Chapter 404: Underestimating One's Own Strength

  "When the dynasty is in trouble, with internal and external worries, Liu Xiang would be like a ruler. He should first pacify the internal chaos, eliminate the eunuchs' treacherous party, reappoint loyal and honest officials, then recruit talented people, accept remonstrance, reduce taxes and corvee, comfort the people, stabilize the country, and restore the prosperous era of peace."

  "It's easy to talk about this matter, but currently in the imperial court, internally there are eunuchs deceiving the emperor, and externally there is General He Jin monopolizing power, how do you plan to respond?"

  "The disaster of eunuchs originated from the previous dynasty. The biggest mistake was that eunuchs should only be heavily rewarded, not given power. Even if they were excessively favored, it would not have led to the current situation. The matter of imperial relatives holding power is also a calamity inherited from the previous dynasty. They should be treated similarly to eunuchs, granted wealth and nobility but not power. If Liu Xiangxuan were in charge, he would make efforts in these two aspects. I know that some ministers in the current court think that whether it's dealing with the eunuch party or imperial relatives, they advocate killing one to warn a hundred, using death to stop killing. However, this kind of thinking easily leads to extremes, so Liu Xiangxuan does not adopt it."

  "That day, the people rose up in arms against the imperial court, and the various regional lords took control of their own troops. What should be done with Prince Bian?"

  "When the people of the world resist the imperial court, it is because they are forced to do so for their livelihood, and therefore must be treated differently. On the one hand, we must resolutely strike down those who take advantage of the situation to loot and riot; on the other hand, we must show leniency to ordinary people who have been coerced into rebellion, allowing them to return home and live in peace and prosperity, while also managing them in a certain way."

  As for the various local lords who have their own armies, they can be won over on one hand and attacked on the other. Those with weak wills can be won over, while those harboring evil intentions can be struck down. At the same time, the imperial court can strengthen its military power, gradually weakening the military strength and authority of all the local lords, slowly taking control of the military power throughout the land, and then this problem can be solved.

  "It's easy to talk about these ideas, but I know it will be very difficult to put them into practice. However, if the university scholars and the officials in the imperial court support me, Liu Xiang believes that realizing these ideals is entirely feasible."

  Liu Bian finished speaking, his eyes gleaming as he stared at Cai Yong, without the slightest retreat. Cai Yong also stared at him for a long time before suddenly breaking into a smile: "Well said, Master is willing to support you, Prince Bian."

  "The teacher is on the stage, please bow to the students."

  Liu Bian was overjoyed when he heard this, as Cai Yong's words undoubtedly meant that he had agreed to be his teacher, and also indicated that he would support him in the future. This not only allowed Liu Bian to complete his task but also brought him an unexpected gain, for Cai Yong's support implied the support of many other officials at court.

  "Uh, today is Teacher's first day in Beijing, and I still need to go home to pay respects to my elderly mother. Let's have class again tomorrow instead."

  Cai Yong's attitude towards Liu Bian suddenly became more affectionate, and Liu Bian hastily said: "Let the student send the teacher back home, I haven't visited my elderly lady for a while either, and I'd like to go see her too."

  "All right, Prince Biao will come with me."

  Liu Bian suggested sending Cai Yan back home not only out of respect for him, but also because he had just discovered that the task's progress had only reached seventy-five percent and hadn't yet reached one hundred percent. He wondered if it was because he still hadn't truly gained Cai Wenji's favor, so he insisted on taking this trip, as there were only two or three days left before the deadline, and he couldn't afford to waste any more time.

  As early as half a month ago, after learning that Cai Yong was going to return to the capital, Liu Bian sent Shi Daoren with people to Cai's mansion, renovated the interior and exterior of Cai's mansion, and sent many utensils for daily use in Cai's mansion. Moreover, he also sent several old maids and young maidservants, making Cai's mansion have the scale of a noble family.

  "Welcome back home, sir."

  "Greetings, Your Imperial Highness."

  When Cai Yong returned to his home after a two-year absence, there were two rows of people standing in the courtyard, more than ten people welcoming him back with respectful bows, making Cai Yong feel deeply moved. He knew that all this must have been arranged by Crown Prince Liu Bian, who nodded at him and then led him into the inner room, holding his hand.

  "Filial son Bai asks about his mother's well-being."

  Arriving at the inner chamber, Old Lady Cai sat beside the bed, accompanied by Lady Cai and her daughter Cai Yan. All of them had tears in their eyes as they gazed at their long-separated loved ones. Cai Yong was even more a true man of sentiment, kneeling down on both knees to pay his respects.

  "Old man, you've suffered."

  "Father is well."

  Mrs. Cai rushed over, hugged her husband tightly, and cried out loud, while Cai Yan also followed his mother to pay respects to his father, with tears all over his face, which moved Liu Bian as well.

  "Ba Jie, it's all right as long as you're back, it's all right as long as you've returned."

  The old lady stroked her son's head, murmuring to herself, while wiping the corner of her eye, also extremely happy. Liu Bian stood in the corner of the house, quietly watching the harmonious scene of the Cai family, feeling very peaceful in his heart.

  "Alright, alright, everyone stop crying now, His Highness the Prince is still beside us."

  After a while, Mrs. Cai stopped the crying of her son, daughter-in-law and Cai Yan, and Liu Bian came forward to pay his respects: "Liu Bian pays his respects to Master's wife, Master's mother and Master's younger sister."

  "Hehe, Your Highness doesn't have to be polite, it's just like home here." Cai Yong didn't seem embarrassed at all, and after wiping away a tear, he smiled and said to Liu Bian.

  "Seeing the teacher's family happiness, Liu Bian felt a mix of emotions. Born in an imperial household, he didn't know how many people envied him, yet no one knew that imperial families were actually heartless and lacked such familial joy, so he'd rather have been born into an ordinary commoner's family."

  "Yan'er, we'll talk with your father, you go and play with the young prince in the study."

  Mrs. Cai suddenly said to Cai Yan, and Cai Yong did not stop her. He didn't think of anything else, he just had a lot to say to his mother, so he let the two children leave.

  "Zhao Ji's sister, I don't know what you usually like to do?"

  After arriving at the study, the two were a bit awkward. However, Liu Bian knew he had to find a breakthrough and gain Cai Wenji's favor in order to complete his mission. So, after taking a look around the room filled with books, he asked:

  "Of course I like reading books, and what I like best is Hanshu, because it was revised and completed together by Ban Gu and his father and elder brother."

  "Really? Then if I become the Emperor in the future, I will make you a female official that has never been seen before in history, and also an historian, specifically responsible for compiling the history of the Later Han Dynasty. What do you think?"

  Cai Yan was stunned, because this was exactly what she had been longing for in her heart every day, but she didn't expect that Prince Liu Bian would guess it. Last time Liu Bian guessed her name, and today he guessed the secret in her heart again, which made her suddenly think of the phrase "heart has a spiritual connection", and she couldn't help but look at Liu Bian, then her face gradually flushed with redness.

  "Thank you very much, Your Highness."

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