Chapter 1890: Carving Up the World

Glancing at Liu Yang, Emperor Liu suddenly turned to the ninth prince, who seemed rather distracted, and spoke with even a hint of severity in his tone: "Liu Shu!"

"Your servant is here!" Liu Shu was startled and hurriedly rose to respond.

Emperor Liu smiled without warmth, staring at Liu Shu until he grew uncomfortable, then said calmly: "When do you plan to set out for your fief?"

Liu Shu blurted out: "Your servant still has some affairs in his residence to attend to; once they are settled and spring has warmed the flowers into bloom, I shall head south at once!"

Hearing this, Emperor Liu asked bluntly: "You wouldn't be trying to fool me, would you!"

"How would your servant dare?" Liu Shu shook his head repeatedly, but under the old emperor's pressing gaze, he honestly reported: "The third month, the seventh day of the third month—when the time comes, your servant will depart immediately!"

Hearing Liu Shu's assurance, Emperor Liu finally let him off, then pointed at Liu Shu and said to his sons and grandsons: "You all heard that—the Great Han's first enfeoffed king is about to take up his fief! As for the reasons I enfeoffed Liu Shu, I imagine you've all heard more or less over these past six months. Now, I shall give them to you unchanged, all at once!

The people of the Great Han cannot remain complacent and stagnant; the spirit of pioneering and enterprise should be branded into their very bones. Vast as the world is, there is nowhere one cannot go.

And you, as my sons, must set an example for the realm and lead the way for all the world to see. I encourage migration to the frontiers and overseas colonization—not to vaunt my achievements or display my prowess, nor to fill those wild and desolate lands with the lives and fortunes of millions of common folk, but to expand the living space of the Great Han's people, to spread our Chinese civilization to the four seas and eight wildernesses!

Over these years, both within and without, there has been no lack of criticism and debate over my policies—some even compare me to the First Emperor of Qin's southern campaign against the Hundred Yue, saying I crave greatness and achievement, that I am militaristic and warlike. The words may be veiled, but I know full well in my heart—that is exactly what they mean!

To this, I am not troubled but rather pleased. If not for the First Emperor's conquest of the Hundred Yue, how would the Great Han have the firm possession of Guangdong and Guangxi today? To have my current endeavors compared to his is truly the greatest affirmation. Far from abandoning these efforts because of some costs, I should increase investment and continue to persevere!"

After Emperor Liu once again expounded on his long-held philosophy, he continued: "Liu Shu's fief is the beginning of putting these principles of mine into practice! Over these twenty-odd years, the Great Han's colonization in all directions has already achieved no small success. To consolidate existing gains and to further expand and develop, the court should also adapt to changing circumstances. After reviewing the histories and deliberating at length, I have concluded that enfeoffment is the most suitable method!"

At this point, Emperor Liu paused to observe the princes' reactions. The princes' expressions remained fairly calm, with no signs of surprise—they had anticipated this long ago. After all, since Liu Shu had been made a prince, all sorts of discussions had been rife, and the trend of events had long shown signs. It was just that Emperor Liu had held back for a full half year before convening this meeting on the night of the Lantern Festival in the new year, which actually added a measure of unexpectedness.

Compared to this, what they were more curious and concerned about was how Emperor Liu planned to carry out the enfeoffment, and which fiefs and territories they might receive. Of course, the various circuits of the Great Han proper were basically out of the question—like the ninth prince, they would likely get either the remote corners of the Great Han or wild overseas lands. Still, even these wild lands had their differences—some good, some bad, some rich, some poor, some stable, some turbulent, with varying degrees of development. Naturally, they would prefer the more mature places.

However, when it came to such matters, Emperor Liu's words always flowed endlessly, and he still spoke somewhat verbosely: "As for the pros and cons of enfeoffment, I no longer intend to dwell on them. Since the decision has been made, full consideration has already been given. It does no harm to compare with the Western Zhou enfeoffment—if not for the eight hundred vassals of the ancestral Zhou, there would be no Nine Provinces that have always belonged to China!"

