Chapter 232: Ministers: Are We All Shadows?

In the Qian Qing Gong, the ministers were all stunned by Emperor Jing Sheng Di's bestowal of a first‑rank Jing Duke title on Jia Jing.

Not only Zhang Tingyu was confused; the other ministers also felt strange.

Given the emperor's usual temperament, although he is a man of feeling, he is certainly not short‑sighted or willful.

Now, by showing such unbalanced confidence in Jia Jing and granting such a heavy honor, isn't the emperor afraid that he might later endanger the Da Han's state and its foundations?

But the emperor Jing Sheng Di's emotions had not yet fully released; he fell silent for a moment, then, with a hint of emotion, continued:

"Perhaps it is also Heaven's will; my era name is Jing Sheng, and Zi Jie's given name is Jia Jing."

"I am the light of the sun, Zi Jie is the light of jade; this light is bright, warm, and yet shines through the ages."

"I grant him the title of Jing Duke in hopes that he will truly become a beautiful jade that prospers our Da Han, and together we will illuminate the Da Han's future!"

Upon hearing this, the ministers could no longer contain themselves; the hall erupted in uproar.

Is this appraisal not a bit excessive??

Jia Zi Jie truly is a rare good general, with outstanding achievements!

But Your Majesty, you need not be so imaginative, elevating him so much!

When can a minister be compared with the sovereign? Will we still speak of the great principle of ruler and subject?

Moreover, you both the ruler and the minister are "light"?

Then what are we, the senior court officials?

Could we be the shadows that shroud the Da Han?

If it weren't for the fact that these words came directly from Emperor Jing Sheng Di, the ministers would spit at him!

And what about the Da Han's beautiful jade? It's sheer nonsense, utterly incomprehensible!

Fang Congzhe, Xiong Cili and others, seeing the emperor place such trust in a martial merit while disregarding the opinions of us civil ministers, grew even more sullen.

Fang Congzhe could no longer hold back, stepped forward and loudly presented his petition:

"Your Majesty, please reconsider! The era name is a symbol of imperial authority; using it as a title for martial merit is presumptuous and violates the principle of ruler‑subject relations."

"This is neither what a minister should have nor a blessing for a minister; even in history such an … unritualistic matter has never occurred!"

When these words were spoken, the ministers' faces varied, some wanting to echo the sentiment.

But seeing the emperor Jing Sheng Di's expression turn cold instantly, they hesitated.

Meanwhile, Prince of the North, Shui Rong, steadied himself and immediately stepped forward to rebut:

"Has it never occurred in history? I don't think so!"

"During Emperor Dezong of Tang's reign, there was the honorific 'Zhenyuan Fengtian Jingnan Gongchen'. The Southern Song also had the title 'Jianyan Yiyun Gongchen', both of which are awards that combine the era name with the merit."

"The intention is to define merit by rank and loyalty by era name; what is improper about that?"

The 'Zhenyuan Fengtian Dingnan Gongchen' mentioned by the Prince of the North refers to the 'era‑name + merit‑honor' composite title from the Tang Dezong period.

After the 'Fengtian difficulty', Emperor Dezong of Tang, to commend the pacifying meritorious officials, specially bestowed the title 'Fengtian Dingnan Gongchen'.

Later he added the era name 'Zhenyuan', forming the complete title 'Zhenyuan Fengtian Dingnan Gongchen'.

Among them, Li Sheng, for recapturing Chang'an and restoring the Tang house, was enfeoffed as 'Prince of Xiping', and granted the 'Zhenyuan Fengtian Dingnan Gongchen' title.

In fact, 'determine rank by merit, highlight loyalty by era name'.

Although this title is not a formal peerage, it was engraved on iron certificates and recorded in imperial edicts, representing the pinnacle of the 'era‑name + merit' style honor.

It is equivalent to permanently binding an individual's fate to the era symbol 'Zhenyuan Restoration'.

The 'Jianyan Yiyun Gongchen' mentioned by the Prince of the North is the Southern Song's early 'era‑named merit' system.

