Chapter 288: The Start of Military Reform

Whether Nie Wenjin could truly change remained a question mark in Liu Chengyou's mind, but he could only hope that after this intimidation and deterrence, Nie would genuinely restrain himself. Otherwise, if he could kill one Guo Yunming, killing a Nie Wenjin would be no different.

Both were meritorious nobles from the founding days, both guilty of crimes—yet those who impeached Nie Wenjin were even more numerous, and Liu Chengyou's attitude toward his punishment was vastly different. Though Nie Wenjin was demoted, he still received authority over the military and civil affairs of a prefecture, becoming the first official in the Great Han to trial the Prefectural Administrator system—a move that could barely be counted as killing two birds with one stone.

The vastly different outcomes could be traced to the differing nature of their crimes. Guo Yunming was a private retainer and household servant of the Son of Heaven, yet his unrestrained conduct showed contempt for imperial authority and disregard for imperial dignity.

At this very moment, Liu Chengyou was in the midst of establishing his authority and strengthening imperial power. In Liu Chengyou's eyes, the crime of deceiving the sovereign temporarily outweighed everything else.

As for what Nie Wenjin had done, it was a common ailment among the civil and military officials of the age—relatively speaking, its nature was not so "severe." Previously, Liu Zhiyuan had indulged it; after Liu Chengyou ascended the throne, he had tolerated it.

Now, Liu Chengyou had begun to rectify the corrupt practices within the court. Guo Yunming's execution and Nie Wenjin's demotion marked the beginning.

The Son of Heaven wielded a harsh hand—Guo and Nie, one dead, one demoted—and the effect was remarkable. In a single stroke, both the inner court and the outer court fell into solemn order. Given their identities and positions, the punishment was also perfectly calibrated, delivering an extremely direct deterrent to nobles both high and low.

Within the palace, those close servants of the Son of Heaven—the Treasury Depository Commissioners, Flying Dragon Commissioners, Palace Gate Commissioners, and Ceremonial Guard Commissioners—all visibly began restraining their conduct at a rate one could see with the naked eye. Guo Yunming's death had the greatest impact on them. Since the reign of Gaozu, among all the court's close attendants, who had been more favored than Guo?

In the following two or three days, the outer court successively dealt with more than a dozen meritorious nobles or derelict officials—most were stripped of rank and demoted, while those with grave offenses were executed on the spot. This was the first time since Liu Chengyou had succeeded to the throne that he had wielded the knife against the Great Han's bureaucratic system.

Inside Renming Hall, Liu Chengyou made his daily filial visit, personally supporting Lady Li as they strolled through the garden, surrounded by a bleak and withered scene. The snow from two days ago had truly been an accident—after it melted, the weather had grown even more bitterly cold.

"Though the Inner Palace has never been crowded, lately the palace has felt excessively cold and desolate..." Gazing at the mournful autumn scene, Lady Li spoke to Liu Chengyou with pointed meaning.

Hearing this, Liu Chengyou wore a serene expression and softly echoed: "Since ancient times, autumn has always brought solitude. Mother, you are letting the scene stir your emotions."

"I am old!" Lady Li's tone carried even deeper lament.

Seeing her state, after walking a few steps, Liu Chengyou asked directly: "What has made Mother so sorrowful?"

Her phoenix eyes slanted a glance at Liu Chengyou, then she turned her head, pondered briefly, sighed, and said: "Yesterday, I summoned Guo Yunming's wife into the palace. She wept uncontrollably—it was a pitiful sight, and I could not help but shed tears myself!"

Hearing Lady Li say this, Liu Chengyou's brow unconsciously furrowed, his mind pondering the Empress Dowager's intent. Guo Yunming was already dead and gone; for Lady Li to raise this now surely meant she had some consideration in mind.

Seeing Liu Chengyou's expression, Lady Li continued: "Guo Yunming served at the late Emperor's side since before he rose to prominence. He served diligently for many years and could be considered loyal. Now that he has been executed by the laws of the state, leaving behind orphans and a widow with no one to rely on, I cannot help but feel some compassion."

Seeing the Empress Dowager in such a sorrowful state, Liu Chengyou, as a filial son, naturally felt distressed. Without thinking too much, he immediately said: "Guo Yunming violated the laws of the state, and I could not tolerate it. But considering his years of service to the late Emperor and his many toils... Well. His wife and children—I shall support them myself. I will order the imperial treasury to grant them money and grain, and when his son comes of age, he shall receive an official post through hereditary privilege!"

Faced with Liu Chengyou's declaration, Lady Li was finally satisfied. She quickly moved past the matter and began discussing Liu Chenghsun's affairs with Liu Chengyou. The Empress Dowager was also somewhat hesitant about whether to allow the third son to leave the palace and establish his own household.

