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

Chapter 139 Meritorious Person
Changle Palace, Changxin Hall.

Inside and outside the palace, there was a lively atmosphere.

The banquet hosted by Empress Wei and the Emperor kept all the palace staff busy.

The new Palace Attendant, Wei Guang, the Empress's half-brother, carefully inspected everything to ensure nothing went wrong.

What is this being made?

"Reporting to the Grand Master, this is a free-range chicken. It was just made by the cook and is piping hot and fresh. When it was being cooked, the chicken was still panting and kicking its legs in the pot."

"Be careful, follow the rules, and don't make any mistakes. Do you all understand?"

"Yes, Your Excellency!"

"..."

When Liu Ju arrived.

Seeing this scene evoked complex emotions. Despite the power he held, his bond with his mother remained unchanged, but the things around him constantly reminded him that the bond between a mother and son in the imperial family was different.

Indeed, if his mother hadn't repeatedly urged him to come, he probably wouldn't have come to Chang Le Palace, and there wouldn't have been this family banquet.

"Your Majesty."

Wei Qing has arrived.

Liu Ju stopped him from bowing and said gently, "Didn't I say that my relationship with my uncle is only that of relatives?"

"This is inside the palace gate..."

"Family dinner".

Liu Ju looked at Wei Qing and said sincerely, "Since this is a family banquet, we should pay more attention to the bonds of kinship."

"Yes, Ju'er."

Wei Qing hesitated.

Liu Ju waved for the palace attendant to leave, then looked into his uncle's eyes and asked, "Uncle, are you blaming me because of Gongsun He and his son Gongsun Jingsheng?"

“He deserved it; he did the right thing.”

"Is my uncle blaming me for taking down the Wei family's relatives?"

“They were arrogant and domineering. It’s already a stroke of luck that Ju’er spared their lives. There’s nothing to be surprised about,” Wei Qing said, shaking his head.

Those sisters, nephews, nieces, and grandnieces are not innocent; it is an act of kindness that they can live well in some corner of the world.

"So, Uncle is afraid of me?" Liu Ju said helplessly.

Wei Qing remained silent.

"What is my uncle afraid of? Is it that I commanded the cruel officials to kill, or that I was indifferent to family ties? Is he worried that I will then turn on other relatives?"

“Ju’er, you will be a wise and virtuous ruler.”

Looking at his nephew, Wei Qing also spoke frankly, "But he's not a good relative."

I am not worried that you will harm me, or Qubing, or any of the harmless Wei people. What I fear is that the Wei people, tempted by power, will become harmful and then be killed or imprisoned by Juer.

He was never worried about his two nephews, Liu Ju and Huo Qubing; what he feared most was that more and more members of the Wei clan would be "eliminated" after power was alienated.

There wasn't much kinship among the Wei family members. You can see this by comparing Liu Ju's attitude towards him with that towards Wei Guang and Wei Bu. Without ability, blood ties are meaningless.

Wei Qing's inferiority complex allowed him to remain calm and humble when he was at the height of his fame, and to remain composed after being neglected. It also made him prone to overthinking when he had nothing to do.

He could control himself, but he couldn't control his family. When he saw his family members disappear, he couldn't help but feel depressed and heavy-hearted.

In short, I'm bored.

Now it was Liu Ju's turn to be silent. It would be too fake to say that he hadn't deliberately distanced himself from his uncle. Huo Qubing's gradual takeover of the Han military power meant a lot.

After a long silence, Liu Ju said earnestly, "In terms of kinship, I have not changed my closeness to my uncle in the slightest. This was true when I was the Crown Prince, when I was in the Northern Army, and it was true in Weiyang Palace."

Kinship and politics are two different things.

One may not change their trust and closeness to their uncle, but one must not shirk their authority over him.

More power should be tilted toward those who support you more unconditionally.

Between Wei Qing and Huo Qubing, the latter was clearly better able to secure his position and power than the former.

