Chapter 66

Chapter 66

Can a strategist not ascend the throne? Volume 2: At the Foot of Taihang Mountains, A Small Test of Skill Chapter 66: The Court’s Question

The book it belongs to:


Can a strategist not ascend the throne?

Chapter 66: The Court’s Question

The words “Ye Shu” directly expressed his ambition, making Liu Hong less wary of Qiao Yan.

A young genius with flawless skills and the ability to seize power and get things done, whether he could be controlled once fully grown, or whether his future successor could control him, was indeed a difficult question to answer.

But what if he were a lone minister or a harsh official?

There was a previous example—the Commandant of the Capital, Yang Qiu.

Yang Qiu, who had also been involved in suppressing bandits in the Jiujiang region, had made a name for himself by eliminating bandits while serving as the Prefect of Jiujiang, eventually becoming the Chancellor of Pingyuan and the Commandant of the Capital.

In the matter of executing the eunuch Wang Fu, Yang Qiu was the main person in charge. His harsh methods forced the eunuchs to band together and seek help from the emperor, ultimately leading to Cao Jie falsely accusing Yang Qiu, resulting in his imprisonment and execution.

But did Liu Hong really not know that the “false accusation” at that time was indeed false?

Not necessarily.

He used the hands of capable and harsh officials like Yang Qiu to execute power-hungry eunuchs like Wang Fu and Hou Lan, fully seizing power. Then, after the remaining eunuchs, fearing for their own safety, sided with him, he killed Yang Qiu as a means of reconciliation.

When Qiao Yan handed over her aggressive actions of kidnapping provincial officials as leverage to him, did he see a genius even more astonishing than Qiao Xuan, or a second Yang Qiu?

The Han Dynasty revered the virtue of fire and valued military prowess, which led Yang Qiu, after his mother was insulted, to gather allies and kill local officials while suppressing bandits in Jiujiang, also eliminating all local officials.

Such a person could be the blazing fire that burns away the rot and decay for a time, but would inevitably become a target of retribution, ultimately burning himself.

But even with the lesson of Yang Qiu six years prior, there were still those who aimed to follow his path, not seeking eternal high positions, but only a moment of leaving a name in history.

In Qiao Yan’s apology, filled with the implication of “I’ll dare to do it again,” and in the courtesy name she gave herself to take responsibility for one person, Liu Hong saw this potential.

This was undoubtedly good news for him.

Zhang Rang, who was constantly observing his expression, clearly saw that the previous dark clouds and gathering rain on Liu Hong’s face had turned into a kind of satisfaction, or rather, the pleasure of discovering a new opportunity for balance.

Qiao Ye Shu…

This was a name Zhang Rang had not heard before.

But combined with Bingzhou, it wasn’t hard to guess who it was.

This was probably Qiao Yan.

Seeing the Marquis of Leping connected with a major event again after a year, for some reason, Zhang Rang felt it was only natural.

But some people might not be so pleased.

He then saw Liu Hong pick up the two letters that came with Qiao Yan’s apology.

One of them was the letter Qiao Yan mentioned, which she had sent to the Governor of Bingzhou after completing the Dragon Bone Waterwheel in Leping, dated three to four months ago.

And the other…

“The Yuan Clan is absurd!”

Liu Hong had only read a few lines when his satisfaction at finding a future tool turned into anger, and he threw the letter to the ground.

Liu Hong knew that the Yuan Clan had played a role in Zhang Yi’s appointment as Governor of Bingzhou, as it was part of the interest exchange and balance after implementing the Provincial Governor System.

But in the letter Yuan Shao wrote to Zhang Yi, suggesting that he maneuver among the Hu people’s forces after the death of Tan Shihuai to gain fame, thereby slightly reducing his attention to important provincial matters, undoubtedly made Liu Hong turn his spearhead.

Regardless of what would have happened if the locust plague had not occurred, whether supporting Qianman to confront Quidou would truly benefit the Han Dynasty, let’s just talk about the present.

If Qiao Yan had not decisively chosen to kidnap the Prefect and order the management of the locust plague in Bingzhou, with Zhang Yi still taking orders from the Yuan Clan of Runan, could he have resolved to eliminate the locusts and quickly stabilize the situation like Qiao Yan?

Comparing with the capable officials Liu Hong had controlled, obviously not!

In such a case, without Qiao Yan’s unexpected actions, would Bingzhou have become like Liangzhou?

Bingzhou also had the potential for rebellion like Liangzhou.

But Liangzhou had already diverted so much of his military strength, how much would be left for Bingzhou?

Liu Hong couldn’t help but be angry.

Since he had tacitly allowed noble families to influence the nomination of governors, he wouldn’t mind Yuan Shao writing to guide Zhang Yi, but he did mind someone creating factors that could shake his rule in such a situation.

Another governor nominated by noble families, Huang Wan, a disciple of the Yang Clan of Hongnong, had already proven himself a capable official with the talent of a Three Excellencies with his outstanding political achievements as Governor of Qingzhou.

