The official and title system of the Ming Dynasty was very complex.
Generally speaking, it can be divided into three categories: lordship, official position and dispatch.
The so-called Lord is the so-called title system. In fact, it is not exclusive to military generals. Lords are divided into Wenxun and Wuxun.
Wu Xun is the third-level Duke, Marquis, and Earl that the common people are most familiar with.
In addition, civil servants also have nobles, called civil honors, which are specially awarded to civil servants who have made meritorious services in war.
The so-called Shangzhu Kingdom is a type of Wenxun. However, there is no such thing as Shangzhu Kingdom in the Ming Dynasty. The highest Wenxun is the Zuo and Youzhu states of Zhengyipin.
The biggest difference between Wenxun and Wuxun is that Wuxun usually comes with a certificate.
A title with a title certificate has the qualification to be inherited hereditary, so the awarding of military honors is extremely strict.
To put it simply, there is only one sentence: no military title can be granted except for military merit.
To put it more bluntly, only those who go to the battlefield, lead the army in battle, kill generals and capture the flag are eligible to receive military honors.
This was also the initial dividing line between civil servants and generals.
Those with civil honours, were classified as civil servants, and those with military honours, were classified as military generals. Only then were civil servants and military generals distinguished.
Therefore, the imperial court's conferral of titles was not based on what the common people thought of civil servants and generals.
Instead, they were divided according to their role on the battlefield. Those who took arrows personally and led troops to charge were awarded martial arts honors.
Those who oversee military affairs, logistics, and are in charge of government affairs in the military. Those who do not go to the battlefield are awarded civil honors.
This has nothing to do with where you come from.
The essence of military honors is the status of reward given by the country to the soldiers who fought hard on the front line.
Since the logistics and other departments in a relatively safe position do not need to take the risk of being killed on the battlefield, even if they play an equally huge role, they can only obtain literary honors that cannot be hereditary.
Of course, civil honors are also extremely rare for civil servants. Usually only admirals who are commanding on the front line have the opportunity to obtain them.
In addition, there is a special situation for the award of military honors, that is, to relatives, but this kind of military honors is not hereditary.
This is the case with Feng Guogong, whom Zhu Qiyu conferred this time.
Otherwise, the Jin title he gave Li Xian should be "Li Xian, Marquis of Fengcheng, was promoted to Duke of Feng Kingdom and was granted a hereditary title."
Without the hereditary title, Li Xian's Fengguo Duke is only of this generation. If it is passed down to the next generation, he will be reduced to Fengcheng Marquis.
This is also the reason why the courtiers did not use military merit as an excuse!
For civil servants in the court, they either have to be promoted or given a title.
Yu Qian and Hu Hui are both one of the Seven Qings. For them, they can only have additional titles.
But even so, the ministers below obviously felt that it was too thick.
Of course, this is without their knowledge.
Seeing three or four censors and even officials from the Sixth Section objecting, Zhu Qiyu thought for a while and asked Wang Zhi who was standing aside.
"Otsuka Zai, do you think my reward is too generous?"
A group of people looked at the Minister of Civil Affairs, the head of the hundred officials. Although the last time, when the civil servants besieged the relatives, Otsuka Zai did not stand his ground, which made Shilin criticize him.
But Otsuka Zai was Otsuka Zai after all. Many people still felt that it was wartime and they should not attack each other with their relatives. They believed that Wang Zhi maintained the stability of the court.
Therefore, in this matter, many people still hope that Otsuka Zai can stand up to persuade the emperor and uphold justice.
However, this leader of hundreds of officials is destined to disappoint them again this time...
"Your Majesty, Li Xian, Marquis of Fengcheng, first advocated His Majesty to take charge of the overall situation when the country was in danger. Yu Qian and Hu Ming also advocated for it. He has made contributions to the country and should be rewarded!"
The courtiers all thought that the emperor rewarded Li Xian and others because of their meritorious service.
But in fact, only a few senior officials knew that the real reason was to initiate the establishment of a new king.
But this matter cannot be stated clearly.
Because on the surface, the emperor's throne did not come from the support of the ministers, but from the "initiative" Zen position of the Supreme Emperor.
