The Crown Prince ultimately did not survive the winter. When he closed his eyes, the final wave of victory reports arrived from Xibei—Wuyetan had finally been subjugated by the royal court, though the royal court had also paid an enormous price. Tuomu had died, his son succeeded him, and the Tartars were severely weakened in strength. For the next several decades, they likely wouldn’t have the resources to invade.
Emperor Jianzhang didn’t even know whether he should be happy or sad. He ordered the Ministry of Rites to arrange the Crown Prince’s funeral, then summoned Zhou Weizhao. Looking at his silent expression, he paused before asking, “Do you want to keep Dongping, or send him far away?”
Now that the Crown Prince was dead, Prince Dongping had lost his most important protection. Whatever Zhou Weizhao had promised before essentially no longer counted.
Emperor Jianzhang knew how difficult these years had been for Zhou Weizhao, and also knew how strong the desire for revenge could be when a person lost their constraints. He sighed, looked at Zhou Weizhao, and asked again, “Do you not harbor resentment?”
Zhou Weizhao had thought Emperor Jianzhang summoned him for some other matter, never expecting it to be about Prince Dongping. Without a moment’s hesitation, he directly shook his head. “The Crown Prince’s prior intention was for him to live.” He lowered his eyes. “I’ve always kept my word when I make promises.”
He wouldn’t go back on his word over past grievances. Though doing so would certainly vent his anger, in anyone’s eyes, if something happened to Prince Dongping, he would bear the reputation of settling scores after autumn and being unable to tolerate others.
Of course he couldn’t be completely free of reservations about the past, but he had never been someone controlled by the past either.
Emperor Jianzhang was comforted in his old age, stroking his beard and laughing several times, obviously pleased. “That you have such magnanimity to accommodate others—very good.” After praising him, he began to frown again. “However, you must have a plan in your heart for how to deal with them. Today I’ll tell you my views.”
Seeing Zhou Weizhao nod, he continued, “Dongping is best kept in the capital. When heaven is high and the emperor far away, he may have quieted his ambitions now, but who knows if things might change in the future? As for your Uncle Prince Su and Uncle Prince Lu, they should remain in their fiefs from now on. Their sons are in the capital, Consort Liang is in the capital, their wives’ families are all in the capital—they can’t stir up any trouble. Their guard forces have also been reduced from thirty thousand to fifteen thousand—cut in half.”
He coughed several times, suppressing the fishy sweetness in his throat, and curled his hand to continue explaining to Zhou Weizhao. “There are also inspecting censors in the localities. Even if they have connections reaching the heavens, they can’t stir up any waves. Grandfather only has these two sons left. Grandfather wants to preserve them as much as possible.”
Zhou Weizhao understood Emperor Jianzhang’s painstaking efforts. Looking at Emperor Jianzhang’s aged appearance, with even the beard on his chin beginning to turn white, he very compliantly nodded in agreement. “Uncle Prince Lu and Uncle Prince Su have always known their place… I understand everything. You need not worry.”
If these words had come from the Crown Prince, Emperor Jianzhang definitely wouldn’t believe them. But when Zhou Weizhao said them, he believed them. He smiled and nodded, very gratified. “Yes, you’re a smart child. You understand everything. Since that’s the case, the matter of Prince Lu and Prince Su is settled. Additionally, there are Weiyin and Weiyang. If the two of them behave properly, that’s fine. But if they dare harbor improper thoughts, you need not be soft-hearted. I will leave an edict making all these matters clear. You can proceed boldly.”
This was probably the arrangement that best preserved his own bloodline that an emperor could conceive of.
Zhou Weizhao had no intention of displeasing Emperor Jianzhang over these insignificant matters and agreed to everything without burden. Only then did he discuss the real business with Emperor Jianzhang. “On the reward list drafted by the Grand Secretariat, Prince Zhennan and Marquis Dingyuan are listed as having the greatest merit, but Commander-in-Chief Cui falls far short… Is this your intention, Grandfather?”
In this military campaign, all three could be said to have rendered outstanding service, yet showing such favoritism would inevitably make people wonder.
Emperor Jianzhang patted Zhou Weizhao’s shoulder with a half-smile and nodded. Seeing Zhou Weizhao frown as if about to speak, he smiled and shook his head. “I know what you want to say—nothing more than feeling aggrieved on Cui Shaoting’s behalf?”
“But actually, Cui Shaoting has not been wronged. Whether he was framed or not, he did indeed make the Xibei battlefield very passive at one point. He indeed didn’t collude with the Tartars, but regarding the Tartars colluding with Han Zhengqing, he learned of it too late—and he is the Commander-in-Chief of the Three Borders!” Emperor Jianzhang stood up. “He has merit, but he also has faults. His merit outweighs his errors, so he’s still being rewarded, but he absolutely cannot stand shoulder to shoulder with Prince Zhennan and Marquis Dingyuan. There’s nothing hard to understand about this.”
“There’s another point.” Emperor Jianzhang turned back to look at Zhou Weizhao. “When the moon is full, it wanes; when water is full, it overflows. Cui Shaoting is already Commander-in-Chief of the Three Borders, Cui Yingshu is already Vice Minister of Works, the Cui family is a prestigious clan of a hundred years, and is the future Empress’s maternal family… With such overwhelming wealth and honor, do you want to continue adding fuel to the fire?”
Zhou Weizhao was shocked into a cold sweat by Emperor Jianzhang’s meaningful words.
Emperor Jianzhang’s meaning was to remind him to guard against the Cui family, not to allow the Cui family to continue growing too powerful.
“Even that old fox Song Chengru has caught the scent and knows to step back, let alone the Cui family.” Emperor Jianzhang shook his head. “If I elevate the Cui family further, how will you reward the Cui family in the future to make them feel you’re treating them generously? Every one of these matters is an essay. I know you’re intelligent, but in these matters, you still have much to learn. Chief Minister Chang is now the Crown Prince’s Grand Tutor. If there’s anything you don’t understand, feel free to ask him.”
Chief Minister Chang was also discussing the rewards with Cui Yingshu. “You two brothers can no longer advance any further. Just as you said initially, using the excuse of observing mourning for your mother to step back is an extremely appropriate approach.”
Cui Yingshu sat across from Chief Minister Chang, very leisurely and comfortable, smiling and nodding at Chief Minister Chang. “Teacher’s divine foresight—as expected, His Majesty rejected Shaoting’s memorial requesting to observe mourning and ordered him to continue in his post despite mourning. The rest of us step down, yet Shaoting remains in office…”
Sometimes taking a step back doesn’t necessarily mean truly retreating.
Chief Minister Chang stroked his beard and nodded. “When have I ever calculated things for you? It’s also because you yourselves know the times and understand when to quit while ahead. Speaking of which, no wonder you can become in-laws with the Song family—you’re all equally cunning…”
Grasping the thoughts of those above with extreme precision.