A son who doesn't resemble his father? Love you, old man, see you at Xuanwu Gate!

Chapter 111 Peace of Mind
The imperial edict was issued.

Instead of immediately issuing the decree to all the vassal kings to come to the capital, Chancellor Gongsun Hong ordered the new Chancellor Wang Chao to temporarily keep the decree in the cabinet before setting off to Weiyang Palace for an audience.

Gongsun Hong's two palanquins stopped in front of the stone steps of Xuan Shi Hall. Jiang Bo immediately got down and, as usual, helped him up, saying, "Prime Minister, you didn't sleep well, did you? Your eyes are all red."

“When a person is about to die, they can’t sleep well. Let’s just serve the emperor one day at a time,” Gongsun Hong said with a smile.

Many elderly people are very reluctant to talk about the word "death," but he was quite open about it, saying that no one can escape death.

"Don't." Jiang Bo helped him walk up the steps of Xuan Shi Hall. "Long live the Emperor, long live the Prime Minister. You still have to serve the Emperor for another twenty years."

"I have been fortunate to receive the auspicious words of the Imperial Physician, who wished me to live another twenty years. However, that seems unlikely." Gongsun Hong shook his head with a smile.

The Grand Chancellor of the Han Dynasty was a scaled-down version of the emperor, wielding astonishing power, but also incredibly busy, often hunched over his desk, unable to straighten his back for a whole day.

Even today, the Han Dynasty is still in its early stages. The experience and lessons of a unified empire were learned from the Qin Dynasty, but to think that it can rest easy is wishful thinking.

At times, Gongsun Hong felt as if he were a blind man riding a blind horse, approaching a deep pool at midnight, and dared not slacken his vigilance for even a moment.

This is also one of the reasons why wise monarchs and capable prime ministers have often not lived long lives throughout history.

Of course, the large number of concubines in the harem was also a contributing factor.

As the first commoner to become prime minister of the Han Dynasty, Gongsun Hong believed that he was fortunate to live to be eighty and dared not hope to live to be a hundred.

Jiang Bo helped him slowly up the steps. "I've heard that the Prime Minister's residence is gathering talented people from all over the country, striving to explore a system of 'practical application of classical learning' for our Great Han Dynasty. I wonder how it's progressing?"

The Prime Minister's office issued a recruitment order.

The news initially made the hearts of all the people in the country skip a beat, but this recruitment of talents was not the same as that recruitment of talents. The Prime Minister's Office had no intention of expansion, and the people recruited could not serve as officials, but could only "brainstorm" in the Prime Minister's Office.

The recruitment notice repeatedly emphasized that, originating from the ancient sage Confucius's idea of ​​"learning for practical application," the knowledge explored must be beneficial to the country's affairs, that is, to value the practical effectiveness of knowledge and oppose empty talk about principles and academic styles that are divorced from reality.

It added a lot of laughter.

It is common knowledge that Confucianism is prone to empty talk and detachment from reality. As for practical benefits, it is something that Confucian scholars, who are weak and unwilling to lift a finger, would be willing to do.

Under the hereditary system of official positions and stipends, various schools of thought emerged, and they heavily criticized Gongsun Hong's "delusions." Even Confucianists and members of the Gongyang School accused Gongsun Hong of disgracing Confucianism and the Gongyang School.

The ancient sages' vision of a "Great Harmony Society" has already set an ultimate goal for the world. What Confucian scholars should do is to "add bricks and tiles" to it, and guide the world from a high position.

If knowledge is of practical use, then wouldn't we be no different from the common people like the Mohists and the Agriculturalists who practice what they preach?
Gongsun Hong ignored all that and continued to recruit talented people, asking the scholars who came to think and debate before they could do so, emulating the ancient debates of the Hundred Schools of Thought, to convince themselves, to convince others, and then to convince him, the Chancellor of the Great Han Dynasty.

A sour feeling suddenly welled up in Gongsun Hong's heart. He couldn't tell whether it was bitterness or jealousy. A complicated expression appeared on his face. "No progress."

All the scholars who came stopped at trying to persuade others, because no one could persuade anyone else. This was quite similar to the time when the Hundred Schools of Thought contended in ancient times, with everyone holding their own opinions and being inflexible.

