Chapter Fourteen: The Imperial Court Decides a Strategy
"Your Majesty," Lu Xian's voice rang out in the solemn Golden Palace, carrying a steady and earnest tone, "I have long heard that: 'Under the vast heaven, all land belongs to the king; on the shores of the earth, all people are subjects of the king.' Yet, looking upon the Xiongnu tribes of the northern frontier, though they nominally submit to our Great Town, coming to court annually to offer tribute of horses and furs, in reality they are merely feigning compliance, harboring ulterior motives. Every autumn, when the horses are fat and strong, they send their troops south to plunder our military provisions transported to the border, and to abduct our innocent border people, causing them to be displaced and their fields to lie fallow. Our Great Town's territory spans thousands of miles, and its northern defense line winds and stretches far and wide. Even with General Guo's divine prowess and tens of thousands of elite troops guarding the border day and night, forming an iron wall, it is difficult to eradicate these elusive and swift border bandits."
He paused slightly, his gaze sweeping over the assembled ministers listening intently below the jade steps, before continuing slowly, "After much deliberation, I believe that now that the war has somewhat stabilized and the enemy and we are locked in a stalemate, rather than wasting national resources on endless military campaigns, it would be better to follow the precedent of previous dynasties and select suitable locations to establish border ports, allowing for trade. We could then exchange our Central Plains silk, tea, pottery, and ironware for their fine horses, furs, cheese, and jade from the grasslands. This exchange of goods would not only temporarily curb their plundering nature but also gradually familiarize them with our products, fostering a sense of dependence. This is a policy of appeasement, beneficial in the long run. I humbly request Your Majesty's wise decision."
The Emperor sat upright on his dragon throne, his knuckles lightly tapping the memorial on his desk, his gaze deep and unwavering. He raised his eyes to the assembled officials, his voice calm yet carrying an undeniable authority: "I have carefully reviewed Minister Lu's memorial. My ministers, what are your thoughts?"
A low murmur of discussion, like the buzzing of bees, filled the hall. The ministers stroked their beards in deep thought, or whispered amongst themselves, their eyes darting as they exchanged their thoughts. After a moment of silence, Guo Shichang, the Minister of War, stepped forward. He was a robust man, and though dressed in civil official robes, his brow still carried the stern air of someone who had fought on the battlefield. He bowed and said in a clear voice, “Your Majesty, although the overall situation in the northern border war has been settled, our soldiers have been stationed at the border for over five years. Tens of thousands of troops have been stationed there for so long, and the consumption of provisions and supplies has been enormous. The national treasury… is already overburdened and is gradually becoming empty. As the Minister of War, I know that the soldiers are exhausted and their morale is waning; they certainly need time to rest and recuperate to restore their fighting strength. The policy of opening trade, as proposed by Prime Minister Lu, if it can temporarily halt the fighting and give our army and people a chance to breathe, I believe… is feasible.”
The emperor shifted his gaze slightly to the other side: "Minister Huang, you are in charge of the Ministry of Revenue, overseeing all the nation's money, grain, household registration, and taxes. You have the clearest understanding of the national treasury's revenue and expenditure. Tell me about it."
Upon hearing the imperial decree, Minister Huang of the Ministry of Revenue took a deep breath, stepped forward, and bowed. His face was gaunt, and he seemed to bear a heavy burden on his shoulders. He knew that the empty treasury was not a recent development, and that various expenditures were stretched thin. Yet, he maintained his composure and replied in a steady voice, "Your Majesty, in my opinion, the border trade proposed by Chancellor Lu is indeed a temporary measure, not a fundamental solution. However, replenishing the national treasury and consolidating the foundation of our great town are the most important tasks at present. If we can use the benefits of this trade to slightly replenish the treasury's deficit and buy our dynasty several years to bide our time and accumulate national strength, then this strategy… I have no objection to it."
