Dressed in plain cloth, the Chief Secretary Qi Yanglong left the Imperial Astronomical Observatory. Under the personal guidance of the Chief Eunuch Song Tanglu, the elderly man made his way to a small hall named Yangshen Hall, located at the transitional zone between the inner and outer courts of Liyang.
Recently revitalized, Yangshen Hall lies within the inner court yet closely connects to the outer court. With twelve grand academicians from the Hall and Pavilion Academies handling state affairs nearby, this once-abandoned hall has swiftly become the true nerve center of the empire. The hall, modest in size, follows a typical “工”-shaped layout, featuring a front hall and rear chambers. A grand plaque inscribed by the late Emperor Zhao Dun, reading “Impartial and Harmonious,” hangs prominently within. Recently, the young emperor has shifted his small court assemblies here, conducting important meetings with ministers. Several newly appointed frontier officials, such as Tian Zong, Dong Gong, and Huang Weidong—former members of the Gu faction—along with the ex-leader of the Qing faction, Hong Lingshu, and Wu Zhongxuan, the newly appointed Minister of War replacing Lu Baijie, as well as the head of the Liaodong Peng family succeeding Han Lin as Vice Minister of Justice, have all paid their respects to the emperor here.
As Qi Yanglong stepped into the main hall of Yangshen Hall, Huan Wen, the chief of the Menxia Province, and Chen Wang, the Left Imperial Advisor, were already present. Zhao Youling and Yin Maochun, who assisted the elderly man in managing the Zhongshu Province, were also in attendance. Despite being political rivals bound by marriage, the two stood far apart, their demeanor anything but harmonious, exuding an air of mutual indifference. Among the six grand academicians, only Wen Shouren of Wuying Hall and Yan Jiexi of Dongyuan Pavilion had entered. None of the newly appointed academicians from the Pavilion Academies appeared.
Additionally, the three influential Liyang nobles—Prince Zhao Yang of Changshan, Duke Gao Shizhi of Yan, and Marquis Song Daoning of Huaiyang—were present. To most Liyang officials, these figures were legendary yet rarely seen, maintaining a low profile.
Compared to these either powerful or renowned figures, Tang Tieshuang, the Left Vice Minister of War, though holding substantial authority, remained a junior, standing at the rear alongside Wen Taiyi, the Qing faction’s representative in Tai’an City. The latter was a legend in the capital’s political scene, having occupied the position of Vice Minister of Personnel for over a decade without moving, serving under three successive ministers. Hence, the saying in the Ministry of Personnel: “Flowing ministers, ironclad vice ministers.” Even the straightforward Elder Tan often teased Wen Taiyi as “Old Vice Minister Wen,” making everyone forget that this “old” vice minister was actually not yet fifty!
Qi Yanglong had deliberately lingered outside the corridor for a moment. Had it been anyone else, Chief Eunuch Song Tanglu would have hurried them along. But for the Chief Secretary, exceptions were made. Song Tanglu stood quietly beside the elderly man as the booming voice of Grand Academician Wen Shouren echoed from within—astonishingly vigorous for a septuagenarian. The esteemed elder, brimming with righteous indignation, declared, “Your Majesty, that Northern Liang barbarian is utterly disrespectful! Not only has he humiliated the Ministry of Rites, but now he’s causing chaos in the Imperial Astronomical Observatory! This is beyond unacceptable! The court must no longer tolerate his actions, or where will the imperial dignity lie? Your Majesty, though I am but a scholar, I still have my old bones and unyielding integrity. I shall go alone to Xiamawei Posthouse and arrest that barbarian! If he dares to kill me, then so be it! I only ask Your Majesty to hold him accountable afterward. Even in death, I shall have served my purpose!”
Song Tanglu kept his gaze lowered, but the Chief Secretary’s exaggerated eye-roll was unmistakable from the side.
Inside the hall, Prince Zhao Yang of Changshan, of similar age to Wen Shouren, exchanged glances with the younger Duke Gao and Marquis Song. The latter two were visibly taken aback. The three had secluded themselves from court affairs for years, mingling only with royalty and nobility, rarely interacting with outer officials. They had only heard of Grand Academician Wen’s unyielding character; witnessing it firsthand was still a revelation. The old prince slowly withdrew his gaze, frowning. As a veteran of the Liyang imperial clan, Zhao Yang had witnessed the entirety of the Spring and Autumn Wars, earning significant military merits. During Emperor Gaozu’s enfeoffment, he should have ranked in the top ten. However, due to a secret incident, he ended up with only the hollow title of Prince of Changshan, almost an insult. Thereafter, he devoted himself to leisurely pursuits, raising flowers, birds, fish, and insects. With few male heirs in the Prince of Changshan’s household, the old prince gradually faded into obscurity. While the relatively younger Gao Shizhi and Song Daoning returned to court with ambitious plans, the elderly prince seemed at most a fading ember, offering only residual warmth.