In comparison, Zhang Yi’s performance really made Liu Hong feel a bit of a toothache.

But fortunately, Zhang Yi’s existence wasn’t entirely useless, at least he had sharpened Qiao Yan, this sharp blade.

Now the question was, how to deal with Qiao Yan’s actions.

The apology letter was indeed correct, he couldn’t lightly dismiss the charge of shooting the governor just because of the political achievements Qiao Yan achieved after seizing power, otherwise it would surely be imitated by others.

Among the governors, there were indeed others like Zhang Yi.

For example, Liu Yan became the Governor of Yizhou because the previous Governor of Yizhou, Xi Jian, had been extorting and plundering in office.

To put it more mildly, Geng Bi, the Governor of Liangzhou, although not as harmful to the people’s livelihood as Xi Jian, was still only a mediocre talent.

If Qiao Yan’s actions were directly affirmed by the court, it might become something imitated by other provinces.

But those who might act under similar banners might not have Qiao Yan’s courage and methods.

In the end, besides causing chaos in the world, what good would it do!

So Liu Hong couldn’t let it go.

But as for what punishment to give to this blazing fire that burned itself, Liu Hong felt somewhat regretful.

With such talent and such determination to be the emperor’s blade, how could he bear to have her brought to the capital in a prisoner’s cart for trial.

He signaled Zhang Rang to pick up the letter he had thrown and read it several times, forming some plans in his mind.

Three days later, at the court meeting, Liu Hong, sitting at the head, listened to the various reports from the officials below, especially the disaster relief situation in the Sanfu region, and suddenly said, “I intend to reinstate Yang Boxian as one of the Three Excellencies.”

Yang Boxian?

Yang Boxian is Yang Ci.

In the past year, several of the original Three Excellencies had been replaced, including Yang Ci.

But Yang Ci had been prepared for this—he was, after all, getting old, and it was indeed inappropriate for him to continue in the position of Grand Commandant, which required too much mental effort.

Moreover, his son Yang Biao had already accumulated enough political capital, and in a few years, the Yang Clan could produce another Three Excellencies.








He really had nothing to worry about.

This “retired” old man even leisurely wrote a few letters to Yang Xiu, offering some advice on the experience he gained from managing the local area in Leping. He also told him not to think that his grandfather stepping down was a life-or-death matter, unless he was staying in Leping solely because of the title “Grandson of the Grand Commandant.”

He initially thought that the reward for Marquis Qiao Yan was a bit too high, but after exchanging letters and realizing how much his grandson had grown, he felt that the title of County Marquis was well-deserved.

He even considered, a few days ago, whether he should take advantage of his remaining breath and go stay in Leping for a couple of months, keeping Cai Yong company.

But obviously, with Liu Hong’s statement, his retirement plan had to come to an end.

However, now the question arose: Yang Ci was originally the Grand Commandant, so which position was he supposed to return to as one of the Three Excellencies?

Cui Lie, the Minister over the Masses, turned pale upon hearing this.

A few days ago, during the debate on whether to abandon Liangzhou, after Fu Xie accused him of either being unwise or disloyal, Liu Hong directly agreed with Fu Xie’s stance and decided to hold onto Liangzhou at all costs.

This left Cui Lie, though still holding his position as Minister over the Masses, undoubtedly out of favor with the emperor and despised by colleagues who supported Fu Xie’s view and upheld the integrity of the Han Dynasty.

Now, hearing that Liu Hong intended to reinstate Yang Ci as one of the Three Excellencies, his first thought was naturally—he was about to be dismissed.

However, he immediately heard Liu Hong say, “Zhang Bo has been appointed General of the Chariots and Cavalry to suppress rebellions outside, leaving the position of Minister of Works vacant. Let Yang Ci first serve as Minister of Works.”

Zhang Wen had gone to replace Huangfu Song in quelling the chaos in Liangzhou, leaving the position of Minister of Works open for Yang Ci to fill.

Cui Lie breathed a sigh of relief.

But he quickly realized that Liu Hong’s words carried another layer of meaning.

What did “first serve as Minister of Works” mean? It implied that there would be further adjustments later…

His position was still far from secure.

Liu Hong didn’t care what Cui Lie was thinking at the moment. He continued calmly, “Although Yang Ci made minor mistakes during his tenure as Grand Commandant, he committed no major faults. His selection of capable individuals and dedication to his duties set an example for the Three Excellencies. Huang Ziyan, the Governor of Qingzhou, is a pillar of talent. Yang Ci recognized his abilities and recommended him to the central government, leading to the current stability in Qingzhou. I am reinstating him as Minister of Works for his merits. Does anyone have any objections?”

Many of Yang Ci’s disciples from the Hongnong Yang family were present in the court, so naturally, no one objected to Liu Hong’s decision.

As Liu Hong had said, Huang Wan, recommended by Yang Ci, had demonstrated exceptional governance skills. Therefore, reinstating Yang Ci, who had previously served as one of the Three Excellencies and had the merit of recommending Huang Wan, to the position of Minister of Works was entirely reasonable.

