Chapter 191: The Wude Office

A plate of scallion tofu, a dish of bamboo shoots stir-fried with meat, plus a bowl of crucian carp soup—simple as it looked, with meat and vegetables balanced, soup and dishes both present, for Liu Chengyou this already counted as "an improvement in living standards."

He picked up a piece of tofu with his chopsticks—tender and moist—brought it to his mouth, and shoveled a mouthful of rice in after it. While chewing, staring at that plate of tofu, Liu Chengyou was thinking that this little preference of his was already well known to others—he ought to change it.

"If only there were a bit of chili..." But still, he couldn't quite resist, and Liu Chengyou muttered the words under his breath.

"Your Majesty, Palace Gardens Commissioner Li Shaoyou has come at your summons to seek an audience." The palace eunuch announced.

"Summon him in!"

"Chancellor Jia, please step aside for a moment." Liu Chengyou turned his head and said to Jia Wei, who sat behind a small side table.

"Yes!" This time, Jia Wei did not hesitate much; he rose directly and made a bow: "Your servant takes his leave."

Liu Chengyou's tone was flat, but it carried firmness, and Jia Wei could hear it. Over this period of time, Jia Wei had more or less figured out Liu Chengyou's temperament—this was a Son of Heaven with extremely strong opinions of his own. Since ascending the throne, he might show tolerance toward his ministers, but it was by no means unlimited tolerance.

Although this old gentleman had a rigid personality and was known for his "iron tongue," he was not entirely oblivious to the times, and knew how to read the situation. Of course, as a court historian, if he had truly persisted in stubbornness and rigidity, he would not have survived to this day in this era.

"Your servant pays respects to His Majesty." As soon as Li Shaoyou entered the hall, he bowed and performed the rites properly. Even though their relationship was close, Li Shaoyou behaved with great deference before Liu Chengyou—though of course, before outsiders, that was not necessarily the case.

"Rise, and be seated."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Liu Chengyou continued eating his meal at a leisurely pace. Li Shaoyou glanced at him and took the initiative to speak: "His Majesty remains as always—frugal and restrained, partaking of such simple fare."

"Even this simple fare—how many ordinary folk, eating two meals a day, can afford it?" Liu Chengyou sighed and said: "I must lead by example."

"Your Majesty's love for the people fills your servant with boundless admiration!" Li Shaoyou said. The flattery was genuine, and his tone was not insincere either.

With no one at the side recording this, Liu Chengyou still spoke these words—this was indeed from the heart. Did Liu Chengyou truly love the people? He himself was probably not entirely certain. Perhaps—having pretended for so long, he had completely turned it into a habit.

Once the topic was opened up, Li Shaoyou became a bit more casual, a hint of contempt creeping into his tone as he said: "His Majesty is so frugal, yet there are those who know no restraint. At a time when the state is impoverished and the people are suffering, they still indulge in extravagance, unable to suppress their arrogance, carrying on with great waste and ostentation..."

"Who are you referring to?" Liu Chengyou asked lightly.

"Does Your Majesty not know?" Li Shaoyou seemed somewhat surprised.

"Tell me."

At this, Li Shaoyou instead grew somewhat hesitant. He glanced at Liu Chengyou, trying to read his expression, but could only see that impassive face.

"Hm?" Liu Chengyou's tone rose slightly.

Seeing this, Li Shaoyou's eyes rolled for a moment before he finally said: "It may just be rumor. On my way here, I heard that today, Chancellor Su, finding the food at the Hall of State Affairs too crude and inedible, had his family cook deliver a meal to the palace, with every delicacy imaginable..."

The chopsticks in Liu Chengyou's hand paused. Although there were two Chancellor Sus at the Hall of State Affairs, Liu Chengyou knew exactly which one Li Shaoyou meant. Setting down his chopsticks, the corner of his mouth twitched slightly. He picked up a silk napkin to wipe his mouth, looked at Li Shaoyou, and said calmly: "Your information is as well-connected as ever. Even such a trivial matter as what a chancellor eats—you know all about it."

Hearing this, Li Shaoyou's heart tightened. It seemed he sensed the implication in Liu Chengyou's words. He stiffened his back and explained in a low voice: "Your Majesty knows me—I only have these eyes and ears that are a bit sharp. With nothing else to do, I merely see and hear things..."

Seeing his reaction, Liu Chengyou picked up the teacup on the table and took a sip, then said: "I summoned you because I have a task to entrust to you!"

At the mention of official business, Li Shaoyou grew serious and smoothly changed the subject: "Please give your commands, Your Majesty."

"Since I ascended the throne, Brother You has managed the affairs of the imperial city and inner gardens—everything has been handled properly, and I am most satisfied. With your talents, the post of Palace Gardens Commissioner is too low for you. I intend to appoint you Commissioner of the Wude Office!" Liu Chengyou said.

"Commissioner of the Wude Office?" Li Shaoyou was somewhat taken aback.

Knowing roughly what Li Shaoyou was puzzled about, Liu Chengyou explained: "Commissioner of the Southern Palace Attendants Bureau Li Hui has been transferred to garrison Heyang, and I am having my young uncle take his place."

"Wasn't this proposal rejected by Chancellor Yang?" Li Shaoyou asked.

Liu Chengyou said: "The Empress Dowager has already spoken. It's rare for Mother to ask me for something—how could I refuse?"

