Chapter Three: One Fright After Another

Pei An, trembling, tried to kneel in salute, but Gao Buyi quickly said, “Lord Pei, no need for formalities—please, take a seat.” He signaled for Chen Xuan to help Pei An.

No sooner had Pei An sat down than a palace attendant arrived to report, “Your Majesty, the Right Chancellor Li Linfu and the Imperial Censor Yang Guozhong request an audience.”

How quickly these two have come, Gao Buyi thought, casting another glance at Lishi, who stood solemnly by. What sort of chief palace steward is he, really? Then again, upon reflection, the fault wasn’t Lishi’s; it was his own credulity that had caused all this. Lishi’s loyalty was beyond question, but he was now entangled too deeply in court affairs. He could not be allowed to remain in the palace much longer.

“Let the two of them wait outside.”

Hearing that the emperor would not receive them immediately, Li Linfu and Yang Guozhong both felt a chill of apprehension. The two were usually at odds, but news that the emperor had reinstated Pei An and summoned Huanfu Weiming had startled them both. This was a momentous change, and so, despite their differences, they had hurried together to the Hall of Proclamation to seek an audience.

Gao Buyi turned to Pei An. “Lord Pei, it was my fault for being blinded before, causing you to suffer unjustly.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty! This suffering is nothing for your humble servant. I rejoice that Your Majesty is wise and enlightened—please take care of your imperial health.”

“Rest assured, I am well.” Gao Buyi spoke truthfully. Though he might look older on the outside, inwardly he still felt like a man of twenty-four or five.

Pei An smiled and nodded, repeating that such fortune was the blessing of the realm.

Gao Buyi laughed. “Even in these New Year’s days, I have summoned you all here—not out of impatience, but out of fear that delay breeds misfortune. Lishi—!”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

“Has the decree reinstating Lord Pei and promoting him to ministerial rank been issued?”

“Your Majesty, the Secretariat has yet to submit it for your approval.”

“These officials are too slow. Give Lord Pei a seat, and fetch writing tools.”

Lishi obeyed, and once Pei An had thanked the emperor and sat, Gao Buyi continued, “Some time ago, I was deceived by traitors and slanderers, wronging you and others. Today, I mean to restore all loyal ministers to their posts and announce it to the world, so that justice may be done.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.” The happiness was so sudden that Huanfu Weiming was taken aback.

“Your Majesty’s grace is boundless,” Pei An said, kneeling again. “That I should be pardoned is already more than I deserve. I dare not accept any further honors. Moreover, constant changes in imperial edicts undermine your majesty’s authority. I beseech you to reconsider.”

See here, Gao Buyi thought—this is a loyal minister: unjustly accused, yet harboring no resentment, thinking only to preserve the emperor’s dignity. If such officials are not employed, who should be?

“Do you say this, Lord Pei, because you cannot forgive me? Then should I issue a self-reproach edict to the empire, to appease your loyal heart?”

“Your servant is terrified and unworthy of such favor. I beg Your Majesty’s pardon!” Pei An kowtowed repeatedly, trembling.

“Enough, all of you rise. Lord Pei, may I trouble you to draft the first imperial edict of the new year?”

“At your command!”

“This edict shall contain four main points. First, Lord Pei is to be restored to all his former and concurrent offices, and promoted to Minister of Personnel and Co-Chancellor, ranking just after the Left Chancellor Li Shizhi, in third place. Huanfu Weiming is appointed Military Governor of Hexi, with the rank of Deputy Minister of War.”

“We thank Your Majesty for your boundless grace,” Huanfu Weiming replied, kneeling in gratitude.

“Rise, I am not yet finished. All ministers previously implicated with the Crown Prince are pardoned, and are to await further orders at home. Beginning with the first grand court assembly of the year, the Crown Prince will attend court with me.”

