Chapter 656: Chancellor Fan, Worried for the State and Its People

Guangzheng Hall, the Hall of State Affairs.

Led by Chancellor Li Tao, the Secretariat officials handled domestic and foreign affairs in their usual orderly manner. Fan Zhi wore a grim, forbidding expression—Chancellor Fan had been in a poor mood lately.

The root cause lay in his previous dispute with the Emperor over the handling of the "Meng Hanqing case." When the argument reached its climax, Fan Zhi's exact words were: "Your Majesty may execute him if you wish, but if you refer him to the judicial authorities, I dare not countersign the edict."

Then the Emperor indeed directly ordered Meng Hanqing to take his own life, and issued a clear decree to all civil and military officials throughout the realm, making it a warning. Although Fan Zhi understood that the Son of Heaven intended to use Meng Hanqing's case to caution his ministers, he could not agree with this method of disregarding the law to kill a chicken to scare the monkeys.

Fan Zhi even had a feeling that the Emperor's execution of Meng Hanqing was done to show him personally...

More importantly, if one man could be killed today by bypassing the Secretariat and the ministries, then tomorrow a policy could be enacted the same way. This was an invisible blow to the authority of the Hall of State Affairs. If this continued, it would likely be hollowed out.

The court was not short of capable men besides Zhao Pu—the establishment of those close ministers and attendants at Chongzheng Hall had long attracted attention. For now they lacked the power to countersign edicts, but if a crack opened in the future, they could directly replace the function of the Hall of State Affairs.

In the final analysis, it came down to the conflict between imperial power and ministerial power. Only this time, Liu Chengyou did not yield, and emerged victorious by forcibly ordering Meng Hanqing to die.

As the Great Han's national power grew stronger and more stable, similar contradictions and disputes had noticeably increased in recent years. Beneath Liu Chengyou's solemn exterior lay a heart unwilling to be constrained—it was just that in many cases, he was lenient and forbearing toward the chancellors.

For Fan Zhi, it was somewhat unfair—his insistence on principle ultimately could not prevail against the authority of the Son of Heaven. After all, the Emperor spoke with the mandate of Heaven, ultimately standing above the law. And Liu Chengyou could be regarded as a founding sovereign; if he chose to be tough, how could Fan Zhi stop him?

Moreover, the Emperor's decision to set Fan Zhi aside and have others revise and perfect the "Criminal Code" made him even more frustrated. The Son of Heaven could change the law with a single word; if Fan Zhi remained steadfast in his convictions, he would still have to uphold the revised "Criminal Code" in the future.

Even as the sovereign-minister conflict unfolded, Liu Chengyou lavished favors and rewards upon Fan Zhi, praising his uprightness, integrity, and devotion to the state before all the ministers, while also publicizing the Empress's intercession—presenting a picture of "an enlightened sovereign, a virtuous empress, and loyal ministers."

At present, Fan Zhi was still wearing a winter robe bestowed by the Emperor—filled with duck down, embroidered with silk thread on the surface, very warm. Originally Fan Zhi had kept it stored at home, but two days ago the Emperor had considerately asked whether it fit properly, whether it needed to be changed, and so forth.

The next day, Fan Zhi wore it into the palace to conduct affairs—like wearing a "warning." The feeling of overwhelming favor was something he truly experienced.

"Wensu, come have a cup of wine to warm yourself!" Li Tao, serving as chief chancellor, walked to Fan Zhi's desk holding an exquisite small porcelain bowl, wearing a kindly smile.

Setting down the memorial in his hand, Fan Zhi looked up at the steaming wine bowl offered before him, frowned slightly, but still took it, clinked it with Li Tao's, and took a drink.

"Many thanks, Lord Li!"

Seeing this, Li Tao revealed a satisfied smile. When Feng Dao was still around, offering him a cup of wine would invite a lecture from that overly cautious old man. Now that he was the boss of the Hall of State Affairs, a little wine could both warm the body and refresh the spirit—Li Tao had loosened up somewhat...

"Why is Wensu so troubled?" Noting Fan Zhi's rather stern expression, Li Tao asked.

Fan Zhi handed the memorial in his hand to Li Tao, set down his wine bowl, and after taking it and scanning a few lines, Li Tao's expression also turned grave.

"This is already the third popular uprising in Cheng and Feng Prefectures!" Fan Zhi's tone carried a hint of worry.

Li Tao thought for a moment, then said: "These two prefectures sit at the strategic gateway into Shu. They have suffered repeated warfare and must also fully support the operations in Hanzhong. Once this winter passes, things should improve."

The memorial in hand came from the Qinfeng circuit. Ever since Xiang Xun, in order to take Xi County, had levied massive conscription in the newly occupied prefectures and counties, unrest had persisted. Although Xi County had fallen, when the horrific casualties were reported back, nearly every household among the conscripted people was in mourning, and popular morale was greatly depressed.

Cheng Prefecture's situation was even worse—this winter brought much freezing and starvation. A few days ago, over three hundred villagers stormed the government offices. Of course, no very serious consequences resulted; they were easily suppressed. The Han army's garrison strength in Qinfeng was quite ample.

