Chapter 2071: Taizong Chronicles 13: Not So Simple

After reading through those reports, Murong Defeng's face, which had looked deeply aggrieved, gradually relaxed. He respectfully returned the secret memorial and said, "Your Majesty sees everything with keen insight, like a fire illuminating all. Everything is under control—I was overthinking!"

Having said that, Murong Defeng stood there motionless and silent. This behavior, in turn, surprised Liu Yang. Rolling his slightly sore shoulders, Liu Yang took the initiative to ask, "What are your views on the assembly of the princes?"

In fact, the gathering of the princes at Taihe Tower was not exactly a secret meeting—at least, it was not overly concealed. Apart from excluding irrelevant persons, everything was done openly and aboveboard.

Of course, this was also not an ordinary family gathering. It carried clear political intent, and the content of the secret reports unfolded from there. The cause traced back to a proposal recently put forward by Director of State Affairs Lü Duan: given the current fiscal straits of the state, temporarily suspend the court's financial and grain support to the vassal states, halt the wars among the various states, and gradually recall the armies fighting in foreign lands.

As one might imagine, once this proposal was made, it caused an uproar among the upper echelons of the Great Han court. The princes in the capital were especially thrown into chaos—this was a naked infringement upon the interests of the vassal states.

Regarding Lü Duan's proposal, the reaction within the court, as with any previous political storm, divided into three categories: support, opposition, and neutrality. Moreover, there were many supporters, but the opponents were even stronger!

The reasoning of the former was naturally the same old tune: lighten the court's burden, reduce the depletion of national strength, and shift the focus of governance to the interior of the empire. This set of political views had been repeatedly raised even during the reign of Emperor Shizu, let alone at this moment when a new emperor had just ascended and a hundred things awaited restoration.

Moreover, the former camp received the support of a large number of commoner-origin officials, with some meritorious nobles also fanning the flames behind the scenes. The starting point of these people was, of course, not solely for the sake of the nation's overall interest—it could even be said with certainty that they harbored ulterior motives: to pry loose some of the "unreasonable" policies from Emperor Shizu's era that restricted or even harmed the interests of the powerful.

Compared to some minor skirmishes, the not-yet-mature vassal state policy was a suitable point of attack and easy to provoke a response, for among the assembled dignitaries of the Great Han court, those with grievances and doubts about it were more than one or two.

As for the latter camp—whether the princes or the nobles who clung to the late emperor's grand policies—their fundamental reason was still to protect their own interests. They were also a highly representative group; their past glory and wealth, and their current power and status, all derived from Emperor Shizu. Based on such a stance, they would defend the late emperor regardless of benefit or harm, regardless of the bigger picture, and regardless of reason.

And the princes of the Great Han undoubtedly became the main force in this political struggle, with extremely formidable strength and fighting power. Over the past few decades, Liu Yang's position as Crown Prince had sat as firm as Mount Tai, with no one able to truly challenge or shake it. But likewise, the princes had, over the long years and under Emperor Shizu's care, accumulated immense power and influence.

Especially the four princes of Yong, Qin, Jin, and Zhao—these were vast military-political blocs mixing the imperial clan, consort kin, meritorious nobles, and bureaucrats, deeply intertwined and broadly influential.

When these people united, the influence they formed was something even Emperor Liu Yang had to treat with caution. The gathering at Taihe Tower was precisely an alliance and confluence aimed at Lü Duan's "vassal state proposal," with very clear demands: abolish that "ancestor-forgetting" proposal of chaotic governance, and at the same time severely punish Director of State Affairs Lü Duan. Liu Shu, for instance, had already come to view Lü Duan as a treasonous minister who "brings disaster to the state and harm to the people."

At this moment, facing the emperor's inquiry, Murong Defeng pondered for a moment before cupping his hands and bowing: "The princes' fierce reaction and hardline attitude are understandable! After all, Chancellor Lü's proposal would cut off a large portion of their support and the benefits of court policy!"

"That statement is utterly meaningless!" Looking at Murong Defeng, Liu Yang said immediately, "I ask you: how should we respond to what the princes seek?"

