aircannonsinc Chapter 1098: The Appointment of Kuai Tong and Chen Ping!
Chapter 1098: The Appointment of Kuai Tong and Chen Ping!
He turned and looked at the vast sky outside the hall: "Kuai Tong, you are eloquent and good at analyzing the big picture. You can see the interests that others cannot. But you also have weaknesses—you value the 'unorthodox' too much and sometimes neglect the 'orthodox'; you believe too much in the power of words and sometimes underestimate the difficulty of action. This is a common problem among strategists."
Kuai Tong solemnly replied, "Your Majesty is wise."
“Chen Ping,” Gao Yao continued, “you are good at planning, good at hiding, and good at using spies, and you can find a way out in desperate situations. But you also have weaknesses—you think too much and are sometimes too cautious; your methods are too gentle and sometimes you lack decisiveness. This is a common problem for strategists.”
Chen Ping bowed: "Your Majesty's teachings are etched in my heart."
Gao Yao turned around, his gaze piercing: "But I use you not for your perfection, but for your strengths. Under my command, you will have a new stage to create new achievements. This world is far larger than you can imagine, far beyond what the Qin Dynasty could ever have imagined."
He walked back to the jade steps, but instead of sitting down, he stood on the steps, looking down at the two of them.
"Kuai Tong, listen to my decree."
"The minister is here."
"I hereby appoint you as Grand Censor, with a rank of two thousand shi (a unit of grain), in charge of supervising all officials and advising on state affairs. A separate 'Foreign Affairs Department' will be established, with you concurrently serving as its head, responsible for negotiations with foreign tribes such as the Xiongnu, Yuezhi, and Donghu." Gao Yao's voice echoed in the hall.
It's important to know that historically, after Kuai Tong's advice to Han Xin was rejected, he essentially retired completely and never served in office again. It's truly a pity that Kuai Tong, with his exceptional strategist skills, was wasted.
He paused, then emphasized, "I'm giving you this stage in my court. Though the realm is at peace, the four corners of the land are not. To the north, the Xiongnu are eyeing us covetously; to the west, the Yuezhi are restless; and to the south, there are foreign barbarians from overseas. I don't need your brilliant schemes; I need you to use your upright character, your diplomatic skills, and your persuasive rhetoric to stabilize the four corners of the land and expand our territory. Can you do it?"
Kuai Tong shuddered, his eyes welling with tears. The Grand Censor was one of the Three Dukes, the highest position a subject could attain. The "Foreign Affairs Department" was an unprecedented new institution, wielding immense power. More importantly, the emperor truly understood his ambition—not cunning schemes, but the ability to subdue the enemy without fighting through words and wisdom—the highest ideal of strategists!
He knelt down, his voice trembling slightly, and said, "Your Majesty, I will do my utmost to live up to your trust! I am willing to dedicate my life's learning to pacify the four directions and bring peace to the land!"
Gao Yao nodded and looked at Chen Ping.
"Chen Ping, listen to the decree."
"The minister is here."
"I hereby appoint you as Minister of Justice, with a rank of two thousand shi, in charge of criminal justice and judicial affairs. A separate 'Secret Affairs Department' will be established, where you will concurrently serve as its head, responsible for intelligence gathering, direct access to confidential reports, and handling of special matters." Gao Yao's voice was calm, yet every word carried immense weight.
Gao Yaoyao should know that Chen Ping in history helped Liu Bang gain the empire with six ingenious strategies and assisted the Han dynasty in suppressing the Lü clan. He made great contributions throughout his life and eventually rose to the position of prime minister, where he died peacefully. However, this was the result of Chen Ping walking on thin ice and proceeding cautiously under the suspicion of Liu Bang and Empress Lü. Chen Ping devoted most of his life to self-preservation.
He looked directly at Chen Ping: "You don't need to do that with me. I gave you the position of Minister of Justice so that you could govern the country with the law; I gave you the position of Chief of the Secret Service so that you could secure the nation with strategy. Use it for the right things, for monitoring the officials, purifying the court, and handling secret affairs for me. Are you willing?"
