frightfiction Chapter 551
Chapter 551
"Your subject Zhou Chu pays his respects to Your Majesty."
Zhou Chu bowed and said.
Jiajing immediately supported Zhou Chu's arms with both hands.
"No need for formalities. You have made great contributions to our Great Ming Dynasty during your two years away. In the entire history of the Ming Dynasty, our Great Ming Dynasty has never had such actual control over Tibet as it does today. I am truly fortunate to have such a capable and virtuous minister as you."
In front of his officials, Jiajing naturally had to make a show of himself.
"It is all thanks to Your Majesty's trust that I was able to accomplish anything."
Zhou Chu said.
"Come with me to the capital. I will reward you handsomely for your great contributions."
After saying this, Jiajing grabbed Zhou Chu's right hand and wouldn't let go. Just as Jiajing was about to take Zhou Chu to the imperial carriage, Zhou Chu hurriedly bowed.
"Your Majesty, this is the Emperor's imperial carriage; it is not something I, your subject, can overstep my bounds."
Upon hearing this, Jiajing looked at Zhou Chu.
"With what you've done, what good would it do to sit in the emperor's carriage?"
“Your Majesty, the sovereign is the sovereign, and the subject is the subject. I am merely a sword in Your Majesty’s hand. What merits I can achieve depends entirely on where Your Majesty wields this sword. What merits do I have? All the merits are Your Majesty’s.”
Zhou Chu bowed and said.
When Jiajing heard this, he seemed somewhat helpless.
"In that case, you may ride your horse and follow behind me."
As Jiajing spoke, he boarded the imperial carriage, with Zhou Chu riding his black horse behind him, and the civil and military officials following behind Zhou Chu.
The large group returned to the imperial court.
"Hengqi, you have worked hard and made great contributions over the past two years. You have not only completely solved the northern threat of the Mongols for our Great Ming, but also completely recovered Tibet for our Great Ming. Each of these achievements is enough to be ennobled as a marquis or even a duke."
After saying this, Jiajing paused and looked at Zhou Chu and the reactions of the civil and military officials.
Upon hearing this, Zhou Chu appeared flattered, while the expressions of the civil and military officials varied.
"Your Majesty, I was able to do all this thanks to Your Majesty's trust and the soldiers' bravery. I really dare not take any credit for it."
Zhou Chu bowed and said.
“You are being too modest. You personally selected and trained the Xuanwu Army, and you also personally taught Lu Yunjin, the commander of the Xuanwu Army. Summon Lu Yunjin to the palace.”
After saying this, Jiajing spoke loudly.
Jiajing planned to take advantage of this day to completely reveal the identities of the Xuanwu Army and Lu Yunjin. After all, the Xuanwu Army was the regular army of the Ming Dynasty. It had been hidden before in order to quell the Jiangnan faction. Now that the Jiangnan faction had collapsed, the Ming Dynasty was rich and prosperous, and even rebuilt the Western Regions Protectorate and completely recovered Tibet.
These achievements were unimaginable before Jiajing ascended the throne.
There's no need for the Xuanwu Army to keep hiding their achievements any longer; it's time for them to enjoy the glory and merit they deserve.
"Your subject Lu Yunjin pays his respects to Your Majesty."
Yun Jin, dressed in full armor, arrived at the main hall and bowed.
"Good! Good! Good!"
When Jiajing saw Yun Jin, he said "good" three times.
The civil and military officials were stunned to see that the general who entered the hall was actually a woman. Many of them did not know Yun Jin's identity and hurriedly asked their colleagues in hushed tones. After learning that Yun Jin was the youngest daughter of the Lu family, they were even more surprised.
The Lu family is about to rise to prominence completely.
"I have heard the story of Hua Mulan, but that is just a story. You are a true heroine who is no less capable than any man. Over the years, you have led the Xuanwu Army in battles for the Ming Dynasty, pacifying the Japanese pirates at sea, defeating the Mongols in the north, and quelling Tibet. I hereby appoint you as the General Who Pacifies the Distant Regions. Do you have any objections?"
Jiajing looked at Yun Jin and asked.
The Emperor Jiajing's bestowal of honors was quite deliberate.
Logically speaking, Yun Jin's military achievements were enough to warrant a marquisate, but since Lu Bing had already claimed the credit for the recapture of Annam, it naturally could not be attributed to Yun Jin. Moreover, since one member of the Lu family had already been granted a marquisate, granting another one to Yun Jin would likely cause unrest within the Lu family.
Secondly, the merits Yun Jin made were actually all thanks to Zhou Chu, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. Jiajing wanted to grant Zhou Chu the title of Duke, so Yun Jin could no longer be granted a title based on these military achievements.