The Child Emperor

Han Ruzi was not the first to appreciate Chai Yue. As an unloved son of a concubine, Chai Yue had always been trying to showcase his talents to various influential people. Many powerful figures, such as Grand General Han Xing, saw a promising future in the young general but were unwilling to help, fearing they might be seen as having ulterior motives.

Before Han Ruzi, only one person had provided Chai Yue with some practical assistance, whether it was money, clothes, or introductions, to help Chai Yue navigate the circles of the capital’s elite with dignity.

This person was not a native of the capital.

“Luoyang’s great hero, Wang Jianhuo. His maternal grandmother was the daughter of a noble, but he had no interest in becoming an official. He loved to help those in distress. Because of his unusual appearance, people called him ‘Ugly Wang.’ He often traveled between the Capital and Luoyang,” Chai Yue explained.

“‘Handsome Marquis, Ugly Wang, and Commoner Tan,’ huh,” Han Ruzi had encountered the other two families before and was not impressed.

“Why haven’t I heard that Ugly Wang has such a good relationship with the Tan family?” Prince Donghai was a bit jealous, having heard that the Tan family was seeking someone to intercede but had not been informed it would be Wang Jianhuo.

Chai Yue smiled awkwardly, “Both families are famous heroes in the world, so they must have some connections. I don’t know the details.” Then he turned to the emperor and said solemnly, “I’m obliged to repay kindness, but the state’s affairs are of paramount importance. Your Majesty, if…”

“No worries, I can meet this Ugly Wang. Bring him tomorrow morning.”

Chai Yue thanked him, and Prince Donghai laughed, “I’ve seen Ugly Wang once. Your Majesty should be prepared; he is truly ugly, ugly enough to startle people. Despite his noble family background, he refuses to become an official, probably because of his appearance.”

“A kind heart despite an ugly face. The Handsome Marquis relied on power, the Tan family has plenty of wealth, but only Wang Jianhuo is known for his benevolence and heroism,” Chai Yue defended. Prince Donghai sneered, “Ugly Wang gave you money and clothes.”

“That’s different…”

Chai Yue wanted to argue further, but Han Ruzi raised his hand to indicate he did not want to hear more. “Has Luoyang City been sealed off?”

Chai Yue replied, “All eight gates are closed. As long as the Holy Strategist and the imperial seal are still in the city, they absolutely cannot escape.”

Han Ruzi had returned too late, and no one could be sure that the Holy Strategist was still in Luoyang.

Prince Donghai said, “Maybe Lin Kunshan is deceiving us, trying to keep Your Majesty in Luoyang longer. If the Holy Strategist is truly hiding here, the prefect of Henan and Ugly Wang cannot escape blame.”

Han Ruzi understood that these people were undoubtedly interconnected, but without any evidence, the emperor could not arbitrarily arrest people.

He dismissed Chai Yue and summoned Liu Jie, ordering him to call for Zhang Jing, the Ministry of Punishments official.

With only the guards present, Prince Donghai said, “Your Majesty, you must believe me. I have been by your side all these days and know nothing about the Tan family’s affairs. They don’t consider me one of their own and keep everything from me.”

“Does the Tan family really think someone can persuade me?” Han Ruzi was puzzled. He had not immediately summoned Ugly Wang because he did not want the other party to score a victory. “The more they try to find someone, the more they push themselves to a dead end.”

Han Ruzi spoke the truth. What he feared most was the Tan family’s ubiquitous network of connections. Yet, they insisted on showing off this exact trait, making the emperor even more wary.

If it weren’t for the interference of the Holy Strategist issue, Han Ruzi would have considered taking action against the Tan family right there in Luoyang.

Yang Feng had said the emperor matures twice: the first time when he knows what he can do, and the second time when he knows what he cannot do. It might have been said too early. Han Ruzi had a lot he wanted to do and could do, but his biggest obstacles were lack of time and insufficient manpower.

“The Tan family… are all very foolish, not knowing the right time for actions.” Prince Donghai did not know how to put it and then lowered his voice, “The troublesome ones are the men. The women… shouldn’t be punished, right?”

Han Ruzi chuckled. He understood well that the Champion Marquis had died at the hands of a Tan family woman, and Prince Donghai’s wife, Tan, was also a formidable woman.

