Chapter 1564: Strife in the Court

"Chancellor, the Left Chief Censor Liu Xigu requests an audience—he has been waiting for some time!" The moment he stepped into the Hall of State Affairs, Zhao Pu received the report from his subordinate.

Hearing this, a hint of urgency immediately appeared on Zhao Pu's face as he asked, "Where is he?"

"He is being served tea in the side hall, Chancellor!"

"Quickly, invite him in!"

Soon, the silver-haired, aged-looking Left Chief Censor Liu Xigu walked slowly into the hall. Seeing his decrepit appearance, Zhao Pu behaved with great warmth, stepping forward to personally help him sit down, all the while apologizing profusely: "Keeping Duke Liu waiting so long is my fault indeed!"

"Chancellor Zhao speaks too gravely!" Liu Xigu's gaunt old face was full of calm detachment as he replied with a light smile: "Chancellor Zhao holds the esteemed position of chancellor, presiding over state affairs and managing a myriad of matters daily—how could someone like me expect to see you at a moment's notice..."

"Duke Liu's words make me deeply ashamed!" Hearing this, Zhao Pu said, "If it were anyone else, that would be one thing, but to have kept Duke Liu waiting—if word of this got out, would people not blame me for disrespecting an elder statesman!"

Liu Xigu enjoyed great prestige at court; in both talent and virtue, he was beyond reproach. His ancestor was the famed Tang minister Liu Rengui. Having served the Great Han for over twenty years, he had never committed a major error in governance or judgment.

More importantly, though he had reached the rank of chancellor and attained wealth and honor, he was content to live in frugality—a quality extremely rare in the Great Han court, where the atmosphere was growing increasingly restless and ostentatious.

Two years prior, because the attic where he slept had fallen into disrepair from years of neglect, his family urged him to renovate it lest it collapse. Liu Xigu sternly refused, merely moving out of the dangerous building and finding a humble room to live in, perfectly content.

Somehow word of this reached Emperor Liu's ears, and he issued an order for the Court of the Imperial Treasury to fund the project, with Lü Mengzheng tasked to oversee the complete renovation of Liu Xigu's attic.

Among the court's senior ministers, there was no shortage of those known for honest poverty and simplicity—such as Fan Zhi in earlier years, and the late Minister of Rites Liu Wensou. Especially Liu Wensou, who for the sake of an untarnished reputation was a man who could even return gifts bestowed by Emperor Liu himself.

As things stood at present, Liu Xigu was clearly the foremost of the court's incorruptible officials. Especially since a year ago, when Emperor Liu transferred him to the post of Left Chief Censor in charge of the Censorate, he was all the more worthy of that reputation.

Moreover, Liu Xigu had been persuaded to stay by Emperor Liu. Originally, due to old age and failing health, he had long harbored the intention of resigning and retiring, but his memorial of resignation was withheld by Emperor Liu, who personally spoke with him, saying the court still needed elders of such high virtue and prestige to continue playing their role. Only then did Liu Xigu reluctantly agree to continue serving with vigor in the Censorate.

An elder minister like Liu Xigu, already past seventy, indifferent to fame and fortune—having no desires, he feared nothing. With him in charge of the Censorate, no one dared to offend him.

It was the same for Zhao Pu—such an elder statesman could only be venerated. Of course, the most important reason was that Liu Xigu posed no threat to his position as chancellor, since he was already at the end of his political career and could step down at any time.

After exchanging pleasantries, Zhao Pu took the initiative to ask, "May I ask what matter has required Duke Liu to come in person?"

At this, Liu Xigu stopped playing the elder card. His expression turned serious, his tone gaining a measure of gravity. He drew a memorial from his robe sleeve and handed it to Zhao Pu, saying, "The Censor of Huai-dong has submitted an impeachment memorial. Chancellor Zhao, please take a look. The memorial states that Hou Zhi, Prefect of Yangzhou, is suspected of major corruption!"

"Oh?" Hearing this, Zhao Pu immediately became interested. He swiftly flipped through the impeachment document, asking casually, "What exactly does it concern?"

Liu Xigu said, "What the Censor obtained was a report from a subordinate official of the salt administration under Yangzhou Prefecture, alleging that Hou Zhi colluded with local salt merchants, accepted bribes, granted them conveniences, and profited privately..."

Zhao Pu carefully read through the impeachment document, then set it down gently. Raising his eyes to look at Liu Xigu, he deliberated for a moment before speaking: "These are all one-sided statements, vague and unclear. The only thing worth taking seriously is probably that salt official who filed the report. The question is—is there solid evidence? Without solid evidence, this is merely hearsay!"

"Precisely for that reason, I came in person to hear Chancellor Zhao's views!" Liu Xigu said, his aged voice drawing out the words, unhurried and calm.

"Duke Liu is throwing a difficult problem at me!" Zhao Pu said with a slight smile.

Liu Xigu then said, "The Censorate's duty lies in supervision and oversight. The Yangzhou Censor reporting this matter upward has already fulfilled his responsibility. As for how the court should respond to this matter, that is no longer something this old minister can decide.

As for the specific circumstances, how to reach a verdict, whether there are hidden details, and conducting an in-depth investigation—those are matters for the Ministry of Justice, Dali, and the Huai-dong Judicial Commission!"

"Duke Liu's words are mistaken!" Zhao Pu immediately shook his head and said, "The Censorate stands among the Three Judicial Offices, and Duke Liu is a fine minister who upholds the law impartially. Surely you must have some thoughts on this matter! Otherwise, why would you have come to my office in person?"

