Chapter 228: Debating Titles and Merits, the Civil‑Military Dispute

Inside Qianqing Palace,

As Jing Sheng Di's words fell,

The ministers glanced at each other, each privately weighing how to submit their counsel.

Many of them had been secretly scheming for days on how to confer honors on Jia Jing.

Among them, the civil officials naturally did not want Jing Sheng Di to re‑grant Jia Jing, lest his military merits grow and threaten the authority of the cabinet ministers.

But how to phrase their advice was also crucial; they could not simply propose that merit go unrewarded, for not only would Jing Sheng Di refuse, it would also harm their own reputations.

As cabinet ministers, their proposals must have a clear precedent; at minimum they must appear justified on the surface, lest they be subject to idle gossip.

Just as the civil ministers were pondering,

Prince of North Tranquility Shui Rong, who had been standing silently in the hall, stepped forward first, holding a jade tablet, and spoke to the court:

"Your Majesty, I think Champion Marquis Jia Jing achieved nine victories in nine battles, pacified the steppe, and captured the Northern Yuan Khan Ba Tu Mengke."

"He sealed the Wolf's Stronghold, drank horses in the Vast Sea, his achievements are unparalleled—no such supreme military merit has occurred in our dynasty since the founding emperor."

"Champion Marquis was originally a first‑rank marquis; based on his merits he should be promoted to a first‑rank duke and elevated to Second Rank Grand Cavalry General."

"Just now the court demonstrated clear reward and punishment, which can inspire our Han Army soldiers to a spirit of self‑sacrifice and vigor!"

Prince of North Tranquility is the most closely allied among the four founding kings of the dynasty with the Jia Mansion, and his principal consort Zhen is also an old family friend of the Jia Family.

The two families are tightly linked, sharing honor and disgrace.

Thus, at this moment, Shui Rong stepped forward first to enumerate Jia Jing's military merits, showing support for his re‑granting.

Moreover, Jing Sheng Di had just characterized Jia Jing's merits as "a legacy for millennia," clearly indicating a desire for abundant honors.

In addition, in recent days Prince of North Tranquility had heard rumors that Jing Sheng Di intended to confer upon Jia Jing a first‑rank duke and Second Rank.

He supports this grant without fearing overstepping, seeing it instead as carrying out Jing Sheng Di's will.

When the Prince of North Tranquility finished speaking, the newly appointed Grand Scholar Xiong Cili's expression changed, and he immediately stepped forward, saying:

"Your Majesty, Champion Marquis's achievements in this campaign are indeed outstanding, pacifying the steppe frontier and greatly boosting our dynasty's military prestige and morale!"

"During the north‑west crisis, he stepped forward, winning battle after battle, contributing to the state!"

Xiong Cili first affirmed Jia Jing's merits; the victorious report of this campaign has already been broadcast from the court to the realm.

It set the nation ablaze; Jia Jing's merits cannot be erased by any means!

Their cabinet Grand Scholars also value propriety; they could not arbitrarily invert truth and falsehood, which would only invite ridicule and damage their own reputation.

Nevertheless, the honors for the Champion Marquis still need to be tempered; his authority is indeed too great and could destabilize the court.

They just need a suitable pretext!

Immediately, Xiong Cili's tone shifted, and he continued:

"But… since His Majesty's simple appointment, Champion Marquis entered service as an Eighth Rank Military Officer."

"In less than three years, he rose to Second Rank First‑rank Champion Marquis, Western General, Governor of the Three Borders, with titles and offices advancing repeatedly."

"Now, at twenty‑one, he already holds the highest ministerial rank, commanding hundreds of thousands of troops in the northwest, a testament to the Emperor's boundless favor, as vast as the sea."

"I think, Your Majesty, if you have a mind to preserve, you should leave some leeway."

"Therefore I advise promoting the Champion Marquis to a Third‑rank Duke and granting him a Second Rank Grand General of the West, to reward his merits!"

