Chapter 197: Chang'an Energy Crisis

As for the question of whom to establish as Crown Prince, that small court session did not produce any clear result. Those opposed to establishing the Prince of Shou as Crown Prince were not few.

And as for whether imperial princes should be sent out to the provinces, there was even less of a conclusion, and afterward there was no broader discussion of the matter at all.

However, on the very day after the small court session ended, the Prince of Shou, Li Chang, was formally appointed Crown Prince by Li Longji, and ordered to move out of the Ten Princes' Residence effective immediately and take up residence in the Eastern Palace.

With this, Chang'an's political landscape underwent a structural transformation! Going from chaos to clarity.

The Crown Prince was not merely a title — it came with an entire set of "semi-divine instruments"! That is to say, all the institutions associated with the Eastern Palace!

During the Tang dynasty, the Eastern Palace's subordinate officials were greatly refined upon the foundations of the previous dynasty.

Previously, during the Western Jin dynasty under Crown Prince Minhuai, the Six Tutors were first established — that is, the later Three Preceptors and Three Junior Preceptors, namely: Grand Preceptor to the Crown Prince, Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince, Grand Protector to the Crown Prince; Junior Preceptor to the Crown Prince, Junior Tutor to the Crown Prince, and Junior Protector to the Crown Prince.

But from the Tang dynasty onward, the Three Preceptors and Three Junior Preceptors became honorary titles, no longer regularly established, and the Bureau of the Crown Prince's Affairs took over responsibility for managing Eastern Palace affairs.

The Bureau of the Crown Prince's Affairs oversaw the Eastern Palace's three directorates — the Household Directorate, the Directorate of the Water Clock and Drum, and the Directorate of the Crown Prince's Household — as well as the Left and Right Guards, the Left and Right Commandant of the Crown Prince's Guard, the Left and Right Clear Way Command, the Left and Right Gate Command, and the Left and Right Interior Ten Commanderies, among others. The subordinate branches beneath it were numerous, primarily responsible for managing the Eastern Palace's administrative affairs — it could be called a miniature version of the court's Department of State Affairs.

Meanwhile, the Court of the Crown Prince, which had been standard issue for the Crown Prince during the Sui dynasty, was now renamed the Left Spring Court; and the former Directorate of Palace Writings was renamed the Right Spring Court. Both were internal organs of the Bureau of the Crown Prince's Affairs, their functions akin to miniature versions of the court's Secretariat and Chancellery.

The Eastern Palace also had many "odd-job" institutions under its jurisdiction — it was virtually a "miniature court," with every necessary post provided for. Even the Crown Prince's meals had a dedicated Bureau of Imperial Cuisine to handle them.

These institutions had an enormous number of subordinate staff, totaling no fewer than several hundred people.

However, with the exception of a very few positions, the authority of the other Eastern Palace officials was virtually nil, and their daily life was extremely leisurely, with rather poor compensation.

Since the Crown Prince had no real power, why were so many institutions established for him?

The answer was: so that after the Crown Prince ascended the throne, he could use the personnel of the Bureau of the Crown Prince's Affairs to swiftly take over the administration of government, and not be easily sidelined by powerful ministers.

The saying "a new sovereign brings new ministers" originally came from precisely this.

However, being Crown Prince was a position with an indefinite term, and the variables were enormous.

Among those who served as Crown Prince, some could ascend the throne the very same day, while there were also plenty in history who remained Crown Prince for forty years. Serving as Crown Prince for forty years was something one had no choice in — but could the officials assigned to the Bureau of the Crown Prince's Affairs also contentedly serve for forty years as "prospective big shots" with zero power?

This was the subtlety and contradiction inherent in the establishment of the Bureau of the Crown Prince's Affairs.

Once these subordinate officials entered the Eastern Palace, it was as though they had entered a cage within the bureaucracy. They could only devote themselves wholeheartedly to assisting the Crown Prince, hoping the current emperor would abdicate quickly, so that they themselves could fly up onto the branch and become peacocks.

So compared to the risk of sending imperial princes away from Chang'an, establishing the Prince of Shou as Crown Prince was really no big deal — not worth mentioning. Though the Crown Prince was called the "foundation of the state," it was not as if he couldn't be replaced! The Prince of Shou being Crown Prince today did not mean he would always be Crown Prince! Before him, there had already been two unlucky ones.

In addition to the Prince of Shou being established as Crown Prince and moving into the Eastern Palace.

