Chapter 464: The Debate at the Court Assembly (Part 2)

Since discussions at court took several hours, to avoid delaying routine government affairs, ministers had to set out before dawn, carrying lanterns and traveling swiftly along the quiet streets under the stars. Day after day, year after year, with no weekends—only one day off every ten—plus the length and monotony of these meetings, which left their legs numb after just a few hours standing, especially the older officials, who often fainted on the spot—endurance was required both from the emperor and his ministers.

With the emperor as their boss and rules such as salary cuts and punishment to deter laziness, the ministers dared not slouch. But the emperor had no superior, and rules meant nothing to him, so even stricter self-discipline was demanded of him. Li Longji was disciplined for the first thirty years of his reign, but after taking Yang Yuhuan as his concubine, he struggled to maintain self-control. One day off today, then back to morning assemblies tomorrow; three more days off probably wouldn’t matter much. In fact, whether there were morning assemblies or not didn’t really matter, as the country was at peace! The line of self-discipline gradually shifted backward, until eventually, the emperor stopped holding morning assemblies altogether.

Thus, after Li Qing’an became the Right Chancellor, he discussed reforming the morning assembly system with Li Heng and the members of the Council of State, changing daily assemblies to monthly meetings. Most non-critical matters were to be handled at ten-day gatherings, without the emperor’s participation. Although this somewhat weakened imperial power, it reflected reality—given the young age of the emperor, his attendance was pointless and would only add to the ceremonial complexities.

Because there were fewer grand assemblies, they became even more significant. Many conflicts and disagreements often emerged during these gatherings. Inside the Hanyuan Hall, it was very quiet. Cui Xu, the palace supervisor, was announcing the third agenda item: the construction of the Tang Straight Road. Although the Council of State had already voted in favor of this project, at a grand assembly, if a minister raised objections and the Council’s decision appeared clearly biased, its members would vote again, either on the spot or later—this served as a form of oversight over the Council’s power.

“…The construction of the Tang Straight Road will start from Yiwu County in Yizhou, Beiting, and extend eastward to Xianyang County in Jingzhao, covering a total length of 4,450 li. The western section reaches Zhangye and will be built by the Anxi Military Governorate, while the eastern section, 2,500 li long, will be jointly undertaken by the imperial court and the Hexi Military Governorate. One hundred thousand strong men from the six provinces of Qing, Yuan, Wei, Lan, Hui, and Liang will be recruited. Eight hundred thousand bushels of grain will be provided from the Imperial Granary, and 1.2 million strings of coins from the Left Treasury to fund the construction of roads and bridges. The details are as follows…”

The plan for constructing the Tang Straight Road was drafted by Wei Qingping, Li Qingan’s aide, and finalized after several discussions with Li Qingan. Although many details were only vaguely outlined and not precise, the purpose of this report was not to calculate the costs involved but rather to transform the construction of the Tang Straight Road from an Anxi affair into a matter of the Great Tang Dynasty. Thus, the key was to get the project started, not to figure out how to do it—how to proceed could be discussed later.

Cui Xu read aloud for a full fifteen minutes before concluding with the resolution. He then asked loudly, “The resolution to construct the Tang Straight Road has been approved by the Political Affairs Hall. Are there any objections from the ministers?”

Obviously, there were no objections. It wasn’t that they didn’t want to raise concerns, but they couldn’t—whether to build the Tang Straight Road was a decision made by the highest levels of the court. Constructing it would enhance the Tang Dynasty’s control over Anxi and was strategically necessary. All members of the Political Affairs Hall, including Li Heng, unanimously approved it. Ordinary court officials could only raise objections regarding the feasibility of the project, such as whether the court’s finances could cover it or whether the amount of money and resources required was reasonable. Yet these questions were difficult to raise, as no one knew exactly how much it would cost. For now, the court lacked experts on this matter.

Yan Qi, an official in the Ministry of Works responsible for bridge construction, knew a bit about it. Funding of just 1.2 million guan for a 2,500-li straight road was far insufficient—at least double that amount was needed. But since this plan was proposed by Li Qingan, raising such an issue might render the plan ineffective and offend Li Qingan. Moreover, with the Tang Straight Road built, routes westward would become smoother and faster. He had a concubine hidden in Fengxiang, and visiting her would become easier. So, whether out of duty or personal interest, he would not raise any objections.

