novelSusiti Chapter 3: Power Struggles Among Ministers, Empress Dowager Plays the Game and Reaps the Benefits
Chapter 3: Power Struggles Among Ministers, Empress Dowager Plays the Game and Reaps the Benefits
The first court meeting after the coronation ceremony was filled with tension.
The candlelight flickered in the hall. Liu Shan, seated on the dragon throne, casually traced the dark patterns on the armrests with his fingertips. His eyes still held a lingering sorrow, and he appeared drowsy and uninterested in state affairs. But only he knew that in that instant of lowering his gaze, he had already taken in everything in the hall—Zhuge Liang's composure, Li Yan's urgency, and the officials' hesitant expressions—all were under his control.
"Your Majesty, we pay our respects!" Zhuge Liang and Li Yan bowed deeply, their voices echoing throughout the palace.
"Gentlemen, please rise." Liu Shan's voice was hoarse, and he seemed to lack even the strength to raise his eyes. "I have just finished sending off my father's memorial tablet, and I am in a state of unease. If you have something important to say, please speak slowly."
As soon as he finished speaking, Li Yan stepped forward, bowed, and reported: "Your Majesty, the national mourning period has ended, but the hearts of the gentry in Yizhou are still unsettled! Many talented local gentry are not given important positions. If this continues, I fear it will chill the hearts of the gentry and be detrimental to the foundation of Shu. I earnestly request Your Majesty to recruit more talented local gentry to govern the prefectures and counties, so as to consolidate the foundation!" His tone was urgent, and his eyes frequently glanced at Zhuge Liang, his intention to confront him was self-evident—he wanted to use the power of the Yizhou gentry to counterbalance the power of Zhuge Liang's old Jingzhou troops, and he was also secretly planning to use the power of the gentry to win over Wei and Wu spies to increase his own bargaining power.
The hall fell silent instantly, the candlelight crackled, and the eunuchs bowed their heads, holding their breath, not daring to even breathe loudly.
Zhuge Liang stepped forward slowly, lightly tapping his feather fan against his chest. His tone was calm yet authoritative: "Zhengfang is mistaken. The former troops of Jingzhou are all ministers who followed the late emperor into the new era. They endured hardships and dangers alongside him, making great contributions. If we favor the gentry of Yizhou and neglect the former troops of Jingzhou, we will not only chill the hearts of loyal ministers but also disrupt the balance of the court and cause disaster! I believe that we should select virtuous and capable officials and consider both the Jingzhou and Yizhou factions to ensure long-term stability."
Their eyes clashed, and the tension in the air seemed about to explode. The officials fell silent, their gazes darting back and forth between the two men and Liu Shan, awaiting the new emperor's decision.
Liu Shan waved his hand dismissively, looking languid and bewildered: "What you two gentlemen say makes sense, but I am young and ignorant. How could I understand the principles of factional balance? You two should discuss this carefully, devise a proper plan, and report it to me. I trust you both."
After saying this, he lowered his shoulders and eyes, looking utterly weary and uninterested in politics, as if this power struggle between ministers had nothing to do with him.
Zhuge Liang thought to himself: The late emperor repeatedly warned him before his death that Your Majesty was no ordinary person. Now it seems that perhaps the late emperor was overthinking things. He bowed and replied, "Your subject obeys the decree."
Li Yan, however, was secretly delighted. He thought to himself that Liu Shan was indeed an incapable ruler. By relinquishing power so completely, he only needed to win over the gentry of Yizhou and gradually sideline Zhuge Liang, and the power of Shu Han would be his. He quickly bowed and thanked the emperor, saying, "Your subject will certainly not fail in your mission!"
After the two men took their leave, the moment the palace doors closed, the languor and bewilderment on Liu Shan's face vanished instantly, replaced by a sharp glint in his eyes. He rose and walked to the window, gazing in the direction the two had gone. His fingertips tapped on the windowsill, and the word "checks and balances" from his political strategy flashed in his eyes: "Li Yan is impatient for quick success, and Kongming's power overshadows the emperor. This mutual restraint is exactly what I desire, and it saves me a lot of trouble."
