Chapter 1400: In All the Court, Only This One Man

"After all that talk, I'm parched!" With the matter settled, the atmosphere in the hall relaxed. Emperor Liu was like a fierce tiger sheathing its claws, a trace of almost condescending smile appearing on his face, his tone much lighter as he snapped at Yan Tuo, who stood respectfully at the side: "Can't you see I'm conversing with Minister Li? Why haven't you served tea?"

Apparently still shaken by Emperor Liu's imperial might from moments ago, Yan Tuo only now snapped back to attention, hurriedly replying: "This servant was negligent, please forgive me, Your Majesty. This servant will have tea brought at once!"

With that, Yan Tuo backed out with his rear facing outward, bowing as he withdrew to make arrangements. Emperor Liu pointed at Yan Tuo and said to Li Chongju: "This eunuch has been by my side for years. He's always been good at serving people and handling matters properly—even he can slip up! This shows that everyone makes mistakes, and I am no exception. Therefore, some matters need not weigh on your mind, Minister!"

Hearing Emperor Liu suddenly launch into this speech, Li Chongju pondered inwardly, then understood—this likely referred to those errors in the Wude Office last year that had drawn Emperor Liu's reprimands.

Slightly cupping his hands, he spoke in a low voice: "Your Majesty is magnanimous; this humble minister admires you deeply!"

Waving his hand, Emperor Liu looked at him and said: "In court, your fame may not be prominent, but your more than twenty years of meritorious toil are all remembered in my heart. Now that you seek to retire, I should grant you honor and glory—raise your title to Commandery Duke, retire you with the post of Director of the Chancellery, and I will further give you one manor and one residence, one hundred catties each of gold and silver, and bestow upon you a dragon-head staff!"

"Your Majesty's grace is heaven-deep; your servant is moved to tears!" At these words, Li Chongju thoroughly relaxed, slowly bending his body in a deep bow: "However, the title of Commandery Duke, your servant dare not accept. I beg Your Majesty to take it back!"

"The nobles of the Great Han all yearn for promotion of rank to pass down their houses; generals and commanders are not lacking in those who resent the level of their titles! You are truly different—when the title of Commandery Duke is offered to you, you actually refuse it. What am I to say about you!" Emperor Liu grinned.

At this, Li Chongju replied with an honest demeanor: "Your Majesty, a man should know himself. Your servant has reflected—though I have some small toil in the past, it does not merit the rank of Duke. If I accepted it, it would be hard to convince the masses, and my heart would be uneasy. Having received Your Majesty's favor with the title of County Duke, there was already considerable criticism. I would not wish Your Majesty's pity to elevate me to a heavy rank. I beg Your Majesty to withdraw the decree!"

Hearing his self-deprecation, Emperor Liu lightly shook his head and said solemnly: "Noble ranks are the state's instruments of honor—they must not be lightly given! When I bestow ranks and reward merit, it has always been with proper justification; never has anyone received reward without achievement! I acknowledge your contributions—why do you belittle yourself?"

Pausing for a moment, Emperor Liu continued: "You are also one of my trusted men who came out from my side. Back then, fighting from Hedong to Hebei, risking life and limb on the battlefield—when did you ever begrudge your life or hold back your strength?

In those days, you were a great general commanding an army. When I had you take charge of the Wude Office, I was also stripping away your chance to lead troops in battle and earn merit on the battlefield. Otherwise, in my campaign to pacify the realm, how could there have been no place for your talents!

How could I not know all this in my heart?"

Emperor Liu's heartfelt words made Li Chongju silent for a moment, before he finally bowed again: "Your Majesty's grace is so heavy that your servant has never dared forget it. I merely feel unworthy to receive it!"

"My decision is made! It will be difficult to withdraw the decree. You need not worry—throughout the court, if anyone is dissatisfied, let them come find me!" Emperor Liu waved his hand forcefully.

Seeing Emperor Liu's attitude so resolute, Li Chongju could only gratefully thank him for the favor. This pair of sovereign and minister—one insisting on granting a heavy rank, the other repeatedly declining—was a unique case in the current court.

As for Li Chongju, in letters he lacked talents that could order heaven and earth, in arms he lacked abilities to settle the realm, yet on his person one could always see qualities rare and precious among contemporary heroes and aspirants—his loyalty, humility, and prudence were matched by few.

Of course, there may have been an element of necessity in this—after all, he was serving a sovereign like Emperor Liu. And as for Emperor Liu, agreeing to Li Chongju's resignation was perhaps not without regard for his loyalty and diligence, granting him a peaceful old age. All along, in Emperor Liu's eyes, Li Chongju had been a rare pure minister, a solitary minister.

Though Emperor Liu had long since transformed into a political animal with a heart hard as iron, he was after all not made of wood or stone—toward a minister like Li Chongju, he had some measure of feeling.

"Later, have the imperial physician clean up that forehead wound!" Noticing Li Chongju's bruised forehead, Emperor Liu said with concern.

"Yes!"

