Chapter 1793: Matters of the Future, Handle in the Future

As Murong Defeng urged him on, Liu Yang's face visibly darkened, his gaze turning icy and sharp, as if he wanted to devour Murong Defeng whole—yet at the same time, he gave the impression of a man whose sore spot had just been struck.

"Silence!" Liu Yang couldn't help raising his hand, extending it into the air, only to forcibly pull it back—clearly restraining his emotions.

Seeing this, Murong Defeng sighed, no longer so urgent. After a moment of deliberation, he spoke candidly: "Your Highness, your servant knows that what he says today may be inappropriate—indeed, a great taboo. If word of this were to spread, there would even be risk of death.

However, there are things your servant must say! Your servant has absolutely no intention—nor would he dare—to sow discord between Your Highness and your brothers. But for the safety of the realm, for the well-being of the common people, for the stability of the court's institutions, for the continuation of proper human relations—Andong and Anxi must be brought under control, and the Princes of Qin and Wei must be placed under restraint. Otherwise, the troubles will be endless!

Especially Andong—it is simply too close to Liaodong and Hebei."

"Control! Restraint!" Liu Yang was growing irritated. He retorted: "Both places are thousands of li away—how is the court supposed to control them? Both regions are remote and isolated, with complex local sentiments. Without granting special privileges, how can they maintain the court's authority and consolidate the Great Han's rule?

If we indulge in nothing but suspicion and defensiveness, won't we break the hearts of those Han sons who have pressed forward wave after wave, braving bitter cold and peril?

The Prince of Qin's loyalty and responsibility to the court are praised by all. Without his painstaking efforts in Andong, where would today's stability on the northeastern frontier come from? Without the Andong shield, how would the Yan Mountains and Liaodong circuits have room for stable development? And how would Hebei and the Central Plains enjoy their current prosperity? Do you think the silver strands in the Prince of Qin's hair grew there for nothing?

His Majesty has always intended to enfeoff the princes anyway. Given the Prince of Qin's ability, seniority, and merit, even if Andong were granted to him outright, what harm would there be?

If baseless suspicion causes more than twenty years of the Great Han's northeastern expansion to come to nothing, if Andong falls once more into barbarian hands, if Liaodong and the Yan Mountains are again exposed to northern invasion—who can bear such consequences and responsibility? Is that what you would like to see?"

With no one else around, Liu Yang finally spoke his true thoughts, almost venting—both rebuking Murong Defeng's groundless suspicions and disregard for the bigger picture, and seemingly pouring out his own anxieties. Clearly, Liu Yang's heart had accumulated far too much bitterness as well.

It was rare to see Liu Yang so out of composure. Murong Defeng was stunned for a moment, then knelt to the ground and said with melancholy: "Your Highness, just consider your servant a petty man! But the proposal of enfeoffment absolutely cannot proceed—it is a policy that would leave endless calamity for posterity. I beg Your Highness to take history as a mirror!"

"Do you think matters like this are mine to decide?" Liu Yang said coldly. "You all worry and fret, constantly telling me to be on guard and vigilant. But how to go about it, what effective measures exist, whether they would win people's hearts—why don't you ever mention these things?"

Facing Liu Yang's interrogation, Murong Defeng was silent for a moment, then said: "Your Highness, the root of the Andong problem lies in the Prince of Qin having governed there for so long, holding both military and civil authority in his hands. Border regions have their own way of governance. Toward Andong, the court is not without good measures—it need not simply let things be. The key lies first in the choice of personnel. Your servant believes that transferring the Prince of Qin away from Andong is the most appropriate solution—it can stabilize the situation without harming the imperial family's bonds."

"Heh heh heh." Hearing Murong Defeng's suggestion, Liu Yang laughed, the laughter tinged with a hint of helplessness: "You people! Back when the Prince of Qin was in the capital, you racked your brains to push him out of the capital, feeling he was too great a threat at court. Now that he has been in Andong for over a decade, cutting through thorns and brambles, building from nothing with sheer toil, and has finally carved out a domain of his own—now you want to transfer him away again!

