Chapter 1445: Appointed to Chengdu Prefecture

"Ziyong, you've been serving at my side for nearly two years now, haven't you?" Emperor Liu's gaze once again fell upon Zhang Yong, his expression warm, as if he wished to have a heart-to-heart talk with him.

Having spent a long time by Emperor Liu's side, one gained some understanding; one who understood nothing of Emperor Liu's words and deeds would not last long. Thus, even without reaching the point of perfect mutual understanding, the moment Emperor Liu opened his mouth to ask, Zhang Yong had some inkling that the Emperor seemed to have some thoughts about him.

Maintaining a humble expression, Zhang Yong replied: "Your Majesty, your servant has been in attendance before the imperial presence for twenty-two months now!"

"Unknowingly, it's been that long!" Emperor Liu sighed with some emotion, a look of appreciation showing in his bright eyes as he said to Zhang Yong: "During this time, I have been very satisfied with your performance—far-reaching insight, skilled governance, earnest handling of affairs, and the transmission of edicts and decrees done with propriety and precision. What I have seen is that the court has produced a great talent capable of supporting the state and assisting governance!"

Facing Emperor Liu's praise, Zhang Yong, beyond feeling honored, actually felt a trace of trepidation, and humbly said: "Your Majesty overpraises me! Your servant has merely progressed and grown under Your Majesty's care. The grace of Your Majesty's promotion, your servant is moved to tears of gratitude!"

Zhang Yong seemed to be making a declaration of loyalty, and Emperor Liu could not help but be amused, offering a warm smile to ease Zhang Yong's inexplicable unease. He no longer wasted words, but said directly: "You are a jinshi by examination, and now you are a leader of the scholarly community, but your résumé has been limited to observation in the ministries, the Bureau of Military Affairs, and by my side. Your starting point is high enough, but something is always lacking.

You also know my philosophy on employing people—without actual experience in governance and administration, your rise will ultimately be limited! Have you never thought of changing positions, going to other posts to gain experience?"

Understanding the intent behind the words, the moment Emperor Liu said this, Zhang Yong immediately grasped the Emperor's plan—this was an intention to send him out to take up substantive posts. After a slight surprise, a surge of excitement welled up within him. For Zhang Yong, his life's fortunes were already quite bright; how could he not harbor some ambition to strive for higher positions, or to obtain more ample power?

Staying by Emperor Liu's side was certainly a stroke of luck—glamorous, envied by others, low in rank but heavy in authority, with a bright future ahead. However, the constraints were ultimately too great; Emperor Liu was not easy to serve, nor was there sufficient freedom to display one's aspirations.

Zhang Yong was clearly tempted, but before Emperor Liu, he still displayed his reserve, bowing as he said: "When the lord commands, the servant does not refuse. If Your Majesty has arrangements, your servant will naturally obey!"

The corners of Emperor Liu's mouth lifted slightly; he had of course seen Zhang Yong's eagerness. After a moment of deliberation, he asked: "I give you two choices—one is to take charge in the court's ministries, the other is to govern in the localities. How you choose, you must weigh for yourself!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yong grew serious. After a period of careful and lengthy consideration, he clasped his hands and replied: "Your Majesty, your servant is willing to go to the localities, to share the court's burdens, to relieve the people's hardships, and with my meager talents, to accomplish some practical deeds!"

"Very good. That you can have such understanding and ambition makes me gratified, and I believe you can do more practical things for the state and the people!" Emperor Liu nodded lightly in approval.

"Many thanks, Your Majesty!"

Emperor Liu considered for a moment, then said: "Go to Jiannan Circuit. There is a vacancy in Chengdu Prefecture—go fill it, and take up the burden of Chengdu Prefecture!"

Chengdu Prefecture—this was one of the best-developed cities of the Great Han besides the two capitals, and it was also the political and military center of the entire southwest, with its economy ranking among the foremost in the nation.

Even to this day, the Chengdu Plain was one of the court's most important fiscal and tax strongholds. Relying on pillar industries and resources such as salt, tea, and silk, it generated a vast amount of fiscal revenue for the court every year, scarcely less than Jiangnan. Therefore, the administrative rank of Chengdu Prefecture was naturally very high, second only to the two capitals and Jinyang, the place of imperial founding.

To be sent to serve as Prefect of Chengdu—Zhang Yong was filled with a mixture of surprise and delight, and even some lack of self-confidence. He said cautiously: "Your Majesty, the importance of Chengdu Prefecture is such that with my humble and meager qualifications, I fear I may be unequal to the task!"

In Zhang Yong's own estimation, being placed in the localities to serve as the chief official of some ordinary prefecture was the most likely outcome. He had never imagined that Emperor Liu would directly entrust him with Chengdu Prefecture—this truly exceeded his expectations.

