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

Chapter 5 Under the Red Wall
There is a very special street in Chang'an. It is located at the foot of the imperial palace. It is a street, but it is also within the old red walls of the imperial palace. It is the imperial palace, but it is bustling with carriages and horses.

This is Zhangtai Street, the most unique street in Chang'an, and the earliest palace area built by Marquis Xiao He of Zan.

During the reigns of Emperor Gaozu and Emperor Hui, this old palace area was used as various government offices. After Empress Lü assumed power, the government offices were moved away one after another, leaving only the Prime Minister's Office, the granary, and the armory in this oldest palace area.

The prime minister of the Qin and Han dynasties was "in charge of assisting the emperor, managing all affairs, and having complete authority over everything." He was responsible for "inquiring into and deciding cases, holding the Court of Justice accountable, and overseeing the administration of grain." He had the power to oversee all officials' reports and participate in decision-making, and could be said to be second only to the emperor.

When the dynasty was first established, the Prime Minister's Office grew larger and larger. After several decades of changes, it now has "362 officials". Who in the world can still tell whose world this is?
No matter the time, this place was always bustling with carriages and horses, rarely deserted. Not to mention the endless stream of officials seeking official positions, even the special envoys from the various feudal lords and vassal states who came to visit were coming and going in a constant stream. A magnificent and grand long street was finally completed, which the people of Chang'an called "Imperial Street".

If Chang'an was the seat of power for the Han Dynasty, then this long street was the wellspring of its intrigues.

Beneath the red walls, government power emanates from private interests.

But today, the Prime Minister's residence is tightly closed, and even important officials such as the Chief Clerk, the Director of Justice, and the various clerks are kept outside.

"...Now, Your Majesty, I am a man of humble origins, having rendered no meritorious service. Your Majesty has been too kind in elevating me from the ranks of the common people to the rank of Marquis and one of the Three Dukes. My abilities are insufficient to live up to this honor. I have a long-standing ailment of carrying firewood, and I fear that I will die before my time, like a dog or a horse, before I can repay Your Majesty's kindness. I wish to return my marquisate and retire, thus avoiding the path of the virtuous."

After Gongsun Hong dictated his prepared resignation letter, requesting to be exempted from returning home, he lay motionless in his chair, seemingly lost in thought.

No one knew the news that His Majesty intended to appoint Shi Qing as the Crown Prince's Grand Tutor and Zhuang Qingzhai as the Crown Prince's Junior Tutor, even though they were separated by only a wall.

Qin did not establish a crown prince, nor did it have a crown prince tutor. Han inherited this system. Starting with Emperor Hui, the crown prince tutor was always the prime minister of the current dynasty. After the ceremony of establishing the heir, Gongsun Hong waited expectantly for the imperial edict. Then, like Wei Wan, he fulfilled his duties as prime minister and guided the crown prince to the future of the empire as tutor.

To my utter surprise, he didn't even have a position in the Crown Prince's Palace. It seems His Majesty has forgotten about him.

The half-revealed memorial was filled with endless sorrow, a true reflection of his inner state.

"Prime Minister, is this acceptable?" Zhang Tang, the Minister of Justice, who was both a friend and a disciple, could not bear the silence any longer and put down his pen. "Perhaps this is just an oversight on His Majesty's part."

“I think so too.” Gongsun Du, the only son who was fanning his father with a palm leaf fan, chimed in, “His Majesty did not consult with Father or the ministers about the matter of choosing a tutor for the Crown Prince. This is not normal. Rumors are just rumors. Father might as well go to the palace to verify before making any plans.”

"How can there be wind out of thin air?"

Gongsun Hong remained motionless, but his eyes had already shifted from the distance to look at the two of them. "Your Majesty is doing this simply to bypass the outer court and directly exercise absolute power."

Wei Qing is the Grand Marshal, the head of the central court; I am the Chancellor, the head of the outer court. With both of us residing in the Crown Prince's palace, Your Majesty will likely find it difficult to even sleep soundly.

