Chapter 1369: Seizing the Moment to Advise, Authority Returns to the Center

"Your Majesty, Chancellor Song is the pillar of the central government, whose every move carries weight. If he leaves office, I fear state affairs will suffer. The court is currently in troubled times, with urgent and pressing matters piling up..." Zhao Pu finally spoke, as if reminding Emperor Liu.

By his own reckoning, he naturally hoped that Emperor Liu would take Song Qi's authority and give it to him, but Zhao Pu was also well aware that this was nearly impossible. On the other side, Li Ye had also taken an interest, gazing at Emperor Liu with eager eyes. He was the emperor's own maternal uncle, honored with the rank of chancellor, yet he had long been relegated below outside ministers — that was tolerable — but not even ranking as second chancellor was simply too much.

Unfortunately, Emperor Liu clearly already had his own ideas on this matter. He instructed: "Transfer Wang Qiwu from the Eastern Capital to the capital to succeed Song Qi! He too is chancellor material. Since the westward move, he has been overseeing the governance of the Central Plains on my behalf. It is fitting that he should sit at the center of power, in his proper place!"

Wang Qiwu — he was not an easy man to deal with either! Zhao Pu sighed inwardly. If anything, he was even more troublesome than Song Qi. After all, Song Qi came from a vassal background, while Wang Qiwu was a true confidant of the Son of Heaven through and through, having followed Emperor Liu for twenty-three years. His ability, seniority, and reputation were all more than sufficient.

While in the Eastern Capital, Wang Qiwu had already ranked among the chancellors, and with these years of experience heading the branch office in the Eastern Capital, his roots ran deep. If he entered the court and opposed him, the threat would be far greater than Song Qi's, and it would certainly impact his own power and position.

In that instant, Zhao Pu's mind had already turned several circles, rapidly weighing gains and losses. But he soon calmed down. Whoever was appointed, it would not be some minor figure, and moreover, Zhao Pu did not have much say in the appointment of chancellors. Considering all this, Zhao Pu settled his mind — and had he lacked this awareness, no matter how much Emperor Liu appreciated his talents, he would not last long in the chancellor's seat.

However, Zhao Pu was quick-witted. His eyes rolled, and a new idea came to him. He bowed and said: "Your Majesty, Wang Qiwu possesses both talent and reputation, truly worthy of the chancellor's dignity. However, regarding the branch office in the Eastern Capital, might the court give it further consideration?"

"What do you have in mind?" Emperor Liu watched Zhao Pu with interest.

Zhao Pu's face was calm as he spoke unhurriedly: "Your Majesty, when the court first moved west and left a branch office in the Eastern Capital to oversee the affairs of the three circuits of the Central Plains, this was originally an expedient measure to soothe the people's hearts and avoid turmoil during the relocation of the capital. Now, the court has been established in Luoyang for a long time, internal and external affairs are settled, and the people's hearts are at ease. To continue granting heavy authority to the Eastern Capital is no longer appropriate!

Therefore, I believe the authority of the Eastern Capital should be reclaimed by the central government. The three circuits of Henan, Huaidong, and Huaixi should, like all other circuits under heaven, be directly administered by the court, so that decrees may be unified and unimpeded!"

Zhao Pu's opinion was expressed quite bluntly. The problem of the Eastern Capital was also a legacy issue — a compromise reached during the westward relocation. Giving equal weight to the two capitals had indeed served to stabilize people's hearts at first, but as time passed, this contradiction had gradually come to light.

As a highly centralized empire, maintaining a branch office in the Eastern Capital to manage circuits and prefectures was inherently in conflict with the nation's circumstances and institutions. Chancellors like Zhao Pu were even more unwilling to see any power structure outside the central government that could rival the court, for this would ultimately undermine the authority of the center.

And as Zhao Pu's power and position grew increasingly entrenched, he found it even more intolerable that a "mini-court" existed in the Eastern Capital, dividing the central government's authority and hampering the court's governance of the three Central Plains circuits. Though it was far from being a state within a state, it still had negative effects, and in Zhao Pu's view, the entire staff of the Eastern Capital branch office — even if not numerous — was redundant bureaucracy.

Previously, Zhao Pu had also raised this matter with Emperor Liu through hints and indirect remarks, pointing out the pros and cons and detailing the key issues. Emperor Liu was certainly not unaware of it, but he had some emotional attachment to the Eastern Capital, and besides, he did not think it was all that serious. The little bit of autonomy the Eastern Capital had was utterly negligible in his eyes.