Hearing this, Murong Defeng couldn't help but glance up at the emperor. At his question, a strange feeling inexplicably arose in his heart. After a moment of deliberation, he said, "In your servant's humble opinion, Chancellor Lü is loyal and devoted to the state. Though his proposal may not be entirely timely, his single-minded public spirit and frank remonstrance are worthy of study by all the court ministers. It would truly be inappropriate to wound his heart of concern for the state and the people."

"As for the princes, Emperor Shizu already granted them exceedingly generous treatment, even sparing no expense and damaging the national strength to the point of harming the people's hearts and sentiments.

In fact, even the late emperor had perceived this and understood its harms—otherwise, why would he have made those adjustments and curtailments in his later years?

As for what to do, the late emperor had in fact already pointed the way: fundamentally reduce the court's direct burden and the depletion of national strength. With Your Majesty's wisdom, you must surely know this in your heart."

After hearing Murong Defeng's answer, Liu Yang was silent for a moment, then said, "By your meaning, you agree with Lü Duan's proposal?"

Murong Defeng weighed his words once more, then said solemnly, "For the sake of the state and the public good, your servant agrees with Chancellor Lü's proposal. However, what your servant takes issue with is the timing of raising it. Emperor Shizu's passing is not far behind us; the old and new are transitioning, people's hearts are unsettled, and with all the princes gathered, raising such a proposal targeting the vassal states is truly inopportune.

Moreover, some things may be done but not spoken, and certainly should not be rashly brought before the court for open debate..."

As Murong Defeng elaborated, a slight change appeared on Liu Yang's otherwise immovable face. After thinking it over, he said in a deep voice, "Let's set aside the other vassal states for now—take Andong, for instance. You spent many years in Liaodong. Do you not know how much state revenue and manpower Andong has devoured over the years, and how much damage it has done to the governance and livelihood of Liaodong Circuit? Many of those matters were reported to me by you yourself.

In the past, you often urged me to be more wary of Andong. Why has your attitude changed today?"

Hearing this, Murong Defeng immediately responded gravely, "Your Majesty, your servant's attitude has never changed. The states along the border must be subjected to a certain degree of restraint and control. But what your servant opposes is not the vassal state system itself, but the princes using the convenience of the vassal states to disrupt the court's laws and corrupt the state's institutions. My years in Liaodong, with strict crackdowns on all border crimes, were precisely based on this principle.

Forgive your servant for speaking boldly: Emperor Shizu loved his sons too much, was overly indulgent in the enfeoffment of states like Andong and Anxi, and held overly rosy visions for the future beyond his own lifetime. He gained a moment of peace but sowed disaster for the years to come..."

At these words, Liu Yang immediately slapped the imperial desk, glaring at Murong Defeng with piercing eyes: "You truly do speak boldly!"

Seeing this, Murong Defeng hastily rose and bowed: "Your servant spoke recklessly and presumptuously—please punish me, Your Majesty!"

The scene fell silent for a moment. Liu Yang finally waved his hand, then sighed softly: "That speech still has the same flavor. I do believe your attitude has not changed!"

As he spoke, a slight smile appeared at the corner of Liu Yang's mouth. He asked casually, "By all logic, you should be supporting Lü Duan's proposal!"

Meeting Liu Yang's somewhat curious gaze, Murong Defeng reported calmly, "Your servant believes that matters have their priorities and urgencies. The question of the vassal states has persisted for over a decade—it can be set aside and postponed entirely, handled at leisure. There is truly no need to rush it!"

Liu Yang immediately asked, "In your view, what is the most urgent matter?"

Murong Defeng said decisively, "Your Majesty has just ascended the throne. The priority should be harmonizing the ministers, stabilizing the court, and securing internal and external affairs. And to achieve stability, one must continue the policies of the late emperor—only thus can one win the support of the old nobles of the Kaibao era. At the very least, the policy arrangements made before the late emperor's passing should be carried out as far as possible, to avoid criticism.

Forgive your servant for speaking frankly: Emperor Shizu was a great sovereign who appears once in a thousand years, and the subjects of the Great Han have lived and worked under the late emperor's guidance for decades. Now that the mountains have crumbled and the earth has split, with the realm in upheaval, Your Majesty still has a road to travel before fully taking up the ten-thousand-jun burden of the Great Han's state. You still need a period of quiet consolidation and tempering."

