Chapter 1154: Receiving Them One by One

Upon first arriving in Licheng, Liu Chengyou did not accept Li Hongwei's suggestion to rest first. Ignoring his travel fatigue, Emperor Liu chose to receive the Henan Circuit officials directly, at the rear garden of the Administration Commissioner's yamen.

Rockeries and still ponds, green trees and yellow flowers—life flourished all around. On the open lawn, tables and seats were laid out, laden with melons, fruits, and refreshments. Emperor Liu's meetings with officials essentially unfolded in the form of a tea gathering.

"The Henan Circuit, heartland of the Central Plains, ancient homeland of Qi and Lu, land of culture—that I could pacify the realm and cleanse the world owes much to its strength! Many of the meritorious figures of the Qianyou era and heavyweights of the court also hail from Henan.

In my twenty years holding the state, I have always harbored the desire to tour the provinces, yet never managed to make the journey—a deep regret. Now, at last, I have come east to behold the scenery of Qi and Lu, and my heart is filled with joy!" Seated on a dragon chair, legs crossed, gazing at the circuit, prefecture, and county officials before him in a leisurely posture, Emperor Liu spoke slowly and unhurriedly.

This speech was praise and commendation for all of Henan—though, of course, it was merely polite words. Still, from Li Hongwei on down, everyone wore delighted expressions; the Emperor's attitude was reassuring.

"Your Majesty's arrival is likewise an honor for the scholars and people of Henan. We are deeply moved and naturally shall welcome Your Majesty's inspection!" Li Hongwei said.

Hearing this, a slight curve lifted the corner of Emperor Liu's mouth. During this tour, he seemed to have put on a mask—gentle and refined, smiling like a spring breeze. Gone was his usual severity and gravity, and those around him found it rather disconcerting.

Although Li Hongwei was the Emperor's maternal uncle, he had served as an official far from court for years and could not be considered familiar with Emperor Liu. He was heavily influenced by his old impressions, and so still could not help being surprised by the Emperor's words and demeanor.

Scanning the circle, all these principal officials of the circuit sat upright, respectful and proper, stiff and ill at ease.

Seeing this, Emperor Liu continued, in a nearly joking tone: "This is not my first tour, and I am fairly experienced at it by now. But I have heard that in the past, when I descended upon prefectures and counties, officials trembled and quaked, as if welcoming a plague god across their borders. Surely you are not like that..."

At these words, everyone's expression changed. Clearly, gentleness and amiability could hardly serve as lasting labels for Emperor Liu. His gaze was calm and indifferent, yet no one dared meet it.

Unable to fathom Emperor Liu's exact intentions, Li Hongwei nonetheless reacted quickly, saying cautiously: "Your Majesty's inspection is meant to observe governance and the people's livelihood, to bestow grace and favor—scholars and commoners alike are delighted. So long as one holds oneself upright, governs with diligence, and handles affairs with fairness, what is there to fear? Only corrupt officials and venal clerks would feel their hearts quail and their courage fail!"

"Well said, Duke of Sishui!" Emperor Liu replied, still wearing that cheerful look. "That is my intent as well. Therefore, if all of you seated here can rest easy in your consciences, there is no need to be nervous! On this passage of mine, from Pu and Ji to Yun and Qi, everything I have seen of governance and livelihood has pleased me greatly."

These words finally allowed the assembled ministers to relax slightly, each wearing a different expression—though Emperor Liu had no inclination to observe them closely.

With so many people gathered together, it was impossible to effectively discuss anything of substance. Emperor Liu did not deliberately raise his voice either, and those county magistrates seated in the rear likely heard him only vaguely.

Thus, this reception lasted half a shichen. Emperor Liu said a few simple pleasantries, listened to Li Hongwei's account of official conduct and people's welfare in the Henan Circuit, and then dismissed the gathering.

Of course, assembling so many officials was not mere going through the motions. Beginning on the second day of the fourth month, Emperor Liu received them one by one, organized by prefecture and county, listening to their reports.

Essentially, each person received at least a quarter-hour to report. Mostly the officials spoke while Emperor Liu listened, interjecting questions at any time. It was rather like an interview, an examination—Emperor Liu was the examiner.

And the officials' performances naturally varied in comparison—some came fully prepared and spoke eloquently, while others, upon seeing Emperor Liu, could not even string their words together.

Such meticulous, face-to-face presentation before the Emperor was a first-time experience for Henan's officials. On the first day alone, Emperor Liu received more than forty people.