Seeing his hesitation, Emperor Liu said very calmly: "This is the first time I've seen you so lacking in self-confidence. Do you think you don't have sufficient ability to govern Chengdu Prefecture well?"

Zhang Yong shook his head and said solemnly: "The grace of Your Majesty's appreciation and promotion, your servant is moved to tears of gratitude! Your servant does indeed have this confidence; it is only that I have no prior experience in local governance. If there should be any misstep, my personal reputation is not worth mentioning, but I fear only that I would betray Your Majesty's trust and have no face to face the hundreds of thousands of people of Chengdu!"

"If you can maintain this mindset of treading on thin ice, deliberating carefully and acting prudently in all matters, then you need not worry about making major mistakes. Of course, neither should you fear making mistakes!" Emperor Liu said:

"Before Zhao Pu went to the southwest as inspector, he was only an Academician of Chongzheng Hall, and before Lü Yin was sent out to govern a circuit, he was also my close minister! You need not worry about any qualifications issues. You are a capable official by my side; for a cabinet academician to go out and take up a post, a Chengdu Prefect is more than sufficient!"

Zhang Yong showed gratitude on his face: "Your servant would not dare to compare myself with Chancellor Zhao or Lord Lü!"

Seeing this, Emperor Liu was already showing signs of impatience with his hemming and hawing, and said with some forcefulness: "Ziyong, I believe in your ability, which is why I entrust you with this heavy responsibility. Why are you so lacking in confidence?

Moreover, I can tell you plainly: I am sending you to Chengdu not merely because you are a close minister of the inner court, and thus I favor you out of partiality, employing people for private reasons!

I am sending you to Chengdu also because I want you to thoroughly rectify the governance of Chengdu, and to govern this fiscal stronghold well for me! I trust you, so I appoint you. I only hope you will not betray this trust. What you need to do is exactly this—do you understand!"

"Your Majesty's grace in recognizing my worth, your servant will remember it in the depths of my heart!" Since Emperor Liu had spoken to this extent, Zhang Yong put away all his hesitation and immediately performed a grand bow.

"Alright, rise!" A smile bloomed on Emperor Liu's face as he said: "I will give word to the Ministry of Personnel. Once the appointment document is issued, you may pack your bags and set off southward! After assuming your post, you must display the ability and bearing of a cabinet minister. I await your splendid achievements!"

"Yes!"

Emperor Liu's words were spoken with great righteousness, but if one said there was not a trace of personal motive, that would clearly be impossible. And comparing Zhang Yong with Zhao Pu and Lü Yin was indeed an elevation of him. After all, before Zhao Pu was transferred to Emperor Liu's side, he had served as a minor official under Liu Ci, and before Lü Yin became a capital official, he had many years of local governance experience—none of which Zhang Yong could match.

But Emperor Liu was, after all, still a human being, and being human, he had selfish motives. In employing people, it was inevitable that subjective factors would be mixed in; to be completely rational was unrealistic. He was an emperor whose word carried weight; wanting to promote and elevate a cabinet minister was not much of a problem.

"Although more than ten years have passed since the recovery of Chuanshu, it was ultimately conquered by the court's military force. That military turmoil back then caused great harm to the prefectures of Jiannan, and Chengdu suffered the most. In these years, the court's governance has not been without harshness. Though reports come in every year saying that the region is gradually pacified and the people's hearts are attached, I have always harbored hidden worries!" With the matter settled, Emperor Liu spoke again with some earnestness:

"The Great Han has expanded greatly toward the southwest, and Jiannan has become the very heartland, the most solid rear support for all the southwestern borders, with Chengdu being its very essence. Therefore, Chengdu must not be thrown into chaos; it must maintain stability and achieve sustained development.

I have also heard quite a few rumors that under the court's rule of law, the livelihoods of the southwestern people have been somewhat difficult. After you assume your post, your foremost task is to govern with benevolence and leniency, to relieve the people's worries, to aid the people's distress, and to gather up the people's hearts of Chengdu for me!"

"Your Majesty's instruction, your servant will keep firmly in mind!" Facing Emperor Liu's entrustment, Zhang Yong's tone was resolute.

In fact, Zhang Yong was a rather traditional Confucian scholar-official; what he most favored was also the practice of benevolent governance and leniency toward the people—this was the principle he had always upheld. And after these years of cultivation and observation, Emperor Liu was also convinced that while he maintained his moral ideals, he also advocated doing practical things and implementing pragmatic governance. This, too, was the primary reason Emperor Liu was willing to release him to Chengdu Prefecture.