Chapter 79

Woc, the author is an idiot; both posts were scheduled to go out at 7 o'clock, qwq.

Wang You, Wang Shuwen, the Reform Faction.

Wang You.

Minister of War, the Wang Family, Wang Hui, the "Follow‑the‑Emperor Merit Official" who accompanied the retired emperor back from the Shu Region.

Minister of War, the Wang Family, Wang Hui, the Shu Region, the Loyal and Diligent Earl, and the posthumous title Wen Zheng Gong.

The Loyal and Diligent Earl and the posthumous title Wen Zheng Gong.

The "Follow‑the‑Emperor Merit Official".

The prestige and connections accumulated over three generations of the Wang Family are incomparable to those of Wang Shuwen and the other officials who suddenly gained the emperor's trust and favor.

Wang You's younger brother Wang Ce is the Grand General of the Dragon Martial Army, holding the capital's defense.

With the support of the Wang Family comes the backing of military power; not only within the Tang Dynasty but also in the capital and the surrounding prefectures and counties, stability can be ensured.

Wang Shuwen promptly submitted a memorial to Emperor Shunzong, recommending Wang You to join the Royal Secretariat and take part in the decision‑making of the new policies.

Although Emperor Shunzong could not speak, when he heard Wang You's name his tired eyes lit up with a glimmer of hope, and he managed to nod weakly.

Thus, Wang You, in his capacity as Minister of War, also took on the role of "Co‑Chancellor", officially becoming a member of the Council of Chancellors.

The news spread, shaking both the court and the realm.

The old officials and eunuchs who had previously sneered at Wang Shuwen and his allies also felt a genuine threat.

They were not afraid of Wang Shuwen's talent nor Liu Zongyuan's literary flair; what frightened them was the Wang Family's extensive connections with the court and the regional officials.

After Wang You (also known as Wang Xiu) entered the Royal Secretariat, he did not wield a broad axe on personnel changes like Wang Shuwen, nor did he deliver a fiery reform proclamation like Liu Zongyuan.

The first thing he did was to take the rough and hastily drafted reform plans already prepared by Wang Shuwen, Liu Yuxi and others, and then began revising the plan using various online history trolls.

Three days later, he presented an entirely new, more thorough, refined, and operationally feasible reform plan.

In this plan, Wang You (Wang Xiu) seamlessly integrated the comments of internet trolls with the social realities of the Tang Dynasty.

For example, regarding eunuch reform, Wang Shuwen's original plan was to remove eunuchs outright from critical departments such as Salt and Iron and Transport.

The idea was satisfying, but Wang Xiu (Wang Xiu) knew it was fundamentally unworkable.

The eunuch faction's power is massive; confronting them head‑on would only provoke their most furious backlash.

Wang You (Wang Xiu) proposed the "Clear Promotion, Subtle Demotion" and "Stepwise Vacancy" scheme.

He suggested keeping senior eunuchs in their posts within the Salt and Iron and Transport offices, even granting them flattering titles to save face; while not all eunuchs would accept this, a portion would, as they care little for power but highly value honors in life and after death.

Then, beneath them, he established positions such as Deputy Envoy and Judge, gradually transferring real authority to officials of the Reform Faction, like a frog being boiled in warm water.

At the same time, he instituted an extremely stringent Financial Audit System; every transaction must be clearly recorded and undergo double auditing by the Household Department and the Censorate.

As a result, although eunuchs remained nominally in charge, their hands were completely tied, preventing them from the unchecked corruption of the past.

Over time, they would naturally find the position dull and either leave voluntarily or be caught due to accounting irregularities.

Furthermore, regarding reforms of the regional militias, Liu Zongyuan and others proposed forcibly reducing each militia's troops and returning military power to the central government.

That idea was even more naive.

If you dare to curtail the fiefs, the militias will immediately rise in rebellion.

Wang You (Wang Xiu)'s plan is called the "Push En Order" and "Economic Control".

He drew on Emperor Wu of Han's methods for dealing with feudal princes, advising the court to issue an edict permitting each regional commander to parcel out his lands and troops to his sons.

Consequently, a large militia would be split into several smaller ones, which would constantly check each other for profit, leading to endless infighting, while the court reaps the benefits.

He also suggested leveraging the Wang Family's commercial network in Jiangnan to control the nationwide circulation of vital resources such as Salt Control, Iron Control, tea, and Silk.

Using economic measures to choke the militias' lifelines.

Disobey? Fine. I'll cut off your Salt Control, cut off your Iron Control, let your soldiers starve of salt and lack Weapon. See how long you can hold out.

This combination of tactics may seem simple, yet a plan that even modern netizens raise eyebrows at after a thousand years proves highly effective today.

When Wang Shuwen, Liu Zongyuan and others saw Wang You's proposal, they finally realized how childish and reckless their previous ideas had been.

"Wang Minister… no, Wang Prime Minister!" Wang Shuwen exclaimed, looking at Wang You. "You… you are the true talent of a chancellor! I, Wang Shuwen, am far inferior to you!"

Liu Zongyuan sincerely praised, "Listening to your words is worth ten years of study. Compared with the Wang Prime Minister, we are merely stale scholars debating tactics on paper."

Wang You (Wang Xiu) calmly waved his hand: "I'm merely filling in the gaps. The real credit belongs to all of you. I have only one request."

"Wang Prime Minister, please speak!"

"Externally, this must be credited to you, Wang Scholar, and the other gentlemen. I, Wang You, only helped organize the documents behind the scenes; my name could even be omitted from the memorial."

Wang Shuwen and the others were stunned by his words.

They did not understand why Wang You would hand over such monumental credit and post‑victory honors to others.

But Wang You (Wang Xiu) knew exactly that he sought not fame but substance.

What use is fleeting fame? He wants this reform to be truly implemented.

The Wang Family's background appears overly illustrious to many. If he steps onto the stage as the reform leader, he would inevitably become the focal target of all Conservative Faction forces.

By staying behind the scenes and pushing Wang Shuwen and others to the front, they attract the fire while he quietly manipulates everything from the rear.

This is also the first line of insurance he provides for the Wang Family in this high‑stakes gamble.

Under Wang You's meticulous planning, the Yongzhen Reform continued to unfold in a manner far more stable and powerful than in history.

In the court, Wang Shuwen and others engaged in sharp verbal battles with the Conservative Faction.

Inside the palace, Wang Ce's Dragon Martial Army acted as a stabilizing pillar, firmly securing the capital's situation and deterring any mischievous eunuchs from daring any move.

Within just a few months, the reform's effects were immediately evident.

The eunuchs' power was greatly diminished.

The most overbearing militias, under the dual blows of Economic Control sanctions and internal fragmentation, were forced to bow to the court and publicly pledge compliance with its orders.

The Tang Dynasty's governance seemed to finally show a glimmer of revival.

From his sickbed, Emperor Shunzong learned the news and was moved to tears.

He even briefly thought he might truly revitalize the decayed court and restore the golden age of Emperors Taizong and Xuanzong.

However, Wang You (Wang Xiu) knew deep down that all their current victories rested on an extremely fragile foundation.

That is Emperor Shunzong's health.

As long as Emperor Shunzong remains alive, these reformers have the emperor's mandate — it is legitimate and proper.

But once Emperor Shunzong passes away...

Wang You (Wang Xiu) dared not think further.

He knows he must, before Emperor Shunzong falls, find another path for the Wang family and this reform.

His gaze turned toward the Eastern Palace.

Crown Prince Li Chun.

That person, in history, ended this reform, yet also inherited part of its achievements, and opened the future of the 'Yuanhe Restoration' — Emperor Xianzong of Tang.