Chapter 1795: Another Fourth-Grade Official Gone

"Ten loads of White Cloud tea from Liangzhe, a hundred jars of fine wine, fifty jars of seafood; five hundred catties each of milk candy and white sugar from Hunan; ten bear galls and ten otter livers from within the passes; five carts of fresh bamboo shoots from Hubei; twenty carts of assorted fruits from Hedong; ten boats of white fish from along the Huai." Inside Chuigong Hall, a palace eunuch holding a gift list was reporting to Emperor Liu.

This was what the Court of Palace Attendants had prepared for the upcoming Jiaqing Festival. However, the long string of tribute items had not even been read through before Emperor Liu cut him off: "Enough!"

The eunuch, who had been reading with great cadence and enthusiasm, was startled badly and hurriedly knelt to the ground. Emperor Liu dropped his listless demeanor, swept a glance over, and said in a flat tone: "All these things were prepared by the Court of Palace Attendants?"

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Yan Tuo, sensing the shift in Emperor Liu's tone, immediately explained: "Exactly so! The Jiaqing Festival approaches, and all regions present local products to show their filial piety. The Court of Palace Attendants collects and organizes them to celebrate the auspicious occasion!"

Hearing this, Emperor Liu sneered twice and said: "Was it truly the Court of Palace Attendants that took the lead in arranging this, or did the regions offer tribute on their own initiative?"

"This..." Yan Tuo's eyes flickered slightly, and he lowered his head in reply: "This servant does not know!"

He could also tell that Emperor Liu had yet another opinion on this matter. Commissioner of Palace Attendants Zhao Changyan this time had probably patted the horse's rump instead of its back. As the chief steward of the palace, how could Yan Tuo not know exactly what was going on?

This was led by the Court of Palace Attendants, which had secretly instructed the various circuits and prefectures to present local products to congratulate the Jiaqing Festival, while also seeking to please Emperor Liu. Moreover, Yan Tuo even knew that Commissioner of Palace Attendants Zhao Changyan had personally written letters to the administrative heads of each region dropping hints. And how would the officials of those circuits and prefectures dare to question it? If the Emperor wanted these things, they would naturally prepare them with all due care.

Even more, the goods had been sent to the Western Capital, inspected by the Court of Palace Attendants, and had even aroused Emperor Liu's curiosity. But at this final step, something seemed to have gone wrong.

At the founding of the state, the Court of Palace Attendants had been a major office of the court, wielding great power and overseeing broad responsibilities. Inspecting tribute items and named goods presented from within and without was one of its functions.

However, as the Great Han's bureaucratic system matured, with offices consolidated and trimmed, many of the powers originally held by the Court of Palace Attendants were split off and transferred to various agencies inside and outside the palace. The Court of Palace Attendants' status gradually became awkward, and even the rank of Commissioner of Palace Attendants was ultimately fixed at the fourth grade, leaving only the power to inspect local products and named goods.

Under normal circumstances, this could still count as a lucrative post — nothing that passed through one's hands was ordinary. But the Great Han was different. Aside from tribute offered by foreign states, Emperor Liu actually did not want local products at all. He had even issued edicts on several occasions prohibiting contributions from the various regions, so as not to burden the people.

This greatly diminished the importance of the Court of Palace Attendants, making it even less busy and substantial than a palace temple or directorate. Although the Great Han claimed that ten thousand states came to court, in truth only a handful of countries paid tribute to the court on a long-term basis. Those with the means did so basically just once a year.

And to be fair, if the Court of Palace Attendants wanted to play its special role, it truly had to rely on domestic regional tributes — that was the main source, that was where the value lay. In every dynasty, offices with similar functions worked this way.

But it happened to run into an Emperor Liu who did not play by the rules. Even the palace's own supplies had to be specially purchased from outside the palace. Was there any such reasoning under heaven?

Against this backdrop, the Court of Palace Attendants gradually faded into obscurity, unvalued by anyone. The post of Commissioner of Palace Attendants became a sinecure, even a position for retirement, only livening up when foreign envoys came to present tribute.

However, the newly appointed Commissioner of Palace Attendants, Zhao Changyan, clearly had no intention of sinking into obscurity like this. He planned to make some changes. Using this Jiaqing Festival as an opportunity to test Emperor Liu's thoughts, pleasing the Emperor was the most important goal. Regaining the power of the Commissioner of Palace Attendants and restoring the prestige and authority of the Court of Palace Attendants was the accompanying bonus.

Clearly, this was a bold man, one with a certain political ambition who refused to be mediocre. Zhao Changyan was a jinshi of the thirteenth year of Kaibao, ranked among the top three, being that year's tanhua. He was known for his quick wit, and in the year he took the examination he had already made a name for himself in the capital.