The aftershocks caused by Li Heng's attempted rebellion also "arrived as scheduled," and were far more intense than anticipated.

Palace Censor-in-Chief Zhang Yi, for failing to discipline his son, was dismissed and sent out as the prefect of a superior prefecture.

His position was taken over by Zheng Shuqing. At the same time, Zheng Shuqing was also granted the title of Dismissal and Promotion Commissioner, responsible for overseeing the hundreds of officials in and around Chang'an — which could be considered a thorough escape from his earlier predicament of "calling everyone godfather."

This office carried the authority to directly dismiss officials of the sixth rank and below, executing first and reporting afterward. In other words, while "inspecting," Zheng Shuqing could dispose of officials he deemed to have violated the law or taboos without reporting to the chancellor first.

Such "disposal" could mean dismissal from office, imprisonment, or even direct execution — and then he need only report the result afterward.

Of course, whatever the court's official titles may be, the assignments handed out were definitely a mix of good and bad — they would never let one person monopolize all the good postings.

Because of his "merit in saving the sovereign," although Zheng Shuqing held the post of "Dismissal and Promotion Commissioner," he was also saddled with several "wretched assignments" that ordinary people would go out of their way to avoid.

The first was "Charcoal Commissioner."

As the weather turned cold, demand for firewood, charcoal, and similar goods from the imperial palace and government offices within Chang'an rose sharply! Moreover, the shortfall was enormous, requiring dedicated personnel to organize civilian laborers to fell trees, transport them, burn charcoal, and then store the firewood and charcoal in warehouses for delivery to the palace and distribution to the hundreds of officials.

The second was "Market Procurement Silver Commissioner." Because the Caoyun transport from Yangzhou had shut down, causing prices in Chang'an to skyrocket, the court urgently needed to procure "heavy goods" — that is, goods that were not convenient to transport — from Hebei and other regions. Such heavy goods were mostly grain, firewood, and the like.

And of course the court could not simply go to Hebei and seize grain and firewood by force, so it needed to issue "Market Harmony Silver" to the local prefectural and county offices, letting the local authorities figure out how to use "Market Harmony Silver" — a form of "light goods" — to purchase local "heavy goods."

Simply put, this was exporting inflation outward.

The Market Procurement Silver Commissioner was responsible for collecting silver as tax from the silver-producing regions of Lingnan, then smelting these silver fragments into silver cakes, inscribing them, and putting them into the treasury, and then distributing them to various regions — primarily Hebei — and transporting the local heavy goods back to Chang'an, managing the entire chain of related affairs.

This assignment looked simple enough, but adding together the three posts Zheng Shuqing held and examining them carefully, a moment's thought would reveal that things were very difficult to manage.

Authorized to dismiss disobedient officials, required to supply firewood to the palace, government offices, and hundreds of officials, and tasked with converting the "light goods" in the treasury into edible and usable "heavy goods" — the difficulties Zheng Shuqing faced were visible to the naked eye!

In this upheaval, the unfortunate one was not only former Palace Censor-in-Chief Zhang Yi alone; Left Chancellor Zhang Shougui also met with great misfortune.

Because Zhang Shougui had done nothing after the rebellion broke out, and furthermore the Ministry of War, which he concurrently oversaw, had issued military orders to the Southern Command guards outside the city that were detrimental to the effort to save the sovereign. Therefore Li Longji dismissed him from his posts — he would no longer serve as Palace Attendant, nor would he continue to hold the concurrent position of Minister of War. Instead, he was reassigned to the powerless title of "Censor-in-Chief."

At the same time, Zhang Shougui was given the assignment of "Lingnan Military Commissioner," replacing Fang Youde, who had returned to the capital to report on his duties, and was sent out as a Military Commissioner.

Those in officialdom generally believed that Zhang Shougui's dismissal from the chancellorship was not because of his "lack of merit in saving the sovereign" this time, but rather because many matters had accumulated continuously until they finally crushed the sturdy camel. Regardless, the story of the two chancellors' bitter rivalry came to a temporary close, and Li Linfu, who better understood the sovereign's mind, emerged victorious.

Li Shizhi took over Zhang Shougui's position as Palace Attendant, and at the same time also received the "Transport Commissioner" assignment that had originally belonged to Wei Jian, stationed at Luoyang to oversee the restoration of the Caoyun water transport, without interfering with Li Linfu's administration of government in Chang'an.

