From CEO to Concubine-Chapter 165: Prince Subduer of the Seas

Chapter 165: Prince Subduer of the Seas

After their conversation with Liu Suzhi, Liu Yao wasted no time moving forward with their plan. Swift as the wind1 was in and of itself a strategy, leaving their opponents with little time to prepare for retaliation.

Thus it was that even before the hunting party had reached the capital, word had reached his officials that Great General Pan had been pardoned and sent back to the north under supervision to atone for his ’lack of oversight on his subordinates’ by defending the borders indefinitely.

Whilst still a punishment, this was hardly more than a slap on the wrist, considering that the emperor had faced assassination. Why, before the passing of the previous emperor, Great General Pan had also received an edict commanding him never to return to the capital without imperial permission, although that was for very different reasons...this time, His Majesty had chosen to pick it up heavily but set it down lightly1.

As anticipated, not everyone was pleased with this news.

Knowing that he would catch them unawares, Liu Yao had anticipated a fierce resistance from his morning court. Indeed, it didn’t even take a day before his cabinet was begging for an audience with him in his private study.

Liu Yao raised an eyebrow and looked up from where he was clearly some less pressing memorials. From Right Prime Minister Ren’s impassive smile to the eye roll Grand Preceptor Du directed towards the ornate ceiling, he took it all in.

"To what does this sovereign owe the honour of holding court twice today?" He asked, even though he already knew the answer.

Ren Hao stepped forward and bowed. "In response to Your Majesty, after careful consideration, your subjects are concerned about the prospect of Great General Pan becoming a lingering threat to the empire." 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

Liu Yao studied their expressions carefully. With the removal of Grand Protector Li and the decision of Left Prime Minister Zhao to openly display the Zhao Clan’s support of the imperial faction, he held comfortable control over his cabinet for the first time since his ascension to the throne. Grand Tutor Lu was a staunch supporter of whoever sat on the throne, his loyalties firmly rooted in the traditional teachings that had been ingrained in him by the books. And of course, Liu Yao’s closest teacher, Grand Preceptor Du, was the only person standing before him now whom he dared fully trust.

Grand Preceptor Du beautifully balanced out Grand Tutor Lu’s impartiality by being the calf’s biggest protector1.

"This is a remarkable show of solidarity," he commented lightly, a subtle jibe at Right Prime Minister Ren for presuming to speak for the entire cabinet when in fact everyone present knew that there was no such unity of views amongst them.

Ren Hao allowed a hint of well-meaning exasperation to creep into his voice. "Your Majesty naturally has the kingdom’s best interests at heart," he said. "The situation on the northern borders has become troubling once more but if Your Majesty can forgive this subject for saying so, you’ve been rash in your judgement. If Great General Pan truly colluded with the barbarians, then allowing him to return to his allies is a grievous mistake. Not to mention, your appointment of the eunuch Liu Suzhi as military supervisor..." He sighed heavily. "Perhaps Your Majesty was too young to recall that particular affair but..." He shook his head exaggeratedly.

"This sovereign is old enough to remember the ’Dowager of Wushan Palace’," Liu Yao replied with a thoughtful hum. This was what the morning court used to call Supervisor Liu whenever they criticised him. "Beloved Subject Ren does not speak unreasonably," he added, as though truly contemplative of Right Prime Minister Ren’s perspective.

"This subject can empathise with Your Majesty having to make such a difficult decision," was Right Prime Minister Ren’s expansive reply. "Great Ye’s dearth of capable generals has given too much power to those whose loyalties have in recent times been called into question. The sky is high and the emperor is far away1; this is a problem every dynasty inevitably faces."

This was met with enthusiastic agreement from Liu Yao. "Indeed," he said with a nod. "One shouldn’t underestimate human ambition. This is why this sovereign is loathed to rely on the warlords, who have long taken advantage of their ancestors’ role in the founding of the dynasty to retain military power." They were as much of a sickness inflicted upon the kingdom as the old noble clans were. Less of a thorn in Liu Yao’s side, perhaps, because they did not have as strong a presence in his morning court, but it was discomfiting to have to live with wolves at the gate, unable to pluck their fangs without a good reason for fear of being labelled an ingrate.

