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

Chapter 691

Zhou Chu declined.

"Alright, no need to refuse anymore. You should have received more than half the credit for Zhixin's destruction of the Yarkand Khanate, but you refused to accept it. Now you're doing the same thing again. I understand your thoughts, but I feel ashamed if I don't accept any credit."

Jiajing sighed.

"Then Your Majesty, please grant me more pills. These pills are all of the finest quality, and only Daoist Feixiazi can refine them. No amount of money can buy them."

Zhou Chu looked at Jiajing and said.

"Isn't this easy to handle? Huang Jin, go to the Taoist priest and fetch all the pills."

Upon hearing this, Jiajing perked up immediately. He knew that Zhou Chu was never short of money, and he didn't even know how much money Zhou Chu actually had.

Huang Jin dared not delay and turned to leave the imperial study.

About fifteen minutes later, Huang Jin returned with a large wooden box.

"Your Majesty, this is a batch of pills that the Taoist priest just refined, a total of nine pills."

As Huang Jin spoke, he placed the box on the desk in front of Jiajing.

"That's all for now. Take this box for now. I'll give you two extra pills every time the Taoist priest refines them."

Jiajing said with some reluctance.

Emperor Jiajing was frail and sickly from a young age. When he first ascended the throne, his health was not very good. However, after years of treatment by Feixiazi, Emperor Jiajing is now full of energy and blood. It would be an exaggeration to say that he is as strong as an ox, but he is much healthier than the average person.

These pills were the main contributor to the success of the project, and Jiajing was naturally reluctant to part with them. However, since Zhou Chu had spoken up, he couldn't be stingy with them.

However, Jiajing soon realized that many of the precious medicinal materials used to refine these elixirs came from the southeast coast or Southeast Asia, such as ambergris and rhinoceros horn.

Now that Southeast Asia is about to be incorporated into the Ming Dynasty's territory, these medicinal herbs will probably not be in short supply in the future. Jiajing made up his mind to have Feixiazi refine more each time.

"Hengqi, tomorrow you will lead troops to take over Champa and establish the Javanese Provincial Administration Office there."

Jiajing looked at Zhou Chu and said seriously.

"I accept the decree."

Having received the benefits, Zhou Chu naturally had to do the work. Leading troops to take over Champa was just a formality; the credit mainly went to Wen Zhengming, followed by Hu Zongxian and Zhao Zhenji. He also received all the rewards he was entitled to.

"Huang Jin, send someone to inform all civil and military officials that a grand court assembly will be added tomorrow, and everyone must attend."

Jiajing looked at Huang Jin and said methodically.

"Slave, let's do it now."

Huang Jin said respectfully.

The next morning, civil and military officials whispered among themselves on their way to court.

"Your Excellency, do you know why His Majesty suddenly convened a grand court assembly?"

Zhang Cong approached Yang Yiqing and asked.

Jia Yong had retired to his hometown two months earlier, Zhang Cong took the opportunity to enter the cabinet, and Yan Song was transferred back to the capital to fill the vacancy of Minister of Revenue. The Ministry of Revenue had just begun to improve, and Jiajing did not want things to get out of control after Zhang Cong left, so he specially transferred Yan Song back.

Yan Song was naturally overjoyed to be able to return to the capital. Although he had been the undisputed ruler of Jiangnan Province, Yan Song understood that if he wanted to advance further, returning to the capital was essential.

When Yan Song and the others heard Zhang Cong ask this question, they all looked at Yang Yiqing.

"I suspect it's related to what's happening in Champa. There hasn't been a moment of peace there for the past few months. Lord Wen, along with Hu Ruzhen and Zhao Mengjing, has almost wiped out the entire Southeast Asia."

Yang Yiqing was an experienced and shrewd man. In addition, Wen Zhengming had been sending memorials to the capital frequently over the past three months. As the Grand Secretary, Yang Yiqing had some understanding of the situation in Southeast Asia.

The emperor's sudden addition of a grand court assembly is most likely due to a major event. Currently, the only major event in the Ming Dynasty is the situation in Nanyue.

Upon hearing this, everyone immediately showed a look of realization.

"Could it be that Lord Wen has completely recovered the Southeast Asian region?"

Han Jie said from the side.

Han Jie was very envious of Zhang Cong's entry into the cabinet, but not jealous. Many years ago, Fei Xiazi had told the fortune of this younger member of her family and predicted that he was not destined to enter the cabinet.

Feixia could see that Han Jie's talents were limited, and if he were to enter the cabinet, it would be more of a curse than a blessing.

Upon hearing this, Han Jie understood his own limitations. He could only admire Zhang Cong. He knew very well that even if he entered the cabinet, he would at most be like Jia Yong, with little presence in the cabinet.

It would be better to become the Minister of Personnel.

The current cabinet is headed by Grand Secretary Yang Yiqing, with cabinet members Yang Shen, Xia Yan, and Zhang Cong.

Which one is easy to work with? They are all extremely shrewd individuals, not only in terms of their intelligence but also in their ability to accomplish tasks in a way that is unmatched by others. They always manage to resolve many issues with ease.

Han Jie believed that he could never do this.

Compared to Han Jie, Yan Song envied Zhang Cong more, and even felt a little jealous. In terms of being with Zhou Chu, he had been with Zhang Cong earlier than Zhang Cong. However, Yan Song was also well aware that he had made two or three mistakes when he was in Jiangnan, especially the time when Lord Zhou was assassinated. Now that he had been transferred back to the capital, it was already a rare honor. Yan Song did not expect anything else in the short term.

Soon, all the civil and military officials arrived at the imperial court.

"Lord Wen Zhengming has sent a memorial. In the name of Champa and the name of King Bo Jie of Champa, Lord Wen has unified the other regions of Southeast Asia except Annam. Lord Wen requests Your Majesty to send troops to take over Champa in the name of upholding justice for other countries."

At Jiajing's instruction, Huang Jin directly stated the theme of the court assembly.

Although they had expected it, Han Jie and the others were still greatly shocked when they actually heard it.

Wen Zhengming's mission to Champa lasted only three months, yet he completely pacified Southeast Asia? What an incredible achievement!

In particular, those officials who had previously wanted to go to Champa were all green with envy, thinking that if they were to go to Champa, the enormous credit might be theirs.

"What are you thinking? Lord Wen was able to accomplish this because Hu Ruzhen and Zhao Mengjing were in the mission. When you go on your mission, will they be with you?"

An official standing nearby, seeing the expressions on these people's faces, couldn't help but make a sarcastic remark.

These words instantly brought these people to their senses.

Although Hu Zongxian and Zhao Zhenji did not serve as officials in the court, their names were known to almost all civil and military officials.

"I have already dispatched Zhou Hengqi to take over Champa and am preparing to establish the Javanese Provincial Administration Commission. What do you all think?"

Seeing the shocked reactions of his officials, Jiajing felt incredibly pleased.