45Chapter 45: Peace in the World, Chen's Talents
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Initially, no one believed this was a war that could actually break out, as the disparity between the Prince of Liang and the Crown Prince was simply too great.
Furthermore, given such a disparity, the Emperor favored the Crown Prince even more.
So what right did the Prince of Liang have to contend for this position with the Crown Prince?
But later, when the "war" began to silently spread like a smoke, people suddenly realized that the Prince of Liang had the support of these individuals.
The Confucian School!
The Confucian School, which most supported "orthodox" ritual law.
During Emperor Xiaohui's reign, they supported Emperor Xiaohui and, in the name of ritual law orthodoxy, debated against and opposed the then-favored Prince of Zhao, Liu Ruyi. At this moment, they stood on the opposite side of ritual law.
At this time, the Confucian School launched a fierce attack from behind Jia Yi.
The smoke of this war lasted for a long time.
Of course, the enemies the Confucian School perceived never even paid them any mind—such as the Crown Prince, and especially the Chen Clan.
Especially the Chen Clan.
As the Emperor implemented the Huang-Lao School's policy of recuperation, many talented sons of the Chen Clan also gradually entered the imperial court. Initially inconspicuous, they slowly formed a formidable force.
Among them, the more renowned Chen Clan disciples holding positions of one thousand shi or above included the following:
First, Chen Yun, the head of the Chen Clan and Marquis Wen, served as Lang Zhong Ling and Neili of the Prime Minister's Office. After Feng Chang passed away, he also took on the position of Feng Chang, one of the Nine Ministers, making him the undisputed head of the Nine Ministers.
This was also the first time someone outside the Liu imperial clan held the position of Feng Chang, which had always been held by the Liu clan's Munemasa—it was just that the current Liu clan's Munemasa was in very poor health, so Chen Yun temporarily took on the role.
Second, Chen Xi, the heir apparent of Marquis Wen, the next head of the Chen Clan, and the eldest legitimate grandson of the Chen Clan, served as "Ting Wei," one of the Nine Ministers.
Third, Chen Ze, the son of Chen Zhen from the third branch of the Chen Clan and the current ancestor of the Kuaiji Chen Clan, served as the Administrator of Kuaiji Commandery and concurrently as the Provincial Governor of Qingzhou. Like the Nine Ministers, he was also a high-ranking official of two thousand shi or above, effectively a regional governor.
Fourth, Chen Kang, the son of Chen Shun from the second branch of the Chen Clan, currently served as "Da Si Nong," also a high-ranking official of two thousand shi, overseeing agricultural affairs.
Fifth, the son of Chen Shun from the second branch of the Chen Clan, currently serving as the Provincial Governor of Jiaozhou, was responsible for appeasing the King of Baiyue, Zhao Tuo. By the end of the eleventh year of Emperor Wen's reign, he successfully persuaded King Zhao Tuo of Baiyue to submit to the Han Dynasty, nominally becoming a subject of the Great Han.
Besides these five individuals, other talented members of the Chen Clan also entered the imperial court or other fields.
For example, a disciple named Chen Chen was in secluded meditation deep in the mountains, attempting to develop his own "school of thought." His philosophy synthesized various ideas from the Confucian School, Yinyang School, Taoist School, Legalist School, and many others.
However, these mixed ideas had not yet been fully unified; otherwise, they could have been called a "master."
The existence of these Chen Clan disciples collectively formed the vast Chen Clan of today. Not only did they themselves hold high positions, but the disciples they took in also constituted a powerful force.
Before his seclusion, Chen Chen had accepted many disciples, and these disciples all bore the mark of the Chen Clan.
Currently, in the imperial court, although the "Chen Clan's disciples and former officials" had not coalesced into a "faction," they had almost become the most powerful force. Even the Emperor, after realizing this, began to treat the Chen Clan with caution.
What more could be said of the Crown Prince and the Prince of Liang, who were contending for the throne?
The Prince of Liang had repeatedly tried to win over the current head of the Chen Clan, but Chen Yun largely ignored him, even refusing his invitations multiple times and unwilling to attend the banquets held by the Prince of Liang.
As the Chen Clan's power grew stronger, both the head of the Chen Clan and its disciples became increasingly low-key, which was surprising, as normally the opposite would be true.
The more powerful a family, the more vulnerabilities it would inevitably have.
For example, the Marquis of Jiang's family. Although Marquis of Jiang Zhou Bo had not yet passed away, the "property disputes" and numerous misdeeds within his household had already tarnished his reputation.
Even the Emperor had summoned Zhou Bo multiple times, very subtly presenting these crimes to him.
Just like now.
In Weiyang Palace,
The Marquis of Jiang looked at the evidence of crimes once again laid before him, his face showing deep fatigue and helpless pain. He naturally knew the Emperor's reasons for doing this: nothing more than wanting him to surrender a portion of his fief and reduce his peerage.
But… what the Emperor presented was all true!
How could he refute these true things? He had no reason to refute and could only clean up his son's mess once again.
"Your Majesty, this subject is guilty. This subject is incompetent in raising his children, leading to such a scoundrel."
Zhou Bo lowered his noble head. The first time he bowed, he still felt indignant, but by the second and third times, it had become a habit, and there was no longer any discomfort.
"This subject is willing to exchange three thousand households of his fief for this child's life."
"This time, this subject will definitely teach this child a good lesson."
"I beg Your Majesty for mercy."
Liu Heng merely smiled gently. He looked at Zhou Bo and said, "What is the Marquis of Jiang saying? These are just minor squabbles and jokes among children."
He sighed, "It's just that the subordinates have submitted these reports, and I cannot simply ignore them—you know Marquis Wen's temper. When his temper flares, even I have to give way three points. That's why this matter has reached the Marquis of Jiang."
Zhou Bo merely gave a bitter smile and continued to plead, offering his fief as "redemption" capital, as there was a concept of "ransom" in Han law.
After his repeated requests, Liu Heng finally agreed with a slight hesitation.
However, when the imperial decree was issued, it was swift and decisive: Zhou Bo's fief had been reduced to just over two thousand households!
Not to mention his current title of "Marquis of Ten Thousand Households," even a full Marquis might not be able to sustain it.
"The Marquis of Jiang has rendered meritorious service to the state, so he shall continue to be enfeoffed as the Marquis of Jiang. However, when his heir inherits the title in the future, it shall be reduced."
Liu Heng subtly removed another major general from the meritorious official group, and then turned his gaze to Chen Ping.
But…
On the last day of winter in the twelfth year of Emperor Wen's reign,
Chen Ping passed away.
This news came too suddenly, so much so that everyone failed to react, but Liu Heng seized the opportunity to reduce Chen Ping's peerage for his child to inherit.
From then on, the only remaining "figurehead" of the meritorious official group was Guandu Marquis… Chen Lang.
Unfortunately, this Guandu Marquis was merely a "second-generation Marquis."
Thus, peace reigned throughout the land.
.... ....
Thirteenth year of Emperor Wen's reign
The King of Wu entered the capital with his heir apparent.