Chapter 109 A sudden north wind blows, and the court and the people shiver.
Springtime in the later years of the Zhenguan era seemed shorter than in previous years. Just after Grain Rain, a sudden cold snap swept through Guanzhong, and the atmosphere in Chang'an suddenly became tense, exuding a chilling winter-like atmosphere.
The source of this turmoil began with a seemingly ordinary yet unusually strongly worded memorial. Liu Fan, a censor known for his integrity and outspokenness, impeached Crown Prince Li Chengqian during the grand court assembly, in front of the emperor and all the officials, for being "too hasty and excessive, damaging the emperor's virtue." The memorial listed several cases of "disruption to the people" that had occurred in the local implementation of policies promoted or approved by the Crown Prince over the past six months: for example, during a land survey in a county in Hedong Province, the brutal methods led to the wrongful delineation of land ownership by ordinary people, sparking armed conflicts; during a "check on hidden households" in a prefecture in Henan Province, officials took the opportunity to extort money, driving innocent people to their deaths; and even more egregiously, the memorial accused the Crown Prince of leading certain "new policies," such as raising commercial taxes and restricting the circulation of certain luxury goods, which, while intended to replenish the national treasury and curb extravagance, actually "competed with the people for profit," leading to economic depression and widespread discontent.
Liu Fan's impeachment did not directly address the core issue of the Crown Prince's suppression of powerful families. Instead, it cleverly seized upon the deviations and side effects in the policy implementation process, attributing them to the Crown Prince's "eagerness for quick results," "lack of concern for the people's plight," and "overly harsh laws." He cited classical texts, expressing his deep sorrow and comparing the Crown Prince's governing style to the "harsh laws of Qin" and the "cruel officials of Han," ultimately pleading with the Emperor to "consider benevolence," "slightly curb the power of the Crown Prince," and "make the policies more lenient and simple, so as to reassure the people."
This memorial was like a boulder thrown into a calm lake! You must know that since Li Chengqian took over the administration, especially in recent years his power has grown stronger. Although there have been occasional criticisms in the court, no one has ever dared to use such sharp words to directly impeach the Crown Prince's fundamental style of governance in such a formal setting!
The imperial court fell silent instantly. Everyone held their breath, stealing glances at Emperor Li Shimin, who sat atop the imperial steps, and Crown Prince Li Chengqian, who stood at the head of the civil officials, his expression calm and unreadable.
Li Shimin frowned slightly as he took the memorial presented by the eunuch and quickly skimmed through it. His expression gradually darkened, his gaze shifting back and forth between the memorial and Liu Fan, who stood below with his head bowed in solemn silence. Having been through countless political storms, how could he not see that this memorial was far beyond the capabilities of Liu Fan alone? The examples he cited were detailed and specific (though perhaps exaggerated or one-sided), the criticism was precise and incisive (avoiding the real issues and focusing on the weakness of "benevolence and virtue"), and the underlying political intentions… were all too clear.
This is not merely impeaching the Crown Prince; it is challenging the legitimacy of the Crown Prince's regency and questioning the governing ability of the successor chosen by the Emperor! More importantly, it is openly advocating for those whose interests have been affected by the Crown Prince's policies (especially aristocratic families and their representatives)!
"Liu Fan," Li Shimin spoke slowly, his voice not loud, but carrying the imperial authority, "have you verified the facts of what you reported?"
Liu Fan remained unfazed and bowed, saying, "All my reports are supported by local official documents or petitions from the people. Your Majesty may order the relevant officials to verify them immediately! As an imperial censor, it is my duty to report what I have heard, and I dare not remain silent! Although His Highness the Crown Prince possesses extraordinary talent, his policies are too harsh, which may not be a blessing for the people. I humbly beg Your Majesty to investigate thoroughly!"
"What a fine 'duty'!" Before Li Shimin could speak, a cold voice rang out. Everyone looked over and saw it was Crown Prince Li Chengqian. He stepped forward, his gaze sharp as lightning, sweeping over Liu Fan, then slowly across the assembled officials with their varied expressions, before finally settling on his father behind the imperial desk.
