Chapter Twelve: An Audience with the Grand Minister

The Grand Ministry was situated at the very heart of Chang'an Avenue, composed of three majestic halls. According to the designs of the Ministry of Works, Chang'an Avenue encompassed nearly all the most important institutions and residences of the Great Tang. Yet the Heavenly Strategy Manor was not on Chang'an Avenue; instead, it stood to the south of the Eastern Capital, adjacent to the Gate of Heavenly Inheritance.

Due to Li Fu's recent actions in front of the Shangguan residence, the entire Chang'an Avenue was now lined with soldiers. These were the Shenwu Guards—the protectors of the Eastern Capital.

Before the Grand Ministry stretched a series of grand white jade steps. At their summit stood thirty-six white jade columns, arching over three palatial buildings.

From afar, the Grand Ministry exuded a magnificent and sacred aura, solemn and dignified, with an air of sanctity.

"Young Master, we have arrived at the Grand Ministry..." Xu Changhai's voice reached Li Fu's ears, snapping him from his thoughts. "Thank you, General," Li Fu replied.

He stepped down from the carriage and followed the Loyal Might General Xu Changhai and the Valiant Might General Chu Tiannan toward the Grand Ministry. Ascending the rightmost steps, they arrived before the Hall of Martial Merit.

Within the Hall of Martial Merit, many Hanlin scholars bustled about, arms laden with documents of varying thickness. The hall itself stretched over three hundred paces, with curtains dividing the space into many small chambers. Each room was meticulously categorized, the operations carried out with utmost rigor. Scholars worked ceaselessly—organizing records, drafting maps, classifying materials.

All matters handled daily by the six ministries of the Great Tang would ultimately converge at the Grand Ministry. What Li Fu saw was but one of the halls; the others were much the same.

"The Grand Ministry stands above the six ministries and the Central Secretariat," Xu Changhai explained. "Not only must all affairs processed by the ministries be filed here, but this is also where the Empire’s geography, calendar, and much more are compiled."

As he spoke, many scholars filed in and out of the hall. Li Fu made a rough estimate—there must have been several thousand people within the Grand Ministry.

The three of them proceeded deeper into the ministry. Soon, a long corridor appeared before them. Here, there was no one else; the place was exceptionally quiet.

Xu Changhai and Chu Tiannan halted. "Young Master, this is as far as we go. At the end of the corridor are the offices of the Three Excellencies. We shall not accompany you further."

Li Fu glanced toward the end of the corridor and nodded. "Very well, I will go on alone."

With that, he proceeded unhurriedly down the corridor, while the two generals waited where they stood.

Li Fu walked slowly toward the place where the Three Excellencies were. The Grand Tutor, the Grand Minister, and the Grand Protector—these three held the reins of the Empire’s governance.

In the Great Tang, the Three Excellencies ranked above ordinary officials, yet they had no authority over the military. Civil and military affairs were strictly divided; the civil officials were led by the Three Excellencies, while most military leaders were appointed directly by the Emperor, with command held in the imperial family’s hands. Only a small number of troops were overseen by the Grand Protector.

Ten steps, nine, eight, seven...

When but a single step remained between him and the door, Li Fu paused. He was about to meet one of the Empire’s towering figures; his heart could not help but tense.

"Come in..."

An aged voice sounded from within. The moment he heard it, Li Fu felt as if the person inside was the same scholar from Rice Fragrance Village.

"Three Excellencies..."

A glint of contemplation flashed in Li Fu's eyes; he was almost certain now that the man inside was his teacher.

Creak...

He pushed open the wooden door and entered. The room was not large; bookshelves lined the walls, and at the center stood a desk. Behind it sat an elderly man.

The old man’s bearing was refined and composed, unperturbed as if even the collapse of Mount Tai would not ruffle him. The scholarly aura emanating from him was almost identical to that of the teacher in the village; yet, there was a difference—in this man, refinement was tempered by a world-weary wisdom that contrasted with the teacher’s unyielding spirit.

This was His Excellency the Grand Minister, imperial tutor to the royal family of the Great Tang. Countless princes and princesses had studied under him. So strict was his instruction that even imperial scions held him in awe and dared not be unruly.

"Sit," the Grand Minister said calmly, never looking up from the desk as his vermilion brush flew over several memorials.

"Student greets Your Excellency," Li Fu said respectfully, bowing deeply before taking a seat. The Grand Minister still did not look up.

Of the Three Excellencies, only two now presided over state affairs, yet for a hundred years the Grand Minister and Grand Protector had labored tirelessly, and the realm was well-ordered, the people at peace.

At last, the Grand Minister finished his annotations, raised his head, and smiled kindly at Li Fu.

"Just now, you addressed me as Grand Minister? Did your senior not tell you that I am your martial uncle?"

Li Fu could not help but feel awkward. His teacher had never told him that he was the Grand Tutor of the realm. Had the Grand Minister not said it himself, Li Fu would never have imagined that such a man had spent decades in a humble mountain village.

The Grand Minister nodded slightly, perceiving Li Fu's discomfort. "That little drunkard, really—he sent you to the Eastern Capital without a word of explanation."

At this, Li Fu’s heart gave a start. So his teacher had not told him the true reason for coming to the capital.

"Martial Uncle," Li Fu said after a moment’s hesitation, "my teacher..."

The Grand Minister waved a hand and was silent for a time, then spoke:

"I thought he would tell you before you came to the capital. Since he did not, he must have his reasons. Let us speak, then, of something else."

Li Fu felt a tremor within. Two matters?

The Grand Minister continued, "That little drunkard has trained you for sixteen years, raising you as his own disciple. He even secured the post of Young Master of the Heavenly Strategy Manor for you. As for the marriage alliance with Southern Chu, I believe he means for you to be the candidate."

"But that boy made many enemies in the capital. Otherwise, he would not have withdrawn from the court for decades. Though you now hold the title of Young Master, it cannot shelter you forever. You must command troops yourself. Once the marriage alliance is complete, I will arrange for you to enter the army. But remember this."

His tone grew grave as he spoke the last words.

"Please instruct me, Martial Uncle," Li Fu replied solemnly.

"In the military, you must not act rashly, nor do anything to endanger the Great Tang. Do not harbor disloyalty toward the Empire. Strive for the welfare of the realm and the people. Act always with an unblemished conscience, worthy of Heaven and Earth. I hope you will remember this well."

Having finished, the Grand Minister fixed Li Fu with a piercing gaze, eyes as sharp as if they could see into a man’s soul.

"I will remember your words, Martial Uncle," Li Fu replied, bowing deeply.

The Grand Minister nodded, his expression softening. "Do you have any questions?"

After a thoughtful pause, Li Fu asked, "Martial Uncle, what is this marriage alliance with Southern Chu? Why did you say my teacher chose me? And... why did my teacher leave the capital? Do you know anything about my origins?"