Chapter 32: Bestowing Rewards for Merit

Page 1 of 3

In the grand council hall of the Governor’s Office of Yi Province, civil and military officials had gathered.

The person seated in the place of honor today was not Liu Zhang, but Zhang Su, who was reading an imperial edict. Liu Zhang himself was kneeling with the assembled officials of Yi Province below the steps.

“Liu Jiyu is a man of gentle benevolence, whose name is renowned throughout Yi…”

“Therefore, We appoint Liu Jiyu as Military Inspector and Governor of Yi Province…”

Kneeling below, Liu Zhang listened to the ornate language of the edict and felt a weight lift from his heart. At last, the matter had come to fruition.

With the official recognition of the Great Han court, he was now unquestionably the Governor of Yi Province. Though he had already wielded the authority of that office for some time, without an imperial edict his position lacked both legitimacy and propriety.

The Great Han had ruled for four hundred years, and the majesty it had accumulated weighed heavily upon the world. The realm had long submitted to it.

Even during the Yellow Turban Rebellion, the rebels’ slogan had merely been: “The Azure Heaven is dead; the Yellow Heaven shall rise. In the year of Jiazi, great fortune shall bless the world.”

Zhang Jiao’s method of mobilizing his followers relied on feudal superstition and tales of ghosts and gods. It was not a movement born of resistance to the tyranny of the Han court. In that respect, the situation differed fundamentally from the fall of Qin, when the whole realm competed to seize the throne.

At the end of the Qin dynasty, Chen Sheng and Wu Guang had risen against Qin in the name of justice throughout the realm. Zhang Jiao, however, had never possessed such moral authority in his rebellion against the Great Han.

The turmoil of the late Qin—when the empire boiled, no one failed to revolt, and beacon fires burned throughout the eastern lands—never appeared during the final years of the Eastern Han.

Apart from a few bandits of no consequence, such as Song Jian, who proclaimed himself the “King of Pinghan at the Headwaters of the Yellow River” in Fuhan, only Yuan Shu had dared declare himself emperor. Liu Zhang had spent ten days and ten nights pondering what could possibly have been inside that man’s head, and still could not understand it.

The other warlords of the realm—Yuan Shao, who held the lands north of the Yellow River, and Liu Biao, who ruled Jing and Xiang like a soaring eagle—might occasionally have shown disrespect toward the Han court in word or deed, but they still acknowledged its authority. None dared proclaim himself king as men had done at the end of Qin, treating the court as though it did not exist.

This could be seen clearly in Cao Cao. Though born into the household of eunuchs and originally no more than a junior member of Yuan Shao’s faction, once he successfully brought the Han emperor Liu Xie to Xu, he used the emperor to command the feudal lords. By holding aloft the banner of the court, his fortunes flourished more with every passing day.

Liu Zhang had little patience for the weakness of his predecessor’s character, but on one point his predecessor had acted with sound judgment. When he was nominated Governor of Yi Province, he had insisted on receiving an imperial edict. Otherwise, he would refuse to take office.

A governor chosen by his subordinates and a governor appointed by the imperial court were separated by a world of difference.

The authority of an elected governor came from those beneath him, and he was obliged to regard them as benefactors. But once he possessed an imperial edict, his authority—and the power to reward or punish—came from the court.

It was much like the situation at the end of the Ming dynasty. With the support of military strongmen such as Gao Jie, Huang Degong, and Liu Liangzuo, who garrisoned the lands south of the Huai River, as well as Ma Shiying, the Prince of Fu ascended the throne and established the Hongguang regime.

The Four Garrisons north of the Yangtze, having won the merit of determining the succession, became arrogant and overbearing. They scarcely regarded the emperor in Nanjing at all, causing the Hongguang regime to rise and perish in quick succession.

Now that Liu Zhang possessed an imperial edict, whether he acknowledged the favor shown by Wang Shang, the Administrative Commissioner, and Zhao Wei, the Camp Commandant, in recommending him was entirely up to him. If he shamelessly chose not to acknowledge it, that was hardly a problem either.

Page 1 of 3

Page 2 of 3

“Let it be known that you understand My will.”

Once Zhang Su had spoken those five words, the proclamation of the edict was complete. He walked before Liu Zhang and respectfully presented the document to him with both hands.

Liu Zhang accepted the edict, held it aloft in one hand, and walked to the place of honor.

When he had taken his seat, all the civil and military officials of Yi Province knelt together and cried out, “We pay our respects to the Governor!”

The distinction between ruler and subject was now established.

From this day onward, Liu Zhang was the Governor of Yi Province, one of the thirteen provinces of the Great Han.

With a new ruler assuming power, it was time to discuss merit and distribute rewards—to give everyone a reason to celebrate.

“Minister Wang.” Liu Zhang turned his gaze toward the lean-faced Wang Shang.

As the leader of Yi’s scholars, Wang Shang naturally deserved to stand first among them. Moreover, he had played a considerable role in recommending Liu Zhang for the governorship. Though Liu Zhang now possessed an imperial appointment, he was not so thick-skinned as to deny the favor he owed Wang Shang.

Wang Shang stepped forward from the ranks and bowed. “Your Excellency, what are your commands?”