When Zhang Jing arrived, as an official from the Ministry of Punishments and someone who had wavered during the struggle for the throne, he was anxious about his position and eager to prove himself. Upon receiving the order, he and his colleagues in Luoyang set up a meticulous search to secretly find the whereabouts of the Holy Strategist and the imperial seal.

”There are no clues yet,” Zhang Jing said as he knelt on the ground. Every time he came to see the Emperor, he felt nervous. Even when standing in a crowd, he dared not look up, let alone when meeting alone.

“Don’t put too much trust in the officials of Luoyang,” Han Ruzi reminded him.

“Yes, Your Majesty. I am merely cooperating with the Luoyang authorities. I know some people here who can help.”

Luoyang was a renowned city, closely connected with the Capital. As an official of the Ministry of Punishments, Zhang Jing had his own special channels.

“Hmm, how much do you know about Wang Jianhuo?”

Zhang Jing was taken aback. “Luoyang’s Ugly Wang? I know a bit about him. He is a well-known hero, as famous as Marquis Junyang and the Tan family.”

“What is Wang Jianhuo’s relationship with the Tan family?”

Zhang Jing was even more surprised and glanced at Prince Donghai. Every word he said here would inevitably reach the Tan family. The more it did, the more he had to speak the truth to show his loyalty to the court and not to the Tan family.

“It is widely rumored among the people that the Ugly Wang and the Tan family have deep-seated enmity.”

Han Ruzi was slightly surprised. “What caused the enmity between the two families?”

“The Tan family has extensive business interests. Luoyang, being in the central regions, has the most merchants and travelers. According to what I’ve heard, the Tan family has always wanted to open an inn in Luoyang to facilitate the transfer of people, goods, and wealth. But without Ugly Wang’s permission, the inn could not be established, leading to the enmity between the two families.”

Han Ruzi couldn’t help but sneer, “Listen to this. These so-called heroes are just profit-seekers. Without official positions, they can still contend for cities and territories, wielding power like local lords.”

Neither Prince Donghai nor Zhang Jing dared to make a sound.

“Leave now. Report to me twice a day, morning and evening. If there is any news, come immediately.”

Zhang Jing kowtowed and withdrew, feeling much relieved. As long as he had something to do, he could win the Emperor’s favor. Updates are released by N0veI.Fiɾe.net

Prince Donghai cautiously said, “These so-called heroes are just that. They are profit-driven, a rabble at best.”

Han Ruzi smiled without speaking.

Liu Jie came in. “Your Majesty, Qu Zixi from the College of National Scions requests an audience.”

“Let him in,” Han Ruzi said, as he intended to groom this scholar for the future Chancellor position, thus treating him with some courtesy.

Qu Zixi performed the appropriate courtesies as a subject. He knew well what kind of etiquette was suitable for different occasions, whereas the Ministry of Rites merely followed the rules. He, however, could articulate a set of reasons.

After being granted permission to rise, Qu Zixi said, “I heard that Your Majesty has issued a decree to grant amnesty to the refugees in Luoyang and to open the granaries again. I have come to celebrate.”

Prince Donghai smiled, “You are not from Luoyang… Oh, wait, you are here to celebrate the Emperor?”

“Of course.”

Prince Donghai snorted lightly, knowing that these scholars were very proud and loved to speak in riddles, so he decided not to respond.

“I have just issued the decree to open the granaries. The refugees have not yet received the grain and returned home. What is there to celebrate?” Han Ruzi said, gearing up for the conversation. When dealing with these scholars, he had to be very careful not to fall behind in their exchanges.

“The people are like water, and the ruler is like a boat. When the water is calm, the boat is steady. When the water is smooth, the boat is fast. When the water is turbulent, the boat capsizes. Your Majesty has just returned to the throne, and the hearts of the court officials are not yet stable. However, Your Majesty first thought of the people. This is the fundamental principle of managing water, and thus it is worth celebrating.”

Prince Donghai looked at Qu Zixi in surprise, thinking he was mocking the Emperor for not knowing priorities. He thought scholars were really audacious and wished he had known earlier to recruit some himself.

Han Ruzi, however, was not offended. He smiled and said, “I accept your congratulations. What else do you have to say, Mr. Qu?”

“Managing water is not a one-day task. With the decree issued, the people will come joyfully. If there is no grain to distribute or too little grain to fill their stomachs, they will return disappointed. If this happens, not only will the water management fail, but it will also create further problems.”