Silence reigned in the Hanyuan Hall. Cui Xu asked three times in a row, and since no one objected, the resolution was officially approved.

Cui Xu then took out another document of court decisions and declared, “Next is the fourth item: the announcement of several promotions and transfers.”

As soon as these words were spoken, slight stirrings arose in the hall. Changes in officials during court sessions had always been a focal point for officials, both in the past and now. Standing officials stretched their necks and pricked up their ears, afraid of missing a word, while seated officials fidgeted anxiously, their eyes filled with hope. The document contained only a simple sentence: “Some officials will be promoted or transferred,” with no further details. Many people felt hopeful—could their dreams of promotion come true?

At that moment, Li Heng and Wang Gong exchanged a glance. Li Heng gave him a subtle signal, and Wang Gong understood, nodding slightly. Out of the four positions, they had only received the less powerful roles of Governor of Jingzhao and Deputy Minister of Works. How could they be satisfied with that? Releasing Wei Jiansu and making concessions to Li Qingan was one thing, but fighting for real power was another. Concessions were temporary, while power was permanent.

The brief exchange of glances between Li Heng and Wang Gong was caught by Li Qingan’s sharp eyes. Of course, he understood Wang Gong’s intention to be vague in the official documents. Although they had lost the vote in the council chamber, they would surely try to turn things around in the court meeting. Appointments were always highly controversial—no one was perfectly qualified without any flaws or issues. Thus, appointments usually resulted from compromises, such as each party taking one important position and one minor one to maintain balance of power.

However, Miao Jinqing was recommended by Pei Min and considered part of the Prince Zhao faction, while Wang Wei was recommended by Lu Huan and had a good relationship with Pei Zunqing, so he too was part of the Prince Zhao faction. These two held the important positions. Yuan Zai, on the other hand, was a relative of Li Heng’s trusted eunuch Li Fuguo, and Wang Yu was Wang Gong’s brother. Both belonged to the Regent faction but were given the less important roles of Governor of Jingzhao and Deputy Minister of Works, which was clearly unfair. Since there had been no compromises in yesterday’s council meeting, there would surely be disputes in today’s court meeting.

Li Qingan sneered inwardly—he had been waiting for this moment as well.

“Appoint Wang Yu, Deputy Minister of Rites, as Governor of Jingzhao; appoint Miao Jinqing, Governor of Shanzhou, as Minister of War; appoint Yuan Zai, Supervisor of Grain Transport in Guanzhong, as Deputy Minister of Works; appoint Wang Wei, Censor, as Deputy Minister of the Right…”

As Cui Xu read out the appointments, the murmurs among the officials grew louder, forcing the imperial censor to shout, “Quiet! Be quiet!”

But the silence lasted only a moment before the noise resumed. These appointments truly surprised many people, though some were uncontroversial. Among all the appointments, the one for Governor of Jingzhao was the least controversial. The position of Deputy Minister of Rites was already quite high, and since Wang Yu was Wang Gong’s brother, his promotion to Governor of Jingzhao meant a higher rank but less real power—so it was a trade-off, and no one envied him.

Secondly, there was little controversy over the appointment of the Deputy Minister of War. Miao Jinqing already had extensive experience, was capable and pragmatic, and enjoyed a high reputation. At the beginning of Li Yu’s reign, he had been transferred from the Ministry of Personnel to the position of Deputy Minister of Revenue, but due to an incident at the imperial estates, this transfer was not approved in time and ultimately became invalid. Now, he was being reappointed as Deputy Minister of War, which was essentially a demotion, yet everyone accepted it. The real issue lay in the appointments of the Deputy Minister of Works and the Right Vice Minister of the Secretariat, especially the latter, which caused a great stir among the court officials.

Although Yuan Zai had passed the imperial examinations in the early Tianbao era, he was not promoted to the position of Transport Commissioner for Guanzhong until the end of last year, and not a single load of grain had been transported by his ships. Now, he was promoted to Deputy Minister of Works, with a promotion speed comparable to that of Yang Guozhong back then. Many people knew his true background—he was merely a relative of Li Fuguo, a trusted eunuch of Emperor Li Heng—which made people dissatisfied.

