Chapter 333: Practical Use of Court Officials

"Minister Wang, you are the top scholar I personally selected. After passing the examination, I have kept you in the Hanlin Academy to compile and edit texts. Do you feel your talents are wasted?" Liu Chengyou asked Wang Pu with slight curiosity.

Wang Pu was no longer young. The impulsive sharpness of youth had long since been tempered by experience. Having observed the times carefully, he had only entered officialdom through the imperial examination in his forties—one might say he emerged fully equipped after reaching max level.

Meeting Liu Chengyou's gaze, he appeared serene and self-possessed, responding with humility: "Your Majesty has said that law and principle are the foundation of the realm. I have achieved mastery in my studies and am able to expound upon the law and elucidate the statutes. For me, this is truly a fortunate honor!"

Clearly, a man like Wang Pu, whose composure revealed his talent, would have no difficulty gaining trust and favor before an enlightened sovereign. And Liu Chengyou, for his part, had no cause for dissatisfaction.

"That may be so, but is your ability limited to this?" After a moment's thought, Liu Chengyou said: "In my view, you possess grand strategies within your breast, abundant schemes in your belly, and a thorough understanding of current affairs. Few in the entire court can match your ability to plan and direct from within the tent. How could you be confined to the Hanlin Academy for long, occupied with literary matters!"

Liu Chengyou's words elevated Wang Pu greatly. Even with his composed temperament, facing such praise from the Son of Heaven, it was only natural that some emotion stirred within him. One could see Wang Pu's demeanor turn exceptionally solemn as he bowed with reverence.

"Previously, you passed the examination as top scholar and remained in the Hanlin Academy for observation. I have intended to give you important responsibilities, but concerned that you lacked achievements, I could not promote you abruptly!"

As Liu Chengyou spoke the subsequent words, Wang Pu's body unconsciously tensed. Having entered officialdom through the examination at the age of forty, he naturally harbored the ambition of establishing achievements and leaving his name in history. There was nothing to be reserved about, no need for euphemism—compared to compiling and publishing the Criminal Code in the Hanlin Academy, he naturally preferred to undertake the great matters of stabilizing the state and making decisions to pacify the borders.

Seeming to notice the look in Wang Pu's eyes, Liu Chengyou regarded him with a slight smile and said: "This time, you have earned merit for rectifying and clarifying legal discussions, and I can reward you accordingly! In appointing the worthy and promoting the talented, I have always prioritized practical ability. Hmm..."

After another brief pause in thought, Liu Chengyou said: "In the recent court discussion, Wang Qiwu submitted a proposal that the waterways of the Central Plains are obstructed and water transport has not flourished, making boat travel and communication between prefectures quite inconvenient. Especially the Bian River—years of neglect have left it silted, with hidden shoals densely scattered, truly detrimental to the movement of public and private vessels."

Wang Pu listened attentively as Liu Chengyou spoke clearly: "After deliberation with the chancellors, I have decided that after the spring plowing, we will allocate two hundred thousand strings of cash and one hundred thousand dan of grain, conscripting civilian labor to dredge the river. I intend to issue an order soliciting proposals for river management, and have already drawn officials from within and without to prepare the river works. I hear that you understand astronomy and geography. I wish to place you in overall charge of this matter. Can you take on this responsibility?"

From Liu Chengyou's description, Wang Pu now had a clear picture. The river management project had been proposed by Wang Qiwu within two days of Liu Chengyou's return to the capital, and it was a matter the Emperor Liu Chengyou had personally pushed forward. He had naturally heard something of it.

At this moment, Wang Pu's mind was already turning. With his discernment, he naturally understood the importance of dredging canals and restoring river transport—not only for the benefits to shipping, commerce, and irrigation, but he also considered the convenience of transporting military supplies should the Han army march south to take Jianghuai.

"I am unworthy of such praise, but I am willing to plan and supervise this matter for Your Majesty!" Having rapidly run through various thoughts in his mind, Wang Pu accepted with confidence and composure.

"By the way, while you are managing the river, you might take the opportunity to survey the waterways and hydrological conditions of the various prefectures of the Central Plains and compile them into detailed maps and records!" Liu Chengyou suddenly thought of this and instructed: "This will be arduous work!"

Noting the serious look in Liu Chengyou's eyes, Wang Pu seemed to grasp his intent: "I shall obey Your Majesty's command!"

Wang Pu knew that henceforth, the focus of his work would shift to river management, and for no short period of time, he would have to bear its labors.

