Chapter 530: Hedong Storm (2)

After the assembly dispersed, Liu Chong alone kept Administrative Assistant Zheng Gong and Surveillance Administrative Assistant Zhao Hua behind, leading them into the study for a private discussion.

After taking his seat, he leaned back against the cushioned chair and closed his eyes to rest for a moment before opening them to look at the two men. "You two are my right and left arms. Over the years, you have assisted me in governing Hedong with many accomplishments, and I have always relied heavily upon you. You are both clear on the current situation—it is greatly disadvantageous to me. The Son of Heaven is suspicious and cold by nature. Even if I harbor no rebellious intent, I fear I will not be tolerated by him!"

"Word has also come from the Eastern Capital. This imperial nephew of mine intends to reduce the power of all military governors across the realm. He wants to use me, his imperial uncle, to kill the chicken to warn the monkeys—to awe the entire empire."

"Just now in the hall, when I tested them with words, Li Xiang and the others showed fear, clearly not of one mind with me. At this time of crisis, the only ones I can rely upon for counsel are you two!"

Hearing Liu Chong's impassioned statement, Zhao Hua, who had spoken little in the hall earlier, asked him solemnly: "I beg the Prince to speak frankly—do you truly intend to break with the court and raise troops in rebellion?"

Zhao Hua's words were already quite euphemistic. Liu Chong thought for a moment, then shook his head: "I truly have no such intention! I only wish to guard Hedong in peace. Yet even this modest desire, the court will not permit. I am merely forced by circumstances to seek change!"

Seeing Liu Chong's evasive gaze, Zhao Hua sighed: "Prince, forgive me for speaking bluntly. As subjects of the Great Han, the court has its regulations—how can we defy orders? If you wish to resist, even if you have no such intent, in the court's eyes you will certainly be seen as having it. Once that happens, there will be no room left for reconciliation with the court, and disaster may follow!"

"Then according to you, what should I do?" Hearing Zhao Hua's words, Liu Chong's tone had already grown somewhat impatient.

Zhao Hua hesitated for a moment, somewhat afraid to meet Liu Chong's eyes, but gritting his teeth, he still rose and clasped his hands: "In my view, the Prince would do better to obey the court's edicts and surrender authority by going to the capital. If so, as the Son of Heaven's imperial uncle and head of the imperial clan, with your esteemed status, you are certain to secure a lifetime of wealth and safety, and also accumulate blessings for your descendants!"

"Even you say this!" At these words, Liu Chong indeed showed displeasure, raising his hand to point at Zhao Hua, seeming somewhat disappointed: "Are you not worried about your own future?"

"I have received great kindness from the Prince and have yet to repay it—how could I care about personal honor or disgrace!" Zhao Hua knelt, burying his head and choking with emotion.

Seeing this, Liu Chong sighed, waved his hand impatiently for him to rise, then looked toward Zheng Gong.

Meeting Liu Chong's gaze, Zheng Gong, who had been observing him for some time, asked: "What does the Prince plan to do?"

At the question, Liu Chong's expression gradually turned serious, and he said earnestly: "The court wishes to reduce the governors' power. The military governors of the realm will certainly not sit idly by—their eyes will surely turn to Hedong, watching how the situation develops. I have thought it over carefully. The court has just emerged from great warfare, having fought bitterly in Huainan for half a year. The losses in troops, supplies, and manpower must be enormous."

"At present, the Shu army is also encroaching on the southwest and has not yet ceased hostilities. Under such circumstances, I believe that if I simply hold firm, the court will not dare to press me too hard. If they truly force me to take up arms and plunge the realm into civil strife, those consequences would hardly be something the Eastern Capital could bear."

"On the contrary, if I choose to obey their summons and let them confiscate my authority, then not only would I hand over years of work in Hedong, but henceforth I would be controlled by others. If the Son of Heaven harbors suspicion, a single jailer could take my life."

"If I am in Jinyang and further bring in Li Yiyin of Xiazhou as support, the court will certainly be hesitant to act for fear of hitting something precious. At that time, I need only obtain an imperial edict granting me permanent governance of Hedong, and the great matter will be accomplished!"

"If the court's scheme fails once, it will not be so easy for them to oppress me again—the military governors of the realm are all watching!"

It was rare indeed to hear Liu Chong deliver such a "grand discourse," and seeing his eyes gleaming, it was clear he had genuinely given it thought.

"Regardless, the court has made its move, and I must adapt accordingly!" Liu Chong looked resolute: "For now, I will test their bottom line. But if they seek to seize Hedong's military power or take my revenues and grain, that I will never permit! Otherwise, we would be the fish and meat on the chopping block!"

In the end, it was the court's desire to seize military power that had truly struck a nerve with Liu Chong.

Seeing this, Zhao Hua wanted to say something but was stopped by a look from Zheng Gong and held his tongue. Zheng Gong then said: "Since the Prince has made up his mind, we can only do our utmost to assist and help fulfill your grand strategy!"