"Your Majesty, this is the list of officials to be received tomorrow!" At nightfall, in the traveling palace, after the evening meal, Shi Xizai entered quietly, holding a booklet, and presented it respectfully to Emperor Liu.

Liu Chengyou had seen so many officials that day that he was somewhat weary, yet his spirits remained high as he flipped through notes he had taken.

"Let me see!" he ordered, and soon Yan Tuo presented the list.

He skimmed through it quickly—officials from Yan, Yun, Ji, and Dan, another fifty or so people. As his gaze swept past, Emperor Liu suddenly said: "This Qufu magistrate..."

Emperor Liu's expression did not look pleased, for a simple reason: the Qufu magistrate's surname was Kong, given name Yi!

Noticing his expression, Shi Xizai reported: "Kong Yi is a direct descendant of the Kong clan, twenty-seven years of age. Clever since childhood, he could compose essays at ten. In the third year of Kaibao, the Ministry of Personnel promoted him to Qufu magistrate..."

"Ha!" Emperor Liu cut him off directly, his tone turning several degrees colder: "The third year of Kaibao—wasn't he only twenty-five then? What extraordinary young talent could make Dou Yi break all precedent to promote him so! Hmph!"

Clearly, without Shi Xizai spelling it out, Liu Chengyou saw through it at once—this was certainly Dou Yi's decision. After a moment's deliberation, Liu Chengyou said with something close to a sneer: "Ten years ago, someone submitted a memorial detailing his family background, asking me to grant him office and rank. I refused on account of his youth. Who would have thought that ten years later, someone still remembers—and has made the decision for me..."

Facing Emperor Liu's piercing words, Shi Xizai's expression shifted slightly. He bowed with clasped hands and called out: "Your Majesty!"

"You have something to say?" Emperor Liu glanced at him.

Shi Xizai's face was solemn as he said earnestly: "The selection and promotion of officials is by nature the duty of the Ministry of Personnel. If Your Majesty dismisses the Ministry's choice on grounds of family background and age, I believe that would be improper!"

"Then do you think that if he were not a direct descendant of the Kong clan, he could become Qufu magistrate at this age?" Emperor Liu countered.

"Your Majesty has always advocated promoting by merit alone. If you now disparage him for family and years, would that not also be a loss of fairness?" Shi Xizai said.

Hearing this, Emperor Liu's face instantly turned cold, and he fixed Shi Xizai with a hard stare. Shi Xizai, however, remained composed, merely bowing his head slightly and lowering his waist a little.

"So it seems I am being unfair?" Emperor Liu's tone turned indifferent.

Drawing a deep breath, Shi Xizai said in a low voice: "I merely feel that Your Majesty seems to hold some prejudice against the Kong clan! As it stands, Your Majesty has not met the man nor knows his abilities—how can you conclude he is unfit to govern a county? If you doubt his competence, why not receive him first, and then render judgment?"

"Only you, Shi Xizai, would still dare speak to me like this!" After a moment's deliberation at his admonition, Emperor Liu finally said with feeling, all his negative emotions dissipating.

"Where I have been presumptuous, I beg Your Majesty's forgiveness!" Seeing the Emperor's tone improve, Shi Xizai secretly relaxed as well.

"Enough!" Emperor Liu waved his hand and said: "Tomorrow, I shall see this Kong Yi first. I want to see just what this man is really made of!"

Meeting the gaze Emperor Liu deliberately cast his way, Shi Xizai maintained his righteous bearing and simply replied: "I shall make the arrangements!"

The next day, a large batch of officials arrived early at the traveling palace to await summons. Emperor Liu also rose early, carrying a certain irritation, and summoned Kong Yi directly, even setting aside two ke of time specifically for him.

Then, when the reception ended, Emperor Liu was beaming. Kong Yi, though bearing the glory and prestige of the Kong clan on his shoulders, was indeed a talent—clever and quick-witted, responding appropriately, and no mere empty talker when it came to governance. One could say that as a county magistrate, his abilities were more than sufficient.

The facts proved that Emperor Liu had indeed harbored a certain prejudice—a contempt from the depths of his heart. But regardless, Kong Yi could not be given great responsibility; that was the limitation imposed by his identity.

Through his performance, Kong Yi somewhat overturned the Emperor's prejudice and earned a measure of recognition. But soon after, Emperor Liu issued an edict transferring Kong Yi to serve in Hebei.

He could hold office, just not in Qufu. That place is territory of the court, not your Kong clan's private land.