Chapter 679: The Great Seal of Ministers

On October 16, in the tenth year of Tiantong, in the Zichen Hall, Deng Sheng, Deng Hao, and Deng Huan, the three grandsons of the three of them were coming to discuss the matter behind closed doors.

Now Xue Rengui is leading the main army of Zhao to attack Zhao on his way back to the court. According to the speed, it will take less than half a month to arrive at Luoyang City. Today, we have to discuss the reward regulations, otherwise it will be too late.

"Hao'er, if nothing unexpected happens, this great reward will be the last time in my reign, and it is likely that there will be no more in the future. Therefore, the rewards for all the meritorious ministers must be perfect, and strive to be worthy of everyone's achievements and satisfy people!" Deng Sheng said.

Since Deng Sheng inherited the throne of Deng, there have been two large-scale rewards for meritorious officials. One was at the beginning of the throne. In order to win people's hearts, at that time, Deng defeated the Han State and brought back the precarious Deng State's country from the edge of the cliff. The war to protect the country would definitely be rewarded.

The second time was when he was called emperor ten years ago, he improved the title system of Deng State and rewarded a large number of meritorious ministers.

This time is the third time, and it is very likely the last time. After all, this great reward was made because of the destruction of Zhao and the unification of the world. This was only carried out. If you want such a great reward in the future, unless the Deng State is in danger of national destruction and turn the tide.

Deng Hao, who was standing aside, was a little embarrassed. As the various systems of Deng State became more and more perfect, the title was no longer as casual as when Deng Sheng ascended the throne. Every title was rewarded with reasonable grounds. Over the years, the only time that people criticized was Deng Sheng's eldest daughter, Nanyang eldest princess Deng Qian, gave the marriage to Chunping Jun Luo Cheng's second son Luo Ping.

However, what makes people say the most is that Luo Ping was given a visceral visceral without any achievements. After all, although Luo Cheng was suddenly mentioned from the marquis, Luo Cheng has followed Deng Sheng for more than 20 years and has always been in charge of the Eighteen Cavalry of Yanyun, fighting south and north, and is also considered a person of great military achievements. A monarch is well deserved.

But Luo Ping's viscount was a little unreasonable. Before marrying Deng Qian, Luo Ping was just a small general of the Yulin Guard and had never even been on the battlefield. How could He De be granted a title? However, everything comes from Deng Sheng's favor for Deng Qian. Even if the ministers complained, they didn't say much. After all, it was just a viscount, and there were no one hundred and eighty in Deng's country.

Deng Hao and Deng Sheng thought differently. Deng Sheng was the pioneering lord, while Deng Hao was a founding king. When Deng Sheng was in power, he rewarded the meritorious officials in order to inspire morale. These meritorious officials made great contributions to the Deng Kingdom's unification of the world, and Deng Sheng also became a famous person who treated meritorious officials well.

But it is different when it comes to Deng Hao. Deng Hao has to consider more about Deng Sheng’s fate and even his descendants.

Although the title of Deng State is not hereditary, if there is no major problem, the title of a country can at least ensure that the descendants have no worries about food and clothing, and that the title above will be demoted layer by layer.

Now these civil and military officials with titles are all meritorious officials of Deng State, capable, ambitions, and able to serve the country, but what about their descendants? If there are no outstanding talents, wouldn’t it become a burden to the country and a cancer that cannot be removed from the end?

Therefore, Deng Hao was very concerned about the award of titles. It can be imagined that it would not be so easy to obtain the title after Deng Hao ascended the throne.

But this time, it was a major event that the whole country was full of excitement. The whole world was unified. This was something that no one had done for three hundred years since Qin Shihuang. Now it was completed by Deng Sheng, so it was impossible to be stingy about titles.

Deng Hao said: "Father, regarding this reward, my son thought that he could not only look at the merits and demerits of the attack on Zhao Yizhan, but also needed to trace his past merits and demerits, and selected some people with outstanding merits and achievements to be given first-class titles. The rest of the people, based on their personal achievements, either raise titles, increase fiefs, or give them titles or grant money to show honor. In addition, since the establishment of the father, there are only twenty-eight people in Lingxiao Pavilion. My son thought that he could also take advantage of this Daqing to select a group of merits to enter Lingxiao Pavilion."

There are many ways to reward meritorious officials in Deng State. Not only is it a title, it can increase fief, but the increased fief cannot be inherited. That is to say, a duke's fief is 5,000 households. After making merit, it may continue to increase fief, not exceeding the prince's fief. However, these increase is fief, which will be recovered after death. That is to say, when future generations attack the fief, the fief will return to 5,000 households.

Then there is the title. State Deng had an official title of 18th rank, and the salary and status of each rank were very different, but the official title could not be inherited.

Finally, it is the reward of wealth, which is also the simplest reward. Just give some money directly.

