Chapter 741: The Root Lies in the Court

Gazing at the two high-ranking local officials prostrating before him, his cold, piercing gaze was like sharp arrows, nearly able to bore through their hearts: "Now you know you've erred? Now you beg for forgiveness? For nearly half a year past, what have you been doing?"

At these words, the boulders weighing on the two men's hearts hung even higher. Even Dou Yi, ordinarily upright and fearless, showed fear on his face. It was not fear, but shame and dread. In the past, because he held the moral high ground, he could stand tall and speak boldly, but this time, he had no leg to stand on.

"What kind of vital ground is Hebei? How important is Daming Prefecture? Are the two of you unaware? The court entrusted you both with important posts, hoping you would work in unity, fulfill your duties with loyalty, and benefit the local people. And what was the result?

You gathered friends and formed cliques, attacked each other, and the feud between circuit and prefecture raged fiercely. When it came to governing the people, you gave no thought to diligently fulfilling your duties, but when it came to contending for power and profit, you spared no effort."

Liu Chengyou's tone was unusually severe as he stared at Li Tao: "I know you governed Daming Prefecture for several years with remarkable achievements, and you took pride in that, growing arrogant from your merits. The Administration Commission is the governing office of a circuit, and the Administration Commissioner is a high official personally appointed by me. You showed no respect to your superior, offended him to his face—are you trying to challenge the authority of the court?"

"Your servant would never dare! I would never presume!" Li Tao prostrated himself. He was a man nearing fifty, and his voice now carried a hint of grievance.

Ignoring him, Liu Chengyou turned to Dou Yi and rebuked him without the slightest courtesy: "I have experienced your temperament, Dou Yi. Back in the Eastern Capital, you offended me repeatedly, and I tolerated it, mindful of your loyalty and integrity. I employed you for your worth and entrusted you with a high local post. But as one might expect, once you reached the locality, how arrogant and obstinate you were in your conduct of office!

Aren't you supposed to be upright and incorruptible, loyal and devoted to the state? How could you fail to grasp what matters and what doesn't, to distinguish public from private? When Hebei was divided into circuits, with countless complex affairs awaiting clarification and regulation, in these past six months, how many matters have been delayed because of your feud with Li Tao? Are you aware of that?"

"Your servant failed to grasp the larger picture, failed to consider the overall situation, and let personal grudges delay affairs and neglect duties. My crime is unpardonable and I have no defense. I beg Your Majesty to punish me!" Dou Yi's expression shifted for a moment before he pleaded guilty once more.

In truth, Liu Chengyou's reprimand was somewhat one-sided. To say the two had completely abandoned their administrative duties due to political infighting would be an overstatement. It was just that the contradictions, mutual attacks, and even sabotage between them had grown truly excessive, and their impact on the locality was far too damaging.

Moreover, during the month or so since the imperial tour north had been confirmed, the relationship between the two had already eased considerably, and their conflicts had subsided. But what had already happened—the impression it left on Liu Chengyou's mind—was not so easily erased.

After the scolding, Liu Chengyou laughed coldly twice and asked: "I suspect that in your hearts, you're not convinced, and even feel wronged! You think the circuit and prefecture are stable from top to bottom, and that I'm making a mountain out of a molehill!"

"Your servant would not dare!"

"Your servant would not dare!"

"Good! I have always been fond of hearing the views of those below. Since you are both vying to confess your guilt, let me hear—how do you think you should be charged and punished?" Watching the two men's reactions, Liu Chengyou suddenly relaxed his entire demeanor and asked calmly.

"Your servant requests to be dismissed from office and reduced to commoner status!" Dou Yi gritted his teeth and said.

"Your servant requests the same!" Li Tao also spoke.

The traveling palace gradually fell silent. Liu Chengyou's gaze wandered over the two ministers again. Though it was late mid-spring, the room still held a chill. After a long silence, Liu Chengyou waved his hand: "You two, the ground is damp and cold, and you are no longer young. Don't ruin your knees kneeling. Rise!"

After the harsh words came a speech that could be called gentle, catching Dou and Li by surprise. They hurriedly responded: "Thank you, Your Majesty!"

After considering for a while longer, Liu Chengyou sighed: "I have grown tired from the journey. You may withdraw for now."

"Yes!" Both were somewhat taken aback, then withdrew respectfully.

After the two ministers had withdrawn, Liu Chengyou set aside all his emotions and became placid. That fury he had displayed toward Dou and Li was more a manifestation of political craft—merely to intimidate and admonish them. On the surface, his anger surged like a raging fire, but within, his heart was as still as an ancient well.

In truth, the Dou-Li dispute was not a major problem for the court or for Liu Chengyou. Though the two had clashed fiercely, it was not as severe as Liu Chengyou had described.

