Late Han Zhao Tang

The court officials were not surprised by Wang Hong's death. Since the year before last, Wang Hong had resigned from his post due to illness and had been recuperating at home for a long time. When Zhang Yu last visited him, Wang Hong was already unable to get out of bed and needed maids to serve him. Therefore, his death was not surprising, and those around him were prepared.

Regarding Wang Hong's funeral arrangements, although he was Zhang Yu's father-in-law and teacher, he could not be above the emperor. Therefore, he did not interrupt court or observe mourning. The emperor sent high-ranking officials to offer condolences and sacrifices, which already showed the emperor's great benevolence.

Considering Wang Hong's past assistance, Zhang Yu made an exception and suspended court for a day, allowing Shi Xie to deliver the sacrificial text and perform the "Tai Lao" ceremony. He ordered all civil and military officials to the Wang residence to pay their respects and granted special permission for a grand funeral procession, with Wang Chen leading the coffin to the cemetery. Before the burial, Zhang Yu posthumously honored Wang Hong with the title "Wen Su" and buried him with the rites due to a Duke.

Although Zhang Yu was not required to wear mourning clothes, the Empress and the Crown Prince were obligated to do so, and according to the rule of alternating days with months, they were to observe three days of mourning. Furthermore, to demonstrate the importance placed on Wang Hong, a day of ceremonies and entertainment were prohibited in Chang'an.

Throughout the process, although Zhang Yu only appeared at the beginning, all the officials in the capital region felt Wang Hong's unique position in the court.

After Wang Hong's death, the brothers Wang Chen and Wang Ling were required to observe a three-year mourning period according to custom. Wang Chen submitted a memorial requesting to observe the three-year mourning period, which Zhang Yu initially disagreed with. However, after Wang Chen submitted his memorial repeatedly, Zhang Yu finally approved Wang Chen's request, allowing him to return to his hometown to observe the three-year mourning period for his father, Wang Hong.

Although Wang Ling was far away in Guizhou, he still sent a memorial, hoping, like his brother Wang Chen, to observe three years of mourning for Wang Hong. Zhang Yu received the memorial and replied with a letter to Wang Ling.

In the letter, Zhang Yu severely criticized Wang Ling for neglecting his loyalty due to filial piety. He pointed out that Nanzhong had just been established as a prefecture, and all matters required Wang Ling's management. To abandon this task midway was tantamount to neglecting a crucial matter. Zhang Yu only approved Wang Ling to observe three years of mourning while still in office, forbidding him from returning home to observe mourning. Having followed Zhang Yu in battle since childhood, Wang Ling, upon receiving the letter, was quite intimidated by Zhang Yu's admonition and thus complied with Zhang Yu's wishes, observing mourning while still in office.

Wang Chen, the Minister of Justice, was returning home to observe mourning for his parents. Zhang Yu then appointed Sima Zhi to succeed Wang Chen in his post. After spending a few days handing over the duties, Wang Chen intended to return home with his family.

Before leaving, Wang Ji specially summoned Wang Chen to the palace.

Wang Chen, wearing a hempen headscarf, said, "I wonder what the Empress's orders are for summoning me to the palace?"

Wang Ji's expression was complicated as he asked, "Since His Majesty has already persuaded my brother to stay, why must he insist on returning home to observe mourning?"

Upon learning that Zhang Yu had betrothed Wang Chen's daughter to Zhang Zhang, Wang Ji expressed some dissatisfaction, but since he did not see any obvious signs of Zhang Yu changing the crown prince, he did not say much.

Wang Chen sighed and said, "I can never repay my father's kindness in raising me. Now that my father has passed away, as his son, I cannot fail to return home to mourn him!"

Wang Ji found it hard to understand and asked, "I originally intended to observe the mourning period in Guizhou, but His Majesty issued an edict to stop me, and I ultimately remained in office to observe the mourning period. Why don't you follow my example, elder brother?"

Wang Chen shook his head and said, "Guizhou is a remote and pestilential place. I am burdened with heavy responsibilities and it is not appropriate for me to leave my post so easily. I am merely the Minister of Justice, and there are many successors. Moreover, I am no longer in a position to observe the mourning period for my father. If I were to cling to my post, wouldn't there be no one to observe the mourning for my father?"

Seeing Wang Chen abandon his political future, Wang Ji said in a calm voice, "Do you know that during the New Year's banquet, Prime Minister Zhong Yao requested His Majesty to retire next year? Although His Majesty refused, considering Zhong Yao's age, he will retire sooner or later. As for you, returning to your hometown to observe mourning, you will certainly miss out on the position of Prime Minister. Even after the three-year mourning period, it is still uncertain whether you will be reinstated!"

Wang Chen was far more open-minded than Wang Ji, saying, "My Wang family is of illustrious lineage and has already achieved the pinnacle of officialdom. Why be so obsessed with official titles and ranks?"

"Brother, take good care of yourself!" Wang Ji said helplessly. "When you are in mourning, please show me your filial piety."

“It’s inevitable!” Wang Chen said with a smile.

As he spoke, Wang Chen looked at the taciturn Zhang Luo and hesitated before saying, "The Crown Prince is gentle by nature. Perhaps the Empress could let him gain more experience. His Majesty has just conquered the world; what a decisive son he should have!"

"Thank you for your guidance, Uncle!"

"Don't dare!"