Deng Sheng nodded with satisfaction. Obviously, Deng Hao was fully prepared for this reward, so he asked again: "Do you have a proposal for the specific candidate?"

Deng Hao replied: "Return to his father, my son, I think that the meritorious officials who are now in Lingxiao Pavilion and who are still alive should be awarded the title first. The other meritorious officials are rewarded based on their merits. However, if Deng Zhong, the general of Wudangwei, was only a marquis, but he forced himself to surrender to Jinyang City and achieved the first merit of destroying Zhao. In addition, Deng Zhong had great achievements in destroying the southern country many years ago. Looking back on his previous merits, he could pass the title and be directly promoted to the county duke."

Deng Zhong's performance in this battle against Zhao was really eye-catching. Although he was suspected of picking up bargains and picking peaches, no one had to admit that Deng Zhong was forced to surrender to Jinyang City, and the captives of the Emperor Zhao, the royal family, and the court officials were Deng Zhong. In this case, no matter how many enemies others killed on the battlefield, they could not compare to the number of attacks and villages.

In addition, the most important point is that in addition to being a marquis, Deng Zhong is also the prince of Runan County Prince. He will inherit the title of Runan County Prince in the future. His sons will inherit the title of Duke of the State, and no one can inherit Deng Zhong's own title. Therefore, after Deng Zhong's death, this title will be taken back by the court.

"It's so good. You negotiated with the three provinces and six ministries to list the list of all ministers who have made meritorious contributions in the process of the great Deng unification of the world since I ascended the throne. Rewards will be given based on their merits. In addition, those above the duke will present the list to me and I will draw a title." Deng Sheng said.

"Here!" Deng Hao said happily. The reward list was drafted by him in consultation with the three provinces and six ministries, which gave himself a chance to win people's hearts.

"Grandfather of the Emperor, Sun Chen has something to say!" At this time, Deng Huan, who had been silent next to him, spoke: "Sun Chen thought that reward alone was not enough to withdraw meritorious achievements and the court's emphasis on meritorious ministers."

"Oh? Then I wonder what suggestions do you have?" Deng Sheng looked at Deng Huan with a smile. Since Deng Huan was made the crown prince and allowed to go to the three provinces and six ministries, Deng Sheng would bring Deng Huan with him every time he discussed affairs in Zichen Hall, but every time Deng Huan was just a loyal listener and rarely expressed his opinions.

Deng Huan said: "The emperor's grandfather, as the saying goes, learn civil and military skills, sells them to the imperial family. In addition to hoping to stabilize the country and achieve ambitions, he also hopes to be able to win his wife and son through his own efforts, and be famous in history. The title and fief only give the meritorious officials status and wealth. For example, among the twenty-eight meritorious officials of Lingxiao Pavilion, King Cai Feng, King Ding Huang Biao, King Xin Li Tianhu, King Yong Su Hong, and King Yang Cheng Yu, although he has been dead for many years, his deeds are still talked about because of his death."

"Then Huan'er, what do you think should be done so that the people of the world can remember the deeds of these heroes?" Deng Sheng asked.

Deng Sheng felt that Deng Huan's statement was very reasonable. If you don't say anything else, just Huang Biao, Cai Feng, Li Tianhu and others, why do people still miss each other decades after their death? You should know that the three hundred years after Deng's founding, there were countless prime ministers, generals, and generals of the cavalry that appeared in them. There were many people who were stronger than Cai Feng, Huang Biao, Li Tianhu and others. It was because Cai Feng, Huang Biao, Li Tianhu and others entered the Lingxiao Pavilion and were respected by the people that their deeds were passed down to the world. The other ones, the same as the status of the three, were only just a few words in history.

Deng Huan thought for a while and said, "Sun Chen had heard from the King of Qi that when the Han Dynasty was founded in the former Guanzhong period, there were two famous ministers, Xiao He and Cao Shen. However, hundreds of years have passed, the Han people in the former Guanzhong period can still remember Xiao He, but few people know Cao Shen. Sun Chen thought that the reason why Xiao He was remembered by the Han people was because he was once called the Three Masters of the Han Dynasty by King Liu Bang. Therefore, Sun Chen thought that he could imitate the Three Masters of the Han Dynasty who were of great meritoriousness, profound qualifications and both talent and virtue."

Deng Sheng agreed with this very much. In later generations, basically every dynasty would have a group of such heroes, such as the three heroes in the early Han Dynasty, the eleven heroes of the Qilin Pavilion, the twenty-eight constellations of the Eastern Han Dynasty, the Five Tiger Generals of the Three Kingdoms, the Five Sons and the Four Yings, the twenty-four heroes of the Lingyan Pavilion in the Tang Dynasty, the twenty-four generals of Huaixi in the Ming Dynasty, and even the Republic had ten marshals. These people could be remembered even after countless years.