All because their forefathers fought on the battlefield together.

"Right Prime Minister Ren speaks so much," Grand Preceptor Du muttered, his eyes meeting Liu Yao’s briefly, with a hint of a warning in them. "The way this old subject sees it, His Majesty’s wisdom has led us to the lesser of two evils."

"His Majesty is, of course, wise," Right Prime Minister Ren acceded.

Grand Preceptor Du took this polite affirmation and ran with it. "Well? What then is the issue? You speak of disloyalty amidst the military as though therein lies the root of the problem. But is that the truth? As long as Great General Pan is stuck in the North, he is destined to die in defeat or secure the border for the rest of his life. Should he attempt to make his way south, he will be branded as a rebel."

"The only fear is that this won’t be enough to stop him from leading an army against the capital." Right Prime Minister Ren’s earnestness was so convincing that if Liu Yao hadn’t known about his prominent influence within the old noble clans, he would have bought into it.

"Then what do you suggest? Who do we send to the north in his stead? You, Right Prime Minister? His Majesty?" Grand Preceptor Du scoffed. "Imagine that, a whole court of military and literary officials with no solution other than to cower behind the liege we swore to support and protect."

Left Prime Minister Zhao chose this moment to speak up. "Perhaps His Majesty has the right idea all this while," he said carefully, not rising from the slight bowing stance he assumed upon starting, despite Right Prime Minister Ren’s intense gaze sliding over to him. "This subject believes that the best way to meet a shortage is to increase a supply, logic that His Majesty is well-familiar with."

He was referring to the new policy to make education widely available that he was leading.

But Grand Tutor Lu frowned. "Naturally, this would be an ideal solution," he said. "But not a short-term one." He too bowed. "Your Majesty is indeed wise to continue pitting Great General Pan against the north and send a military supervisor to watch his every move. But this subject agrees with Right Prime Minister Ren that a more suitable candidate should be chosen for the task."

Of course. Grand Tutor Lu was a stickler for the rules and had never approved of the tumult Supervisor Liu had inflicted upon the inner palace with his mere presence. Even though all the preposterous deeds had been done by the previous emperor, it was Supervisor Liu who had to face the brunt of the censure.

"This sovereign has other plans regarding the matter of the military supervisor, my beloved officials need say no more." This was the most effective phrase to use when Liu Yao wanted to drop a subject swiftly. No doubt, he could expect to receive many a dissenting memorial regarding it after but at least for now they could move on.

Right Prime Minister Ren deferred immediately. "As Your Majesty wishes," he said. "Perhaps we could discuss this subject’s concerns regarding the security of the capital? Without confidence in Great General Pan’s innocence, Your Majesty, this subject cannot help but worry endlessly about whether he will one day exploit the army in his hands! Half the tiger seal, Your Majesty!"

Liu Yao had no heart to tell Right Prime Minister Ren that until the assassination attempt at the hunting grounds, Great General Pan had held the full tiger seal, capable of amassing the entire military power of the kingdom at his command if necessary. Trust those you use, don’t use those you mistrust. Years ago, when he’d first become emperor and the north had dissolved into shambles again, Liu Yao had decided to place his bets on this mentor of his.

That night, in the makeshift tent used to keep Great General Pan captive after his arrest following the attempt on Liu Yao’s life, he had proven Liu Yao right by handing the tiger seal straight back to its rightful owner.

"Take it, Ah Yao," Great General Pan had said solemnly, speaking to Liu Yao as an elder and not as a subordinate, after Liu Yao had refused once to strip him of his power. "Listen to your Uncle Pan. There are many ways that you will be able to save me but being stubborn is not one of them. Come tomorrow morning, when your court officially pressurises you into making a conviction, you may no longer be able to hide that you gave the seal away without consulting them first. I, Pan Yuze, can face being branded a traitor and executed at dawn, but I fear becoming a burden to my liege."

