Chapter 1775: The Questioning

"Your Majesty, the Crown Prince, Chancellor Song, Chancellor Zhao, and Chancellor Wang request an audience!" As the red sun rose, Yan Tuo came to report again.

"Summon them!" This time, Emperor Liu did not refuse them at the palace gates.

"Your ministers pay respects to Your Majesty!"

Beneath the broad and imposing imperial desk in Chuigong Hall, the four all stood at attention with weary expressions. Emperor Liu's gaze swept across them and settled on Liu Yang, saying, "I am perfectly well, and slept soundly last night. It is you who have labored greatly. How goes the court's relocation?"

"Though rushed, thanks to the efforts of all the ministers, everything is in good order!" Liu Yang replied.

Emperor Liu nodded, pondered briefly, then said, "The court has newly relocated and needs a new atmosphere. The authority of the central government should be adjusted to suit the times!"

At these words, the several men immediately grew solemn—Zhao Kuangyi especially, who was particularly sensitive to shifts in power.

"We humbly await Your Majesty's instruction!" Liu Yang clasped his hands and said.

Emperor Liu thought for a moment, then said: "Yang Ye, Pan Mei, and Shi Shouxin, the three Commandery Dukes, are returning to court. As for the specific arrangement of their duties, let the Hall of State Affairs discuss it first and report an initial proposal to me!"

The chancellors exchanged glances and replied, "Yes!"

In contrast, this marked the resurgence of the meritorious aristocracy. Zhao Kuangyi was increasingly favored—he was a scion of the meritorious aristocracy through and through, bore a noble title himself, and had that connection with the Eastern Palace, making him highly representative.

Indeed, after Emperor Liu spoke these words, he immediately changed his tone, and with a look of apology said, "Your Majesty's magnanimity is beyond what your minister can compare to. It was narrow-minded of me. With such favor, it is also Lü Mengzheng's good fortune!"

"I have noticed that the court is now full of familiar old faces, but the young talents are growing through continuous tempering. We need to give the younger generation more opportunities to distinguish themselves!" Emperor Liu said calmly. "The court is a pond, and talent is the water. Only when it flows—new water replacing old—can vitality be shown!"

"A remonstrance?"

When Emperor Liu said this, a trace of embarrassment appeared on Zhao Kuangyi's face. Of course, inwardly he was somewhat dismissive—how could Lü Mengzheng compare to Chancellor Zhao?

Emperor Liu paid him no mind and continued, "As for governing experience, if one is not given the chance to try, how can one display his ability?"

At these words, the three chancellors' expressions differed. It was Zhao Kuangyi who spoke with slight hesitation: "Your Majesty, the Prince of Xiangyang is accomplished in both civil and martial arts, with a substantial record of service. Transferring him to serve as commander of the capital region is deeply popular. Your ministers naturally have no objection.

With this settled, Emperor Liu's mood seemed to improve somewhat, and the gloom on his aged face appeared to dissolve considerably. At this moment, Song Qi hesitated briefly, then with a grave expression, clasped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, your minister has a remonstrance!"

The governorship of Luoyang was a post comparable to that of Kaifeng. Though it was a position fraught with controversy, many eyes from all quarters were fixed upon it. Indeed, the balance of power within the Hall of State Affairs sometimes fell upon these two posts.

Now Emperor Liu wanted to promote an obscure upstart like Lü Mengzheng. He had some modest reputation for talent, but in the eyes of the meritorious aristocracy, he was merely a commoner who had passed the imperial examinations—truly unworthy of mention. If the edict were issued, it would break established precedent. As one of the spokesmen for the meritorious aristocracy, Zhao Kuangyi opposed it almost instinctively.

Emperor Liu, hearing his words and observing his reaction, said: "Young? At around forty, he is just at the age to display his talents to the fullest. I recall that when you, Zhao, served as governor of Luoyang, you were not yet forty. Why do you now look down on Lü Mengzheng?"

In the Qianyou era, Emperor Liu relied on the military aristocracy to govern the state and pacify the realm. After the Kaibao years, he increasingly suppressed the meritorious aristocrats, and on the foundation of the Qianyou era, further promoted talents of scholarly origin, elevating the strength of the commoner bureaucratic faction in order to achieve political balance.

