Chapter 1165: The Great Case in the Southwest

"Come, take a walk with me!" Liu Yang was still lost in thought, watching him, Emperor Liu placed the silk napkin he had used to wipe his mouth on the table and beckoned to him.

"Yes!" Seeing that Emperor Liu had already risen from his seat, Liu Yang immediately snapped back to attention and bowed in response.

The dead of winter and a clear sky stretching ten thousand li — the two did not seem to conflict. The winter sunlight was somewhat dim, to be sure, but when it shone upon one's body, it was still warm and pleasant.

"For the depths of the Third Nine cold spell to have such a sun, it's a rare treat!" Basking in the winter sun, even Emperor Liu's beard seemed to gleam, and he sighed with a look of great enjoyment: "Cooped up for too long, a man starts to go moldy..."

"Your son will accompany you on a longer stroll!" Liu Yang said.

Father and son wandered aimlessly around Wansui Hall, following the roads and stairways without any destination. As for Emperor Liu, he had indeed been stirred back to a passion for military and state affairs.

"Some time ago, there was heavy rain and snow that spread widely. How great were the losses to officials and commoners in various regions?" Emperor Liu asked.

Liu Yang replied: "This rain and snow was concentrated mainly in the capital region and was quite severe. Fortunately, it stopped in time. There were no shortage of frostbite injuries in various places, but no deaths were reported. The Secretariat also sent dispatches ordering local governments to provide relief!"

"Have the casualty figures all been verified?" Emperor Liu expressed direct skepticism.

"People have already been sent!" Liu Yang said: "In addition, the prefectures of Zheng, Hua, Chen, Xu, and others have all reported severe damage to fields and crops. After consulting with Chancellor Wei and Chancellor Wang, we decided to halve next summer's harvest levies for the affected prefectures and counties!"

"That's acceptable!" Emperor Liu nodded, and as he spoke, a look of reminiscence appeared in his eyes: "This rain and snow reminds me of that year — also deep winter, heavy rain that fell without end, ice and snow everywhere, bone-piercing cold!

That must have been the twelfth year of Tianfu, the year your imperial grandfather and I raised our army. The Great Han had been founded less than a year, and you had not yet been born — no, your mother had not even married me yet.

At that time, we were just then suppressing the rebel Du Chongwei. It was exactly such a winter rain, and countless soldiers, officials, and civilians died. Even so, we had to thank Heaven that the disaster came a little late — otherwise, with Du the traitor unsubdued and the rebellion dragging on, with troubles both within and without, the newly established state might have collapsed..."

Hearing Emperor Liu speak of past events, Liu Yang listened attentively. Seeing his father's emotion, he also clasped his hands and said: "I have also learned about the difficulties of the Great Han's founding and the early days of Your Majesty's governance. Thinking of it now, only a wise and martial sovereign like Father could have led his ministers and people through such straits, and only thus could today's flourishing empire have been built..."

As he said this, Liu Yang's eyes and tone both carried a kind of admiration. At this, Emperor Liu smiled and asked in return: "Have you ever thought about how I actually made my way through, how I led the Great Han to where it is today? So-called wisdom and martial prowess — that's too vague, too hollow..."

"This..." Liu Yang was clearly taken aback by this. He thought seriously for a moment, but his expression did not relax; instead, it grew even more solemn.

Seeing this, Emperor Liu patted his shoulder and said with a light laugh: "I don't require you to answer. When you have the time, think it over carefully, and keep the answer in your heart. That book Xue Juzheng wrote, Fifteen Years of Qianyou, you might also read it more often!"

"Yes!" Liu Yang acknowledged the order.

"Tell me, what has been happening at court lately?" Descending the stairs and then ascending the palace terrace, Emperor Liu asked: "A brief account will do!"

"The Censorate has impeached Salt and Iron Commissioner Zhang Mei for forcibly taking a commoner's daughter as a concubine..." Liu Yang said.

"Is there such a thing?" Emperor Liu smiled slightly, appearing very composed: "What did the investigation find?"

"It is indeed true!" Liu Yang confirmed: "However, according to the investigation, Zhang Mei was out on a trip and lodged at a commoner's home. Seeing that the daughter was beautiful, he could not stop thinking of her even after returning to his residence. Later he went to the door, revealed his identity, and sought to marry her. But the girl was already betrothed to another family. Her father, under pressure from Zhang Mei's status, had no choice but to break the old agreement and marry his daughter into the Zhang household.

