Chapter 19: Wen Yu

“From today onward, you shall join the Eastern Palace Censorate.”

Within the courtyard of the Grand Governor’s Mansion, Gao Yin stood atop a folding stool, loudly announcing this to over a hundred condemned prisoners.

The prisoners’ eyes revealed a clear but foolish innocence.

“Li He, Zhou Yi.”

Two eunuch attendants stepped forward from Gao Yin’s trusted servants.

“Li He will serve as the Director of the Censorate, Zhou Yi as the Supervisor, both responsible for the Inspection Bureau.”

The Censorate was tasked with investigating and detecting misconduct within the palace, while the Inspection Bureau’s duty was to oversee the intelligence gathered by the Censorate. Both men accepted their appointments.

“A Wenlin Pavilion shall be established within the Grand Governor’s Mansion—Yao Shuang.”

Yao Shuang, second in seniority and trustworthiness beside Gao Yin, stepped forward to be appointed as the Overseer.

Huang Xi, the longest-serving attendant, was assigned as the Chief of the Printing Bureau.

The chief official of the Wenlin Pavilion was to be the Chief Curator, overseeing the pavilion’s affairs, with the next rank overseeing the internal management; both positions were to be held by literati. The Overseer was a eunuch who acted as the third-ranking official, responsible for conveying Gao Yin’s directives.

Huang Xi’s role at the Printing Bureau involved selecting materials, a portion of which was handed over to the Wenlin Pavilion. Since the mandate was for royal viewing, and salaries and lodging were provided, this arrangement attracted many scholars.

The Censorate, in conjunction with the Printing Bureau, would then issue regulations for palace security, training palace staff through lectures, and controlling public opinion by summarizing experiences and promoting moral reforms. This extended their authority across the capital and eventually throughout the nation.

Thus, by relaxing policies and encouraging the people of Qi to think freely, public intellectual currents would surge, sparking countless innovations and new ideas, ultimately breaking the nomadic habits of the Xianbei people on a spiritual level.

These ideas would bring economic benefits through practical application, enriching departments like the Printing Bureau and Wenlin Pavilion, which played crucial roles in this chain, thereby economically dominating the Xianbei.

One day, Xianbei nobles would lavishly spend great sums on Han books to adorn their walls; anyone who did not would be scorned by their peers and scholars as uncultured.

Knowledge would flow under Gao Yin’s control, and the Wenlin Pavilion would become the official platform for Qi’s literature. Future initiatives such as publishing official bulletins and developing curricula would originate with the pavilion’s officials. It would serve not only as a breeding ground for prime ministers but also as the core institution for developing the imperial examination system and compiling the “Laws of Qi.”

All auxiliary departments that helped extend the Wenlin Pavilion’s influence, like the Printing Bureau and the Censorate, would remain concealed beneath it, rising as the invisible hand behind the scenes.

Gao Yang, driven by instinctive caution in power, harbored suspicions but lacked the experience and broad vision of later generations, making him unable to foresee Gao Yin’s plans and objectives.

Did Gao Yin intend to replicate the secret police and espionage politics of the former Jinyiwei and Eastern Depot? Certainly, it was necessary—after all, the Great Qi was a feudal empire and could not afford too much freedom.

Even if Gao Yang opposed some of Gao Yin’s plans, as long as he did not oppose the printing bureau, the direction would inevitably shift that way—only more slowly.

Upon Gao Yang’s death, Gao Yin would ascend the throne; what once was suppression would become the greatest leverage.

Even if a monstrous department were created in the future, it would no longer be Gao Yin’s concern. Could he possibly control what came after? Was the future emperor a mere puppet? The neighboring Northern Zhou was well-organized and had destroyed Northern Qi, yet it was still vulnerable to usurpation by Yang Jian.

Gao Yin only needed to outperform Northern Zhou—there was no need to fall into endless perfectionist infighting.

He must trust the wisdom of those who come after.

Under his orders, Li He, Zhou Yi, Yao Shuang, and Huang Xi each led their teams to begin their tasks. Whether selecting the location for the printing house, establishing the bureau, recruiting workers, or creating the initial system, much manpower and time were required.

