Chapter 1841: Prince Jin

"Your Majesty, affairs at the Hall of State Affairs have always been presided over by Chancellor Li. Now that Chancellor Zhao has returned to court and resumed his post, how should Chancellor Li conduct himself?" At this moment, Liu Yang, who had been silent for the most part, spoke up, bowed, and calmly asked Emperor Liu.

Hearing this, Emperor Liu turned his head to look at Liu Yang, pondered for a moment, and said somewhat casually: "I was so overjoyed at Zhao Qing's return that I overlooked Li Fang. So in your view, how should this esteemed teacher of yours be arranged?"

There seemed to be a hint of a barb in Emperor Liu's words, but Liu Yang's composure remained steady, and he replied naturally: "Recently, Mobei has been troubled; the Naiman have been continuously pressing eastward, clashing repeatedly with the Khitan. The situation beyond the northern frontier is unstable. I believe Chancellor Li could be sent to Shanyang to take charge of Monan!"

Hearing Liu Yang's proposal, Emperor Liu thought it over briefly and sighed inwardly — this son of his was indeed loyal and sentimental, speaking so earnestly and directly, all to rescue Li Fang from the political vortex at court.

Although Shanyang lies in the remote northern frontier, it is by no means barren land. In recent years, relying on the production of various livestock and leather goods, its economic development has been quite considerable, and it is not lacking in fertile soil — there are even several places known as pearls beyond the Great Wall.

More crucially, no matter how the tax reform policy changes in the future, given Shanyang's geography and local conditions, it will not become the focus of reform. For Li Fang, who is mired in trouble because of the tax reform, Shanyang is truly a good place to go.

However, Emperor Liu did not grant Liu Yang's wish. Instead, he said lightly: "Li Fang is a civil official. Mobei is in turmoil and requires military talent — how could he serve to hold the frontier? Send someone else to Shanyang; have Chief Commander Murong Chengtai of the capital region go north to take up the post. As for Li Fang, let him go to Henan to replace Shi Dechong. He may not be able to oversee the nationwide tax reform, but surely he cannot delay matters for an entire circuit of Henan!"

Hearing this instruction, Liu Yang was momentarily stunned and sighed inwardly, merely expressing his acceptance — in the end, his teacher Li could not completely extricate himself from the turmoil here.

And so, another major personnel change at the heart of the Great Han court was settled. Within a few months, coming and going, there had been changes involving fully three chancellors — from Wang Zhe to Li Fang and Zhao Pu, each one a change sufficient to affect the political landscape. Of course, all these changes revolved around the tax reform.

Speaking of Li Fang — he achieved success young, placing first in the imperial examinations, becoming a close minister of the Emperor, and could be counted among the founding meritorious old associates. Thanks to his outstanding literary talent, he enjoyed great prestige among the scholar-official class, and having repeatedly held important posts, including serving as Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince, his standing at court was also very lofty.

But his official career had not been smooth sailing — one could say he rose and fell repeatedly, with ups and downs quite out of the ordinary. Counting the Dengwen Drum case from years past, this was already the second time Li Fang had been demoted and dismissed, sent out of the capital.

Of course, this so-called misfortune was only relative, after all, Li Fang's life had already reached heights that the vast majority of people could never attain in a lifetime. From the central government to the provinces, he had held posts at every level, including the chancellor's position where a single word carried immense weight. The richness of his resume and the complexity of his experiences were beyond ordinary comparison.

After finishing the arrangements for Li Fang, Emperor Liu broke into a smile again and said cordially to Zhao Pu: "Zhao Qing has traveled a thousand li to the capital — the journey must have been tiring. Go home first and settle in, rest a while. This evening I will host a welcome banquet for you!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Zhao Pu did not decline, rising to bow in gratitude.

Leaving Chuigong Hall, Liu Yang and Prince Jin Liu Xi walked side by side. The two brothers strolled slowly through the palace grounds, neither speaking for a time, only the soft sound of footsteps drifting through the corridors — the atmosphere was somewhat awkward.

After a long while, it was Liu Yang who finally spoke: "Third Brother, His Majesty has entrusted you with an important task this time — a heavy responsibility indeed!"

Hearing his sigh, Liu Xi glanced at Liu Yang, spread the hands clasped behind his back, and said with a wry smile: "To be honest with Your Highness the Crown Prince, I too am greatly surprised. Right now, I feel nothing but trepidation, as if treading on thin ice, afraid of failing His Majesty's trust! Fortunately, Chancellor Zhao is handling the main affairs; I think I can only do my best in a supporting role, hoping no major mistakes occur!"

