Three Kingdoms: I am not Liu Bian

Chapter 249 This glory, I will not enjoy alone! (Seeking monthly votes!)

The first day of the first month of the first year of the Han Dynasty, in the 387th year of the Han Dynasty.

After ascending the throne, Liu Bian, dressed in black robes and crimson skirts, boarded the imperial carriage bound for the ancestral temple.

The Imperial Ancestral Temple of the Han Dynasty was divided into two: one was the Taizu Temple, which was dedicated to the emperors of the Former Han Dynasty, and the other was the Shizu Temple, which was dedicated to the emperors of the Later Han Dynasty.

Upon entering the Taizu Temple, Liu Bian nodded slightly in greeting amidst the incense-filled halls.

Dian Wei and Xu Chu received the order and went out. A moment later, Bei Gong Boyu and Xu Bu Gu Du Hou were dragged into the hall by the two men.

Xubu Guduhou's knees trembled slightly, his eyes darting around, not daring to look directly at the emperor, while Beigong Boyu lowered his head and stared at the cracks in the blue bricks, his Adam's apple bobbing incessantly.

These two barbarian lords, who had wantonly slaughtered the people of the Han Dynasty, now had disheveled hair and their coarse prison clothes were covered in mud. They bowed to Liu Bian with trembling hands, their posture as humble as could be, completely unlike their former arrogance.

Along with them, a group of Qiang, Hu, and Xiongnu nobles were escorted to the Taizu Temple. They dared not disobey the emperor's order to dance in the Taizu Temple. These Qiang, Hu, and Xiongnu people moved their limbs stiffly, performing dances of different styles in the solemn and majestic Taizu Temple.

Zheng Xuan looked at the mud all over the ground, and then glanced at the emperor who had ordered the barbarians to perform a dance for Emperor Gaozu at the ancestral temple. Faced with this behavior that was almost like dancing on a grave, Zheng Xuan suppressed his anger and refrained from offering any advice on this joyous occasion.

After the dance, Liu Bian led Beigong Boyu and Xubuguduhou to the Shizu Temple.

However, this time it was not to let these barbarians tour and perform, but to carry out a ceremony of presenting captives and leading sheep.

The Qiang, Hu, and Xiongnu may have had some decent dances, but the dances of these nobles were too ugly, and besides, Emperor Guangwu probably didn't like the barbarians dancing in his ancestral temple.

However, Liu Bian did not intend to let the two go. Dancing and the sheep-leading ceremony were meant to humiliate you, but who said that you can't be killed after humiliating you?

If these two are not executed, how can we appease the officials and common people who died because of them?
Before long, Dian Wei and Xu Chu each carried a head with a face full of fear. After being specially treated by the eunuchs, they were offered as a sacrifice in the Temple of Emperor Shizu to comfort the spirits of their ancestors in heaven.

After paying homage to the previous emperors of the Han Dynasty, Liu Bian then boarded his imperial carriage and returned to the Southern Palace.

The tassels of the crown tapped lightly as the carriage swayed, making a soft rustling sound, but Liu Bian did not return to the Lingtai Hall, but instead went to the Yuntai Pavilion.

Having successfully ascended the throne, it's natural to divide the spoils—no, I mean, to reward those who have contributed.

A group of officials who had come from the Crown Prince's residence had already gathered at Yuntai Pavilion, waiting for the Emperor to bestow new official positions upon them.

With Liu Bian's ascension to the throne, the Crown Prince's Palace had completed its mission, and its officials were "unemployed." However, new opportunities and a bright future awaited them on their life's journey.

At this moment, everyone was still waiting for Jia Xu, the Governor of Henan, and Zhong Yao, the Magistrate of Luoyang. Today, they needed to maintain order inside and outside Luoyang City to ensure the smooth progress of the abdication ceremony. These two were busy with their affairs, so it was understandable that they arrived late. However, amidst the laughter and chatter, everyone also teased these two guys who were so busy on the last day of their terms.

Half an hour later, Jia Xu and Zhong Yao, who had arrived late, paused briefly in front of the Yuntai Pavilion, stomped the snow off their boots, tidied their clothes, and then lifted the felt hanging at the door to block the cold wind.

Upon entering the pavilion, with the help of eunuchs, I removed my shoes and fox fur cloak, and immediately felt a wave of warmth wash over me.

