Chapter 1055: The Ten-Point Posthumous Memorial

In the hall, wailing filled the air. Emperor Liu remained crouched, calmly annotating the lifeless Wang Pu, a feeling called grief piling up and brewing in his chest. Wang Pu had passed peacefully—one could even say it was a release.

Letting out a deep breath, Liu Chengyou gently placed Wang Pu's hand onto his abdomen and stood up. Because he had been crouching for so long, his head felt dizzy, and his swaying figure startled Yan Tuo, who hurriedly supported him and asked with concern: "Your Majesty!"

After a moment to steady himself, Liu Chengyou suppressed the sorrow in his heart, shook off Yan Tuo's support, took one more look at Wang Pu's remains, then turned and walked before the grief-stricken Wang Shen, stopping to instruct: "See to your father's funeral arrangements properly!"

"Yes!" Wang Shen was weeping profusely.

Carrying a heavy heart, he left the residence, his steps heavy and slow. As he walked, the sorrow on his face gradually showed. Over the years, Emperor Liu had witnessed the passing of too many worthy ministers and good generals, and there were many who moved him—Gao Xingzhou, Zhe Congruan, Zhao Hui, Jing Fan...

But it had to be said, none had made Emperor Liu feel more sorrowful than Wang Pu's death. To put it bluntly—and perhaps unfilially—when Gaozu Liu Zhiyuan had passed away back then, he had not felt such grief and reluctance to let go.

"Convey my oral decree: Wang Pu's lifetime achievements and virtue deserve a final verdict, to be handled by Chancellor Wei. Have Xue Juzheng personally write Wang Pu's biography and compose the spirit-path stele inscription!" Before boarding the carriage back to the palace, Liu Chengyou instructed Yan Tuo.

"Your Majesty!" Lü Yin caught up, holding a document with both hands. Noticing Emperor Liu's gaze, Lü Yin reported on his own initiative: "This is presented on behalf of Wang Shen—the memorial Wang Gong submitted before his death!"

Upon hearing this, Emperor Liu directly reached out and took it, then instructed: "Return to the palace!"

The spacious imperial carriage, under the tight protection of the Inner Palace guards, headed back to the imperial city, the procession solemn and the atmosphere grave. Inside the carriage, leaning slightly against the wall, Liu Chengyou opened Wang Pu's posthumous memorial and read it in silence.

In this posthumous memorial, Wang Pu did not mention a single word about his own achievements or his legacy after death. What he considered was still the Great Han, still the court, still the people of the realm. Wang Pu first affirmed the accomplishments of the fifteenth year of Qianyou, then began to warn Emperor Liu. His core thought was only one: although the realm was trending toward peace under the Qianyou governance and approaching a well-ordered age, it was ultimately still a time of chaos, still a process of pacifying the world. After the unification of north and south, whether in governing the state, the military, or the people, policies would need to change. The policy directions of the Qianyou period needed adjustment according to the changing times and shifting hearts of the people.

It could be said that Wang Pu's thinking and awareness were aligned with Emperor Liu's. As for specific governing strategies, Wang Pu did not raise them. In his words, there were many worthy officials and capable administrators at court—as long as they were properly appointed, they would surely govern the Great Han well.

Finally, regarding the problems existing in the Great Han, Wang Pu did put forward several targeted points.

First, the problem of redundant officials and superfluous posts. Throughout the court, from the central government to the localities, there were too many idle positions being maintained, with bloated personnel—wasting the state's resources and hindering administrative efficiency.

Second, the tax system problem. The Two-Tax Law inherited from the mid-Tang, though implemented for two hundred years, had brought about increasingly prominent problems. The gap between rich and poor was widening, yet the principle of the rich and poor sharing tax burdens proportionally was difficult to implement. If reforms and adjustments were not made, and revenues increased while expenditures decreased, the state's finances would one day become impoverished.

Third, the problem of government-run industries. The court's official enterprises were too extensive in scope, and the people had many complaints. Industries such as liquor and sugar should be appropriately opened up, allowing the people freedom to engage in them.

Fourth, the problem of meritorious officials. Rewards were too generous, treatment too favorable, meritorious subjects too numerous, and the system of noble titles chaotic. If not adjusted, this would bring a tremendous financial burden to the court.

