Chapter 1917: Taking Up the Fief

Compared to those of insufficient status, as Chancellor of the Great Han, the news Zhao Pu received was far more reliable and accurate, and Emperor Liu's speeches were presented to him verbatim on his desk.

As for the content, Zhao Pu was not particularly surprised—much of it was old hat, and Emperor Liu had already dropped hints in daily exchanges with Zhao Pu. He was somewhat taken aback that Emperor Liu would be so "candid and outspoken," but what truly silenced Zhao Pu was that the Meritorious Officials Pavilion gathering had not included him, the current Chief Chancellor.

Of the seven chancellors in the Hall of State Affairs, everyone except him and Lü Duan was on the invitation list—even Zhao Kuangyi had gone. Setting aside the prestige of the Chief Chancellor position, Zhao Pu was still the Marquis of Xunyang personally enfeoffed by the Emperor, a genuine and proper noble—yet he had been "overlooked" by Emperor Liu.

At this point, Zhao Pu found it difficult to fathom Emperor Liu's intentions. The old emperor's capriciousness in his later years was such that even a mind as shrewd as Zhao Pu's could hardly grasp his pulse.

Perhaps this differential treatment was simply because in Emperor Liu's heart, Zhao Pu was not a member of the meritorious nobility clique, but remained the leader of the Great Han's bureaucracy and the spokesman for the commoner-landlord class across the realm—even though Zhao Pu had already done much that ran counter to his own class interests...

At Guangzheng Hall, in the Hall of State Affairs, Zhao Pu was personally on duty today as usual. Behind the broad official desk, he flipped through memorials submitted by various ministries, bureaus, circuits, and prefectures. His movements were slow, completely lacking his usual efficiency, his expression heavy with preoccupation.

"Chancellor!" A somewhat deferential call pulled Zhao Pu back to his senses. He looked up and saw Ying Zhi, Left Vice Minister of the Department of State Affairs.

Ying Zhi was a jinshi graduate of the first year of Kaibao. His prose was excellent, and he dared to speak frankly and remonstrate directly. After entering officialdom, he had compiled books in the Three Institutes, served as a censor in the Censorate, and later held various local posts. Though he had no outstanding or spectacular administrative achievements, he was still an upright, experienced, and diligent good minister.

After Zhao Pu became chancellor for the second time, he purged some "mediocre" elements from the court while also promoting many capable officials to fill the various ministries and bureaus. Ying Zhi was one of them, transferred to the Department of State Affairs to assist Zhao Pu in handling daily governance.

This was also the aspect of Zhao Pu that drew criticism over the past two years—his detractors accused him most of cultivating a personal faction and favoring his own people. Of course, in truth, while Zhao Pu's promotions did consider background, they were more about selecting talent by ability. Many of the newly promoted officials had little interest-based connection with Zhao Pu, or even little contact at all—Ying Zhi was one such case.

"What is it?" Zhao Pu asked, sounding less than enthusiastic.

Ying Zhi presented a memorial and said in a low voice: "Reporting to the Chancellor, this is the Ministry of War's request for allocation of pay, weapons, ships, and various military supplies for the South Seas Fleet. I took a look—the figures are rather substantial. The cash alone amounts to one million strings. Apparently, this is only the first batch proposed by the Bureau of Military Affairs and the Ministry of War..."

Zhao Pu's expression turned somewhat serious. He picked up the memorial, glanced at it twice, set it down, pondered a moment, then instructed: "Send a directive to the relevant offices—allocate it in full as requested!"

"Chancellor!" Hearing this, Ying Zhi could not help but speak with a grave expression: "In the past six months, the court has already dispatched three batches of military supplies to the Anxi Army, costing a million in cash and conscripting twenty thousand laborers. Now, another large allocation to the South Seas—the burden on the court is truly too heavy!"

Zhao Pu was well aware of these ministers' concerns, but looking at the worried Ying Zhi, he did not explain further. Instead, he asked: "Have you heard of His Majesty's address at the Meritorious Officials Pavilion?"

At the question, Ying Zhi nodded: "I have heard some rumors as well!"

Zhao Pu waved his hand and said: "Since you've heard of it, can you not see the current direction of the court? Matters His Majesty has decided—before results are seen or disasters emerge, who can stop them?"

"Chancellor, I cannot agree with that statement!" Ying Zhi said solemnly.

"I hear you've been an official for nearly thirty years—how is it that this scholarly idealism still hasn't worn off!" Seeing his expression, Zhao Pu smiled and said: "If you have loyal counsel, you may present it directly to His Majesty. But the court's affairs must still be done as they should be—no room for discount!"

