Chapter 37: The Code of Qi

Dongyong Prefecture was a name from the former Wei Dynasty. The Qi Dynasty inherited the Wei system and kept the title, while the Zhou state renamed it Jiang Prefecture.

Located on the border between the Zhou and Qi states, it stood alongside Jin, Luo, and Nanfen Prefectures. The two nations had fought dozens of battles, large and small, over these territories. The Xianbei nobility were preparing for a new order of the Northern Dynasties in Jinyang, and Yubi City, which had driven Gao Huan to the brink of madness, lay in Xun Prefecture, southwest of Dongyong.

Currently, Dongyong was occupied by the Western bandits. The Zhou general Xue Yu garrisoned Bogu City, with Cao Huigong echoing him from nearby; it was a tough nut to crack and a strategic location the Qi Dynasty desperately needed.

"It is... I wish to earn some military merit, Father. Otherwise, I fear the generals will not submit to me."

"Who dares to defy you?! Bring them before me, and let them tell me to my face that they do not submit to you!"

Hearing this, Gao Yang cursed in a rage. Yet, once he finished, he felt a sense of helplessness. What Gao Yin said was the truth. Even for Gao Yang himself, many generals were only outwardly compliant while inwardly rebellious; they simply dared not resist. They held the cowardly Gao Yin in even greater contempt.

He closed his eyes, gently stroking his own skin, scratching slightly. After a long while, he asked, "Who have you set your sights on?"

Gao Yin pondered for a moment before speaking slowly, "Tongzhi Sanqi Shilang Xiao Guan, and the Prince of Ande, Yanzong."

"Yanzong?"

Gao Yang frowned.

Xiao Guan was Gao Changgong, the fourth son of Gao Cheng, while the Prince of Ande was Gao Yanzong, the fifth son of Gao Cheng. Gao Yanzong was deeply favored by Gao Yang; although not his own son, he was treated as one.

When Gao Cheng was assassinated, Gao Yanzong was only five years old and was raised by Gao Yang. Even three years ago, in the sixth year of the Tianbao era, Gao Yanzong would often sit on Gao Yang’s stomach, even urinating into his navel.

Gao Yang adored Gao Yanzong, holding him and saying, "There is only one such adorable child in the world."

From this, one could see the lack of favor shown to Gao Changgong. The position of Tongzhi Sanqi Shilang belonged to the Secretariat, an advisory body for the Emperor, responsible for remonstrance, evaluation, and correcting errors. While a fifth-rank position was not low for a seventeen-year-old, Gao Changgong was a member of the Qi imperial clan and the son of the Emperor Wenxiang, Gao Cheng, who should have been the rightful successor. Even as an illegitimate son, he deserved better.

His eldest brother, Gao Xiaoyu, had been enfeoffed as the Duke of Henan during the Eastern Wei period and was promoted to the Prince of Henan in the seventh month of the first year of the Qi Dynasty. His second brother, Gao Xiaoxing, was the Prince of Guangning, and his third brother, Gao Xiaowan, was the Prince of Hejian.

Even his fifth brother, Gao Yanzong, had been asked by Gao Yang himself what title he desired. When Yanzong said he wanted to be the "Prince who Soars to the Heavens," Gao Yang had Yang Yin arrange it. When Yang Yin noted there was no such commandery name, Gao Yang said he hoped Yanzong would live in accordance with virtue, thus granting him the title Prince of Ande.

Compared to his brothers' four princely titles, Gao Changgong’s position as Tongzhi Sanqi Shilang seemed meager and pitiful. During this period, no one paid any attention to Gao Changgong; one could easily film a "Life of the Discarded Changgong."

Gao Yang had to think for a moment to recall the name Xiao Guan, then realized, "Oh, that illegitimate son."

Gao Yang felt conflicted—not because he disliked or liked him, but because he simply hadn't cared for this nephew, and even though he was his elder brother's child, he hadn't committed the name to memory. If the Crown Prince wanted him, he could take him. But he was quite fond of Yanzong.

"Let Yanzong stay by my side. As for Xiao Guan... enfeoff him as a duke, grant him some status, and you may make use of him."

Gao Yin was overjoyed. One of the Three Heroes of Northern Qi, the future Prince of Lanling, was now under his command. He had to restrain his smile.

"I thank you, Father."

"Mm. Spend these next two years organizing your army; only with a force of your own will you have the confidence to speak. Once you have a firm grasp, I will let you go to the battlefield to test your courage and gain experience."

Gao Yang called for someone, picked up a brush and ink, and suddenly struck by a new idea, had them bring over the fountain pen Gao Yin had gifted him. He carefully wrote out the decree enfeoffing Gao Xiaoguan as the Founding Duke of Le-cheng County and elevating him to the rank of Shangyitong Sansi.

"This works quite well."

Gao Yang was quite satisfied. He then asked, "Is there anything else?"

