General of Chariots and Cavalry, a position equal to the Three Dukes, with the privilege of establishing his own headquarters!
"Your Majesty..."
He Wanli, the Minister of Personnel, could not help but speak out, but met the displeased gazes of Xiao Qing and Ning Xuejun. He suddenly broke out in a cold sweat and dared not make a sound.
The imperial edict had not yet finished being read. As a Minister of Personnel and an official of the Ministry of Rites, he should understand propriety the most. How could he make noise!
"Minister of War, Marquis of Wanling, Dugu Qun, over sixty years old, still mobilized his family to donate millions, meritorious! Promoted to Tongpingzhangshi, titled Shi Xiang, with the added title of Grand Tutor, and an increase of five hundred households in stipends!"
As soon as the words fell, all the officials were shocked!
Dugu Qun was stunned for a moment, then his pupils contracted and his heart pounded!
Shi Xiang??
This Shi Xiang was a first-rank official, higher than the Minister of War. The Grand Tutor was the nominal head of all officials…
But the problem was, both were honorary positions. They directly left the post of Minister of War vacant, which was a typical promotion in title but demotion in substance!
Dugu Qun felt choked, but he also knew that the imperial edict was still being read. He could only suppress his unwillingness for the time being.
"Vice Minister of War, Zhuo Wulüe, made meritorious contributions to defense during his tenure as Northern Border Military Advisor. He returned to the capital to report his duties, is well aware of the affairs of the Ministry of War, and is a descendant of the founding Prime Minister Zhuo Mingfeng, highly respected. Promoted from Vice Minister of War to Minister of War, rewarded with a thousand taels of gold!"
"The generals under Minister Liang have all made great contributions!"
"General Anbei, Marquis Lv Changhe, has outstanding military achievements and was promoted from General Anbei to General Zhenbei, with an increase of two thousand households in stipends and ten thousand taels of gold! Mu Hong exceeded the quota for urgently needed weapons and equipment for our army, meritorious in planning and commanding. Promoted from the Directorate of Armaments to Vice Minister of War, concurrently serving as General Zhenxi, enfeoffed as Marquis, with two thousand households in stipends and ten thousand taels of gold!"
"General of the Vanguard, Zhuo Ying, deputy general of the White Robe Army, meritorious in raiding the camp, ranked below Lv Changhe and Mu Hong. Promoted from General of the Vanguard to General Anbei, enfeoffed as Marquis, with one thousand five hundred households in stipends and ten thousand taels of gold! General Pinglu, Nan Jiyun, followed the White Robe Army in breaking through enemy formations with merit, and also led the Great Gan Iron Guard to form a formation and defeat the enemy. Promoted from General Pinglu to General Anxi, enfeoffed as Marquis, with one thousand five hundred households in stipends and eight thousand taels of gold!"
"House attendant Nie Yuan followed the White Robe Army in breaking through enemy formations with merit, and also led the Qingtian Guard to form a formation and defeat the enemy, serving as General of Cavalry, enfeoffed as Marquis of Guannei, rewarded with a thousand taels of gold! House attendant Yue Qingtian followed the White Robe Army in breaking through enemy formations with merit, and also led the Qingtian Guard to form a formation and defeat the enemy, leading the charge. Served as General Lifeng, enfeoffed as Marquis of Guannei, rewarded with a thousand taels of gold! Military Sima Liu Fan meritorious in planning and commanding, served as General Zhechong, enfeoffed as Marquis of Guannei, rewarded with five hundred taels of gold!"
"The other generals who participated in the battle in Yanzhou have all made great contributions. I will discuss the rewards with the Prime Minister and Minister Liang, and other loyal ministers. The rewards will not be less than that of a Marquis outside the pass, promotions will not be less than one rank, and the value of rewards will not be less than five hundred taels of silver! Thus it is decreed."
With the final "Thus it is decreed," Zhuo Wulüe, stunned, gave his thanks. The officials finally stood up, almost all with expressions of shock.
That Liang Xiao was promoted to General of Chariots and Cavalry, they had nothing to say. After all, such merit surpassed almost all generals of the same rank as the Three Dukes in this dynasty, and was second only to the founding marshal, Marquis Dingguo.
Lv Changhe, not yet thirty years old, was exceptionally promoted to General of the Rear Army for his military achievements. This General of the Four Directions, a third-rank official, ranked after Luo Changfeng and Liang Qing!
Mu Hong's promotion to Vice Minister of War, concurrently serving as General Zhenxi, was even more astonishing!
The most outrageous was Dugu Qun, promoted to Shi Xiang, and Grand Tutor… the post of Minister of War was taken over by Zhuo Wulüe!
Gu Shaoyan and Zhang Yang could not help but sigh in admiration.
Mu Hong was too impressive this year. He would brag to them for a lifetime when he returned…
The rewards for Mu Hong this time made these neutral aristocratic families even more firmly choose their sides.
