Chancellor Lu smiled and nodded: “With Your Majesty saying this, this old minister is reassured!”
“There is another matter… regarding Liang Kingdom. Liang Kingdom has been destroyed by Your Majesty, and all of Liang’s territory now belongs to our Jin Kingdom. However, Liang’s governmental system differs from our Jin Kingdom – all imperial princes had their fiefs and governed independently. If we wish to implement Your Majesty’s new policies, the slightest carelessness could trigger military rebellions.” Chancellor Lu turned to glance at his eldest son, Lu Jinxian, “Therefore… this old minister dares to boldly recommend my eldest son to Your Majesty. Your Majesty could dispatch him to Great Liang… to oversee this implementation of new laws!”
Lu Jinxian quickly straightened his posture and bowed to Bai Qingyan: “If Your Majesty would entrust this matter to your humble minister, your humble minister will certainly do everything in his power to handle this matter properly!”
“Master Lu Jinxian is in his prime years, and in the future will be a pillar minister of the Great Zhou dynasty. I originally intended for Chancellor Lu to oversee the implementation of new laws within Jin Kingdom, with Master Lu Jinxian assisting, allowing Chancellor Lu to use and also teach Dong Changyuan and Li Mingrui. The newly acquired Liang territory… I planned to have Chen Zhaolu and Lu Yuanqing handle it, taking this opportunity to temper these useful talents for our Great Zhou…” Bai Qingyan’s fingers rubbed against the armrest of her hidden table.
Whether Chen Zhaolu or Lu Yuanqing, when Bai Qingyan was in the capital city, she had not failed to investigate them. Both were extremely intelligent people, especially Lu Yuanqing… who appeared cold-faced but had some methods! As for Chen Zhaolu… on the surface, he was a gentle and refined young master, but in his bones carried some fierceness. Both were hot-blooded youths who, when implementing new policies, would certainly be more ruthless and firm than someone like Lu Jinxian, who had been mixing in official circles for many years.
Chancellor Lu hadn’t expected Bai Qingyan to value Lu Yuanqing so highly, and hastily said: “Yuanqing is young after all. When implementing new policies in Great Liang territory, stability and appeasement should come first.”
“Chancellor Lu’s words are mistaken. Implementing new policies… benefits the people!” Lu Jin suddenly spoke to Chancellor Lu, “Though the Jin dynasty and the already-destroyed Liang Kingdom’s nobles and imperial relatives still have considerable power, what Your Majesty wants is the people’s support! These nobles and imperial relatives have oppressed the people for too long. If this time we can use thunderous methods to implement new policies and suppress imperial relatives and nobles, it will certainly raise Your Majesty’s reputation even higher in the people’s hearts.”
Lu Jin then looked toward Bai Qingyan: “Just like Yan Kingdom – when they initially recovered Southern Yan, they fought under the banner of restoring Empress Ji’s new policies. What was the result?… Yan Kingdom barely had to fight at all. Wherever their great army went, the people lined the roads to welcome them! And Wei Kingdom… after Wei Kingdom was destroyed, Great Yan’s Ninth Prince used thunderous methods to deal with those Wei Kingdom nobles, and the people all applauded!”
“But this Yan Kingdom’s Ninth Prince also earned a reputation for cruelty.” Lu Jinxian, who was holding his teacup, joined the conversation.
Although Yan Kingdom’s Ninth Prince has a reputation for cruelty, the Wei Kingdom people greatly admire the new policies. This means that whoever Your Majesty dispatches to implement new policies must be prepared to earn a bad reputation.” Lu Jin set down his teacup and bowed respectfully to Lu Jin, “If Lu Jin’s words contain any offense, please forgive me, Chancellor Lu.”
“Ah… when discussing state affairs, what offense is there to speak of! Master Lu has foresight, with a broader vision than this old minister, focusing on the people and able to offer strategies to Your Majesty – this is a good thing!” Chancellor Lu showed no displeasure whatsoever, instead greatly appreciating Lu Jin. He looked toward Bai Qingyan and said, “Your Majesty, Master Lu’s words are reasonable. Your Majesty’s new policies are based on the people – this old minister was short-sighted… only seeing the power of aristocratic families and imperial relatives, failing to consider the people! If this is the case, this old minister thinks that implementing new policies in the Jin dynasty’s old territory could also be entrusted to young people! It is indeed time for young people to take the stage. This time, let’s allow them to distinguish themselves. If they truly encounter difficulties, this old minister will certainly provide support from behind.”
