Chapter 986: Chapter 543: Conferred Marquis, Granted 10,000 Households! (Part 3)
Chen Yuan took a deep breath and returned to the ranks.
In fact, upon reflection, Chen Yuan suddenly realized something was wrong. Jingtai only elevated his title to the highest level, with a lot of grain awarded, but… what about power?
He couldn’t still be stuck as a Golden Envoy, could he?
Perhaps this was also where Jingtai’s dissatisfaction lay. He gave him high honor to silence people’s criticisms, yet mentioned nothing about any change in position.
The machinations of an emperor.
“Your Majesty, this old minister has something to report.”
After Chen Yuan stepped back, Gu Tianqiong squinted his eyes and spoke up.
“What does the Great Governor wish to say?” Jingtai asked amiably.
“This old minister has been in closed-door cultivation for many years, and now it has reached a critical point, so I cannot be distracted by managing the Heavenly Patrol Bureau anymore. I hope Your Majesty will allow this old minister to resign from the position of Great Governor of the Heavenly Patrol Bureau.”
“Boom!!!”
If Chen Yuan’s marquisate appointment was a considerable shock, then Gu Tianqiong’s words were an immense one.
Resign from the post of Great Governor of the Heavenly Patrol Bureau?!
Since the establishment of the Heavenly Patrol Bureau, he has been its first Great Governor, having single-handedly set up its system, a power unmatched by few in the entire court.
And now he voluntarily stepped down, this…..
Was even more shocking.
But only a handful knew the truth, clearly that the Emperor feared the power of the Heavenly Patrol Bureau and thus forced Gu Tianqiong to step down, which now turned into a voluntary resignation by the Great Governor.
This tactic was indeed extraordinary, and it is unknown how Jingtai persuaded Gu Tianqiong.
That was a regular Second Rank position, one below the emperor but above ten thousand others.
Yet he abandoned it without hesitation.
“I do not allow…” Jingtai’s expression changed:
“The Great Governor has established the Heavenly Patrol Bureau over the years and has rendered great services. He is the pillar of jade holding up the skies in our dynasty, a golden beam spanning the ocean, and the Heavenly Patrol Bureau cannot be without you. Nor can I be without you, so this matter needs no further mention.”
Chen Yuan and a few informed individuals pursed their lips.
Watching Jingtai put on a performance.
“This old minister’s words are well-considered and far from absurd. Martial Arts stress cultivation, and now it has reached a critical time. I beseech Your Majesty’s grace.” Gu Tianqiong continued.
“I do not allow it. Don’t put me in a difficult position, Great Governor.”
Jingtai wore a look of regret and pain.
Gu Tianqiong bowed with clenched fists:
“Please grant me your grace, Your Majesty.”
“No, absolutely not, Great Governor, you are making it difficult for me.”
Jingtai let out a long breath.
But the officials in the court roughly understood the implication.
The thrice refusal and thrice concession…
Back then, the Grand Marshal Shen Wu True Monarch Li Kuangxiu also seemed to have gone through this process, which led to his honorary title as Grand Marshal, and now the same is being performed on Gu Tianqiong.
The Emperor is starting to consolidate power!
Sure enough, when Chen Yuan’s gaze shifted to Li Kuangxiu, he noticed a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth, and Li Kuangxiu gave Chen Yuan a meaningful glance, prompting him to swiftly avert his gaze.
It was all prearranged!
Truly cumbersome.
“Your Majesty, this old minister genuinely offers these heartfelt words. If they were not pondered deeply, I would not have spoken at this time. Over the years, the Heavenly Patrol Bureau has already been on the right track,
with several Divine Envoys overseeing it, ensuring no errors.”
“This….” Jingtai closed his eyes, sighed deeply:
“Does the Great Governor have a candidate to succeed you?”
Gu Tianqiong glanced at Xiao Jing, and continued:
“Heavenly Divine Envoy Xiao Jing, with profound cultivation and formidable strength, has diligently served at the Heavenly Prison of the Heavenly Patrol Bureau for many years with commendable service, and can take over this old minister’s position.”
Jingtai gazed at Xiao Jing, and after a long silence, he spoke again:
“Beloved Minister Xiao.”
“Your Majesty.”
Xiao Jing took a step forward.
“Since the Great Governor is so resolute, I cannot refuse either. So be it, from this day hence, you shall be the new Great Governor of the Heavenly Patrol Bureau, granted eight thousand households, titled Marquis, with the honorific…. Wu Ping.”
“Thank Your Majesty, this humble servant will ensure to fulfill the duty of commanding the Heavenly Patrol Bureau for Your Majesty.” Xiao Jing bowed and replied solemnly.
Obviously, all this had been prepared in advance.
“As Beloved Minister Xiao assumes the position of Great Governor of the Heavenly Patrol Bureau, the position of Heavenly Divine Envoy becomes vacant, this matter…..” Jingtai looked at a few Divine Envoys who all seemed ready to speak but hesitated, clearly each having a candidate in mind.
Finally, he squinted at Chen Yuan, who looked calm, and continued:
“The position of Heavenly Divine Envoy is highly significant, so it will be shelved today for future discussion.”
Zhang Yantong and Zuo Tiancheng exchanged glances and slightly frowned.
Meanwhile, the former Great Governor Gu Tianqiong glanced at Chen Yuan’s position. He had previously informed the Emperor of the Heavenly Divine Envoy’s candidate, which was Chen Yuan, but now he was not granted the position.
Perhaps…. there are other thoughts.
Then Jingtai’s gaze halted again, and he announced solemnly:
“The Great Governor resigns from the position at the Heavenly Patrol Bureau, wishing to train hard, but I cannot fully agree. Someone draft an edict, granting Great Governor Gu Tianqiong the title of Duke Wei Guo, with ten thousand households, a rank comparable to a non-native king. He may freely meet the emperor without bowing, attend court with sword and boots, granted an imperial immunity token, and the King Beating Golden Whip, to strike at foolish emperors and treacherous ministers!”
“As Your Majesty commands.”
The red-clad eunuch on the side immediately acknowledged.
Gu Tianqiong accepted generously, as these conditions were one of the terms for him leaving the position of Great Governor of the Heavenly Patrol Bureau, immense honor beyond measure.
“Thank Your Majesty.”
Then Jingtai looked at Grand Marshal Li Kuangxiu and continued:
“Grand Marshal has served the country tirelessly over the years, spending much effort, my heart is troubled, thus bestowing upon Grand Marshal Li Kuangxiu the title of Duke Zhen Guo, with ten thousand households, equal in rank to a non-native king, granted a gold medal, and rewarded with a Golden Whip, same as with the Great Governor.”
Li Kuangxiu was taken aback, not expecting to be mentioned today. No wonder the Emperor secretly summoned him to court, as it was for this reason. He immediately bowed and said:
“The old minister thanks Your Majesty for the grace.”
“Hmm….”
Jingtai nodded. His gaze swept over the officials below.
“If there are no further court matters from the ministers, then dismiss court.”
“May the Emperor live ten thousand, ten thousand, ten thousand years!”
“May the Emperor live ten thousand, ten thousand, ten thousand years!”
The uniform voices soared to the heavens.
The series of major events that took place today will soon spread throughout the capital and even across the country!
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The third update, truly exhausting!!!
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There’s another chapter at midnight.
Twenty thousand words, damn….