Thank you to Nora7 for the ko-fi~ ( ∩´ ᐜ `∩)♡
The great waters of the He and Fen Rivers surged, causing a seismic disturbance in Luoyang. However, at this moment, the Southern Court, preoccupied as it was, had no leisure for a northern campaign. Since the beginning of spring in the Jiangdong region, rain had been scarce, evolving into a calamity.
“It’s all because His Majesty has deviated from the right path, inviting divine retribution!” In the residence of the Grand General, Wang Dun’s countenance darkened, his tone unsparing.
Earlier, assigning Liu Kun to guard Shou City could have been overlooked, but Emperor Sima Rui showed no signs of restraint. He issued a decree to release the servants within Yang County’s borders, organizing them into formations and placing them under the command of Dai Yuan. With numerous influential families in Yang County and an overwhelming number of servants, this move effectively added tens of thousands to the army. Handing them over to Dai Yuan was undoubtedly a precaution against potential threats.
“I heard that the Emperor is considering the talents of Yu Liang and Liu Kui; perhaps he is harboring suspicions against the Grand Tutor.” A counselor whispered, “Although the Grand Tutor is magnanimous and likely unconcerned, one cannot afford to disregard the Emperor’s intentions.”
Yu Liang’s sister is the Crown Princess, renowned for her exquisite beauty and exceptional eloquence, possessing a distinct scholarly demeanor. The Crown Prince’s prominent favoritism towards him is evidently aimed at wresting considerable power from the hands of Wang Dao. If Wang Dao is truly ousted from the central authority by other influential families, the once formidable influence of the Wang clan in Langya would crumble into oblivion.
“Sima’s lad is pushing his luck too far!” Wang Dun’s heart burned with indignation.
Dealing with just Liu Kun was already a formidable challenge, and with the involvement of figures like Yu Liang, the situation became even more complicated. With numerous influential families in Jiangdong and the added support of high-ranking families from the northern regions, who had gained the Emperor’s favor through their persuasive abilities, allowing them to gain power would render the efforts of these past few years meaningless. Wang Dun was unwilling to let things end like this.
“Perhaps, General, you should first gauge the depth of the court’s currents. If things seem unfavorable, early preparations would be wise,” someone suggested.
This probing naturally meant taking action against Liu Kun, who had recently taken control of Shou City. Wang Dun nodded slowly, “Let’s observe for now. If the court is truly in chaos due to the machinations of vile individuals, we will march into the capital and cleanse the imperial court!”
As these chilling words were uttered, several memorial reports were delivered to the desk of Sima Rui. Some overtly, some subtly, they mentioned the close association between the Northern General Liu Kun and the traitor Zu Ti, his inactive stance since arriving in Shou City, and insinuations of intentions to defect to the city. Enraged and surprised, Sima Rui issued an edict to question Liu Kun. However, who was Liu Kun? One of the renowned Twenty-Four Friends of Jingu during the Yuan Kang era, a distinguished literatus whose literary prowess was perhaps unmatched in the entire Jiangnan region!
Liu Kun immediately submitted a self-defense memorial, earnestly requesting to resign to prove his innocence. Sima Rui, recognizing the opportune moment for talent, was still touched by Liu Kun’s earlier memorial that had struck a chord in his heart. Instead of reproach, it turned into consolation, and the Emperor promptly bestowed upon Liu Kun the title of Minister of Works, demonstrating trust.
The waters in Jiangdong became increasingly murky. However, the common people below were indifferent to the maneuvers of the court and officials. With the drought causing crop failures and no relief from taxes, more and more disillusioned citizens, unwilling to serve the high-ranking families, packed their belongings and headed north toward the State of Zhao.
※
“My son has truly made significant progress in this experience,” Liang Feng looked at the Crown Prince standing in the hall, filled with admiration.
After the flood, Liang Rong volunteered to stay in Hedong to aid disaster relief and stabilize the people, delaying his return to Luoyang by two months. Throughout this journey, he experienced everything related to water management, even personally participating in the disaster relief process, much to Liang Feng’s delight.
Liang Rong wore a proud expression, “Father Emperor once said, ‘Water can carry a boat.’ Through this trip to Hedong, your child understands the value of people’s hearts. If the subjects in the realm are all like this, how can the world not be in harmony?!”
It seemed that this flood resistance effort had also ignited Liang Rong’s courage and confidence. However, Liang Feng did not follow his words but instead asked, “Why couldn’t the previous dynasty make use of such simple and pure-hearted subjects?”
“It’s because the Emperor of Jin excessively enfeoffed, leading to the proliferation of counties and the deterioration of governance. This eventually gave rise to the chaos of the War of the Eight Princes and the uprising of various ethnic groups!” Liang Rong explained swiftly. Engaged in daily studies at the Academy, guided by numerous esteemed teachers, and receiving personal instruction from his father, he was well-versed in these matters. “Since Father Emperor ascended the throne, he has not enfeoffed anyone as a duke or prince, let alone granting titles to those of a different surname. Our dynasty will not repeat the mistakes of the past!”