So Wang Zhi could only speak vaguely.
But looking at the senior Qiqing bosses, none of them reacted, and the default attitude was combined with Otsuka Zai's words.
Many smart officials in the court also thought of some inside information.
So many people secretly retreated far away.
Anyway, he is a non-hereditary duke. If he follows the merits of the dragon, then the reward is naturally deserved.
With Wang Zhi's endorsement, Chen Xun no longer hesitated and stepped forward.
"I accept the decree."
Immediately afterwards, Li Xian, Yu Qian, and Hu Hui also stepped forward to express their gratitude.
But until he retreated far away, Li Xian was still in a trance.
Why did he suddenly become the Duke of the country?
Although he is said to be a prince of a generation who has no birth certificate, he is still a prince.
As the highest rank in the Ming Dynasty, he is comparable to the three nobles among civil servants.
There are currently three existing Dukes in the Ming Dynasty. The Duke of Wei was granted the title of Duke of Wei by Taizu, and the Duke of England was granted the title of Duke of England by Emperor Taizong.
Even though everyone else has a life certificate and I don’t have one, after all, I am still a prince of the country!
On the side of the nobles and relatives, the Duke of the State has the highest title, while on the side of the civil servants, the one who is competing with the Duke of the State is the Three Dukes.
But since San Yang's death, the imperial court has not awarded the honorary title of San Gong to any courtier.
In other words, if we don't look at actual power but only look at rank, then Li Xianzhen is what is called, beneath one person and above ten thousand people.
After calming down, Li Xian suddenly thought again.
Now, including him, the imperial court has a total of four princes.
Among them, the Duke of Wei was conferred by Taizu, and the current Duke of Wei, Xu Chengzong, had just ascended the title last year and was still in Nanjing, having nothing to do with the government affairs of the court.
The British Duke Zhang Fu had just died in civil war, and the current British Duke Zhang Mao had just ascended the throne and was only nine years old.
Chengguo Gong Zhu Yong...
Well, he also died in Tumu, but he was different from Zhang Fu. Zhang Fu only had no success, but Zhu Yong led his army to be ambushed and failed to return, which indirectly caused the army to retreat hastily and then stationed there. In Tumu Fort.
Therefore, Duke Cheng Guo’s attack on the title has not yet come to fruition...
In other words, among the honorable men and women in Beijing now, in terms of title alone, excluding the nine-year-old little boy of the British Duke, you can count yourself?
Thinking of this, Li Xian suddenly raised his head and met the emperor's smiling gaze.
Mr. Li Laohou, no, he should be called Mr. Li. He couldn't help but sigh in his heart, what's the matter!
He just wants to live his idle life in peace and quiet, why is it so difficult?
Zhu Qiyu didn't know what Li Xian was thinking, and he wouldn't care if he knew.
Just like what Wu told him, it doesn't matter what you think. Once a person makes a choice, there is no way out.
From the time when Li Xian first advocated the establishment of a new king, he was destined to no longer be able to remain an idle relative.
After finishing this matter, Zhu Qiyu pondered for a moment and then spoke again.
"As for the military merit awards planned by the Ministry of War..."
Looking at the civil servant below who was looking at him eagerly, Zhu Qiyu shook his head.
Although Li Xian's promotion to the Jin Dynasty was excusable, after all, he did not have military merit, which has aroused the dissatisfaction of many courtiers.
So this matter naturally requires some concessions.
So Zhu Qiyu opened his mouth and said.
"Yang Hong, Ren Li and others were promoted to marquis, Guo Deng was granted the title of earl, Tao Jin, and Fan Guang were granted the title of earl. Since the battle of Alazhiyuan, Yang Hong has been granted the title, and Yang Xin's reward will be separately drawn up by the Ministry of War. Retreat from the court!"
Most of the courtiers could accept this result. It was impossible to stop them all. Being able to stop a Yang Xin and suppress a Guo Deng was a good gain.
Although, a prince appeared out of nowhere...
As a result, Li Xian, the newly promoted Duke of Feng Kingdom, who was currently saluting, inexplicably felt a chill on his back...