Wang Wei’s promotion to Right Vice Minister of the Secretariat was even more unacceptable. Although Wang Wei was renowned for his poetry, he was an unfit official. Holding a position as an imperial censor while receiving the court’s salary, he paid no attention to government affairs and instead went into seclusion. He was rarely seen in the Secretariat, and such a person should have been dismissed, yet he was suddenly promoted, leaving many people in shock.

Many eyes turned toward the Secretariat. Wang Wei was also present in court today. Perhaps not expecting to become the focus, he seemed a bit distracted, pondering a few good lines he had come up with, and did not hear Cui Xu’s announcement.

Suddenly, seeing so many people looking at him, Wang Wei was surprised. Dou Hua, an official nearby, whispered, “Brother Mojie, congratulations.” Wang Wei was stunned, and someone else said, “You have been appointed as Right Vice Minister of the Secretariat.” His heart pounded—he had become Right Vice Minister of the Secretariat? After a moment, he realized it must be Lu Huan’s recommendation. He had written to Lu Huan asking for help to be transferred away from the Secretariat, expecting to be assigned to an educational institution like the Historical Archives or the Imperial Academy. He never expected such a high promotion, let alone a position as important as Right Vice Minister of the Secretariat. He was deeply grateful in his heart.

At that moment, a resentful voice came from the main hall: “I ask the Council of State—what merits does Wang Wei have to hold such an important position as Right Vice Minister of the Secretariat?” Everyone turned to look. A man emerged from the ranks of the Censorate—short in stature and dark-skinned. It was Cui Qi, the Chief Censor. Cui Qi was Cui Huan’s nephew. Since Cui Huan did not want to appear directly, he sent his nephew to raise objections.

Cui Qi’s outburst caused a stir in the hall, and Wang Wei’s face turned bright red. Cui Qi’s questions were too harsh, but many understood that he was the nephew of Cui Huan, the Minister of Works, and a key member of the Regent Party. His intervention marked the beginning of a confrontation between the two major factions in the court.

Li Qingan gave Pei Min a subtle signal, and Pei Min stepped forward to respond, “What Cui Zhongcheng says is surprising. Wang Wei was the top scorer in the imperial examinations in the ninth year of the Kaiyuan era. His poetry brought fame throughout the Tang Dynasty, and his knowledge and talent are beyond even our comparison. In terms of seniority, few below the fourth rank can match him. Even when Zhang Jiuling was prime minister, Wang Wei was already serving as a Right Censor and Imperial Censor. At that time, Cui Zhongcheng was probably still studying at his family’s school! In the 25th year of Kaiyuan, Wang Wei was demoted to a judge in Hexi due to Zhang Jiuling’s influence, but later became a Palace Censor and gradually rose to the position of Censor-in-Chief. He has served in both the court and local governments for over thirty years. How can he not even be qualified for the position of Right Minister of the Fourth Rank?”

Pei Min’s arguments were well-founded, leaving Cui Qi’s face turning red and white in turn. Still unconvinced, he said, “Though that may be true, he has neglected government affairs since the 11th year of Tianbao. He is nowhere to be seen in the court, nor are there any of his approvals on official documents. As an official appointed by the court, he went to a scenic place to live in seclusion, taking the emperor’s salary without fulfilling his duties. Prime Minister, how can such an attitude be considered virtuous? With no achievements, yet still promoted—how can this convince anyone?”

“Cui Zhongcheng’s words are one-sided!”

This time, it was Li Qingan who stepped forward personally. He nodded at everyone and smiled, saying, “Everything has its cause. It’s true that Wang Wei lived in seclusion in Lantian, but why? As a Censor-in-Chief, why didn’t he resign and leave? He served diligently for over thirty years—why was he so slack in these past three years? Have anyone thought about the reasons? Actually, the reason is simple: because he was upright in his actions, he rejected three decrees drafted by Yang Guozhong, offending him. But he refused to bow to Yang Guozhong, so out of necessity, he hid in the mountains. It wasn’t until Yang Guozhong was gone that he dared to reappear. To refuse to bow to the powerful and to stick to his principles—I think this is Wang Wei’s integrity. Isn’t our Regent also living in semi-seclusion in Chang’an for many years? Why doesn’t Cui Zhongcheng impeach him?”