Hearing Zhao Pu say this, meeting his gaze, Liu Xigu pondered for a moment before speaking: "This old minister believes that where there is smoke, there is fire. Yangzhou is a key region for the court's tax revenue, and the salt tax of Yangzhou alone accounts for four-tenths of the empire's salt profits. If there truly is a case of corruption, then the court must rectify it to avoid greater losses. If it is not so, then the facts must be investigated to clear Yangzhou Prefecture's name!"

"Duke Liu speaks with upright candor!" Zhao Pu offered a small compliment.

At this, Liu Xigu remained indifferent, resuming his aged demeanor, saying, "I am merely offering a shallow opinion. As for how to handle this matter specifically, that must be decided by the gentlemen of the Hall of State Affairs!"

"Hou Zhi—he has always had a reputation for clean and capable governance! To have fallen so far and stirred up such a corruption case less than a year into his post—I cannot help but harbor doubts!" Zhao Pu's tone was full of lament, as if also expressing regret.

Hearing his sigh, Liu Xigu gave Zhao Pu a deep look but said nothing more.

"Very well. Regarding this report, we will hold a discussion shortly, having the gentlemen and the Three Judicial Offices deliberate together. Since the Censorate was the first to detect it, I would ask Duke Liu to attend and share his views at that time!" Zhao Pu said, looking at Liu Xigu.

Liu Xigu's old brows furrowed slightly, but he did not refuse, merely saying softly, "That is only proper!"

"Also, regarding the Yangzhou Censor—the case files on this matter, as well as that salt official who filed the report, must be properly protected. These are extremely important pieces of evidence!" Zhao Pu added.

"Chancellor Zhao may rest assured. Matters within our duty—the subordinates of my Censorate would not dare to be negligent!" Liu Xigu said in a tone that was neither warm nor cold.

Zhao Pu paid no heed to the slight displeasure in Liu Xigu's tone.

In truth, the crux of this case was not whether there were irregularities in Yangzhou's salt affairs, or whether Prefect Hou Zhi had colluded with salt merchants and engaged in corruption. The key point was that Hou Zhi had long been in close contact with Lu Duoxun, the Director of the Chancellery and Chief Minister. Indeed, this very position of Yangzhou Prefect had been recommended by Lu Duoxun.

In the summer of the twelfth year of Kaibao, Lu Duoxun finally got his due—Emperor Liu promoted him from the position of Administration Commissioner of Liangzhe to the capital, where he was appointed chancellor.

By this year, the power center of the Great Han had taken on a new configuration with the reshuffling of personnel.

Duke of Ji, Xue Juzheng, who had served many years in the Jinnan Circuit, was transferred to the capital to replace the ailing Lü Yin as Grand Academician of the Grand Secretariat. The Governorship of Kaifeng was assumed by Lü Duan, the Fiscal Commissioner of Henan and younger brother of Lü Yin.

After Wang Qiwu was sent out to Guangnan East Circuit, the man who took over management of finances was Wang Zhe, the Fiscal Commissioner of the Southeast. A large number of senior officials and major ministers from the regions were transferred into the central government—all of them veterans of merit and distinction. Clearly, this had a tremendous impact on Zhao Pu.

One could even say outright that it was meant to check the power of Chancellor Zhao Pu. And among them, the one who butted heads with Zhao Pu most fiercely was undoubtedly Lu Duoxun. Within the court, it was Duke Lu who carried the banner of "resisting Zhao."

The grievances between Zhao and Lu could no longer be traced from the beginning, but in the thirteenth year of Kaibao, on the court of the Great Han, the two were irreconcilable as fire and water.

Therefore, upon learning from Liu Xigu's mouth that Hou Zhi might be implicated in a case, it was inevitable that a new round of court struggle would be triggered. If this matter could be substantiated, it would be a heavy blow to Lu Duoxun, whom Zhao Pu saw as growing increasingly arrogant. When considering candidates for the Yangzhou Prefect position last year, Lu Duoxun had strongly recommended him with all his might—and less than a year later, problems had emerged.

And even if the investigation proved Hou Zhi innocent, this storm was not without its uses.

In Guangzheng Hall, the deliberation chamber, after a closed-door meeting that did not last long, the senior ministers of the Great Han's central government gradually dispersed.

Among all the prefectures in the realm, Yangzhou could rank in the top ten. Yet to convene the chancellors and the heads of the Three Judicial Offices to discuss a possible corruption case involving a Yangzhou Prefect inevitably gave one the feeling of making a mountain out of a molehill.

When Lu Duoxun walked out of the deliberation chamber, his expression was as gloomy as water, carrying a hint of embarrassment. The other ministers did not disturb him, all understanding that he was in a bad mood.

After deliberation among the chancellors, it was decided regarding the Yangzhou matter that the Three Judicial Offices would dispatch officials to Yangzhou to join the Huai-dong Judicial Commissioner in investigating the Yangzhou corruption case. As for Hou Zhi, he was to be suspended from office pending the outcome of the investigation, with further action to be taken afterward.

Before he had even fully left the deliberation chamber, Zhao Pu's voice giving instructions to the Three Judicial Offices could still be faintly heard from behind.

Who was Lu Duoxun? How could he not perceive that aggressive, pointed targeting? In this year since ascending to the chancellorship, Lu Duoxun had been somewhat complacent and self-satisfied, and Zhao Pu had not reacted aggressively before.

But once Zhao Pu seized an opportunity, his fierce onslaught and bared fangs put tremendous pressure on Lu Duoxun. Judging by Zhao Pu's attitude, he was not investigating Hou Zhi at all—he was clearly looking to see whether Lu Duoxun himself was also implicated.

How to respond had become a headache-inducing dilemma for Lu Duoxun. Of course, the most critical thing was that he must not truly get himself dragged in, giving Zhao Pu a handle to seize upon and pursue relentlessly...