"Imperial Censor Liu's concern for the country and its people is truly comforting," Li Chengqian said calmly, yet with an undeniable force. "However, governing a country is like cooking a small fish; the timing and method are crucial, and it's impossible to achieve perfect results. The land survey, the investigation of hidden households, and even the adjustment of the tax system are all national policies aimed at eliminating long-standing abuses, replenishing the national treasury, and equitable distribution of taxes and corvée labor! In the process of implementation, some clerks may take the opportunity to cause trouble, or some local officials may be perfunctory or use inappropriate methods. These are issues of official conduct, and there are laws to punish them. How can we throw the baby out with the bathwater and blame the national policies themselves, let alone accuse the Regent of being 'too hasty' and 'unconcerned about the plight of the people'?"
He paused, then his tone turned stern: "As for 'competing with the people for profit'? That's utter nonsense! The increased commercial taxes are mostly levied on wealthy merchants and luxury businesses; the restricted circulation is limited to rare and exotic items. How has it harmed the livelihoods of ordinary people? What is the basis for Censor Liu's claim that 'the markets are desolate and there are widespread complaints'? Is it based on his own observations, or... hearsay, or being misled by others?!"
The last sentence was a blunt interrogation, his gaze piercingly fixed on Liu Fan. Liu Fan's expression changed slightly, but he still stubbornly replied, "Your Highness, you are wise. Everything I have said is based on facts! There are indeed grievances among the people, and they are not unfounded! If Your Highness does not believe me, you can broaden the channels of communication and listen to the voices of the people!"
"Enough!" Li Shimin shouted, interrupting the two men's heated exchange. His face was grim, clearly indicating his extremely bad mood. Liu Fan's impeachment had touched a nerve deep within him—was Chengqian's method truly too ruthless? But he also knew that if he showed distrust or wavering towards the Crown Prince at this moment, it would inevitably trigger even greater turmoil in the court.
"I will personally send someone to investigate what Liu Fan reported," Li Shimin said in a deep voice. "However, it is my decree that the Crown Prince oversees the state, reforms and eliminates abuses, and it is also for the long-term stability of the Tang Dynasty. If there are any deviations in the implementation, they can be corrected. How can one presume to discuss state affairs and question the Crown Prince? Liu Fan, as an imperial censor, it is your duty to speak out on hearsay, but you must also be careful with your words and actions. You must not make unfounded accusations and shake the foundation of the country! This time, considering it is your first offense and that you acted out of public interest, I will punish you by suspending your salary for half a year. If you make any more unfounded accusations, I will not let you off lightly!"
This handling of the matter, seemingly a 50/50 split, actually clearly favored the Crown Prince. It neither negated the Crown Prince's policies nor thoroughly investigated the "substantial evidence" of Liu Fan's impeachment; it merely imposed a lenient punishment on the grounds of "reckless remarks" and "undermining the foundation of the state."
However, the matter did not end there. Ryu Beom's impeachment acted like a signal flare, instantly igniting long-suppressed opposition.
In the following days, as if by prior arrangement, criticisms of the Crown Prince's policies began to emerge from various channels. Some officials submitted memorials, subtly suggesting that "the new policies should be slowed down"; some local reports reflected that "the people seem uneasy"; even among the literati, various opinions questioning the Crown Prince and praising his "benevolent and conservative approach" began to circulate. These voices were no longer as sharp and direct as those of Liu and Fan, but they were more pervasive and widespread, forming an invisible pressure of public opinion.
Even more alarming is that some aristocratic officials who had previously remained silent or were forced to cooperate under the Crown Prince's suppression have begun to stir. They have either openly or covertly echoed the voices of criticism, or have been passively slacking off in specific matters, and have even begun to secretly collude in an attempt to form some kind of "consensus" or "alliance".
Between the court and the public, the undercurrents suddenly surged. Those from humble backgrounds and newly appointed officials who supported the Crown Prince fiercely debated and defended the new policies; while opponents, under the guise of "people-oriented governance" and "benevolent rule," exerted constant pressure. The two sides argued in the court, clashed in the official gazettes, and lobbied privately. For a time, dark clouds loomed over Chang'an, creating an atmosphere of impending storm.
