Chapter 1584: The Yangzhou Case Has Results

"Your Majesty!" Inside Guangzheng Hall, Song Zhun, a Gentleman of Deliberation, bowed and paid his respects to Emperor Liu as he strolled in.

Song Zhun had been the top scholar (zhuangyuan) two years prior. Because he was nearly forty, possessed deep experience, and had served for a considerable time in local governance and adjudication, he differed from ordinary observing scholars—he was granted a substantive post from the very start and promoted quickly.

Most importantly, he had been summoned by Crown Prince Liu Yang to serve at his side, becoming a close minister of the Eastern Palace. Over the past few years, Liu Yang had also promoted several subordinates, and Song Zhun was one of the Gentleman of Deliberation. For Song Zhun, this was clearly a carp leaping over the dragon gate—a moment of sudden success.

A handsome man always easily wins people's favor, especially someone like Song Zhun who possessed looks, talent, and bearing in equal measure. Seeing Song Zhun, Emperor Liu couldn't help but secretly feel a pang of "sorrow"—at his own age, he had already grown off-kilter, while Song Zhun seemed the type to be handsome for a lifetime.

Nodding to Song Zhun, Emperor Liu asked, "Is the Crown Prince inside?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, His Highness the Crown Prince is currently reviewing memorials!" Song Zhun replied respectfully.

Noticing a memorial in his hand, Emperor Liu said, "What is this?"

Seeing that Emperor Liu had taken the initiative to ask, Song Zhun replied, "After a joint investigation by the Three Judicial Offices and the Huaidong Surveillance Commission, the Yangzhou case has produced preliminary results. His Highness has made his endorsement and specially ordered me to convey it!"

"Preliminary results?" Emperor Liu murmured, a hint of amusement flickering in his gaze. He didn't press further, but waved his hand and said, "You may go!"

"Your servant takes his leave!" Song Zhun bowed once more, then, keeping his body bent, slowly retreated out the door.

In the Hall of State Affairs, the Crown Prince had a fixed chamber for handling official business and communicating at any time with chancellors such as Zhao Pu. For a period, Emperor Liu had agreed to let Liu Yang work in the Eastern Palace, but later rumors spread that the Hongde Hall in the Eastern Palace was another miniature court.

After that, Liu Yang never again handled state affairs in the Eastern Palace. Whenever there was proper business, he would discuss and handle it in the Hall of State Affairs, and on ordinary days when there was nothing else, he would remain stationed in Guangzheng Hall.

Thus, the rumors quickly subsided, and those who spread them—regardless of their motives—were dealt with, executed directly by men Emperor Liu arranged, without excessive concealment. The purpose was to awe the assembled ministers and intimidate those of ill intent. In defending the Crown Prince, Emperor Liu had always been decisive; when his bottom line was touched, his thunderous methods were never withheld.

Turning into the hall, just as Song Zhun had said, Liu Yang was buried in his desk work, with several aides attending at his side, quietly awaiting orders. Emperor Liu's arrival clearly broke the calm, and everyone hurriedly bowed in salute.

"All of you, dispense with the formalities!" Emperor Liu waved his hand, then instructed the attendants, "You may withdraw!"

"Yes!"

"Father, how is it that you have leisure to come to Guangzheng Hall? If there is business, your son should naturally come to report in person—why trouble yourself to come in person!" Liu Yang vacated the desk, supported Emperor Liu to take a seat, and spoke with deference.

Emperor Liu smiled: "It's precisely because I have this leisure that I came over to take a look!"

Looking up and noticing the fatigue on Liu Yang's face, Emperor Liu frowned slightly, pointed a finger, and said, "You've been working hard lately. I hear you've been at your desk all day without rest—that won't do!"

"Thank you for your concern, Father! Lately the court has been busy with many matters; the chancellors of the Hall of State Affairs and the ministers of the various departments have all been working hard, so your son naturally cannot slack off. Your son is also learning from you, Father!" Liu Yang said softly.

Emperor Liu shook his head and said, "There's no need to imitate me in everything. I pushed myself too hard back then. Worry and toil can revive a state, but they also harm the body. When I came in just now, I only saw you buried in reading, with your aides standing there waiting. That won't do—they're here to assist you, not to watch you handle official business.

You are the Crown Prince; you should learn to delegate. If you take everything onto yourself, diligence is sufficient, but even if you are young and vigorous with abundant energy, sooner or later you will be unable to bear the burden.

If this continues long-term, it will inevitably damage your health. You say you're learning from me—then all the more reason to take me as a cautionary example. I don't want the you of the future to become the me of today. You must take care of your health.

You all often urge me to worry less and take care of my imperial person, saying my health concerns the state and the realm. But when it comes to yourselves, you don't pay attention. You are the Crown Prince, the heir apparent of the Great Han, the future emperor. Your health equally concerns the foundation of the state and the security and stability of the Great Han. Therefore, while diligently attending to state affairs, you must also take good care of yourself..."