Chen Ping took a deep breath. The Minister of Justice was the head of the Nine Ministers, in charge of all criminal justice in the realm, wielding immense power. The "Secret Bureau," on the other hand, was a secret agency directly responsible to the emperor, arguably the emperor's most trusted eyes and sword. The emperor not only knew of his historical achievements but also understood his historical circumstances and helplessness, promising him a stage where he wouldn't have to constantly be on guard against suspicion!
He also knelt down, his voice steady yet filled with unprecedented determination: "Your Majesty, I am willing to be Your Majesty's eyes and ears, Your Majesty's sword. Whatever Your Majesty commands, I will go through fire and water; whatever the nation needs, I will do my utmost with wisdom and loyalty!"
Looking at the two historical figures kneeling before him, Gao Yao was filled with emotion.
He knew that in the original history, both Kuai Tong and Chen Ping had regrets in their fates.
Kuai Tong possessed extraordinary talent and strategic acumen, yet he was born at the wrong time. His advice to Han Xin to divide the world into three kingdoms was arguably one of the most brilliant strategic ideas of the era, but it was thwarted by Han Xin's character flaws. Later, he was captured by Liu Bang, and although he escaped death through his eloquence, he was forced to live a life far removed from the center of power, devoting himself to writing, his lifelong ambitions never truly realized. His eighty-one essays, *Jun Yong*, though included in the *Book of Han, Treatise on Literature*, are mostly lost, leaving only the classic case of "Kuai Tong persuading Han Xin" for posterity to discuss.
Chen Ping, though achieving great success and rising to the position of Chancellor, and dying a peaceful death, spent his life in constant suspicion and self-preservation. He had to carefully navigate the complex relationships between Liu Bang, Empress Lü, and other meritorious officials, and many of his strategies were less for the sake of the state and more for survival. A large part of his wisdom was consumed by internal strife and self-preservation. Even so, he left behind the reputation of "Chen Ping's skill in strategy," becoming a model for strategists in later generations.
But now, everything is different.
In this timeline completely altered by Gao Yao, Kuai Tong no longer needs to lament Han Xin's erroneous decisions, nor does he need to go into seclusion due to Liu Bang's suspicions. He will, as the Imperial Censor, openly and honestly employ his diplomatic skills to stabilize the surrounding regions—perhaps this is the best destiny for a strategist.
Chen Ping no longer needs to walk on thin ice amidst suspicion. He will take charge of the Court of Justice and the Bureau of Confidential Affairs, using laws to rectify the court and strategies to secure the nation, dedicating his wisdom entirely to governing the country—this may be the highest ideal of a strategist.
Gao Yao slowly sat back on the dragon throne, his voice echoing in the hall:
"Your Excellencies may rise."
The two stood up and stood respectfully with their hands at their sides.
"From this day forward, you are my subjects, the pillars of the Great Qin." Gao Yao's gaze swept over the two men. "I have only three requirements for you."
"First, be loyal to your duties. The Censorate must be outspoken, the Court of Justice must be impartial, the Foreign Affairs Office must be resourceful, and the Secret Service Office must be meticulous. Each must perform its duties diligently and without negligence."
"Secondly, we must work together. One of you is a master strategist, and the other is a tactician. Your strengths differ, but your goals are the same—to assist me in governing this country well. I hope that you can complement each other rather than hinder each other."
"Thirdly," Gao Yao paused, his tone becoming serious, "do not forget your original aspirations. You came from Wei Bao and know well the suffering of the people and the pain of war when the world was not yet at peace. Although I have now established my rule over the world, the four seas have just been pacified and the people's livelihood is in ruins. I hope you will always remember that when you are an official, you should bring benefits to the region; when you are a minister, you should care about the people."
Kuai Tong and Chen Ping bowed simultaneously: "Your Majesty's teachings will be remembered by our subject!"
Gao Yao nodded and waved his hand: "Go down. You will officially take office in three days. At that time, I will issue you the seal and documents. In the next few days, you can familiarize yourselves with the environment in Xianyang City, or you can go to the guesthouse to bring your families. I have already ordered people to prepare residences for you."