Yan Tuo led the eunuchs in serving tea, and sovereign and minister drank together. When finished, Emperor Liu let out a light breath, a hint of seriousness surfacing on his face as he asked: "Since the fifth year of Qianyou, you have presided over the affairs of the Wude Office for nearly twenty years. With your sudden departure, to whom should the routine matters be entrusted? How can I find someone capable of shouldering this responsibility? You've given me quite a puzzle!"

Li Chongju had clearly given this consideration, and replied: "Since the Wude Office was established, it has mature regulations. All officials and subordinates can act according to the rules; even without your servant, it can function normally!"

"That reasoning is sound, but no one knows the affairs of the Wude Office better or more thoroughly than you!" Emperor Liu said.

At this moment, what Li Chongju least wanted to hear—and most feared hearing—was talk of the Wude Office being unable to do without him. This was also the key reason he had resolved to resign.

"The Great Han is full of talent—how could it be that only Li Chongju can hold this post?" Li Chongju said.

"I can't think of a good candidate at the moment. In your opinion, after you step down, who can succeed you?" Emperor Liu asked directly.

Li Chongju fell silent. Under Emperor Liu's pressing gaze, he still did not answer directly, only cupping his hands and saying: "I beg Your Majesty to make the sacred decision!"

Emperor Liu perhaps understood that given Li Chongju's current mindset, forcing him to proactively recommend talent was asking too much. Thus, after considering for himself, he raised a finger and said: "What about Wang Yinwu, the Hexi Chief Inspector?"

Only then did Li Chongju speak up in agreement: "Wang Yinwu is a capable stalwart under the Wude Office. For over a decade, he has handled matters with maturity, acted with decisiveness, and maintained a firm style, accumulating no small merit. This time, he has again earned new merit by personally escorting back Their Highnesses Prince Wei and Duke Zhao. If Your Majesty wishes to elevate him, it is his fortune—there should be no objection!"

As for Li Chongju, he had long since prepared himself to agree with whatever name Emperor Liu raised, so his answer came without any hesitation. In fact, if Li Chongju left his post, the successor would come from no more than two sources: either Emperor Liu would select another trusted minister or general, or he would choose from among the Chief Inspectors subordinate to the Wude Office.

And since the Wude Office had become a mature system, bringing in an outsider was not impossible, but for a smooth transition, Emperor Liu clearly favored the latter. Under normal circumstances, the Deputy Commissioner or the Capital Chief Inspector would be more suitable candidates—however, they were closer to Li Chongju and more influenced by him, which had been one of the necessary conditions for his firm control of the Wude Office in the past.

In comparison, transferring someone from outside the capital—from the prefectures and circuits—now seemed more appropriate. And Wang Yinwu happened to have come to the Emperor's attention this time through his merit in recovering the expeditionary soldiers, leaving an impression on Emperor Liu. It must be said that a person's fortunes sometimes align just so—though one must also dare to take risks; had he not ventured into the barren wilds to find those men, the outcome might not have been the same.

As for Emperor Liu's psychology, Li Chongju, though unable to fully comprehend it, could at least glimpse a part. He could not help but sigh inwardly for those subordinates who had followed him for many years—he had, in a sense, delayed their paths to promotion.

However, on the matter of Wang Yinwu's promotion, there was one point Li Chongju did not voice. That was that Wang Yinwu had spent many years in the northwest, entangled too deeply with the military and political affairs of that region.

Of course, it all depended on how one viewed it! Li Chongju had the intention to offer a reminder, but out of deference to Emperor Liu, he ultimately did not speak.

"Then it's settled!" Emperor Liu made the final decision directly.

And from Emperor Liu's perspective, whoever became Commissioner of the Wude Office had fewer concerns to weigh. Whoever it was, none could match Li Chongju—none had his seniority, none was trusted to the same degree, and none could command the same authority Li Chongju had held! This was perhaps also the most important reason Li Chongju could no longer continue as Commissioner of the Wude Office.

"You have a son and a daughter, don't you?" With business concluded, Emperor Liu began to make small talk with Li Chongju.

"Indeed!" Li Chongju replied.

"Have they been married?" Emperor Liu asked.

The moment the Emperor opened his mouth, Li Chongju understood something, and answered respectfully: "My eldest son, Jichang, was married two years ago and now serves in the Ministry of War. My young daughter, Jiyun, was betrothed only this spring!"

"Oh!" Emperor Liu raised an eyebrow and asked: "Betrothed to which family?"

"Both are ordinary, respectable families of good standing—of no particular prominence!" Li Chongju said.

"Your children are also my nephews and nieces. It seems I must make up two congratulatory gifts!" Emperor Liu said, casting a meaningful glance at Li Chongju, a note of regret in his words.

"Many thanks for Your Majesty's kind intention!" Li Chongju replied.

"Stay a while later and dine with me. I still want to have a good talk with you—in recent years, I find myself increasingly missing the days when we fought to build this realm. Those were stirring times, worthy of remembrance..." Emperor Liu added.

"Yes!" Li Chongju remained as respectful as ever.