Chapter 1665: Zhao Pu's Damaging Dossiers

On the winter night, Chongzheng Hall felt even more cold and gloomy than usual, giving one a sense of dread—like a great beast crouching within the Bian Palace, its hall door resembling a gaping maw that devours men.

Rows of candles illuminated the hall brightly, yet there were still places where the light could not reach, and Emperor Liu happened to prefer staying within those shadows, where even the brightest light could not fully illuminate his figure.

As his age advanced, Emperor Liu's eyesight had gradually begun to fail him, so when reviewing memorials, he would unconsciously lean his face very close, and reading had become somewhat laborious.

The warm-toned lamplight fell upon Emperor Liu's face, illuminating half in majesty while leaving the other half in shadow, giving one a strange sensation—the current Emperor Liu increasingly gave people an inhuman feeling.

While the Zhao father and son fretted over their future prospects, Emperor Liu happened to be considering the problem of Zhao Pu as well. His face was expressionless, yet beneath the candlelight it seemed shifting and uncertain, as if mirroring his mood at that moment.

What Emperor Liu was reviewing were some damaging dossiers on Zhao Pu. These materials came from many sources—the Wude Office and the Palace City Office, as well as secret impeachments of Zhao Pu accumulated over the years from ministers both inside and outside the court. Of course, a portion also consisted of evidence that infuriated Emperor Liu greatly—materials seized from the Lu family's secret chamber.

It had to be said that the Lu family's secret archives were extremely valuable. The reason the Lu case had stirred up so much and led to so many people being dealt with was not only because Emperor Liu had a mind for official discipline and had secretly pushed things along, but also because those damaging dossiers on officials both high and low were one of the reasons—the relevant offices only needed to follow the clues and investigate each case one by one.

Of course, the portion concerning Zhao Pu was somewhat special. When Lü Mengzheng had been in charge of the search and seizure, upon discovering those materials related to Zhao Pu, he knew in his heart how sensitive they were. While transporting them back to the Ministry of Justice, he decisively sealed away the portion concerning Zhao Pu and promptly reported the matter to Emperor Liu.

Emperor Liu was very satisfied with Lü Mengzheng's decisiveness and gave instructions to keep it secret, having that portion of the materials delivered to the Inner Palace. At this time, Emperor Liu also thoroughly developed the intent to kill Lu Duoxun.

It was not merely that he had collected damaging dossiers on Zhao Pu—they were political rivals, and it was perfectly normal for each to hold some things on the other. Emperor Liu believed that Zhao Pu likely also had no small amount of material on Lu Duoxun.

What truly enraged Emperor Liu was precisely that secret chamber's materials. Besides letters and transactions exchanged with his partisans, there were also large quantities of damaging dossiers on officials—and clearly, so many things could only have been gathered through the two major systems of the Censorate and the Wude Office.

From these things, one could see how severely Lu Duoxun had used public office for private gain. Through these materials, he could at any time fabricate charges to attack political enemies, and he could also use them to coerce and control officials.

This was no longer simple political struggle—even convicting him of plotting rebellion and usurpation would be no problem, let alone the fact that the Wude Office was involved in it.

Therefore, once these things were exposed, Lu Duoxun's fate was all but sealed. If it had merely been forming cliques for private gain, corruption, and bribery, Emperor Liu might not necessarily have taken his life—but unfortunately, Lu Duoxun had far too many paths leading to his own death.

As for those materials concerning Zhao Pu, Emperor Liu had held them back all along without saying a word, only taking them up for study after the Lu case had gradually subsided. At the same time, he also called in and reviewed the secret archives gathered by the Palace City Office and the Wude Office.

The materials concerning Zhao Pu were extensive in content and complex in the people involved. Almost all the charges the Ministry of Justice had pinned on Lu Duoxun could basically be applied to Zhao Pu as well.

These Kaibao chancellors—none of them was cleaner than the next; beneath each of their seats was a pile of filth that could not be wiped clean. As for corruption, arrogating power, forming cliques, and pursuing private gain—Zhao Pu himself might be relatively clean, but how could his relatives and friends, his protégés and colleagues, possibly be entirely uninvolved?

Emperor Liu was rather open-minded about these things and did not take them too seriously. Even he himself had a selfish side, let alone those ministers below—even Shi Xizai, a moral exemplar renowned for his pure reputation, was not without dust or stain, much less Zhao Pu, who had far too many shortcomings.

Emperor Liu saw through everything with piercing clarity and knew it all in his heart. There were many things he did not care much about—he only cared about their utility value. Even the official discipline he had always insisted upon, the successive waves of anti-corruption campaigns, were merely means to ease contradictions and consolidate rule. If he could not even see through these things, then Emperor Liu would not be qualified as emperor.

