Chapter 884: Establishing the Crown Prince

Watching the Emperor's expression closely, Wang Pu asked cautiously: "Does Your Majesty wish to establish a Crown Prince?"

"My sons are growing up, and I do have this thought! This is a matter of state and family, concerning the fate of the dynasty. I wish to hear your views!" Liu Chengyou appeared quite relaxed, replying casually, as if he were not discussing a matter of such grave importance to the state and the court.

Hearing this, Wang Pu's expression grew even more serious, yet he showed little hesitation and answered directly: "If Your Majesty wishes to settle the foundation of the state, your servant's opinion is that it should be the Second Prince!"

Wang Pu's blunt and direct words rather surprised Liu Chengyou, who turned his head to look at him and asked with a light smile: "Why? What is there about Liu Yang that warrants your forthright endorsement? Do you believe he possesses the talent to inherit the great mandate?"

Meeting the Emperor's gaze, Wang Pu appeared perfectly at ease: "Since ancient times, succession has followed the principle of the eldest legitimate son first—this is the way to ensure stability and secure the foundation. Unless there are extraordinary circumstances, it should not be altered."

Pausing briefly, seeing that Liu Chengyou was listening attentively, Wang Pu continued: "Though His Highness is young, his bearing bears the mark of the sun and sky, resembling Your Majesty's own countenance. With Your Majesty's wisdom and His Majesty's virtue, he can be carefully instructed and nurtured in moral character to be worthy of the position."

"Moreover, Your Majesty is in the prime of life and can still hold the reins of state for decades to come, surely completing the great enterprise you have begun. Once these achievements are accomplished, the successor need not possess Your Majesty's extraordinary strategic brilliance—virtue enough to employ worthy men, benevolence enough to love the people, that will suffice!"

Wang Pu's words, when analyzed, contained three layers of meaning.

First, the system of eldest legitimate son succession should not be altered without extraordinary circumstances; second, the son is honored through his mother, and he and the Empress have ample time to educate him; third, since His Majesty as the founding sovereign will have accomplished the great deeds, the successor only needs to maintain what has been achieved—the requirements need not be too high.

"I understand!" Liu Chengyou let out a slight sigh at this reply, offering no further comment, only admonishing: "The matter of establishing the heir is but a private conversation between you and me—it must not be spoken of to others!"

"Your servant understands!" Wang Pu sensed that the Emperor had not yet made up his mind, but since matters had reached this point, it was not appropriate to say more.

Regarding the question of the Crown Prince, Liu Chengyou had not consulted Wang Pu to test him. Wang Pu had governed Yangzhou for many years, far from the center of power, so his words would be more objective. At the same time, Liu Chengyou also wished to unburden himself and alleviate some of the turmoil in his heart.

On the question of the Crown Prince, Liu Chengyou had not been undecided about whom to establish—as long as the elder Lady Fu was present, there was no choice but Liu Yang. Moreover, Liu Yang had no intellectual or physical deficiencies, and by birthright he was the first successor—this even Liu Chengyou himself acknowledged.

What he hesitated over was the timing of establishing the Crown Prince—that was the true reflection of his complex psychology. If he established the heir early, he could not be certain how Liu Yang would develop in the future; at the same time, it would also divide the authority of Emperor Liu, and would raise the question of the relationship between father and son, sovereign and subject.

Furthermore, Liu Chengyou had many sons, not yet fully grown. But what of the future? Would not establishing the heir early make Liu Yang the target of all his other sons? Liu Chengyou could not guarantee that all his sons would obediently accept this—there was indeed a thought of "protecting" Liu Yang.

But another voice reminded him: if he did not establish Liu Yang's position early, allowing the princes to grow up with the hierarchical relationship of "sovereign and subject" ingrained from childhood, then once they were older, the ambition to contend for the succession would likely arise in every one of them.