Yuntai Pavilion is equipped with a fire wall. Through a winding flue, the heat generated by the stove is introduced into the hollow layer of the wall by utilizing the principle of hot air rising. The heat is then radiated into the room through the wall material, thus achieving a highly efficient heating effect.

The charcoal burned in the stoves was mostly hardwood charcoal, such as jujube wood, locust wood, and oak wood, which was fired in charcoal kilns set up by the Shaofu in the Zhongnan Mountain forest area.

The best quality products were reserved for the royal family, while the inferior products were sold to the general public.

These hardwoods burn for a long time and release more heat than ordinary charcoal. Most importantly, they produce less smoke and do not crackle.

However, compared to the animal charcoal used by aristocratic and wealthy families, this is not considered extravagant.

During the reign of Emperor Xiaowu, the Imperial Household Department developed a new type of charcoal called "beast charcoal".

It is called "beast charcoal" because it is made by crushing hardwood charcoal into powder, mixing it with spices, shaping it into auspicious beasts such as the Qilin, and then firing it a second time. When burning, it not only produces almost no smoke but also emits a pleasant fragrance.

This kind of animal charcoal also spread to the hands of aristocratic families through the extravagant Emperor Xiaowu. Compared to it, Liu Bian was merely burning high-quality smokeless hardwood charcoal.

Seeing Jia Xu pass through one screen after another, Liu Bian beckoned to Gao Wang to hand him a hand warmer, raised an eyebrow and smiled, "Wenhe, you've come in such a hurry, could it be that you're reluctant to give up your position as Governor of Henan?"

Today is Jia Xu's last day in office as Governor of Henan. If it weren't for maintaining security and order during the coronation ceremony, Jia Xu could have left his post yesterday.

If other emperors were to ask this question, the ministers would certainly be filled with fear and unease, unsure of how to answer.

Answering with no regrets would seem hypocritical and pretentious.

If your answer is "I'm reluctant to leave," then you are greedy for power, not a virtuous minister!

But Jia Xu didn't care at all. He knew the emperor's temperament too well, and besides, he was Jia Wenhe!

Jia Xu calmly reached out and took the hand warmer. His frozen fingers twitched twice before he could grasp it. He drank a cup of warm pepper and cypress wine in one gulp, bowed, and said, "I have absolutely no regrets in my heart!"

The emperor and his minister exchanged a smile, everything understood without a word.

If anyone else had said this, Liu Bian would certainly not have believed it. After all, the Governor of Henan was the chief administrator of the capital, wielding immense power. How could anyone not be reluctant to leave?

But Jia Xu, that fellow, believed that he was absolutely certain of his words.

Yesterday, after finishing his shift, this fellow hummed a little tune and walked home. He ordered the cook to prepare a lot of fancy dishes and even drank with his son, Jia Mu. He looked like he was about to celebrate his departure as the Prefect of Henan with gongs and drums.

Liu Bian learned of this during his evening meal and sent Gao Wang to bestow imperial food and wine upon him, inquiring about Jia Xu's reason for his joy.

Jia Xu stated that this was to congratulate His Highness the Crown Prince on his ascension to the throne, and... certainly not because he was about to leave his post.

Liu Bian squinted at Jia Xu, wondering why he suddenly didn't want to give this guy a new position.

However, this is just wishful thinking.

Of the former officials who gathered here today, apart from a few who have already joined the central army or been assigned to other posts, the rest are mainly divided into two categories: those assigned to other posts and those who have entered the Court of Imperial Sacrifices.

After Jia Xu and Zhong Yao took their seats, the ministers in the pavilion could no longer contain themselves and frequently cast expectant glances at Liu Bian, who was drinking, their eyes filled with eagerness to serve the emperor.

The reason for sending them to remote areas was not because the emperor disliked them, but to allow them to accumulate grassroots experience and broaden their horizons.

Didn't they notice that Tian Feng, the Crown Prince's Chief of Staff, Ju Shou, the Crown Prince's Chief of Staff, and Xun Yu, the Crown Prince's Attendant, all three leading figures in the Crown Prince's household, had been transferred to other posts? After Jia Xu and Zhong Yao, who arrived late, took their seats, the ministers in the pavilion could no longer contain themselves and frequently cast expectant glances at Liu Bian, who was drinking, their eyes filled with a fervent "loyalty" to serve the emperor.