Xiong Cili's meaning was clear: he did not deny Jia Jing's merits, but the court had never slighted him, and tempering the speed of promotion now is also for his benefit.

He knew Jia Jing's elevation was now unavoidable, and merely suggested a Third‑rank dukedom and a Second Rank promotion.

After Xiong Cili finished, Fang Congzhe echoed:

"Your Majesty, I concur with the elder Xiong's words!"

"Although Jia Jing has established military merit, his youth and shallow experience make him prone to arrogance; granting a Third‑rank dukedom is a prudent safeguard!"

"Moreover, the Jia Family already holds two ducal titles, wealth at its peak; if Jia Jing is granted another national dukedom, it would become three ducal titles for one lineage, which is excessive!"

"Even with imperial favor as vast as the sea, some leeway must remain!"

Fang Congzhe's point was essentially the same as Xiong Cili's, advising to temper Jia Jing's honors, also for his own safety!

He also highlighted that the Jia Family already has three ducal titles, wealth at its limit, and should be restrained.

After their remonstrances, the assembled officials wore varied expressions, and for a moment no one spoke.

Seated behind the imperial desk, Jing Sheng Di slightly furrowed his brows.

He had anticipated that the civil ministers would not readily agree to re‑grant Jia Jing, but he did not expect them to press so hard with such untenable reasons.

All talk of prudence, preservation, and leeway is merely empty rhetoric!

Although the Jia Family has three ducal titles, the titles of the two older dukes passed down to this generation are merely honorary.

They hold no real power, merely ornamental, and cannot be said to have reached ultimate wealth.

Jing Sheng Di's expression darkened slightly; after a moment he said in a deep voice:

"The court's system lies in clear reward and punishment! If merit goes unrewarded, how can we win the hearts of the people and the army?"

"Zi Jie's promotions are all because of his merits to the court."

"Last year a battle annihilated over a hundred thousand False Qing troops; this year he again defeated the Northern Yuan and pacified the steppe, all great deeds that saved the state from peril!"

"His rapid rise is not due to any special favor from me, but because he has rendered service to me and the court."

"He is not a lucky newcomer, but a pillar of the Han state, and there is no need to mention his youth or inexperience!"

"In the past, Gan Luo, at twelve, distinguished by his wit, captured sixteen cities for Qin without a single soldier, and was ennobled by King Ying Zheng as a Senior Minister, reaching the highest ministerial rank."

"Champion Marquis Huo Qubing was ennobled at seventeen, and at twenty served as Grand Marshal and Grand Cavalry General."

"Thus even the Qin Emperor's martial sovereign awarded subjects based on merit, not on age or seniority."

"In the early days of our dynasty, the founding emperor also granted dukes and marquises to those in their twenties; why is Zi Jie now an exception?"

"I will speak plainly: while the nation's prized instruments should not be awarded frivolously, it is even worse to leave merit unrewarded. Otherwise the state's order collapses, and the hearts of frontline soldiers who bleed for the country will grow cold!"

"First, let us discuss the rank; the specific promotion will be decided later."

Jing Sheng Di's words were simply to clearly tell the officials in the hall, reward according to merit; this is the basic premise of this discussion.

The several civil officials in the hall, upon hearing Jing Sheng Di's words, all showed a hint of solemnity on their faces.

His heart sank slightly, knowing that this time wanting to stop Jing Sheng Di from re-enfeoffing Jia Jing would be difficult.

Zhang Tingyu beside him slightly furrowed his brows, he quickly glanced at Jing Sheng Di's expression.

Seeing his solemn expression, not like he was speaking empty words, he couldn't help but feel somewhat doubtful.

How could he feel that the Son of Heaven's trust in Jia Jing had deepened again!

By rights, the advice of Fang Congzhe and Xiong Cilu is not without reason.

Moreover, since ancient times, civil officials and military generals mutually attacking and checking each other is the scene that all emperors wish to see.

No emperor wishes to see civil officials and military generals truly without conflict, even united together; then the emperor ought to lose sleep.