Chapter 1172: Liu Xu's Mission, A Personal Visit

"Call me Grandfather!" Inside the palace grounds, within an octagonal pavilion, Emperor Liu playfully teased his eldest grandson, Liu Wenyuan.

The eldest imperial grandson was not yet two years old, still at the babbling stage. Placed on the stone table, dressed lightly because of the heat, his exposed little hands and feet were chubby and plump.

His legs spread apart, the open-crotch area facing Emperor Liu directly, his plump little face seemed to carry a hint of confusion, but he was very "clever," knowing he needed to please the man before him, and called out a garbled "Grandfather."

During this period, Emperor Liu seemed to have entered another phase of delegating power and leisure, living a life of doting on his grandson. Perhaps due to the special affection between grandparents and grandchildren, Emperor Liu's fondness for his grandson was even more evident—of course, also because he currently had only this one grandson.

"This child is bright, just like you were as a child!" Hoisting the eldest grandson up by the armpits, Emperor Liu said to Liu Xu, who stood respectfully at attention nearby.

To this, Liu Xu naturally expressed modesty: "Father overpraises him. A mere toddler—how can one speak of brightness?"

Hearing this, Emperor Liu grinned at Liu Xu: "When others praised you brothers back then, I was delighted. Now, I'm praising your son, my grandson, and you've grown cautious?"

Faced with Emperor Liu's words, Liu Xu was momentarily at a loss for how to respond. Fortunately, Emperor Liu didn't press him, playing with the eldest grandson for a while longer, pinching his little cheeks before handing him to his daughter-in-law, Lady Bai.

Turning to look at Liu Xu, his smile fading, he said: "I summoned you to the palace for two main matters—one, to see my grandson; two, there's a task I intend to assign to you!"

Hearing this, Liu Xu immediately perked up, cupping his hands in salute: "Your command!"

"Originally, I intended to go on an inspection tour this year, but you all advised against it. Since summer began, the court has also relocated westward to Luoyang, with affairs in flux, making it inconvenient to leave the capital. But I remain uneasy about local matters—I must see them with my own eyes..." Emperor Liu said leisurely.

Liu Xu was clever—the moment the Emperor opened his mouth, he grasped the intent, and after he finished speaking, took the initiative to ask: "You want me to inspect the Two Lakes region?"

"No!" Emperor Liu shook his head somewhat unexpectedly: "The Northwest!"

"The Northwest region has many ethnic groups, severe contradictions, and an inherently complex situation. Although these years, thanks to the court's authority, stability has been maintained, I have never been able to set my mind at ease! Since the Dingnan Army was eliminated, several years have passed, yet the Tangut remain a major persistent ailment. I want you to represent the court, to go and look around, to observe military and civil conditions, and also to placate those miscellaneous barbarians..." Emperor Liu explained.

"For the Great Han to be stable and prosperous, the Northwest is a problem that can never be avoided. If the Northwest is unstable, the entire empire will find it hard to be at peace. Therefore, it must be considered, must be given importance! I also have the intention of touring the west—this time, consider it you paving the way for me!"

Upon learning of Emperor Liu's intentions, Liu Xu's first reaction was not delight, but solemnity as he said: "In these two years at the Court of Border Affairs, I have gained some understanding of the various Rong, Di, Yi, and Man peoples within the Great Han's borders. The various barbarians of the Northwest are fierce and ruthless, martial and warlike. I am young and of shallow virtue—sent to patrol on behalf of Heaven, I fear I will find it hard to command respect, and may be looked down upon!"

Hearing his words, Emperor Liu directly countered: "Do you truly think that way?"

As he asked this, Emperor Liu's gaze seemed to carry a powerful force, striking directly at Liu Xu, making him feel somewhat uncomfortable. Soon, he withdrew his gaze, and Emperor Liu said in a tone that was plain yet not lacking in authority: "You are a prince of the Great Han. What you represent on this mission is Me. Who would dare look down on you!"

"Yes!" As if his inner pride and honor had been stirred, Liu Xu's back unconsciously straightened, and he replied solemnly.

"When does your son depart?" Liu Xu asked again.

"The weather is still hot—wait until autumn!" Emperor Liu instructed: "Also, I'll have the Prince of Dongping accompany you! With him guarding you, can you be at ease?"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Although this was in private, now that Emperor Liu had turned serious, Liu Xu also responded with exceptional gravity.

"At that time, Liu Fang will also go with you. My family's young eagle has been reading books for several years now—it's time to let him out..."