Therefore, Huo Qubing was better suited to lead troops into battle, while Wei Qing was better suited to stay behind and guard the court.

This is a rational choice.

"I know everything."

Wei Qing was in great pain and said in a hoarse voice, "I'm sorry to trouble Ju'er."

He understands the道理 (principles/reasons), but how can he control his wild thoughts?

"Does Uncle want to go back to the army?"

Liu Ju made his decision.

Wei Qing's heart skipped a beat. "What does Ju'er mean?"

"The military merit system of the Han Dynasty needs to be changed, even drastically reformed. There needs to be a practical and feasible method for reform. I hope that you will return to the army to train the soldiers and figure out the new system at the same time."

The system of "capture the enemy" has reached a point where it must be changed, and this change must be from top to bottom. It requires a person of sufficient authority to propose a new system based on the basic military system of the Han Dynasty. We do not expect perfection, but we do expect it to be useful.

Wei Qing was tempted, but hesitated and said, "Isn't Ju'er worried that if I return to the army, I will start another struggle?"

The military was the place with the most factions. His Majesty deliberately promoted Huo Qubing to create conflict. The uncle and nephew were just putting on an act for His Majesty's benefit. However, some officers who didn't understand the situation abandoned Wei Qing and chose Huo Qubing, which exacerbated the contradictions in the army.

If he returns to the army and gains actual military power, the Wei and Huo families will rise to prominence again.

“When my elder brother returns, these will no longer be problems,” Liu Ju said with a smile.

Once Huo Qubing opens up the Hexi Corridor in one battle and destroys the right wing of the Xiongnu, his achievements will be unparalleled. Anyone who dares to make a move will simply have his elder brother kill them, and then there will be no problem at all.

"Ju'er always had such confidence in getting rid of the illness."

"No, I have the same confidence in my uncle."

Liu Ju shook his head. "I believe that my uncle will not lose his self-reflection, and I believe that my uncle can train both the Northern and Southern Armies of the Han Dynasty into strong armies. I also believe that my uncle can find a practical military system for our Han Dynasty. The war plans of the Han Dynasty will always come from my uncle's hands!"

Huo Qubing was the imperial commander he considered.

Wei Qing was, in his opinion, the architect of imperial strategy.

Beyond the Xiongnu and Nanyue, the Han Dynasty would face many more wars in the future, but the strategic planning would only come from Wei Qing.

Just like Emperor Gaozu's analogy of meritorious officials, some people are meritorious people, and some people are meritorious dogs.

Wei Qing, Huo Qubing, and Gongsun Hong are representatives of those who performed meritorious service. Zhang Tang, Gongsun Ao, and Zhang Qian are representatives of those who performed meritorious service but were actually corrupt.

Those who are capable should be used, and those who are useless should be driven away. This world is vast, and Liu Ju would not do something like discarding a donkey after it has served its purpose.

A surge of heroic spirit welled up within Wei Qing, and his lingering worries vanished. Gazing at his outstanding nephew, the Crown Prince, he couldn't help but burst into laughter.

Liu Ju also laughed, and the laughter of the uncle and nephew echoed in the palace, attracting the attention of countless palace attendants.

Standing at the corner of the connecting corridor, Wei Guang was filled with envy; he was also the Crown Prince's uncle.

The laughter subsided.

Composing himself, he called out, "Your Majesty, General, the Empress has sent word to urge us."

Liu Ju looked over at the sound, "Uncle Wei Guang, is he a military talent?"

"He is a talented general, but a junior one, unfit for great responsibilities," Wei Qing said truthfully.

His two younger brothers, Wei Guang and Wei Bu, were both above average in ability; they were suitable for regular use, but not for important positions.

"A talent for a county?"

That's roughly it.

“In the future, let Uncle Wei Guang and Uncle Wei Bu follow my elder brother to the battlefield. They won’t lead troops, but they can still gain some military merits and be granted the title of county marquis later.”

Liu Ju almost never explicitly told the Wei family members to gain some merit before he could bestow favors upon them.

