Chapter 1064: The List

The Twenty-Four Meritorious Officials of Qianyou, listed as the title says!

Qianyou spanned fifteen years in total—an era when China moved from division toward unification, a time when talents gathered and heroes rose side by side. They threw in their lot under the banner of the Great Han Empire, obeyed Emperor Liu's command, ended the age of chaos, achieved a great enterprise, and opened up a new world.

The civil and military heroes who emerged in this process—how could a mere "Twenty-Four Meritorious Officials of Qianyou" encompass them all? Yet abilities have their superior and inferior, merits are divided into great and small, and standing is weighed by seniority and reputation. The twenty-four meritorious officials chosen by Emperor Liu were merely twenty-four representative figures among them.

Though rumor has it that the selection was made by those five ministers including Wei Renpu and Murong Yanzhao, that refers to the other officials of greater or lesser merit—these twenty-four were entirely chosen by Emperor Liu himself. At the very least, Wei Renpu would never have listed himself among them, let alone placed himself at the head of the civil officials.

This was in truth a grand feast of dividing the cake. Once enfeoffed, one secured at least three generations of status and five generations of blessings. And the twenty-four officials were the twenty-four most delicious pieces of it—especially with the added garnishes of the Meritorious Officials Portrait Hall and sharing in the Imperial Ancestral Temple, honors that leave one's name in history and share the state's fortunes. How could the court and the realm not look forward to it?

Now, this list was finally announced, and the reactions were varied—joy, relief, disappointment, gratitude and deference, and of course those who were unconvinced. But no matter what, what had been decided and publicly proclaimed was not to be questioned.

The inclusion of Wei Renpu and Murong Yanzhao was beyond doubt. Setting aside their merits, reputations, and other such hard and soft capital, the mere fact that they were still chancellors of the Great Han wielding great power meant no one would dare casually criticize them.

After those two, the ranking was not entirely based on achievements. There was a consideration of "the dead take precedence," which also reduced any imbalance that the living might feel over the ordering.

Duke of Dai State Zhe Congruan—garrisoned Fu and Lin prefectures, resisted the Khitan, protected the territory and reassured the people for twenty years, and had the merit of pacifying the barbarian unrest in the six prefectures of the northwest. While in the Bureau of Military Affairs, he assisted in military and political affairs and strengthened the court's control over the imperial army—achievements as well.

Duke of Yan State Wang Pu—less than a month had passed since his death, and the importance the Emperor had attached to him and the stir it caused still lingered in everyone's memory. Add to that his presentation of the strategy for pacifying the frontiers, his formulation of state policy, river management, provisioning the army, and the great governance of Huainan—this series of merits was enough to secure his place steadily in the ranks.

Duke of Ying State Feng Dao—as a veteran minister of several reigns, his reputation drew criticism, and his contributions to the Great Han seemed hardly outstanding. But as Emperor, Liu Chengyou knew the role Feng Dao had played in the court during the early Qianyou years, especially after Yang Bin was demoted—his contributions in stabilizing people's hearts and governing the state. Moreover, in the last two or three years of his political career, he had completely changed his former style. Besides harmonizing with the various ministers, he actively offered advice and strategies, cooperating with Emperor Liu's grand designs.

Commandery Prince of Chenliu Fu Yanqing—this duke had accumulated political capital during the Tang and Jin periods. After the Great Han was established, he governed many places in succession, and his methods of pacification and governance also cultivated for the Great Han a virtuous empress and a kind consort. Add the great merit of the northern expedition—he belonged on the list. Only, changing from Prince to Commandery Prince was a reduction in rank.

Prince of Xiangyang An Shenqi—garrisoned Xiangyang for many years. In the early days of the Han, he forcefully repelled Nanping, holding the gateway to the Central Plains for the Great Han and sparing the court anxiety on that front. He then led troops north, preserving the peace of Hebei, and in the northern expedition campaigns fought hard and broke the enemy. Likewise, he was re-enfeoffed from Prince of Jing.

