Chapter 1095: Discontent and Vigilance

Inside Wansui Hall, Emperor Liu lay sideways on the warm couch in a comfortable posture, a round pillow tucked under his arm, listening intently to Shi Xizai's report. Shi Xizai, for his part, sat on a square stool—though for him, he would rather stand, hunched over as he reported, as that might feel more at ease.

"According to the report of Han Xizai, the Pacification Commissioner of the Southeast, to date, one prefecture and six commanderies under Jiangnan Circuit have seen six thousand three hundred twenty households relocated, and the nine commanderies under Jiangxi Circuit have also seen three thousand six hundred households moved, half of which have already arrived at their designated counties for resettlement. The household relocation policy is progressing smoothly overall.

"Per the plan of the Southeast Pacification Commissioner's Office, within a year and a half, twenty thousand households of powerful clans and lineages are to be relocated from the Two Jiangs and Liangzhe, and within three years, three hundred thousand people are to be moved..."

Shi Xizai briefly reported to Emperor Liu on the situation of the southeastern household relocations.

"This relocation must have stirred up quite a few disturbances!" Upon hearing the report, Emperor Liu asked softly.

At this question, Shi Xizai tensed up instinctively, and replied: "The powerful clans and lineages are deeply rooted in their localities. To move them at once, uprooting their foundations, naturally provokes fierce reactions. They cherish their homes and disregard the state, valuing only private gain, lacking any sense of the greater good—resistance is unavoidable. Fortunately, the civil and military officials of the Southeast were thorough in their considerations and effective in their handling. Though there were minor disturbances, they were swiftly suppressed. The Southeast is at peace."

"Don't just tell me the pleasant things! With such a great upheaval, how could there be no trouble? Even if the officials all did their duty, how peaceful could the Southeast truly be? And how could the relocated people harbor no resentment?" Liu Chengyou said.

Hearing the Emperor's words, Shi Xizai pondered them silently for a moment, yet found it difficult to fathom the intent behind Liu Chengyou's remarks. He could only clasp his hands and say: "The household relocation bears on the overall situation of the Southeast. The ills of the old aristocrats and powerful clans run deep; if not addressed, it will surely affect the court's governance. The measures may be somewhat drastic and have caused some unrest, but the overall situation is in hand. As long as we get through this period, what the court will possess in the future is a well-ordered Southeast, whose prosperity will surely surpass that of the past!"

Shi Xizai was not a man given to flattery, but having served as a close minister of the Emperor for so long, he could hardly avoid being influenced by Emperor Liu in his views on governance, and he often considered matters along the Emperor's line of thinking.

From his words, one could tell that these were not things a traditional scholar-official would say. Of course, if one could not share Emperor Liu's way of thinking, it would be difficult to remain long in the imperial presence.

Therefore, Emperor Liu smiled—though because his mind was occupied with other matters, the smile did not appear sincere. After a moment of deliberation, Emperor Liu asked: "Regarding the relocation of the powerful clans, is there considerable criticism both at court and among the southeastern officials?"

At this mention, Shi Xizai's expression grew much more solemn, and he said: "Your ministers are also worried that hasty action might provoke upheaval. After all, the Southeast is newly acquired territory, the people's hearts not yet attached. In all matters, stability must be the priority—this too is the prudent way of governing the state!"

"What situations call for stability, and what matters require urgency—do I not know? Do the chancellors not know? Do the great officials of the Southeast's circuits and prefectures not understand?" Another string of three questions, spoken in a forceful tone that could intimidate.

Shi Xizai paused for a moment, then said: "Now that the great policy has been decided, in its implementation, all from the court down are doing their utmost, and none have been negligent..."

Compared to a secretary, Shi Xizai was more like a remonstrating minister, always speaking frankly and directly whenever Emperor Liu became somewhat extreme or overly angry.

Glancing at him, Emperor Liu deliberated a while longer, then said unhurriedly: "I have heard that this relocation has had no small number of problems and setbacks. In the Jiangnan region, some officials have accepted bribes and abused their power for private gain; others have taken the opportunity to seize property. Along the migration routes, some escorting officers and soldiers have extorted and exploited the people, and there have even been cases of murder, robbery, and fleeing into the wilderness..."

Emperor Liu's speech was not slow, yet it sent a chill through those present. Though it was not directed at him, Shi Xizai still felt a start of alarm. In the end, it came down to this: Emperor Liu was dissatisfied with the household relocation—from public opinion to execution, in every aspect, it had failed to win his imperial approval.

