Chapter 1463: Clouds Part, Sun Emerges

"All of you, sit!" Emperor Liu returned to the imperial seat, gestured to the three men, and his tone had reverted to its usual gentleness, yet the atmosphere felt even more solemn.

Monarch and ministers took their seats. Emperor Liu's gaze habitually swept the room before settling on the mountain of memorials and dossiers piled atop the imperial desk. He said, "Over this period, I have received no small number of memorials and reviewed no small number of case files. One impression stands out especially: the dukes and ministers, the hundred officials, the clerks and functionaries of the present day all seem very restless, very anxious!

It would appear that this winter of the ninth year of Kaibao, both within and without, above and below, no one has been having a smooth or satisfactory time of it! Among Qiwu's remonstrance memorials, some of the suggestions are still worth taking seriously!

I have also heard that nowadays, among the various ministries and bureaus of the court — even the Hall of State Affairs — there is no shortage of officials and clerks who are lazy and undisciplined, absent-minded, their thoughts not on state affairs and official duties but instead fixated on those rumors and gossip, on public sentiment and political currents.

These past days, how many matters have been delayed up and down the ranks? A slack and neglected government — how many years has it been since I last encountered such a thing? I never imagined that in my lifetime I would hear such a phrase again!

It grates on my ears most painfully. What do you gentlemen think of this?"

"Your subject must beg Your Majesty's pardon. It is because your subject failed to admonish and urge his subordinate officials with sufficient vigor that state affairs have fallen behind!" Zhao Pu immediately rose and spoke on his own initiative.

"Sit down!" Emperor Liu flicked his dragon robe and said to Zhao Pu without much courtesy: "You are the Chief Chancellor, charged by office with harmonizing and coordinating the ministers. When the government shows signs of negligence and decay, you bear the primary responsibility!"

Hearing this, Zhao Pu felt as though he had been struck a muffled blow. He dared not argue and continued to beg pardon. He could also see now that Emperor Liu seemed to have found a pretext to give the incumbent chancellor a dressing-down — previously it had been Wang Qiwu, and now it was his turn.

Today's Emperor Liu was thoroughly oppressive and displayed an extremely strong aggressiveness. In such a situation, bowing one's head and obeying was the most prudent course.

Looking at Zhao Pu, Emperor Liu continued: "I am not here to hear your pleas for pardon. The management of the court and the affairs of the state cannot be resolved through pleas for pardon. I am now giving you a task!"

"Your Majesty, please speak!" Zhao Pu responded with full cooperation.

"At present, the energy of the Three Judicial Offices is mostly consumed by the flood of criminal cases proliferating throughout the court, and their oversight of the officials and clerks of the various ministries and bureaus has slackened!" Emperor Liu directed directly: "You are ordered to organize personnel, investigate thoroughly, and make a clean sweep of those officials who have appeared during this period engaging in negligent governance, dilatory governance, and lazy governance! To hold a post yet not attend to its duties — what use is such an official? What does the court keep them for? To eat without working?"

"Yes!" Faced with Emperor Liu's harsh wording, Zhao Pu did not hesitate in the slightest.

Hearing Emperor Liu's instructions, Zhao Pu and Li Fang both showed nothing out of the ordinary. Wang Qiwu, by contrast, clearly revealed a trace of bitterness. He opened his mouth as if to say something, but under Emperor Liu's somewhat impatient gaze, he swallowed the words that had risen to his throat, which ultimately dissolved into a helpless sigh.

What Wang Qiwu sought was nothing more than stability — the hope that the court could return to its original steady track, and that the upheaval would not continue, causing greater harm and loss to the court and the state.

His original intention was certainly good, yet the flavor of compromise was too obvious, and this ran contrary to Emperor Liu's consistent assertiveness. Of course, how could Wang Qiwu fail to understand Emperor Liu? Yet, though he knew full well that he most likely could not dissuade him, he still chose to remonstrate frankly at the risk of displeasure — his purpose being merely to state his position, and incidentally to pursue that faint sliver of possibility.

Although Emperor Liu was assertive, he was not an inflexible man incapable of compromise, nor were his eyes completely intolerant of sand. It was only that in analyzing certain matters, Wang Qiwu tended toward conservatism. In a situation such as this, Emperor Liu absolutely had no room for compromise. The problem could be resolved, but it had to be done according to Emperor Liu's wishes.

The political storm triggered by the Huazhou case had already grown increasingly intense. That Emperor Liu refused to let it go easily was one thing, but now he also wanted Zhao Pu to conduct a purge of subordinate officials — and judging by the intent, the scale was considerable and the force heavy.

What kind of impact this would have on an already precarious political situation, Wang Qiwu himself dared not hastily conclude. In his view, this was no different from adding oil to a blazing fire — it would only drive the situation toward an uncontrollable direction. If the court truly fell into chaos then, how would it be brought to a close?

