“Your Majesty, after paying respects to the Empress Dowager and taking a short rest, you will proceed to the Fengtian Hall for your enthronement. The Ministry of Rites has already drafted the imperial accession edict. Your Majesty needs to announce several important matters. Among them, the most crucial is that next year the era name will be changed to Shaozhi. This must be made clear in the accession edict.”

Shaozhi?

Henry Foster, who had been silent all along, twitched the corner of his mouth. It’s actually not Jiajing! Truly, there are traps everywhere!

Chapter 12: My Era Name, My Choice

Shaozhi!

Back then, Stephen Mason had mentioned to Charles Brooks that the new era name would be Shaozhi. He had heard it clearly in the carriage. It seems this era name had been prepared for quite some time—truly a well-laid plan, with everything arranged perfectly.

When a new emperor ascends the throne, changing the era name to declare a new reign is indeed a necessary act. Moreover, the Ming dynasty is different from previous dynasties: an emperor has only one era name, something to be used for a lifetime—how could it be taken lightly?

An era name often needs to embody beautiful aspirations and be easy to pronounce. Choosing an era name is a profound art.

The character “Shao” rarely appears in era names.

Shao: first, it means “to inherit”; second, “to guide”… Sorry, got off track…

Henry Foster shook his head. The meaning of Shaozhi couldn’t be clearer: Shaozhi means to inherit Hongzhi!

This is the greatest demand of the civil official faction toward Charles Brooks!

Even though Charles Brooks entered the capital with the rites of a Son of Heaven, they would not willingly admit defeat. In fact, this is just the beginning of a long struggle. It’s like a boxing match: Charles Brooks seized an opportunity and landed a punch, but how could a two-hundred-pound strongman be knocked down in one blow? He will surely keep fighting back.

The two characters “Shaozhi” are yet another attempt by the officials to define Charles Brooks’s legitimacy.

“I think the era name is inappropriate!”

Charles Brooks suddenly spoke, making Samuel Grant’s hand tremble.

Here we go again!

He regretted it deeply.

Ever since he took it upon himself to curry favor with the new emperor, he’s been in constant trouble.

Originally, the enthronement ceremony was the responsibility of the Minister of Rites, Stephen Mason, but since he stepped in once, Stephen Mason simply treated one time as a hundred and pushed everything onto him.

As for James Young, he also deliberately let him be the target in front.

The matter of urging the emperor to ascend was troublesome enough, and now the issue of the era name has come up—this is killing him!

Sweat appeared on Samuel Grant’s forehead. He instinctively glanced at James Young, only to find the Grand Secretary had his head lowered, showing no intention of stepping forward. He could only brace himself and say, “Your Majesty, the two characters Shaozhi are the result of many discussions between the Grand Secretariat and the Ministry of Rites. We believe that the Zhengde era was full of chaos, and now Your Majesty takes charge of the state, bringing order from chaos. Therefore, Shaozhi is the most appropriate era name!”

Worthy of a Grand Secretary—deliberately avoiding the word “Shao,” and it still sounds plausible.

But Charles Brooks had already suffered a loss over the appointment of Henry Foster; how could he be fooled again!

He chuckled, “What Grand Secretary Grant says seems reasonable, but I think the era name should be even more melodious and meaningful! Grand Secretary Grant, I want to choose another!”

Easier said than done—this isn’t a marketplace where you can just swap things at will!

Samuel Grant could only look pleadingly at James Young. Although he wasn’t entirely convinced, at this moment, only the Grand Secretary could help.

After a moment of silence, James Young finally spoke.

“Your Majesty, the era name can certainly be changed, but you are about to meet the Empress Dowager, and then read the accession edict in the Fengtian Hall to announce the new era. Time is short, and I fear this old minister cannot come up with a better era name in time. I beg Your Majesty’s understanding.”

Charles Brooks smiled inwardly. He had learned a new trick: set it aside for now, and when the time comes and a decision must be made, bring it up again. No matter what, the new emperor cannot go without an era name. Not satisfied? You’ll have to make do!

Charles Brooks was truly annoyed. No wonder the Son of Heaven can’t outmaneuver his ministers! No matter how capable you are, you’re just one person and can’t cover everything. But they are a team, digging pits for you everywhere—you can’t help but fall in!

Sure enough, Samuel Grant hurriedly said, “Your Majesty, what Grand Secretary Young says is very true. The auspicious hour is at hand; it would not be good to delay!”

Charles Brooks gritted his teeth. Should he really agree?

He instinctively looked at his only reliable companion, Henry Foster.

He did trust Henry Foster’s eloquence, but the question was, did he have enough knowledge to come up with a suitable era name?

Just as Charles Brooks hesitated, he noticed a mysterious smile on Henry Foster’s face.

This kid is something!

Fine, he’d trust him this once. Anyway, he’d rather have no era name than accept Shaozhi!

“Grand Secretaries, I will go pay respects to the Empress Dowager at once. You, along with the Ministry of Rites, may consult with Reader Foster and quickly come up with a suitable era name. Announce it when I hold court at the palace gate!”

With that, Charles Brooks entered the inner palace to pay respects to Empress Dowager Bolton.

The other ministers were all stunned, unable to react for a long time.

Is this a joke?

How important is an era name!

They had deliberated for so long and finally settled on Shaozhi.

It was recognized as the best era name.

Even if there were a better one, it couldn’t be thought up in such a short time.

With all the learned scholars in the court unable to do it, how could a teenager be allowed to meddle? Is he even qualified?