Therefore, it is not excessive to say he forcibly took her. However, I believe this can also be framed differently — the girl's father, coveting power and influence, broke his vow and sold his daughter in pursuit of wealth and rank."

A look of obvious interest appeared on Emperor Liu's face, and he said: "How do you plan to handle it?"

"I believe this matter does not warrant criminal punishment, but it ultimately arose from Zhang Mei — his private conduct was flawed and not entirely proper, and it damaged the dignity of the court. Therefore, I propose docking half a year's salary as a warning!" Liu Yang said.

"Zhang Mei — that man is a talent!" Hearing this, Emperor Liu said: "In the court, those skilled at managing finances are few, and those who can grasp the overall picture and manage the state's fiscal affairs are even fewer. Back then, short of accounting talent, I sent more than a dozen fiscal clerks to various circuits and prefectures for training. In the end, only Zhang Mei performed most outstandingly, living up to Xue Juzheng's recommendation.

Moreover, he is familiar with military affairs — logistics and supply, provisions never lacking, so that commanders never had cause for worry. In the southwest for many years, he rectified finances and achieved much. Recalling him to court was precisely because of his financial management abilities.

Who would have thought..."

Hearing Emperor Liu's sigh, Liu Yang said: "Men are not sages — who can be without fault? Since Your Majesty values Zhang Mei's financial talents, can you not be tolerant of such minor lapses? As long as he has not broken the law, and his abilities can serve the court, why need you worry further?"

Hearing this suddenly, Emperor Liu looked at Liu Yang with surprise for the first time, and asked: "Is this your view?"

Liu Yang replied: "When you had me observe people, over this long period — from dukes and chancellors at the top down to minor officials and guards at the bottom — I have quietly observed many people. I discovered that no matter who it is or how great their ability, most have their shortcomings; it is hard to find a perfect person. I came to understand that in employing people, one only needs to play to their strengths and avoid their weaknesses. If one fixates on their private moral flaws, then matters will actually not be handled well!"

Hearing this, Emperor Liu nodded and said with a light smile: "That you have such insight makes me very gratified. At least you have not been misled by Zhang Zhao's 'gentleman and petty man' theory..."

At this, Liu Yang gave an awkward smile. Sometimes he found it strange that Emperor Liu did not seem particularly fond of certain Confucian doctrines, yet he himself read the Analects daily and had Zhang Zhao and other learned scholars teach them, the princes — it seemed quite contradictory.

"As for Zhang Mei's matter, let it be settled thus!" Emperor Liu said: "Also, since he likes beauties, grant him a palace woman!"

Liu Yang acknowledged the order. He knew that Emperor Liu intended this as a warning to Zhang Mei.

"In addition, Chengdu Prefect Zhao Pin has submitted a memorial impeaching Zhao Pu, the Southwest Inspection Commissioner!" Liu Yang raised his eyes to glance at Emperor Liu as he spoke, for he knew well the trust and favor Emperor Liu placed in Zhao Pu.

Never mind that Zhao Pu was a man who had come out from Emperor Liu's side, and had been stationed in Chuanshu, inspecting three circuits and wielding great power for nearly a decade. There were still those who dared to go against Zhao Pu — such as this Chengdu Prefect, Zhao Pin.

This man had originally been an Administrative Assistant to the surveillance office of the Qin and Feng prefectures under the Meng Shu. He surrendered when the court attacked Qinfeng, and later was placed in charge of the affairs of Feng, Cheng, and Jie prefectures, providing logistical support in men and materiel for Xiang Xun's continued campaign to take Hanzhong.

After the Qinfeng campaign ended, he was transferred from his original post and successively served as chief official of prefectures, until after the court pacified Chuanshu and wished to govern Sichuan, dispatching officials. Zhao Pin, with his record of service, also received important appointments, and later even succeeded Zhao Pu to become Prefect of Chengdu.

It was from that time that the two men, both surnamed Zhao, found each other mutually detestable and clashed repeatedly. Zhao Pu was a forceful pragmatist; Zhao Pin also had ability, but his temperament was rash and blunt. When things did not go his way, he often defied them, showing Zhao Pu no face at all.

