Chapter 229: Father and Son Jointly Granted Third‑Rank Dukedom?

Therefore,

Even if Fang Congzhe and Xiong Cili advise that re‑granting Jia Jing would contravene the court's reward‑punishment system, from the civil officials' standpoint and in their statements there is no issue.

Even if Emperor Jing Sheng Di does not adopt their counsel, he should not wear a gloomy expression; it is his displeasure that is the problem.

Just as when the first victory report from the northwest reached the capital, Emperor Jing Sheng Di also said he would ennoble Jia Jing as Champion Marquis, a second‑rank title, didn't he?

But in the end, after the counsel of Elder Minister Chen and others, he only granted him the rank of Senior Third‑Rank General Who Campaigns West, and did not bestow the second‑rank Grand General title.

This is the art of imperial power.

Many things the Son of Heaven cannot state outright, lest he appear to slight his meritorious subjects; thus he must rely on his ministers' words to balance each other.

The reason Fang Congzhe and Xiong Cili oppose re‑granting is precisely because of this consideration! Civil officials and martial merits cannot be mixed!

But why does Emperor Jing Sheng Di behave so unusually this time?

He even uttered that the Champion Marquis owes a favor to the Son of Heaven—a remark that clearly exceeds the proper bounds of ruler‑subject relations.

Your Majesty's demeanor seems off!

Zhang Tingyu's ashen eyebrows twitched slightly, sensing something amiss, and he instinctively slipped his body behind Li Guangdi.

Fang Congzhe, however, lacked Zhang Tingyu's sensitivity; having just assumed the position of Grand Secretary of the Cabinet, he was eager to demonstrate his capability.

He paced forward, holding a jade tablet, and spoke again:

"Your Majesty's rewards and punishments are clear, your wisdom profound; I am not entirely in awe!"

"May I suggest that the merits of the Champion Marquis be awarded by the court in accordance with regulations, without any slight?"

"However, the Champion Marquis is still young; historically, those who ascend to high office at a tender age often suffer misfortune! Granting him a Third‑Rank Duke first reflects Your Majesty's benevolence and careful intention."

"As for the additional military merits of the Champion Marquis, they could be extended to his father Jia She, promoting his father from First‑Rank General to First‑Rank Marquis, converting the noble title into a military title."

"I have heard the Champion Marquis is a filial son; if his father were also ennobled, I think he would feel even more the Emperor's boundless grace!"

"Moreover, this would reward the Champion Marquis's military merits, leaving no suspicion that the court is neglecting a meritorious subject. May I know Your Majesty's thoughts?"

This is a scheme Fang Congzhe had been pondering for days in private, devised to counter the scenario where Emperor Jing Sheng Di insists on re‑granting Jia Jing.

It is indeed indefensible to leave merit unrewarded, yet the credit can be apportioned to his father Jia She.

This proposal has precedent; its core logic is the Da Han Empire's "Tuī'ēn" (granting grace) principle.

"Tuī'ēn" means the emperor extends an official's rank, honors, and certain benefits to his parents, grandparents, or even great‑grandparents.

Such ennoblements often add the character "Tai" before the title to indicate "descendant‑granted grace," intended to encourage loyalty and filial piety.

However, there is a problem: the titles usually bestowed on a meritorious subject's parents are not actual offices wielding power.

They are honorary ranks with grades, such as the scattered‑grade Guanglu Daifu or the Three‑Orphans titles.

If only these nominal posts are granted, it cannot be considered a transfer of military merit.

Thus Fang Congzhe proposes converting Jia She's First‑Rank General noble title into a non‑merit First‑Rank Marquis military title.

This shows that Jia Jing's military merits are being extended to his father Jia She, a special‑case "Tuī'ēn."

There is precedent for this in the Han Dynasty.

For example, last year Nian Gengyao was ennobled as a First‑Rank Marquis for his merits, and his father Nian Xialing was also granted a First‑Rank Marquis title; the father and son shared the same rank, with the father receiving part of the son's military merit.

Otherwise, given Nian Gengyao's position as Commander‑in‑Chief of Liaodong, his victory over False Qing last year should have at least earned him a Third‑Rank Duke!

During the era of Emperor Gaozu of Han, the practice of posthumously ennobling three generations of a founding meritorious family with military titles—known as the "joint ennoblement of three generations"—was also employed repeatedly.

Therefore, Fang Congzhe's proposal is both legitimate under Han regulations and exceedingly astute.

It not only swaps "filial piety" for "fairness," transferring Jia Jing's military merits to his father, thereby blocking public criticism of unrewarded merit, but also showcases Jia Jing's combined loyalty and filial devotion.

Of course,

The crucial point is that Jia She now lies on his sickbed, near death; granting him a First‑Rank Marquis, let alone a First‑Rank Duke, would be meaningless.

At that point it would only add a few more posthumous honors.

After his death, his legitimate son, lacking any military merit, would inherit a noble General title.

Thus, a nominal title would offset a large portion of Jia Jing's military merits!

Moreover, one cannot accuse the court of neglecting meritorious subjects; after all, in the Da Han Empire, which governs by filial virtue, ennobling a meritorious official's father as a Marquis is a sign of great esteem.

When Fang Congzhe finished speaking, the civil officials in the hall all lit up with approval!

Indeed!

This instantly resolves the ambiguity of rewards and punishments, and avoids re‑granting Jia Jing.

Who says that possessing military merit must result in the individual's promotion?

Bestowing a title on his father can also reward the merit!

Even if Jia Jing achieves further merits later, there will be no shortage of titles to grant; later his mother, wife, and son could also be ennobled.

Some quick‑thinking ministers have already considered that Jia Jing is still unmarried; perhaps this return to the capital could be used to "press him into marriage."

It would conveniently allow the court to later transfer military merits to his wife and children.

Xiong Cili's face brightened with joy, and he hurried to speak:

"Minister Fang, this method is brilliant! I also concur."

"I propose granting both Jia Jing and Jia She the rank of Third‑Rank Duke simultaneously; a father‑son joint dukedom would make for a fine story!"

Xiong Cili also knew Jia She had little time left; therefore, it would be better to directly grant the father and son a joint dukedom.

It would display the court's magnanimity toward meritorious subjects while leaving no future trouble.

Even these ministers would not have to risk blunt remonstrance and be labeled as neglectful of meritorious officials.

All the ministers in the hall showed pleased expressions, and Chen Tingjing also stepped forward to voice his agreement.

While the ministers' faces were joyful, Emperor Jing Sheng Di's gaze remained calm as water as he scanned the assembled officials, observing their changing expressions.

He fully understood that this was the civil officials' check on Jia Jing.

Jia She now lies on his sickbed, and whether he will survive this year is uncertain; granting him a Marquis or Duke title holds no practical significance.

If he had not known that Jia Jing was the dream‑fulfilling virtuous minister, he might have agreed to the proposal, nipping it in the bud and holding back.

But now, with the founding emperor's prophecy "Believe it and it will prosper; doubt it and it will perish" in hand, he would not risk destabilizing the Da Han Empire's fortunes by doubting it.

However, Jing Sheng Di did not rush to speak; he waited until the ministers fell silent, then asked the ever‑quiet Prince of Nan'an:

"Huo Qing, what is your opinion? You also have martial merit; how do you think Minister Jia should be rewarded for his achievements?"

Prince of Nan'an Huo Zhaoming stood there like an ancient pine, eyes half‑closed, having not intended to speak.

It was his first return to the court, and many affairs were still unfamiliar to him, so he thought to observe for a while before speaking.

Planning before deciding—that is the bearing of a great general, isn't it!