As a creature of power, Liu Chengyou's considerations were ultimately rooted in the word "power"—otherwise he would not be so tormented. Before Empress Fu, the elder Lady Fu, he had more than once explicitly or implicitly indicated his intention to establish Liu Yang, yet he had never truly pushed it forward.

As for the choice of Crown Prince, there was in fact a basic consensus among the ministers: establish Liu Yang. Although the final decision rested firmly in Liu Chengyou's hands, their inclination was always toward the eldest legitimate son.

In fact, if one wished to reduce palace coups and ensure the stability of imperial succession, the system of eldest legitimate son was already the institution that conformed to the values of both internal and external ministers. Choosing according to established norms could at least reassure the people's hearts.

As for the so-called selection of the worthy—that was itself a topic prone to discord. There was simply no standard for defining worthiness, whereas the identity of the eldest legitimate son was forever clear and unambiguous. Before Yang Guang ascended the throne, he was absolutely a wise Crown Prince and a qualified successor—but who could have imagined that within a dozen years he would bring the once-prosperous Great Sui Empire to ruin?

Liu Chengyou was well aware of the ministers' inclinations, but many times, as an observer, one sees others' affairs clearly; when it comes to one's own, one walks a similar path. The lessons of history are useless—why? Still the word "power." Moreover, if an emperor reigned too long, it was also a tremendous pressure on the Crown Prince—the kind that could drive a man to illness...

This was also why, from ancient times to the present, so many Crown Princes born of the eldest legitimate line came to no good end. Half sovereign, half subject—though the foundation of the state, they stood to a certain degree in opposition to the Emperor. Any misstep could easily arouse suspicion, and encountering a monarch with a strong personality and an extreme lust for power like Liu Chengyou, life would be hard indeed.

Among the ministers, Wang Pu was the first to directly state that Liu Yang should be established as Crown Prince. If Liu Chengyou had not revealed his thoughts and taken the initiative to ask, Wang Pu would not have voluntarily involved himself in this matter or voiced his opinion. But since the Emperor had asked, he held nothing back and spoke his mind directly. And from Liu Chengyou's understanding of Wang Pu, he believed that Wang Pu was considering the Great Han and his Emperor in offering this loyal counsel.

Originally, in Liu Chengyou's conception, he would establish the Crown Prince after destroying the Southern Tang, Wuyue, and the Southern Yue, unifying the south. At that time, the Great Han would enter a new stage of development, and the Crown Prince would emerge as circumstances demanded—this would also help further consolidate the Great Han's regime, stabilize the court, and unite the people's hearts.

However, now that the northern expedition had been decided, Liu Chengyou had to consider the matter further. As for the commander of the northern expedition, there was no need for much deliberation—Liu Chengyou had long planned to lead the campaign personally. Under this premise, the establishment of the Crown Prince was moved onto Liu Chengyou's agenda.

Leading the campaign personally was not like the previous tour of the north—this meant going to war, approaching the front lines. Who could guarantee there would be no mishap? Liu Chengyou was a man of deep deliberation; he had to make responsible preparations for the Great Han, and the Crown Prince was one measure to stabilize the rear.

Seeing the Emperor lost in thought, Wang Pu stood in attendance without disturbing him. After a long while, Liu Chengyou finally came back to himself, turned to Wang Pu, and once again broke into a smile, saying affably: "You must be quite weary after this day. I shall not detain you further—return to your residence and rest! Having been away from the capital for many years, the Eastern Capital has been completely transformed. Take the time to familiarize yourself with the changes in its customs and conditions. Also take the opportunity to rest for a while, to recover from years of toil and build up your strength—I still have great use for you!"

"Yes! Your servant takes his leave!" At this, Wang Pu duly bowed and withdrew.

After Wang Pu had left, Liu Chengyou stood in contemplation for a moment, then summoned Sun Yanxi and instructed: "Convey my oral decree—from the inner treasury, allocate one hundred thousand in cash and fifty bolts of silk, to be bestowed upon Wang Pu's household!"

"Yes!"