Chancellor Lu had served as an official in Jin dynasty for decades, so his thinking was inevitably somewhat outdated and conservative. However, Chancellor Lu’s virtue lay in his ability to listen to others’ opinions – he was not the type who refused to admit mistakes unto death.
“In that case, we’ll still dispatch Chen Zhaolu and Lu Yuanqing to Han City to oversee the implementation of new policies! As for the Jin dynasty’s old territory within the range from south of Hong Queshan to north of Tonggu Mountain…” Bai Qingyan lightly tapped the table with her finger, “let’s follow Chancellor Lu’s suggestion and try having Li Mingrui and Dong Changyuan take overall charge. How about that?”
“Changyuan can certainly do it!” Dong Qingping frowned, “But employing Li Mingrui… wouldn’t that be too risky? Moreover, as Master Lu Jin said, capable ministers who implement new policies might earn a bad reputation. This Li Mingrui… like his father, is very good at scheming. I fear he’ll want to eagerly curry favor, won’t exert his full effort, and might instead ruin things.”
“Li Mingrui is a person with both capability and intelligence, but he hasn’t used them on the righteous path. His father, Li Mao, is already a traitorous minister. Li Mingrui attempts to use his strength to preserve the lives of the entire Li family, and even wants the Li family to rise with him. Rapidly implementing new policies and ensuring their smooth implementation is his only opportunity – Li Mingrui will certainly seize it.”
“Your Majesty’s ability to understand and employ people is beyond this old minister’s reach!” Chancellor Lu bowed to Bai Qingyan with heartfelt admiration.
Dong Qingping glanced toward Chancellor Lu, inwardly criticizing that Lu couldn’t change his habit of flattering the emperor.
“There’s also another matter that I haven’t had time to discuss with Your Majesty while handling government affairs these past few days. For Your Majesty’s successful coronation this time, the military generals who supported Your Majesty deserve great credit, as well as those regional commanders who heard that Your Majesty had rebelled against the Jin dynasty and promptly followed. Should they be rewarded? If rewards are given, there’s also the newly pacified Liang Kingdom. Liang’s Third Prince has surrendered. Does Your Majesty plan to give him a piece of territory to spend his remaining years peacefully, or bring him into the capital city… to keep him under close watch?”
Bai Qingyan turned and signaled to Bai Jinse to bring the bamboo scroll she had already written. Bai Jinse understood and rose to fetch the bamboo scroll that she had instructed Bai Jinse to bring earlier.
“Chancellor Lu!” Bai Jinse respectfully handed the bamboo scroll to Chancellor Lu.
Chancellor Lu thanked her and took the bamboo scroll, unrolling it to reveal Bai Qingyan’s written rewards for meritorious ministers…
“All four distinguished masters may review this first. If there are any inappropriate aspects, we can discuss them further.”
Chancellor Lu nodded and huddled together with Dong Qingping, Lu Jin, and Lu Jinxian to examine Bai Qingyan’s appointments on the bamboo scroll.
Bai Qingyan’s voice continued steadily: “As for appointments to fill vacant official positions… I believe Master Lu Jinxian, as Vice Minister of Personnel, should understand better than I do. Therefore, I wish to place the Ministry of Personnel in Master Lu Jinxian’s hands. The matter of filling vacant positions will require Master Lu’s attention.”
Neither Chancellor Lu nor Lu Jinxian had expected that Bai Qingyan would dare to place the Ministry of Personnel in Lu Jinxian’s hands – such an honor for the Lu family! They hastily kowtowed in gratitude.
“As for Great Liang’s Third Prince, let him remain in his homeland as Prince of Han City, but without territory – unable to maintain troops, unable to control taxes. Prince of Han City’s private property need not be confiscated…”
Thus, this would leave Great Liang’s Third Prince with merely the title of Prince of Han City, allowing him to be a wealthy man in Han City.
Bai Qingyan refilled tea for Lu Jinxian and Lu Jin, then looked toward Dong Qingping and asked: “Uncle came together with Master Lu Jin – for what other matter?”