Although Empress Dowager Li was wise and virtuous, everyone has partiality in their hearts, and she was no exception. With seven brothers in the family, Lady Li was especially fond of her youngest brother. Even though this younger brother had high ambitions but low abilities, with shallow knowledge and limited insight. When the post of Commissioner of the Southern Palace Attendants Bureau fell vacant, she personally spoke up to seek the office for him—and then was rejected by Yang Bin.

"Besides, when it comes to appointments and dismissals of officials, must I seek Yang Bin's approval for everything beforehand?" Liu Chengyou added coldly.

Li Shaoyou nodded, and couldn't help muttering: "The Commissioner of Palace Attendants is a key post before the throne—can my young uncle handle it?"

Since the establishment of the Commissioner of Palace Attendants post in the mid-Tang, by now it had developed into a position of real power, overseeing all the various offices of the inner court and the registry of the three classes of palace eunuchs, managing their promotions and appointments, as well as suburban sacrifices, court audiences, banquets and ceremonial provisions, and inspecting the tribute and offerings from within and without.

From Li Shaoyou's tone, he seemed to look down somewhat on his young uncle as well. However, what he was more curious about was what Liu Chengyou meant by having him take over as Commissioner of the Wude Office. Although the Commissioner of the Wude Office was a close minister of the Son of Heaven, a trusted confidant, it had not yet expanded to any significant degree.

And Li Shaoyou, by his instincts, felt that Liu Chengyou must have some other commission in mind. Otherwise, he wouldn't have personally summoned him and dismissed those around him, issuing orders with such caution.

"Your Majesty, is there something else you wish to instruct?" Li Shaoyou looked at Liu Chengyou and asked tentatively.

Not surprised by his astuteness, Liu Chengyou pondered briefly and said: "Since last year, when I accompanied the campaign to Yedu and returned in triumph to the capital, I have not left the Eastern Capital. And since ascending the throne, with court affairs in all their complexity and my being busy with matters of state, aside from the previous plowing ceremony, I have not even set foot outside the imperial city."

"Staying deep in the palace, one inevitably becomes cut off from information, with eyes and ears clouded. Governing the realm through memorials alone ultimately feels shallow, and easily gives rise to bad governance. I know that under the rule of the Great Han, the people suffer much hardship, yet I do not know what that hardship truly is. As Son of Heaven, I should listen widely and see far, gathering information from all sides..."

With the words spoken to this point, with Li Shaoyou's astuteness, how could he not understand? Moreover, gathering intelligence was precisely his forte. Previously, when Liu Chengyou was leading troops in the field, it was largely Li Shaoyou who had paid attention to and reported on the intelligence from within.

"Your Majesty wishes your servant to..."

Seeing Li Shaoyou's cautious manner, Liu Chengyou stared at him and said bluntly: "I intend to establish the Wude Office, with you as Commissioner of the Wude Office, to serve as my eyes and ears, to grow my claws and fangs! Are you not sharp-eared and keen-eyed? I want you to monitor the realm for me—starting from the Eastern Capital. Conditions in the military, official affairs and civilian matters, gossip in the markets and wards—all are to be heard and reported!"

"As for personnel, I will transfer a batch of people to assist you, and will also select trusted and reliable men from the army. First, set up the framework of the office; the rest can be supplemented later..."

"Do you understand?"

Li Shaoyou pondered briefly, then clasped his hands and replied: "Your servant understands!"

Seeing this, Liu Chengyou hesitated slightly before adding: "Remember, what I want is eyes and ears. In the early days of the Wude Office's establishment, be sure to keep a low profile. You have the authority to investigate, monitor, and report directly to me, but you must not act recklessly!"

"Yes!"

As he withdrew from Chuigong Hall, Li Shaoyou's still rather handsome face carried a hint of contemplation, though it also showed a trace of excitement. He was very interested in the new commission Liu Chengyou had given him—spying on the sentiments of the realm; just thinking about it was somewhat thrilling.

Looking back at Chuigong Hall, and reflecting on his conversation with Liu Chengyou, Li Shaoyou's expression could not help but grow solemn.

The Second Young Master Liu of the past was truly different now. Although he remained kind and gracious toward him, the sense of pressure brought by the change in status—Li Shaoyou could feel it too. Even more, during his exchange with Liu Chengyou, he found himself involuntarily feeling nervous, completely unable to achieve the ease of the old days.

But thinking of the heavy responsibility Liu Chengyou had entrusted to him, his heart was somewhat put at ease—at least it proved that the Emperor still valued and trusted his elder cousin.

"I need to remind the old man to restrain himself a bit. Carrying on with such abandon like Su Fengji—I fear he'll only bring disaster upon himself..." Muttering softly to himself, Li Shaoyou left the palace.

In the hall, after Li Shaoyou had taken his leave, Liu Chengyou continued eating his lunch. The food had already gone cold.

Establishing the Wude Office was a decision Liu Chengyou had made after much deliberation. Its authority and responsibilities naturally could not compare to the Palace City Office of the Great Song, and the current conditions of the Great Han did not allow for such a behemoth as the Palace City Office to emerge. But that did not stop Liu Chengyou from making the attempt—first creating a prototype, laying a foundation. A systematic intelligence (secret service) organization was necessary for maintaining imperial authority and consolidating the throne.

Of course, as for the original intelligence organization "Xiao," Liu Chengyou had no intention of disbanding it—he merely wanted to hide it even deeper.

Staring at the simple meal on his table, Liu Chengyou could not help but let out a cold reflection: "I originally thought Yang and Shi would be the first to be purged from the court. Perhaps I need to change the order?"