The prince is fierce: Who dares to steal my woman?

Upon hearing this, Yu Jin quickly replied, "Your Majesty, I am willing to share your burdens and solve your problems; it is my duty."

Upon hearing this, Liu Kun's eyes flashed with a hint of relief: "Good, Duke of Chu is truly wise and experienced in governing the country. With you here, I feel much more confident. Next, I have an important matter to discuss with you, namely the matter of weakening the power of the regional princes. In recent years, the power of the regional princes has grown stronger, posing a considerable threat to the central court. If this matter is not handled properly, it may lead to great chaos. I am deeply worried about this and cannot rest easy day and night. What are your thoughts on this matter?"

At this time, although Liu Kun had already ascended the throne and become emperor, there were still many princes surnamed Liu who occupied various places. Among them, the more powerful ones were: Liu Kun's second elder brother, Liu Huan, the Prince of Xiangyang, who was appointed as the governor of Jingzhou; Liu Kun's third elder brother, Liu Jing, the Prince of Jiangdu, who was appointed as the governor of Yingzhou; Liu Kun's seventh younger brother, Liu Xun, the Prince of Jin'an, who was appointed as the governor of Jiangzhou; and Liu Kun's sixth uncle, Liu Yixuan, the Prince of Jingling, who was appointed as the governor of Yizhou.

Within the territories of those feudal lords, each ruled their own domain, dominating their respective regions and wielding considerable military power, much like miniature kingdom monarchs. Whenever Liu Kun's thoughts drifted to these princes who held sway over vast territories and wielded immense power, a nameless unease would creep into his heart, making him feel that beneath his seemingly supreme imperial authority lay hidden undercurrents.

His two elder brothers, in particular, were a double-edged sword. They were his blood relatives, but also the greatest threat to the consolidation of his throne. They not only possessed lineage and prestige comparable to his own, but also had accumulated deep connections and influence in the court and among the people.

Liu Kun knew all too well that his throne was not obtained legitimately, and this unease was like a nightmare, constantly reminding him that beneath this magnificent palace, any prince with ulterior motives could become the force that overthrows him.

Yu Jin, his gaze deep, slowly spoke: "Your Majesty, the matter of weakening the power of the princes concerns the safety of the nation and must be handled with utmost caution. I believe we should first try persuasion, then resort to force, demonstrating the might of the court. If they do not comply, then we should take decisive action to ensure success. At the same time, we must secretly contact those generals who are loyal to the court, in case of unforeseen circumstances."

As Liu Kun listened to Yu Jin's plan, his eyes gradually lit up. He gripped Yu Jin's hand tightly and said firmly, "What the Duke of Chu said is absolutely right. However, how should we first try to persuade him with courtesy before resorting to force?"

Upon hearing this, Yu Jin hurriedly advised Liu Song, "Why doesn't Your Majesty find an opportunity to summon all the princes from the four directions to the capital and temporarily keep them there, preventing them from returning to their fiefdoms? Then, send a shrewd and capable minister to thoroughly investigate the princes' past misdeeds, fabricate charges against them, and imprison them for trial. Those who are guilty of heinous crimes should be immediately demoted to commoners, their fiefdoms returned to the capital, and their property confiscated. Those who harbor rebellious intentions should be executed without exception. As for those whose crimes are less serious, their fiefdoms can be gradually reduced by several counties, or one today and two tomorrow. Over time, their power can be gradually eroded like silkworms, ultimately achieving the goal of weakening the princes."

Upon hearing this, Liu Kun's face immediately lit up with joy, and he continued happily, "The Duke of Chu is truly a pillar of the nation. His thoughtful consideration greatly comforts me. However, in the Duke of Chu's opinion, who is capable of shouldering this heavy responsibility of weakening the power of the vassal states and taking full charge of the overall situation?"

Yu Jin, observing Liu Kun's expression, realized that Liu Kun was already in his trap. He secretly rejoiced and quickly went along with it, revealing his well-thought-out proposal: "Your Majesty, I dare to recommend a talented man to you for the position of Minister of Justice, in charge of the important task of weakening the power of the princes. Although he is still young, he has unique insights into criminal cases, acts decisively and swiftly, and is also of noble character, upright and incorruptible. He is truly a rare talent."