Thus, Zhao Pu was dismissed as chancellor, the officialdom was purged, and the political situation was thrown into turmoil. The most conspicuous sign was that nearly seventy percent of the bureaucrats in the four northwestern circuits were replaced. Although those convicted of corruption could not simply be regarded as commoner bureaucrats, Emperor Liu's severe rectification did indeed greatly weaken the power of ordinary officials at court.

Seeing this, Emperor Liu did not belabor the point and continued: "An Shouzhong has rendered meritorious service in governing Luoyang, and the court should commend him. Additionally, he is to be transferred to serve as Chief Commander of the capital region. As for the Luoyang governorship, Vice Minister of Justice Lü Mengzheng has been loyal to the king's affairs, diligent and steady, and has been tempered over many years. He may be promoted to succeed as Governor of Luoyang. What do you all think?"

"It is only that Lü Mengzheng, though he has a reputation for talent, is too young and lacks much experience in local office. The Western Capital bears a heavy burden like a mountain—I fear he may find it difficult to bear..."

"What Your Majesty says is reasonable!" Whether or not they agreed with Emperor Liu's words, the ministers' attitudes remained proper.

Liu Yang seemed lost in thought but still nodded in approval. Song Qi would have no objection either—he had always thought highly of Lü Mengzheng. And so, in a few words, Luoyang was to welcome a new governor—a governor of humble commoner origin.

From the tone of his words, it was not hard to tell that Zhao Kuangyi did not approve of Lü Mengzheng's extraordinary promotion. Though he only raised some "concerns," his opposition was clear.

So this was what it was about. Although the appointment of high officials and ministers had always required Emperor Liu's personal approval, this time, all three sensed a change in Emperor Liu that they could not quite articulate, yet it stirred a faint sense of urgency in their hearts.

The seat determines the thinking. His aristocratic origins and his position as the youngest chancellor in the Hall of State Affairs all made Zhao Kuangyi instinctively reject Lü Mengzheng, who came from a commoner background.

Thus, the Great Han entered a period of over a decade of commoner-bureaucrat governance—a golden age of commoner rule, so to speak. However, as bureaucratic corruption bred myriad ills, and with the power of the meritorious aristocracy firmly suppressed, Emperor Liu began to grow dissatisfied with the commoner bureaucrats as well.

"What do you think?" Seeing Zhao Kuangyi "cool off," Emperor Liu turned to Liu Yang and Song Qi.

Of course, the most critical point was that throughout history, those who served as governors of the two prefectures of Kaifeng and Luoyang had always been either imperial relatives or eminent meritorious ministers—never an exception. Such as the current Governor of Luoyang, An Shouzhong, and the Governor of Kaifeng, Liu Jichang.

It was just that this opportunity was given too grandly—using the prestigious governorship of Luoyang to cultivate a commoner bureaucrat. No matter how one looked at it, it seemed strange, and sounded absurd. What virtue or ability did a mere Lü Mengzheng possess?

Therefore, Zhao Kuangyi suspected that Emperor Liu must have another purpose—one unfriendly to meritorious ministers like himself. Of course, these suspicions and misgivings, Zhao Kuangyi dared not show before Emperor Liu.

These two words caught Emperor Liu's attention. Seeing Song Qi's earnest expression, Emperor Liu grew curious and also more solemn. He gestured: "Speak!"

"Your Majesty, last night, officers of the Palace City Office forcibly entered the residences of many ministers, and without regard for circumstances, forcibly took their sons. They claimed to act on Your Majesty's orders. Does Your Majesty know of this?"

Song Qi's solemn voice rang through Chuigong Hall, and at this moment, it seemed especially clear. Hearing this, Liu Yang's expression changed drastically, his face showing anxiety, and he actually lost his composure, secretly signaling Song Qi with his eyes right there in the hall.

Emperor Liu narrowed his eyes slightly, looking at Song Qi, who bowed his aged back yet displayed a bearing of unyielding pride, and said indifferently: "So there is such a matter. What is your view, Song?"