Prince of Dongping Zhao Kuangzan—no need to say much. The merits of defending Youyan, presenting territory to the state, resisting the Khitan, and supporting the northern expedition were enough. Though the final reward, compared to Emperor Liu's promises back then, could be called "meager treatment," it also made Zhao Kuangzan more at ease—an emperor-surnamed prince was not so easy to be. Not to mention that Commandery Princes Fu and An came before him.

Duke of Yu State Wang Zhang—this duke had been dead for many years and by now was largely forgotten. But the merits he established during the founding of the Great Han were substantial—transporting grain and fodder, supplying the army's needs. Moreover, in those early Qianyou years, which official's post was hardest to fill, which position carried the greatest pressure? Without question, the State Finance Commissioner—the chief accountant.

During those hard days when the state's finances were strained to the point of near collapse, it was Wang Zhang who labored with all his heart, braving ill repute and disregarding criticism, devising all manner of revenue measures to guarantee income and keep the state's finances from collapsing.

Some things, Emperor Liu saw with his own eyes and kept in his heart. Even though he was later implicated to some degree over the Yang Bin affair, Liu Chengyou would not forget such a capable minister and was willing to grant him sufficient glory and posthumous renown. Only, what was regrettable for Wang Zhang was that he had no son, and his son-in-law Zhang Yisu had also died. His only blood relative was a grandson, but a grandson could not inherit the title—all that could be left for posterity was a fine piece of political capital.

Duke of Xing State Guo Wei—Old Guo's merits were mainly manifested after the founding: assisting in military and political affairs, structuring the state's administration, recommending many military talents to the court, and having the achievements of garrisoning Xiangyang in the south and assisting in pacifying Jinghu. His later timely retreat from power further proved his achievements and influence in the court during that period. A bit of a loss was that when he voluntarily resigned back then, Emperor Liu had once entertained the thought of making him a prince—only he planned to confer it posthumously. Who would have thought he'd live this long? By now, the notion of making him a prince had faded.

Duke of Shan State Zhao Hui—his uprising at Shanzhou and his support for the Liu clan would forever remain the greatest turning point and highlight of his life, still remembered by Liu Chengyou to this day. After joining the Han, he garrisoned regions, pacified Li Shouzhen, decisively broke the Meng Shu, voluntarily entered the court, and cooperated in reducing the power of the military governors, cementing his position. Add to that an outstanding son, Zhao Yanjin, carrying on the family enterprise—the Zhao family's wealth and honor stretched on, already ahead of many meritorious officials.

Duke of Shang State Wang Jun—this was perhaps what surprised many people. Even though Wang Jun later became arrogant and overbearing, losing all reputation and bringing ruin upon himself, when it came to his contributions to the state, they could not be erased. He was sent as envoy to Bianliang to probe the situation, strongly urging Gaozu to advance into the Central Plains. In the early Qianyou years, with internal troubles and external threats, he led a single division of the imperial army westward, commanded the heroes of Guanzhong, defeated the great army of the Later Shu, turned the tide, and rescued the Great Han from its southwestern crisis. Later, as commander-in-chief of the campaign against Huainan, he had full charge of the early phase of operations, breaking the Tang army repeatedly and laying the foundation for victory.

During the state's most difficult period, Wang Jun could be counted as one who stepped forward, resolving worries and relieving hardships. His faults could not offset his merits, but his battle achievements were real. Since the man had been dead for years, Liu Chengyou was willing to give him a fair assessment. Because he ultimately died in Shangzhou, he was enfeoffed Duke of Shang State. However, his title likewise could not be passed down—his son had been executed by Fan Zhi years ago for corruption and misconduct while serving in Fenzhou, where he had taken lives.

Duke of Xing State Shi Hongzhao—merit in entering Bianliang, overseeing the imperial army, rectifying Luoyang, long garrisoning Lingzhou, and even now consolidating the fruits of the court's western expansion in Lanzhou. He wore himself down with overwork for the state and once served as the blade Emperor Liu sent out. Among the twenty-four officials, he deserved a seat.