Such words—among outside ministers, probably only Murong Defeng dared and could speak them. Liu Yang fell into serious thought. After a long while, Liu Yang raised his head and looked at Murong Defeng again, his tone carrying a hint of melancholy: "The reason you brought up the assembly of the princes was precisely to remind me of this, wasn't it!"

Murong Defeng deliberated briefly, then cupped his hands and bowed: "The princes have already united, resolved to target Chancellor Lü! And Chancellor Lü is the chancellor personally appointed by Your Majesty at your enthronement ceremony, the head of all ministers. If he comes under attack, whether he can withstand it or not, it will do no good for the Great Han's court or Your Majesty's prestige. I beg Your Majesty to treat this with prudence and prepare early." "I understand!" After another agonizing silence, Liu Yang said to Murong Defeng.

Noting the change in the emperor's expression, Murong Defeng now had a sense of where things stood, and bowed humbly once more. Looking at him, Liu Yang raised another question: "Rixin, in your view, how is the Prince of Andong?"

Liu Yang's question was somewhat broad. If one did not understand the sovereign's intent, one might easily give an irrelevant answer. But for Murong Defeng, this was not a difficult question—over the past twenty years, the sovereign and his minister had discussed the Andong question countless times.

Therefore, with only a moment's thought, Murong Defeng answered in a meaningful tone: "To answer Your Majesty, the Prince of Andong of today cannot remotely compare to the Prince of Qin of those years!"

Hearing this answer, Liu Yang finally smiled and said with a sigh, "Even I feel inadequate before my elder brother's bearing! Perhaps precisely because of this, the Prince of Andong of today feels the court owes him a 'Prince of Qin title.'"

To this, Murong Defeng found little to say for a moment. To be fair, looking at the results of Emperor Shizu's handling of the princes in his later years, the treatment of Andong had indeed been somewhat unfair. At the same time, it had mainly been the Eastern Palace that had pushed to revoke the Prince of Qin title back then. From the Crown Prince's standpoint, however harshly the Andong state was suppressed at the time, it could not be called excessive.

But over the following years, due to Emperor Shizu's inconsistency and shifting ideas, the matter had instead left the new emperor Liu Yang in a somewhat awkward position.

"That child Wenyuan has always been fierce and proud. Feeling wronged, it's inevitable that he complains!" Seeing Murong Defeng silent, Liu Yang let out a soft breath and said.

Murong Defeng, however, shook his head and pointed out calmly, "In this world, how can one receive only benefits and never suffer grievances? And how can the benefits of this world be meant for one person alone? The court has already done everything it could for Andong—with utmost benevolence and righteousness!"

To be fair, Murong Defeng's "Andong threat theory" had almost become one of his political convictions and positions in Liu Yang's eyes. And every time he watched him speak with such righteous indignation at length, Liu Yang could even feel a sense of helplessness.

"Enough!" Liu Yang waved his hand, changing the subject, and said to Murong Defeng, "Rixin, I had originally intended to summon you tomorrow, but since we've met, I'll inform you in advance! I have made my decision: I am transferring you into the central government, to serve as Minister of Personnel and Chief Minister!

To speak frankly, in the late emperor's later years, there was an imbalance in his governance of officialdom. On one hand, he loathed corrupt officials with a deep passion and carried out mass executions; on the other, he deliberately indulged certain personnel matters without restraint. Such self-contradiction led to chaos in official governance.

They say every emperor has his own ministers. Since I have begun my reign, I must change some of the prevailing customs. I appoint you Minister of Personnel and make you chancellor precisely so that you may correct the errors in the Great Han's official governance and restore a clean and upright court.

Do not disappoint my expectations!"

Murong Defeng was slightly surprised at these words. As for being transferred away from Liaodong Circuit, he had anticipated it somewhat. For one, he had served in Liaodong long enough—his original appointment there had been a strategy of lying low adopted by Liu Yang when he was still Crown Prince. Now that Liu Yang had ascended the throne, it was natural that he would use trusted and capable ministers.

On the other hand, after the Lantern Festival, the generals and regional governors who had come to the capital the previous year to mourn the late emperor—those not involved in position changes—had gradually taken their leave and returned to their posts. Only he had been specially kept in the capital by the emperor, with no explanation given all along.