Grand Academician Wen, famous for his coffin-borne remonstrance, began enumerating the young prince’s crimes since inheriting his title, his voice impassioned, filling the hall with righteous indignation. The Wuying Hall academician was clearly determined to oppose the Xu family to the end. Rumors in Tai’an City had long suggested that Wen harbored such bias against anyone surnamed Xu that even capital officials bearing the name received his disdain. One of the city’s two major scandals in the past half-year involved the Wen family. It was said that the grand academician’s spoiled granddaughter had threatened to elope to the northwest to meet the new Liang King, nearly succeeding before being stopped. The incident reportedly left Grand Academician Wen bedridden for months, during which Jin Lanting of the Ministry of Rites visited him at least three times. Yet, judging by Wen’s current vigor, the rumors seemed exaggerated.
Within the hall, Vice Minister Wen Taiyi of Personnel, though holding the same rank as Chen Wang and Tang Tieshuang, was acutely aware of the disparity. As one of the Qing faction’s three pillars—the other two being the late Grand Pillar Lu Feichi, whose family had married into the Northern Liang and relocated there, and General Hong Lingshu of Qingzhou, who had moved from the provinces to the capital—the Qing faction’s overall influence remained uncertain. However, the emperor’s intent to reinstate Qing faction officials was undeniable. With Wei Dong, another Qingzhou native, recently appointed as the foremost figure in the Guangling and Qingzhou navies, the speculation gained further credence. Yin Maochun had only recently taken charge of the Ministry of Personnel, making Wen Taiyi’s ascension to the position of Liyang’s celestial official unlikely. However, transitioning to another ministry as its head was not impossible, with opportunities in Justice, Works, or Revenue. Wen Taiyi’s somewhat “abrupt” appearance today drew extra glances from Zhao Youling and Yin Maochun.
The young emperor did not interrupt Grand Academician Wen’s impassioned display of a scholar’s integrity. However, Qi Yanglong’s entrance and the collective turn of the powerful ministers caused Wen to halt mid-speech, joining the others in bowing respectfully to the Chief Secretary.
Standing in the position befitting the empire’s foremost minister, Qi Yanglong bowed to the emperor and succinctly stated, “I have just met with the Northern Liang King. He has agreed to leave the capital the day after tomorrow. Regarding the lifting of the grain transport embargo, he requests that the court deliver five hundred thousand shi of provisions to the Northern Liang region by next autumn.”
Huan Wen’s eyes flickered with doubt as he glanced at the Chief Secretary beside him. He noticed Qi Yanglong subtly flipping his hand in a small gesture as he mentioned the figure “five hundred thousand shi.”
Prince Zhao Yang of Changshan drooped his eyelids, his disappointment evident—though only he knew the reason.
At the rear, Tang Tieshuang of the Ministry of War curled his lips in a cold smirk. “Xu Fengnian, after stirring such a storm in Tai’an City, you dare ask for only five hundred thousand shi? Did entering the capital strip you of even the courage to demand more?”
Seated on the dais, the young emperor took a light breath, a fleeting smile crossing his face as he surveyed the assembled Liyang dignitaries. In a calm tone, he asked, “What say you, my ministers?”
Just as Wen Shouren prepared to erupt in condemnation of the new Liang King, Chen Wang, standing beside him and Yan Jiexi, spoke first: “Your Majesty, the Northern Liang King and its people are separate matters. Granting the five hundred thousand shi to the Northern Liang region is acceptable.”
Wen Shouren immediately clamped his mouth shut, swallowing his prepared tirade word by word. Though he could still afford to posture slightly before Jin Sanlang as a three-dynasty veteran, he found himself inexplicably wary of Junior Guardian Chen, whom he had never interacted with. On the rare occasions they crossed paths, Wen made a point of being cordial, yet Chen never reciprocated with any special regard, leaving Wen with a mix of regret and unspoken unease.
Prince Zhao Yang of Changshan, who had not spoken in court for years, broke his silence with a startling declaration: “Your Majesty, the Northern Liang soldiers have fought valiantly beyond the passes, deserving not just five hundred thousand shi but even a million. However, as a prince, Xu Fengnian’s lawless behavior in the capital must not be condoned. Therefore, I propose granting him not a single grain!”
