Chapter 1812: The Army Needs Stability

The more than one hundred officials who were sent off with a farewell banquet at Zichen Hall were not all the personnel this court dispatched to the localities to root out corruption and eliminate evil. For such a vast empire, a hundred or so people were truly too insignificant—under normal circumstances, they could not even stir up a ripple.

They were merely the selected core members. For each of them, Emperor Liu had also assigned a dedicated case-investigation team and granted special privileges, with relevant local personnel providing coordination as well.

It could be said that over the past few months, the purges and rectifications carried out in Luoyang were more like a form of raising gu—eliminating the mediocre and incompetent, while cultivating and selecting a batch of anti-corruption and evil-eliminating teams capable of shouldering heavy responsibilities and fighting hard battles. The entire Great Han was their ultimate stage.

Dispatching them to the various circuits and prefectures was not simply a matter of sending people out in one fell swoop to stir things up in the localities, but rather was planned, rhythmic, and goal-oriented. Almost everyone, before leaving the capital, had already received intelligence support from all sides and had at least three to five clear targets for investigation.

In the archives of the Imperial City and Wude Bureaus, case files and records accumulated over decades were preserved. These things normally just sat there gathering dust, but when actually brought out for use, they could ensure that actions were justified in name and shots were fired at clear targets.

With these materials as a foundation, the efficiency of the special envoys' investigations and dispositions could also be guaranteed, so they would not be like headless flies buzzing and crashing about randomly. Besides ongoing crimes, some doubtful cases and wrongly decided cases were also included in the re-examination list.

This was a vigorous and sweeping campaign of reckoning. How effective it would be still required time to test and results to prove, but Emperor Liu was full of expectation. He was also watching closely, ready at all times to take precautions, prepared to suppress any contingency.

Emperor Liu himself also had a premonition that the rectification of the localities would not go smoothly. After all, heaven is high and the emperor is far away. It was easy for him to rectify meritorious nobles and senior ministers—even replacing a chancellor was a matter of a single sentence. On the contrary, for those ordinary local bureaucrats, he needed more patience and stronger resolve.

But even if there were layers of resistance, what needed to be done still had to be done. Emperor Liu was also clear in his heart that this was merely a radical and violent means of self-improvement for a feudal empire. It could not be used frequently, and whether it brought much actual benefit to the state, or whether it could truly extend the nation's fortunes, was in fact not at all clear.

However, compared to doing nothing at all, he would rather make some attempts. As for his own physical condition, Emperor Liu had some idea, and he had to admit that in what remained of his reign—however long or short that might prove to be—he could only do his best to clear away some obstacles for his successor and cut away the rotten flesh from the Great Han Empire he had built with his own hands. Even if it only maintained another twenty or thirty years of health, it would ultimately be meaningful.

And because of the disgraceful performance of that Court of Judicial Review Secretary Zhu Bo in the hall, Emperor Liu had also placed a question mark over those selected "elite troops and strong generals." Therefore, after they set out, he secretly arranged some additional people whose task was to supervise and investigate these very investigators.

In the process of eliminating malpractices, new malpractices often arose along with them—even in real time. Emperor Liu understood this too well, and so he could not help but keep an extra eye open.

Whenever there was a major matter, Emperor Liu always liked to visit the Bureau of Military Affairs. This was the nation's center of military command, the birthplace of all military orders. After decades of development, the Bureau of Military Affairs had long become a vast and complex system, with the functions of its various departments, divisions, offices, directorates, and commissioners gradually perfected—even appearing somewhat bloated.

Over the decades, power within the military system had become dispersed, with rival factions springing up everywhere, yet the entire military-administrative system had been continuously growing stronger. And as their head, the Commissioner of Military Affairs, though always subject to suppression from Emperor Liu and pressure from the Hall of State Affairs, had always held an exalted position at court.

In the past, chancellors had been replaced one after another. At times, Emperor Liu still needed to consider the views of his ministers and synthesize suggestions from all sides—except that in the appointment of the Commissioner of Military Affairs, he had never consulted with the civil officials.

To this day, no matter how the winds and clouds shifted in the court, the military-administrative system managed by the Bureau of Military Affairs always stood as immovable as a mountain. The Bureau of Military Affairs—or rather, the nation's entire military administration—had long become a system unto itself.

Of course, to prevent it from spiraling out of control, Emperor Liu had exhausted his ingenuity, placing many shackles upon it. The Hall of State Affairs also exerted considerable checks upon it—for instance, in financial matters and certain auxiliary affairs, the Hall of State Affairs still held the initiative. It was just that under normal circumstances, the two would not fall out and produce a "bureau-hall conflict."

The operation of the Bureau of Military Affairs increasingly resembled a precision instrument. Military orders pursued efficiency and also strong discipline. Although it was impossible to avoid some bureaucratic maladies, on the whole, the atmosphere was still somewhat better.

Since Emperor Liu had taken charge of the state, although he had greatly gathered military power into his own hands, restrained the generals, and firmly placed the army under imperial authority, in reality it was like training guard dogs for the household—because they were meant to watch the gates and protect the courtyard, their claws and fangs remained sharp.

At the very least, there had never yet been a case of civil officials controlling the military. Every Commissioner of Military Affairs had been a great general with rich war experience and the ability to command and coordinate. This convention had been maintained to this day.

Those who understand warfare control the army—this was also one of the reasons why, over the decades, the Great Han's military administration and armed forces had rarely experienced major upheavals. At least on the surface, there were far fewer sordid affairs in the military command system, after all, military law was strict, with decapitation at the slightest offense—far more severe than the civil official system. Emperor Liu had said before: if even the army became corrupt, then the empire would be in danger. Therefore, in the past, governance of officials and commoners and the severity of sentencing had fluctuated, but toward the military there had always been only one principle: govern the army strictly, military law as immovable as a mountain.