The two thought they could calm the old man down with a few words, but the old man saw through the matter at a glance. Gongsun Du looked at Zhang Tang, and Zhang Tang was also looking at Gongsun Du. Their eyes met, and they both had the same meaning: He's almost eighty years old, how come he's not confused at all?
Gongsun Hong acted as if he hadn't seen their reaction and slowly said, "However, if Shi Qing and Zhuang Qingzhai are allowed to take the throne, I will die with my eyes open in disgrace. I will bear the blame for the suffering of Your Majesty."

Governing Confucianism.

There are differences.

First, the Gongyang School; second, the Guliang School. The prevailing Confucianism today is the Gongyang School, which talks about "great unification" and "even a nine-generation feud can be avenged," while the Guliang School talks about the hierarchy of nobility and the rule of benevolence.

In the imperial court, apart from Dong Zhongshu, Gongsun Hong was the one who understood the Gongyang Commentary the most. Considering his status and position, no one was more suitable to be the Crown Prince's tutor.

Shi Qing and Zhuang Qingzhai, however, were two people who opposed the new system and were close to the Guliang School of thought.

Gongsun Hong understood His Majesty's concerns about the instability of the throne, but he would never allow his two treacherous disciples, Shi Qing and Zhuang Qingzhai, to rise in rank along with the Crown Prince.

Life is nothing more than fame and fortune; though people die, only knowledge endures and must not be defiled.

For the sake of his reputation before and after his death, Gongsun Hong decided to retreat in order to force the emperor to compromise by resigning from his post.

"But the Crown Prince is close to Gu Liang!" Gongsun Du really didn't want his father to stand on equal footing with His Majesty, as this would bring disaster to the family.

"The Crown Prince is close to Gu Liang, whether he is the legitimate heir or a concubine, and in terms of the position of heir apparent, Gongyang can make a slight change and win back the Crown Prince's heart," Gongsun Hong said, glancing at the two of them.

According to the Gongyang School's system of rites, "feudal lords do not marry again." When His Majesty was the King of Jiaodong, he had already married Chen Ajiao. The distinction between legitimate and illegitimate children was already established, and this could not be changed even if His Majesty ascended the throne. Chen Ajiao was the legitimate wife, while the other concubines, including Empress Wei, were all concubines. The sons of these concubines could replace Empress Wei's son as crown prince by the principle of "establishing a son based on seniority, not on birth order."

In the Great Rites System of Guliang School, although the rule that "feudal lords do not marry again" remained unchanged, the rule of "brotherly harmony" was added. If there was a legitimate heir, the eldest son would be chosen; if there was no legitimate heir, the eldest son would be chosen. This was similar to the case of Duke Yin and Duke Huan in the Spring and Autumn Period, where neither could replace the son of Queen Wei as the crown prince.

As a result, Empress Wei and the Crown Prince naturally disliked the Gongyang School and favored the Guliang School.

However, the right to interpret knowledge lies with the most learned person of the time, and it can be embellished.

Although Dong Zhongshu was the most learned scholar of the Gongyang School in his time, and Gongsun Hong had a great deal of hatred towards him, when faced with matters of principle, a single letter would allow Dong Zhongshu to redefine the distinction between legitimate and illegitimate children, and the Gongyang ritual system would change accordingly.

"father!"

Gongsun Du put down his palm-leaf fan and leaned on the armrest of the recliner. "Is a debate over scholarship really that important? Aren't they all Confucianism? The Emperor's will is right in front of you, and you still want to resist? Who has ever had a good ending after opposing His Majesty? You're already seventy-nine years old. Don't you ever think about what will happen to your son when you're gone?"

"Then let me ask you," Gongsun Hong looked at him, "to whom will the Han Dynasty ultimately fall?"

Gongsun Du was taken aback by the question.

After saying this, Gongsun Hong glanced at Zhang Tang and looked towards the door. "Wei Qing was promoted by His Majesty, and Huo Qubing, who was used to suppress Wei Qing, was also promoted by His Majesty. Wei Qing and Huo Qubing are both relatives of the Crown Prince. As long as the two of them live, the Crown Prince of the Han Dynasty will be unshakable."

Emperors Wen and Jing both died at the age of forty. Your Majesty is now thirty-five. Is it far off? Not far off!

(End of this chapter)