Wei Qing was moved.

According to the Han dynasty system, the higher-ranking marquises were granted the fief of a county, while the lower-ranking ones were granted the fief of a township or village.

The title of county marquis is the highest rank a subject can attain; such a promise is undoubtedly of great importance.

"Thank you, Ju'er."

With a ruler like him, what more could one ask for?

kind.

That's so kind of you.

……

Inside Changxin Hall.

The palace attendant announced in a loud voice:
"His Majesty has arrived!"

"The general has arrived!"

"Your subject greets Mother."

"Your subject greets your elder sister."

May you live a thousand years and enjoy endless happiness.

Liu Ju and Wei Qing successively paid their respects and offered their praises.

“Ju’er, come here.”

Wei Zifu beckoned Liu Ju to sit beside her, and looked at Wei Qing, saying, "Wei Qing, you sit down too."

Mother and son sat together.

Wei Qing sat in the lower seat.

Dishes and crispy tea were then served, and at Wei Zifu's invitation, they began to eat and drink.

The food tastes delicious.

Empress Wei Zifu said with relief, "No matter how good things are, nothing is worse than having your children by your side."

"If Mother likes it, her son will come to visit her often in the future."

"Ju'er is a very busy person. He's here today, he's here tomorrow, but will he still be here the day after tomorrow?"

Wei Zifu's eyes were filled with her son's reflection. "Mother, I wish every day could be like today, with my heart always warm."

"Aren't my two older sisters staying with Mother at Chang Le Palace?" Liu Ju replied.

He has three older sisters from the same mother: Princess Dangli, also known as Princess Weichang, who married into the Pingyang Marquis's family; Princess Zhuyi and Princess Shiyi, who are not yet married and live in this Changle Palace.

"Your eldest sister isn't here."

"My elder sister is in the Pingyang Marquis's residence in Chang'an. Whenever Mother wishes to see her, she can be summoned to the palace."

“Your eldest sister’s child and your nephew are too young to travel frequently between the palace and the marquis’s residence.”

Faced with his mother's expectant gaze, Liu Ju gradually understood the purpose of this family dinner and calmly asked, "Then, according to Mother's wishes?"

"Ju'er, how about letting your elder sister and your nephew stay in Chang Le Palace for a while?" Wei Zifu asked nervously.

When her eldest daughter suddenly entered the palace and recounted the changes in the Pingyang Marquis's residence, she immediately realized that her son was about to take action against the Pingyang Marquis's residence.

She didn't care about Princess Pingyang, nor did she care about her son-in-law, the Marquis of Pingyang, but she couldn't help but care about her daughter and grandson.

If it were just her eldest daughter, Wei Zifu could simply keep her in the palace. But with an additional grandson, she couldn't make that decision. He was a descendant of the Marquis of Pingyang, and she didn't know the true attitude of the Crown Prince's son towards the Marquis of Pingyang's household.

Is it true that they don't even spare two-year-old children?
"Why not?"

Liu Ju smiled and took over the conversation, reassuring her, "I haven't seen my elder sister and nephew for a long time, and I really miss them. It's a good opportunity to bring them into the palace to see them."

"Wei Guang!"

"Chen is here!"

"Immediately summon the Princess and her son to the palace."

"promise."

Upon receiving the order, Zhan Shi Wei Guang immediately arranged for someone to deliver the imperial edict to the Marquis of Pingyang's residence.

With her wish fulfilled, Wei Zifu was completely relieved and beamed with joy. She thoroughly enjoyed the family banquet.

After the banquet.

Liu Ju left Changxin Palace and looked at the rolling dark clouds in the sky. A gust of wind blew by, and the damp air proved that rain was coming.

Springtime brings abundant rainfall, nourishing all things and fostering their growth. Life is flourishing, but it will eventually come to an end. The beginning of summer marks the start of the harsh and severe rule of the monarchy.

A storm is coming!

(End of this chapter)