Chapter 21: Han Xin Is Too Ruthless

"His Majesty has arrived."

"Your subjects pay their respects to Your Majesty."

Gathered in the main hall of the Linhuadian Palace were Xiao He, Chen Ping, Zhou Bo, Zhang Liang, and Han Xin. Emperor Liu Bang had already ordered his highest-ranking troops to secure the side halls of the palace; without his express permission, no one was to enter.

As Liu Bang arrived, he surveyed the group, sat down slowly, and asked in a calm voice, "Why were you arguing?"

Hearing this, Xiao He immediately replied, "Your Majesty, since your arrival at the Linhuadian, we have been discussing the reduction of 'meritocratic privileges.' We were not so much arguing as finding certain proposals unreasonable."

Reducing meritocratic privileges?

"Merit" refers to the honors achieved. "Privilege" refers to the power or special status granted.

Could it be that Han Xin had come today to propose the curtailment of the power and privileges of the founding meritocrats? This was a positive development. Why, then, the dispute?

Liu Bang did not ask directly, instead inquiring with an inscrutable expression, "Oh, I see. Tell me, what part of it is unreasonable?"

Han Xin’s expression remained calm. He did not bow, but swept his gaze across the room and spoke in a flat voice, "The founding meritocrats of our Han Dynasty possess too many inherent privileges. They must be curtailed."

"First, the various kings of different surnames residing in their fiefs, holding both political and military power, are in themselves a source of instability."

Since the moment Han Xin decided to come to Chang’an to be enfeoffed as a King of Equal Rank, he had effectively abandoned his military command, and his mindset had shifted accordingly. Or rather, he had struck a bargain with Liu Bang: he would trade his military authority for a peaceful retirement and honorable status.

Han Xin was not a man of pleasant temperament, but he was far from foolish. Upon arriving in Chang’an, he had clearly understood his position. He desired a peaceful end and honor. Even having lost the title of King of Chu, his prestige among the generals and the army remained. How, then, could he dissipate that prestige and ensure he posed absolutely no threat to the Emperor?

It was simple: make enemies of the meritocrats.

Had he remained the King of Chu, he certainly would not have considered these things, nor would he have stood on Liu Bang’s side. However, he had discovered that Liu Bang understood him—perhaps even served as a kindred spirit who knew exactly what he wanted: this supreme, peerless title of King of Equal Rank!

He knew what he had to do.

As he pondered, Han Xin voiced his thoughts: "Beyond the instability caused by these kings holding military and political power, the founding meritocrats have been granted vast tracts of land and estates. This leaves the common people, newly emerged from the chaos of war, with no fields to till and no grain to sow."

"The collective control of land by the meritocracy leads to the rich becoming wealthier and the people poorer, which is ultimately detrimental to our Han Dynasty."

"Furthermore, most of these titles are hereditary. Their descendants remain wealthy, effectively meaning that the people of the entire realm are forced to support these aristocrats."

Having laid this out, Han Xin added weight to his tone: "My proposal is to reduce the number of troops in the fiefs of the kings of different surnames, strip them of their primary administrative powers, and have the imperial court dispatch officials to exercise that authority instead."

"Second, regarding the meritocrats as a collective, force them to voluntarily surrender their land to be redistributed to the people; those who refuse shall be executed."

"As for those with hereditary titles: if their descendants are found to be unworthy or incompetent, their titles shall be revoked!"

These words left even Liu Bang stunned. He had not expected Han Xin’s methods to be so ruthless—they were even harsher than those of his yet-to-be-born imperial grandson, the Jianwen Emperor.

How was this any different from forcing a mass rebellion among the meritocrats? These three strikes were all fatal.

Reducing the military and political power of the kings of different surnames? They would never agree, especially since they were already restless, recruiting soldiers and buying horses. If such an order were issued, rebellion would be inevitable.

Ordering the meritocrats to surrender their land? It was easily said, but these men had followed him into battle to build the empire. They believed their hardships had earned them their estates. They would never show kindness to the court or the people by giving up their land.

And revoking hereditary titles for incompetence? That was the cruelest blow of all. The nobility, tracing back to the Zhou Dynasty, had relied on hereditary succession for generations. Liu Bang had promised them these rights; to renege now would be an invitation to disaster.

