Chapter 1002: Adopted Son, the Southern Campaign Imminent

"Your Majesty!" In the height of summer, he crossed the threshold of the Kunming Hall as if driven by the scorching sun overhead, paying no heed to the palace attendants who bowed in salute.

Inside the hall, the elder Lady Fu, having been notified, came out to greet him, holding a small child by the hand, and offered Liu Chengyou her regards: "Second Young Lord has come!"

"Mm!" Liu Chengyou acknowledged, his gaze falling upon the child as he said, "I heard you've brought Huaiyu into the palace. I came to see him!"

"Huaiyu, His Majesty is thinking of you too. Come now, pay your respects to His Majesty!" The elder Lady Fu patted the child's head and said gently.

Upon hearing this, he did not hesitate, kneeling down and kowtowing three solid times to Liu Chengyou: "Your humble servant Ma Huaiyu pays respects to Your Majesty!"

Though young, his etiquette was impeccable. Seeing that he was about to continue kowtowing in earnest, Liu Chengyou personally helped him up with a light smile: "Enough, no need for such formality. Get up quickly!"

"Go inside and rest first!" Seeing Liu Chengyou drenched in sweat, and knowing he could not stand the heat, the elder Lady Fu personally attended to him: "Someone, quickly bring an ice towel..."

After taking a seat, feeling the coolness of the hall and wiping his face with the ice towel, he finally felt somewhat comfortable. He called Ma Huaiyu before him and carefully examined him.

On ordinary days, even though Liu Chengyou tried his best to put on a gentle demeanor, his imposing bearing had always inspired awe and reverence, let alone in this young child. However, though nervous, the boy still strictly observed the rites.

"He truly bears some resemblance to Ma Quanyi! Looking at this child is like looking at that man!" Liu Chengyou turned his head and remarked to the elder Lady Fu with a sigh.

Seeing Liu Chengyou recalling the past upon seeing the child, the elder Lady Fu could not help but say: "The Duke of Ji died young in his prime, truly a pity. As for this child Huaiyu, having lost both mother and father, alone and helpless, thinking of it stirs much compassion."

Upon hearing this, Liu Chengyou looked at Ma Huaiyu and said to him gently: "Huaiyu, your father was not only a meritorious general of the court, but also my comrade-in-arms and close friend. His early death is one of my great regrets.

Fortunately, he still has you, his bloodline. From now on, you must diligently study literature and martial arts, carry on your father's legacy, spread his renown, serve the nation, and bring glory to your family name..."

"Yes!" Though Ma Huaiyu only vaguely understood Liu Chengyou's words, his eyes unconsciously reddened as he nodded vigorously.

"Second Young Lord, there is something I wish to discuss with you!" At this moment, the elder Lady Fu took the initiative to speak.

"Speak!" Seeing her say this, Liu Chengyou raised his hand in an open-minded gesture.

Glancing at Ma Huaiyu, the elder Lady Fu said: "I have taken quite a liking to this child Huaiyu. I intend to raise him in the palace, letting him study and train in martial arts alongside the princes. This way, I can both care for and nurture him properly, and it also serves as a kind of consolation to the Duke of Ji..."

Hearing the elder Lady Fu's words, Liu Chengyou looked at her with some surprise, considered briefly, then broke into a smile: "I was just hesitating over whom to entrust him to. Since you have this intention, that works perfectly. This way, I can also decline Sun Li."

Previously, Sun Li had proactively submitted a memorial to Liu Chengyou, saying he was willing to adopt Ma Huaiyu. Sun Li had this intention for several reasons: first, out of regard for his bond of brotherhood with Ma Quanyi, as they were comrades from the Longqi Army; second, because the Sun family's bloodline was thin and he wanted to increase the household's vitality; and of course, there was no small measure of wanting to please the Emperor.

However, if the Empress intended to adopt him, there was no one who could compete with her. And Liu Chengyou also wanted to make the adoption of Ma Huaiyu an exemplary case, so that the generals and marshals of the Great Han could all see the Emperor's attitude toward meritorious generals — that he would absolutely treat their descendants well.

"By the way, where's Liu Zhao? Why don't I see him?" Looking around, Liu Chengyou asked about his tenth son, Liu Zhao.

At the question, the elder Lady Fu revealed a loving smile and said: "He's gone to the Ciming Hall to play. Liu Xu has grown up, and the Empress Dowager is growing older day by day. It's fitting that the grandchildren go visit her more often to fulfill their filial duty and keep her company..."

"That's as it should be!" Liu Chengyou nodded with a slight sigh, then instructed: "Bring Huaiyu along to pay respects to the Empress Dowager as well!"

"Yes!"

As autumn arrived and the weather gradually turned cool, from the central court to the local administrations, all the offices and government agencies of the Great Han entered a state of tension, operating at full speed like tightly wound springs. The reason was simple: the southern campaign was imminent.