Liu Bian naturally noticed the almost undisguised anticipation in everyone's eyes. He did not dislike his subjects having ambitions for power and status. If someone had no ambition, how could they have the motivation to move forward?
Is it possible that the true virtuous ministers who follow the example of the famous scholars of the Wei and Jin dynasties, take Wushi San (a type of Chinese herbal medicine), run naked and live in seclusion, are the ones who truly serve the country?
Liu Bian slowly rose and bowed to the assembled officials.

The crowd was terrified at the sight. When the emperor stood up, most people stood up as well, but when the emperor bowed in greeting, everyone prostrated themselves on the ground.

The emperor stands while you sit; the emperor bows while you receive his greeting.

You don't just not want to join the department anymore, you don't want to make a living either.

"This bow is to thank you all for not minding my youth when I first ascended to the position of Crown Prince and for serving me wholeheartedly." Liu Bian took the wine cup from Gao Wang's hand, drank three large cups of pepper and cypress wine in succession, and then held the wine cup upside down to show that he had drunk it all. "My gratitude is all in the wine, and I will not say more."

"I have only one statement: I will not keep today's glory to myself!"

Liu Bian's attitude was very sincere. Facing this group of outstanding talents who had almost gathered the talents of an entire era, Liu Bian's way of winning their hearts was to treat them with sincerity.

As an outstanding and warm-hearted man, he warms the hearts of every subject, becoming the only sun in their hearts.

Of course, as a caring man, he couldn't let his subjects look at the pie in the paper instead of food to fill their stomachs, nor could he let them rely on the spiritual chicken soup given by the crown prince in the dead of winter instead of fur coats and charcoal fire to warm their bodies.

Subsequently, Liu Bian began announcing official appointments.

First, the list of those to be transferred to other regions was released. The brothers Liu Dai, the tutor of the crown prince, and Liu Yao, the grand master of the crown prince's palace, were appointed as the governor of Hedong Commandery and the governor of Henan Commandery, respectively.

Whether it was due to being surrounded by virtuous people or not, the talents displayed by the brothers Liu Dai and Liu Yao far surpassed those of their predecessors. As rising stars among the Han imperial family, they were naturally given important positions.

Wang Lang, a senior official of the Crown Prince's Palace, was promoted to Prefect of Boling Commandery; Chen Gong, a son of the Crown Prince's concubine, was promoted to Chancellor of Liang State; and Hua Xin, a son of the Crown Prince's concubine, was promoted to Magistrate of Luoyang.

Including Tian Feng, the chancellor of Pei State, Ju Shou, the chancellor of Lu State, and Xun Yu, the chancellor of Jibei State, who had already been transferred to other posts, a total of seven prefects with a salary of two thousand shi and one county magistrate of the capital with a salary of one thousand shi were transferred from the original staff of the Crown Prince's Office.

Such a reward was truly tempting. Not to mention Wang Lang, Chen Gong, and Hua Xin, even the brothers Liu Dai and Liu Yao, who were members of the Han imperial family, were stunned by this sudden surprise.

It wasn't until his colleague reminded him that he realized what was happening, bowed to Liu Bian, and said, "Your subject thanks the nation for its grace!"

The state is ruled by the Son of Heaven.

"Your Majesty" is mostly used in written language, while "nation" is a colloquial term.

However, compared to those who were assigned to other posts, those who were not assigned to other posts were actually happier.

Because their future clearly lies in that Chamberlain's Temple!
The Court of Imperial Sacrifices was originally part of the Imperial Household Department system, but Liu Bian separated it from the Imperial Household Department and made it stand alongside the Secretariat, not subject to the control of the Three Dukes and Nine Ministers. It has become the new power center in the court.

Liu Bian established eight Attendants in the Attendant-in-Ordinary Temple, with a rank of two thousand shi, to advise on matters and manage the Temple; eight Attendants at the Yellow Gate, with a rank of one thousand shi, to assist in advising on matters; and sixteen Attendants in charge of drafting documents, with a rank equivalent to one thousand shi.

All three can participate in confidential matters, discuss confidential affairs with the emperor, and offer their opinions.

Below them were the scribes, who were in charge of writing memorials and official documents; and the scribes, who were in charge of organizing and archiving documents. Both of them were ranked 600 shi (a unit of grain).

The transmission of documents was still handled by eunuchs, but the junior eunuchs were renamed the redundant eunuchs. At the same time, the position of the Grand Attendant was not abolished, but the number of them was strictly limited.