Hearing Emperor Liu speak these words, Liu Yang bowed low and said with emotion, "Father's sincere concern moves me deeply. I will take note!"

"I see that you are not lacking capable people at your side, and the court has plenty of talented officials for you to command. I saw Song Zhun just now—I think this man is quite good and can be given heavy responsibility!" Emperor Liu said.

Upon hearing this, Liu Yang also revealed a slight smile and said, "Song Ziping is quick-witted, learned, outspoken and eloquent, yet not lacking in caution. What's even more commendable is that he can be called a capable official. He has been at my side for nearly two years now, attending and offering remonstrance, and I have benefited greatly. I am indeed considering assigning him other important duties..."

Emperor Liu nodded slightly and said, "The Central Plains is a land of outstanding people and rich resources, never lacking capable men. The court is a gathering place of talents, never short of learned and erudite scholars. But not everyone can become a capable official. Among newly advanced scholars, they still need tempering in official service before being entrusted with heavy responsibilities; some may not be tempered even after two or three years. Someone like Song Zhun, however, can be used immediately. Your judgment is good!"

Liu Yang offered a small compliment: "I dare not take the credit—Song Zhun was the top scholar personally selected by you, Father, so he is naturally a rare talent!"

"By the way, I just heard Song Zhun say that the Yangzhou case has preliminary results, and I didn't have time to ask in detail. But with the investigation having gone on for nearly two months now, it should have produced a result by now, shouldn't it?" Emperor Liu added.

At the mention of this matter, Liu Yang's expression also turned serious, and he replied, "According to the investigation findings, Hou Zhi's corruption is indeed factual—it is not a false accusation by Huai Si! During his tenure in Yangzhou, he colluded with salt merchants, pressured the local salt supervisor, altered accounts, and profited from it!"

"Oh, how much did he profit?" Emperor Liu grew interested.

Liu Yang: "According to the confession, as well as the cash, silk, gold, and silver seized from the Yangzhou prefectural office and Hou Zhi's private residence, it amounts to roughly thirty thousand strings of cash. How much of this specifically constitutes illicit money related to the case still needs to be determined..."

"That's quite a lot! How much is his annual salary in cash and grain? Thirty thousand strings of cash would be enough for him to serve as Prefect of Yangzhou for twenty years without eating or drinking!" Emperor Liu raised an eyebrow and said.

However, even as he commented on this man and this matter, Emperor Liu's face showed little excitement or anger. Instead, he clicked his tongue in lament: "When I reward my ministers on ordinary days, it's at most a few hundred, at least a few dozen, and even then I feel I'm dispensing rewards too liberally.

Looking at it this way, I've been somewhat stingy. A mere Prefect of Yangzhou, in office for no more than a year, has profited by tens of thousands of strings. How can my petty sums and small favors possibly buy the loyalty of my ministers!"

"Please calm your anger, Father. With so many officials inside and outside the court, it's inevitable that there are some rotten apples and corrupt elements. Since we've encountered them, we should deal with them according to law to uphold the state's justice!" Hearing Emperor Liu speak this way, Liu Yang instinctively offered words of consolation.

"I'm not angry at all!" Emperor Liu shook his head, a hint of a smile even hanging at the corner of his mouth: "When you've picked up enough of them, you become accustomed to it. There's truly no need to fly into a rage over this. But speaking of it, Yangzhou is truly a fine place—fine precisely because it's full of splendor and wealth everywhere, just waiting for people to pluck..."

Liu Yang was silent for a moment, then said, "Father, according to Hou Zhi's confession, the amount he embezzled and accepted in bribes wasn't actually that much. A large portion of the money seized in Yangzhou came from his family's farmland and private enterprises."

"Ha!" Emperor Liu immediately sneered: "What does this mean—trying to reduce his punishment, or even escape guilt entirely? Thirty thousand strings of cash, even halved, is enough to sentence him to death more than a dozen times. As for farmland and private enterprises—just by farming, could he earn that much, all concentrated in Yangzhou? How large would his family's landholdings have to be? If he claims it came from commerce, then that adds another charge of violating regulations, abusing power for private gain, and corrupting the established order!"

In the Great Han, officials were explicitly prohibited from engaging in commerce. Although the reality was more complicated—many officials and nobles had private property and enterprises—at least on the surface, it was strictly forbidden.

"That word 'preliminary' is rather suggestive. What further complications are there?" Emperor Liu asked the point he had noticed.

Liu Yang's face grew even more serious, and he reported, "After interrogation, Hou Zhi confessed without reservation to the crimes he committed. However, he also defended himself, saying that he did this in Yangzhou under coercion from his superiors, and had no choice but to go along with it temporarily, playing along with the corruption. He claimed all his actions were to gain trust, in order to investigate a greater corrupt official..."

"Do you believe that?" Emperor Liu truly couldn't hold back, turning his head to look at Liu Yang.

Liu Yang sighed and said, "Your servant also finds it somewhat absurd."

. wap.