The Minister of Rites stepped forward next. He was older, with white hair and beard, and spoke with greater caution: "Your Majesty, Minister Lu's plan is not without merit. However, I have another humble opinion, which I humbly request Your Majesty to consider. Now, all the princes have reached the age of establishing their own fiefdoms and getting married. Looking back at previous dynasties, there are many precedents of using imperial marriages to appease vassal states and foreign tribes. While trade is supposed to be conducted with courtesy before force, the complexities of commercial dealings and conflicts of interest make unpredictable. Perhaps it would be better to select virtuous daughters of the imperial family, or even… even a prince himself, to form an alliance through marriage with a prominent Xiongnu tribe. In this way, forging an alliance through blood ties could more reliably maintain peace on the border for several years, or even a decade or more. Furthermore, the marriage alliance can be used to assess the reactions of the various Xiongnu tribes before deciding on further strategies."
Upon hearing this, the Emperor's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly. A marriage alliance… this matter involved far-reaching implications, especially concerning the selection of the heir apparent. Currently, the Second Prince was the eldest, and if a marriage alliance were to be established with a powerful vassal state, he would be the first to be affected. His mother had recently been frequently visiting the palace to request an audience, her intentions clear. Although the Second Prince was not born of the Empress, his status as the eldest son was undeniable, making his selection as heir plausible. Furthermore, his maternal family was quite influential, and with the support of in-laws… The Thirteenth Prince was the youngest, but he was born to the Empress's niece and was deeply favored by the Empress and her mother. Recently, there had been rumors of him being adopted by the Empress. If this were to happen, his selection as heir apparent as the legitimate son would be perfectly legitimate. There is also the fourth prince, whose maternal uncle and maternal grandfather are both influential figures in the court. He himself is respectful to his superiors and kind to his subordinates. His reputation in the court is growing day by day, and he has many supporters. If the marriage alliance with the vassal states is decided, it is almost equivalent to hinting at the selection of the crown prince. This is a matter of great importance. How can it be decided hastily in the short term?
A delicate silence fell over the hall, broken only by the crackling of the candlelight. General Guo, standing at the head of the military officers' ranks, keenly noticed the fleeting hesitation in the emperor's eyes. He stepped forward again, his voice booming: "Your Majesty, I have something to say, but I am unsure whether I should."
"Please speak freely, my dear minister." The emperor raised his eyes.
General Guo said in a deep voice, "While the princes have indeed passed the age of adulthood, they are still some time away from reaching adulthood. Although vassal states and marriages are fundamental to the nation, they are not the most pressing issues at present. On the other hand, upon careful consideration, Prime Minister Lu's proposal for trade is indeed highly beneficial to border stability. It can gradually make the Xiongnu accustomed to our dynasty's products and develop a dependence on them. As the ancients said, people's hearts are not troubled by scarcity but by inequality. Once the trade is established, our dynasty can take this opportunity to conduct fair trade openly, while secretly maneuvering to favor some Xiongnu tribes over others, or to divide and win them over, guiding them according to the circumstances. In the long run, it may be possible to create internal strife within the Xiongnu without firing a single shot, causing them to disintegrate on their own. Therefore, I still endorse Prime Minister Lu's plan."
Upon hearing this, the Emperor did not raise his head, his gaze remaining fixed on the gold-brick floor before his desk, seemingly deep in thought. Below, the assembled officials held their breath, their minds racing, weighing the implications of the Prime Minister and General's proposal against themselves. Recently, the Ministry of Revenue had been pressing for payment of the deficit, creating an atmosphere of fear and unease. It was said that the Inspectorate had begun secretly auditing the accounts of officials in charge of taxes and agricultural revenue. This sudden proposal for trade, seemingly contrary to ancestral rules and unorthodox, could, if handled properly, be a good excuse to divert attention and distribute the pressure. If the envoys and officials sent to the border made any mistakes, the discrepancies in the allocation of supplies and the flow of accounts could perhaps be shifted… As everyone was calculating their options, the Minister of Personnel stepped forward and reported:
"Your Majesty, the policy of opening up trade can demonstrate our dynasty's benevolence and compassion while maintaining the deterrent effect of our military might. In principle, I have no objection. However, this is a matter of great importance and requires specialized expertise. Currently, officials of the second rank and above are all burdened with numerous duties, and our dynasty has never had a dedicated office for commerce. If Your Majesty decides to implement this policy, the decision on who should lead it and which department should oversee it requires Your Majesty's sole discretion and clear stipulations."