However, no one expected that Liu Hong’s intention in appointing Yang Ci as Minister of Works was not what it seemed.

He then added, “Since Yang Ci’s recommendation of the Governor of Qingzhou was successful, I would like to ask, what exactly was Yuan Shao’s intention in recommending Zhang Yi?”

Yuan Ji, as the Grand Coachman, was among the officials present. Hearing Liu Hong’s accusation, he was momentarily stunned.

With Yuan Wei temporarily dismissed from his position, it was naturally Yuan Ji’s responsibility to respond.

The Yuan family’s recommendation of Zhang Yi, as Qiao Yan had guessed, was based on Yuan Shao’s proposal to “secure the south by the river, block the north with Yan and Dai, and unite with the Rong and Di tribes,” seeking a fallback plan for the Yuan family, essentially spreading the risk among the noble families.

However, since the Yuan family was a unified entity, this matter could not be evaded, and the idea of having a fallback plan could not be openly discussed in front of Liu Hong. Yuan Ji, stepping forward, bowed and replied with his ceremonial tablet:

“Zhang Zitai was recommended for his filial piety and integrity. His conduct is upright, and he initially served as a local magistrate and later as a prefect, achieving clear governance. He is fit to be a regional governor. Thus, Yuan Shao recommended him as the Governor of Bingzhou. May I ask, Your Majesty, has something significant happened in Bingzhou?”

Liu Hong replied with an inscrutable tone, “Could a locust plague be considered significant?”

Yuan Ji hesitantly asked, “How severe is the situation?”

A locust plague was indeed a significant event, as evidenced by the current situation in Luoyang.

However, the severity of the situation needed to be assessed. A locust plague was a natural disaster, and since it originated in the Three Adjuncts, it wouldn’t be fair to label the Governor of Bingzhou as incompetent just because the plague had spread to Bingzhou.

To further blame the recommender seemed somewhat inappropriate.

“How severe is the situation?” Liu Hong sneered. “It’s been resolved. The locust plague caused almost no damage, and the people of Bingzhou are waiting for the autumn harvest. Because the locust plague was handled so swiftly, even the barbarians dared not invade. It seems we should also ask the officials of Right Fufeng, Left Fengyi, and Jingzhao how they managed their affairs.”

“…?” Yuan Ji looked up at Liu Hong in confusion and caution.

If what Liu Hong said was true, Zhang Yi should be credited, not blamed.

No wonder there had been no reports from Bingzhou recently—they were likely waiting for the situation to stabilize before delivering good news.

But hearing Liu Hong’s tone and the way he referred to Zhang Yi by name, it was clear that he was greatly dissatisfied and more inclined to blame.

Before Yuan Ji could ask further, he heard the sound of Liu Hong slamming a memorial on the table. “But what does any of this have to do with Zhang Yi?”

“The order to exterminate the locusts came from the Marquis of Leping. All Zhang Yi did was reject Qiao Yanshu’s suggestion four months ago to build a Dragon Bone Waterwheel to prevent the locust plague.”

“Exchanging locust eggs for grain, using night fires to lure insects, irrigating fields with waterwheels, and burying locusts in trenches—all these measures were carried out by the Marquis of Leping. What did Zhang Yi do?”

“He has truly disgraced the position of a regional governor,” Liu Hong said with clear reproach. “Upon receiving urgent news of the locust plague, instead of taking proper action, he was first rendered powerless and then imprisoned by a child. It’s a laughingstock for the entire world!”

Not only Yuan Ji, who was directly called out to respond, but all the officials present were stunned.

The amount of information in Liu Hong’s words was overwhelming.

What did it mean that Zhang Yi was imprisoned by a child? Clearly, the only child capable of such a feat was the Marquis of Leping.

To dare to imprison a court-appointed official, and a regional governor at that—what kind of audacious person could do such a thing!

Yet, in Liu Hong’s previous statement, the Marquis of Leping was portrayed as exceptionally wise and decisive.

To quickly devise policies to quell the locust plague and even decide to use locust-catching methods to combat the natural disaster—

Even though most of the officials present had climbed their way up from local positions, none could confidently say they could achieve what Qiao Yan had done.

However, her methods were indeed extreme.

Given this, it was not hard to understand why Zhang Yi was publicly reprimanded by Liu Hong, why his recommender was implicated, and why Yang Ci, by contrast, was reinstated as one of the Three Excellencies for his successful recommendation.

Bingzhou, which had been quiet before, had now made a big splash.

Yuan Ji was still at a loss for words, feeling like he had been struck by a sudden disaster, when he heard Liu Hong turn to another person and ask, “Minister Cui, how do you think this matter should be handled?”

Cui Lie: …?

He really didn’t want to be called out at this moment.

At a time when he might lose his position just for entering the hall with his left foot first, why was such a suffocating question being thrown at him!