Chapter 382: Imperial Relatives Stripped of Power

In the deep winter of the third year of Qianyou, snow fell again over the Eastern Capital. Wind-driven snow, heavy, did not clear until three days later, leaving heaven and earth a vast expanse of silver — an auspicious omen of a bountiful year.

South of the palace city, at the encampment of the Longqi Army, the troops were the first to return to full strength after the snow. Soldiers who had been granted three days' leave, under the command of their officers, entered training. Amid the drill cries, several hundred soldiers carried materials to repair the barracks damaged by the wind and snow. Many hands make light work — all was restored within a day.

Outside the imperial city, among the wards and lanes, rustling sounds gathered into no small commotion. Rich and poor alike busied themselves clearing the snow before their own doors. The breath of daily life was thick, and the laughter of children playing in the snow added color to the Eastern Capital. The farther from the imperial city, the livelier it grew.

Amid the tightly packed wards, broad streets were rare, and the Shouyang Duke's mansion sat on one with an open view, the pride of its street. A lofty gate and grand residence, magnificent and opulent, astonishing in scale. Within, rockeries frosted with snow, lake pavilions sheathed in ice, trees rustling bleakly — yet none of it could dim its splendor.

The Duke of Shouyang, Commissioner of the Wude Office, Li Shaoyou — the Empress Dowager's nephew, the Emperor's childhood friend and maternal cousin...

In early summer, for his service in attendance, Liu Chengyou had elevated Li Shaoyou's rank to Commandery Duke, expanded his fief, and showered him with gold, silver, silk, and beauties — favor without equal in the court.

Of course, this sudden lavish reward came at a price: a series of honors and emoluments purchased at the cost of his father Li Hongxin's retirement.

Li Hongxin, the Empress Dowager's own younger brother, the Son of Heaven's maternal uncle, then held the post of Deputy Chief Commander of the Palace Command — a senior general of high standing among the two commands of the Great Han's army, wielding military power. Earlier he had been deputy commander of the Imperial Guard. Whatever else may be said, in the early days of Emperor Liu Chengyou's succession, he played a certain role as a counterweight to outside generals and a protector of the throne.

Of course, that role did not last long. The Son of Heaven, with superb political cunning, quickly seized control of the situation and secured his throne. After that, Li Hongxin's role in the army gradually turned negative.

The development and transformation of the Great Han's imperial army proceeded through constant reorganization and personnel changes, the core purpose being to display the Emperor's majesty and tighten control. Splitting the Imperial Guard Command, sending veteran generals out to the provinces, promoting the young and talented, rewarding and buying loyalty, rectifying military discipline...

In nearly three years, one could say that among outside ministers, the threat of the old marshals wielding military power had been largely dismantled and dealt with by Liu Chengyou. But for Liu Chengyou, it was still not enough — the imperial relatives by marriage became his next target.

The first to be targeted was Li Hongxin. At first, fearing Li Hongxin might not be clever enough, Liu Chengyou skipped hints and stated his intent directly. Old Li was most unwilling and tactless, going to the palace to complain to the Empress Dowager. After all, he was her own younger brother, so Lady Li could not help but ask a question or two — the first time she drew Liu Chengyou's displeasure, cooling the relations between mother and son by several degrees.

It was Li Shaoyou who knew which way the wind blew, and understood Liu Chengyou better than his father. He knew that if this cousin were truly angered, he would not spare any thought for uncle-nephew affection. Especially if this matter truly damaged the relationship between the Emperor and his mother, it would surely draw Liu Chengyou's wrath — that would be courting disaster.

Moreover, the Empress Dowager could protect them for a time, but could she protect them for a lifetime? What if the Empress Dowager were gone?

Li Shaoyou might be somewhat dissolute and unreliable in daily life, but on matters of great right and wrong, he was always shrewd. A sincere analysis and earnest persuasion startled a cold sweat out of his father, who, without further hesitation, hurried to the palace and voluntarily requested to resign his post before Liu Chengyou.

Though there had been some twists, facing his uncle's "return to the shore," Liu Chengyou expressed acceptance with a smile. While relieving him of his military post, he elevated his rank to Duke of Yu, added the title of founding meritorious minister, and bestowed mansions, estates, land, and no small amount of money and silk. Nor did he send him away — he let him stay in the Eastern Capital to enjoy his leisure. The considerable family fortune Li Hongxin had amassed by exploiting his status, position, and power was not investigated — past offenses were forgiven.