Liang Feng shook his head, “Then, when pacifying the realm, how will we reward the meritorious officials? How many of their descendants will inherit honors and official positions without merit?”
Liang Rong was momentarily speechless. Not to mention pacifying the realm, just capturing Chang’an this time resulted in the bestowment of many noble titles and fiefdoms. Without promotions and grants, who would be willing to risk their lives?
“In the future, there will be marquises, dukes, and counties, and the bloodline of my Liang clan will also be enfeoffed with land. Even if they are stingy, a hundred years later, the court will still see a batch of aristocratic families that span generations. They will seize land and exploit labor from the hands of the common people, using every means to enrich themselves. The sacred edicts of the Emperor will no longer spread throughout the land, just like an overly large tree slowly decaying from its roots to its branches. By then, the common people in your eyes will rise up, just like in the past dynasty, like the Yellow Turbans, like Chen Sheng and Wu Guang, raising their banners in rebellion.” Liang Feng’s voice was steady, describing to his son the process of a dynasty’s downfall with calm and unruffled tones.
“There will be ways to change it.” Liang Rong clenched his teeth, the previous sense of contentment and joy dissipating. “There is the Imperial Censorate, the Three Departments and Six Ministries, and the Privy Council. Father Emperor has established numerous regulations precisely to decentralize power, to balance, and to control the central authority! Moreover, there are garrisons and the Six Armies!”
Liang Feng nodded, “Perhaps these can balance civil and military affairs, and land consolidation can be kept in an ideal state. But what about the people? How will those surplus commoners be resettled? Within twenty years, the population of the State of Zhao will double. Then, with a pace of fifteen years per tier, it will continue to climb. During the heyday of the Later Han, there were nearly twenty million households in the entire realm. Without the turmoil of the Yellow Turbans, it might have continued to increase. With so many people, coupled with bureaucrats only interested in self-enrichment, what will become of it?”
Liang Rong couldn’t answer. This question had no clear solution. No matter how many wise ministers, capable generals, or saintly rulers there were, none could solve this issue.
Liang Feng sighed softly, “Originally, I didn’t intend for you to see it so soon… Well, come with me.”
Liang Rong, puzzled, followed his father to a corner of a side hall. With the gestures of the courtiers, the drapes covering the wall were pulled aside, revealing a map before Liang Rong.
It wasn’t the familiar map Liang Rong knew.
Swallowing hard, Liang Rong looked at the enormous map before him, spanning the entire wall, unable to find words.
“This is the territory of the State of Zhao.” Ignoring his son’s expression, Liang Feng raised a golden rod and circled the central and lower parts of the map. Within that circle were Bing County, You County, Ping County, Si County, Ji County, Qing County, Yan County, and Yong County. Everything north of the Yellow River was encompassed. Additionally, it included a large part of Yu County and some parts of Jing County.
It was an immense territory, yet on the map, it occupied only a small section.
Liang Feng continued with another circle below, “This is the land we will reclaim.”
All territories, including Qin County, Yi County, Jing County, Xu County, Yang County, Jiao County, Guang County, and Ning County, that were occupied by the Xiongnu, Di people, and Eastern Jin. These were the regions the State of Zhao aimed to gradually pacify in the future.
However, even when combining these two large sections, they still did not occupy half of the map.
“Here is the Bureau of the Western Regions.” Liang Feng raised his hand, and the golden rod pointed to the northwest. A sizable narrow region, connected through Liangzhou and the Central Plains. Since the Eastern Han, it had been under the jurisdiction of the Central Dynasty, continuing through Wei and Jin. From the Tianshan Mountains to Loulan, it used to be the Silk Road’s extension.
But now, Liangzhou had not yet submitted, turning this significant piece of land into an enclave. Even the Silk Road was on the verge of being severed.
The golden rod followed along the Bureau of the Western Regions, circling another vast area. Liang Feng calmly said, “This is a region of towering mountains and rugged terrain, inhabited by Qiang and Yi people.”
In the future, it would be known as Qinghai and Tibet, extending to the Sino-Indian border.
“And here, the grasslands of the Xianbei people.” The golden rod moved upward, encompassing an area larger than the Central Plains, extending from the Hulunbuir Grassland to Lake Baikal.
“There are also Qiang and Hu, Wusun, Goguryeo, and Fuyu…” The last few scattered territories constituted the entirety of the known world for most of the people in the realm. Liang Feng sighed lightly, “This is the surrounding territory beyond our borders, high mountains, deserts, grasslands, and frozen tundra. Even in the height of Emperor Wu’s expansion, it was never entirely conquered.”
Liang Rong’s eyes suddenly lit up, “As long as our dynasty can expand its territory, we can support more people! Under heaven, no land is not the king’s; along the shores, there are no subjects who are not kingsmen!”
Although these regions were not suitable for habitation, as long as they expanded step by step, solutions could always be found.
Liang Feng neither affirmed nor denied, using the golden rod to point at the map, “Change!”
At his command, the two courtiers swiftly rolled up the current map, revealing another one beneath it. This new map wasn’t too large, and the markings were extremely concise, with most areas left blank.
