Chapter 740: The Dispute Between Circuit and Prefecture

Although Yedu's status had already been abolished, as the seat of the Hebei West Circuit, the seat of Daming Prefecture, Yuancheng's military and political standing remained right there. During the rebellion of Du Chongwei back then, Yuancheng's soldiers and civilians had scattered and suffered nearly forty percent casualties, with enormous losses to the people's economic property. Yet after nearly a decade of development, Yuancheng had long since recovered its former prosperity.

Two straight and broad streets ran crisscross through it, supplemented by several branch roads and dense winding alleys, forming a network. Donkey and horse carts shuttled through the streets, the bustling markets filled with traveling merchants, voices clamoring, while the shop signs of stores, towers, and wards flaunted themselves in the sunlight...

Yuancheng was the third great city of the Great Han to break the ward-market system after the Eastern Capital (the second being Yangzhou). However, the city's development also brought management problems—public security, sanitation, and so on.

Yet in the recent period of the Son of Heaven's visit, Yuancheng within was a scene of peace and harmony. Local ruffians, scoundrels, and all manner of shady characters had gone completely quiet, even voluntarily cooperating with the security efforts. The city walls and streets had all been scrubbed clean, every place fresh and tidy, and the stench that once permeated the air of the markets had faded considerably.

When Liu Chengyou entered Yuancheng, what he saw and felt was a clean, orderly, and prosperous city. He seemed quite satisfied with the careful preparations the Daming authorities had made to welcome the imperial carriage. Though it smacked of mobilizing the masses, after this round of rectification, the city's appearance had greatly improved. Since there was clear benefit, there was no need to criticize.

As the imperial carriage entered the city, discussions also arose among the populace.

In a teahouse in the southern part of the city, fragrant steam wafted everywhere. Three scholars who had watched the Emperor enter the city sat together in idle conversation. The young scholar in a gray Confucian robe sighed: "Come to think of it, this is already His Majesty's third visit to Yuancheng!"

"No!" A middle-aged man stroking his short beard, a look of recollection in his eyes, said: "In the early years of the founding, when Du Chongwei held the city and rebelled, the Son of Heaven also accompanied the Emperor on the campaign in person!"

"If that's so, then with four visits to Yuancheng, the Son of Heaven and our Yuancheng can be said to share a bond of fate!"

"All along, Weibo has been a powerful frontier command in Hebei, and Yuancheng is Weibo's foremost city—population and wealth gathered here, elite troops stationed, senior generals guarding it. It is also the last great city of Hebei shielding the Eastern Capital. How could it not be valued?" Another handsome young man said slowly.

"Young Lord Lü speaks well—quite insightful indeed!" The middle-aged man with the short beard looked at the youth and praised him.

Young Lord Lü made a modest gesture, the scene of welcoming the imperial carriage before the city surfacing in his mind, and said with feeling: "With a sage Son of Heaven on the throne, observing Yuancheng's vitality—now the Great Han's realm is tranquil and settled, the people freed from ruin, an age of prosperity is within reach!"

"Young Lord Lü, at next year's provincial examination, will you be going to the capital?" the gray-robed youth suddenly asked curiously.

Though Young Lord Lü was not old, he appeared unhurried and unflustered, a clear smile on his face like a spring breeze. He took a slow sip of hot tea and said: "My learning is shallow; there is still much I need to study. Besides, the court's selection of scholars nowadays no longer allows one to pass the examinations on the strength of essays, classical commentary, and policy papers alone!"

"But didn't the court establish the observation-of-governance system?" the gray-robed youth said, a hint of hope visible in his expression.

After years of groundwork, the scholars of the Great Han no longer feared "practical affairs" like tigers as they had at first. They had gradually come to understand the Son of Heaven's intent—he was not trying to directly test for seasoned administrative talent, but rather looking at insight, aptitude, and utility.

Young Lord Lü said: "Even with the observation system, it takes time to hone and settle. I am still young; rather than entering officialdom too early, it's better to spend more time broadening my experience and deepening my learning..."

"There are rumors that in the future the court will take fewer and fewer scholars!" the gray-robed youth muttered, looking at Young Lord Lü with a flicker of envy in his eyes: "But Young Lord Lü comes from a distinguished family with outstanding talent, and your elder brother is now a high official in the circuit administration. With his guidance, passing the examinations is hardly a difficult matter..."

Sensing the "sour note" in his friend's tone, Young Lord Lü smiled modestly and wisely refrained from delving deeper into the matter. Between people, from the moment of birth, the gap is already apparent.

Compared to the gray-robed youth, Young Lord Lü's future was promising, and compared to Young Lord Lü, the noble sons of the Great Han's other great houses were rising meteorically...

This Young Lord Lü, named Lü Duan, was the younger brother of Lü Yin, the Prefect of Zhangde Prefecture (formed from the merger of the former Xiang and Ci prefectures). His visit to Yuancheng this time was both for a spring outing and to seek teachers and friends.

