Chapter 1685: The Reorganization of the Wude Office

The Crown Prince finished his report and withdrew, and Emperor Liu lay quietly in the sunlight for an entire day. When he opened his eyes again, the sun had already slanted westward, and the glow of the setting sun enveloped the entire imperial city, the clouds across the sky looking especially pleasing.

Gazing at that boundless scenery, Emperor Liu, his mind still somewhat groggy, asked what time it was. After receiving the answer, he sighed with feeling: "But nearing dusk."

Lying for so long was not a good thing—when he rose, his head was somewhat dizzy. It was Yan Tuo who, seeing the opportunity, stepped forward to support him. Emperor Liu, however, was somewhat dissatisfied, pushing away the supporting hand and closing his eyes to gather his thoughts for a while before he recovered.

"Your Majesty, Commandery Duke Li has been waiting for quite some time!" Yan Tuo reported as Emperor Liu was stretching his stiff hands and feet.

Hearing this, Emperor Liu turned his head and searched briefly. Sure enough, he spotted Li Chongju's figure not far away, standing quietly in the setting sun, his expression calm, his bearing respectful—even upon seeing that Emperor Liu had risen, he made no superfluous movement.

It was just that Li Chongju's slightly stooped posture gave one a sense of advancing age. Emperor Liu immediately grew somewhat angry: "Why did you not wake me? Why did you not offer Shouze a seat?"

Yan Tuo hurriedly explained: "It was Commandery Duke Li's request. His Majesty has not slept so soundly in a long time, so it was not convenient to disturb him."

Emperor Liu's brows furrowed slightly, and he immediately understood—Li Chongju's old habit had acted up again. He had Yan Tuo personally go and help Li Chongju over.

When Li Chongju drew near, Emperor Liu had him sit down and carefully studied him for a while before sighing softly: "You! Why must you do this? Making yourself suffer—are you trying to make me feel guilty?"

Hearing this, Li Chongju's expression shifted slightly, and he immediately explained: "I heard that Your Majesty has slept little recently, and rarely sleeps soundly, so it was I who asked Chief Eunuch Yan not to disturb you rashly."

At these words, Emperor Liu instinctively wanted to ask—heard from whom? Have the Wude Office's informants been planted at my side? But the words reached his throat and were swallowed back down.

"Enough!" Emperor Liu waved his hand: "I know that asking you to come out of retirement was against your wishes to begin with. I've let you have your way—as long as you feel at ease yourself, that's fine!"

With Emperor Liu saying this, how could Li Chongju remain seated? He immediately rose and clasped his hands: "Your Majesty's words fill me with boundless trepidation!"

Seeing Li Chongju's reaction, Emperor Liu stared at him for another two moments before saying: "It seems that these days, even wanting to speak heart-to-heart with you, to say some private words, is difficult."

Li Chongju no longer knew how to respond to this, and could not help sighing inwardly—with His Majesty's manner of conversation, how could the atmosphere possibly be pleasant? Which of the court's ministers and nobles was not trembling with fear before the emperor?

Fortunately, Emperor Liu did not continue to press Li Chongju. He picked up the half-cup of cold tea from the side table, took a small sip, and his brows immediately knitted: "It's cold. Change it for hot tea, and serve a cup for Shouze as well!"

"Yes!" Yan Tuo hurriedly ordered someone to change the tea.

Emperor Liu resumed his leisurely, self-satisfied demeanor, even crossing his legs and bobbing one foot up and down as he looked at Li Chongju: "Shouze, you look considerably haggard. The Wude Office has been in a thousand tangles these past days—you've worked hard!"

Li Chongju also resumed his composure and replied softly: "A thousand tangles will eventually be sorted out one day! I have come to see Your Majesty today precisely to report on the affairs of the office!"

"Oh?" Emperor Liu smiled and said lightly: "It's been nearly half a year now. Even you, the former Commissioner of the Wude Office, took this long—clearly, the Wude Office's ills run deep!"

Li Chongju reported with a grave expression: "To answer Your Majesty, the root of the Wude Office's problems lies first in its personnel. Improper appointments led to the decay of institutions and the proliferation of abuses. When Wang Yinwu was in office, he employed his own cronies, favored factions over public duty, and the office became filled with those whose abilities did not match their positions.

After careful examination and weighing, I have already removed one hundred and thirty-six persons unfit for their posts, and prosecuted sixty-three who abused their power, broke the law, and committed misdeeds!"

"That many?" Emperor Liu asked curiously.

The words were a question, yet from his attitude, there was not much surprise to be seen—on the contrary, it gave one a feeling that it was not yet enough.

"After such a thorough reorganization, the Wude Office must have been badly shaken, bones and sinews alike!" Emperor Liu said.

Li Chongju said: "I have followed Your Majesty's sacred instructions, hoping only to purge the unrighteous practices and lead the Wude Office back onto the proper track!"

"Well said!" Emperor Liu nodded and said slowly: "The Wude Office's ills begin first with personnel matters! I used you to reorganize the office's affairs precisely to solve these problems from top to bottom.