With slight hesitation, Shi Xizai said: "The southeastern household relocation is a great matter of state, involving much and affecting greatly. A few ripples are understandable. After incidents occurred, the relevant offices at all levels promptly made corrections and issued measures to strictly prevent recurrence, so as to avoid repeating past mistakes."

"When the Shu people were relocated in those years, why were there not so many problems?" Liu Chengyou asked in return.

This remark of Emperor Liu's was somewhat unreasonable. The situation in Chuanshu back then had little comparability with today's Southeast. The most important point was that most of those moved north had been involved in rebellion; the court had pardoned their death sentences and imposed "exile," having them relocated to border prefectures in Guanzhong for settlement.

As for the Southeast, it was a compulsory, coercive act. Comparing the two, the results produced would naturally differ. On the other hand, from the Southeast to the Northwest required traversing a diagonal across the realm—the farther the distance, the more prone to problems. Nor should one hold overly high expectations for the execution capability and efficiency of the lower-ranking officials.

Originally, Emperor Liu had known in his heart that this was no easy task, and that disturbances arising from it would not be surprising. Under normal circumstances, he would not be overly harsh in this regard. Yet from the inner court to the outer, from the top to the bottom of the officialdom, problems kept cropping up throughout the process—that was what truly angered him.

"Among the households relocated north this time, has there been any tally of how many died and how many fled?" Liu Chengyou asked again.

To this, Shi Xizai was momentarily silent, for he did not know either. But under Emperor Liu's gaze, he still said cautiously: "The matter is not yet concluded; we will only know after the receiving prefectures and counties report their registration figures!"

"I have also heard that some Central Plains people who had fled south due to the wars wished to return to their native lands, yet were indiscriminately sent to the border prefectures as well?" Emperor Liu asked again: "What is my purpose in relocating the powerful clans and households?"

"The relocation of households is to strengthen the frontiers, with most placed within the passes. In the Longyou and Hexi regions—Lan, Liang, Lingzhou and the like—the Han population remains sparse, and the problem remains unsolved. Have any measures been considered?"

This string of questions from Emperor Liu all revealed his dissatisfaction with the household relocation work, and the atmosphere grew somewhat tense, which made Shi Xizai, standing below, rather uncomfortable.

At last, the pent-up frustration in Liu Chengyou's chest turned into a sigh. Looking at the ill-at-ease Shi Xizai, his tone softened somewhat, and he instructed: "Draft an edict for me, sending these questions of mine to Han Xizai and all the civil and military officials involved in the relocation. I must reflect, and they too should be roused to vigilance!"

"Yes!" Shi Xizai withdrew as if granted a pardon.

Emperor Liu, meanwhile, wrote a confidential letter by his own hand and had it delivered to Han Xizai. The imperial intent was clear: he was satisfied with his relocation measures and wanted him to continue with renewed effort—only adding a reminder not to act too hastily, but to proceed step by step, consider matters thoroughly, and handle things flexibly.

Regarding the relocation of the powerful clans and the strengthening of the frontiers, Emperor Liu had no regrets and would not change his policy. After all, the benefits were obvious; even if there were hidden dangers, even if there would be growing pains, they were all within acceptable bounds. His only dissatisfaction truly lay in the poor execution.

From the frequent problems before and during this relocation, Emperor Liu sensed an ominous atmosphere—namely, that many officials seemed to be pandering to his ideas, and in doing so, were chasing quick results and applying one-size-fits-all measures.

Many matters, many situations, could clearly have been handled with more flexible and thorough methods, yet these were all overlooked. At the same time, a restless, impetuous mood seemed to be spreading among the officials—something Emperor Liu had never sensed before the unification of the realm.

He knew in his heart that there had been slackness, blindness, and laxity in thinking. Though Emperor Liu had set a common aspiration for the ministers of the Great Han—the Kaibao ambition—from top to bottom, not everyone possessed this awareness and pursuit. Many officials who could not reach that level perhaps hoped instead for an era of prosperity and enjoyment.

After much deliberation, Emperor Liu knew that after Kaibao, official governance remained the top priority. He would never allow the empire's officials to degenerate so easily...

On the other hand, Emperor Liu also began to worry. Ordinary commoners being relocated might need time to adapt to new climates, customs, and environments, but with fields, land, and houses, plus preferential policies, the problems should not be great.

But what of those powerful clans and lineages? Placed in the borderlands, would they harbor resentment and anger? And would they cause trouble because of it? On this point, after putting himself in their shoes and thinking it through, Emperor Liu felt that for such a situation, the court and local authorities ought to maintain vigilance...