Grand Academician Yan Jiexi of Dongyuan Pavilion concurred: “Your Majesty, I second Prince Zhao Yang’s opinion. The Northern Liang people and soldiers have merits, but the prince has faults. Let merits and faults offset each other. Only by clear rewards and punishments can the court’s laws be upheld.”
Tang Tieshuang added gravely, “Your Majesty, I volunteer to escort the Northern Liang King out of the capital and its vicinity today!”
The young emperor remained noncommittal, his gaze shifting until it settled on the diminutive figure of Wen Taiyi at the back. With a warm smile, he asked, “Vice Minister Wen, do you have anything to say?”
Without hesitation, Wen Taiyi replied, “Your Majesty, regarding the grain transport embargo to the Northern Liang, I believe provisions can be granted—but sparingly, not abundantly; gradually, not hastily.”
Yangshen Hall’s layout featured a front hall and rear chambers, with a secret room to the right of the connecting corridor. On the western wall of this room hung a massive chart inscribed with the names and titles of nearly all significant Liyang officials, civilian and military alike, from the capital to the provinces, from the Three Departments and Six Ministries to regional governors and generals. A young man in white robes stood before the chart, his eyes closed—a blind man in the heart of Liyang’s power. Though he could not see the chart’s contents, he could sense its silent “momentum.”
When Wen Taiyi proposed his ten-character strategy—”sparingly, not abundantly; gradually, not hastily”—the young blind man smiled knowingly, appreciating its tactical wisdom while also detecting a hint of mockery.
The young emperor announced, “The matter of grain transport quotas will be discussed tomorrow. Today, I wish to consult you all on the appointment of the Jing’an Circuit’s Military Commissioner.”
Almost everyone immediately understood: So that was why Vice Minister Wen had made an exception to appear today.
There was little left to discuss. In matters of official promotions, the young emperor now wielded near-absolute authority. Chief Secretary Qi Yanglong and Huan Wen of the Menxia Province never dissented, and with Chen Wang’s consistent attendance at small court assemblies and Yin Maochun’s tacit compliance, appointments proceeded unimpeded. Thus, even if Wen Taiyi, a native of Qingzhou, being appointed as the civilian head of the Jing’an Circuit slightly violated Liyang protocols, no one would quibble over such trivialities with the emperor. Moreover, who would dare offend the deeply entrenched future “young” commissioner, who had spent over a decade as the Ministry of Personnel’s second-in-command distributing official appointments? At under fifty, leaping from a ministry vice position to a regional commissioner clearly signaled his eventual return to the capital, with a promising future—perhaps even ascending to a top-tier position within a decade.
Wen Shouren swiftly and righteously proclaimed Vice Minister Wen the ideal candidate.
Who in Tai’an City didn’t know of the inseparable bond between the “Big and Little Wen”?
After the emperor’s decisive approval, Wen Taiyi naturally knelt in gratitude, moved to tears.
As the soon-to-be Jing’an Circuit commissioner rose, a tall, elderly general in full military regalia strode into the hall. After bowing in apology, he stood silently near Tang Tieshuang. Duke Gao and Marquis Song exchanged amused glances. The Minister of War had refrained from lodging a complaint on the spot—likely because most present, except the two grand academicians and the newly promoted Wen Taiyi, were already aware of the incident at the Southern Army camp, where the elite forces of the Southern Expedition General had suffered heavy casualties at the hands of two spear-wielding grandmasters whose identities remained unknown.
The ensuing dialogue between emperor and ministers was lukewarm, with the young emperor focusing on Wu Zhongxuan’s updates regarding the Guangling Circuit’s military situation.
Half an hour later, the profoundly significant small court assembly concluded, leaving only Qi Yanglong, Huan Wen, Chen Wang, and Wu Zhongxuan behind.
Emperor Zhao Zhuan led the three civil officials into the secret chamber. The two elders paused in surprise at the sight of the young man. The emperor smiled and introduced, “This is Lu Xu, a learned scholar from Qingzhou. My original intention was to appoint him as one of the chief instructors of the Diligence Study, but he declined. Thus, I’ve temporarily allowed him to teach there without an official title.”
The blind Lu Xu stood beside the emperor and said calmly, “Greetings, esteemed ministers.”
Huan Wen nodded with a smile, while Qi Yanglong remained expressionless, offering only a low hum.
The Diligence Study was where the imperial descendants were educated.
Was this a prelude to a white-robed ascension to the highest ranks?
Huan Wen suddenly turned to Qi Yanglong and asked, “Chief Secretary, since we’re here, shall we speak frankly?”
