Chapter 1940: Restraint

If there were any other way, Lü Duan truly would not wish to seek an audience at this late hour. Under the night sky, Chuigong Hall was shrouded in endless ink-black darkness—the exterior dim and indistinct, the interior filled with looming, terrifying shadows. It seemed less an imperial palace and more a hall of Yama, King of Hell, especially with a creature like Emperor Liu residing within.

In the main hall, only three figures stood out clearly: one seated, two standing. Of the two standing, one hung his head, the other bent his waist. Lü Duan and Yan Tuo both waited in silence, awaiting word from Emperor Liu, who was perusing the investigation report.

What Lü Duan had come to report was, naturally, the Kang Baozhen case—after all, Emperor Liu had personally assigned it and even provided key leads. The case was not complicated. Those clearly implicated were the ones who had manipulated Kang Baozhen's promotion. However watertight their methods, tracing along a single thread of connections meant no one on the entire chain could escape.

Thus, in only a few days' time, Lü Duan had gotten to the bottom of the matter. Every single person involved in the case had been apprehended without exception.

Since this was an internal investigation, the officials handling it were all seasoned experts with keen administrative acumen. Many problems simply could not be hidden—with forceful intervention, nothing could escape detection. Moreover, when Lü Duan, that "good-natured gentleman," unleashed his authority, it was truly more than ordinary men could withstand.

In a matter of days, the Kang Baozhen case had been fully resolved within the Ministry of Personnel system, barely sufficient to give Emperor Liu an accounting. In the report submitted to Emperor Liu, it was clearly stated that the case involved falsification of age, fabrication of résumés and achievements, fraudulent acquisition of office, bribery and corruption, and dereliction of duty—all confirmed beyond doubt.

A result had been reached, yet Lü Duan could not feel the slightest joy. Not only because the problem lay in the Ministry of Personnel under his charge, but more because he knew in his heart that this was merely the true beginning—far greater terrors still lay ahead.

Lü Duan's only hope was that Emperor Liu would not bring the Imperial City Command and the Wude Command into this matter. Otherwise, another wave of political upheaval—expanding and implicating ever more people—would descend once more. The tax reform was proceeding in full swing, the court was in a state of precarious balance, and neither officials nor commoners could withstand further turmoil...

Lü Duan's deliberations could be described as mature statesmanship, though they also reflected his instincts and loyalties as a wily old bureaucrat.

However, most matters of the Great Han court revolved around the old emperor's will. Though Lü Duan was a grand elder of the Hall of State Affairs, before Emperor Liu he could not be the least bit stubborn. While awaiting the imperial command, he cautiously raised his eyes to steal a glance at Emperor Liu. The old face was cast in grim shadows by the bright lamplight. Seeing this, Lü Duan's heart sank ever deeper.

After a long while, Emperor Liu set down the Ministry of Personnel's self-investigation report, raised a hand to rub his eyes, and said calmly: "So it was Yang Xun... What benefits did the Kang family give him, that he dared take such risks, to perpetrate such a scheme of deceiving heaven above and hoodwinking all below?"

Upon the question, Lü Duan immediately responded: "To answer Your Majesty, although Yang Xun has consistently denied everything, according to the testimony of Bureau Director Zhang Gong, who served as the intermediary, Kang Ning gave Yang Xun a total of one hundred thousand strings of cash to procure the office."

"One hundred thousand strings, to buy a county magistrate—how generous!" Emperor Liu "commented," then immediately turned stern: "In my great Han, a county's chief magistrate, the provider of food and clothing for tens of thousands of people, is worth only one hundred thousand strings?"

Yan Tuo, standing nearby, very much wanted to tell Emperor Liu that one hundred thousand strings was truly not a small sum—at least in the eyes of people like them, its weight far exceeded that of a mere county magistrate. If a price were set openly, one hundred thousand strings could probably buy the vast majority of county magistrates in the realm. Of course, such a thought only passed through Yan Tuo's mind; he would never dare voice it.

"Among the sons of the meritorious nobility, to have risen to Vice Minister of Personnel—Yang Xun could be considered a talent, yet he was seduced by a mere one hundred thousand strings!" Emperor Liu said coldly again: "Caring nothing for family standing, nothing for official position, not even for his own head?"

After a bout of angry muttering, Emperor Liu turned his head to look at Lü Duan and asked: "These dozen or so people implicated in the case—how have you dealt with them?"

Lü Duan replied with utmost respect: "The officials of the Ministry of Personnel implicated in the case, from Yang Xun downward, have all been suspended and taken into custody. As for the localities, your servant has already dispatched clerks and soldiers in haste to Mizhou to apprehend Kang Baozhen and the relevant officials and bring them back for trial in the capital. As for the principal offender Kang Ning, he has already been detained by Your Majesty in the prison of the Court of Judicial Review. The specific sentencing will require the conclusion of subsequent proceedings, as well as Your Majesty's instruction..."

Lü Duan's answer seemed to say something, yet also nothing at all. Emperor Liu's brow visibly furrowed. He gave Lü Duan a deep look, and seeing his demeanor of respectful composure, could not help but say with aggression: "Such bureaucratic platitudes will not fool me! Since the investigation is complete, the subsequent trial is merely a formality. Based on the circumstances of their involvement, what punishment should they receive? As Minister of Personnel, do you truly have no judgment in your heart at all?"

"I await Your Majesty's instruction!" No matter how fierce Emperor Liu's bearing, Lü Duan remained unmoved, merely requesting solemnly.

Emperor Liu sometimes admired Lü Duan's composure and methodical handling of affairs, but at other times was greatly irritated by his conservatism and rigidity. Precisely at this moment, Emperor Liu was somewhat annoyed: "I want to hear your view! These people implicated in the case—how should they be dealt with? Kill or not kill?"

Emperor Liu's murderous interrogation truly vexed Lü Duan. With such a furious bearing on display, did he even need to express his opinion on kill or not kill?

However, meeting Emperor Liu's aggressive gaze, Lü Duan thought for a moment, then said: "To report to Your Majesty, in your servant's view, Yang Xun and Kang Ning and Kang Baozhen, father and son, deceived the sovereign and stole office—their crimes are unpardonable and they should receive the ultimate punishment. The remaining accomplices should each be punished according to their degree of involvement!"

Having forced Lü Duan to speak, Emperor Liu quickly returned to his normal demeanor, all his bared fangs and claws retracted, as if nothing had happened. He leisurely picked up his vermilion brush and wrote some annotation on the memorial, then said to Lü Duan: "I see! You have worked hard. Go back and rest!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty! Your servant takes his leave!" Since the old emperor was dismissing him, Lü Duan dared not linger. With a heavy heart, he silently withdrew.

As he left, Lü Duan's mood was extraordinarily heavy, without the slightest joy of having clarified the case and successfully reported to Emperor Liu. Ultimately, it was Emperor Liu's attitude that was truly alarming.

Lü Duan was by now an old hand who had served and assisted Emperor Liu for years. While he did not fully understand the emperor's temperament, he could at least claim familiarity with it.

Now, that familiar scent was emanating once more. Emperor Liu was clearly exercising restraint on the Kang Baozhen case, and Kang Ning, the principal offender, had been imprisoned even before the Kang Baozhen case. Combined with the recent storm of rumors sweeping the capital, Lü Duan could guess Emperor Liu's intentions even by scent alone.

And the more restrained he was now, the more terrifying and shocking the eruption would be when it came.