Over time, the contradictions between the two Zhaos piled up. However, Zhao Pu, as Southwest Inspection Commissioner, could be considered high in position and great in power, yet he had no real binding authority over a substantive prefectural post like Chengdu Prefect. What governed them was the Administration Commissioner. And the Administration Commissioner could not be completely manipulated by Zhao Pu either — especially since in earlier years the chief administrator had been Song Yanwo.

And so, the struggle between the two Zhaos — unequal in status yet spectacular in outcome — played out as a grand stage on the Great Han's political scene, somewhat resembling the circuit-versus-prefecture disputes that had occurred in Hebei years before. Over these years, Emperor Liu had received no small number of mutual denunciations and impeachments from both sides, but he had only issued dispatches urging restraint and seeking to ease tensions.

That Emperor Liu could tolerate this situation was also because he saw that although the two Zhaos fought fiercely, the recovery and development of the Chuanshu region had not lagged — whether in Chengdu Prefecture or elsewhere.

Zhao Pu went without saying — without that ability, Emperor Liu would not have given him power. Zhao Pin was something of an accident; his personality might be disagreeable, but his experience and skill in governance and administration were plainly on display.

And so this major contradiction in the southwestern political scene had persisted to this day. And when mention was made that Zhao Pin had impeached Zhao Pu again, Emperor Liu's first reaction was: "Hm? Those two are at it again? This time, what are they saying about Zhao Pu?"

"Zhao Pin reports in his memorial that the salt mine in Ling Prefecture collapsed, poisonous gas leaked out, and more than a hundred salt workers died! From the Prefect on down, including the salt supervisor, to evade responsibility, they concealed the mining disaster..." Liu Yang's tone was grave.

"This is a major matter! Why did you not mention it earlier!" Emperor Liu's tone also turned cold: "Since the Kaibao era began, has the Great Han ever had a single such incident with a hundred dead?"

"The actual facts have not yet been ascertained!" Liu Yang said.

"What does this have to do with Zhao Pu?" Liu Chengyou knitted his brows.

Liu Yang said: "Ling Prefecture Prefect Wang Pin and Salt Supervisor Zheng Liang were both recommended by Zhao Pu..."

"What does Zhao Pu say?"

"His memorial has not yet arrived!"

"What is your view?" Emperor Liu asked.

"We should wait for the investigation results before deciding!"

"And if the facts are confirmed?" Emperor Liu asked again.

"If so, perhaps Zhao Pu could be transferred out of the southwest!" After a moment's thought, Liu Yang said.

"I think this Zhao Pin is no longer fit to remain in Chengdu Prefecture either!" Emperor Liu said coldly: "With such a mining disaster, with lives at stake, all he knows is to seize the opportunity to attack a political opponent?"

"I beg Your Majesty to calm your anger! Mind your health!" Seeing his fury, Liu Yang urged.

"This matter — you will personally oversee it!" Emperor Liu instructed.

"Yes!"

He did not have to wait long. The memorial from Zhao Pu arrived. The Lingzhou mine disaster had occurred several months earlier, during the Empress Dowager's mourning period, and the Lingzhou prefectural government had concealed the report for a full several months before someone finally exposed it.

Upon learning of the situation, Zhao Pu personally traveled to Lingzhou to investigate the matter, reconstructing what had happened from the accounts of officials, salt workers, and others. He then personally wrote a memorial reporting to the court, and begged punishment for his own failure to discern the truth.

As for the outcome, the court's handling was quite decisive. The Prefect and the Salt Supervisor, for concealing the report from the court and disregarding the lives of the people, were sentenced to death. Most of the officials involved were demoted or exiled, even though Lingzhou was already a remote place.

As for the salt workers and miners who had died in the disaster, after verification, the government paid full compensation. The greatest impact this affair had in the southwestern region was that Zhao Pu and Zhao Pin were both successively transferred away.

Zhao Pu happened to be in mourning for his mother and returned to his hometown to observe the mourning period. As for Zhao Pin, that gentleman's temper flared up as well. Upon learning of the attitude Emperor Liu had revealed, he simply resigned from office—no longer willing to serve.