And with Liu Chengyou's gracious reward to Guo Yunming's wife and children, this rather minor rectification storm, though not entirely concluded, gradually settled people's hearts.

Liu Chengyou, belatedly, came to understand the Empress Dowager's intent. This mother of his was forever so wise, so kind, always thinking of his interests.

In this rectification of the inner and outer courts' atmosphere, on the surface Liu Chengyou acted under the banner of state discipline and law, sternly punishing the likes of Guo and Nie. But he could not escape the reputation of mistreating old ministers—even if those men deserved death and punishment, such was the ethos of this age.

Yet subsequently showing grace to their wives and children would, to some extent, dissipate the invisible resentment within the court. After all, to go this far was already "benevolent and generous" for a Son of Heaven.

The Empress Dowager Lady Li had clearly perceived that Liu Chengyou had grown increasingly hasty in governing and acting of late. The reorganization of the imperial army had barely begun, and he was already impatiently turning to rectify the political climate.

The atmosphere within the Bureau of Military Affairs grew ever more solemn. The arrogant Nie Wenjin was already on the road west to Tongzhou. And with Wang Jun entering the bureau to take up his post, the officials and clerks below were so suppressed they dared not breathe too loudly.

Since Liu Chengyou had returned to the capital, aside from daily routine affairs, the various offices of the Bureau of Military Affairs had only one task: army reorganization.

Led by Chancellor of the Bureau Guo Wei, the senior commanders from the Imperial Guard Command, headed by Shang Hongqian, had already met and deliberated for several rounds. Through constant argument and compromise, they had finally perfected a draft plan for army reorganization.

Within the bureau's main hall, Liu Chengyou personally came to inspect, holding the second imperial council meeting on military reorganization. Placing the venue here sent an unmistakable message of support for the Bureau of Military Affairs.

The Bureau of Military Affairs was primarily represented by Guo Wei, Wang Jun, and Wei Renpu. The Imperial Guard Command's attendees were far more numerous: Shang Hongqian, the three imperial uncles surnamed Li (Li Hongxin, Li Hongwei, Li Hongjian), as well as senior commanders such as Sun Li, Ma Quanyi, Han Tong, Wang Quanbin, and Du Hanhui.

Before Liu Chengyou lay a booklet on army reorganization, which he was studying intently. Below, Wang Jun stood, brimming with vigor and high spirits, laying out the reorganization plan with great clarity from his mouth. It appeared to be explaining to Liu Chengyou, but in truth it was spoken for the assembled imperial army commanders to hear. Before this imperial council, the reorganization proposals submitted by the Bureau of Military Affairs had all been refined under Liu Chengyou's guidance—the Emperor's personal contributions were considerable.

"Under the Palace Command, two armies shall be established—cavalry and infantry. The cavalry shall bear the designation Tieqi, and the infantry Konghe. The Tieqi Army shall command ten thousand riders, divided into left and right wings, ten armies, twenty commands, drawn from the finest cavalry of the imperial army. Under the Konghe Army, three units shall be established—the Inner Palace Guard, Longqi, and Xiaodi—eliminating the old and weak, selecting the strong and able to fill their ranks, with a total strength of twenty-five thousand men..."

"Under the Imperial Guard Command, the cavalry shall bear the designation Longjie, and the infantry Hujie. The Longjie Army shall be organized in the same manner as the Tieqi Army. Under the Hujie Army, four units shall be established—Wujie, Xingjie, Husheng, and Fengguo—while all other unit designations shall be abolished entirely, with a total strength of forty thousand men..."

Wang Jun introduced the general outline. The commanders hearing it for the first time could not help but change color. Though the details had not yet been announced, one could tell from his description just how forceful this reorganization would be.

Previously, the Great Han's imperial army in the Eastern Capital, counting all the miscellaneous units, totaled approximately one hundred forty thousand men. Of these, nearly twenty thousand were permanently stationed at Huazhou, Chanzhou, and Yedu in Daming Prefecture.

Of the remainder, the Western Capital, Sishui, Zhengzhou, and other key points in the capital region held another ten thousand-plus troops. Those truly stationed in the Eastern Capital numbered only slightly over one hundred thousand. This reorganization focused on the Eastern Capital's imperial army. According to Wang Jun's report, even counting elite troops selected from other prefectures to enter the capital, at least twenty thousand men would have to be cut—and likely more.

And the newly established Palace Command would be formidable in strength. The original Konghe Army and Inner Palace Guard would naturally fall under its jurisdiction, and then the Xiaodi and Longqi—the two strongest combat units under the Imperial Guard Command—would be transferred to its authority. If this came to pass, the Imperial Guard's influence would plummet.

Liu Chengyou showed no reaction, still staring at the booklet. Seeing this, Wang Jun continued reporting the specific steps of the reorganization, beginning with the establishment of the Palace Command's structure, starting first with the reorganization of the original Inner Palace Guard and Konghe Army...