Chapter 1721: They Dare Discuss Even the Most Taboo Matters

"At present, the most pressing problem facing the Great Han remains the Yulin Rebellion. The court's energy is largely tied up in this matter, and the eyes of the realm are all fixed on the northwest." Zhao Kuangyi, turning to serious matters, said with some gravity: "Regarding the Yulin Rebellion, I ask Second Brother for his guidance!"

Meeting Zhao Kuangyi's gaze, Zhao Kuangyin appeared very calm, and said unhurriedly: "What guidance can I give you? Haven't the ins and outs of the rebellion, its crux and causes, already been thoroughly investigated? The court's pacification efforts have also been fully set in motion — dispatching troops and appointing generals, entrusting the right men, and the strategy for suppressing the rebels is grand and imposing. Though the rebel army is rampant for a time, in the end it is but a mantis trying to stop a chariot — not worth mentioning."

Zhao Kuangyi shook his head and said: "Regarding the pacification, I naturally have full confidence. But what gives one pause is not Yulin, but within the court itself. That such a great rebellion could arise amid the glorious Kaibao golden age is certain to be recorded in the annals of history — is it not laughable to think on it?

His Majesty is divinely martial in bearing and can hardly err — so who bears the responsibility? Zhao Pu has already left his post. What of us Kaibao chancellors? Now that the pacification is urgent, let it pass for the moment, but once the rebellion is settled, will His Majesty not conduct another reckoning?"

Seeing that Zhao Kuangyi was somewhat anxious and uncertain, Zhao Kuangyin chuckled, pointed at him, and said: "You are a man who has read books and history — how can you be troubled by such a matter? Since ancient times, in every flourishing age, which dynasty, which generation, has ever achieved true peace without incident, without a single ripple?

What is called a flourishing age depends on the nation's strength, on the grand picture, on the power of the court. Even if demons and specters stir up trouble, the court has the confidence and the strength to root them out and destroy them.

His Majesty has sat the throne for over thirty years — all within the seas have submitted, and the people's hearts are settled. Given the current situation, how could a little Yulin throw the realm into chaos? Look at His Majesty's resolve to suppress the rebels — has he ever been troubled by the Yulin Rebellion? What he contemplates is using this opportunity to thoroughly eliminate the Yulin menace and bring the northwest lasting peace and order. With such vision and bearing, what do you have to worry about?

As for Zhao Pu's dismissal as chancellor — though he bears responsibility for the Yulin Rebellion, with your discernment, can you not see the true reason behind it? The Yulin Rebellion cannot affect the structure of the court's center!"

Hearing this, Zhao Kuangyi nodded slightly, his expression not changing much, merely lost in thought. After considering for a moment, Zhao Kuangyi sighed: "For the pacification of Yulin, His Majesty intends to do something extraordinary. Such a decision — only His Majesty could make it!"

"Are there dissenting voices in court again?" Zhao Kuangyin caught the implication beneath the words.

Zhao Kuangyi smiled faintly, a trace of mockery showing: "How could there not be? Yet none dare raise it before His Majesty. But as for what those Academicians, Hanlin scholars, and court officials — those learned and erudite men — truly think, I can glimpse a thing or two!"

Zhao Kuangyin pondered for a while, then looked up and said seriously to Zhao Kuangyi: "I know you have always been close to those literati and scholars, and your household keeps some staff and advisors. But His Majesty has always valued practical affairs over empty talk. On this matter, do not make a misstep. What His Majesty truly values are men of practical governance — this is the way of running the state. The court keeps those Confucian ministers merely to honor their reputations!"

"I understand!" Zhao Kuangyi nodded readily, not at all annoyed by the admonition.

Zhao Kuangyi was a true literatus by nature, so it was natural for him to be close to those learned scholars. But given the current state of the Great Han, under Emperor Liu's almost overbearing push, practical affairs over scholarship had already become the official mainstream doctrine.

The bureaucrats of the Great Han needed Confucian thought as their armament, but as wave after wave of practical talents emerged and gradually rose to high positions, gaining a measure of voice, those who came after had no shortage of guides. Practical talent and scholarship were not in conflict — it was merely that a basic bias had formed in the selection of officials.

Of course, since ancient times nothing has been perfect, and all things are hard to bring to completion. Emperor Liu never expected to truly achieve appointment solely by merit — even those he promoted and employed inevitably involved considerations of closeness and distance. How much more so for others? The innate human tendency toward likes and dislikes, along with the deep-rooted concepts formed over a thousand years, could not be easily changed.