To a certain extent, he was even pleased to see contradictions between circuit and prefecture, with each checking the other—so long as it remained within controllable bounds. After all, the Administration Commission, though newly established only a few years ago, governed all civil affairs of a circuit, commanding the prefectures below while communicating directly with the court above. Its weight of power was staggering.

But given the current developmental situation of the state, every circuit office needed a senior official to coordinate government affairs, and the Administration Commissioner's authority needed to be substantial. Once the realm was unified and all under heaven returned to peace, Liu Chengyou would set about reducing the powers of the Administration Commissions—this he had already conceived in his mind.

On the other hand, Liu Chengyou was also well aware that the root of the struggle between Dou Yi and Li Tao lay with the two chancellors in court, Li and Fan. In recent years, Chancellor Li Tao's power had grown ever greater, and when a man is pleased with himself, arrogance inevitably follows.

Throughout the court and within and beyond the Eastern Capital, there were no few officials promoted by Li Tao. Especially since he concurrently held the Ministry of Personnel, the selection and promotion of many officials fell within his jurisdiction.

As for Li Tao's unconscious accumulation of power, Fan Zhi naturally found it hard to stomach. Thus, as time passed, the two who had once been allies grew increasingly distant, until they went their separate ways.

On many recent matters, the two rarely saw eye to eye. And Fan Zhi had become an important piece in the Hall of State Affairs to counterbalance Li Tao. In the recent reorganization of the circuit offices, many officials selected by Li Tao had met with Fan Zhi's opposition, and the Hebei West Circuit Administration Commission was a typical example.

Li Tao was Li Tao's younger brother, and ideally should have been avoided to prevent suspicion. But before the recommendation, Liu Chengyou had issued an edict allowing all ministers to recommend the worthy without avoiding kin or foes—though he added a clause of "joint liability for the recommender," it still reflected Liu Chengyou's attitude toward employing people. For mid- and lower-level posts, it might not matter, but a circuit Administration Commissioner was clearly a position where caution should have been exercised. Yet Li Tao had evidently taken the Emperor's words too literally and indeed recommended his own brother.

As for the result—under Liu Chengyou's arbitration, Dou Yi ended up plucking the peach.

Thinking it over, Liu Chengyou could not help but sigh. In the year or two right after Feng Dao retired, Li Tao and Fan Zhi could be called comrades-in-arms, advancing and retreating together on matters of state and governance.

In fact, Li Tao should be grateful for Fan Zhi's opposition. Otherwise, given Li Tao's power-grabbing behavior over the past two years, Liu Chengyou would likely have deposed him. It cannot be denied that Li Tao was a skilled administrator, handled affairs appropriately, and had served two emperors for a decade with no small share of toil and merit. However, once he aroused the Emperor's displeasure and wariness, ability and achievements meant nothing—they would be selectively forgotten.

A faint smile slowly spread at the corners of his mouth. Gazing toward the south, Liu Chengyou suddenly felt curious—without him in the Eastern Capital, what scene was unfolding in the court?

Shaking himself back to the present, Liu Chengyou began considering that he needed some way to deal with Dou Yi and Li Tao. But how to deal with them, and under what pretext—he still had not reached a decision.

As for Dou Yi and Li Tao, they left the traveling palace one after the other. After exiting, they glanced at each other, found no common ground for conversation, exchanged not a single word, and went their separate ways.

"Governor, shall we return to the office?" The household servant led the carriage and asked respectfully.

"No, return to the residence!" Dou Yi thought for a moment, his face cold.

"Return to the residence?" The servant was somewhat surprised, glancing at the sky—the spring sunshine was bright and pleasant.

"Return to the residence to await punishment and the imperial decree!" Dou Yi said flatly.

Only after he boarded the carriage, let down the curtain, and was alone did Dou Yi heave a deep sigh and force a bitter smile. He sensed in his heart that this time would not be easy to get through. A wave of bitterness clogged his chest. Even back when he had offended the Emperor with blunt remonstrance in the Eastern Capital, he had never felt so anxious and uncertain as today.

From the bottom of his heart, Dou Yi did not believe he had committed any grave error—at most, he had failed to get along with a colleague and had brought the conflict to the Eastern Capital. If he were charged with usurping power and neglecting duties, he would truly not accept it. Since taking office, he had been diligent and conscientious, never once slack.

He was also an Administration Commissioner—look at Wang Pu's power in Huai East; would the Prefect of Yangzhou dare to oppose him the way Li Tao had opposed Dou Yi? Compared to Wang Pu's style and methods, Dou Yi's conduct was a minor matter next to a major one. In light of this, Dou Yi's feelings were a mix of five flavors...