In the years since entering officialdom, although he had not accomplished any earth-shaking feats or established any remarkable merits, he had shown an extremely strong ability to curry favor, especially delighting in divining the Emperor's intentions. His abilities were also up to standard — rising to the rank of a fourth-grade court official within a mere ten years was already no small feat.

This time, for Zhao Changyan, it was a gamble. And although there were improprieties in what he did, they were relatively subtle. Moreover, the tribute he collected was mostly ordinary local products and regional specialties, not rare treasures.

Yet Zhao Changyan, who was skilled at reading the Emperor's mind, ultimately could not fathom Emperor Liu's thoughts. Noticing the evasiveness in Yan Tuo's words, Emperor Liu said coldly: "These things, aside from what the envoys of various states presented, all seem to be food and drink. Do you take me for a man obsessed with the pleasures of the palate? Even if I were, if I wanted to enjoy some sugar, rice, wine, or water, would I need the regions to specially present tribute?"

Emperor Liu's voice grew louder and louder, his tone increasingly furious: "I have repeatedly issued orders in the past, strictly banning tribute from the regions. It is precisely because these things, though they come from local produce, are mostly taken from the common households. Regional tribute is wasteful to no end, and troubling the people must be forbidden. Years have passed, and there are still those who dare to violate my prohibition. Who gave them the courage?"

"Your Majesty, please calm your anger!" Seeing that Emperor Liu was truly taking this to the highest level, Yan Tuo, while silently mourning for Zhao Changyan, offered consolation: "Perhaps there is some misunderstanding in this?"

"Misunderstanding?" Emperor Liu rose, snatched the gift list from the eunuch's hands, hurled it viciously to the ground, and stamped it underfoot, raging: "Do you truly think I am old and easily deceived? So many circuits and prefectures, all presenting tribute at the same time! If there were not someone coordinating among them, how could this have come to pass? Do you take me for a senile old fool?"

"This servant would never dare!" Yan Tuo shuddered and no longer dared to be careless.

"The gift list is here. Where is Zhao Changyan?" Emperor Liu said coldly.

Yan Tuo hurriedly replied: "He is waiting outside the hall for your summons!"

"Waiting for summons!" Emperor Liu said with contempt: "What, is he waiting for my reward?"

Emperor Liu's gaze was icy. Almost without a moment's thought, he stared at Yan Tuo with oppressive eyes and ordered: "For this matter, I will not mobilize the Palace City Office. You will investigate this tribute affair thoroughly for me and give me an explanation!"

"Yes!" Yan Tuo dared not have any other reaction.

This matter was not complicated to begin with, and Yan Tuo had a rough idea of what had been done behind the scenes. He left the hall, made a show of investigating and inquiring, then returned to report. And Yan Tuo's report basically sold Zhao Changyan out completely.

However, after Yan Tuo finished his memorial, Emperor Liu's reaction was remarkably calm. He merely said coldly: "An official so audacious and reckless, one who advances through flattery — what use is there in keeping him?"

The word "kill" came out of Emperor Liu's mouth almost without any obstruction, startling Yan Tuo greatly. He knew Emperor Liu's punishments would be severe, but he never imagined that with the Jiaqing Festival approaching, another minister was about to be killed.

Hesitating for a moment, Yan Tuo still spoke up to plead for mercy — not for Zhao Changyan, but only for fear of inauspiciousness. However, Emperor Liu's temperament was fierce and unyielding; how could he care about such things? He said with murderous intent: "A treacherous minister like this who ruins my reputation — what regret is there in killing him? His blood will only add to the festivity of the Jiaqing Festival!"

With Emperor Liu having said so much, how could Yan Tuo dare say more? And so, after Zheng Xu, the Administrative Assistant of Luoyang Prefecture, another fourth-grade court official lost his head — this time also a traditional scholar-official.

"Zhao Changyan was killed?" The news spread quickly throughout the palace and beyond. Zhao Kuangyi, who was on duty at Guangzheng Hall, could not help but be stunned, disbelief written on his face: "What crime did he commit?"

Zhao Changyan's smooth sailing in his official career naturally had some backing — his patron was Zhao Kuangyi. And Zhao Kuangyi had always rather admired this man, finding his literary talent outstanding, his execution of affairs swift and decisive, and his boldness remarkable. The post of Commissioner of Palace Attendants had been recommended by Zhao Kuangyi himself. He never imagined that instead of sending him soaring to the clouds, it had cast him into hell.

However, upon learning the reason, even Zhao Kuangyi was momentarily dumbfounded. After a long while, he finally said angrily: "How could he be so foolish! Openly violating His Majesty's prohibition — what did he intend? He sought death by his own hand! Not worth regretting!"

At the same time, Zhao Kuangyi quickly picked up his brush and personally wrote a confession of guilt, admitting that he had failed to judge a man's character and had recommended an unworthy talent.