As for Liu Yang's appointment, Murong Defeng was naturally a thousand times willing. Entering the empire's power center was something nearly every minister of the Great Han dreamed of. Though Murong Defeng had already become the chief official of a circuit, during Emperor Shizu's era he had still been far from the Hall of State Affairs. But with Liu Yang's ascension, the layers of steps and barriers before Murong Defeng were instantly turned into a clear path.

The emperor's gaze was full of trust and weight. Murong Defeng felt it, took a deep breath, and bowed solemnly: "Having received Your Majesty's high regard and been entrusted with the office of the Heavenly Minister, your servant has no other words—only to exhaust my loyalty and do my utmost to repay Your Majesty's grace!"

"Rise!" Liu Yang extended a hand toward Murong Defeng and said with sincere tone, "You and I, sovereign and minister, are of one heart—no need for superfluous words!"

"Thank you for Your Majesty's trust!"

"One more matter!" Liu Yang fell into thought, toying with the white jade thumb ring on his thumb, and said, "Liaodong Circuit is the pillar of military and political stability for the entire northeast. The Provincial Administration Commission is even more the top priority for public security and governance. A capable and virtuous minister must be stationed at this vital point. After you leave your post, who should succeed you—do you have any thoughts? This can be considered the first major matter of governance after you take office at the Ministry of Personnel!"

At the question, Murong Defeng did not rashly offer a recommendation. After brief consideration, he said cautiously, "If Your Majesty wishes to promote someone from within the Liaodong Circuit administration, your servant may offer a few suggestions. If Your Majesty wishes to select from the worthy talents of the realm, then your servant will need to make further inquiries before weighing the options."

"Very good!" Liu Yang nodded with satisfaction, seemingly approving of Murong Defeng's caution, and said, "A regional governor holds nearly the power of life and death over an entire circuit—the authority is very heavy. Selecting the worthy and elevating the capable requires comprehensive consideration and the utmost care. Hold to this mindset, add multi-faceted investigation and oversight, and correct course in a timely manner—at the very least, no major problems will arise!"

"Your servant will bear Your Majesty's teachings in mind."

When Murong Defeng left Chuigong Hall, the sky was already pitch black. His brisk steps showed his good mood—after all, from this day forward, he would be the Heavenly Minister of the Great Han and a chancellor of the Hall of State Affairs.

At least among the courtiers, this counted as a "leap to the top" — after all, he was only forty-five this year, and the last men to enter the Hall of State Affairs as chancellors at such an age were Zhao Pu and Zhao Kuangyi. Murong Defeng had every reason to be proud.

Even as he rejoiced, Murong Defeng harbored hidden worries about the current state of the court. It was foreseeable that an even greater storm was gathering — those feudal princes were already poised to strike, and the Great Han court would not know a moment of peace from here on. This was what Murong Defeng and his fellow ministers did not wish to see.

He even harbored some resentment toward Lü Duan, the Director of State Affairs — why on earth had he poked that hornet's nest? Though Murong Defeng had voiced understanding before, in his heart he still bore a grudge.

At its core, it was perhaps still a matter of distrust toward Lü Duan. He was no Zhao Pu — he lacked that kind of power and prestige — so what gave him the right to speak on his own, without consulting anyone, and raise major issues concerning the late Emperor and the enfeoffed states at court deliberation? This even violated the organizational principles of the Hall of State Affairs.

If before, Murong Defeng had still been somewhat puzzled — after all, though Lü Duan might be lax in minor matters, he was never muddled on major ones, and judging by his past conduct, he did not seem the type to "charge into battle" —

When a man's actions diverge so greatly from his daily demeanor, one cannot help but suspect that some hidden cause-and-effect lies behind it.

After that evening audience with the Emperor, Murong Defeng secretly connected it to the reaction of Emperor Liu Yang.

In Chuigong Hall, after Murong Defeng had taken his leave, Emperor Liu Yang sat alone for quite a while, brows tightly knit, lost in heavy thought. Unlike in the past, Liu Yang was no longer a man easily swayed — even by someone as close as Murong Defeng.

But Murong Defeng's reminder that night still roused him to vigilance. At the very least, he had indeed been somewhat neglectful before — if the princes all rose together to attack Lü Duan, the Chief Chancellor of the Great Han, the impact on the court would at least expose the insufficiency of his control over the Great Han Empire as the new Emperor.