Chapter 1571: The Flaws Within

The family banquet at Qionglin Garden ultimately became a high-spec, grand imperial feast—grand in the sense that the attendance was quite complete, with nearly the entire Liu family in attendance.

Originally, Emperor Liu was avoiding the summer heat at Qionglin Garden with only the young Pure Consort Zhou accompanying him. Even the Empress declined to disturb them, content to remain in Kunming Hall, adopting an "out of sight, out of mind" attitude.

As soon as Liu Jia returned, Consort Hui naturally came as her mother, and the Empress also left the palace at Emperor Liu's invitation. The other consorts in the palace, upon hearing the news, likewise bestirred their noble selves and moved to Qionglin Garden. As for the other princesses, since their eldest sister had always looked after them, they naturally came to show their respects upon her return to the capital.

Liu Shu, as her full brother, arrived even earlier, and the other brothers in the capital also rushed over upon hearing the news. Seeing everyone so enthusiastic, Emperor Liu went along with it and let them all gather together for a lively occasion—he even specifically had someone summon Li Jilong's brothers and sisters as well.

Li Chuyun had fathered three sons and three daughters, but only the eldest daughter and eldest son had survived to adulthood. Li Jilong, as the eldest son who would inherit the family estate and title, had nonetheless been arranged by Emperor Liu to lead troops on the northern frontier these past years, leaving the responsibility of raising his younger siblings to his married elder sister.

This family banquet was quite lively, with song and dance in full swing, a blazingly festive atmosphere. Emperor Liu was also pleased and couldn't help drinking a few extra cups of wine—yet he could no longer find that warm, harmonious feeling of the old days.

Though everything he saw and heard appeared to be a scene of joyful harmony, Emperor Liu always sensed a certain estrangement and distance. Even his consorts and his sons all seemed to be putting on a performance.

The people were still the same people, without much change, but human hearts had changed greatly. Even the one who shared his pillow, even his own flesh and blood—none could be clearly fathomed.

A solitary sovereign—Emperor Liu had never felt this way before, having once been immersed in that superficial harmony and concord. But as he grew older, as he gradually had more leisure, that lonely feeling of perilous isolation cut ever deeper. That chill of danger could almost freeze the bottom of his heart. The fuller the hall of revelers, the stronger that sensation became.

Deep in the night, Qionglin Garden was utterly still. Jinming Lake's waters shimmered with rippling light under the moon and lanterns. Wind chimes tinkled softly among the waterside pavilions, the atmosphere one of perfect harmony and tranquility.

Slightly tipsy and in high spirits, Emperor Liu specifically summoned the Crown Prince Liu Yang and his son-in-law Li Jilong. Under the clear moonlight and with the lakeside breeze, he raised his cup and sat down to talk.

"Over these past two years, the tribal assimilation policy the court has been implementing in the northern frontier has stirred enormous reactions. I've received no small number of reports here, and the Hall of State Affairs' summary is that it is progressing steadily.

However, they only sit in the court, and I only sit in the capital—the specific situation, after all, cannot be fully presented by those memorials alone!

You've spent many years in Shanyang and Monan, and now you've just returned from the north—perfect timing to tell me about it!" Emperor Liu toyed with a finely crafted wine cup as he asked Li Jilong.

When discussing serious matters, Li Jilong was always composed, but upon hearing this question, he still hesitated for a moment before answering: "Your subject was in Monan, serving under Commander-in-Chief Tian, primarily responsible for leading troops, managing soldiers, and suppressing bandits. My duties lay in military affairs; as for the tribal assimilation policy, I've only heard rumors of it!"

"You're fobbing me off!" Emperor Liu said upon hearing this.

"Your subject would never dare!" Li Jilong immediately rose and clasped his hands in salute.

"Sit down!" Emperor Liu waved his hand, gesturing to Li Jilong, then looked at him and said: "When you lead an army, protect the people of a region, and safeguard the peace of a territory—if you don't even understand the conditions of the people within your borders, then what are you protecting, and what people are you keeping safe?"

Perhaps feeling his tone was a bit stern, Emperor Liu narrowed his eyes again, appearing bleary with drink, and smiled: "Go on, speak boldly, don't carry any burden. It's just the three of us here—we're all family. I'm not asking for your opinion on the assimilation policy; I just want to understand from the side what the situation is with those tribal people on the northern frontier these days. Don't feel you'd be overstepping..."

"Yes!" Hearing Emperor Liu say this, Li Jilong finally relaxed. In fact, when it came to caution, Li Jilong was far more careful than his father. He was a commanding general, and even in the military-dominated Monan, he wouldn't dare rashly interfere in local administration—especially as the Son of Heaven's son-in-law, a member of the imperial family by marriage, he especially wouldn't risk any suspicion of abusing power through privilege.