During the 'Jianyan' years, Emperor Gaozong of Song established the 'Yiyun Gongchen' title to rally anti‑Jin forces.

He appended the 'Jianyan' era name, creating the exclusive title 'Jianyan Yiyun Gongchen'.

Han Shizhong, Zhang Jun, Liu Guangshi, Yue Fei and other 'Four Generals of Restoration' all received this title.

The title could be hereditary and conferred special privileges; although not a 'Duke' or 'Marquis', it was a uniquely distinguished honor for a military commander.

The two characters 'Jianyan' symbolize the arduous beginning of 're‑establishing the Song house'; embedding the era name in the merit title aims to strengthen the political identity of 'sharing the nation's hardships and jointly ushering in restoration'.

Thus, the situation faced by Emperor Jing Sheng Di is similar to those cases, both aimed at reviving the dynasty.

His idea of linking his own era name with Jia Jing's ducal title also implies binding Jia Jing's fate to the Jing Sheng reign.

After all, Jia Jing is a Heaven‑ordained minister of the Da Han's revival, inherently tied to the nation's destiny.

But Fang Congzhe could not accept what the Prince of the North said; he gave Shui Rong a cold glance, and a phrase 'There are treacherous officials in the court' almost slipped from his mouth.

Yet he did not utter it, because the term 'treacherous official' had already become a laughingstock in the Da Han court.

He feared that if Shui Rong answered 'Do you know how to write the character meaning "treachery"?', he would truly be ridiculed alongside Xu Qianxue by the whole court!

Nevertheless, he did not readily endorse the Prince of the North's words; instead, he bowed again and, in a solemn voice, said:

"Your Majesty! If Jia Jing is granted a first‑rank Jing Duke, thereafter there will be no further titles to bestow; that would be detrimental to both him and the court!"

"Now the Jurchen and the chaotic forces are not yet eliminated, and the realm is in a turbulent season; throughout the court there are many opportunities for military use. Please, Your Majesty, plan for the future and leave some leeway!"

Fang Congzhe's statement now aligned with Xia Shouzhong's thoughts; he also did not claim that Jia Jing's merits were insufficient for a first‑rank Jing Duke.

Instead, he urged Emperor Jing Sheng Di to consider the future: having reached the pinnacle now, what will be done later?

The emperor Jing Sheng Di remained silent, turning his gaze toward the Prince of the North, Shui Rong.

He only today realized that, although the youngster is not adept at taking a wife, his eloquence is quite impressive.

Understanding Shui Rong's thoughts, he immediately stepped forward and said:

"What does 'no more titles to bestow' mean? Haven't the senior officials just offered suggestions earlier?"

"In the future, meritorious service could grant an additional title to the father of a Champion Marquis, and even when the Champion Marquis establishes a family, his wife and children could also be ennobled."

"Step back further: the Champion Marquis's grandmother, the Honored Lady of the Nation, is still alive; with so many relatives, why fear 'no more titles'? Isn't that exactly what you just said?"

Fang Congzhe's face flushed red from Shui Rong's probing, his anger flaring, and he stammered:

"I…"

The reason they just now spoke of granting Jia She a title is, first, to diminish Jia Jing's military merit this time, and second, because Jia She is about to die, granting him would be a hollow conferment.

In the end, it is the civil officials suppressing Jia Jing's rise, not wanting his current ennoblement to be too generous.

But if this time they confer the first‑rank Jingguo Duke, his power will already be at its limit! What significance would there be later in granting titles to his wife's kin?

Not to mention his foundation is already established and his wings are plentiful, even if they were to confer a title in the future, Jia She won't live to see that time.

At that point, the conferment would truly be a duke‑ or marquis‑level peerage that could bring wealth and honor for several generations, and they don't want that!

But these are all schemes they cannot expose to the light, so of course they cannot state them publicly.

Seeing the ministers all frozen in place, no one stepped forward with any dissenting opinion.