"Your Majesty." A dark figure emerged from the shadows. It was Shadow Guard Mo Chen. He knelt on one knee and spoke in a very low voice, "After Li Yan left the palace, he went straight to Qiao Zhou's residence for a secret meeting. The two mentioned words such as 'Wei envoy' and 'supplies,' seemingly discussing colluding with Wei. After returning to his residence, Prime Minister Zhuge immediately ordered people to secretly monitor Li Yan's movements. Spy spies have been planted outside Qiao Zhou's residence, and people have also been sent to investigate Wei and Wu spies in the city."
Liu Shan nodded slightly, his eyes deep and unfathomable: "Keep an eye on them. Report every move they make without the slightest error."
After the dust settled, Liu Shan took out the "Strategies for Imperial Balance." Under the candlelight, the eight characters "borrow strength to strike back, use stillness to control movement" were particularly striking. The annotation in the strategy about "luring the enemy into a trap and reaping the benefits" made a glint of light flash in his eyes. His fingertips traced the half-fragment of the tiger tally in the hidden compartment, a cold smile playing on his lips—Li Yan, colluding with the Wei envoy and eager to seize power, had fallen right into his trap; and Zhuge Liang's vigilance was also within his expectations. This tiger tally was both a backup plan and the key to regaining power later.
Before long, a palace attendant entered carrying a stack of memorials: "Your Majesty, Qiao Zhou and other leaders of the Yizhou gentry have jointly submitted a memorial, earnestly requesting Your Majesty to give important positions to the young men of Yizhou and to dismiss some of the former officials of Jingzhou."
Liu Shan glanced at the memorial hastily, a cold glint flashing in his eyes before he adopted a bewildered expression: "Give it to the Prime Minister and Li Yan, let them discuss how to handle it. I'm too lazy to bother."
He knew in his heart that the more critical the moment, the more he needed to remain calm—with Wei and Wu's spies nearby and Li Yan's ambitions exposed, only by continuing to play dumb could he reap the benefits and make the game more stable.
The following morning at court, Qiao Zhou, holding a memorial, stepped forward first and delivered a sharp and incisive report: "Your Majesty, the gentry of Yizhou are loyal to the Han Dynasty, yet they have never been given important positions. In contrast, the former officials of Jingzhou occupy key positions in the court, which may be seen as favoritism! We implore Your Majesty to give more important positions to the sons of Yizhou and dismiss some of the former officials of Jingzhou to appease the gentry!" Behind him, a group of Yizhou gentry officials echoed his sentiments, their voices booming, subtly suggesting a coercion of the gentry and a potential coercion to force the emperor's abdication. Li Yan, standing to the side, frequently echoed his sentiments, his gaze defiantly fixed on Zhuge Liang, determined to succeed. However, he secretly gave Qiao Zhou a wink—he had already made initial contact with the Wei envoy, and as long as Liu Shan was appeased, he could use Wei's power to overthrow Zhuge Liang.
Just as Zhuge Liang was about to retort, Liu Shan spoke first, his voice tinged with panic: "My dear ministers, this matter is far too important. I... I do not know how to decide. Please consult with the Prime Minister and Lord Li Yan before informing me."
The officials secretly shook their heads, convinced that Liu Shan was cowardly and incompetent. Only Zhuge Liang, with his head bowed, had a glint of certainty in his eyes—that moment of clarity was no illusion, His Majesty must have something on his mind, and the late Emperor's instructions were indeed correct.
The power struggle within the court intensifies, and Zhuge Liang's doubts, Li Yan's ambitions, and the officials' wait-and-see attitude are all observed by the "foolish" new emperor on the dragon throne—all of this is within his calculations.
Liu Shan lowered his eyes, a subtle, unnoticed smile playing at the corners of his lips. His game had only just begun. His next move was to use Li Yan to give Zhuge Liang, whose power overshadowed his own, a warning.
[End of Chapter]