“There is an office of Chief Assistant Governor awaiting you. I ask that you accept it, and do not decline.”

Liu Zhang appointed Wang Shang, formerly the Administrative Commissioner, as Chief Assistant Governor of Yi Province.

The Chief Assistant Governor served as the governor’s vanguard when he toured the province and was also responsible for assisting him in the administration of affairs. Within the provincial government, he oversaw all major matters and stood at the head of the governor’s subordinate officials.

Because of his lofty position, he did not ride in the same carriage as the governor when they traveled. Instead, he rode in a separate carriage, which was the origin of the title.

Wang Shang was somewhat moved. Unlike Liu Yan, who had distrusted the people of Shu after suffering a rebellion among them and would rather leave the post vacant than allow a native of Shu to occupy it, Liu Zhang had appointed him openly to this position of great authority.

He prostrated himself and said, “I accept your command. I thank Your Excellency.”

Liu Zhang nodded, then fixed his eyes on Dong Fu, whose hair and beard were entirely white. A subtle smile appeared on his face.

“Lord Dong, now that Minister Wang has assumed the post of Chief Assistant Governor, the office of Administrative Commissioner stands vacant. I ask that you take it.”

Dong Fu was puzzled. He had attended the ceremony merely to witness Liu Zhang become Governor of Yi Province. He had never expected Liu Zhang to appoint him Administrative Commissioner. He had been retired for many years.

Stepping forward, he declined. “Your Excellency, I am old and feeble. I am no longer capable of rendering service.”

“Ah.” Liu Zhang waved away his refusal and encouraged him. “In former times, Jiang Taigong was still able to assist King Wen and King Wu of Zhou at the age of seventy, establishing great merit and laying the foundation for the eight-hundred-year dynasty of Zhou. Baili Xi, too, at seventy, was still able to aid Duke Mu of Qin and help him dominate the feudal lords.”

“To my eyes, Lord Dong, your spirit remains vigorous and your bearing no less commanding than in your youth. How can you call yourself old?”

“Jiang Taigong and Baili Xi were only seventy. I am already more than eighty. Besides, what virtue or ability do I possess that I might compare with those sages of old?” Dong Fu continued to protest. His old bones had no desire to be dragged into another round of exertions.

Page 2 of 3

Page 3 of 3

Liu Zhang continued to affirm him. “In my view, Lord Dong’s talents are no lesser than those of the sages of old, and your vitality may even surpass theirs.”

“For the time being, I ask you to serve as Administrative Commissioner. Should a suitable candidate appear in the future, I will allow you to retire.”

He added this final sentence to forestall Dong Fu’s impending refusal.

Liu Zhang had no other choice. He had too few capable men beneath him, and no one else could yet be placed in the office of Administrative Commissioner. Wang Shang had been promoted from that position to Chief Assistant Governor, and leaving the post vacant would look poor. Dong Fu possessed both reputation and ability, so Liu Zhang would let the old man contribute what warmth remained in him for the time being.

Dong Fu’s character could also be trusted. Historically, when Zhuge Liang once asked the Shu native Qin Mi about Dong Fu’s conduct, Qin Mi had replied, “He praises the slightest act of goodness and censures the smallest fault.” The Administrative Commissioner was responsible for overseeing the selection of officials, precisely the sort of duty that required a man like Dong Fu.

There was one final selfish consideration on Liu Zhang’s part. A man like Dong Fu was better kept busy with public affairs. Otherwise, he might wander about reading the omens and studying people’s faces, proclaiming one grand destiny after another. Liu Zhang was beginning to fear the old charlatan.

With the Chief Assistant Governor and Administrative Commissioner settled, it was time to appoint the military officers.

Now that Liu Zhang held the office of Military Inspector, his authority to appoint military officials had increased considerably. The Military Inspector was an office dispatched by the Son of Heaven to supervise military affairs and represented the emperor’s authority.

He looked toward the several men standing among the military officials and called out, “Commandant Zhao, Commandant Yang, Commandant Gao.”

He summoned all three Commandants appointed by Liu Yan. Their duty had been to assist Liu Yan in managing the army. Though they all held the same title, their ranks and influence were not equal. Zhao Wei stood highest among them. He had entered Shu alongside Liu Yan and had been the principal advocate of recommending Liu Zhang for the governorship.

Liu Zhang had already decided what positions to give them.

“All three Commandants shall be appointed General Commanders and shall continue to lead their existing forces.”

“General Commander Zhao assisted both me and my late father, and his accomplishments are the most distinguished. The words ‘Harmony and Virtue’ should therefore be added before his title.”

Liu Zhang had now given Zhao Wei his reward for recommending him as Governor of Yi Province. He promoted Zhao Wei to General Commander and added the honorific words “Harmony and Virtue” before his title, signifying exceptional favor and extraordinary treatment.

“Thank you, Your Excellency. We accept your commands.”

Zhao Wei, Yang Huai, and Gao Pei knelt and bowed, expressing their gratitude.

“To obtain something, one must first give something in return.”

Liu Zhang looked kindly upon Zhao Wei as he knelt before him.

Those who most needed to be rewarded had received their rewards. As for everyone else, each was granted a favor appropriate to his rank.

Everyone received something. Everyone.

Page 3 of 3