Liu Yao closed his eyes and heaved a sigh. "What would you have this sovereign do?" he asked.

"This subject is aware that Your Majesty is wary of the warlords and with good reason," Right Prime Minister Ren continued. "But Prince Zhenhai has only ever been deferent towards Your Majesty and he has a son, who the East lauds as the youngest military genius in the kingdom."

Prince Zhenhai. Prince Subduer of the Seas. Prince was the highest title that could be bestowed upon a subject of great merit and unlike the other warlords, who had inherited their titles from their ancestors, Prince Zhenhai had earned him through his naval achievements against the pirates that plagued the Eastern shores. As Right Prime Minister Ren said, Prince Zhenhai had never once overstepped the boundaries between sovereign and subject in his interactions with Liu Yao and kept mostly to his territory whilst diligently performing his duties.

His son, however...

Liu Yao’s gaze shifted over to Grand Tutor Lu, who was now wearing an ugly expression.

"To raise without teaching is the failure of the father1," he said coldly. "Prince Zhenhai might be a formidable commander but his greatest shortcoming is, unfortunately, his heir. Surely, Right Prime Minister Ren is not suggesting that the safety of the capital and indeed His Majesty be left in the hands of this philandering dandy?!"

Ah, so Liu Yao hadn’t recalled wrongly. Grand Tutor Lu had an icy beauty of a youngest son, whose talents with the paintbrush were renowned far and wide. Despite being a capable scholar, Lu Lan had chosen to pursue art instead, a venture that his stern father had finally caved and supported after seeing his son’s remarkable gift, which was heralded as otherworldly by all who’d had the chance to behold his masterpieces.

Alas, rumour had it that when passing through the water towns of the southern region, through the silvery haze of a spring’s misty rain1, the hapless boy had caught sight of Prince Zhenhai’s heir drunk on a bridge, waxing poetry at the full moon, and had his breath robbed from him, his heart stolen by a skilful thief.

Stolen and then broken, which each trip to the red-lanterned brothels of the flower streets and willow alleys. With each time he smelt fragrant powder on the robes of his lover.

"This sovereign will take your suggestion into consideration," Liu Yao said, giving Grand Tutor Lu a long look when the man opened his mouth to protest. "This sovereign is aware of the Heir of Prince Zhenhai and will think this through carefully."

In truth, Right Prime Minister Ren might not realise it but Liu Yao personally wasn’t that averse to the idea. His eyes and ears had long since made their way into the territories of the warlords and there was information that he had on the Heir of Prince Zhenhai that might make him a valuable asset to the throne.

"If that is all," he said before anyone else could add anything new, "this sovereign wishes to retire." He raised an eyebrow and took a pointed glance at the open window, which revealed a setting sun. "Surely we’ve seen more of each other than we really want to by now. Anything else, I trust, can wait until morning court tomorrow?"

What a joke. Ah Yun would have woken from his nap at least half a shichen ago. Liu Yao didn’t count himself a tyrant by any means but there was no denying that he would far prefer the company of his dear beauty than a bunch of scheming old men.

An informal saying, used to describe someone fiercely protective over another, like a mother over her child. A famous proverb, although I cannot find who it is attributed to. I’d always mistakenly thought it was Confucius but apparently not, oops. The second half of the saying is ’to teach without strictness is the failing of the master’. The proverb talks about the responsibility of the father and the teacher in the development of a child’s character. A poetic description of the light rain that often falls in the southern region. It feels more like a misty vapour than droplets against the skin (imagine an aerosol spray) and is very beautiful. A line from Sun Tzu about military strategy. He says to be ’swift as the wind, orderly as the forest, invade like fire, and be immovable like a mountain.’ There are many interpretations of the meaning of these lines but I am no scholar, so in this situation, let’s go with the one that means to attack rapidly, leaving the enemy little time for preparation. An idiom that means to deal less harsh punishment than is warranted. Or to make a huge fuss without following through. Another saying to describe misbehaviour out of the reach of authority.