However, this was the first time Zhao Pu had stated the matter so directly. Emperor Liu could not help but glance at Zhao Pu, who had set aside his usual submissive expression, his attitude carrying a note of persistence.

After a moment of deliberation, Emperor Liu could not help but smile. This Zhao Pu — he truly seized every opportunity to offer counsel and realize his political aims. Moreover, through two years of working together, Emperor Liu had discovered that in Zhao Pu's eyes, the Great Han seemed to have all sorts of problems requiring rectification...

This time, taking advantage of Wang Qiwu's transfer, Zhao Pu had again raised the Eastern Capital issue, and Emperor Liu could not help but sink into deeper thought. After a long while, Emperor Liu raised his head and, as if in compromise, waved his hand: "Since it is no longer appropriate, then it should be abolished!"

"Your Majesty is wise!" Zhao Pu had been waiting for precisely these words and spoke up immediately. Beside him, Song Qi and Li Ye also chimed in agreement — on this matter, their attitudes were aligned and their steps coordinated.

"However, the officials of the Eastern Capital must be properly arranged. There should be no major upheaval, lest it stir unrest among the people!" Emperor Liu glanced at Zhao Pu and said leisurely: "If any disturbance is provoked and someone brings a complaint before me, I will hold you accountable!"

"Yes!" With the matter settled, Zhao Pu naturally had no objections over such minor details and agreed quickly.

"Your Majesty, if Chancellor Wang comes west, the affairs of the Eastern Capital will still need a senior minister to manage them!" Zhao Pu said.

"Is there not Li Gu?" Emperor Liu said.

"Your Majesty, Duke Ru is unwell and can no longer preside over the affairs of Kaifeng Prefecture!" Zhao Pu said.

"Oh?" Emperor Liu immediately showed concern: "Why did you not say so earlier? How is his condition?"

"Your Majesty, rest assured, it is merely a recurrence of an old ailment!" Zhao Pu said.

"Yan Tuo!" Hearing this, Emperor Liu immediately called out.

"What does His Majesty command?" Yan Tuo scurried forward eagerly, bowing in readiness.

"Send imperial physicians to the Eastern Capital to examine Duke Ru, and bring along that ginseng the Crown Prince brought back from Liaodong as well!" Emperor Liu said with a show of generosity.

"Yes!"

"Wang Qiwu entering the court, Li Gu ill..." Coming back to himself, Emperor Liu pondered for a moment and then instructed again: "Draft an order — transfer Lü Yin, Administration Commissioner of Liangzhe, to serve as the Eastern Capital's Acting Governor and Governor of Kaifeng!"

"Yes!" This was another old retainer of the Son of Heaven.

"Additionally, transfer Li Fang to the court to serve as Governor of Luoyang!" Emperor Liu added. Since changes were being made, the stir might as well be larger, bringing some new faces to the court.

And with these transfers, it was clear that another major upheaval would rock the political scene of the Great Han, for the officials involved were all senior provincial and prefectural figures.

"As for the chief officials of the Liangzhe and Hunan circuits, the Hall of State Affairs shall deliberate further and produce a proposal!" Emperor Liu added.

"The Hall of State Affairs, in coordination with the Ministry of War, shall draft the list of meritorious service and rewards for the northern expedition as soon as possible, with the Crown Prince reviewing it first!" Before leaving, Emperor Liu raised a finger and gave further instructions: "The new year has arrived. The soldiers inside and outside are surely waiting with eager eyes for the court's rewards to be announced. The court must not disappoint them. This matter must be settled before the Lantern Festival, and on the day of the Lantern Festival itself, it shall be proclaimed to the realm!"

"Yes!" Emperor Liu's firm tone brooked no dissent, and Zhao Pu dared not argue.

It was easy to imagine that the court would soon face another round of heavy expenditures — enough to make Shen Yilun, who managed the finances, wince. Without the imperial treasury's reserves to bail things out, it would likely be difficult to sustain.

Moreover, the court would soon see another batch of nobles created and titles elevated, which also meant that the annual stipends the court would need to disburse would increase again.

Thinking of all this, Zhao Pu's aged brows could not help but furrow. When he looked up, Emperor Liu was already walking out. Watching his retreating figure, Zhao Pu muttered inwardly: Your Majesty, Your Majesty, do you truly not feel that the state has been overly generous to its meritorious nobles? If this continues, it will never benefit the state, and the court's fiscal burden will only grow heavier and heavier...