After considering for a moment, Li Jilong answered: "In the eleventh year of Kaibao, targeting the twenty thousand Khitan tribal people newly submitted from Mobei, they were dispersed and reorganized, registered and catalogued. A portion was settled in Monan with grazing grounds allocated, and a portion was moved inward, placed in the prefectures, counties, towns, and villages under Shanyang Circuit, living mixed among various peoples, governed directly by local authorities.

Because these Khitan were newly submitted and their hearts were unsettled, the court enforced this policy strictly, and the local garrisons cooperated in monitoring and restraining them—only thus was no major upheaval caused. Even so, some leaders and chieftains chose to resist, fleeing and scattering. Your subject also received orders to lead troops in pursuit and suppression, capturing over a thousand people that very year.

Later, the Mogeshi tribe was also split apart and reorganized, which likewise provoked resistance, even armed opposition. Commander-in-Chief Tian personally led troops to suppress it, exterminating over two thousand rebels..."

"I've already read all these reports—tell me your own views!" Emperor Liu waved his hand and said.

Li Jilong continued: "Since Prince Jin took up his northern post at Yunzhong, the policy has been rolled out comprehensively, with military and civil authorities acting jointly. The results have been remarkable. To this day, the Khitan, Xi, Tangut, Tuyuhun, and many other northern tribes originally settled in the Monan and Shanyang regions have all been dispersed and placed under the court's administrative system.

However, these tribes number in the hundreds of thousands combined. To have pushed the policy to its current extent in less than three years—there is no doubt that some hidden dangers have also been sown."

At this point, Li Jilong paused and cautiously glanced at Emperor Liu. Seeing this, Emperor Liu remained impassive and said: "Why did you stop? Continue—what hidden dangers? I'd also like to hear how you generals view this matter!"

Li Jilong said: "First, although these tribal people have submitted to the Great Han, over the past decade or more they have still maintained their nomadic way of life and continued to accept the rule of their tribal leaders.

Now that they have been completely dispersed and absorbed into the prefectures and counties, governed directly by the Great Han's officials, this poses a test for Han officials in managing alien peoples and herdsmen. These tribal people also need more time to grow accustomed to the court's rule. This process will not be brief—it requires a period of adjustment. And if the adjustment goes poorly, with hearts unsettled, it could trigger even greater unrest.

Second, the common tribal people are easy to control. After being separated from their leaders and nobles, although their customs and way of life are disrupted and they face much discomfort, they can still own their own property, livestock, pastures, and land. As long as local officials are good at soothing them, one day they can be transformed into loyal subjects of the Great Han.

But those leaders and chieftains who have been stripped of power and who regarded their tribal people as wealth—they will find it hard to accept. Even those who actively surrendered must harbor resentment in their hearts. The court's approach has completely severed the foundation of their rule over their people, and this will engender gnashing, bitter hatred toward the court.

For now things are stable and peaceful, but only because they are cowed by the court's authority and fear the court's military might. Should trouble arise in the north and the border become unstable, these former tribal leaders will surely stir up trouble.

And to assuage their resentment, the court has also preserved much of their property. Some of these people have moved to towns and cities in the northern heartland, while others have entered official service as clerks, assisting in local governance. Even though the tribes have been dispersed, they still retain a certain influence over their former people—this is something that must be guarded against.

Third, while dispersing and reorganizing the northern tribal people has certainly strengthened the court's direct governance and administration, it has likewise caused various peoples to congregate together. Their habits of life, cultural customs, and religious beliefs all differ, making conflicts and clashes all the more likely.

Those newly assigned to prefectures, counties, towns, and villages are outsiders. Whether they can be accepted by the original inhabitants, and whether they can integrate—the difficulties there are no small matter.

As far as your subject knows, over these past two years, public security in the various northern regions has been steadily deteriorating. There have been repeated disputes, even armed brawls, resulting in casualties..."

"And you say you don't understand—haven't you just clearly laid out the flaws in this court policy? And listed three of them at that!" Emperor Liu chuckled upon hearing this.

Li Jilong hastily demurred: "Your subject's knowledge is shallow; I was merely speaking tentatively!"

"No need for modesty!" Emperor Liu's face showed little concern over Li Jilong's remarks, and he said calmly and unhurriedly: "The things you've raised—local officials aren't blind to them either, and the court is well aware. But over all these years, every policy the court issues tends to be half beneficial and half harmful. There has never been a policy with all benefits and no drawbacks.

As long as the benefits outweigh the harms, or the court can overcome the drawbacks, and it serves the court's rule—then what must be implemented shall be implemented!"

These words, Emperor Liu was now directing at Liu Yang.