Wang Ji took a sip of tea and said calmly, "The Tang Dynasty was founded on military strategy, but if it wants to govern the world, it cannot win people's hearts without gentleness."

"A combination of kindness and severity is the best approach!"

Wang Chen said a few words and then took his leave of Wang Ji. Leaving aside the fact that after leaving the palace, Wang Chen took his wife and children back to his hometown to observe mourning for his parents, Zhang Yu was now in the palace, chatting idly with Jia Xu about military and political affairs.

"Since the imperial edict was issued to collect the people and measure the land, all the prefectures and counties have allocated households and land. I congratulate Your Majesty, for we are not far from a prosperous era!" Jia Xu said with a smile.

Zhang Yu waved his hand and said, "The prefectures and counties are desolate and the population is sparse, but the officials are diligent, so the land survey is effective. If the land survey is still effective ten years from now, or even twenty years from now, or even after my death, then I dare to say that we are living in a prosperous age!"

Zhang Yu did not expect to usher in a so-called golden age during his reign. After all, based on experience, a golden age would typically require at least two or three emperors. After three emperors, due to the rigidity of the system and the deterioration of the officialdom, the court would gradually decline.

Of course, if you encounter a capable emperor, you can still claim the title of a prosperous era. But after a hundred years, each emperor is worse than the last, and it is already difficult to have an emperor who can restore the dynasty.

Therefore, for Zhang Yu, his goal during his reign was to do his best to raise the lower limit of his dynasty and to select a good successor to avoid the premature emergence of an incompetent emperor, which would lead to the corruption of the government.

Jia Xu stroked his beard and recited, "In the past, Emperor Gaozu founded the dynasty, Emperor Wen ruled with benevolence; Emperor Guangwu restored the dynasty, and Emperor Ming was magnificent. Your Majesty has established a foundation, and with the Crown Prince's abilities, you will surely be able to govern the world well and not lose Your Majesty's legacy."

Zhang Yu frowned slightly and said, "The Crown Prince is too gentle. If he were to govern the country, he might be praised by Confucian scholars, but he would not be able to promote the Tang Dynasty. Although Emperor Wen was said to govern with benevolence, he was decisive in his actions and had a deep mind. How could he be called benevolent?"

"Or perhaps it is Emperor Ming, whose rule was strict, who did not follow the law for personal gain, and who did not indulge the powerful and wealthy. How could the Crown Prince compare to him?"

Having been in Chang'an for so long, Zhang Yu grew increasingly displeased with Crown Prince Zhang Luo. Perhaps due to Wang Ji's domineering nature, the Crown Prince's temperament was too gentle. The Crown Prince was not unaware of his own shortcomings, but each time he tried to demonstrate his abilities, he felt something was missing. Especially with Zhang Zhang as a contrast, Zhang Yu's affections grew increasingly biased towards Zhang Zhang, and he even secretly plotted to replace the Crown Prince.

But whenever Zhang Yu thought of Wang Ji, who had risen from humble beginnings with him and was his wife who had shared his hardships, he was reluctant to confront her directly. Besides, no matter what, Zhang Luo was still his son, and Zhang Yu sometimes couldn't bring himself to be ruthless towards her.

With that, Zhang Yu exhaled a long breath and said, "The third son is decisive and intelligent, and capable of succeeding to the great responsibility. But if a new crown prince is established, how could the Empress agree? It will surely cause turmoil in the court!"

Jia Xu remained silent for a long time before saying, "The Crown Prince's gentleness is not a bad thing, but if Your Majesty wishes to replace him, it should be done sooner rather than later. We urge Your Majesty to make a decision on the matter as soon as possible!"

"Ok!"

Zhang Yu nodded, understanding what Jia Xu meant. It was simply that with Wang Hong's death, the Wang family had lost a powerful political backer, and changing the crown prince would make things much easier.

For this reason, Zhang Yu smiled bitterly to himself. He used to despise indecisive people the most, but now he was also struggling with the issue of changing the crown prince.

"The matter of the crown prince will be discussed later!"

Zhang Yu looked at Jia Xu and asked, "What matters do you have to report to the palace this time?"

Jia Xu bowed and said, “Your Majesty has now conquered the world, but I am getting old and my health is failing, making it difficult for me to manage the affairs of the Privy Council. Therefore, I humbly request Your Majesty to allow me to resign and return to my residence to recuperate.”

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yu frowned slightly and said, "Although the world is at peace, it is not yet well-governed. You possess great strategic acumen, and I still need your assistance!"

Jia Xu said, “I used to serve the bandits. Your Majesty employed me without doubt, and I was grateful for that, so I served Your Majesty. However, now that China has ceased hostilities, and I am old and frail, I request to return to my residence to recuperate. If Your Majesty wishes to employ me, just send an imperial edict, and I will be ready to obey.”

Seeing that Jia Xu wanted to retire, Zhang Yu said, "Since you wish to return to your residence to recuperate, how can I refuse? I will now relieve you of your post as Privy Councilor and appoint you concurrently as Attendant-in-Ordinary, granting you the right to come and go as you please."

"Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty!" Jia Xu bowed and expressed his gratitude.

Jia Xu knew all too well the dangers of serving a ruler; Zhang Yu's current trust in him didn't guarantee it would last. Besides, with peace restored, his greatest usefulness was gone. Rather than clinging to power, it was better to retire and enjoy life, maintaining a distance from Zhang Yu. (End of Chapter)