After saying this, Li Qingan glanced at Li Hen with a half-smiling look. His final words left the hall utterly silent. No one expected Li Qingan to bring Li Hen into the discussion as well.

Li Heng’s expression darkened as he said unhappily, “This is a solemn place in the court. It is Cui Zhongcheng’s duty to impeach those who act unjustly. Why does the Great General need to mock him?”
Li Qing’an also sneered and said, “I’m not mocking Cui Zhongcheng; I’m questioning him. Why does he fail to impeach those high-ranking officials who overstep their authority and break the law, yet focus on a fifth-rank official? Is it that his duties can be selective?”
The atmosphere in the court almost froze. Li Qing’an’s aggressive questioning made many too nervous to lift their heads. Everyone knew that Li Qing’an’s counterattack had finally arrived. The high-ranking officials he referred to were not Li Heng but Wang Gong and others.
Wang Gong’s expression changed instantly. He had already guessed what Li Qing’an would use to attack him. He stepped forward and advised tactfully, “Great General, please don’t change the subject. We’re discussing the appointment of the Right Minister of the Secretariat. Although the Political Council has approved the appointment, as the Censor-in-Chief, Cui Zhongcheng has the right to question any doubts. I think it’s sufficient to clarify things, and Cui Zhongcheng has no other intentions.”
Wang Gong was making concessions, agreeing to Wang Wei’s appointment and stopping further disputes, hoping that Li Qing’an would do the same so as not to ruin relations.
But Li Qing’an had already endured for half a month. How could he yield at such a critical moment? Ignoring Wang Gong, he pressed Cui Qi further, “May I ask, Cui Zhongcheng, since Wei Jiansu colluded with Chengdu and betrayed military secrets in Guanzhong, can his crimes be established?”
Wang Gong inwardly cursed. Li Heng had privately released Wei Jiansu in the early morning without telling Cui Huan, so Cui Qi surely didn’t know. Li Qing’an must be using this to attack him. He wanted to resolve the situation but didn’t know how to start. Wang Gong anxiously glanced at Li Heng, only to see his dark, expressionless face. He sighed inwardly. While staying calm was praiseworthy, the key was to find a way to withstand Li Qing’an’s relentless attacks.
Sweat beaded on Cui Qi’s forehead. He also realized he had become a tool for Li Qing’an to attack Li Heng. They hadn’t discussed this beforehand, and he didn’t know how to respond. Thinking of Li Heng capturing Wei Jiansu, he blurted out, “Of course, Wei Jiansu’s crimes can be established—he deserves the harshest punishment!”
“Very good, well said. But then why was Wei Jiansu released again this morning? Who did that?”

Chaos ensued in the grand hall—Wei Jiansu had actually been released! Things were becoming increasingly strange. Wei Tao, as the tutor to the crown prince, was also present in the hall. He couldn’t help but feel some dissatisfaction toward Li Qing’an. If Wei Jiansu had already been released, why pursue the matter further?

At that moment, Cui Huan, the Minister of Works, stepped forward and shouted at Pei Xiang, the head of the Dali Temple, “Pei Xiang, as the chief official of the Dali Temple, how do you explain this?”

Pei Xiang was the eldest son of Pei Zunqing. How could Cui Huan miss the chance to take advantage of the Pei family? Pei Xiang had already received instructions from Li Qing’an. He stood up, walked to the center of the hall, bowed to Li Shi, and calmly said, “I truly am unaware of this matter. If it really happened, I will punish those who abuse their power without hesitation.”

Pei Xiang turned around and sternly questioned Luo Xiao, the deputy head of the Dali Temple, “Luo Xiao, it’s your shift today. I ask you—did this happen?”

Luo Xiao was terrified, his legs trembling. He was the one who handled this matter. How could he not know? The other party had Li Hen’s official seal—how could he dare not release the person? Now, all eyes in the hall were fixed on him. He was sweating profusely and stole a glance at Li Hen, only to see Li Hen staring at him fiercely. He was so scared he almost fainted.