In fact, judging by his historical reputation, having Wang Pu manage the river was still putting a great talent to minor use—one might even say misusing his abilities. However, as Liu Chengyou had said, he could not be abruptly elevated to the highest councils of state; he had to accumulate seniority. At present, there was no position for him among the weighty posts of military and civil authority.

Nor was Liu Chengyou willing to merely keep him at court for consultation. Without experience in military and civil governance, even the highest insight would be like a castle in the air—insubstantial. River management was not merely about controlling water; it integrated the governance of people, the management of military affairs, and the handling of finances all in one.

On one point, Liu Chengyou was utterly sincere: in employing people, he prioritized practical ability. He wished to change the entrenched practices of three generations and establish the foundational laws of the Great Han, which required a great number of capable and pragmatic talents who could truly grasp and implement matters to assist him.

In terms of advisors alone, he was not lacking. When it came to offering strategies, for instance, Tao Gu—whenever consulted on matters, he could give Liu Chengyou many satisfactory answers. However, Liu Chengyou truly did not dare to send him to the localities, only because of his character; he did not wish to let a person's abilities go to waste. A man like Tao Gu would be far more effective at the center of power.

It was not only Wang Pu—Liu Chengyou also harbored thoughts of sending Wang Qiwu out to the provinces. Young men like these, no matter how gifted, should gain more experience in the prefectures and counties, which would also aid their development. Of course, this consideration also followed the policy of court officials serving as Prefectural Administrators that Liu Chengyou had begun to gradually implement.

In the Eastern Capital and Luoyang, there were many surviving officials and meritorious ministers from the previous dynasty. But among the large number of idle officials being supported there, with careful selection, one could always find talents suited for governing prefectures and counties. The civil officials and court ministers accumulated over three generations and several decades, to be fair, were hardly dregs and burdens.

Even if their abilities varied in degree and their morals differed in quality, in this age where the military flourished and the civil declined, they were all elites of their era. Among them were many veteran officials with governing experience spanning multiple reigns.

When it came to finding a Grand Tutor for Liu Chenghsun, there was Li Song to recommend; when Liu Chengyou wished to study calligraphy, there was Yang Ningshi; for rites and ceremonies, there was Zhang Zhao; for compiling the national history and veritable records, there was Jia Wei; to reshape the Censorate, Bian Guidang was sufficient; in local posts, Bian Wei was already governing Tongzhou...

In discovering old talents, Liu Chengyou had already tasted great sweetness. He found that the large number of officials left by the Shi Jin was entirely a treasure trove of talent—as long as one was diligent, one could always find some surprises. Especially those high-ranking officials and important ministers of the Later Jin whom Liu Chengyou had rescued at Luancheng back then—those whom Yelu Deguang had deliberately gathered close to him all possessed extraordinary qualities.

The previous concerns about discarding them or shelving them away were merely questions of loyalty. But in this age where the bond between sovereign and minister had been severed, could one demand that others exhaust their loyalty to you? Liu Chengyou had long held a very clear understanding of this point: as long as he was strong enough and controlled the army, he need not worry excessively.

And Liu Chengyou considered himself to have the breadth of mind and boldness to employ officials from the previous dynasty, and he did so. To cultivate in his ministers a sense of loyalty and identification with the Great Han and the Liu clan would require no less than two decades and the unremitting efforts of an entire generation. Changing the entrenched practices of several decades—how could that be easy?

Of course, Liu Chengyou would not blindly trust these civil officials and court ministers. After all, there were always some literati who were only suited to wielding a writing brush. If a person was not used to their full potential and was placed in the wrong position, the harm they could cause was no less than that of a military man. Fortunately, in this era, those who merely studied books mechanically were truly few, especially among the literati who had grown up amid decades of war and chaos in the north.

The same applied to the military. Without affecting the formidable combat power and stability of the imperial army, Liu Chengyou had also begun to send generals and commanders out to the provinces to carry out defensive duties.

The most recent example was Yang Ye. Of course, in sending generals out, Liu Chengyou had to choose those worthy of trust and proven through trials; otherwise, recklessly sending military men out would only create chaos for the court and the people.

Looking further back, one would count Liu Chengyou's original defensive arrangements at Southern Yishui. Men like Murong Yanzhao, Li Yun, and He Fujin had, over nearly two years, played their due role in defending against northern threats and stabilizing border affairs.

Recently, Liu Chengyou had been planning to transfer these men south to the Eastern Capital. While increasing his control over the imperial army, he would also carry out the rotation of garrison duties.