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

Chapter 192 Centralization
To participate in national affairs?

His words caused astonishment throughout the hall.

Having lost their feudal power, they became "ministers of the king," directly managing state affairs. Although they had no decision-making power, they supervised national politics and military affairs, and even had the power to submit memorials at any time.

The hearts of the princes and nobles were inexplicably warmed.

It should be understood that subjects could not meet the emperor at will; the only options were to be summoned by imperial decree or to have an audience with the emperor. Therefore, meeting the emperor was a special privilege.

This is an honor.

It's a right too!
They could see the sage at any time, report to the emperor at any time, and could change the lives of an individual or even a nation at any time.

A single word can change the world; how many such people have there been throughout history?
The only downside is that the power of the kings and ministers to participate in and discuss politics is granted by the monarch. For example, the monarch can revoke the titles of king and minister of King Liu Zhu of Chu and King Liu Ji of Hejian at any time and remove them from all their power in court.

How should I put it? It's like an extension of imperial power.

Used to erode the power of the prime minister.

This is like having two supervisors placed beside the prime minister, forcing him to be more cautious than before when doing things and making decisions.

The princes, dukes, marquises, and members of the imperial family all looked at Chancellor Gongsun Hong, only to see that he didn't even lift his eyelids.

Come to think of it, during Your Majesty's reign, in order to strengthen imperial power and weaken the power of the prime minister, Your Majesty began to rely on your trusted and close ministers to participate in major decisions, thus forming the system of inner and outer courts.

This led to a gradual transfer of decision-making power, originally held by the Chancellor, to officials in the central government and the court, significantly limiting the power of the Chancellor of the Han Dynasty.

His Majesty is clearly aiming to turn the Grand Chancellor of the Outer Court into a clay or wooden sculpture in the future.

In other words, the Prime Minister's Office resolutely chose the Emperor, paving the way for the Emperor's rule. After the Emperor took power, it was both to curb His Majesty's power and to reciprocate the favor by further increasing the Prime Minister's power.

Now, Your Majesty has fought in the south and north, relying on Wei Qing, Huo Qubing, Zhang Cigong, Lu Bode and others to establish a military and virtuous legacy that will last for generations. You have also promoted the civil reform of the Han Dynasty through Gongsun Hong, Zhang Tang and others, and further suppressed Your Majesty's already limited power. Power has been highly concentrated in Your Majesty's hands, so it is not surprising that you will then take action against the power of the prime minister.

The old prime minister, who was almost "smart" in his understanding, must have been mentally prepared long ago. Not only would he not oppose it, but he might even support it.

Amidst the commotion, the princes and nobles were stunned and gradually fell silent.

The power structure of a young ruler and an old prime minister is inherently unstable, but the relationship between the ruler and the prime minister is quite harmonious.

Perhaps this is what "the unity of ruler and subject" means.

While Liu Zhu and Liu Ji were still moved by the Emperor's calligraphy, the ten kings, including Liu Pengli, the King of Chengyang, Liu Jian, the King of Zichuan, and Liu Hu, the King of Jibei, excitedly said, "Your subjects are also willing to hand over the three guards of the royal palace, enter the royal residence in Chang'an, and request to become ministers of the king!"

"I am willing!"

"I am willing too!"

"..."

In the Xuan Shi Hall, the ten princes of Chengyang argued heatedly, their faces flushed.

When he was a prince, he lived in constant fear, dreading the arrival of the decree to reduce the power of his vassal states.

When serving as a minister, one is virtually the embodiment of the monarch, not suspected or feared by the monarch, but trusted and reassured by the monarch. One is not subject to impeachment by court officials, but can impeach them, enter the palace, and move freely throughout the land. This is more like the monarchy, which is second only to the imperial power.

The way the feudal lords were so eager to take advantage of any opportunity truly shocked the civil and military officials of both the Chinese and foreign dynasties. These kings really had no shame whatsoever.

Even Liu Ju, sitting on his throne, fell silent.

The crimes committed by the King of Chu and the King of Hejian were deliberately done to reassure the monarch and the court.

The crimes of the Ten Kings of Chengyang were to bully men and women and to wreak havoc on the region.

