Zhu Biao: He Should Be Granted a Noble Title!

"The entire Jianzhou Tatar clan has been attacked by Zhu Ying's army and completely tied down, unable to continue supporting the Yuan Court."

"Over the past month of fierce battles, Zhu Ying led four thousand cavalry and remained isolated in the foreign lands of the Northern Frontier. He still has more than thirty-two hundred men left, exchanging fewer than a thousand fallen soldiers for the deaths of tens of thousands of Tatars."

"This is a victory for Great Ming, a joy for Great Ming."

"By Great Ming's system of military merits, I recommend promoting Zhu Ying to Garrison Commander and awarding him a hundred taels of gold."

"I respectfully ask Your Majesty to take note."

At this point, Yun Qi's voice fell silent. The report had been fully read.

Hearing of these results, the expressions of the many ministers who had remained unmoved until then changed as well.

"He led four thousand men deep into the heart of the enemy tribe. Not only did they survive, but of those four thousand, fewer than a thousand were killed."

"How is that possible?"

"Even if the Jianzhou Tatars are weak, they are still a tribe of a million people. Every man can be a soldier, and they have nearly a hundred thousand troops. Yet Zhu Ying slaughtered them so thoroughly that they had no way to respond? Are the Tatars simply too foolish, or is Zhu Ying's command of troops truly that formidable?"

"They are a small tribe. Even if they have horse ranches, they cannot have more than twenty thousand cavalry. The earlier report stated that after the Daning Border Army entered their territory, it routed ten thousand of their cavalry, and Great Ming seized quite a number of warhorses."

"Now Zhu Ying has once more led his army to wipe out ten thousand Tatar cavalry. This has completely broken the Jianzhou Tatars' cavalry force."

"What fine methods. What a formidable man."

"He first destroyed the Tatar cavalry. With that, the Tatars lost their mounted strength, while he could lead his own cavalry galloping freely across foreign lands. The Tatars could do nothing about him."

"How exactly did he accomplish this?"

"With such a paltry force, he was able to annihilate Tatar cavalry several times his own number? That simply should not be possible."

"Indeed."

"On foreign soil, the enemy's home ground, Zhu Ying was actually able to destroy the enemy army. Of four thousand troops, more than three thousand remain. I cannot even imagine how he did it."

"This young man is extraordinary."

Such results shook the hearts of many ministers.

Especially the many military officials in court.

"Eldest."

"What do you think of this Zhu Ying?" Zhu Yuanzhang asked with a smile, looking toward Zhu Biao.

"Judging by this, he is indeed a valiant general of Great Ming. Among Great Ming's new generation of generals, he can be considered outstanding," Zhu Biao replied at once with a smile.

As soon as those words fell, the ministers throughout the court turned their eyes toward him.

Without question, though Zhu Biao's words seemed casual, they concealed another meaning.

In present-day Great Ming, Huai West still held the highest standing within the army and wielded enormous influence.

Under imperial authority, naturally, no single faction could be allowed to dominate alone. Thus, commanders outside Huai West had always been promoted, but when it came to actual combat and command, their performance was somewhat lacking.

Yet Zhu Biao's words revealed that he held great expectations for Zhu Ying.

"Hahaha!"

Zhu Yuanzhang laughed loudly.

Then he said, "Biao'er is right."

"Among the younger generation, this Zhu Ying is indeed not bad."

With such high praise from Zhu Yuanzhang, the civil and military officials throughout the court understood even more clearly what the father and son had in mind.

"Your Majesty."

"Zhu Ying feared no danger and ventured deep into perilous territory to tie down the Tatars, preventing Daning Prefecture from being attacked from both front and rear. This is a great merit."

"I believe he should be richly rewarded."

Song Ne, Grand Secretary of Huagai Hall, stepped forward and presented his memorial loudly.

"I second the motion."

"Garrison Commander Zhu has rendered great merit and should be rewarded."

"Placed in dangerous territory, he not only tied down the enemy but dealt them a crushing blow, winning abundant spoils. He should indeed be richly rewarded."

"We second the motion."

With Song Ne speaking first, the many ministers in court who were adept at reading the mood followed suit, voicing their support.

After all, this was also what Zhu Yuanzhang and his son had in mind.

Moreover.

Huai West wielded immense prestige in the army, and quite a few in court were wary of them as well.

All in all, following the imperial will was the wisest course.

"Biao'er."

"How do you think Zhu Ying should be rewarded?" Zhu Yuanzhang looked toward Zhu Biao and asked with a smile.

Clearly.

Zhu Yuanzhang was now advanced in years, and every step he took was to pave the way for his son.

"This son believes."

"The war in Daning Prefecture has yet to be settled. In merely half a year, Zhu Ying has risen from an ordinary soldier to the rank of Garrison Commander—he has already received immense grace."

"The abundance of his achievements this time is enough to reveal Zhu Ying's courage and his heart for the nation."

"Promotion to Garrison Commander is only one of the rewards."

"This son believes he should be granted a noble title." Zhu Biao smiled and stated it directly.

The moment those words fell.

All the ministers in court were stunned.

A noble title.

Compared to an official post, it was far more difficult to obtain.

It was a symbol of status.

"What noble title does Biao'er think he should receive?" Zhu Yuanzhang asked with a smile.

He had no thought of opposing Zhu Biao's proposal.

Zhu Ying's name had now entered Fengtian Hall twice.

And this time was unlike the first. Duke of Song Feng Sheng had personally submitted the memorial; it was clear that Zhu Ying's military achievements had genuinely impressed Feng Sheng. Otherwise, he would not have placed such emphatic praise for Zhu Ying's merits in the military dispatch.

"This son believes he may be granted the title of Hereditary County Baron." Zhu Biao smiled, then spoke with firm conviction.

As soon as those words fell.

Quite a few court ministers revealed looks of shock.

A noble title!

Even many of the officials standing in this court did not possess one, because noble titles were mostly earned through military merit. It was exceedingly difficult for civil officials to obtain them. Aside from the founding ministers and civil officials who had received many such titles at the founding of the dynasty, few civil officials in this era were granted noble titles.

Of course.

Even those who had been enfeoffed back then were now bones buried beneath yellow earth, long gone from this world.

County Baron.

It was a title that still existed in the Hongwu Era. Though it was the lowest noble rank, the addition of the words "hereditary" greatly increased its value.

In history.

County Baron and County Viscount.

They existed only during the Hongwu Era, then were abolished afterward, because the ranks above them—Earl, Marquis, and Duke—would become even more exalted.

Their abolition was also meant to more strongly display the distinction of nobility.

It could be said.

If Zhu Ying truly received this title, he would have caught the last carriage.

"What do you all think of the Crown Prince's proposal?" Zhu Yuanzhang smiled as he swept his gaze across the court.

It sounded like a question.

But in truth, the decision had already been made.

He would certainly support his Biao'er's decision.

To Zhu Yuanzhang, ever since his wife and grandson had passed on, the only family left in his heart was Zhu Biao. Of course, that was for Zhu Chongba.

Zhu Yuanzhang had many descendants, but Zhu Chongba had only one son left.

"The Crown Prince is wise."

"We second the motion."

"His Highness the Crown Prince is wise."

The civil and military officials throughout the court cried out in succession.

Not one of them voiced any opposition to Zhu Biao's decision.

To oppose Zhu Biao at this moment was to oppose the living King of Hell seated on high!

No one would be that foolish.

Unless he no longer wished to live and insisted on provoking the living King of Hell above.

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