Of course, with the lesson of his earlier remonstrance, Wang Qiwu did not dare speak rashly now. Emperor Liu was in high spirits; even if he spoke, it would have little effect, and might instead provoke his ferocity.

Although he did not speak, the expression Wang Qiwu unconsciously revealed made Emperor Liu somewhat displeased. The monarch and minister exchanged a glance, which ended with Wang Qiwu compromising and lowering his eyelids. However, Emperor Liu likewise let out a helpless sigh.

The facts proved that within Emperor Liu's Great Han court, there were not entirely ministers without any bottom line, without any conviction, single-mindedly bowing their heads in obedience.

He casually picked up a memorial from the imperial desk and flipped through it idly, his attention not on the memorial but his expression showing deep contemplation.

After pondering for a while, Emperor Liu raised his eyes again and said calmly: "Your concerns are not without reason. With the court situation as it is, if we indulge and ignore it, letting it run wild, what is ultimately harmed is still the court itself.

This upheaval arose from the Huazhou case, spread widely, and has had far-reaching influence. By now, it should come to an end. The court should also put forward a clear attitude and measures!"

"Your Majesty is wise!" Hearing these words, it was Wang Qiwu who now sang the praises.

Zhao Pu also clasped his hands and said: "Your Majesty, please issue your instructions!"

"These past days, the Ministry of Justice has established so many cases — how many of them have had their judgments finalized?" Emperor Liu asked.

Zhao Pu answered: "To report to Your Majesty, from what your subject knows, up to the present, only the Huazhou case, under Your Majesty's stern orders and urging, has received its judgment. All implicated officials and personnel, thirty-seven in total, have been fully sentenced and await only punishment! The remaining implicated persons and cases — over eight hundred individuals, several dozen cases — are still under detailed investigation and adjudication..."

"Too slow!" Hearing this, Emperor Liu said very bluntly: "Several dozen cases, nearly a thousand criminals — this is a first since the founding of the dynasty! No wonder the authorities cannot handle it quickly!"

After making this lukewarm remark, Emperor Liu looked at the three ministers seated before him and said: "I will now give clear instructions. As for the various cases, great and small, implicated in this affair, and all persons involved — regardless of what case, regardless of what background or origins — all are to be handled with strict seriousness: swiftly, severely, and sternly. Have no burden whatsoever. Those who should be executed shall be executed; those who should be demoted shall be demoted; those who should be exiled shall be exiled!"

"Yes!" Hearing Emperor Liu's almost emotionless instructions, the three ministers all felt their hearts tighten involuntarily.

Emperor Liu looked toward Wang Qiwu: "Qiwu, do you not wish for the court to quickly stabilize? I tell you, once the cases are investigated clearly and the criminals have their judgments rendered, this affair will be over!"

"Your subject understands!" Wang Qiwu's tone was somewhat low.

"Li Fang, you shall draft the edict according to my intentions and transmit it to the Three Judicial Offices!" Emperor Liu then instructed Li Fang: "One point must be emphasized: although I require swiftness, in actual execution, do not be hasty. Do not rush for the sake of rushing. Everything must comply with the laws of the state and the regulations of the court. Since legal statutes and disciplinary codes have been established, they must be followed and respected. Especially at a time like this, with events like this, there can be no slackening!"

"Yes!" Li Fang said immediately.

And these words from Emperor Liu also allowed Wang Qiwu to breathe a slight sigh of relief. Although Emperor Liu's tone remained cold and stern, at least one could sense a trace of rationality within the imperial will.

As long as this rationality remained, there was no fear of events sliding into an unpredictable abyss. And what Wang Qiwu feared most was that kind of unrestrained, irrational expansion of guilt by association.

If everything proceeded on the premise of complying with the laws of the state, then regardless of what attitude or what standard the court employed in executing judgments, it could remain as steady as Mount Tai, unafraid of rumors and criticism. The situation could also be kept under control.

This meeting between monarch and ministers lasted a very long time. It was also the deepest discussion of the court's situation and affairs that Emperor Liu had held with them since the Huazhou case broke. Emperor Liu's attitude had also been clearly expressed during this audience.

Perhaps because the court was in a season of troubles, Emperor Liu did not, as was his custom, keep the two chancellors Zhao and Wang for a meal. By the time Zhao Pu and Wang Qiwu walked out of Chuigong Hall together, it was already past noon. Surprisingly, the outline of the winter sun could be seen in the sky, its light somewhat lazily piercing through the remaining clouds, bringing a measure of brightness and warmth.

The two men exchanged a glance. After the basic courtesies, Wang Qiwu quickened his pace and departed, his mood still not particularly cheerful. Zhao Pu said nothing more, following behind him — the sense of traveling the same road yet different paths becoming ever more pronounced.

In the end, Zhao Pu did not take out the memorial hidden in his sleeve.