Chapter 1662: The Tormented Chancellor

"However!" Zhao Pu lowered his head slightly, shifting his tone, and narrated calmly: "The Kara-Khanids are small compared to the Great Han, but strong compared to the Western Regions. If we launch a campaign with too few troops, the matter will be difficult to accomplish; if we use too many troops, supplies will be difficult to sustain."

"From Hexi to the front lines is a distance of over two thousand li, and the further we advance, the longer the supply lines become, and losses will inevitably be enormous. Even if we exhaust all the resources of Hexi, I fear it will be difficult to sustain for long."

"Moreover, over the past half year, Hexi has been in turmoil, and the people's hearts are unsettled. These circumstances still need to be weighed and considered......"

The more Zhao Pu spoke these mature words of statecraft, the more Emperor Liu found them disagreeable, and he could not help but interrupt him. Though a smile still hung on his face, his tone carried a hint of insincerity: "From what Chancellor Zhao means, you do not support the western expedition?"

Facing the invisible pressure exerted by Emperor Liu, Zhao Pu bent his aging back slightly and said cautiously: "Your Majesty, the Great Han has not engaged in large-scale warfare for over a decade. In war, those who calculate much in the temple prevail, and those who calculate little do not. I hope Your Majesty will consider the matter comprehensively!"

Seeing Zhao Pu's appearance of speaking impartially and frankly, Emperor Liu found it difficult to press the matter further. After thinking for a moment, he still responded: "What Chancellor Zhao says is reasonable!"

"However!" Emperor Liu shifted his tone as well, and said firmly: "It is precisely because we have been away from the battlefield for so long that we should let the army move, lest military preparedness decay! I understand the principle that those who love war will surely perish, but the danger of forgetting war must also be remembered.

The Great Han can never put its horses out to pasture. It has also been some years since the military system reform, and this is a perfect opportunity to test the training results of the army under the new system, to see their combat effectiveness, and whether they are still the invincible royal division that swept the world back then. The Kara-Khanids are precisely a fine whetstone!"

As he spoke, Emperor Liu's hand involuntarily waved: "As for military supplies, they are naturally of the utmost importance, but no matter how difficult or distant, can it compare to the northern expedition against the Khitan back then? No matter how arduous or perilous, can it compare to the southern campaign against Dali in those years?

In my view, these are all difficulties that can be overcome! If it were not the Great Han marching west, but the Kara-Khanids invading east, could Hexi use these same excuses to shirk responsibility, complain of hardship, and do nothing?

As for what Chancellor Zhao said about the people's hearts being unsettled, I would like to ask: who is unsettled, and who is uneasy? The northwest has undergone a bandit-suppression campaign for half a year, and the reported results have been abundant, with public order improving. If it is still unstable, then where is the problem, and who is the problem?

Since the march into the northwest began, Hexi has developed stably for nearly twenty years. Is what has been accumulated and saved still not enough to support a war? Even if Hexi is somewhat insufficient, what about the northwest? And beyond the northwest, there is the entire Great Han. How can the Kara-Khanids not be attacked!"

Emperor Liu's discourse was full of aggressive intent, and what else could Zhao Pu do about it. He quietly observed Emperor Liu's expression, sighed inwardly, and cupped his hands in request: "Your Majesty is wise and decisive, seeing things from a high vantage point. It is this old minister who is muddled and pedantic, failing to perceive Your Majesty's intentions......"

Seeing this, Emperor Liu immediately waved his hand to stop him, and said with a beaming smile: "Chancellor Zhao speaks too seriously! You labor over state affairs, working diligently for many years, and you are advanced in age. It is only natural that there should be some oversights. Moreover, I and the court both need these mature words of statecraft from you. Only thus can yin and yang be harmonized, and all remain as stable as Mount Tai......"

Though Emperor Liu offered words of comfort, to Zhao Pu's ears, they always sounded somewhat grating. Zhao Pu dared not show any abnormality on his face; instead, he had to appear moved by the Emperor's understanding, but the bitterness in his heart only grew stronger.

In the past, even when there were differences of opinion between ruler and minister, Emperor Liu would never speak in such an insincere and strange manner, so awkward and unsettling.

However, over these past few months, though he often showed a smiling face when facing Zhao Pu, that subtle targeting truly left Zhao Pu overwhelmed.

