Chapter 34: The Wild Scholar

Approaching noon, Liu Jin suggested taking the old gentleman to Hengmen Street to find a tavern for a casual lunch. Emperor Wu of Han did not refuse, though he chose a spot in the southern part of the city, which was relatively secluded.

Inside a small tavern, Liu Jin and the old man knelt on the mats and ordered a few side dishes and a flagon of wine. In the main hall, several scholars and Confucian students were engaged in a heated debate. At first, Liu Jin paid no mind, until they began discussing the state policy Emperor Wu had just issued regarding the tax exemption for the Three Metropolitan Districts of Chang'an.

It is worth noting that during the reign of Emperor Wu, the control over scholars discussing politics was not particularly strict. Allowing Confucian scholars to privately debate state policies was considered a special honor granted to the Confucian school. If one were to seek the reason, it was likely because Emperor Wu felt he owed a debt to the Confucians.

Early in his reign, he was filled with ambition, but he was restricted at every turn by the Empress Dowager Dou. Being young and lacking political experience, he found it difficult to seize power from her. In his desperation, he committed a foolish act: he had the Confucian Crown Prince’s Grand Tutor, Zhao Wan, and the Crown Prince’s Junior Tutor, Wang Zang, submit a memorial requesting that the Empress Dowager no longer be consulted on state affairs. This infuriated the Empress Dowager; both men were imprisoned and died in captivity. Emperor Wu, the mastermind behind the scheme, not only failed to save his teachers but watched them perish in prison. The resulting guilt stayed with him, leading him to grant special favors to the Confucian school once he finally held the reins of power.

"The imperial court is hypocritical; everyone knows it," one scholar remarked. "If they truly cared for the suffering of the people, why would their 'heavenly grace' only extend to the Three Metropolitan Districts? It is merely a pretext to cover up the court’s cruel habit of favoring war at the expense of the people."

Liu Jin, hearing this from afar, felt his face twitch. These mad scholars were being far too insolent!

"If not for the constant rise of bandits and vigilantes among the people, I doubt the court would have extended even this meager grace to the Three Metropolitan Districts. Their hearts are insincere; it is pure hypocrisy!"

"Alas! If one man does not plow, the world suffers hunger; if one woman does not weave, the world suffers cold. Today, the whole world labors in the fields while trade is suppressed. The wealthy fill the roads with their carriages and horses, while the idle and the cunning crowd the cities. Those who work the roots are few, while those who live off the labor of others are many..."

Liu Jin's expression tightened even further. Though his imperial grandfather was not perfect, he did not deserve such degradation.

"Enough!" Liu Jin stood up, pointing at the scholars. "It is an act of leniency that scholars are allowed to discuss politics at all, yet you dare to attack His Majesty? When the court exempts taxes, you say it is wrong; when they do not, you say it is also wrong—what exactly would satisfy you?"

A scholar retorted, refusing to back down: "Why not exempt the entire nation's taxes for a year? Allow the people to rest, and they will surely prosper, filling the granaries with abundance."

"If I were to draw my sword and kill you now, would I be breaking the law?" Liu Jin asked.

"The bailiffs would surely arrest you!"

"And if the bailiffs have no money, how will they perform their duties? If the army has no money, how will they catch bandits? If the government offices have no funds, how will they govern the people?"

"The people have morality."

"Morality? Let me tell you, the law is the final line of defense for morality. If there were no laws, the thieves and savages would eat your flesh and drink your blood. What right would you have to criticize the court then?"

No matter how others attacked Emperor Wu, Liu Jin could not. At the very least, in front of outsiders, he had to defend his imperial grandfather. Everything he possessed was due to this status, and it was because of Emperor Wu that he enjoyed such a privileged life. Others could criticize the Emperor, but he could not; he could not turn against his own kin.

The scholars were left speechless, stunned and unable to refute him, for they realized there was logic in what Liu Jin said. Though their arguments were built on castles in the air, they were not fools; they were, after all, men of letters.

Emperor Wu raised his eyes to look at Liu Jin’s profile. The young man’s heroic brows were knit in anger, revealing a cold, imposing air that reminded him of his own youth, leaving him momentarily dazed. Although this brat spent all day coaxing him into cursing his own grandfather, it seemed he did not truly hate him. When outsiders attacked the Emperor, he still chose to step forward and defend his own.

*Well cursed! Truly satisfying!*

Emperor Wu took a deep draught from his wine flagon, finding the meat suddenly much tastier. He let his grandson fight the battle outside while he remained unmoved, eating and drinking with great pleasure.

The scholars bowed to Liu Jin in shame and left the tavern. Liu Jin sat down, huffing in annoyance, clearly not yet finished with his venting. Emperor Wu stared at him and suddenly asked with a smile, "Why are you so agitated?"

Liu Jin replied awkwardly, "I just think they went too far. Why negate every policy of the court? Oh, tax exemption is wrong, and partial exemption is also wrong—things must be done step by step; you cannot change everything at once. Isn't His Majesty already changing things? Did he ever exempt the Three Metropolitan Districts before? It's not right to complain whether he changes or not; there is no logic in that."

Emperor Wu smiled with interest. "So, you are praising His Majesty, then?"

Liu Jin replied seriously, "That is not quite it."

Emperor Wu: "..."

"Then what was that just now?"

Liu Jin said, "One thing at a time. I am merely speaking to the facts. I never said His Majesty governs the country perfectly."

"You!" Emperor Wu looked indignant, his face stern. "What is not perfect? Tell me."

Liu Jin spoke earnestly: "Exhausting the wealth of the world, hoarding fine horses, building palaces, imposing heavy corvée labor, gathering the wealth of the world into one man’s hands, making the people suffer for the pleasure of one man... I am only saying this because I do not treat you as an outsider."

Emperor Wu’s lips twitched violently. He hurriedly signaled him to stop and asked, "Is there not even a little bit of good?"

Liu Jin said, "Of course there is. At the very least, he displayed the might of the heavens and instilled confidence, so that the Han people need not bow and scrape. He did not rely on beauty to serve the Xiongnu, nor did he allow the humiliation of 'heqin' marriage alliances to stain our dignity."

"Is that all?"

Liu Jin countered, "Do not underestimate these things. It required immense resolve and the courage to face defeat. After all, before General Wei launched his campaigns, who dared to speak of victory? From the founding of the dynasty until now, when has Han ever achieved a great victory over the Xiongnu? Empress Lü was humiliated, and the reigns of Wen and Jing relied on marriage alliances—how much shame was hidden in the hearts of the people? Which emperor dared to stake the fate of the nation on a war against the Xiongnu like this?"

"This is something no ordinary man would dare. Do you not think this is worthy of praise and admiration?"

A smile spread across the old man’s face, the gloom in his heart swept away. He said loudly, "It is worthy!"

"Very worthy!"

Liu Jin asked with suspicion, "You admire His Majesty? Why were you so angry when I said he was bad, and so excited when I praised him? One would think you were the Emperor himself."

The old man laughed heartily. "Perhaps we are of a similar age? I have lived through the Emperor’s reign from the beginning, and I know too well the difficulty of his path, which is why I feel such empathy."

Liu Jin nodded slightly and said, "That is true. People of your generation must all admire His Majesty, I suppose."