"Prime Minister, have you made any progress?"

"It broadened my horizons."

Gongsun Hong sighed.

A group of well-read scholars, whose only skill in arguing rivals that of shrewish women on the street, offer absolutely no inspiration.

Jiang Bo said nothing more, and helped him into the main hall. "May Your Majesty live a thousand years, and enjoy endless happiness." Gongsun Hong slowly bent over with difficulty.

Liu Ju sat on the throne and looked at him, "No need for formalities, help the Prime Minister to sit down."

"Yes," Jiang Bo replied, helping Gongsun Hong sit down on a stool nearby.

"Has the Prime Minister come here because he believes there is something wrong with the imperial edict?" Liu Ju asked.

He already knew about the imperial edict to stay in the cabinet. The Chancellor of the Han Dynasty was the prime minister. In later generations, the prime minister was not necessarily the prime minister. The prime minister was extremely honorable, in charge of all officials, and in charge of all affairs of state.

It can be said that the prime minister's powers are all-encompassing and all-encompassing, and some of these powers are manifestations of this.

The duties included selecting officials, impeaching officials and carrying out punishments, managing the accounts and assessments of prefectures and kingdoms, overseeing court discussions and memorials from officials, and refuting and admonishing officials.

The prime minister has the power to reject or remonstrate with the emperor if any of his edicts do not conform to the law or regulations.

For example, when Emperor Jing of Han wanted to enfeoff Wang Xin, the brother of the Empress, as a marquis, he discussed it with Chancellor Zhou Yafu. Yafu said, "Emperor Gaozu made a pact: no one who is not of the Liu family can be a king, and no one who has made a marquis can be a marquis. If this pact is not broken, the whole world will attack him. Now, although Wang Xin is the brother of the Empress, he has no merit and should be made a marquis. This is not in accordance with the pact."

He remained silent and dejected.

Zhou Yafu opposed Emperor Xiaojing's conferment of the title of Marquis on Wang Xin, citing a prior agreement made by Emperor Gaozu. Moreover, he had advised against it beforehand.

Gongsun Hong was unaware of the imperial edict ordering the princes to enter the capital beforehand, and could have directly exercised the Prime Minister's power to reject it. However, Gongsun Hong was always worldly-wise, and in addition to the power of rejection, which had no recourse, he set up a "retention order" to prevent the edict from being issued.

There is always room for maneuver between the ruler and his ministers.

His wisdom bordered on the supernatural.

Gongsun Hong waved his hand, signaling Jiang Bo and the others to leave, leaving only the emperor and his minister. He then stepped back and asked, "May I ask Your Majesty, is it your intention to reduce the power of the vassal states?"

"Why does the Prime Minister say such a thing?"

“All the kings under heaven are guilty. The Emperor has summoned them to the capital. In my opinion, this is to wipe them all out in one fell swoop.” Gongsun Hong knelt down.

If a subject speaks of something the monarch has not yet said or done, it is to speculate on the monarch's mind and is also to overstep his bounds.

"We are so familiar with each other as ruler and subject, I will not hide anything from you, but to tell you the truth, I also do not know."

Liu Ju looked at Gongsun Hong, and Gongsun Hong looked up at Liu Ju. The old man and the young man looked into each other's eyes and could see each other's sincerity.

"According to custom, when a new emperor is first enthroned, the vassal kings must come to the capital to pay homage. Since my mother and I have successively assumed the regency, the vassal kings should follow the custom and come to pay homage. This is the reason for the edict."

"However, once the crimes of the princes are exposed, the royal family will lose all face in an instant. The reason I summoned the princes to the capital is to resolve these issues."

"Secondly, our dynasty is to restore the territory of Nanyue, and also to launch a northern expedition against the Xiongnu. With the war in the north and south, we have mobilized nearly 100,000 troops. My father is also on a southern tour of the country. I am also worried that the princes may make some changes."

That's the biggest reason.

Even if the territories of the vassal kings were small, they were still vassal kings and members of the Liu clan. Emperor Xiaowen was able to inherit the throne as a vassal king, so it was hard to guarantee that no other vassal kings would be tempted.

Before the two armies had left the country, he ordered all the princes to come to the capital and take control of the people. This way, he could feel at ease.

(End of this chapter)