Fifth, the land problem. Although the court had formulated some policies to curb land annexation, they ultimately treated symptoms rather than the root cause. As long as the free buying and selling of land was not prohibited, with the population surging, social contradictions would inevitably erupt. Among the Great Han's nobles and bureaucrats, there were many who had acquired vast landholdings—this could not be ignored.

Sixth, the problem of the official system. From the center to the localities, there were many contradictions and no small number of unclear powers and responsibilities. A comprehensive reorganization was needed, and the systems for selecting, educating, and training officials should be further improved.

Seventh, the problem of frontier expansion. At present, the state should focus on recuperation and developing national strength. Military action abroad should be undertaken cautiously—do not crave great achievements or blindly expand.

Eighth, the problem of flooding from the Yellow River, Bian River, and Huai River. Water management and river works must be given serious attention.

Ninth, the problem of the south. The south, especially Jiangsu and Zhejiang, had become the court's primary source of tax revenue. The old abuses there must be thoroughly eliminated.

Tenth, the problem of the capital. Kaifeng sat at the strategic crossroads of north and south, a hub connecting the two, and the court was deeply rooted here—it should not be rashly relocated.

"Lying on a sickbed, still not forgetting to worry about the state, with the world's affairs in his heart—having such a minister is my honor!" Putting away this posthumous memorial, Liu Chengyou let out a deep sigh: "What a pity that heaven is unkind, taking away such a good minister—truly a great loss!"

Overall, the ten points Wang Pu memorialized touched on every aspect of the Great Han at present. Some were urgent matters, some Emperor Liu had already begun adjusting, and most were quite to his liking. Therefore, regarding this posthumous memorial, Emperor Liu, beyond his sighs of emotion, also placed particular importance on it.

Apart from these ten points, Wang Pu only reminded Emperor Liu at the very end that, in general, none of his several sons—except his eldest son Wang Shen—had any outstanding talent, and Wang Shen himself was of vulgar character, unworthy of being a good minister. He asked that Emperor Liu not overly promote or elevate him on account of the deceased.

For a minister like Wang Pu, at his passing, Liu Chengyou's heart, beyond grief and reluctance, was filled with an additional sense of being moved. Although during the fifteen years of the Qianyou era, Wang Pu had not long occupied the central position of a chancellor ruling the realm, without so many illustrious achievements or lofty prestige, and had even been repeatedly attacked by others, his deeds, his loyalty to the Great Han, and his accomplishments were real and tangible. Among the ministers who played key roles in the Great Han's process of sweeping across the realm, Wang Pu's place was assured.

Judging by his conduct up to his death, describing him as "bending every effort and giving his all until death" was not an exaggeration in the least.

When the emperor held such an attitude in viewing and evaluating Wang Pu, the state naturally treated Wang Pu with exceptional honor. He was posthumously conferred Grand Preceptor and Director of the Chancellery, given the title of Specially Advanced, and enfeoffed as Duke of Yan. The posthumous title given to Wang Pu was also Wenzhen, the highest rank for civil officials.

At a time when the court was sorting through the meritorious officials of the Qianyou era, Wang Pu was the first to have his "verdict finalized."

Emperor Liu announced that the court would suspend audiences for three days to express mourning. Even the family banquet on the Lantern Festival was kept simple, and he showed little joy toward the Crown Prince and the eldest imperial prince who had returned to the capital.

However, something that happened during the process of arranging Wang Pu's funeral made Emperor Liu feel somewhat uncomfortable. The reason was simple: Wang Shen had made the funeral too lavish—so lavish that Emperor Liu felt it somewhat tarnished Wang Pu's reputation. Still, he ultimately did not voice any different opinion on the matter. After all, he had just shown the highest respect to Wang Pu; if he were to reprimand or even condemn the matter merely because the descendant had made the funeral scale somewhat grand, that would not be appropriate either.

Therefore, Emperor Liu did not stint at all on the treatment due to Wang Pu. Beyond the honors above, he also had Wang Shen inherit his title and granted him promotions. At the same time, such a decision gave many civil and military meritorious officials a sense of reassurance, since the earlier edict redefining the titles and stipends of meritorious officials had stirred up quite a wave of concern.

Wang Pu's funeral arrangements at least proved that the emperor would not treat meritorious officials harshly.