After Wang Pu returned to the capital, Liu Chengyou let him rest for a full twenty days before having him resume work, appointing him as Grand Academician of the Chongzheng Hall and Chief Minister, and elevating his noble rank to Commandery Duke of Dongping.

This was yet another measure to check the power of the Hall of State Affairs. Although the parallel structure of the Chongzheng and Guangzheng Halls had long been established, in terms of actual authority, the Guangzheng Hall had always been stronger than the Chongzheng Hall.

The Academicians and officials of the Chongzheng Hall were more in the capacity of the Emperor's close attendants, participating in state affairs, with their every move primarily representing the Emperor's will. But in terms of rank and status, they were far inferior to the chancellors of the Hall of State Affairs; even the chief Academician in charge of the Chongzheng Hall was only ranked at the fourth grade. Now with Wang Pu, a weighty minister bearing the title of Grand Academician, entering court, the prestige immediately rose, representing a further elevation of the Chongzheng Hall's status.

During the period entering June, the entire Great Han was essentially in an atmosphere of outward calm but inward tension in preparation for war. Without heavily mobilizing civilian labor, military equipment, grain, and troops were being transferred northward in batches under various pretexts.

In the court, the "north-south dispute" that had lasted over a month also finally subsided, seemingly without reaching any conclusion. The tension on the Han-Liao border, heightened by the Battle of Yanmen, seemed to have eased somewhat, with both sides still exercising restraint. However, appearances were ultimately just appearances—the most direct change was that the border trade that had flourished for years had completely withered. From Hedong to Youyan, the various large and small trading posts and markets had basically all been shut down.

The Han envoy Wang Zhaoyuan traveled north beyond the frontier, bearing the Great Han's goodwill and sincerity, wishing to visit the Liao Emperor Yelu Jing. In the end, he had to chase him all the way to the Supreme Capital Linhuang Prefecture before he was granted an audience.

Coincidentally, before the Liao Emperor returned north, he had also sent envoys southward, wishing to offer an explanation for the "conflict" at Yanmen and ease the tensions. And the envoy was none other than the defeated Liao Prince of Anping, Yelu Dilie. But this time, he was escorted by Han cavalry all the way, protected so tightly that not a breath could leak through.

On the twentieth day of the sixth month, Liu Chengyou suddenly summoned the civil and military ministers to the palace gardens to escape the heat and hold a discussion meeting. Though the sun blazed overhead, beneath the green shade by the azure lake, drinking cold tea and eating snacks and pastries of the Eastern Capital, the sovereign and his ministers chatted and laughed freely—a scene of pleasant ease.

Taking a bite of pastry, Liu Chengyou wiped his mouth with a chilled cloth and suddenly gave a light cough, drawing the attention of the assembled ministers, who all fell silent and looked toward him. Setting down the silk cloth, Liu Chengyou asked with a smile: "I now wish to establish a Crown Prince to secure the foundation of the state and extend the great inheritance. Among the sons at my knee, who is worthy to carry on the enterprise?"

This question startled and delighted Fan Zhi and the others. Seeing his calm expression, they all realized—the Emperor had finally relented. As for who should be established as Crown Prince, there was nothing worth disputing.

In the Kunming Hall, Empress Fu, her pregnant belly prominent, leaned back in a soft chair, holding a scroll of a book and reading quietly. Her dignified and noble bearing was enough to make ordinary mortals feel ashamed of their own inadequacy.

A eunuch came rushing in hastily, his reckless behavior drawing a soft rebuke from the attendant ladies. It was the elder Lady Fu who asked gently: "What is so urgent that you are in such a fluster?"

"Your Grace, great news! His Majesty has issued an edict—on the first day of the seventh month, the Prince Liu Yang is to be ceremonially established as Crown Prince!" The eunuch replied with a beaming smile.

At his words, the elder Lady Fu's jade-like fingers suddenly gripped the book tightly, her fingernails almost piercing through it. But soon, a calm, faint smile appeared on her face, as if she were not particularly concerned.