"Next year, I fear the campaigns will not cease!" Fan Zhi said with some indignation: "In this deep winter, we should be halting military operations and giving the people rest. But the generals at the front only care about conquest, not the lives of the people. If we keep exhausting the nation's resources for war like this, even if we take Hanzhong, I fear we will lose the people's hearts—gain it only to lose it again!"

"This campaign against Shu has already achieved a great victory, yet His Majesty still presses on recklessly, tirelessly seeking Hanzhong..." Fan Zhi looked at Li Tao and said: "Conquering Shu is not something accomplished in one stroke. Cheng and Feng are vital to the grain supply lines and rear routes—we should secure their tranquility before advancing further. Otherwise, with our lifeline imperiled, even a hundred thousand troops on the march would face the danger of total annihilation!"

Hearing Fan Zhi's words, Li Tao drew a deep breath and sighed softly: "His Majesty likely knows these principles as well—it's just that his considerations come from another angle. If Hanzhong can be seized in one stroke this winter, then Shu can be overawed. Afterward, pacifying the people and providing relief would not be too late—it's merely a matter of sequence!"

"I do not oppose the campaign against Shu, but the use of troops must accord with the times and circumstances. The people are suffering, complaints fill the air, the rear is unstable—why persist obstinately!" Fan Zhi's tone was very grave: "And that Zhao Pin—I hear this man has governed Cheng Prefecture for years. As a father-mother official of the region, he shows not a trace of benevolence toward the people under his charge! He blindly caters to the generals at the front. I have heard that the Cheng Prefecture uprising was partly due to his excessive conscription and overly urgent demands..."

"Wensu, I know you act out of sincere public spirit, grieving for the state and troubled by the times!" Li Tao set down the memorial, thought for a moment, and looked at Fan Zhi: "But now, things have come to this. His Majesty has given Xiang Xun full authority—the campaign is in his hands. We are far away in the Eastern Capital; how can we control it? Let us only hope the Hanzhong campaign ends quickly, so that soldiers and civilians alike can rest!"

After taking Xi County, there was almost no pause. Seizing the rare clear weather, Xiang Xun left a portion of his troops behind and led the main army forward, escorting the spoils and driving the surrendered soldiers eastward toward Nanzheng.

The war continuing unabated—that was what the court officials led by Fan Zhi found hardest to understand and opposed most fiercely. But when it reached the Emperor, Liu Chengyou had only one reply: having delegated the authority for the campaign, he would let Xiang Xun handle it. Xiang Xun was an outstanding commander; since he had decided to advance, he must have his reasons.

"In the newly taken territories, aside from Qin Prefecture, I fear famine has already set in. Especially in Feng and Cheng Prefectures—to prevent starving refugees from spreading and breeding greater unrest, the court should transfer grain for relief!" Li Tao said seriously, not intending to delve into deeper discussion about whether to continue the campaign at the front.

On major military matters, they chancellors had little say and could hardly sway the Emperor's thinking. If they overreacted, they would only incur His Majesty's displeasure. After nearly two years as chief chancellor, Li Tao had grown wiser—though not to the point of flattering the Emperor like Feng Dao, he no longer made useless efforts.

"The roads through Qin and Long are blocked and nearly severed; grain from Guanzhong and the capital can hardly be transported in large quantities." Fan Zhi thought for a moment and said: "The most convenient solution would be to allocate a portion from the war reserves and captured spoils to relieve the people!"

"Xiang Xun is still attacking Nanzheng—would the army willingly give up military grain to relieve the people?" Li Tao's first reaction was to furrow his brow, instinctively glancing at Fan Zhi, wondering if he had some other scheme.

Fan Zhi, however, wore an expression of utter seriousness and candor: "Are we to sit by and watch starving people die and breed chaos? We only need to get through this winter—once spring comes next year, the court's support will arrive!"

"This is not a bad strategy!" Rising and pacing a few steps, Li Tao turned to look at Fan Zhi, his eyes shifting: "This matter requires His Majesty's approval—you and I can petition Chongzheng Hall together!"

Seeming to sense Li Tao's concern, Fan Zhi nodded, unconcerned.

While the two chancellors were conferring, an official walked in and bowed: "Chancellor Li, Chancellor Fan!"

The man was in his forties, with a gaunt face and a handlebar mustache—he was Wang Min, Vice Minister of War. Looking at him, Li Tao asked: "Vice Minister Li, what is the matter?"

"Report from the southwest—Nanzheng has been taken, and Hanzhong now belongs to the Great Han!" Wang Min's tone was relaxed.

The two chancellors, Li and Fan, exchanged a glance and both unconsciously breathed a sigh of relief. Li Tao directly clapped his hands and laughed: "Good! Very good! Xiang Xun is indeed a commander of talent—he has not betrayed the court's trust!"

"With Nanzheng taken, the Hanzhong campaign has finally reached a conclusion!" Turning his head toward Fan Zhi: "Wensu, does this resolve your worries now?"

At this question, Fan Zhi's expression visibly softened, like clouds dispersing. Stroking his beard, he said in a reflective tone: "Now we can consider the matters of postwar consolidation!"