At Liu Xi's words, Liu Yang shook his head, looked at Liu Xi, and said with a serious expression: "Third Brother is too modest! I know your abilities — aiding the world and bringing relief to the people, securing the state and calming the realm — you are no worse than any worthy chancellor or wise minister. His Majesty's trust in you is well known to all. For an imperial prince to be made chancellor and assist in governance — this is the first such case in the current reign. Simply do well, serve the country and the people, and let your talents shine!"

After Liu Yang's words fell, a flicker of something unusual passed through Liu Xi's calm eyes, though his expression remained composed. In a relaxed tone, he said to Liu Yang: "Your Highness overestimates me. What virtues or abilities do I possess to dare compare myself with the worthy ministers and wise chancellors at court? My idle, easygoing nature has always been rebuked by His Majesty. This time, I imagine it is merely a matter of circumstance — the tasks I'll be given are only those that make enemies."

At Liu Xi's somewhat guarded reply, Liu Yang was silent for a moment, then chuckled and sighed: "I was merely speaking from feeling — Third Brother need not take it to heart!"

The two brothers exchanged a few more casual words and then went their separate ways. But after only a couple of steps, Liu Xi could not help looking back at Liu Yang's tall, straight figure, deep thought showing in his eyes, a hint of worry faintly creasing his brow.

Liu Xi knew that his elder brother the Crown Prince did not have an easy time of it, but such a sensitive display still caught him somewhat by surprise. The many hints and constant verbal jousting during their conversation also put Liu Xi on alert — even someone as warm-natured as Liu Yang could not escape suspicion. The days ahead for him would hardly be easy.

On the other hand, he was quietly pondering Emperor Liu's intentions. That he would be brought into the tax reform, Liu Xi had anticipated in advance — he had already glimpsed the signs when he was arranged to go out of the city with Liu Yang to welcome Zhao Pu.

But appointing him Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs and having him enter the Hall of State Affairs — this Liu Xi could never have imagined. As Liu Yang had said, since Emperor Liu took the throne, no imperial prince had ever been made chancellor. In those days, the deepest involvement the elder princes had in central governance was serving as heads of a single ministry — and even that drew considerable attention.

And looking further back to the founding of the dynasty, only at the very beginning, when Emperor Liu and the late Prince Wei, Liu Chengxun, the two brothers, participated in court governance in their capacity as imperial princes — and even then, Emperor Liu had also borne the title of chancellor.

Thinking of this, Liu Xi felt no honor, only a burning sensation beneath his seat — once again, the Emperor had placed him on a fire to roast. Sons of the imperial house mostly matured early, and Liu Xi had come to understand things even earlier. From a very young age, Liu Xi knew to keep a low profile and hide his abilities — this was especially evident in his "contest" with Noble Consort Gao.

However, Liu Xi could deceive others, but not Emperor Liu, who had invested tremendous effort in his four elder princes. Likewise from an early age, Emperor Liu knew that this third son was very good at concealment, and so he had kept pushing his potential, continuously entrusting him with important tasks.

Over the years, Liu Xi's involvement in court affairs had been fairly deep, but unlike Prince Qin Liu Xu's sharp-edged display of brilliance, Liu Xi — even in Monan, that place so far from the Emperor — did not, like Liu Xu, painstakingly build his own power base. Toward central affairs he showed an attitude of indifference and calm composure. During his time in Monan, he neither cultivated relationships with civil or military officials nor nurtured a faction of his own — he merely did his duty in stabilizing the frontier for the court and implementing policies of ethnic assimilation.

But hiding one's abilities was not so easily done — the lower the profile, the less one contended, the more intelligent one appeared. And it was precisely that down-to-earth, workmanlike style that won Emperor Liu's appreciation.

Liu Xi actually understood his own contradiction. To claim he had not the slightest thought about the throne beneath Emperor Liu's seat would be self-deception — even the Ninth Prince Liu Shu had once revealed such ambitions, let alone someone as clever as Liu Xi.

It was just that Liu Xi's mind was clearer, knowing his chances were slim, and he always maintained a sense of rationality. Yet perhaps precisely because of that hidden thought buried deep in his heart, Liu Xi could not achieve the true ease and leisure of Prince Qi Liu Yun.

And this time, facing Emperor Liu's appointment, when even Liu Yang could not help showing wariness, Liu Xi's heart was filled with a complexity he had never experienced in over thirty years — even a measure of confusion.

Emperor Liu was growing old. Who knew how much longer the Kaibao era would last? And how should he chart his path forward? This was a question worth seriously re-examining.