Much as Gao Buyi wished to uproot Li Linfu’s faction in one stroke, he knew that ice three feet thick is not formed in a single day. Forceful action would plunge the empire into chaos, which was not his intent. For now, the situation required patience. Li Linfu, for all his incompetence in statecraft, was a master at enriching himself—as was Yang Guozhong. The empire’s development required wealth, so both were still useful.

Watching Pei An finish the draft, Gao Buyi was thoroughly satisfied. Truly the makings of a great chancellor—even his calligraphy rivaled printed script, while Gao Buyi’s own handwriting was a disgrace he dared not reveal, and besides, he had no idea what the proper format for an imperial edict in these times should be.

After praising Pei An’s fine script, Gao Buyi continued, “Second, from this year forward, the borderlands are to rest, and the people shall be given respite. Taxes are to be restored to the levels at the beginning of the Kaiyuan era. All ongoing wars are to be concluded within three months by secret orders to the frontier commanders, regardless of outcome. The borders are to be fortified; unless the enemy takes the initiative, minor provocations are to be ignored. Stability is the watchword.”

At this, everyone in the Hall of Proclamation was filled with disbelief. Historical records noted that after Emperor Xuanzong ascended the throne, he waged war almost every year. By the Tianbao era, he was obsessed with military glory and war became ever more frequent. Fortunately, the Tang dynasty’s foundations were deep enough to withstand it—but the seemingly prosperous empire was already riddled with crisis. The people desperately needed time to recover.

No one had dared raise this issue before because Li Linfu controlled state affairs. He pandered to the emperor in all things; dissenting voices, if raised, never reached the throne, and often led to the speaker’s ruin. Now, with the emperor’s sudden order, all present silently rejoiced, feeling that the heavens had finally shown mercy.

Gao Buyi smiled. “Is my loyal minister so astonished?”

It was a fair question. Just look at the wars in the south—why had Nanzhao fought the Tang so long? Because the governor of Yunnan, Zhang Qiantuo, had harassed the Nanzhao queen, then played the victim and, through Yang Guozhong’s influence, falsely accused Nanzhao of rebellion. The result: a campaign that yielded no profit and many lost troops. Out of consideration for Consort Yang, no one dared expose the truth.

After a long pause, Pei An managed only, “Your servant congratulates Your Majesty!”

“Quickly, rise,” Gao Buyi said. “Third, all special privileges of the Yang siblings are revoked. They are not to enter the palace without imperial command. Further, it is reiterated that neither the consorts nor the eunuchs may interfere in state affairs. All high officials and nobles are to reduce banqueting and strive for self-improvement. After the spring, those talented in any art throughout the empire are to be summoned to the capital for examination. Lord Pei, I entrust this to you—begin preparations at once, but this need not be included in the edict; we will discuss it later.”

At these words, Lishi and all the eunuchs and maids in the hall fell to their knees with a thud, as if struck by thunder. They were so frightened, some nearly lost control.

With a clatter, Pei An’s brush dropped to the floor. This was more shocking than seeing a sow climb a tree. Lishi, the emperor’s favorite, rivaled Consort Yang in influence, and only recently it was rumored the emperor would make him a great general. The sudden change was staggering.

Gao Buyi dared such bold reforms because he trusted Lishi’s loyalty, and because Yang Guozhong and his sister had not yet reached the height of their power—they could still be handled. As for Li Linfu, he could not be touched for now.

Pei An, terrified, knelt again. “Your servant has erred! I beg Your Majesty’s pardon!”

“No matter—rise. The fourth point: all regional commanders holding actual commissions are to leave Chang’an immediately and return to their posts. The sick are to be carried home if necessary. No excuses for delay—within three days, all must depart, or forfeit office and title. Furthermore, Yang Guozhong is dismissed as Minister of Personnel and as Military Governor of Jiannan. Prince Ying, Li Yao, is appointed as Military Governor of Jiannan and concurrently Commissioner for Lingnan; Xianyu Zhongtong is transferred as Deputy Commissioner for Lingnan.”

Lishi felt his heart sink: this was clearly aimed at the Yang siblings. Such measures would sever Yang Guozhong’s most important support.