It was no wonder Zhang Liang and Xiao He had tried to dissuade him. While they had initially wanted Han Xin to alienate the meritocrats to reduce the threat they posed, this was far too extreme. It ignored all human sentiment.

"This matter has too many ramifications. Allow Me time to consider," Liu Bang said after a long silence.

Hearing this, Han Xin cupped his hands and prepared to leave. Before doing so, he paused and said, "Since Your Majesty has granted me the title of King of Equal Rank, I ask that I be granted the corresponding decision-making power."

With that, Han Xin departed.

In the Linhuadian, those who remained were aware of Lu Xuan’s existence. Liu Bang ordered the palace gates closed and guarded, ensuring no one could enter, before speaking: "You all know of Lu Xuan, and you know why he proposed that Han Xin be granted the title of King of Equal Rank."

"The development of events matches Lu Xuan’s expectations."

"Why did you try to dissuade him?"

Liu Bang did indeed find Han Xin’s three proposals ruthless and devoid of sentiment, yet he did not reject them. During the Spring and Autumn period, Fan Li wrote to Wen Zhong saying, "When the flying birds are gone, the good bow is put away; when the wily rabbits are dead, the hunting dog is cooked." He found these words to be very reasonable.

The founding meritocrats were useful when building the empire, but now that the world was conquered, their utility had diminished. He was willing to grant them titles and riches, but as an emperor, he had to be ruthless. Reducing their power removed instability; reducing their wealth allowed the common people to till the land. As the Son of Heaven, his heart should be with the people of the Nine Provinces. If not for the unpredictable consequences of such actions, he would have done it long ago. Did they truly think he was a soft-hearted man?

"Your Majesty," Zhang Liang stepped forward, bowing respectfully. "What Han Xin says is indeed reasonable."

"Furthermore, with Han Xin now holding the title of King of Equal Rank, if he implements these measures, it will indeed neutralize the instability of the fiefs and disperse the wealth of the nobility back to the people."

"It fulfills our original intent: to make Han Xin an enemy of the meritocrats, thereby neutralizing his own threat, while also allowing him a peaceful retirement."

"Given Han Xin’s intellect, the moment he accepted the title, he knew what he had to do—to act as the blade that cuts away the meritocrats on your behalf."

Zhang Liang looked up, his tone complex. "But Your Majesty must remember Shang Yang of the State of Qin."

"If Han Xin offends all the meritocrats, how can he achieve a peaceful end? And how will future history books record Your Majesty’s actions?"

Liu Bang’s heart faltered.

Indeed. Han Xin had previously displeased him, but the fact that he was willing to surrender his military command and come to Chang’an proved that he sought only a hollow title and a peaceful end. For these two things, he was willing to offend everyone. Moreover, Han Xin had contributed greatly to the Han Dynasty. Liu Bang owed him.

If he could not protect Han Xin and the man did not meet a peaceful end, how would future generations view Liu Bang? A calculating emperor? A cold-hearted, ruthless, petty, faithless sovereign?

"Are you saying, Marquis of Liu, that if I cannot guarantee Han Xin’s survival, I should not allow him to carry out these measures?"

"I, too, do not wish for future generations to view Me as a petty emperor who only knows how to scheme against his meritorious subjects."

"What should be done now?"

Liu Bang looked to Zhang Liang, but Zhang Liang was troubled. It was a difficult problem. Han Xin was a King of Equal Rank, and per their deliberations, he held significant power. He knew his role: to antagonize the meritocrats to improve the empire and eliminate his own threat. Yet, Liu Bang did not know how to ensure Han Xin’s safety.

If he forbade Han Xin, the title of King of Equal Rank would be meaningless, and Han Xin would be resentful. If he allowed it, they had no plan to protect him.

What was to be done? It was a difficult dilemma.

"Perhaps..." Zhang Liang, who considered his intellect peerless, bowed his head slightly. "We should ask Lu Xuan."

"Let Lu Xuan provide us with a way to ensure Han Xin succeeds in these tasks, while simultaneously protecting his life and securing his peaceful end against the siege of the meritocrats."