In addition, the Tally Station, which was responsible for storing and preserving tallies (tiger tallies, ceremonial staffs, etc.), was also incorporated from the Shaofu into the Shizhong Temple system. One Tally Station Master was appointed, with a salary of 600 shi, to be in charge of tallies; four Shangfu Xi Langzhong were appointed, with a salary of 400 shi, to be responsible for the safekeeping of tallies; and Tally Station Clerks, with a salary of 200 shi, were responsible for registering the use and granting of tallies.

For the position of Attendant-in-Ordinary, Liu Bian appointed four people: Jia Xu, Cheng Yu, Dong Zhao, and Zhong Yao, while the other four positions remained vacant for the time being.

Watching the four men receive their imperial edicts and express their gratitude to the emperor, everyone, though knowing that these four were veterans of the Crown Prince's residence, couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy.

Leaving aside military officers like Dian Wei and Xu Chu, military promotions differ from those of civil officials; military merit leads to a much faster promotion rate than that of civil officials.

But the speed at which these four people were promoted was simply too fast!
Two years ago, Jia Xu and Zhong Yao were still commoners, Cheng Yu was a low-ranking official in Dong'e County, and Dong Zhao was just a county magistrate with a salary of 600 shi. Now, two years later, they have all become high-ranking officials with salaries of 2,000 shi, and they are only one step away from becoming the Nine Ministers!

However, everyone understood that the four of them were a special case.

At the time, the Crown Prince's Palace was short-handed, so they were promoted one after another. Looking at Tian Feng, Ju Shou, and Xun Yu, they were not promoted as quickly as these four, and were even sent to other posts.

However, this is also related to the experience, resume, and age of Jia Xu, Cheng Yu, Dong Zhao, and Zhong Yao. Jia Xu is 39 years old this year, Cheng Yu is 45 years old, Dong Zhao is 30 years old, and Zhong Yao is 35 years old. Their age and experience are sufficient, and they are also tactful and quick-witted in handling affairs.

The position of Yellow Gate Attendant was filled by five people: Xu Jing, Wei Ji, Shen Pei, Xun You, and Feng Ji, all of whom were junior officials under the Crown Prince.

Xu Jing is calm and steady, Xun You is good at planning, Shen Pei is good at making decisions, Wei Ji is knowledgeable about classical allusions, and Feng Ji is decisive in his actions. All of them are capable of handling affairs!

The five officials appointed to oversee the administration of books were Zhu Zhi, the Crown Prince's son; Zhong Yan, the Crown Prince's food official; Fu Xun, the Crown Prince's attendant; Lu Cui; and Ruan Yu.

Compared to the previous candidates, the choice of the Attendant-in-Ordinary for the Book of Documents seemed rather mediocre.

Zhu Zhi was appointed because he had insightful views on the Yue people in the mountains, and Liu Bian needed his talent to develop the Yue region of Yangzhou.

The appointment of Zhong Yan was out of respect for Zhong Yao. Although Zhong Yan was not as talented as his elder brother, as a member of the Zhong family of Yingchuan, he was knowledgeable and of good character.

Fu Xun was good at recognizing people, Lu Cui was quick-witted and decisive, and Ruan Yu was intelligent and quick-thinking. These three were the book-writing attendants that Liu Bian truly admired.

The secretariat was staffed with four people: Crown Prince's Attendant He Qia and Guo Yuan, as well as Mao Jie, a candidate for the civil service examination from Chenliu Commandery, and Hu Zhao, a candidate for the civil service examination from Yingchuan Commandery, who were appointed as candidates for the civil service examination at the end of last year. The scribes were staffed with four people: Crown Prince's Attendant Chen Qun, Yi Ji, a candidate for the civil service examination from Shanyang Commandery, Sun Shao, a candidate for the civil service examination from Beihai Commandery, and Du Xi, a candidate for the civil service examination from Yingchuan Commandery.

Liu Yi, the magistrate of the Crown Prince's granary, was appointed as the official in charge of tallies and seals, which speaks volumes about the trust placed in him.

Each person clutched a decree bestowing their title, their gazes toward the emperor growing ever more fervent.

The emperor kept his promise and did not keep the glory to himself, and they will repay him in kind.

loyalty!

(4123 words)
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PS: The list of officials who were finally appointed to the Crown Prince's residence and received their titles and honors has been published as a separate chapter and will not be included in the main text.

PPS: I was sleeping on and off all day yesterday. The last time I woke up was at 11:30. I'll add 2,000 words to make up for it, and then shamelessly ask for some monthly votes!
(End of this chapter)