As for Liu Chengyou, he had already entered the temporary palace within the city. The palace complex in Yuancheng was not large in scale, assembled on the basis of the former dynasty's princely residence and temporary palace. Traces of cleaning and repair were clearly visible everywhere, yet there were no further measures that wasted labor and money. It was evident that the Daming authorities knew their limits, not expending unnecessary effort to curry favor and flatter. Prefect Li Huan, after all, was an official who had served in the central government and knew something of the Emperor's habits.

In the temporary palace, Liu Chengyou immediately received the officials of the Hebei West Circuit and Daming Prefecture. In recent years, the officialdom in Daming had undergone considerable upheaval—the military and civil officials from before the fifth year of Qianyou had basically all been replaced. After encouraging the assembled officials, he also let them have a look at their Emperor; most of those present had never seen the Son of Heaven's august countenance.

After meeting with the local generals and officials, Liu Chengyou kept aside Administration Commissioner Dou Yi and Prefect Li Huan alone. But the atmosphere suddenly shifted. Liu Chengyou put away the gentle smile he had worn before the crowd, his face turning silent and stern, leaving Dou and Li both feeling uneasy.

It was Dou Yi who took the initiative to ask: "May I ask what instructions Your Majesty has for us two ministers?"

Dou Yi was in his forties, in the prime of life, dignified in bearing with the style of a northern scholar, radiating an air of righteousness. Originally recommended by Chancellor Fan Zhi, he had served as Judicial Commissioner of Hedong, and last year was transferred to the Hebei West Circuit as Administration Commissioner.

Liu Chengyou looked at Dou Yi, then glanced at Li Tao, and said flatly: "You two have worked together for less than half a year, yet you've stirred up quite a commotion—I heard about it even in the Eastern Capital. The dispute between the circuit and the prefecture has become a clamorous affair, with much discussion among the masses. I wonder what the two of you have to say for yourselves?"

The moment the Emperor's words fell, Dou and Li instinctively exchanged a glance. Li Huan immediately rose and bowed: "Your subject acted rashly before, could not tolerate others, and in my agitation caused delays. I beg Your Majesty to punish me!"

Seeing Li Huan's performance, Dou Yi's brow furrowed slightly. Though two steps behind, he also rose and clasped his hands, his expression grave, with a single brief sentence: "I beg Your Majesty to punish me!"

In later ages there is the phrase "five sons passing the examinations," referring to the five brothers of the Dou family, who all became jinshi in succession, with Dou Yi being the eldest.

Dou Yi was a man of pure integrity, upright and forthright in nature, bold in speech and good at remonstrance. Even in the Eastern Capital, he had spoken frankly before the Emperor's displeasure. Birds of a feather flock together—there was reason he got along well with Fan Zhi.

Previously transferred to the Hebei Circuit to oversee circuit administration, he soon came into conflict with Li Huan, the Prefect of Daming. Dou Yi was a man who could not tolerate a speck of dust in his eye, and in Hedong he had also handled judicial and penal matters. Upon taking office, he began to intervene in rectifying circuit government affairs. As the circuit seat, Daming naturally became a key focus under his gaze.

As for Li Huan, he had been the parent-official of Daming Prefecture for several years, believing he had done a fine job—the people were settled, tax revenues abundant. Suddenly having a direct superior arrive to point fingers and heap criticism upon him—how could he accept that willingly?

If it had merely been conflict over official duties, that would have been tolerable. The crux was that their struggle involved personal grudges. For Dou Yi, he was simply fulfilling his duties, doing what fell within his authority, and he did not fear offending people.

Li Huan's side was more complicated. Originally, he had a chance to advance further and take charge of the Hebei West Circuit. His elder brother Li Tao had also planned for that, but under Fan Zhi's recommendation and the Emperor's tacit approval, Li Huan was denied the promotion, and Dou Yi was transferred in instead.

For Li Huan, Dou Yi had less seniority than him, less learning than him—fine, a latecomer overtaking him—but he also showed not the slightest respect. With that, how could the two get along? The squabbling between literati eventually evolved into a long, drawn-out, and ugly drama.

Moreover, both men had backers, which added a layer of political tension to their struggle. Indeed, in the capital, Li Tao and Fan Zhi, who had originally seemed to "advance and retreat together," had also begun to develop friction.

Dou Yi and Li Huan—one memorialized that the other was autocratic and overbearing, the other memorialized that the first governed poorly; one accused the other of exceeding regulations and disrupting governance, the other accused the first of wasting the prefectural treasury... In short, the conflicts were frequent and the friction unending.

Originally, Chancellors Li and Fan could still keep things somewhat in check, but later the affair grew too large and ultimately reached Liu Chengyou's ears.