Han Ruzi frowned slightly, “Luoyang is a famous city in the east, wealthy and prosperous. How could there be no grain to distribute?”

“Luoyang’s wealth lies with the people, not the officials. Luoyang may be large, but it is not larger than the Capital. The grain stored in the official granaries has a fixed amount, not more than that in other counties. However, the number of refugees it attracts is several times that of other places. As a result, the stored grain will inevitably be insufficient.”

“Why didn’t the officials of Henan Prefecture explain the situation earlier?”

“The awe of imperial power intimidates minor officials. How could they dare to speak of difficulties?”

Recalling the scene when he issued the decree in the Marquis of Luoyang’s residence, Han Ruzi had to admit that as the Emperor, he was indeed very imposing at that time. Because of this, no official from the Henan Prefectural Office dared to utter a single word of dissent.

Han Ruzi pondered for a moment, “There is plenty of grain stored in Ao Granary; it should be enough, right?”

Qu Zixi bowed to the ground, expressing his congratulations once again, then stood up and took his leave.

”This time, he’ll have something to boast about,” said Prince Donghai, still not particularly fond of the Confucian scholar. “What’s the difference between them and pugilists? They’re all just seeking fame and recognition.”

Han Ruzi remained silent, thinking that he lacked a figure akin to a Chancellor by his side—someone who could execute orders without intimidating officials into silence.

Among his trusted aides, there was no one who fit this role. People like Chai Yue were military generals, and Qu Zixi held too low a position and wasn’t particularly approachable. After much consideration, it seemed that an old fox like Yin Wuhai would be the most suitable.

Han Ruzi glanced at Prince Donghai.

“Your Majesty, do you have any instructions?”

Prince Donghai was intelligent and sufficiently shrewd. Given time, he would certainly mature, but he was too unreliable. Han Ruzi shook his head. “Go tell Liu Jie to summon Vice Minister Liu Zeqin of the Ministry of Revenue.”

Vice Minister Liu was one of the accompanying officials. He had shown more enthusiasm than others about distributing grain, and Han Ruzi hoped he could be of use.

Prince Donghai left to convey the order, and Liu Jie came in to confirm before sending someone to summon Liu Zeqin.

“The urgent matter is to find the Holy Strategist and the imperial seal. It’s not worth worrying about grain distribution. People like Qu Zixi love to engage in empty talk and then leave the trouble to Your Majesty,” Prince Donghai had just this issue on his mind. “It might be better to ask the Tan family for help; they know many people in the pugilist world.”

“Is the Tan family’s influence in Luoyang greater than Wang Jianhuo’s?”

“Uh… it’s different. Ugly Wang can choose whether to help or not, but the Tan family, in order to atone for their sins, will undoubtedly go all out. Moreover, I suspect that the Ugly Wang will come to plead tomorrow not to save people but to harm them. Knowing that Your Majesty dislikes pugilist methods, he will deliberately provoke your wrath, gaining fame for himself while harming the Tan family. Your Majesty, you must be cautious.”

“Sigh, you are the one who is ‘going all out’ for the Tan family.”

Prince Donghai quickly shut his mouth, not daring to speak further.

The accompanying officials were all staying in the military camp. Vice Minister Liu Zeqin arrived swiftly, proving his dedication. He reported on the population and grain reserves in Luoyang, confirming Qu Zixi’s assessment that the grain was indeed insufficient.

“The wealth of Luoyang is renowned throughout the world. Refugees from all over have flocked here. Some left recently, but many still remain. No one knows the exact number,” said Liu Zeqin.

“What if we open the Ao Granary?”

Liu Zeqin looked up at the Emperor. “You’d need to consult the Ministry of War.”

“Why the Ministry of War?”

“All major grain cities in the empire are under the Ministry of War’s jurisdiction to supply the Chu army across various regions. As I understand, the Ao Granary is crucial for the northern city of Mayi…”

“I understand.” Han Ruzi had stayed in Mayi City and knew how much grain the frontier army consumed.

“I have a suggestion, though I’m not sure if it will work,” said Liu Zeqin.

“Go ahead.”

“If the official granaries are insufficient, there are always the private granaries. Luoyang has many wealthy households, each with their own grain reserves. Although no one has counted them, it is roughly estimated to be at least five times the amount stored in the official granaries.”

Han Ruzi nodded. After all this deliberation, he still had to seek help from the local officials like the Prefect of Henan.

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