The disgraced official I took care of was actually Zhu Houcong's childhood friend.

Chapter 249

"Impossible, absolutely impossible!"

Upon hearing this, the first military officer to speak out instinctively retorted.

In fact, it wasn't just him; all the other officials reacted in a similar way.

Who would report battle losses inflated?

However, many people realized after a little thought that if they actually reported it as Cui Wenkui said, no one would believe it.

Even if we disregard that, they would find it hard to believe that the current version reported by Zhou Chu is the true battle casualty ratio.

Even Yang Yiqing, who had lived for so long, had never heard of such an exaggerated casualty ratio before. It couldn't even be described as casualty anymore, because none of his own soldiers had died.

"Do any of you have anything else to say? Do you all believe that Cui Yingsu will also side with Zhou Hengqi?"

Seeing the officials stammering and hesitant, Jiajing felt refreshed and couldn't help but ask a question in return.

Even Yang Shen and the others were dumbfounded. They knew that Zhou Chu was capable and a rare talent for governing the country, but they never expected that Zhou Hengqi's ability to lead troops into battle was so terrifying.

Does such a person have no shortcomings?

Yang Shen couldn't help but feel a little worried for Zhou Chu. Zhou Hengqi was too perfect, too comprehensive, strong in every aspect, so strong that no one could catch up with him.

If such a person were a monarch, it would be a blessing for the Ming Dynasty; but as a subject, he would inevitably be suspected by the monarch.

Although His Majesty doesn't seem like the kind of ruler who can't tolerate capable ministers, it depends on how capable those ministers are.

There's a saying that goes, "Many times it's not about whether you want to rebel, but whether you have the ability to rebel, and whether the court has the means to retaliate against you after you rebel."

If the court loses its means of countering you, even the most wise monarch will find a way to control you, regardless of trust.

For example, regarding Han Xin, it was no longer important whether Han Xin wanted to rebel or not. Once Han Xin rebelled, no one in the entire Han Dynasty would be able to stop him. Therefore, Emperor Gaozu of Han had to take Han Xin down and keep him under his watchful eye.

Of course, as things stand, Zhou Hengqi has not yet reached that point, and the Ming Dynasty still has many problems to solve.

"By imperial decree, Zhou Hengqi has made great contributions to the Ming Dynasty by quelling the rebellion in Jiangnan. Effective immediately, Zhou Hengqi is hereby conferred the title of Marquis of Changping, with a fief of one thousand households."

As soon as this statement came out, everyone in the court was shocked.

Apart from the early Ming Dynasty during the Hongwu and Yongle periods, the marquises conferred later were mostly nominal marquises, such as the Marquis of Jianchang, who did not actually have a fief, or if they did, the fief was very small, basically only one or two hundred households.

It has been an unknown amount of time since the Marquis of a Thousand Households last appeared.

Unlike in ancient times, the Ming Dynasty did not grant the title of Marquis of Ten Thousand Households so easily; even the title of Marquis of a Thousand Households was extremely rare.

There is a huge difference between those who are granted the title of Marquis.

Now, the emperor has surprisingly bestowed upon Zhou Chu the title of Marquis of a Thousand Households without hesitation, and the officials have reacted in various ways upon hearing this.

However, most of them were just envious.

Yang Shen was somewhat worried. Zhou Hengqi was so young, yet he had already been granted the title of Marquis of a Thousand Households. What would be the reward for him if he made further contributions to the Ming Dynasty? Would he be granted the title of Duke? And what about after that? What would be the reward for him then?

As for the fiefdom being granted to Changping, which is now Gaoping Prefecture in Shanxi Province, the name Changping has long since disappeared into the annals of history. However, the name is very representative. During the Warring States period, the Battle of Changping was the largest, longest-lasting, and most costly battle between the Qin and Zhao states.

It can also be said to be a battle that fundamentally changed the Warring States period.

There was another reason why Zhou Chu established its fiefdom here.

Zhou Chu once told Jiajing that Shanxi merchants would become a major threat to the Ming Dynasty in the future. These merchants had little sense of national responsibility and were mostly driven by profit. With these merchants around, the Ming Dynasty's salt and iron blockade policy against the Mongols was slow to take effect.