Golden braziers, pearl-hung curtains, imperial incense drifting like mist.
The Son of Heaven casually set the policy essay aside, took a sip of tea as though nothing had happened, and said mildly, "This is a good essay. Who wrote it?"
Liu Shilong: ???
Merely good?
That reaction...
"Wang Yang, a Commandery Academy Student from Southern Commandery. I hear he belongs to a collateral branch of the Langya Wang and is a descendant of Wang Xizhi."
The Son of Heaven remained composed, without the slightest change in expression or any intention of asking further questions.
Liu Shilong asked, "Has Your Majesty heard of him?"
"No."
"He is exceptionally talented. The book circulating in manuscript copies throughout the capital lately, Pointing Out Flaws in the Modern- and Ancient-Script Book of Documents, was dictated by him and transcribed by Liu Zhao, Libationer of the Commandery Academy."
The Son of Heaven nodded. "A talented man. But governing the barbarians involves ten thousand tangled threads. No single proposal can encompass them all..."
What had come over His Majesty? Why did he seem so indifferent to such an excellent essay? Were its ideas too unconventional and its claims too sweeping to suit his taste?
While Liu Shilong was puzzling over this, the Son of Heaven shifted his tone slightly.
"Still, we could try out one or two measures on a small scale with this barbarian tribe first. Opening trade routes to the barbarians in exchange for your fourth son's release is a workable idea. But there are two conditions. First, the Imperial Court's official proclamation to the tribe must not mention this matter; the imperial envoy must convey it orally. Second, the barbarians must release him first. Afterward, they must voluntarily request to submit, then offer tribute and petition for trade. Only then will I grant