566: Eat the prince's salary and receive the highest reward

Li Fangzhong took out an imperial decree from his in arms.

Bang!

He unrolled it directly and began to read:

“By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: I have inherited the Mandate of Heaven and reigned for one thousand nine hundred and twenty years.

Now, gravely ill and with my destiny nearing its end, the nation faces peril from demonic chaos, necessitating the entrustment of power to a loyal minister.

The Yun Province Pacification Commissioner, Marquis Wuan Chu Jiang, has demonstrated loyalty to the throne and the nation, bringing order and dispelling misfortune.

In the past, he quelled the demon plague in the western regions, executed the rebellious Wu Ling King, suppressed the southwestern rebellion, and secured the altars of the nation; his achievements illuminate the sun and moon.

Now, I promote him to Supervisor, grant him the position of Grand Tutor, and appoint him Grand Commander of the Five Armies, to oversee all court affairs and command the three armies.

All internal and external government affairs, the Six Ministries and their officials, and the seven Imperial Capital garrisons shall obey his command.

Until the New Emperor is stable, Chu Qing may act on behalf of the imperial authority in all national policy decisions, and no civil or military official shall defy him.

I specially bestow three powers upon him:

First, in cases of rebellion, regardless of whether they are kings, marquises, generals, or ministers, he may wield the Tai Zu Golden Saber to execute first and report later.

Second, should evil demons cause chaos, the Jixia Academy and the Demon Suppression Division shall assist him.

Third, he is granted the Mysterious Dragon Golden Robe and a double stipend equivalent to a Prince.

It is hoped that Chu Qing will emulate the ancient sages, assist the New Emperor, secure the altars of the nation, and ensure the Great Chu Dynasty's eternal stability.

This imperial decree is hereby proclaimed throughout the land, for all to hear!

Respect this!”

…

Hiss…

Gasps echoed through the Golden Luan Hall.

Appointing a Supervisor!

Granting the position of Grand Tutor!

Appointing Grand Commander of the Five Armies!

Although both are honorary first-rank positions, this reward was simply too generous.

The crucial part was the three powers granted afterward.

The authority to execute first and report later in cases of rebellion, regardless of the status of kings, marquises, generals, or ministers, was immense.

This would elevate Chu Jiang’s power to its Peak.

It also bound the Demon Suppression Division and Jixia Academy, two colossal entities, to his war chariot.

The Mysterious Dragon Golden Robe goes without saying; Chu Jiang was already a double first-rank Marquis, with no higher title to bestow, so he could only be given Prince-level treatment, which was still shocking enough.

This was essentially opening a door for Chu Jiang to unleash slaughter, to open the gates of Hell.

Could it be that Chu Jiang truly had some intricate connection with the Chu Emperor?

This treatment, the power of Supervisor, ascended to the Peak.

His noble title, status, and real power made him the foremost figure in the Great Chu Dynasty.

Throughout the Great Chu Dynasty's five-thousand-year history, no second person had ever received such treatment.

This reward was a bit too high, unbelievably high, making it hard to accept, even stirring jealousy and anger.

Among them, the Prince of Yan harbored the most resentment.

This wasn't setting up a Supervisor; it was practically creating a standing Vice-Emperor.

The more the old man valued Chu Jiang, the greater the threat he posed to him.

The higher his status, the more difficult it would be to deal with him after he ascended the throne.

Old man, the more you do this, the more I will go against your wishes.

The Great Chu Dynasty's realm will be squandered by you, perhaps even handed over.

This old man, truly on his deathbed, his mind is already muddled.

“Father Emperor is sagacious!”

“Your Majesty is sagacious!”

…”

Prince Jin and others led the chorus.

With the imperial decree issued, even those who were utterly unwilling could only swallow their dissent.

The Chu Emperor had preset the answer before seeking their counsel.

If he hadn't gotten the answer he wanted today, he probably would have kept the meeting going; who plays like this?

“As for the heir apparent…”

The Chu Emperor continued.

The hearts of the court officials instantly rose to their throats; compared to the struggle over the Supervisor position, the selection of the heir apparent was the true main event.

“The edict of succession has already been placed in the ancestral temple.

In three days, it will automatically be announced who the successor is!”

“You may withdraw; I am tired!”

The Chu Emperor said indifferently.

“Your subject withdraws!”

“Your son withdraws!”

For a time,

the Three Kings, civil and military officials, Jixia Academy, and Demon Suppression Division all left.

They had expected this to be a meeting to establish the heir apparent, but the outcome was a great surprise.

The Chu Emperor was dying, but no one knew who would inherit the throne; instead, the position of Supervisor had been fiercely contested.

Outside the imperial palace.

Minister of War Sun Wu said, “Prime Minister Han, what do you think His Majesty is thinking? I don’t understand.”

“The position of heir apparent was dismissed so casually.”

“Yet the position of Supervisor required a separate high-level meeting and extensive discussion.”

“Since His Majesty had already made a decision, why not just issue an imperial decree appointing Chu Jiang as Supervisor? Why invite the hundred officials for discussion?”

Right Prime Minister Han Fei, Former Right Chancellor shook his head slightly and said, “Minister Sun, although I don’t know what His Majesty is truly thinking, establishing the Supervisor… is about affirming the Supervisor’s legitimacy, gaining the recognition of the court and its officials, and making it known to the world that the chosen Supervisor was not solely decided by His Majesty, but rather recommended by the officials and widely supported.

This is naturally incomparable to a simple imperial decree.”

Although in essence, it was the Chu Emperor's sole decision, on the surface, it was still the Supervisor chosen by the officials.

This was the art of imperial power.

Originally, this was the treatment for the heir apparent.

Now, it had become the treatment for the Supervisor.

In contrast, the future heir apparent seemed utterly unimportant in the Chu Emperor’s eyes.

Truly strange.

The Minister of War said, “Forget it, if even a smart person like you can’t figure it out, I won’t bother thinking about it; it’s too much trouble.”

“These next few days, the Imperial Capital probably won’t be peaceful.”

As long as the throne remained unsettled for even a day, the struggle for imperial power would not end, especially during these final three days.

…

Golden Luan Hall.

The Chu Emperor sat on the Dragon Throne, his eyes seemingly flashing with a true Dragon.

“Your Majesty, the hundred officials have left the palace.”

Li Fangzhong replied respectfully, a worried expression on his face, “Your Majesty, you have decided to announce the heir apparent in three days.

These next few days, I fear…”

“It’s fine; let them jump as they please, no need to worry.”

The Chu Emperor’s eyes were indifferent.

“I have a task for you.

This is the advanced chapter of the Azure Wood Emperor Skill, one of the Great Chu Dynasty’s three great clan-protecting Cultivation Techniques.

When Chu Jiang returns to the Imperial Capital, you are to personally deliver it to him.”

Boom!

With a wave of his large hand,

an ancient book emitting a green divine light floated in the air.

“As Your Majesty commands!”

Li Fangzhong nodded heavily, then left at the Chu Emperor’s signal.