Saying this, Zhao Pu sighed softly: "The one managing the Great Han's purse strings now is Han Hui. Whether the burden is heavy or not, whether funds can be allocated—let him weigh it. You don't hold that office, so don't worry yourself over it!"

Ying Zhi opened his mouth to speak, but Zhao Pu waved him off: "Drop this matter!"

Ying Zhi was silent for a moment, then cupped his hands in salute: "Yes!"

Seeing that he still stood there without leaving, Zhao Pu asked again: "Is there anything else?"

Ying Zhi hesitated slightly, stepped forward, and said in a low voice: "I happened to hear a piece of news, hard to verify as true or false. I'm not sure whether I should speak of it!"

Hearing this, Zhao Pu could hardly fail to notice something unusual. He nodded slightly and gestured: "What has made you so cautious? Let's hear it first!"

Ying Zhi lowered his head and said: "Someone in the Censorate seems to be investigating the matter of Chuzhou falsely reporting tax revenues and falsifying corvée records..."

On hearing this, Zhao Pu's face remained composed, but his eyes flashed with a momentary sharpness, exuding a dangerous aura. If it were anyone else, so be it—but his son Zhao Chengzong was the sitting Prefectural Administrator of Chuzhou. He had to be wary of the conspiracy behind this.

After a moment's thought, Zhao Pu smiled and said to Ying Zhi: "Hearsay cannot be fully trusted!"

Seeing this, Ying Zhi bowed with cupped hands and said gravely: "I merely wished to remind you of this matter. Please be on your guard, Chancellor!"

Seeing that Ying Zhi spoke sincerely, Zhao Pu nodded and uttered two words: "Thank you!"

"I shall take my leave!"

Once Ying Zhi had departed, Zhao Pu's old face immediately darkened, all the wrinkles and creases suddenly reporting for duty. Where there is smoke, there is fire—Zhao Pu naturally would not take Ying Zhi's warning lightly.

Xiang Zhuang danced with his sword, aiming at the Duke of Pei. The matter was in Chuzhou, but the spearhead ultimately pointed at himself. Yet where did the Censorate get the audacity to target him, Chancellor Zhao? Who was behind it all? This needed careful investigation, Zhao Pu mused to himself.

"Your Majesty, His Highness the Prince of Jin has arrived!" Before Chuigong Hall, Yan Tuo quietly reported to Emperor Liu, who was taking his midday rest.

The sun was just right, the sunlight on his body extremely comfortable. Emperor Liu lounged lazily in his reclining chair. Hearing the voice, he did not even open his eyes, merely replying perfunctorily: "Have him come over!"

Soon, Liu Xi arrived, standing carefully to one side so as not to disturb Emperor Liu's sunbathing. Emperor Liu finally opened his eyes, glanced at the respectfully standing Liu Xi, and asked: "Have you seen off your eldest brother and the others?"

Liu Xi nodded and reported: "The eldest brother and the fourteenth brother have already set off north to take up their fiefs."

"All gone now..." Emperor Liu fell silent at this, sighing with some melancholy, a rare trace of reluctance showing in his aged eyes.

It was already the third month. Over the past two months, the most critical task at the court's center had been preparing for the enfeoffment of the kingdoms—dispatching officials, establishing state systems, military arrangements, and transporting supplies. The complexity of affairs and the busyness of personnel rivaled that of fighting a major war.

Of course, the focus remained on the Raole Kingdom, Anxi, and the South Seas—especially the latter two. Liu Shu's Lin Yi (New Chu) had been enfeoffed relatively early, so there was ample time, and preparations were already complete in every aspect. As for Andong, that went without saying—it was practically only missing the formal title. Emperor Liu's enfeoffment edict was merely going through the motions of a formality.

By now, the Prince of Qi Liu Yun and Duke of Liang Liu Xiao had already accompanied Guo Liangping south to the Annam circuit, and Liu Shu had also departed for his fief with his household retainers, servants, the fief officials prepared for him by the court, and two thousand armored soldiers.

The Prince of Zhao Liu Fang and the Duke of Liang Liu had already set out for Anxi back in the second month. As for today, the Prince of Andong Liu Xu and the Prince of Raole Liu Xin were heading north to take up their fiefs, and Emperor Liu had specially arranged for the Prince of Jin Liu Xi to see them off on his behalf.

And that was always how Emperor Liu was—when people were present, he wished he could drive them far away, not even allowing them to linger long; but once they left, paternal affection took over again.

"With this departure, who knows if we'll ever meet again..." Emperor Liu said with some sadness.

Seeing him carry on like this, Liu Xi was momentarily speechless. Just as he was about to offer words of comfort, he saw Emperor Liu turn his attention to him. Though his eyes were somewhat hazy, his tone carried a sharp edge: "Why did you not take the initiative to request a fief?"