Great Zhou Empire: Kill Zhao Kuangyin at the beginning

Chapter 535: Famous Ministers of the Palace of Time (Special thanks to book friend Ru Ruo Mu Chao Dong for his monthly vote!)

After the Great Zhou Dynasty incorporated Angkor into the country, its territory reached 50 million square kilometers, making it the most vast empire in human history.

The population of the Great Zhou also exceeded 260 million in one fell swoop.

Chai Zongxun rewarded the three armies at the Sheji Altar:
After Gao Hua and Liang Ying pacified the world of the Star Sect, they were promoted to dukes for their meritorious service. This time, their fiefs were increased by 5,000 households, bringing the total to 15,000 households.

All soldiers were awarded 200 taels of silver or more and promoted three ranks. Those who died for the country were given a pension of 500 taels or more, and the disabled were given retirement money and lifelong support.

The eunuch who supervised the army was granted a house in Bian Jing and allowed to adopt a son to carry on the family line.

The next day, on the afternoon of May 23, the 43rd year of Kaixi, Chai Zongxun summoned the Angkor King Uttayavarman I and several ministers who were captured and brought to Beijing in Yanfu Hall.

These people were extremely afraid of Chai Zongxun and feared that they would be killed, so they were extremely respectful and flattering to him.

Uddiyavarman flattered:

“Your Majesty, I was a sinner who did not know the majesty of heaven and offended the Great Zhou. I now deeply regret it.

My niece, Princess Hongmian, is the most beautiful woman in Angkor. She is only seventeen years old and I am willing to offer her to Your Majesty to serve you."

Chai Zongxun nodded slightly and said:

"Uddiyavarman, you do not know the majesty of our great Zhou Dynasty, yet you dare to send troops to kill our sea traders until today.

Since you sincerely repent now, I will forgive you.

I will confer upon you the title of "Marquis Xishun" and grant you a residence in Bianjing. The rest of you will be pardoned and become citizens of the Great Zhou."

Uddiyavarman was overjoyed. After expressing his gratitude, he and everyone else left the hall.

After several days of preparation, the Imperial Household Department held a wedding for Emperor Chai Zongxun to marry Princess Hongmian as his consort.

As for the more than 1 concubines of Angkor who were escorted to the capital, Chai Zongxun selected more than 2 of them who were pleasing to his eye and had extraordinary looks. The rest were rewarded to the princes, three younger brothers, five to ten each, and civil and military ministers in the court, one to two each. In total, more than people were rewarded.

On May 28th of the 43rd year of Kaixi, Chai Zongxun finally finished the affairs of state that had accumulated since the expedition to Maya and were awaiting his imperial approval.

During the morning court session, the chief minister Li Hang came out and said:
“Your Majesty, I was supposed to step down from my ten-year term as Prime Minister at the end of last year, but I was too busy reporting to Your Majesty on the government affairs of the past few years to do so.

Now that the national affairs have been sorted out, I would like to resign from the position of Prime Minister to Your Majesty."

Li Hang was born in the twelfth year of Tianfu in the Later Han Dynasty (947) and is 55 years old this year.

In the 32nd year of Kaixi, when Chai Zongxun implemented the term system and retirement system for officials, he succeeded Zhang Qixian as the chief minister of the cabinet, and now his term of office has been more than ten years.

Chai Zongxun said:

"During Li's term, officials were honest and efficient, the court accomplished many important things for the people's livelihood, and made great contributions to the country.

As soon as your ten-year term is over, you will be promoted to Grand Tutor, one of the Three Dukes, and continue to give me advice. "

Chai Zongxun paused and said:

"As for the position of the next cabinet chief, do you have any wise ministers to recommend?"

The ministers in the Chuigong Hall immediately started discussing, and soon two opinions emerged on the candidate for the successor to the Prime Minister.

One group supported the promotion of Wang Dan, the second assistant of the cabinet, to the first assistant, while the other group supported the promotion of Kou Zhun, the minister of rites and cabinet member.

Chai Zongxun pondered for a while.

The two men are not much different in age, and both are mature and capable in governing.

Wang Dan was born in the fourth year of Xiande (957), while Kou Zhun was born in the second year of Kaixi (961). Wang Dan's advantage was that he was very tactful as a person and an official, and he was thoughtful and well-reputed.

Kou Zhun's qualifications were five years later. He came from a prominent family and had a stronger character, which offended some people in the officialdom.

In Chai Zongxun's view, Wang Dan's shortcoming was that he had a deep understanding of the difference between civil and military affairs. He believed that civil officials should assist the emperor in important state affairs, and military generals should obey the orders of civil officials.