At this point, many clever people realized something was amiss. It seemed the release of Wei Jiansu wasn’t done by Li Qing’an’s faction but by Li Hen’s people, and Li Qing’an had seized this as an opportunity against them.

At that time, Linghu Fei, a guest of the crown prince, also saw the oddity in the situation. He had guessed that it must have been Li Hen who released Wei Jiansu to curry favor with Li Qing’an. But instead of being grateful, Li Qing’an used this as an excuse to attack Li Hen. As Li Hen’s advisor, how could he stand by at such a critical moment?

He stepped forward, bowed to Li Hen, and said, “Your Highness, the regent, please allow me to say a word.”

Li Hen, who was also anxious, was relieved to see Linghu Fei step forward. He quickly said, “Please speak, Lord Linghu.”

Linghu Fei smiled at Li Qing’an and said, “Actually, I know a bit about this matter. Wei Jiansu certainly deserves punishment; no one would dare release him. As the general just said, there must be a reason for everything. Wei Jiansu’s mother fell ill. Unaware that her son had been captured, she called for his name in her delirium. Moved by Wei Jiansu’s filial piety, Deputy Luo sent someone to let him go home to see his mother. It wasn’t really a release—he still had to return to prison after visiting his mother. Is that right, Deputy Luo?”

Luo Xiaoyan, the deputy head of the Dali Temple, was like a person about to drown who suddenly grabbed a straw. He nodded frantically, tears welling up in his eyes, and said, “That’s exactly right. After the court meeting, I’ll order him to be brought back to prison.”
Li Heng, Wang Gong, Cui Huan, and the others all breathed a sigh of relief at the same time. Especially Wang Gong, who had always looked down on Linghu Fei. It was only now that he truly admired Linghu Fei’s quick wits. Having such a person on their side was sheer luck for them!
Li Qing’an stared at Linghu Fei for a long time. He had long heard of Linghu Fei’s brilliance, and today, it turned out he was indeed as good as his reputation. But no matter how clever Linghu Fei was, how could he possibly understand Li Qing’an’s plan to trap them?
A hint of disappointment appeared on Li Qing’an’s face. He then asked Li Heng, “Your Highness, is Wei Jiansu’s collusion with Chengdu truly unforgivable?”
At this point, Li Heng could no longer be vague. Any further hesitation would give Li Qing’an an opportunity to exploit him. Since Li Qing’an refused to show gratitude, he had no choice but to be ruthless. He said clearly and without hesitation, “Absolutely. Wei Jiansu colluded with Chengdu and betrayed the military secrets of Guanzhong—his crime is unforgivable.”
“Good! Since his crime is unforgivable, then I will also impeach someone. He also colluded with Chengdu and betrayed the secrets of the government.”
Li Qing’an took out a letter and read it aloud to everyone, “This is a handwritten letter from the fake emperor of Chengdu to Cui Huan, the Minister of Works. It bears his signature and seal. This letter proves that Cui Huan also colluded with Chengdu and betrayed government secrets.”
At that moment, the hall was filled with gasps. Li Qing’an’s words were like a thunderclap, stunning everyone. Cui Huan colluding with Li Longji was explosive news. Everyone stared at the letter in Li Qing’an’s hand, believing it to be true yet finding it hard to believe.
Li Heng, Wang Gong, and the others all looked at Cui Huan. They never expected that Li Qing’an’s target for retaliation would be Cui Huan.
Linghu Fei’s heart sank into despair. He had fallen for the trap. Li Qing’an wasn’t really trying to address the issue of Wei Jiansu being released; instead, he wanted them to admit Wei Jiansu’s guilt themselves, thus trapping them. They had lost this game, and lost badly.
Linghu Fei’s mind was in chaos. He knew Li Qing’an’s letter must be genuine. Li Qing’an had waited patiently for half a month just for this moment, using the Cui family as a tool to send a message to all the powerful families: those who follow me will prosper, those who oppose me will perish.
At that moment, Li Qing’an said to Dou Hua, the secretary of the Central Secretariat, “Secretary Dou, you are a loyal official with great virtue and respect. Please read this letter.”