"Liu Xu, you are the eldest son and a Prince—state your position, tell me your thoughts!" Having finished speaking, Emperor Liu turned to look at Liu Xu.

Upon being asked, Liu Xu visibly stiffened. His weathered face involuntarily shifted through several expressions, and he cast a complex gaze at Emperor Liu. Meeting his eyes for a moment, he said in a deep voice: "Your Majesty's ambition encompasses the eight wildernesses. Your servant can only admire it deeply and strive with all his might to help Your Majesty realize this ambition!"

Hearing Liu Xu's words, Emperor Liu laughed twice heartily and praised him before the princes and grandsons: "This is the Great Han's Prince, the eldest imperial son! This bearing and vision are what you younger brothers and nephews should learn from!"

Liu Xu had received much praise from Emperor Liu in the past and had always felt joy because of it. Yet this time, Liu Xu's heart was inexplicably filled with bitterness.

"Liu Xi, what do you think?" Emperor Liu turned to look at the Prince of Jin.

Liu Xi's face showed no change, but he pondered for a moment before speaking slowly: "Your servant dare not forget his duty as a subject; I only fear my virtue and talent are insufficient, and that I might disappoint Your Majesty's expectations!"

Hearing this, Emperor Liu stared at Liu Xi and said in a measured tone: "In these two years you've concurrently served at the Hall of State Affairs, you've handled state affairs in perfect order. With an empire this vast and affairs this numerous, you've managed with ease—are you afraid you can't govern a single fief well?"

"Your Majesty flatters me; your servant dare not accept such praise!" After a brief silence, Liu Xi still said steadily: "All your servant can do is devote himself utterly to the task!"

"Liu Fang, what about you?" Withdrawing his gaze, Emperor Liu looked toward the Prince of Zhao.

And Liu Fang, Emperor Liu's favorite son, appeared far more forthright, still bearing that open and upright manner of old. He responded with a smile: "Your servant repeats his earlier words—where Your Majesty's will leads, your servant will go without hesitation, with not a single word of objection!"

Liu Fang was still Liu Fang—without much scheming in his heart. Among all his sons, only Liu Fang made Emperor Liu feel most at ease; even the Prince of Qi, Liu Yun, who was the most carefree and uncompetitive, could not achieve this.

After the three princes had stated their positions, Emperor Liu did not continue asking. With them taking the lead, the opinions of the others did not matter. As for the Crown Prince Liu Yang, there was even less need to ask—the enfeoffment plan Emperor Liu had revealed so far was highly favorable to him. Not a single one of the Great Han's finest and most strategically vital lands would be lost; what was there to begrudge about those remote corners and wild frontiers?

Most importantly, anyone could offer opinions or even objections to Emperor Liu's policies—only Liu Yang, of all people, could least afford to defy Emperor Liu's will. This was the Crown Prince's greatest political correctness at present.

After laying the groundwork, Emperor Liu finally intended to get to the main topic—the things these sons and grandsons were most interested in. He turned his head and gave Yan Tuo a meaningful glance. Yan Tuo understood, bowed in salute, and quickly withdrew to the side hall.

Before long, under Yan Tuo's direction, several palace eunuchs carried in a rolled-up map and slowly spread it open before everyone. As the eunuchs moved, the contents of the map gradually came into view.

This was a specially made map—a chart of the entire sphere of influence of the Great Han at present. In the center, a chaotic mass marked in black, judging by its shape, was the Great Han's directly governed territory, clearly not included in the enfeoffment.

What drew the eye, however, were the smaller maps attached around the borders of the Great Han—from Anxi to Andong, from Diannan to Annam, as well as the Tibetans and the entire South Seas, and even a portion marked in the India region.

These regions had been divided according to geographical conditions into a dozen or so pieces of varying sizes, marked with different colors and even numbered in sequence. In one corner of the Indochinese Peninsula, "Linyi" had already been written upon it. What this map signified was now perfectly clear.

Supported by Yan Tuo, Emperor Liu slowly walked onto the map, stood upon the "Han Territory," and pointed at the blocks marked with colors and numbers, saying calmly: "These—all of these—are the fiefs I have prepared for you!"