Earlier, before the assembly, Qi Yanglong had publicly claimed that the Northern Liang was “begging” the court for five hundred thousand shi of grain—a deliberate move to bolster the young emperor’s prestige. While fools like Wen Shouren might believe it, and others might doubt, the straightforward Elder Tan would never take it at face value.
Qi Yanglong feigned confusion, looking around. “Where’s this ‘open window’ you speak of?”
Huan Wen bristled, ready to settle accounts with the Chief Secretary.
Emperor Zhao Zhuan interjected with a smile, “I intend to lift the embargo and grant the Northern Liang a million shi of grain, entrusting the matter entirely to Wen Taiyi in Qingzhou. Chief Secretary, Elder Tan, does this seem appropriate?”
Qi Yanglong nodded, while Huan Wen pondered briefly before replying, “It must be so.”
The emperor turned to the battle-hardened Minister of War. “General Wu, you’ve suffered an injustice. I will order a thorough investigation into the Southern Army camp incident and ensure you receive answers before returning to Guangling.”
Wu Zhongxuan clasped his fists. “Your Majesty’s concern alone suffices. Rest assured, I am not one to disregard the greater good.”
The emperor nodded in satisfaction.
Huan Wen hesitated before voicing his concern: “Your Majesty, both Wen Taiyi and the Prince of Jing’an bear grudges against the Xu family of the Northern Liang. If personal vendettas interfere with public duty, jeopardizing court affairs…”
The emperor replied serenely, “Prince Zhao Xun of Jing’an is undoubtedly loyal, and Wen Taiyi’s scholarly and administrative merits are commendable. I trust they will not neglect their duties regarding grain transport.”
Unrelenting, Huan Wen pressed, “Liyang’s grain transport divides into northern and southern routes, primarily along the Guangling River and several canals, respectively, fostering two entrenched factions. Wen Taiyi has long feuded with the southern route’s overseers. Even if he acts in good faith, the southern faction may obstruct at every turn. Meanwhile, General Hong Lingshu of Qingzhou, who could have balanced the over one hundred thousand transport troops, is now in the capital. Friction in delivering a million shi to the Liang seems inevitable. In my view, if Wen Taiyi becomes Jing’an’s commissioner, a deputy military commissioner of considerable prestige should also be appointed—both to suppress unrest in the central plains and to clear the southern route’s longstanding inefficiencies!”
Though Huan Wen’s tone was forceful, the emperor remained unruffled. “In that case, Elder Tan, what do you think of promoting General Ma Xianliang of the Eastern Garrison to deputy commissioner?”
Huan Wen was taken aback.
Chen Wang was about to speak.
Ma Zhongxian’s military prowess, reputation, and family background made his promotion from third-rank General of the Western Garrison to second-rank deputy commissioner within the military hierarchy unobjectionable. However, as the son of Ma Lulang, his appointment might counterproductively hinder grain transport to the Liang, given the Ma family’s own grievances with the Xu clan.
Just as Chen Wang formulated his argument, he felt a tug on his sleeve. Turning, he saw Lu Xu “looking” ahead, as if he hadn’t moved at all.
Ever cautious, Chen Wang abandoned his intended remonstrance.
Simultaneously, he marveled: How had Lu Xu known he was about to speak?
Another half-hour later, the ministers withdrew from the secret chamber. Wu Zhongxuan bid farewell with a smile and strode off ahead.
Qi Yanglong and Huan Wen walked side by side, while Chen Wang, a “veteran” of the Diligence Study, led the newcomer Lu Xu in the opposite direction.
Chen Wang murmured, “Thank you.”
Lu Xu remained impassive, as if hearing nothing.
Elsewhere, Huan Wen, who needed no eunuch to guide him, sighed inexplicably. “Things have changed.”
Qi Yanglong uttered a near-treasonous remark: “What, now that His Majesty isn’t a mere figurehead, Elder Tan finds it disagreeable?”
Huan Wen snapped, “Nonsense!”
The Chief Secretary sniffed theatrically. “The autumn air is crisp with osmanthus fragrance—so refreshing! Where’s this foul stench?”
Huan Wen snorted and quickened his pace, clearly unwilling to walk alongside the Chief Secretary any longer.
Qi Yanglong made no effort to stop him but matched his stride, chuckling. “At the Imperial Astronomical Observatory, the Northern Liang King himself praised my scholarship as unparalleled under heaven. What say you to that, Elder Tan?”
Huan Wen eyed the smug Chief Secretary disdainfully. “Who’s he trying to fool?”
This time, it was Qi Yanglong who strode ahead.
Watching his retreating figure, Huan Wen muttered, “Has that boy gone blind? Or does this old fox have a stunning granddaughter he’s set his sights on?”
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