Chapter 13: Zhao Su Strikes

Not having enough to eat won’t kill you; having nothing to eat will.
Such a simple truth, and yet, how many officials truly act upon it during times of famine relief?
Everyone was thunderstruck. None had expected that the crown prince, Zhao Su, who had lived a sheltered life in the deep recesses of the palace, could possess such extraordinary insight.
Zhao Su looked down at Yang Rucheng and Li Chengyun and asked, “Gentlemen, am I not right?”
The two of them turned pale, Zhao Su’s words striking them like sharp knives, each syllable cutting deep into their souls.
What they had once prided themselves on, in hindsight, now seemed so shameful. In the ways of governing the people, they had proven less insightful than a prince who had never set foot outside the palace.
“Your Highness’s words are a wake-up call. We were mistaken,” Yang Rucheng and Li Chengyun both bowed deeply to Zhao Su. Judging by these two matters alone, they had indeed been at fault.
The old emperor was overjoyed; the pallor of his face was now tinged with flush, as if he had just taken a powerful tonic. “You are truly my son. With such understanding, you bring me great comfort.”
Hearing the emperor’s words, Zhao Su could not help but roll his eyes inwardly. I am hardly your son! Your true son has long since perished. I am a model youth, raised under the red flag, excelling in virtue, intellect, physique, beauty, and labor.
Everyone now regarded Zhao Su in a new light. Who would have thought that this crown prince, whom they had never thought well of, could be so exceptionally astute?
The Fourth Prince, Zhao Yu, feeling emboldened, continued, “Elder brother, even if Lord Li and Lord Yang mishandled these two matters, it does not erase the years of their service.”
“Hmph!” Zhao Su let out a cold laugh. “The Great Qin is not the emperor’s personal possession.”
“Silence!” Duke Wei was so alarmed his very soul seemed to leap from his body; he wished he could rush over and cover Zhao Su’s mouth. My dear ancestor, how could you utter such a thing?
Zhao Yu, seizing on this, cried angrily, “Your Highness, if the Great Qin does not belong to the emperor, is it yours, then? Are you plotting treason?”
Tension gripped the hall once more. Steward Li’s eyes narrowed, a cold gleam flickering within. If the emperor gave the order, he would seize the crown prince at once.
If you wish to destroy a man, first let him become arrogant.
What the crown prince was doing now was a perfect illustration of that adage. If we do not bring about your ruin, we will let you bring it upon yourself.
To dare claim the empire does not belong to the emperor—do you think yourself above death? That the emperor would not dare kill you?
Throughout history, for the throne, for the supreme power of the realm, how many brothers have slain each other, how many fathers and sons have taken up arms?
No one believed the old emperor would be indifferent to his throne. Whoever sits on that seat, whoever threatens it, will be cut down—even a newborn son would not be spared.
Indeed, when the old emperor heard those words, his face darkened. Had it been another prince, he would have ordered an immediate execution. With Zhao Su, he wanted to hear his explanation.
“Crown Prince, if the empire is not mine, then is it yours?” The emperor’s voice was as cold as a thousand-year-old glacier, chilling the hall.
Zhao Su realized how serious the matter had become, but he remained composed. “Father, hear me out. Should I be wrong, I am willing to resign my title at once and retire to Nanshan.”
Everyone in the hall was suddenly all attention, especially the Fourth Prince, Zhao Yu, who could barely wait for Zhao Su to step down and leave the palace.
“Speak then,” the emperor said. He could not believe his son would rebel.
Zhao Su bowed and continued, “I believe all the people of Great Qin can be divided into four groups: the emperor, officials, farmers, artisans, merchants.”
All present nodded quietly; these categories matched the traditional order of society.
“May I ask, Father, could you alone govern so vast an empire?” Zhao Su asked.
The old emperor shook his head; even with a hall full of ministers, he found the task overwhelming.
“Exactly,” Zhao Su said. “That is precisely my point. It is impossible for you to rule this empire singlehandedly. You need the participation of these four groups to govern together.
Great Qin belongs to you, Father, but also to the millions of people under heaven. Without Great Qin, they would be trampled by foreign invaders; without Great Qin, they would become slaves; without Great Qin, when disaster strikes, there would be no one to save them.
So, in my view, Great Qin belongs to everyone. All the soldiers and people of this land should work together to build a prosperous and beautiful empire.”

All who heard were taken aback. Upon reflection, it seemed entirely true.
Zhao Su continued, “Let us return to the earlier question: why does Father appoint so many officials? Is it not so they may offer counsel and aid you in governing the provinces, helping you rule over the people?
If a province is misgoverned, it is not your fault, Father, but the fault of its officials. In other words, these officials are not meant to merely report every problem and await your solution—they are meant to solve the problems themselves.
Therefore, I propose that when disaster strikes, local officials, when reporting a problem, must also submit their proposed solutions. If they present only problems and no solutions, they should be removed from office. If they cannot solve the issues, let someone capable take their place.”
“This… this…” The assembly was stunned, exchanging bewildered glances.
The old emperor, however, was deeply pleased and agreed wholeheartedly.
Until now, he had wondered why, with so many officials, the empire was still so hard to govern, why every problem ultimately landed on his desk.
Now he understood he had erred: officials were not meant only to report problems, but to resolve them. If they could not, they should be replaced. Henceforth, as emperor, all he needed to do was dismiss and appoint ministers.
At this thought, he no longer felt so weary; he even felt he might live to eighty.
“Good, the crown prince speaks my heart!” the emperor exclaimed, nearly leaping for joy, his gaze at Zhao Su full of fatherly love.
He composed himself and declared, “I now announce that from this day forward, Crown Prince Zhao Su is Regent Crown Prince, overseeing the Three Departments and Six Ministries, commanding the Inner Council. All memorials are to be submitted to him for approval; only matters of greatest importance need come to me. I grant him the Imperial Sword, with full discretionary power.”
“Your Majesty, this regency—” Li Chengyun and the others were shocked and tried to protest.
But the old emperor raised his hand to silence them. “My mind is made up. Li Chengfu, draw up the edict and proclaim it to the realm at once.”