That was right — ever since the Yangzhou uprising, the Jianghuai Canal had been completely shut down. Yangzhou was the handicraft center and grain transshipment center of the Jianghuai region, and the main participants in the rebellion were the Caoyun boatmen along the canal, the weavers responsible for textile production, and the conscript households of various handicraft trades!

A bout of upheaval followed by a bout of suppression — first Yang Zhao scraped the land three feet deep leaving not even chickens and dogs behind, then Fang Youde ruthlessly and mercilessly struck down killers. Under this twin assault, Yangzhou — a place where merchants gathered and a land of fish and rice — was utterly ruined! And along with it, the Jianghuai Canal transport was also more than half wrecked.

Li Shizhi accepted the assignment and was about to head to Luoyang on official business. He would begin clearing the northern stretch of the canal and work his way south all the way to Yangzhou, dredging the entire route and ensuring that every ferry crossing along the canal's prefectures and counties had people ready to receive goods, keeping freight moving without interruption.

As for the rest, there was not much to say. Those who had participated in saving the sovereign were all rewarded; those who had failed in the effort to save the sovereign — not one was spared. Those who deserved execution were executed, those who deserved dismissal were dismissed, and those who deserved exile were exiled. Wei Jian's entire family and nearby collateral branches didn't escape either — all were exiled to Lingnan!

Zhang Guangsheng, who had run his legs off during the effort to save the sovereign, rose to the heavens in a single step, becoming Vice Commander of the Left Gold Crow Guard — a vacancy carved out for him by He Qichang under Fang Youde's command.

Prince Xin'an, Li Yi, being advanced in age and no longer wishing to serve as an official, had no changes to his titles or posts. Only his son Li Huan was enfeoffed as Duke of Zhao State and appointed Vice Director of the Ministry of Justice's Bureau of Punishments, along with a large bounty of wealth and goods.

Even the young eunuch Yu Chao'en, who had led the way for Fang Chongyong in raiding officials' residences, was appointed as the new "Commissioner of the Ten Princes' Residence."

As for Fang Chongyong himself, he was only granted the position of Investigating Censor — a mere eighth-rank official. By official rank, he had actually been demoted.

However, he still held the new assignment "Brave Recruitment Commissioner," "invented" by Brother Ji, responsible for recruiting stalwart men across the entire country for the imperial guards' use. Well, to make it convenient for him to carry out his duties, Brother Ji also appointed Fang Chongyong as "Army Supervision Commissioner" for the northwest region — that is, responsible for some of the military affairs of the Hexi and Longyou Military Commissioner headquarters.

Specifically, this meant "supervising punishments and rewards, reporting on violations and errors." Fang Chongyong would remain in the capital of Chang'an, remotely holding the "Army Supervision" of two Military Commissioner headquarters. If he did not go to the frontier garrisons, then he would have no real power at all; once he did go, he could "investigate violations," making it convenient for him to select stalwart men.

Brother Ji had truly taken great pains to arrange a series of bizarre official posts for Fang Chongyong, all for the sake of his own safety.

……

Boom boom boom!

That morning, not long after the great drum signaling the lifting of the curfew had ceased, the gate of the Fang family residence was knocked upon.

The bleary-eyed Fang Laique went to the door and opened it, only to see Zheng Shuqing, wearing a thick brocade robe, standing outside waiting while rubbing his hands together.

"Is your Master Fang at home? I mean Censor Fang."

Zheng Shuqing asked with a beaming smile.

"And who are you?"

Fang Laique stared at Zheng Shuqing with those dull, foolishly cute eyes and asked.

"Cough, cough, cough. I am the Palace Censor-in-Chief Zheng Shuqing, your Master Fang's superior."

Zheng Shuqing said smugly.

"Oh, is that so. Let me check then."

Fang Laique walked into the gatehouse, pulled out a small booklet strung together with hemp rope, and kept flipping through it.

"What are you looking for?"

Zheng Shuqing asked in confusion.

"Mm, found the name. You're on the list. My master (Fang Youde) said, no admittance to anyone on the list, you cannot enter the courtyard gate. Please go back."

Fang Laique raised his head and said expressionlessly, then without waiting for Zheng Shuqing to reply, shut the courtyard gate right then and there!

What on earth!

Zheng Shuqing was left speechless by this performance!

"Open the door! I have important business with your master! Truly important business!"

Zheng Shuqing anxiously pounded on the courtyard gate and shouted.

"Making a racket first thing in the morning — is it those people delivering firewood again? Didn't we say we don't want any?"