If Wang Dan is promoted to be the chief minister, I am afraid that in the future, there will be a lot of tension between civil and military officials in the court.

Kou Zhun's advantage was that he had been on diplomatic missions to foreign countries many times, such as Gaochang and the Eastern Roman Empire in the past, and his vision was broader.

There was no deep prejudice against the distinction between civil and military officials, and he supported conquests, with military generals skilled in combat assisting the emperor.

Another point is that although Wang Dan was not old, he was in poor health.

Chai Zongxun finally made his decision:

"I intend to promote Lord Kou to the position of Chief Minister and Minister of Personnel to form a new cabinet.

Wang Aiqing was promoted to the rank of Shangzhuguo and appointed as the Minister of Rites.

Ding Aiqing was promoted to the position of Minister of Revenue and the Second Assistant of the Cabinet.

As soon as the emperor opened his mouth, all the ministers in the Chuigong Hall bowed and agreed.

Wang Dan knew that his tenures as Second Assistant and Minister of Revenue had both expired for ten years, and he was not trusted by the emperor. The title of Grand Pillar of the State given to him was just an honorary title with an increase in salary, so he could do nothing about it.

Kou Zhun and Ding Wei were overjoyed and hurried out to thank Emperor Chai Zongxun.

After retiring from court, Chai Zongxun walked to Baoci Hall in the harem to have lunch with Empress Dowager Fu and the two empresses and eighteen concubines.

After taking a nap for an hour at noon, Chai Zongxun went to the Yangxin Palace and sent someone to summon the Grand Tutor Li Hang.

After receiving the imperial edict in the palace, Li Hang felt uneasy, as he was quite worried that Emperor Chai Zongxun would settle the "old score" with Zhu. So he had no choice but to change his clothes, follow the eunuch who delivered the edict, and get on the carriage to the palace.

Less than half an hour later, Li Hang was brought into the Yangxin Palace.

After greeting, Chai Zongxun said gently:
"Lord Li is an upright official. He has served as Prime Minister for ten years with great diligence. He is my loyal and faithful minister. Please take a seat."

After Li Hang thanked him and sat down, Chai Zongxun said:

"Lord Li, in the more than 40 years since I ascended the throne, my Great Zhou has undergone earth-shaking changes. We have unified China from a war-torn land and expanded the world!
However, along the way, most of the loyal ministers and generals who accompanied me at that time have now grown old and passed away. How can I not feel regret and miss them!
I intend to build a temple for meritorious officials in the style of Emperor Guangwu of Han and Emperor Taizong of Tang, so that people all over the world will remember for generations the great contributions these loyal officials and generals made to the country and the people! "

When Li Hang heard this, he felt completely relieved and said:
"Your Majesty is the eternal sage of China. Remembering the contributions of these ministers is a sign of unparalleled benevolence and righteousness!
The establishment of the Temple of Meritorious Officials will surely make the people understand how hard it is for Your Majesty to lead the officials and create the present prosperous era of the Great Zhou Dynasty. Now the people know more about honor and disgrace, and the merits of education are enormous!"

After the emperor and his minister discussed for a while, Chai Zongxun decided to build a temple for meritorious officials, and handed the matter over to Li Hangquan to be in charge of all the money he needed, and he could contact the chief eunuch Tang Qi.

Li Hang agreed without hesitation and said:

"I beg Your Majesty to give a name to the Temple of Meritorious Officials of the Great Zhou Empire!"

Chai Zongxun pondered for a moment and said:
"The name of the temple for meritorious officials of Emperor Guangwu of the Han Dynasty was 'Yuntai', the name of the temple for meritorious officials of Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty was 'Lingyan Pavilion', and the name of the temple for meritorious officials of my country will be 'Shiguang Hall'."

After receiving the order, Li Hang immediately started to build the "Time Hall" in Bian Jing together with Tang Qi.

After several days of discussion, Chai Zongxun and his ministers tentatively drafted a list of 28 ministers to be worshipped in the "Hall of Time", and their rankings were as follows:

Han Tong, Li Tao, Wang Zhu, Fu Yanqing, Li Yun, Hu Yanzan, Zhe Yuxun, Lü Mengzheng, Zhang Yong, Guan Mao, Jingsheng, Zhang Zhao, Dai Hong, Zhang Ning, Yang Ye, Gao Hua, Lin Renzhao, Zhang Qixian, Cao Bin, Li Hang, Li Chongjin, Zhang Yongde, Guan Lin, Yan Su, Ma Zhijie, Wang Dan, Cao Guangshi, Liang Ying.

(End of this chapter)