The emperor nodded slightly, indicating that he understood.
At this moment, General Guo stepped forward again and delivered his prepared speech in the calm tone of a military man: "Your Majesty, my daughter, Guo Huairou, was fortunate enough to be selected as the Seventh Prince's study companion three years ago. According to her, the Seventh Prince is broad-minded, calm, and magnanimous. He is skilled in riding and archery and also has some knowledge of commerce. I propose that the Seventh Prince be recommended to go north to oversee trade, which may alleviate the border troubles. If we can use commerce to replace warfare and exchange goods, we can not only ease border troubles but also strengthen the nation's power, which is truly a win-win situation. I am willing to use the Ministry of War to guarantee the stability of the border and send capable generals to assist Your Highness in managing military affairs and ensuring smooth trade. As for the matter of marriage, it involves clan bloodlines and concerns the foundation of the nation. Perhaps it is more prudent to postpone it and consider it at a longer time."
Upon hearing that General Guo had gone through such a long and circuitous route, ultimately sending the seventh prince—who had little influence in court and was not a popular choice for the throne—to the harsh northern border to handle such a thorny matter, the court officials immediately understood. They all felt that this proposal suited their interests perfectly—it supported the trade policy, did not infringe upon the interests of the princes they supported, and even "sent away" a potential prince who might be considered by the emperor in the future. It was a win-win situation. Thus, voices of seconding the proposal arose one after another.
The emperor turned to Prime Minister Lu Xian, who had been standing silently to the side: "Minister Lu, what about you?"
Lu Xian stepped forward, his expression respectful and cautious: "Your Majesty, trade has existed since ancient times. If successful, it will certainly benefit the country and its people. However, trade with the Xiongnu involves a wide range of issues and requires a person of high moral character and meticulous thinking to oversee it, so as not to tarnish our national prestige or cause trouble. The Seventh Prince is young, and although he is willing to share the burden of the country, I fear he lacks experience..." His words left room for maneuver, expressing both concern and a test.
The Emperor naturally understood the implication. His gaze was deep, and after a moment of silence, he slowly spoke: "The Seventh Prince lacks experience and needs more training. I am greatly comforted by Minister Guo's offer of the Ministry of War's guarantee. Minister Lu's concerns are also wise. Therefore, Minister Lu will lead this matter, overseeing all administrative matters such as trade agreements and resource allocation, with the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of Revenue assisting. Yunji, as a prince, will travel north to oversee the overall situation, with Minister Guo dispatching generals to assist him and ensure security. In this way, with the combined efforts of civil and military officials, a foolproof plan can be devised."
The ministers shouted "Long live the Emperor!" but each harbored their own ulterior motives, believing the proposal aligned with their own calculations. Unbeknownst to them, the Emperor had long desired an heir. His mind was clear; the time was not yet ripe. Prematurely favoring a child would only place that child in the eye of the storm, making him a target of public criticism. No one knows a son better than his father. The Seventh Prince had the fewest supporters, a prominent maternal family, but no heir. He clearly saw the situation in the hall today. The ministers' accusations were nothing more than an attempt to use the Seventh Prince as a "useless pawn" to fill the northern border post, thus ensuring their preferred princes remained in the capital to continue their influence. As for General Guo's recommendation, a subtle, profound meaning flashed in the Emperor's eyes—it was the result of careful deliberation with him.
As for Yunji's study companion... I'd like to find an opportunity to meet him.
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