What Emperor Liu did was merely to inject a gene of merit-only appointment into the selection of officials for the Great Han, and to strive to maintain it, forming a momentum. In this way, even if some foul phenomena of class-interest exchange could not be avoided, as long as the general direction was sound, that was enough. Contradictions always exist — so long as the beneficial side could be maintained, that was good.

In such an environment, although Zhao Kuangyi was friendly toward the literati, he had no thought of changing the atmosphere or elevating the status of scholars. First of all, he had no motivation to do so. He was not the Taizong of Song, nor did he need to consolidate his power and position through the policy of using civil officials to restrain the military. This was a fundamental difference — the seat determines the mind, a truly unassailable truth.

But as a bureaucrat, a bureaucrat with ambitions for the chancellorship, he also needed a base of support, a group of usable men, a number of people to wave the flag and shout for him.

In this regard, the literati and scholars who wielded the pen could play no small role — but compared to actual power, these things were still woefully insufficient.

Why was Zhao Pu able to firmly grasp the chancellorship for so many years without falling? Emperor Liu's support was certainly important, but Zhao Pu's own methods were equally extraordinary. Some people, even if you gave them a stage and invited an audience, still could not perform well.

Zhao Pu was different. In the past, he had under him a large number of practical ministers recognized by Emperor Liu. One man's talent could never compare to the talent of many — with so many supporters behind him, how could his position be anything but stable?

For Zhao Kuangyi, it was naturally unavoidable that he would cultivate and promote his own people, and in considering his own people, he naturally inclined toward those with actual ability in governance and administration.

This reasoning — even common folk in the marketplace could interpret it in the most plain-spoken terms, let alone a man above men like Zhao Kuangyi. It was merely that, as a political figure, one tends to view problems from the perspective of interest and position, and the decisions made, in the eyes of others, appear utterly foolish.

When a clever man does a foolish thing, those who laugh at his foolishness may themselves not be so clever.

"After the pacification of Yulin, I wonder how His Majesty will arrange for the Prince of Zhao!" Zhao Kuangyi again opened a topic regarding the Yulin Rebellion.

To this, even Zhao Kuangyin — how could he give an answer? After thinking it over, he said: "This is not something you or I need to worry about. The Crown Prince's position is secure, His Majesty trusts him, and the Empress is still alive."

Hearing Zhao Kuangyin say this, Zhao Kuangyi instinctively lowered his voice and said: "I hear that the Empress fell ill again some days ago. This is not a good omen. If something untoward should happen—"

"Where did you hear such a thing?" Zhao Kuangyin's brows knit tightly.

Zhao Kuangyi spread his hands and said: "It was not that I deliberately sought it out, but within the palace precincts, what secret is ever truly kept? Coming and going from the forbidden palace, so long as one does not stop up one's ears and eyes, one is bound to pick up some news."

Zhao Kuangyin thought for a moment, then said slowly: "A Crown Prince of over twenty years no longer relies solely on his mother's clan for support. Moreover, with the Crown Prince's caliber, he can withstand these troubles. We need not borrow worries from the man of Qi!"

Zhao Kuangyi thought it over and found it reasonable, but still could not help remarking: "These princes — each one like a dragon, like a tiger. It is the fortune of the imperial house, and also the misfortune of the Crown Prince. As for the state, whether it is fortune or misfortune, who can say..."

"Enough. We've talked more than enough today. I'm tired — no more!" Seeing Zhao Kuangyi's demeanor, Zhao Kuangyin let out a breath, waved his hand, and made a shooing gesture.

Zhao Kuangyi also tactfully prepared to take his leave, but then thought of something, cupped his hands, and said: "Second Brother, the northwest is unsettled now. Kuangmei is over there — it may be hard to guarantee his safety. Can we find a way to recall him?"

Back then, because of his involvement in the Huazhou case, Zhao Kuangmei had been exiled to the northwest. Now, many years had already passed. This so-called exile was truly not for show — though the Zhao brothers cherished their fraternal bond, they had never dared to submit a memorial pleading for him.

Zhao Kuangyin was very protective of his younger brother. At this moment, hearing Zhao Kuangyi raise it, he said almost without thinking, with a sigh: "So many years have passed, and Kuangmei has suffered enough. It's time to let him come back. I don't want the two of us brothers to only meet again in the underworld. His Majesty... should grant me this face, I should think."