Your reorganization is like the court's governance of officials—it cannot be relaxed. The moment it slackens, chaos will appear frequently! And the Wude Office is no ordinary government bureau—when problems arise there, they are far more serious than a few corrupt officials in the court!"

"Your Majesty sees clearly!"

"What clear sight—it's just a platitude!" Emperor Liu said with a faint smile.

"Your Majesty, among all of Wang Yinwu's private partisans, there is one whose handling I am uncertain about, and I must request Your Majesty's instruction!" Li Chongju continued.

"Who? What is so special about him that you singled him out to mention?" Hearing the tone, Emperor Liu could not help but grow somewhat interested.

Li Chongju reported: "Wang Xuanzhen! This man is Wang Yinwu's nephew!"

"Continue!" Emperor Liu responded lightly.

Li Chongju: "Through my various investigations, although this man belongs to Wang Yinwu's private circle, he is shrewd and diligent, capable and sharp, with considerable insight. In his post at the Wude Office, he did not commit evil or wrongdoing—on the contrary, he made many achievements. Whether it was Li Jiqian's rebellion or the chaos in the northwest, he detected both in advance, only to have them disregarded by Wang Yinwu."

"If what you say is true, then he is indeed a talent!" Emperor Liu said with a smile: "Have you developed a fondness for talent?"

Li Chongju clasped his hands: "This man is indeed quite capable, standing out among all the officers of the Wude Office. It is only that his connection to Wang Yinwu runs deep, which is rather a pity!"

"Your words are insincere!" Emperor Liu said immediately: "Since you've spoken up, how could I not grant you face? Besides, when have I ever looked at a man's origins in employing him?

Employing people by merit alone—that is the foundation of court governance, and the Wude Office is even more a place where ability outweighs virtue. What need is there for so many scruples! If you want to use Wang Xuanzhen, then use him boldly—I have no objection!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Li Chongju was slightly pleased at these words and immediately stated: "To be honest with Your Majesty, I intend to place Wang Xuanzhen in the northwest!"

Emperor Liu's brow creased slightly, then quickly relaxed, and he said with deep meaning: "The northwest is now a place of much trouble, and precisely where capable and vigorous talents are needed! Carry a message from me to that Wang Xuanzhen—Wang Yinwu is Wang Yinwu, and he is he. Let him not fear the calamity of implication. If he devotes himself to the state's affairs, I will surely reward him. The northwest is a stage—let him perform well and build new achievements. I am watching!"

"Yes!" Hearing this, Li Chongju secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

In truth, Li Chongju had been quite hesitant about recommending Wang Xuanzhen. Even though Emperor Liu said with his own mouth that he did not mind, this man was after all promoted by Wang Yinwu, and they were uncle and nephew with a close relationship. Wang Yinwu had come to such an end—how could Emperor Liu not harbor some resentment toward such a core member of the "Wang faction"?

However, after much deliberation, Li Chongju still decided to raise the matter—both to preserve a talent for the Wude Office and to show Emperor Liu his true intentions: that he acted for the public good, with absolutely no private motives.

The reorganization of the Wude Office was, in the final analysis, a purge of Wang Yinwu's influence—eliminating the abuses and effects of his ten years in office. Yet such a large-scale reorganization inherently meant chaos and unease, and the entire Wude Office had long been in a state of panic.

Using Wang Xuanzhen was also a way to send a signal to the officers below: the rectification was over. From Li Chongju's own heart, he did not wish to carry out such a great-purge-style reorganization either. A one-size-fits-all approach was itself a destruction of institutions and rules—if every change of chief officer required such a "campaign," that would not be a good thing for the Wude Office's development either.

"Since the reorganization is complete, the next step is to focus on the real work!" Emperor Liu paid no attention to Li Chongju's complicated thoughts and continued his instructions: "I have tolerated the chaos in the northwest for a long time now, and I can no longer bear it. That place also needs a thorough settling of accounts—the corrupt officials, filthy clerks, rioting people, traitors, and rebels involved must all be executed, cleansing it into a bright and clear world!"

As he said this, Emperor Liu was murderous in his aura. After a moment of deliberation, he continued unhurriedly: "When we took the northwest back then, it was too easy—we accepted it wholesale and left behind too many hidden dangers. The accumulated ills have persisted to this day, giving rise to malignant diseases.

Since it is sick, it must be treated. If a malignant sore has formed, even if it means shedding more blood, it must be cut out along with the rotten flesh! In all my years of governing, I have also come to understand one principle: if you want lasting peace and stability, do not be afraid of turmoil! I have this resolve, and I do not fear blood flowing for a thousand li!"

Past experience had taught Emperor Liu that after great chaos comes great order, and the situation in various regions seemed to confirm this. In the process of unifying the realm, whether in Chuanshu, Hunan, Jiangzhe, or the two Guangs, great chaos had occurred and severe purges had been carried out—yet now, all of them were perfectly stable.

Due to the northwest's special circumstances, there had never been any thorough rectification or overly large actions there in the past, but things had turned out contrary to wishes, and the poison persisted to this day. As a result, the vast northwest had become the most unstable region of the Great Han Empire.