When Emperor Liu entered the Bureau of Military Affairs, everything was in perfect order. However, his arrival clearly disturbed the staff members who were working. Emperor Liu, as usual, told them to return to their respective duties and not mind him, then went directly to find Pan Mei.

The Bureau of Military Affairs was very large in area, with many offices. For someone unfamiliar with the place, wandering in carelessly would lead to getting lost—or more likely, being arrested as a spy. Trespassing into the Bureau of Military Affairs was also a capital offense. Even military officers and clerks who came on official orders dared not wander about or move freely.

It was not until he reached the Military Orders Office that Commissioner of Military Affairs Pan Mei, having received the news, hurried over. With a solemn expression, he bowed and said: "Your servant was late in receiving Your Majesty—please forgive me, Your Majesty!"

"Rise!" Emperor Liu said with a light laugh.

A gentle attitude rarely reappeared on Emperor Liu's old face, but nowadays no one dared take it at face value anymore. Pan Mei, in dealing with Emperor Liu, was also clearly more cautious.

"Pan Qing, since you returned to court to take up the post of Commissioner of Military Affairs, I have not yet come to see you. Today I have some free time, so I came over for a stroll!" Accompanied by Pan Mei, Emperor Liu walked slowly, saying casually: "However, you served long as Deputy Commissioner of Military Affairs, and now that you have returned to court to be confirmed in the top post, this business of being the military chancellor should not be too difficult for you, I should think!"

"Thank you for Your Majesty's trust! With Your Majesty's prestige and virtue watching over, everything is going well!" Pan Mei replied.

They went inside, took their seats, and tea was served. The tea that the Great Han's military chancellor drank on ordinary days was clearly of the finest grade—the flavor was truly excellent. Setting down his teacup, Emperor Liu looked at Pan Mei and asked: "Have the various regions been peaceful lately? Any border situations? Any unrest?"

To this, Pan Mei pondered Emperor Liu's purpose in coming, but his expression remained unchanged as he answered crisply: "To report to Your Majesty, only some minor disturbances occurred in Andong and Jiannan. The local garrison troops have already been dispatched to suppress them!"

Emperor Liu nodded, pondered for a moment, and with a somewhat more serious tone said: "The major affairs at court recently, I think you are clear about them in your heart. I will speak plainly: in rooting out corruption and eliminating evil, I have made a firm resolution. No matter how great the obstacles, no matter how great the impact, I will carry it through until official governance is restored to clarity.

But I also know that this matter will not go smoothly. In the localities, unpredictable incidents and disturbances will inevitably occur. I require your Bureau of Military Affairs, in the time ahead, to strengthen control over the nation's armed forces. If anything happens in the localities, you must respond promptly—suppress rebellions, maintain order, and preserve stability.

Anywhere can be in chaos, but the army cannot be in chaos. This is my most basic requirement of you, and also my most stringent requirement!"

Emperor Liu was so solemn about this that Pan Mei naturally dared not take it lightly. After a brief deliberation, he understood the imperial intent and firmly declared: "Rest assured, Your Majesty—your servants will hold nothing back and exert every effort!"

"You should know that only when the army is stable can the state and the people be secure! In the past, I relied on you to conquer the realm; now, I must rely on you to guard the rivers and mountains. The responsibility is even heavier!" Emperor Liu said with some earnestness.

"Your servant understands!" Pan Mei nodded, his expression grave.

Looking at this outstanding general whom he had always admired, Emperor Liu inexplicably felt a surge of emotion. Although he knew it was somewhat inappropriate, he could not help but say: "I heard that your nephew was also arrested and dealt with according to law. You bear no resentment in your heart, do you?"

Hearing this, Pan Mei felt his scalp go numb and hastily said: "Your servant failed to discipline strictly, allowing that beast to bully others with borrowed authority and ruin reputations. Your servant feels only shame—how could there be any resentment!"

"I know that you, Pan Zhongxun, are a man of great righteousness and understanding!" Emperor Liu sighed, his expression returning to calm.

But Pan Mei's mood could not settle in that brief moment. After calculating for a moment, Pan Mei took the initiative to say: "Your Majesty, while the court is investigating official malpractices, your servant believes that the Bureau of Military Affairs should also keep pace with the times and follow closely—carrying out a rectification within the army as well, to root out those hidden worms in the military..."

Hearing this suggestion, Emperor Liu was somewhat surprised for a moment. Over the decades, rectifications of the military had also been periodic. Every reform of military power or the military system had been accompanied by the handling of a batch of generals and officers. In terms of frequency, it was even higher than the court's anti-corruption efforts.

However, this time, Emperor Liu decisively chose stability again. Almost without thinking, he shook his head very bluntly and said: "No! Let it rest for now! Matters must be prioritized by urgency and importance. The military question can be discussed later—for now, stability is the priority!"

When Emperor Liu expressed this stance, Pan Mei visibly breathed a sigh of relief. In fact, he had been gambling, his heart hanging in suspense—if Emperor Liu truly wanted to launch such a campaign against the military as well, he would have thrown down his post and refused to be Commissioner of Military Affairs any longer.

Fortunately, although Emperor Liu was old and obstinate, his mind was still clear. His grasp of the pros and cons of affairs and his control of the situation were still very much on point. At this moment, the one thing that absolutely could not be stirred up was the army. It was the final and most powerful guarantee for his implementation of official governance—it absolutely could not be thrown into chaos.

Even if it needed to be stirred up, it would have to be done in turns, depending on the circumstances.