"The military affairs in the Western Regions will still require the full support of all you ministers!" Emperor Liu issued another concluding directive.

"Yes!"

After leaving Chongzheng Hall, Zhao Pu walked alone, pondering as he went, his expression tightening into one of gravity. Through more than a month of recent interaction and careful probing, he had already confirmed that Emperor Liu did indeed hold some opinions about him.

In fact, Zhao Pu had long sensed it, but never before had it been so blatant and piercing. The key turning point had come after Lu Duoxun was killed.

After Lu Duoxun's death, the central government of the Great Han fell into a strange calm. Lu's faction was almost completely purged, those implicated were mostly punished, and even those who escaped punishment dared not make a show of themselves. The censors of the Censorate were almost entirely replaced.

Logically speaking, with the greatest hostile force fallen, Zhao Pu's side should have been celebrating. However, under Zhao Pu's suppression, the members of the "Chancellor's Faction" all kept their tails between their legs, not daring to be ostentatious, devoting themselves wholeheartedly and dutifully to their duties.

In this atmosphere, the court's ethos was greatly purified, and administrative efficiency reached unprecedented heights, as if returning to the early years of the Qianyou era, with that positive, spirited, and united scene once again appearing in the Great Han court.

However, there was one key problem: after Lu Duoxun's death, the original power structure of the central government was completely shattered, from the Hall of State Affairs to the various ministries and even the local circuits and prefectures. Yet the construction of a new balance was proceeding slowly and lagging behind under Emperor Liu's deliberate suppression.

The vacancies in the various ministries, offices, and local posts were easy to fill, and personnel arrangements were already being carried out under Zhao Pu's guidance. The Great Han was absolutely not short of people qualified to be officials.

But some key divisions of responsibility, positions that affected the balance of power at court, were not something Zhao Pu could decide, and Emperor Liu had given no instructions whatsoever.

Therefore, over this past month or so — or rather, in the months since Lu Duoxun was imprisoned — a situation had formed within the court where the "Chancellor's Faction" dominated alone.

And whether it was Zhao Kuangyi or Wang Zhe, these meritorious old retainers, they all kept an extremely low profile, which only further highlighted Zhao Pu's power and position. This situation made Zhao Pu, with his extremely sensitive political instincts, truly uneasy, even tormented.

Only now did Zhao Pu truly understand how important a balanced situation was to the court and to himself. Though Lu Duoxun was detestable, and had constantly tried to topple him, having that man at the front attracting attention had also shared his pressure and made his position of power secure.

The moment he collapsed, Zhao Pu was thrust into the spotlight, as if being roasted over a fire. It had only been this long, and he was already beginning to feel a sense of longing for Lu Duoxun......

Sensing his own awkward predicament, Zhao Pu had more than once requested of Emperor Liu that additional chancellors be appointed to share the burden of authority, lest state affairs be delayed through negligence.

He had even proposed several candidates, such as old ministers like Song Qi, Shi Xizai, and Li Fang, but Emperor Liu had not given a single direct response, only saying that he still needed to deliberate and consider comprehensively.

Of course, before Emperor Liu finished deliberating, the state affairs still required Chancellor Zhao to painstakingly manage. On the surface, he held all power alone, with one faction dominating, but in reality, crises lurked on every side.

Not to mention Emperor Liu watching from above, the Crown Prince Liu Yang and those meritorious nobles and senior ministers all invisibly constrained Zhao Pu. Smart people could naturally all perceive Zhao Pu's predicament.

The Crown Prince was one thing — over these years of governing, the two had cooperated well and maintained a good relationship — but as for the others, there were certainly not few who wanted to topple him and take his place.

Of course, no matter how delicate his situation, Zhao Pu still did his utmost to maintain the current state of affairs, intending through utter loyalty to dispel Emperor Liu's misgivings. The dignity of a chancellor — how glorious, how imposing — how could it be easily relinquished.

But through continuous probing, Zhao Pu's heart kept sinking, and he grew increasingly uneasy. He also knew what the best choice was, yet even when he vaguely indicated his intentions to Emperor Liu, he still received no approval. In Emperor Liu's words, the court needed him.

Zhao Pu's days were truly hard to endure!