In fact, all the groundwork Yu Jin laid beforehand was ultimately for the purpose of securing a high-ranking position for his cronies, thus forming cliques and pursuing personal gain.

Upon hearing this, Liu Kun raised an eyebrow and turned his gaze to Yu Jin, his voice filled with curiosity and inquiry: "Oh? My Great Song Dynasty is so full of hidden talents, I have never heard of them before. Who exactly is this genius? Why doesn't the Duke of Chu tell me in detail, so that I may also see for myself?"

Upon hearing this, Yu Jin's lips curled into a smug smile: "This man is named He Songzhi, and he is one of my most outstanding disciples."

Unexpectedly, before Yu Jin could finish speaking, Liu Kun's expression suddenly changed, a cold smile curling at the corner of his mouth. His words were tinged with mockery and consideration: "Hehe, I didn't expect the Duke of Chu to be so unconventional, even recommending talents based on 'relatives.' He is truly a model of 'recommending the virtuous without avoiding relatives.'"

Yu Jin forced a smile and said in a seemingly relaxed manner, "Your Majesty, it is precisely because He Songzhi is my student and I am quite familiar with his talent that I have dared to recommend him to Your Majesty. This action is purely out of sincerity in seeking talent for the country, and there is absolutely no selfish motive involved."

Upon hearing Yu Jin's earnest words and seeing his confident demeanor, Liu Kun quickly reassured him, "Duke of Chu, please do not worry. When selecting talents for the country, one should not be bound by convention or personal relationships. As long as this person truly possesses real talent and ability, I will certainly promote him without regard to convention. By the way, what position does this He Songzhi currently hold?"

A hint of embarrassment flashed across Yu Jin's face, but he had no choice but to bite the bullet and answer, "This... He Songzhi currently does not hold any prominent position; he is currently the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue."

Upon hearing this, Liu Kun was greatly surprised. He thought to himself, "The Grand Secretary of the Ministry of Revenue? A sixth-rank official! He's been promoted to a third-rank Minister all at once. Isn't that too fast?"

Liu Kun frowned and slowly said, "Duke of Chu, it seems inappropriate for a mere Chamberlain of the Ministry of Revenue to be promoted to a third-rank Minister."

Yu Jin smiled slightly and calmly replied, “Your Majesty, although He Songzhi holds a lowly position, he is a man of great learning and talent. He is upright and incorruptible, which has offended many powerful figures in the court and prevented him from being promoted for many years. But precisely because of this, he is the best candidate to deal with those unruly princes.”

Upon hearing this, Liu Kun pondered for a moment before finally nodding: "Alright, since the Duke of Chu has such discerning eyes, I will trust you this once."

In reality, He Songzhi was a ruthless enforcer of the law, a model of a cruel official. In his early years, he studied under Yu Jin and was deeply influenced by his teachings, even mastering the art of accumulating wealth.

Liu Kun intended to punish the princes who held military power and controlled their own territories. Seeing this, Yu Jin devised a plan: to take advantage of this opportunity to recommend his prized student, He Songzhi, to Liu Kun. This move would both win Liu Kun's favor and place his trusted confidant in a key position, paving the way for his own increased wealth. Such a scheme was truly a two-birds-with-one-stone strategy.

--------

The following day, at the Duke of Chu's residence.

On a warm and bright spring afternoon, sunlight, like fine threads, pierced through the veil of clouds, gently illuminating the enchanting garden of the Duke of Chu's mansion. Within the garden, flowers bloomed in profusion, butterflies fluttered about, and the scene was vibrant with life.

Yu Jin stood leisurely by the lake. The lake was as calm as a mirror, reflecting the blue sky, white clouds, and lush scenery around it. Thousands of koi fish swam in the lake, some red and some gold, their colors vibrant, like flowing gems, adding a touch of liveliness and energy to the tranquil scene.