The blazing sun baked the earth, destroying the tranquil atmosphere of "Zhao's Cottage." The earthen path was too narrow for the imperial carriage to pass, so Emperor Liu simply rode a horse instead.

Accompanying the imperial entourage, besides plainclothes Inner Palace guards, was Crown Prince Liu Yang. Quietly observing the surrounding environment, Emperor Liu commented: "The place Zhao Pu chose is quite ordinary..."

Glancing at Liu Yang beside him, Emperor Liu asked: "Do you think that me personally visiting Zhao Pu, and bringing you the Crown Prince along, is showing Zhao Pu excessive courtesy?"

At the question, Liu Yang collected himself and shook his head: "Father has always treated ministers with courtesy. This also demonstrates to the realm your regard for worthy men. Lord Zhao is a veteran minister who rendered great service in stabilizing the Southwest. After half a year of idle retirement without inquiry, a personal visit is entirely appropriate!"

Hearing Liu Yang's words, Emperor Liu said: "There is no small amount of criticism of Zhao Pu at court—few regard him as a worthy talent or famed scholar!"

"If he were not a worthy man, how could he earn such regard from you, Father?" Liu Yang countered.

"That answer of yours is clever!" Emperor Liu smiled slightly, then said as if giving instruction: "Remember this—Zhao Pu is a man whose talent exceeds his virtue, yet he is exactly the type of minister emperors like most. Whatever matters, whatever problems, hand them to him, and he will surely give you a satisfactory resolution. The same goes for governing the state—as long as he's given the opportunity to display his abilities, he will certainly not disappoint!"

"You hold him in such high regard?" Liu Yang was genuinely surprised.

Emperor Liu smiled and said: "You haven't been observing people. In the future, you'll have plenty of opportunities to observe Zhao Pu!"

After pondering for a moment, Emperor Liu asked: "What office do you think should be conferred upon Zhao Pu upon his return to court?"

To this, Liu Yang fell into thought, then hesitated before saying: "Should he be made chancellor?"

"What specific post?"

This time Liu Yang was more decisive: "How about Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs?"

"You're quite generous!" Emperor Liu said.

Among the chancellors in the Hall of State Affairs, if one were to discuss rank and power, the head of the Department of State Affairs, who oversaw all the various ministries and bureaus, held the greatest authority. Therefore, to this day, the court had never conferred the post of Director of State Affairs on any minister—at most it was posthumously bestowed, and even the earlier honorary titles had been abolished. Not only that, even the Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs had never been granted to anyone.

Currently, in the Hall of State Affairs, Wei Renpu, as Chief Chancellor, held the post of Director of the Secretariat and oversaw all government affairs. If the post of Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs were given to Zhao Pu, it would clearly be too heavy—no matter how highly he was regarded.

"You said to give Zhao Pu sufficient opportunity to display his abilities—wouldn't Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs be just right?" Faced with Emperor Liu's statement, Liu Yang first answered this way.

However, he quickly caught himself and added: "If Director of State Affairs is too heavy, then how about conferring Left Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs with the title of Chief Minister?"

At this, Emperor Liu did not continue speaking, but one could guess that this was his stance.

When Emperor Liu arrived at "Zhao's Cottage," inside the bamboo hall, Zhao Pu sat with his chest exposed, drinking naturally cooled tea, waving a palm-leaf fan, and reading a book. It wasn't some idle novel or miscellaneous text, but political treatises and historical records—all newly compiled in recent years.

In Emperor Liu's era, great effort had been invested in promoting cultural endeavors, especially official publications, which had produced a large number of completed works.

From the History of the Three Dynasties to the New Book of Tang, to the veritable records of the three dynasties' emperors, and the hereditary houses of the Ten Kingdoms, as well as the still-compiling national history and national encyclopedias.

In the past there was no time; now he finally had the rare leisure to study them seriously.

Absorbed in his reading, when Emperor Liu's party arrived and saw Zhao Pu in such a state, they all froze for a moment. As for Zhao Pu, he was embarrassed for a brief instant, then quickly recovered, hastily rising to welcome the emperor and beg forgiveness.

Of course, Emperor Liu wouldn't mind such a minor lapse in etiquette, and neither would Zhao Pu. Beyond the formalities of welcome, Zhao Pu could hardly conceal the excitement in his eyes. The Emperor and the Crown Prince personally visiting him in this remote wilderness—what that meant, how could Zhao Pu not know.

Under such circumstances, there was no need for many words...