Chapter 1071: The Vanguard of Reform

Inside Chongzheng Hall, Gao Fang and Han Tong had taken their leave, but Li Chongju remained. Before long, Commissioner of the Palace City Zhang Dejun arrived. Entering the hall, he first cast a meaningful glance at Li Chongju, then lowered his eyes and bowed his head, paying respectful homage to Liu Chengyou.

Looking at these two spymasters and intelligence chiefs, Emperor Liu had no need to display his authority through harsh words or angry expressions to pressure them — summoning both at once for admonishment already made his stance clear.

"Your Majesty, this grain-grabbing disturbance nearly sparked great chaos and brought about dire consequences. It was my failure in oversight. I beg Your Majesty to punish me!" Like Gao Fang before him, Li Chongju took the initiative to confess his fault.

"I do not wish to hear more words of self-accusation. For this fault of negligence, is your office the only one at fault throughout the court?" Liu Chengyou waved his hand.

At these words, Zhang Dejun's expression grew even more cautious. To be fair, the Wude Office oversaw all the prefectures and circuits under heaven, while his Palace City Office was mainly responsible for the capital region. That a disturbance had occurred in Kaifeng without his timely awareness — Emperor Liu not making trouble for him was already his good fortune.

Looking at the two men, Liu Chengyou said directly: "What I want is for you to sum up the lessons, take them as a warning, and avoid a similar situation from happening again. For public opinion control in the Eastern Capital and throughout the entire realm, aside from the relevant agencies, you two must also come up with concrete measures!"

"Yes!" Li and Zhang responded at once.

"As for the specific matters, I shouldn't need to teach you, should I?" Liu Chengyou asked, his gaze sweeping back and forth over the two of them.

The two men's slightly bowed bodies seemed to shrink a few inches further. Perhaps Emperor Liu himself had not noticed, but his authority had grown heavier, almost fused into his every daily movement — every word and gesture could, without conscious effort, make people feel tense or even fearful.

"Furthermore!" With a slight furrow of his brow and a moment of hesitation, Liu Chengyou said: "From now on, for market gossip and public opinion surveillance in the Eastern Capital, the Palace City Office shall take the lead!"

"Yes!" Without paying heed to Li Chongju's increasingly grave expression, Zhang Dejun's brows lifted with a hint of delight as he responded eagerly.

"Withdraw!"

The Palace City Office had been established for quite a few years now. Under Zhang Dejun's leadership, it had achieved no small development, becoming another net and another card in Emperor Liu's hands. However, compared to the deeply entrenched Wude Office, it still fell considerably short — even its influence within the capital could not match. Most importantly, Li Chongju as Commissioner of the Wude Office was too stable. Zhang Dejun had once fantasized that if only Li Chongju could be like Wang Jingchong of years past — someone who, by scheming, schemed himself to death...

Regarding the matters between the Wude Office and the Palace City Office, Emperor Liu did not wish to intervene excessively. These were two pairs of ears and eyes; some conflict and overlap was understandable. The art of balance lay in his own heart — as long as the balance was not broken, he would not say much.

After the two withdrew, Liu Chengyou could not help but tap his forehead. This grain-purchasing disturbance in the Eastern Capital had indeed alerted Emperor Liu to many things. In the past, he had always advocated for open discourse, gathering diverse opinions, and pooling collective wisdom, while simultaneously guiding public sentiment and working on spiritual indoctrination.

But after all these years, things seemed to have drifted off course. Opening the channels of speech and pooling collective wisdom, when taken to excess, became too many voices creating confusion, divergent views, and easy leaks of information. The saying that great matters should not be debated by all was not without reason.

As for playing with public opinion, buying people's hearts, and indoctrination that turned into enlightening the masses — with everyone talking at once and all discussing politics — Emperor Liu could hardly remember when the ordinary scholars and commoners of the Eastern Capital had started to enjoy discussing politics and critiquing current policies and state affairs.

This time, although no real chaos had broken out, it had already given Emperor Liu a heart-pounding feeling — that unease of matters slipping beyond control. This must be curbed. Stopping the mouths of the people might not be easy, but banning certain "sensitive words" was still achievable. Letting people eat melons, watch the excitement, and listen to stories was fine, but it could not involve national security, social harmony, or the stability of people's livelihoods...

At the same time, Emperor Liu realized anew — no wonder there was the saying about "keeping the people ignorant." For a nation, ordinary folk should focus on "firewood, rice, oil, salt, soy sauce, vinegar, and tea; wife and children, and a warm kang." That was what made good subjects, docile subjects, qualified subjects to be ruled.

And for the Great Han, an empire of absolute monarchy, even more attention should be paid in this regard. The people were ignorant precisely because they were easy to fool and beguile — one should guard against trouble before it arose.

On the other hand, Emperor Liu felt that his control over the court, and the court's control over the empire, still needed improvement — there were still many areas requiring refinement...

"Your Majesty, Han Xizai, having received your summons, requests an audience and awaits in the corridor of the hall!" A palace attendant came to report while Emperor Liu was deep in reflection.

Hearing the report, Emperor Liu immediately perked up. The sternness on his face dissolved, replaced by a soft smile. He waved his hand and said: "Summon him!"

Before long, Han Xizai strode briskly into the hall. Glancing at Emperor Liu, he bowed his head and prostrated himself: "This old man Han Xizai pays respects to Your Majesty!"