After Li Hongxin left his post, it was the turn of the other two uncles, Li Hongyin and Li Hongjian. With their brother's example before them, both tactfully accepted the Son of Heaven's "transaction," each giving up his military post and relinquishing command.

This, too, was a strategy of buying out!

This stripping of titles and power from the imperial relatives was not because Liu Chengyou harbored suspicion of them, but because these people were truly limited in ability — unfit for important posts.

Take Li Hongxin for example: he had no talent for governing prefectures or counties, no skill in military affairs, having risen solely through his status as an imperial relative. Greedy and miserly by nature, fond of amassing wealth, he lost the people's hearts. If such a man were long kept in high position wielding great power, he would likely bring harm rather than benefit.

Of the several uncles, the only one who looked somewhat presentable was Li Hongwei (Yi), then Military Governor of Pinglu. At the start of the year, the previous Military Governor Guo Jin had died of illness, and it was discussed that Li Hongwei should succeed him. After half a year in office, he displayed great governing ability — when the court suppressed Buddhism, the Zi-Qing region saw few disturbances.

The youngest uncle, Li Ye, had a sliver of talent and high ambitions, but lacked experience of the world — his reach exceeded his grasp, and he was not generous of heart. But because the Empress Dowager doted on him excessively, Liu Chengyou, as a favor to his mother, kept him in service, letting him sit in the position of Commissioner of Palace Attendants.

The Great Han's imperial clan and noble relatives were numerous, but counting them carefully, those truly up to the task were few indeed. Those who could catch Liu Chengyou's eye were only Li Shaoyou, Song Yanwo, and Li Hongwei. The rest could only be described as rotten melons and cracked dates — mostly of low talent and virtue, unworthy of their station...

On the Palace Command side, with Li Hongxin gone, Liu Chengyou promoted Murong Yanzhao, who had spent over a year familiarizing himself with the imperial army, to Chief Inspector of the Palace Command, to assist Palace Commander Shang Hongqian in commanding and managing the troops.

Shang Hongqian — that tool man Liu Chengyou had propped up after Shi Hongzhao was exiled — had been a passerby by nature. During his tenure he had even entertained certain notions, but fortunately, reading the situation, he had extinguished them in time.

Thus, for over two years now, he had remained in the position of commander of the imperial army, and Liu Chengyou showed no intention of replacing him. He still needed such a veteran general — one who met all requirements in every respect except ability — to serve as a figurehead.

With Liu Chengyou having not appointed a Deputy Chief Commander of the Palace Command or commanders of the cavalry and infantry, and with Shang Hongqian gradually yielding authority, the day-to-day command of the Palace Command's cavalry and infantry units was in fact already being handled by Murong Yanzhao.

Compared to the Palace Command, the changes in the Imperial Guard Command were even greater — both its first and second in command, the Chief and Deputy Chief Commanders, were replaced. Bai Wenke, Chief Commander of the Imperial Guard's cavalry and infantry, retired with the title of Grand Commandant. As for Deputy Chief Commander Li Hongjian — toward this uncle, Liu Chengyou showed no favoritism, granting him equally lavish emoluments and honors.

The successor was the Emperor's father-in-law, the Prince of Linqing, former Defender of Yedu and Military Governor of the Tianxiong Army, Gao Xingzhou, who was to command both guard armies. A counterweight was of course necessary — Liu Chengyou's choice was Deputy Commissioner of Military Affairs Wang Jun. Wang Jun's temperament grew ever more arrogant and self-important, intolerant of others, but his competence and efficiency in handling affairs grew ever higher — perfect for offending people and serving as a counterweight.

Originally he had been placed in the Bureau of Military Affairs to counterbalance Guo Wei, but to Liu Chengyou's surprise, Guo Wei was too slippery. In daily affairs he was honest, low-key, and humble, and he stroked Wang Jun's fur the right way. Even with Wang Jun's aggressive nature, Guo Wei defused him and steadily consolidated his position in the Bureau of Military Affairs. With the Bureau growing ever more powerful, this was not a situation Liu Chengyou wanted to see, so he transferred Wang Jun out of the Bureau.

At the same time, Gao Xingzhou was recalled to the Eastern Capital to serve as commander of the Imperial Guard — a considerable boost of support for Noble Consort Gao in the harem, especially with the birth of the two princes Liu Yang and Liu Xi. Liu Chengyou, having honed his balancing skills to perfection, seized the opportunity to transfer his other father-in-law, Fu Yanqing, to Daming Prefecture to succeed to the Tianxiong Army, guarding Yedu, and enfeoffed him as Prince of Wei.