Therefore, in reviewing these materials on Zhao Pu, Emperor Liu was also selective—he merely laughed off most matters. However, through these things, he still saw some elements that were enough to make him wary.

For instance, eighteen years of service as chancellor meant Zhao Pu had accumulated too much political capital and promoted too many people. His influence over the entire bureaucratic system was deeply entrenched.

In Lu Duoxun's words, most of the officials in the realm had come out from under Zhao Pu's gate, and most of the rest were also connected to him in some way. Of course, this kind of statement was somewhat absolute, somewhat extreme, somewhat superficial—but it still reflected Zhao Pu's prestige.

And the people Zhao Pu employed were of very mixed composition—there were capable officials and competent administrators, but also parasites and rotten elements. Especially among those in the central government, those with rampant private desires who engaged in corruption and self-enrichment were beyond counting.

In the past, there had been no few attacks against Zhao Pu's partisans. Some had been blocked by Zhao Pu, and some had been brought down—but for every person and every matter, Zhao Pu had done his utmost to defend them. Under such circumstances, how could Zhao Pu possibly be described as clean?

These situations were likewise hardly surprising, and Emperor Liu could accept them. Since he employed Zhao Pu and gave him power, it meant this kind of situation would most likely occur.

After all, for Zhao Pu to sit firmly as chancellor and to accomplish things at court, he needed real power—especially organizational and personnel authority—and he needed a group of usable people.

As long as Zhao Pu himself did not have problems, then the court would not have major problems. The past eighteen years had proven this point—although various malpractices and scandals had emerged, for the Kaibao golden age, Zhao Pu had rendered great service and endured great toil.

Of course, there were indeed instances of overstepping taboos. For example, among some of the intelligence gathered by the Wude Office, one point was mentioned: Zhao Pu had private dealings with Zhang Dejun, Commissioner of the Palace City. Though not frequent or close, there were absolutely secret transactions between them.

This naturally was something Emperor Liu deeply resented. With the pair of Lu Duoxun and Wang Yinwu preceding them, the exposure of Zhao Pu and Zhang Dejun was not quite so shocking—but Emperor Liu's anger was still easy to imagine.

However, after all, this had been reported by the Wude Office. The friction between the Palace City Office and the Wude Office was well known throughout the court and the realm, and Emperor Liu had already lost trust in Wang Yinwu.

Therefore, although this situation had aroused extremely strong suspicion in Emperor Liu, it was somewhat discounted. Nevertheless, no matter what, when Emperor Liu began to seriously review these damaging dossiers, it signified that Emperor Liu indeed had other considerations regarding Zhao Pu.

As for Zhao Pu's faction at court, he indeed no longer intended to continue letting them run unchecked—he had the intention to rectify them. How could Emperor Liu fail to notice Zhao Pu's probing maneuvers over the past month or more? But he had brushed them all aside lightly with a few words.

Yet this kind of reaction precisely proved that he had already made up his mind. He believed that with Zhao Pu's intelligence, the man knew it clearly in his heart as well. In fact, up to this point, between sovereign and minister, both understood each other perfectly well.

It was only that Zhao Pu, constrained by his attachment to power, was on the one hand seeking a way out, and on the other hand still clinging to a faint sliver of hope.

As for why Emperor Liu had not yet made his move, it was also out of consideration for the repercussions. After all, the Lu case had stirred up so much that it could be said the entire nation was shocked. If, before that matter was fully settled, he were to bring down Zhao Pu as well, then the court would truly descend into chaos.

Emperor Liu needed to give the court a chance to catch its breath—at the very least, he had to wait until the influence of the Lu case had somewhat receded before making his move.

On the other hand, as for how to arrange Zhao Pu, Emperor Liu did not yet have a settled conclusion in his mind. He needed to weigh all factors comprehensively and needed to observe Zhao Pu's performance a while longer.

Of course, one thing was certain: Zhao Pu would not follow the same path as Lu Duoxun. This old fox had always known his limits. More importantly, Zhao Pu, the Kaibao chancellor, was a landmark figure of the "Kaibao golden age." This banner was something Emperor Liu could never personally break—otherwise, it would not only wound Emperor Liu's own prestige but also harm the dignity of the state.

Moreover, Zhao Pu had indeed rendered great service and endured great toil for the Great Han—this could not be denied. Although Lu Duoxun had been a towering figure in the political arena of the Great Han, compared to Zhao Pu, his weight was indeed considerably lighter. Naturally, the same methods could not be used against Zhao Pu.

In Emperor Liu's view, a basic measure of dignity had to be preserved for Zhao Pu after all. Emperor Liu also believed that as long as he reached a conclusion on his side, Zhao Pu would actively comply—this was Emperor Liu's understanding of Zhao Pu, and also the tacit understanding cultivated between sovereign and minister over so many years.