"Duke Han, no need for such ceremony!" Liu Chengyou adopted a gentle demeanor and said to Han Xizai: "Please, sit!"

Once he was seated, Liu Chengyou sized up this old fellow. Though his beard and hair were streaked with white, his spirits looked quite good. What was striking was that he wore a set of "eye-catching" coarse cloth garments.

A slight smile curled at the corners of his mouth. Emperor Liu remained genial as he said: "I have long intended to summon Duke Han to receive your teachings, but during this period, I have been burdened with a hundred affairs and found scarce leisure. Only today have I been able to receive you. I hope you will forgive any neglect!"

These words of Emperor Liu could be called the height of courtesy toward a worthy — giving ample face. Before the Son of Heaven himself, Han Xizai would not be so tactless as to miss the cue. He immediately said: "Your Majesty speaks too gravely! Your Majesty is diligent in court affairs, handling a myriad of matters daily, always keeping the common people of the realm in mind — this is what your subjects admire and should learn from. As for this old man, being aged and of shallow knowledge, I truly dare not speak of 'teachings' before Your Majesty..."

Hearing this, Emperor Liu could not help but be amused. Based on intelligence gathered all along, Han Xizai was a rather proud man — yet here he was, able to lower his brows and speak such flattering words. Could it be that his own kingly and hegemonic aura had erupted, subduing this gentleman?

His mood improving somewhat, Liu Chengyou looked at him and said: "Duke Han need not be overly modest. You are a renowned scholar of the realm — your writings are excellent, your talents outstanding, your knowledge broad, known throughout the land. It is I who should be seeking your counsel!"

As he spoke, Liu Chengyou picked up a memorial from the imperial desk and said to him: "The memorial you submitted to me some days ago — I read it word by word. Your discourse on governance showed great insight and struck at the very core, pointing out many of the Great Han's current ills. I have benefited immensely from it!"

Hearing this, Han Xizai's face showed a hint of pleasure, though his mouth remained modest: "This old man was merely engaging in idle talk. With Your Majesty's wisdom and the clarity of the court's governance, what need is there for this old man's superfluous words on the matters discussed?"

"Enough — Duke Han need not hide your light to show humility!" Emperor Liu cut him off directly, fixing him with a sharp gaze and getting to the point: "Duke Han's proposals are concentrated on the ills of Jiangnan — it seems your ambitions lie in the south..."

Meeting Emperor Liu's gaze — that look, that tone, seeming to carry a hint of "suspicion" — Han Xizai's old face immediately turned serious. He said solemnly: "Your Majesty should know that in years past, when I was in Jinling, I once presided over a reform that lasted several years but ultimately could not be sustained due to lack of follow-through, and was declared a failure. To this day I regret it. Therefore, regarding the ills of Jiangnan, I have some small understanding..."

"Duke Han's reform back then — was it not to enrich the state and strengthen the army, to deal with the Great Han, to resist the northern troops?" Liu Chengyou said again in a leisurely tone.

"Exactly as Your Majesty says!" Han Xizai admitted frankly, then continued: "Therefore, this old man believes that if the court wishes to reform and eliminate these ills, its policies and methods must also be adjusted to suit the current conditions of the people and the situation!"

Though his reaction was not overtly strong, a glimmer of appreciation could be seen in Emperor Liu's eyes. Han Xizai's mind was very clear — he knew precisely what the goals and purposes of reform were. In all reform and elimination of ills, the fear was changing for the sake of changing, disregarding the goals and betraying the original intent.

"Duke Han has enumerated many ills of Jiangnan, but as I see it, the fundamental problem lies in the land!" Liu Chengyou said lightly.

Hearing this, Han Xizai immediately nodded: "Exactly! Having spent many years in the south, I know these ills well. In the Jiangnan region, though the population is numerous, there is still sufficient farmland available for reclamation and cultivation. The reason so many commoners have no land to till is that the Jinling court has been overly indulgent toward the powerful and noble, allowing land annexation, while local magnates have risen in the opportunity, forcing many commoners to attach themselves to the powerful and the magnates..."

With the conversation having reached this point, Emperor Liu no longer beat around the bush. Fixing his burning gaze on Han Xizai, he said: "Duke Han's reform back then ended without conclusion. I intend to let you make up for that regret. Now, I have a task that will make enemies. I wonder if Duke Han is willing to take it on!"

Hearing this, Han Xizai drew a deep breath, rose to his feet, clasped his hands, and bowed deeply: "I am willing to serve Your Majesty!"

Liu Chengyou smiled, pointing at the clothes Han Xizai wore: "Duke Han was originally a renowned scholar of the north. Having returned to our dynasty, this is truly a case of fallen leaves returning to their roots. Why wear such coarse hemp garments? A brocade robe should be bestowed upon you!"

As he spoke, he again invited Han Xizai to sit, discussing with him the matter of reforming Jiangnan's ills, chatting freely about his reform of old, summing up lessons learned, and deliberating on concrete measures. Caught up in the conversation, he simply kept him to share a meal...

And after this conversation with Emperor Liu, Han Xizai's restless heart calmed as well. Before long, Emperor Liu issued an edict, appointing Han Xizai as Pacification Commissioner of the Southeast, to proceed to Jinling on assignment.