In the second hall of the Ministry of War, Murong Yanzhao sat at his desk, handling official documents submitted from various regions. As war preparations progressed, the busiest of the court's agencies were the Bureau of Military Affairs, the Ministry of War, and the State Finance Commission.

As a commander who had campaigned for many years, he performed just as adeptly in a civil post. Perhaps he lacked Wei Renpu's breadth of learning and quick memory, but in the position of head of the Ministry of War, it had to be said that Murong Yanzhao did better — he handled many matters more skillfully. After all, with his rich military experience, many problems were considered from his perspective, closer to practical reality.

However, as the years advanced, the once elegant and imposing Marshal Murong was now visibly aging — after all, he was nearly fifty years old. The hardships of early campaigns and the toll of exhausting labor had caused men like him to age rapidly.

In fact, this was the norm for most generals; those who grew stronger with age were ultimately the exception.

"Someone!" After approving a document, Murong Yanzhao summoned a subordinate and directly instructed: "The Jianghuai field headquarters still lacks three thousand sets of armor. Go ask the Armory Directorate, urge them to hurry, and remind them not to delay!"

"Yes!"

After the man withdrew, he took a sip of tea, kneaded his lower back, and a trace of fatigue appeared on Murong Yanzhao's face.

"Chancellor, His Majesty has arrived!" At that moment, a subordinate official rushed in to report.

Murong Yanzhao was slightly startled at the news. Lately, the Emperor had taken to inspecting the various agencies, making sudden visits, and had even demoted several officials because of it. Thus, the entire court had become quite diligent, at least to get through this special period.

This time, it seemed to be the Ministry of War's turn. Murong Yanzhao rose, straightened his robes and cap, and instructed: "Quickly gather all the officials to receive His Majesty with me!"

"No need!" The voice arrived before the man did, as Liu Chengyou strolled in leisurely.

"Your servant pays respects to Your Majesty!"

"You may dispense with the formalities!" Emperor Liu still held Murong Yanzhao in great respect and treated him with courtesy.

Looking at Murong Yanzhao standing before him, his appearance increasingly aged and his body already showing a stoop, Liu Chengyou could not help but feel a wave of emotion — another famed marshal in decline. Many people would likely find it hard to imagine that the illustrious Marshal Murong, the Chancellor Murong of legendary elegance, was in fact such a withered old man.

"Your Majesty, these are some matters handled over the past two days. Please review them!" While ordering someone to serve tea, Murong Yanzhao personally presented a stack of memorials.

Seeing this, Liu Chengyou shook his head and said: "The urgent matters, I trust I have already seen. As for these routine affairs, I am confident they have been handled with utmost diligence and propriety!"

Liu Chengyou's tone was full of affirmation for Murong Yanzhao. Seeing this, Murong Yanzhao was moved and said: "Thank you for your trust, Your Majesty!"

However, looking at the table full of memorials, Liu Chengyou said: "Most of these are about the preparations for the southern campaign, aren't they?"

"Exactly so!" Murong Yanzhao nodded.

"How are the provisions? Are there any difficulties?" Liu Chengyou asked with concern, his tone somewhat grave.

"The Jianghuai region has been at peace for many years. Since the ninth year of Qianyou, we have been building granaries and stockpiling grain. By now, there is enough — the court need not supply much military grain.

Only Jinghu, which suffered frequent warfare and severe destruction in the past, requires court support. The reserves in southern Jifu and Jiangling are insufficient to supply two field armies. Fortunately, with Chuanshu's support, once the Shu grain is transferred eastward, it will be enough to supply the Jinghu campaign! It will also ease the court's burden!"

"That's good then!" Hearing this, a smile appeared on Liu Chengyou's face, and he let out a sigh of relief, then said with emotion: "After nearly four years of recuperation, I had thought we could continue fighting a well-supplied war, but I didn't expect a drought to interfere. I can only hope that once the campaign begins, things will go smoothly!"

"Rest assured, Your Majesty!" Upon hearing this, Murong Yanzhao said to Liu Chengyou with great certainty: "This southern campaign will surely sweep through like splitting bamboo, pacifying the south in one stroke!"

Murong Yanzhao never made grand claims, so seeing his assured expression, Liu Chengyou smiled lightly: "Hearing you say this, I feel much more at ease!"

Indeed, the fifteenth year of Qianyou was truly a year of many troubles. After summer began, drought and locust plagues struck Huaibei, Hebei, and Guanzhong, afflicting many prefectures over a wide area. Liu Chengyou was helpless about this as well. The court had an established procedure for responding to such disasters, having accumulated sufficient experience from the frequent calamities of earlier years. Thus, under Liu Chengyou's edict, the court actively provided disaster relief, exempted taxes, controlled grain prices, and reassured the people.

This drought and locust disaster had an impact on the southern campaign plan, but not a fundamental one — it merely added some pressure to the court's maintenance of the war effort. However, for the Great Han as it stood now, this pressure was well within its capacity to bear.

The unification plan that had been prepared for so long would never be easily stopped. Autumn had already arrived, and the day to dispatch troops was not far off.