Do you really think these little schemes of yours can escape His Majesty's eyes? When His Majesty sees you people bullying his eldest son like this, what do you think he will feel?"

"Your Highness, the realm and the altars of state must come first!"

"Is the Great Han's eldest imperial son really a menace to the Great Han's realm?" Liu Yang demanded.

Murong Defeng fell silent at these words—clearly, that was indeed what he thought.

The sovereign and his minister were silent for a long while. It was Liu Yang who finally sighed and waved a hand at Murong Defeng: "Rixin, I understand your loyalty, and your concerns may have some merit—but matters are nowhere near that point. The empire is simply too vast; it needs imperial clansmen and meritorious nobles to guard the regions and consolidate the realm. Especially in newly opened frontier territories—we absolutely must not stop eating for fear of choking!

Moreover, as long as the court is stable, what is there to fear from border garrisons? If problems arise within the court itself, what we would face would be far more than the calamities you speak of.

His Majesty has often mentioned the word 'vision' of late, and my appreciation of it grows ever deeper. Do not, because of these baseless suspicions, do things that grieve your own and delight your enemies. Better to broaden your measure a little."

Hearing Liu Yang speak thus, Murong Defeng studied him carefully for a moment, thought it over, and then clasped his hands and said: "Your Highness is benevolent and magnanimous. Your servant is ashamed of his own inferiority. I have been taught well!"

Of course, the fundamental reason was that regarding such matters—never mind Murong Defeng—even the Crown Prince's ability to act was extremely limited. Under such circumstances, truly having the Crown Prince do anything was not permitted by the realities of the situation; on the contrary, it might even invite disaster. They could harbor suspicions about the Prince of Qin, but little did they know that Emperor Liu could just as easily suspect the Crown Prince. At such a time, what was most needed was precisely to keep one's head down and stay in line.

Thinking of this, Murong Defeng suddenly felt a chill of alarm. He snapped out of his habitual way of thinking, cold sweat pouring down his back. He clasped his hands and bowed: "Your Highness, forgive your servant—I spoke out of turn today!"

Seeing Murong Defeng's sudden change in reaction, Liu Yang was briefly taken aback, but after observing him for a moment, a slight smile finally appeared at the corners of his mouth. He still thought highly of Murong Defeng and did not wish him to become too obsessed.

Of course, what Murong Defeng truly thought was that discussing such matters now was still too early. While Emperor Liu still held the realm firmly in check, everything they did would be constrained. The era of the Crown Prince and men like himself lay in the future—the days ahead were long. Matters of the future could be handled in the future; that would not be too late. Even if another ten or twenty years passed, what of it? They could afford to wait.

Of course, if it truly took that long, it would indeed be too long—too hard to endure!

"Alright, is there anything else?" Liu Yang let out a heavy breath—clearly, there was not much ease in his heart.

Murong Defeng took out another memorial and said: "The rewards and compensations for the western expedition soldiers have already been finalized by the Bureau of Military Affairs. His Majesty still asks Your Highness to review them once more. If there are no problems, they can be transferred to the Ministry of War for prompt disbursement and implementation!"

This was no small task and would take some time. Liu Yang nodded: "I understand. Leave it here—I'll finish reviewing it as soon as possible!"

"Yes!"

"Your Highness!" Murong Defeng respectfully placed the memorial on the desk, thought for a moment, and then added: "Your servant heard that at today's court session, His Majesty compared himself to Emperor Wu of the Former Han!"

"Word certainly travels fast!" At this, Liu Yang's hand, which had been moving, paused for a moment, then he said calmly: "It did happen. What are your thoughts?"

Murong Defeng pondered for a moment, then clasped his hands and replied: "Forgive your servant for speaking bluntly—His Majesty is issuing a warning both to Your Highness and the ministers, and equally to himself!

Your servant believes this point is extremely important, and for Your Highness it brings more benefit than harm. At the very least, His Majesty's mind is clear and his heart is bright—he wishes to take Emperor Wu as a cautionary mirror!

All Your Highness needs to do is, as always, be filial to your imperial father and diligently attend to state affairs—that is sufficient!"

"I... think so too."