Duke of Ying State Guo Rong—his merits, briefly mentioned: marching south to Luze, emerging east of the Taihang Mountains, the great battle of Luancheng, pacifying Du Chongwei, garrisoning Chanzhou, taking Huainan... Listed one by one, they could fill an entire sheet of paper, and they were beyond question. From the time he was summoned from Jinyang to Emperor Liu's side, his mark was deeply imprinted on the military and civil affairs of the Great Han and the history of China. And his status could be seen from his title—in the early Tang there were Duke Wei and Duke Ying, and now in the Great Han, the same.

Duke of Ru State Li Gu—though he followed Emperor Liu somewhat later, from after the battle of Luancheng onward, from the four prefectures of Heng, Shen, Ji, and Zhao to all of Hebei, he rescued the region from collapse and chaos, making outstanding contributions in military, civil, and financial affairs. In the state's early years, the situation in Hebei was always a major problem, and with Li Gu there, Emperor Liu could set aside half his worries. Afterward, he governed Kaifeng, became chancellor, and took up residence in Yangzhou, until last year when he led the army south to pacify the south—a single stroke of success, reaching the peak of his life.

Duke of Wen State Xiang Xun—he followed Emperor Liu on the eve of the Hedong uprising. From Jinyang to Ze-Lu, then east out of the Taihang Mountains, and on to Luancheng, he played an important role throughout. In the wars great and small that followed, his figure was always active. He laid the foundation of the northern navy, went west to Guanzhong, decisively broke the Shu army, managed the southwest, and achieved the great merit of destroying Shu. Perhaps only in the Shu-conquest campaign was Xiang Xun the protagonist, but his record was equally astonishing, not to be ignored.

Duke of An State Gao Huaide—not counting Guo Rong, he was the most outstanding general among Emperor Liu's brothers-in-law. From following the army west to pacify Li Shouzhen onward, in wars great and small, except for the pacification of Jinghu and the final southern pacification campaign, Gao Huaide participated in them all, with conspicuous military achievements.

Duke of Ju State Li Tao—as a chancellor-minister active in the Great Han court from the very founding, he served two years as Chief Chancellor, assisting in governing domestic affairs. After leaving office, he toured and pacified Jinghu, and now he had gone south to govern the two Guangs.

Duke of Rong State Zhao Kuangyin—Zhao the Elder's achievements, refer to Gao Huaide; each had his own merits.

Duke of Xing State Fan Zhi—participating in deliberations, formulating state policy, compiling the penal code, upholding the laws of the state, and tightening official discipline, plus his governing experience from the center to the localities—all of this ensured Emperor Liu would not forget this meritorious official who, though he had repeatedly contradicted him, was worthy of the title of upright minister.

Duke of Bao State Wang Jing—successively governing various regions with lenient policies that reassured the people, plus the merits of breaking the Later Shu in the west and recovering Qinfeng, and then expanding a thousand li westward and recovering lost territory—all of this raised his standing high.

Duke of Ji State Xue Juzheng—serving as chief accountant and managing the state's finances for nearly ten years, giving Emperor Liu the strength to advance. The toil involved could well be imagined. Add his merit in compiling history—a minister of civil governance—he had his seat.

Duke of Geng State Wu Xingde—refer to Zhao Hui. He garrisoned many places in succession, governed with good policies, and never had a blemish. But most importantly, during those most difficult days, amid internal troubles and external threats, Emperor Liu always remembered that this duke had respectfully served the court and supported it with all his might. That feeling of gratitude persisted to this day.

Duke of Shou State Li Shaoyou—his relationship with Emperor Liu needed no elaboration. He governed Zhending, took charge of Guanzhong, and then remained behind to guard Luoyang. Of course, some of his most important merits could not be openly brought to the table, but Liu Chengyou simply believed he deserved a seat.

PS: Li Shaoyou is the only original character.