Although there were no three heroes in the early Han Dynasty in this time and space, Liu Bang still named the three heroes of the Han Dynasty, namely Xiao He, Chen Ping, and Zhang Liang. As for Han Xin, although he made great contributions to the establishment of the Han Dynasty, he was regarded as a rebellion by the Han people because of his independence and independence and was excluded.

"Okay, Huan'er, this matter will be handed over to you. You will select a group of meritorious ministers for the Great Deng and submit them to me." Deng Sheng said.

"Sun Chen received the order!" Deng Huan replied.

Ten days later, the army led by Xue Rengui had arrived in Hanoi County and was about to cross the Yellow River. The troops returned to the court. At this time, the list of meritorious deeds responsible for Deng Hao and Deng Huan was gradually released.

On October 26, in the tenth year of Tiantong, Deng Hao and Deng Huan presented the lists they had to Deng Sheng one by one.

Deng Sheng first opened the list handed over by Deng Hao and looked at it. These were all those who needed to be promoted to the Duke and were not many, but most of them were people in Lingxiao Pavilion.

In addition to the group of people in Lingxiao Pavilion, there are Liu Bowen, Xun Yu, Xun You, Wang Meng, Zhuge Liang, Zhou Yu, Zhang Liao, Murong Chui, Ma Chao, Guan Yu, Zhang Liao, Lu Feng, Li Jing, Wang Yanzhang, Gao Siji, Wu Yunzhao, and Luo Cheng.

These people, plus the people in Lingxiao Pavilion, all need to be promoted, and they are basically above the county government after the promotion.

Among them, Cui Hao, Jiang Wan, Zhang Bin, Yue Fei, Chang Yuchun, Yang Yanzhao, Xue Rengui, Li Siye, and Murong Ke were originally Dukes, and after they were promoted, they were the King of Honor.

Hu Weiyong, Kou Zhun, Fan Zhongyan, Li Xiucheng, Qin Lie, Li Cunxiao, Zhang Fei, Zhu Sheng, Chen Qun, Bao Zheng, and Yao Guangxiao were all county dukes. After the title was promoted, they were dukes of the state. Although Zhou Yu, Zhang Liao, Ma Chao, Murong Chui, Guan Yu, and Lu Feng did not enter the Lingxiao Pavilion, they were also dukes of the county dukes, and after the title was promoted, they were also dukes of the state dukes.

Wang Yanzhang, Gao Siji, Wu Yunzhao, Li Jing and others were the county dukes before, and after being promoted, they were county dukes.

Zhuge Liang, Pang Tong, Wang Meng, Liu Bowen, Xun Yu, Xun You, and Luo Cheng had different titles before, some were marquises and some were monarchs, but Deng Hao felt that it was reasonable to mention the county magistrate with the achievements of these people, so he reported them all.

After Deng Sheng finished reading it, he had no objection. Deng Hao's list was basically consistent with his guess, so he said: "Hao'er, I have no other objections to this list!"

"Since my father thinks there is no problem, please draft a title!" Deng Hao said.

Deng Sheng thought for a while and said, "First of all, the new King Xun, Jiang Wan was named King Cheng, Zhang Bin was named King He, Cui Hao was named King Shun, Yue Fei was named King An, Chang Yuchun was named King Yong, Yang Yanzhao was named King Zhong, Xue Rengui was named King Qing, Li Siye was named King Yu, and Murong Ke was named King Ying."

Deng Hao took out paper and pen and continued one by one.

After saying King Xun, Deng Sheng began to reward Duke Guo Duke, saying: "Hu Weiyong was named Duke Shen, Kou Zhun was named Duke Zheng, Fan Zhongyan was named Duke Qi, Yao Guangxia was named Duke Xu, Bao Zheng was named Duke Xia, Chen Qun was named Duke Yu, Zhu Sheng was named Duke Han, Qin Lie was named Duke Yue, Li Cunxiao was named Duke Zeng, Zhang Fei was named Duke Ji, Zhou Yu was named Duke Lu, Zhang Liao was named Duke Xin, Murong Chuang was named Duke Wei, Ma Chao was named Duke Liang, Guan Yu was named Duke Liao, and Lu Feng was named Duke Tai."

After talking about Duke of the State, the next one was Duke of the County. Deng Sheng said: "Li Jing was granted the Duke of Chen County, Wang Yanzhang was granted the Duke of Qinghe County, Gao Siji was granted the Duke of Pingyuan County, and Wu Yunzhao was granted the Duke of Wuwei County."

Then there was the county duke, saying: "Liu Bowen was named Shangcai County Duke, Pang Tong was named Jiangling County Duke, Zhuge Liang was named Nanzheng County Duke, Xun Yu was named Wuyang County Duke, Xun You was named Liyang County Duke, Wang Meng was named Jiyang County Duke, Deng Zhong was named Changzi County Duke, and Luo Cheng was named Nan'an County Duke."