"There is no prosperous age when the people are starving, and a strong army requires full granaries. I believe that governing a nation lies in establishing laws and stockpiling wealth and grain. When the people are well-fed and clothed, they understand honor and shame; when the granaries are full, they understand etiquette. If we then govern strictly and rule by law, our Qi Dynasty will flourish and the unification of the world will be within reach."

Unification of the world?

Gao Yang was slightly startled. He had held such dreams when he first ascended the throne, but he had discarded such thoughts years ago, even mocking them in his heart.

Nine years ago, Gao Yang was only twenty-four. The youth before him was the spitting image of his own former self, filled with the mandate of heaven and brimming with ambition.

Yet everyone can dream; the key is how to achieve it. Gao Yang took a sip of wine. "That sounds nice, but how do we ensure the people are fed? How do we fill the granaries? Is the current law of our Great Qi not strict enough?"

Gao Yin looked up and slowly squeezed out two words: "Hard to say."

Gao Yang hummed, waiting for him to continue. Everyone knew these grand principles; the real point was whether they could be implemented.

"I have two ideas. First, to re-establish the laws of our Great Qi. At the end of the Later Han, Liu Zhang lost to Emperor Zhaolie of Han. When Zhuge Wuhou entered Shu, he governed with strict laws and harsh punishments. There was much resentment in Shu, and Fa Zheng used the example of Emperor Gaozu of Han’s 'Three Chapters of Law' to lobby Wuhou. However, Wuhou replied that he only understood one side and not the other.

"Wuhou believed that the situation then was different from the end of the Qin Dynasty. Liu Zhang was incompetent, and since taking charge of Shu, he had failed to establish effective laws, nor did he cultivate virtuous governance or exercise威 (imposing) punishments. Consequently, the powerful clans in Shu acted with impunity, and the monarch's word was gradually replaced by the arbitrary rule of the clans. Therefore, implementing strict laws in Shu was exactly what was needed to correct the political situation.

"Thus, even though Wuhou’s laws were strict, Shu Han enjoyed long-term peace and stability. After Wuhou passed, Fei Yi took charge and adopted a policy of indulgence and leniency, which led to the decline of Shu Han. I believe the old situation in Shu is exactly like the current situation of our Great Qi."

Gao Yang nodded, deeply agreeing.

In the past, the soldiers under the late Emperor Shenwu, Gao Huan, were habitually corrupt, and the practice of bribery for profit had become rampant. Du Bi once advised Gao Huan to reform this, but Gao Huan replied that the world was chaotic and the habit of seeking profit was already ingrained. If he were to rush to fix it, the scholars would defect to Xiao Yan of Southern Liang, and the generals would defect to Yuwen Tai in the west. He told him to wait and study the matter later.

Before the Battle of Shayuan, Du Bi again requested that Gao Huan clean up the corrupt elements. This time, Gao Huan didn't even speak; he had the soldiers draw their bows and sharpen their swords, forcing Du Bi to walk a gauntlet of blades. The steel brushed against Du Bi’s skin, leaving him trembling and drenched in sweat.

Gao Huan told him that since he was terrified even though the blades didn't cut him, while the soldiers faced these very weapons to earn their glory, one had to rely on them despite their greed. Du Bi had nothing more to say.

"However, that was a compromise made when the foundation of the empire was not yet stable during Emperor Shenwu's time. Now that our Great Qi is established and the foundation is set, Father, your personal campaigns have earned great prestige, so there is no need to worry."

"Other countries are resting and recovering. The Western bandit Yuwen Tai died not long ago; his son Yuwen Jue ascended as a puppet, and his nephew Yuwen Hu holds the government, having deposed and killed Yuwen Jue to install Yuwen Yu. The interior of the Western bandits is in panic, and they are struggling to maintain stability. Yuwen Hu is only capable of being a watchdog; he lacks the talent and courage to wage war against our nation to exchange military merit for prestige."

"The Southern Dynasty is preoccupied with the Hou Jing Rebellion. Although the Chen rebels were lucky to win, they are merely gasping for air. They usurped the Liang house, and both gods and men are enraged. Wang Lin supports the Prince of Yongjia to continue the Liang legacy and continues to fight the Chen state. With our help, the Chen state will have no peace. The Southern Dynasty is fractured into pieces and poses no threat in the short term."

"Since this is the case, the scenario Emperor Shenwu once worried about—people fleeing to Xiao Yan or defecting to Yuwen Tai—will not happen. Even if there are minor disturbances, they will not shake the foundation of our Great Qi. Father, after years of rest and recovery, now is the time for reform!"

Gao Yang was deeply shocked. Although this was the speculation of the upper echelons of Qi, it was based on extensive intelligence. Especially regarding the analysis of the Southern Dynasty, for Gao Yin to have such insight at such a young age meant that either someone was guiding him from behind the scenes, or he was truly gifted.

"Shu Han had the 'Shu Code,' Jin had the 'Taishi Law,' and the old Wei had the 'Taihe Law.' Our Great Qi should also have a set of laws worthy of a new dynasty, to demonstrate that our Great Qi has launched a new revolution and has renewed the state of the world!"