Liang Rong blinked, gazing bewilderedly, “Father Emperor, this is…”
On the new map, Liang Feng drew a circle, “This is all you just saw.”
The entire East Asia was not small, but on the map of Asia, Africa, and Europe, it appeared quite insignificant.
Liang Rong felt that everything he knew had been overturned, stumbling to articulate, “H-how can it be so vast?”
“This is based on maps drawn by seafarers.” Liang Feng circled a few areas on the map with the golden rod, “India, abundant in glass; the great Qin, where Buddhism originated; the flourishing city-states connected by the Silk Road… Perhaps beyond the great ocean, there are even more continents.”
These were South and North America and Australia, not depicted on the map.
“This is the world!” Liang Feng uttered a sentence, the words “the world” resolute and firm.
Under heaven, no land is not the king’s; along the shores, there are no subjects who are not kingsmen! Faced with such a formidable expanse, Liang Rong couldn’t utter such bold declarations. The vastness of the world far exceeded his imagination. How could this be governed? How could it be utilized?
Seeing his son’s bewildered expression, Liang Feng chuckled, “Is it frightening?”
“Father Emperor…” Liang Rong suddenly snapped out of it, “This world, no one can fully occupy it…”
“So, there are still nations beyond our borders. There will be friction, diplomatic relations, and trade between countries. With the land of China already capable of sustaining tens of millions, coupled with resources from other nations, it will surely support even more!” Liang Feng revealed the final answer.
“Therefore, Father Emperor intends to engage in sea trade, build large ships…” Liang Rong wasn’t foolish; he immediately grasped the idea. Yes, with the Silk Road closed, maritime trade could now flourish, with numerous ships plying the seas. What if they used the resources gained to support the people?
“Porcelain, silk, and paper can be exchanged for rice, gold, and silver, as well as spices and gemstones. Artisans and their exquisite craftsmanship can fetch astronomical prices in foreign lands. Just like the glass brought from the great Qin in the past, it was nothing more than sand, yet traversing the vast oceans transformed it into a rare treasure. Everyone praises the importance of diverse crafts for the state, but have they ever considered what these crafts bring in?” There was a peculiar vitality in Liang Feng’s voice. “Moreover, overseas, there are mountains of gold and silver, and fertile lands yielding three harvests a year. With a powerful navy, isn’t it just a matter of reaching out and seizing them?”
This was the simplest way to shift internal conflicts, and it might also be a kind of enchantment. But Liang Feng didn’t mind throwing it out there. The earlier they knew about the vastness of the world, the better for China. Rather than being reserved and defensive, shutting themselves off, he preferred to see the spirit of martial valor and the courage to constantly explore. China was not fertile everywhere, but throughout the generations, people had cleared land, filled rivers, and built canals and roads, creating countless habitable places, hadn’t they?
“The world…” Liang Rong mulled over the two words in his mouth, but his eyes were becoming brighter as if he had glimpsed something uplifting.
However, with a gentle flicker, the curtain once again covered the astonishing map, and Liang Rong involuntarily looked at his father. This time, though, Liang Feng’s face held no smile. “The world is vast and endless. However, we must not aim too high. In the southern lands, there are deadly marshes and thousands of miles of swampy territory. If medical science advances, can it solve the harm caused by miasma? If water management is effective, can it turn the Yunmeng marsh into thousands of acres of fertile land?”
Productivity determines the limits of human habitation. In this era, there was no proverb like “Huguang is prosperous, the world is sufficient” because the two lakes plains were still covered in marshes. Not to mention Fujian and Guangdong. Just by developing the southern regions, they could support millions more people. The migration of the Eastern Jin Dynasty across the Yangtze River marked the beginning of civilization moving south.
No wonder Father Emperor regards medical science so highly. No wonder water management has always been a top priority. Liang Rong nodded vigorously, “Father Emperor is teaching me! The world is vast, beyond my reach. I should prioritize the prosperity of our dynasty!”
“It’s for the people.” Liang Feng corrected, “Don’t forget why you’re doing all this. Water can carry a boat, but it can also overturn it. This is what you must always remember after ascending to the throne.”
Not for grandiose achievements, not for eternal fame, but to allow more people to live peacefully, to escape the oppression and exploitation of officials as much as possible, and to continue the lifeblood of a dynasty.
“I will certainly keep it in mind!” The air of nonchalance and self-satisfaction vanished, and the expression of confusion and fear disappeared from Liang Rong’s face. Gradually, he regained his composure, returning to the dignified demeanor he displayed in front of the courtiers. Only the experience was lacking, but the vigorous spirit was present.
Liang Feng smiled, reaching out to pat his son’s shoulder, “Go on, Ah Wan is waiting for you in the Eastern Palace.”
He would become a good emperor. Two generations of wise rulers, would that be enough for a dynasty to stand firm? Would it be enough to bring about a change in the country?
Watching his son’s departing figure, Liang Feng set aside the golden rod in his hand and leisurely made his way toward the Chuigong Hall.
Author’s note:
The map was drawn by Liang Shao himself, and the mention of sea merchants and other elements is just for plot development. XD