Gao Yin had no intention of completing everything in a single day. After handling the day’s affairs within the Grand Governor’s Mansion, he summoned Prince Zhao, Gao Rui.

“Uncle, I have some matters to arrange. Please take note and announce them externally.”

Gao Rui, Gao Yin’s chief secretary and nephew of the Gao family, was twenty-five years old—filial, gentle, and talented in both civil and military affairs.

He had lost his father when just one month old and cherished the “Classic of Filial Piety” deeply, often moved to tears when reading the phrase “serve one’s father with dedication.”

Being people who valued filial piety, Gao Yin and Gao Rui shared many conversations and a harmonious temperament, fostering a close private relationship.

Gao Yang also favored Gao Rui. When Gao Yin acted as regent and managed the Grand Governor’s Mansion, Gao Yang carefully selected his aides, ultimately appointing his younger cousin Gao Rui as chief secretary of the mansion and bestowing upon him the title of Shizhong—a high-ranking official of the Chancellery, part of the prime ministerial cadre. As Gao Yang’s prime minister and the future crown prince’s trusted regent, Gao Rui was a steadfast member of the crown prince’s faction.

In truth, Gao Yang’s expectations for Gao Rui extended further. Before his death, control of the Ye City garrison was given to Gao Guiyan and Ke Zhuhun Tianhe; Gao Rui was entrusted with maintaining connections with the Jinyang military.

Unfortunately, Gao Rui did not devote himself wholeheartedly to Gao Yin, ultimately integrating into Gao Yan’s new regime. This served as a reminder to Gao Yin not to mistake current camaraderie for genuine loyalty—some served only power itself, as Gao Rui and Liu Taozhi had.

Gao Rui smiled. “There is no need for such ceremony, Crown Prince. Simply give your orders.”

He opened a notebook and began to write elegantly as Gao Yin spoke.

“Rulers and subjects build the nation; education must come first. To reform customs and habits, one must begin here... Today, the Wenlin Pavilion is established to manage books, drawing upon the strategies of Wenlin and the achievements of past emperors. While history offers both praise and criticism, we should seek to advance goodness and rectify shortcomings. Strong and resolute, upright and unyielding, adept in learning, talented in writing, all shall serve as court scholars, transmitting the sovereign’s wisdom. Every worthy art shall be gathered without omission, presented according to merit and promoted by talent.”

As Gao Rui penned this, he suddenly realized that the order to establish the Wenlin Pavilion and the mention of “court scholars” implied recommending literati to the emperor.

He guessed this was the emperor’s decision to elevate the status of Han scholars, though he wondered if Prime Minister Yang had any involvement. Gao Rui chose to remain silent, unwilling to hastily take sides.

After finishing this document, Gao Yin commanded him to draft another, pondering aloud: “The western barbarians encroach, chaos reigns; military vigilance is yet insufficient...”

This decree reflected the current national situation: to defend Qi against western invaders, the state must strengthen arms and recruit the brave to the Grand Governor’s Mansion. A martial gathering would be held at the northern city of Ye in ten days, inviting all who considered themselves heroes to participate.

The third document invited monks from the Seven Emperors Temple to Ye City to deliver sermons.

Gao Rui cherished this mission. A devout Buddhist, he had lost his mother at ten and observed mourning by fasting and chanting, leaving him emaciated and reliant on a cane.

He merely paid lip service to the first two tasks but felt genuine concern for the preaching mission and eagerly volunteered: “Crown Prince, allow me to go on the mission to the Seven Emperors Temple. I am acquainted with Abbot Huiming there, so everything will be manageable.”

Strictly speaking, the abbot of the Seven Emperors Temple was not only familiar with Gao Rui but with most high officials of Qi. Founded sixty-seven years ago, the temple had received patronage from former Wei and Great Qi imperial kin. Newly appointed officials to Dingzhou would customarily commission statues and steles for the temple. The ancestral tablets of the old Wei royal family were enshrined there—until Gao Yang founded Qi and ordered their destruction.

Thus, the Seven Emperors Temple’s influence extended even to Empress Dowager Lou. Gao Yin also hoped to establish ties with the temple to gain their support.