court were not something he could casually tamper with either.

In this world, no matter what it is, once there is too much of it, it ceases to be valuable. That is how depreciation comes about.

If Zhu Youxiao wanted to foster new meritorious aristocrats, the noble titles had to be adjusted, and at the same time he needed to give the officers and soldiers in the army a hope. Dukes and Marquises could not be granted, but Viscounts and Barons were still something one could think about.

Under such circumstances, a batch of strivers would inevitably emerge from the army. Under heavy reward, there will always be brave men — a true man gambles for the ennoblement of his wife and the inheritance of his sons.

Moreover, the rise of new meritorious aristocrats would inevitably impact the old ones. When that time came, things would get stirred up. These old fellows at court — he could watch and clean them up as he pleased.

Once the old fellows were cleaned up, there would be people to take their place, and the power structure in the army would gain a ladder of succession. There would be no worry that after cleaning up the old fellows, with no one behind to step up, some chaos might break out.

This was a matter of a hundred benefits and not a single harm. The only thing Zhu Youxiao worried about was perhaps having to spend a bit more on salaries.

But Zhu Youxiao did not take that to heart at all. As for money — the thing about it was, once you got it in hand, it was meant to be spent. An emperor could not be a miser. Spending money only mattered in terms of whether it could create greater benefits. If it could, then the money was worth spending.

The court was already spending money to support a pile of useless idlers — the meritorious aristocrats, for instance, the noble relatives, for instance, and the imperial clansmen, for another.

Supporting a few more meritorious officers and soldiers was hardly a big matter. As long as he succeeded this time, it would be much easier to make further cuts later.

To take, one must first give — Zhu Youxiao understood this principle very well.

Zhang Weixian and the others had not expected that what the Emperor was talking about was this matter. It was not about moving against everyone's titles, but rather about newly granting Barons and Viscounts.

It sounded like there was no major problem — indeed, it was a good thing. Whether for the officers and soldiers fighting on the frontiers or for the ministers present here in court, this was a good thing.