Hearing Zheng Gong's words, Liu Chong finally revealed a satisfied smile—clearly, this was what he wanted to hear, not those so-called "loyal remonstrances" that dampened his spirits.

"So where is Fan Zhi now?" Liu Chong asked.

Zheng Gong replied: "He is in Fenzhou! A dispatch has already arrived—he will reach Jinyang in two days to pay respects at the Northern Capital!"

"Fenzhou! This Fan Zhi—a mere scholar made chancellor—dares to stir up trouble in my Hedong! Send word to Second Son, tell him to keep a close watch on this man!" Liu Chong muttered, then instructed Zheng Gong: "Also, issue notices to all prefectures: henceforth, without my orders, no official at any level is to pay him any heed. The subordinates of my Hedong are not his to interrogate!"

As they walked out of the study, Zheng Gong and Zhao Hua both could not help but sigh. Walking back to the office together, Zhao Hua's face was full of emotion: "Why does the Prince act thus? An uncle opposing his nephew, a subject defying his sovereign—it has no justification and loses all propriety. It is a path to disaster! The current Son of Heaven is wise and capable, his civil and military officials are talented, the court is stable, and the people long for peace. To resist the whole realm with Hedong alone is not the act of a wise man!"

Zheng Gong looked back and could not help but shake his head: "The Prince is attached to power!"

Taking a deep breath, Zhao Hua said: "Even so, to collude with Li Yiyin—this is to throw the Great Han into chaos. A rift with the court is an internal matter, but dragging in the Dingnan Army—that would be cutting oneself off from the entire realm!"

"But now the Prince's mind is made up, and persuasion is useless. As his subordinates, what can we do about it?" Zheng Gong's expression was grave, looking quite helpless.

"The court is also at fault—same clan, same blood, why must they press him so hard!" Zhao Hua's tone carried a note of lament: "If things continue developing this way, before long we will all be prisoners!"

"Hedong's subordinates hold forty thousand troops and occupy a strategically advantageous position, controlling the passes—enough to defend against them!" Zheng Gong said: "As the Prince says, the court cannot possibly mobilize a large army in a short time. If we can hold out and watch how events unfold, the court may be forced to compromise!"

Zhao Hua was greatly alarmed: "Brother Zheng, do you truly intend to help the Prince raise troops?"

Zheng Gong spread his hands: "The Prince clearly already has this intention! Holding heavy troops and unwilling to yield—we civil officials are useless!"

"Brother Zheng, what is the situation in Hedong? The Prince may not know, but don't you and I?" Zhao Hua said: "Of the forty thousand troops, only five or six thousand are truly elite. Within Hedong, Zheng Qian of the Kelan Army was personally appointed by the late emperor and has never been of one mind with the Prince. Then there is Li Wanchao, Prefect of Liaozhou, appointed by the Son of Heaven himself. Outside Hedong, Wang Yan of the Jianxiong Army and Chang Si of the Zhaoyi Army both hold strategic choke points. If the Prince raises troops and is branded a rebel, I fear all will be destroyed together—jade and stone alike!"

"Moreover, the current Son of Heaven is a dominant ruler. Since he has set his mind on reducing the governors' power, how could he lack contingency plans, how could he not have anticipated the Prince's reaction!" Zhao Hua said, growing somewhat fearful himself: "On the surface, he only sent Chancellor Fan Zhi and Zhao Kuangyin—but what about in secret?"

"Brother Zhao! No matter how much we worry, we cannot change the Prince's resolve! Speaking of this is useless!" Zheng Gong spread his hands again: "Even if we counsel him, the Prince will not listen. If we insist on remonstrating, we may well end up like Li Xiang!"

"For now, we can only take things one step at a time!"

"Alas!"

Watching Zhao Hua walk away, sighing dejectedly, Zheng Gong's eyes flickered, then he followed out of this resplendent prince's mansion.

Zheng Gong did not go to the office but chose to return to his own residence, where a person was already waiting, calmly sipping tea.

"This humble official pays respects to the Duke of Shouyang!" Zheng Gong hurriedly performed the salute.

Waiting in the hall was none other than Li Shaoyou, Commissioner of the Wude Office.

Taking a slow sip of tea, Li Shaoyou glanced at Zheng Gong and said flatly: "Is the prince's assembly concluded?"

"Indeed!" Zheng Gong replied with utmost deference: "As the Duke of Shouyang predicted, the Prince indeed has no intention of obeying the edict—he has already ordered the Jinyang garrison to be placed on alert!"

Saying this, Zheng Gong quickly recounted the details of the hall assembly to Li Shaoyou, then stood quietly to the side, awaiting his instructions.

"This Imperial Uncle Liu—he really doesn't know when he's beaten!"

"The Prince of Taiyuan has long harbored grievances against the court, and is especially displeased that His Majesty suppresses old associates while favoring outside officials. Add to that his many years governing Hedong, where his word is law, and his greed for power—the court's move to reduce the governors naturally touches his reverse scale!" Zheng Gong said calmly.

What Liu Chong did not know was that Zheng Gong, the Administrative Assistant he trusted as his confidant, had long since leaned toward the court.