Chapter 1 Zhao Litin

Zhao Litin raised his head, looking at Jiang Chen in surprise.

Conferring a title to a princess from another family was not ideal, and bestowing the title of Junzhu (county princess) was considered too low.

Anything lower than that would be even more inappropriate.

For a moment, Zhao Litin couldn't quite grasp Jiang Chen's intentions.

Seeing Zhao Litin's confused expression, Jiang Chen prompted, "Think again."

Zhao Litin pondered for a long time, but couldn't come up with any conferment that would meet Jiang Chen's expectations. He finally admitted, "This humble subject cannot think of anything."

Jiang Chen then said, "During the time of the Great Yu's flood control in ancient times, the land was divided into nine provinces. Now, the territories of our Great Wei are divided into prefectures, counties, and districts. What do you think of adding a 'Zhouzhu' (provincial lord) above the Junzhu?"

Zhao Litin's eyes widened. Was His Majesty planning to add a new noble rank?

He finally understood why Jiang Chen had sought him out, the Minister of Rites, rather than the Minister of Personnel!

But this matter was of great importance, and it couldn't be decided solely by his agreement as the Minister of Rites.

Otherwise, if he agreed with His Majesty here, he would become the target of public criticism once it was announced.

Zhao Litin's mind raced, and he quickly made a decision.

"Your Majesty, if a new noble rank is to be added, its fief and rank must be determined. These two aspects require the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Personnel to decide, and must be discussed with Lord Xu of the Ministry of Revenue and Lord Yang of the Ministry of Personnel."

Jiang Chen glanced at Zhao Litin, somewhat displeased.

He had asked Zhao Litin here precisely to finalize this matter as soon as possible.

But Zhao Litin was being slippery, wanting to involve both the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Personnel.

In this way, even if they were attacked by the court officials, there would be others to share the burden.

However, what Zhao Litin said was not wrong. If a Zhouzhu was to be established, it was indeed necessary to determine the rank and fief.

"In that case, Feng Jin, summon Xu Changqing and Yang Yongqi here."

Zhao Litin was instantly dumbfounded upon hearing this.

His suggestion was not just to drag these two into the matter.

His true intention was to buy time. This matter was of great importance and needed to be discussed with many people.

But he didn't expect His Majesty to see through his intentions and directly send Feng Jin to summon them.

Jiang Chen glanced at Zhao Litin, thinking, "You still want to play tricks with me?"

Of course, he saw Zhao Litin's intentions and naturally wouldn't let Zhao Litin succeed.

He had asked Zhao Litin here precisely to finalize the matter quickly, otherwise, once the court officials learned of this news, it would definitely cause a storm.

Xu Changqing and Yang Yongqi were quickly brought over by Feng Jin. They were both puzzled when they met, unsure of what Jiang Chen wanted them for.

When they arrived at the Hall of Diligent Governance and saw Zhao Litin there as well, they were even more confused.

It wasn't until Jiang Chen asked them to consider the Zhouzhu's fief and rank that they understood.

The two immediately turned their gazes to Zhao Litin, their eyes blazing with fire.

They heard clearly that Jiang Chen was asking them to consider the Zhouzhu's fief and rank, which meant that the new noble rank of Zhouzhu had already been decided!

And the only one who had agreed to add this rank was Zhao Litin!

Zhao Litin was now staring blankly at Jiang Chen, tears flowing into his stomach.

He hadn't agreed to add the Zhouzhu rank. He had said that they should wait for the two ministers, Xu Changqing and Yang Yongqi, to come and discuss it.

But he didn't expect Jiang Chen to directly change the concept!

Zhao Litin wanted to argue, but when he met Jiang Chen's gaze, the words wouldn't come out.

He also knew in his heart that Jiang Chen had summoned them not necessarily to make them take the blame, but rather out of respect for them.

Otherwise, with Jiang Chen's previous dictatorial style, he could have completely ignored their opinions.

Seeing Zhao Litin give in, Jiang Chen nodded in satisfaction and then looked at Xu Changqing and Yang Yongqi.

"My two esteemed ministers, what have you come up with?"

What else could they do?

Xu Changqing and Yang Yongqi cursed inwardly, also understanding that Jiang Chen was determined to do this.

Xu Changqing spoke first, "Your Majesty, the fief is determined based on the rank. If the rank cannot be determined, then the fief cannot be determined either."

After speaking, Xu Changqing looked at Yang Yongqi, passing the buck to him.

Yang Yongqi glanced at Xu Changqing and then said, "Reporting to Your Majesty, according to Your Majesty's words, the Zhouzhu is positioned between the princess and the Junzhu, making it difficult to arrange the rank."

Yang Yongqi's words were not an excuse, but because the princess was of the first rank, and the Junzhu was of the second rank. If the Zhouzhu was positioned between the two, it would indeed be difficult to arrange.

After speaking, Yang Yongqi looked at Zhao Litin, clearly blaming Zhao Litin for agreeing to add a Zhouzhu.

Zhao Litin could only look at Jiang Chen.

He didn't want to either, but this was His Majesty's intention, so what could he do?

Jiang Chen understood when he saw Zhao Litin's gaze.

In the end, it was up to him to make the decision.

After a moment of thought, Jiang Chen made a decision.

"The Zhouzhu's rank will also be of the first rank, but the fief will be calculated according to the Junzhu."

After Jiang Chen finished speaking, Xu Changqing and the other two were all dumbfounded.

Could it be done like this?

Jiang Chen looked at the three, "Are there any problems?"

The three shook their heads in unison.

"Since that's the case, then choose an auspicious day for the conferment!"

"Yes!"

The three agreed and retreated.

Leaving the Hall of Diligent Governance, the three looked at each other and then walked outside in unison.

Once outside, Zhao Litin spoke first, "My two lords, shouldn't we discuss this matter with the other ministers first?"

Yang Yongqi glanced at Zhao Litin, "What do you think?"

Xu Changqing said without hesitation, "Of course, we should."

Such a big matter as adding a noble rank, if they didn't discuss it with the other ministers, then they would be drowned in their spittle in the future!

But if they informed them, then if the ministers cursed again, they could only look for Jiang Chen.

The next morning at the early court session, just as Feng Jin had finished loudly announcing that there were matters to be reported, and before he had the chance to say that the court would be dismissed if there were no matters, a voice loudly said, "Your Majesty, this subject has something to report!"

Jiang Chen frowned immediately as he looked in the direction of the voice.

It was a minister from the censorate again!

Looking at the person who stood out, it was Song You, the patrolling censor of the capital.

The reason Jiang Chen knew Song You's name was because of Song You's memorial.

Jiang Chen received memorials from all over Great Wei every day, and the matters in them could be roughly divided into four categories.

The first category was matters that did indeed need to be reported, such as rebellions, disasters, or major events like executions.

The second category was matters that could be reported or not, such as small plans or policies.

The third category was matters that didn't need to be reported, such as greetings.

And there was another category, which was haphazard memorials.

Song You was the one who submitted haphazard memorials.

Jiang Chen remembered that Song You had once written a memorial saying that he felt that the people liked to sleep in during the slack season, and that an edict should be issued to make the people get up early to avoid laziness.

When he saw this memorial, Jiang Chen really wanted to find Song You and ask him, if they didn't rest more during the slack season, when would they rest more during the busy season?

It was this memorial that made Jiang Chen remember Song You's name.