Everyone with discerning eyes could see that this sudden upheaval was not something Liu Fan could have stirred up alone. Behind it all, there must have been one or more powerful forces pushing and coordinating things. And among them, the most suspicious was none other than the current prime minister—Changsun Wuji—who had recently been keeping a low profile, yet whose protégés and old friends were spread throughout the court!
Although Changsun Wuji himself never made a public statement, and even seemed to be trying to "mediate" during this turmoil, his faction of officials, as well as those courtiers who had clearly benefited from or been influenced by him, were unusually active in this upheaval. Many criticisms of the Crown Prince echoed Changsun Wuji's usual advocacy of "leniency" and "emphasis on virtue."
The atmosphere in the East Palace study was somber.
Li Chengqian listened to his trusted advisors report on the recent developments in the court and among the people, his face as cold as iron. Liu Fan's impeachment was just the beginning; the subsequent series of public attacks and political pressure were the real killing blows! This was an attempt to use the guise of "public opinion" and "benevolence" to force him to abdicate, compel him to slow down or even change his policy direction, and ultimately shake his standing in the court and among the people, weakening his father's trust in him!
"What a fine 'benevolence and preservation of the status quo'!" Li Chengqian sneered, his eyes flashing with cold light. "Using such high-sounding reasons to cover up their true nature of protecting vested interests and resisting reform! Changsun Wuji... my dear uncle, have you finally been unable to resist jumping out?"
He knew that this upheaval, secretly orchestrated by Changsun Wuji and launched through Liu Fan's words, was more troublesome than the previous direct resistance from the aristocratic families. This was because it occupied the moral high ground, making it easier to sway people's hearts and minds, and more likely to influence his father, whose mind was becoming increasingly conservative in his later years.
"Investigate!" Li Chengqian ordered his staff, his voice resolute. "Find out exactly who Liu Fan has been associating with lately, who polished his memorials, and who is behind those officials who are following suit? Especially those connected to the Changsun family and the Prince of Jin's residence—don't let any of them escape! Evidence, I need solid evidence!"
"At the same time," he walked to the map and pointed heavily at the locations of several key prefectures and counties, "send secret orders to the governors and commanders of these places! Instruct them to stabilize their localities, strictly enforce the established policies, and show no mercy to those powerful families and local officials who dare to take advantage of the situation to cause trouble or passively resist. Arrest those who should be arrested and dismiss those who should be dismissed! But remember, the methods must be 'legal' and 'reasonable', so as not to give others grounds for criticism!"
“Furthermore,” he turned, his gaze sharp, “contact our people in the Censorate and the Secretariat, and prepare for a counterattack. Don’t you want to talk about ‘benevolent governance’ and ‘love for the people’? Then let’s talk about how these powerful families have been ‘benevolently governing and loving the people’ all these years, annexing land, concealing populations, and running rampant in the countryside! Let’s talk about how without a full treasury and clean governance, so-called ‘leniency’ is nothing but a castle in the air! Compile all the cases of those people benefiting from the Crown Prince’s new policies, and the crimes of those corrupt officials and lawless tyrants who have been punished, and make them public!”
This was a comprehensive offensive and defensive battle. Li Chengqian not only had to withstand the pressure from public opinion and stabilize the local situation, but also launch a fierce counterattack to expose the hypocrisy of his opponents and consolidate his own ruling foundation.
A sudden north wind rippled across the spring waters. The Chang'an court, plunged into the greatest turmoil and standoff of the late Zhenguan era by Changsun Wuji's covert and fierce counterattack. The emperor's attitude, the crown prince's response, and the opposition's next move would determine the course of the court for years, even decades, to come.
The young Prince Li Zhi, caught in the eye of the storm, learned of the uproar in the court caused by Liu Fan's memorial and the looming presence of his uncle. He sat alone in his study all night, pale-faced, his mind taut with anxiety. He knew he could no longer remain uninvolved. This storm would inevitably push him into a more prominent and dangerous position.
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