"Your Majesty, please reconsider!"
Dugu Qun trembled all over with anxiety and kowtowed on the ground. Just as he was about to urge Xiao Qing to withdraw the order, Xiao Qing interrupted him.
"Minister Dugu, there is no need to be agitated, nor is there any need for modesty. Even if you had no merit, you had hard work. The promotion and added title are a recognition of your Dugu family's loyalty."
Dugu Qun immediately wept profusely, "I have served as Minister of War for fifteen years and am well versed in the affairs of the Ministry of War. I wish to..."
Xiao Qing said with feigned concern, "Alas? To always trouble Minister Dugu so much, I cannot bear it! Such dirty and tiring work as Minister of War should be left to the younger generation! This was specifically requested by Minister Liang, who knelt before me, weeping profusely, to petition for your promotion."
All civil and military officials were stunned.
What a noble and righteous excuse!
The young Zhuo Wulüe was already fifty years old.
The key was that this promotion in title but demotion in substance was so significant that it left no room for complaint!
Although Shi Xiang did not participate in government affairs or sign orders, they only affixed their signatures to imperial edicts for the appointment and dismissal of high officials, and these signatures were mostly perfunctory. However, it was still a first-rank position, while Minister of War was only a second-rank position!
The Grand Tutor was the nominal head of all officials, even higher than Shi Xiang!
Dugu Qun's eyes were filled with tears, but he heard Liang Xiao sigh, "Your Majesty, Minister Dugu… oh no, Grand Tutor, he is clearly overjoyed and overwhelmed with gratitude."
"So that's how it is!" Xiao Qing suddenly realized and said earnestly, "This is a joyous occasion for everyone. Minister Dugu should work hard and take Gongyang He as a cautionary tale!"
Dugu Qun responded meekly, looked up at Liang Xiao's gentle smile, and felt a surge of blood, wishing he could spit out a mouthful of blood to pierce Liang Xiao!
It was him again!
The official rank system of Great Gan was divided into nine ranks, but unlike previous dynasties, in addition to "regular rank" and "concurrent rank," each rank could also have "upper, middle, and lower" three grades.
Xiao Qing took advantage of this victory in battle to give Zhuo Wulüe, who had been stationed in the northern border and served as military advisor, a noble reason for promotion. This personnel adjustment was too significant, and his promotion was a leap of two ranks. If he resisted, he would appear ungrateful…
All civil and military officials looked at Liang Xiao, almost all filled with awe and surprise!
The emperor had said that he knelt before the emperor, weeping profusely, to "strive" for Dugu Qun's promotion…
He Wanli and Ouyang Ji also began to panic.
Would he find excuses to kneel before him again and "strive" for them to be promoted in title but demoted in substance?
Shi Xiang and Grand Tutor were both positions without real power!
Moreover, there could be more than one Shi Xiang…
In the early days of the founding of Great Gan, there were still many warlords who were divided. Prime Minister Zhuo Mingfeng suggested to the Grand Ancestor of Great Gan that these warlords be enfeoffed as Tongpingzhangshi, titled Shi Xiang, to appease them.
Later, those warlords who were disobedient were all defeated one by one by the Grand Marshal Gongsun Wuji, who led his troops. Those who were obedient voluntarily surrendered their military power and retired to the central government…
Shi Xiang was simply a curse for seizing power in Great Gan!
At this moment, they suddenly remembered that Liang Xiao had also said to Dugu Qun in public before, "You will not be needed anymore."
A clear case of discarding the tools after their use.
Liang Xiao feigned nervousness and said, "Grand Tutor, you are too happy and haven't thanked His Majesty yet…"
The civil and military officials cast complex glances at Dugu Qun, some with ridicule, some with sympathy…
"This subject thanks Your Majesty for his grace, thanks Your Majesty for his grace…"
Dugu Qun glared at Liang Xiao with hatred and began to kowtow. As he kowtowed, his eyes went black, and he collapsed to the side at Ouyang Ji's feet, unconscious!
"Minister of War Dugu… ah, Grand Tutor!!" Everyone was startled and quickly checked on him.
Xiao Qing also showed concern, "Is Minister Dugu… ah, Grand Tutor, dead…"
"Your Majesty, the Grand Tutor fainted from excessive surprise. It's nothing serious," Liang Xiao said with a smirk.
"Oh, quickly send for an imperial physician to treat the Grand Tutor!" Xiao Qing covered his mouth with his hand, fearing he would burst into laughter on the spot.
Dugu Qun was carried away.
Ouyang Ji and others looked at each other, quite disappointed, and said nothing.
Just then, Liang Xiao looked at He Wanli again, "Your Majesty, Minister He has served as Minister of Personnel for twenty years and has also worked diligently and made great contributions."
As soon as the words fell, everyone in the hall held their breath, and He Wanli's body trembled!