After Deng Hao recorded the list one by one, he handed it to Deng Sheng for a look. Deng Sheng looked at it and confirmed it was correct. He said: "Please hand this list over to the Secretariat for the purpose of the Secretariat. On the list, those who have the titles to the county duke and above will all enter the Lingxiao Pavilion."

"Here!" Deng Hao replied.

Later, Deng Sheng opened the list drawn up by Deng Huan, and Deng Huan's list became diversified. In addition to King Xu and Duke, there were also Marquis and Earls.

Among them, twenty civil officials were Jiang Wan, Cui Hao, Su Hong, Zhang Bin, Cheng Yu, Hu Weiyong, Kou Zhun, Fan Zhongyan, Chen Qun, Bao Zheng, Zhuge Liang, Wang Meng, Pang Tong, Xun Yu, Xun You, Liu Bowen, Zhu Sheng, Yao Guangxiao, Zhao Yuan, and Pang Ji. Among these people, they were basically people with titles above the county seat, and the only difference was Zhao Yuan and Pang Ji.

Among them, the one who impressed Deng Sheng the most was Zhao Yuan, who was the first talent to be recruited by Deng Sheng himself and the first minister of the Business Department.

"Hao'er, what reward did Zhao Yuan and Pang Ji give?" Deng Sheng asked Deng Hao.

Deng Hao couldn't remember it for a moment. After recalling it carefully, he said, "Go back to his father, Pang Ji was originally Qingping Bo. Based on his achievements, he was awarded the title of Marquis of Laiyang. As for Zhao Yuan, he was originally Nanhe Bo, but he had retired before his father was called emperor. The title of Earl was added when his father was called emperor. Therefore, this time, the son only added a hundred fiefs to him."

The Count had three hundred fiefs, and an additional 100 households would be four hundred. It was already quite a lot for a Count, but Deng Sheng didn't think so.

Deng Sheng shook his head and said, "You don't understand. Although Zhao Yuan's position and official title are not high, his contribution to Deng is not just the little you see. Due to his special position, you don't know many things except me and the late King Yong. Although he has been re-released for ten years, I cannot forget it. After returning, I will re-plan Zhao Yuan's reward, give him a first-class title, and be awarded the Marquis of Shu County."

When Zhao Yuan was in charge of the Business Department, while carrying out business activities, he also secretly helped Mingjing establish strongholds in various places. It can be said that without the Business Department, Mingjing would not have developed so quickly. It’s just that many things about Mingjing cannot be publicized to the outside world, otherwise it would be qualified to enter Lingxiao Pavilion.

"Here!" Although Deng Hao was puzzled, he was just a marquis, and he didn't say anything.

After talking about Zhao Yuan, Deng Sheng took the list handed over by Deng Huan and nodded with satisfaction. In addition to Deng Huan's serious work, Deng Sheng was even more pleased that Deng Huan's eyes were not only focused on the famous civil and military officials, otherwise he would not have discovered Zhao Yuan's existence.

As for military generals, Deng Huan selected thirty people, namely Yue Fei, Chang Yuchun, Yang Yanzhao, Xue Rengui, Li Siye, Murong Ke, Deng Ai, Deng Qiang, Li Xiucheng, Qin Lie, Li Cunxiao, Zhang Fei, Guan Yu, Zhou Yu, Murong Chui, Zhang Liao, Ma Chao, Lu Feng, Li Jing, Gao Siji, Wang Yanzhang, Wu Yunzhao, Deng Zhong, Luo Cheng, Yue Yun, Pang De, Zhang Hao, Gao Shun, Li Dingguo, and Gan Ning.

After reading the list presented by Deng Huan, Deng Sheng smiled and said, "Huan'er is still very serious in doing things. I am very satisfied with this list. However, Su Hong, Cheng Yu, Jiang Wan, Zhang Bin, Cui Hao, Yue Fei, Chang Yuchun, Yang Yanzhao, Xue Rengui, Li Siye, and Murong Ke have made the most contributions, and they are all honored kings. They can be found separately. I have designated the eleven people as the eleven kings of Dingguo, the remaining fifteen civil officials as the fifteen ministers of Anbang, and the remaining twenty-four military generals as the twenty-four generals of the heavenly throne, and painted portraits, written books, and published biography to pass on to future generations!"

"Here!" Deng Hao and Deng Huan responded.

After deciding the reward charter, Deng Sheng said to Deng Hao: "Hao'er, Xue Qing has sent someone to write a letter to me, saying that the army will arrive outside Luoyang City in three days. You represent me and lead all civil and military officials out of the city with Huan'er to welcome him. That night, I will have a banquet for the ministers in Jiaotai Hall."

"My son received the order!" Deng Hao responded.
Chapter completed!