The courtyard gate was opened again. Ana Ye, her hair uncombed, disheveled and utterly unconcerned about her appearance, walked out lazily. Seeing Zheng Shuqing, she paused slightly and said, "Censor Zheng, what are you doing at our house? My father-in-law gave orders that if you came, you were to be beaten and thrown out."

"I have important business with your master, truly important business. Today, second-floor private room at Apricot Blossom Tower — he must come. Lives are at stake!"

Zheng Shuqing pressed his hands together and pleaded.

"Mm-hm, got it, got it. When he comes back I'll send him to Apricot Blossom Tower to find you."

Ana Ye waved her hand and said.

Suddenly, as if remembering something, she lowered her voice, pointed at Fang Laique, and asked, "What do you think of him?"

This fellow was just a little fool, what else could he be!

Zheng Shuqing replied with a calm expression, "This person has an extraordinary physique. At a glance, he is a promising talent."

"See, I told you!"

Ana Ye slapped Fang Laique on the head and looked at Zheng Shuqing with eager expectation, asking, "Do you have a daughter? Marry her to him. Then you and our master would be family. Not bad, right?"

"Mm, I don't have a daughter. My younger brother has two daughters. When there's a chance, I'll ask him."

Zheng Shuqing said with a bitter smile.

If not for the fact that this country girl from Hexi was the daughter of Prince Li Yi of Xin'an, he would have flicked his sleeves and left long ago! Why were the concubine and servants of someone as brilliant as Fang Chongyong all so dim-witted?

Though Zheng Shuqing could not make heads or tails of the situation at all, he was greatly shaken.

"Alright, alright, Censor Zheng, go attend to your business."

Ana Ye casually waved him off and shut the courtyard gate. Zheng Shuqing could still hear her saying something to that "little fool" Fang Laique: "See, I told you there'd be no problem marrying a chancellor's daughter. Censor Zheng here is going to be chancellor someday. You marry his brother's daughter, that's pretty much marrying a chancellor's daughter too."

"Alas, only women and petty men are hard to deal with — draw close and they grow insolent, keep your distance and they resent you."

Zheng Shuqing could not help but sigh.

He realized that his path as an official seemed to be spiraling in circles. Every time he finally broke out of one small circle, he would enter an even larger one. There never seemed to be a moment of peace. There would always be one trouble or another.

"The trees around Chang'an have all been chopped bare. Where am I supposed to find firewood!"

Zheng Shuqing turned and left, complaining as he walked.

……

For the entire morning, Fang Chongyong stayed at the military camp outside Chang'an, watching the so-called "stalwart men" undergo skills testing. Fang Youde had specifically dispatched his trusted subordinate He Qichang to assist Fang Chongyong.

Fang Chongyong's assessment was very simple. The first test: take three moves from He Qichang without being knocked to the ground — that counted as passing.

As it turned out, after two shichen passed, not a single applicant had passed. This was actually not surprising, because people living in Chang'an and its surrounding areas had certainly not endured the crucible of war like the border garrisons. Expecting them to last even a few exchanges with He Qichang was truly no easy matter.

In the High Tang era, those brawny and powerful martial men had gradually fallen out of favor in society. Fair-faced young men who could write, compose verses on the spot, and wore powder and rouge — those were the people's favorites. Nurtured under such cultural trends, it was no wonder that one could not find the kind of warrior who could stand against a hundred in Chang'an and its surroundings.

He returned home full of disappointment, and Ana Ye told him Zheng Shuqing had come with something urgent. Fang Chongyong had no choice but to head to Apricot Blossom Tower, where, in the second-floor private room, he found Zheng Shuqing waiting anxiously, on the verge of going mad.

"Censor Zheng's position is red-hot. You've been riding high lately — a man about to become chancellor. What business could you have with an idle fellow like me?"

Fang Chongyong asked listlessly.

"Hurry, save my life! I really can't take it anymore."

Zheng Shuqing grabbed Fang Chongyong's sleeve and said in a low, agitated voice.

"Hey, just say what you need to say. All this tugging and pulling — what does it look like? You're a man about to become chancellor."

Fang Chongyong pulled his sleeve back and said with displeasure.

"I'm now serving as that Charcoal Commissioner."

"Mm, delivering charcoal to the palace, right? And then?" Fang Chongyong yawned and asked.

"And then there are no trees left to cut around Chang'an."

Zheng Shuqing said with a face full of helplessness.

"Huh?"

Fang Chongyong wore a baffled expression, not understanding what the other man was playing at.

One more chapter.

(End of this chapter.)