Dou Hua was the head of the Secretariat, having drafted imperial edicts for over thirty years. Known for his integrity and uprightness, he held great prestige in the court. Neither part of the Zhao Prince’s faction nor the Regent’s faction, he was the most suitable person to read this letter.

Without delay, Dou Hua took the letter, glanced at the handwriting on the envelope, and nodded. He immediately recognized it as Li Longji’s handwriting—not an imitation by anyone else. Dou Hua opened the letter and read aloud, “To Cui Huan, Minister of Works, my dear minister, I have received your letter. I am deeply moved that you still remember our past relationship as lord and minister and wish to go to Chengdu. However, I believe it is more beneficial for you to stay in Chang’an. As the prime minister of the puppet emperor, you know many confidential matters. I hope you will promptly send me the secrets of Chang’an to satisfy me. When I return to Chang’an, I will grant you a high rank, making you Right Prime Minister and Head of the Secretariat, and treat the Cui family generously…”

“Lies! Complete nonsense!”

Before Dou Hua could finish reading, Cui Huan started screaming hysterically. Several guards immediately stepped forward to hold him down. The imperial censor in the hall shouted, “Minister Cui, do not roar in the court! That is a serious crime!”

After finishing reading, Dou Hua carefully examined the seal and handwriting again, then tossed the letter aside and declared, “I have drafted imperial edicts for over thirty years. I guarantee on my honor that this letter is genuine. The missing corner of the seal was broken in the first month of the eighth year of Tianbao.”

He quickly stepped down the jade steps and handed the letter to several other Secretariat officials. After examining it, they all said, “This is indeed the original letter!”

With the testimony of the Secretariat officials, Cui Huan could no longer deny his guilt. At that moment, Wang Gong suddenly asked, “How did this letter end up in the hands of the general?”

Li Qing’an, expecting this question, waved his hand, and more than a dozen Imperial Guards brought in a tightly bound man. Many recognized him as one of Li Longji’s trusted guards, Hu Bingrui.

Li Qing’an smiled slightly and said, “This is Hu Bingrui, the head guard of Nanming Palace. He was suspected of suspicious behavior when passing through Luogu Pass and was captured by my Anxi Army soldiers. The letter was found on him. He has confessed, and his confession is here.”

Li Qing’an held up another confession and said to Hu Bingrui, “What do you have to say?”

Hu Bingrui, already subdued, sighed and said, “I was sent by the emperor of Chengdu to deliver a letter to Minister Cui Huan in Chang’an. Ten days ago, Cui Huan indeed sent a private letter to Chengdu.”

Li Qing’an suddenly turned and stared at Li Hen, saying word by word, “Your Highness, the Regent, Cui Huan has colluded with Chengdu and betrayed state secrets. There is both eyewitness testimony and physical evidence. Is he guilty?”

Li Hen felt utterly exhausted. After a long pause, he finally sighed and said, “Guilty!”

“Good!”

Li Qing’an declared loudly to the ministers in the hall, “By the emperor’s decree, Cui Huan colluded with Chengdu and betrayed the secrets of the Council of State. He shares the same crime as Wei Jiansu; he shall be removed from his position as prime minister and stripped of all his duties. He will be tried by the Supreme Judicial Council.”
Silence filled the hall. It was only then that the entire court in Chang’an truly realized the cunning and precision of Li Qing’an’s tactics—so shrewd and meticulous.
At that moment, the previously silent young emperor Li Shi suddenly asked, “General, who can take Cui Huan’s place as prime minister?”
Li Qing’an bowed respectfully and said, “I recommend Wei Tao, the tutor to the crown prince, to succeed Cui Huan. I believe the Council of State will approve it.”
Li Qing’an exchanged a glance with Zhang Yun, who gave him a knowing smile. Li Qing’an also smiled—it seemed the fish caught under the bridge yesterday hadn’t been in vain.
Li Shi glanced deeply at Li Heng, who now sat listlessly in his seat like a defeated rooster, his disappointment unmistakable. Li Shi almost laughed out loud. He nodded and declared loudly, “I support the general’s decision. Wei Tao shall become prime minister.”