Can two "deliberate acts" be the same? Instead of thinking about getting away with it, they reach out for titles and power.

Liu Ju suddenly thought of a fitting description of the Ten Kings of Chengyang: "They are willing to risk their lives for small gains, but hesitant to do great things; they are fierce in appearance but timid in reality, and fond of scheming but indecisive."

A new path: the first to walk it is a genius, the second is mediocre, the third is a fool, and the fourth will be on his deathbed.

The Ten Kings of Chengyang were nothing but ten fools who were about to die!

Liu Ju looked at Zhang Tang.

The dragon's eyes were fixed on him.

Zhang Tang immediately took action, looking at the Ten Princes of Chengyang and shouting, "Insolence!"

A sharp aura instantly enveloped the Ten Kings of Chengyang, and the hall fell silent for a moment.

Before the vassal kings were punished, they were still the royal princes of the Han Dynasty. Even though Zhang Tang was one of the Three Dukes and the Grand Secretary, he was still a subject of the Han Dynasty. For a subject to speak to a king was disrespectful.

The Ten Princes of Chengyang were stunned for a moment, then came to their senses. A surge of anger welled up in their hearts, and they were about to explode when Zhang Tang spoke first: "You are descendants of our ancestors, yet you do not think of respecting Heaven and honoring your ancestors, nor do you share the burdens of the country. Since you took up your fiefs, the country has been in chaos, with morals collapsing and people resenting you. In the end, this has caused the wrath of Heaven and the resentment of the people, and the court and the country are in an uproar."

The change in the Han dynasty's governance system was due to the emperor's intention to end the fragmented rule and avoid endless turmoil. People yearned for order and unity, for the unification of the world, for a single law of governance, and for the abandonment of you all.

You still show no remorse or shame, yet you have proactively submitted memorials to plead guilty, requested to relinquish your titles, and devoted yourselves to studying. You still cling to power and are obsessed with it.

If we were to appoint you as ministers and advisors to the government in today's world, it would be tantamount to abandoning the hearts and minds of the people and to re-establishing the foundation for division and separate rule. I fear that the affairs of the Han Dynasty would not be unified for a hundred years!

"You have committed heinous crimes and yet you do not plead guilty. Are you not deceiving my sovereign, who is known for his magnanimity and benevolence?"

The ten princes of Chengyang might not have understood his tirade, but the one who accused the emperor of "deceiving the emperor" understood it and hurriedly said, "I had no such intention!"

"If that's the case, then why don't you apologize!" Zhang Tang remained unmoved and said coldly.

Officials from both the Chinese and foreign dynasties angrily shouted, "Why don't you apologize!"

The roaring sound made the gradually stuffy hall feel as if an autumn wind was sweeping through, instantly creating a chilling atmosphere that terrified the Ten Princes of Chengyang.

Why did the King of Chu and the King of Hejian receive different attitudes and treatment from their respective rulers and ministers, even though they were both feudal lords?

The overwhelming power of the emperor and his subjects forced the ten princes of Chengyang to lower their heads and kneel before the throne once more, saying in unison, "We are guilty!"

Extremely frustrated.

Zhang Tang looked at Liu Zhu and Liu Ji, frowned, and said, "Your Highnesses, why don't you thank us?"

The ministers who participate in government and deliberation seem to have no real power, yet they are extremely important. The fewer the number of ministers, the greater their power. I wonder what the King of Chu and the King of Hejian are thinking.

Liu Zhu and Liu Ji cast grateful glances at Zhang Tang, then bowed deeply again and said, "Your Majesty, we thank you for your great kindness!"

"Get up."

Liu Ju looked at Gongsun Hong and said, "Old Prime Minister, I entrust my two relatives to you."

Gongsun Hong slowly rose from the embroidered stool, bowed deeply, and said, "Your subject will certainly work together with the two kings and ministers to govern the country and live up to the trust placed in him by His Majesty."

Liu Ju nodded, looked at the Ten Princes of Chengyang, and lost all patience. "Hand over the three guards of the Prince's Palace, and go to the Prince's Residence in Chang'an to study. Your past actions will be forgiven."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

(End of this chapter)