Chapter 1039: Liu Chang

It was now the twelfth month of the year. The people of the Great Han had just joyfully celebrated the Winter Solstice, and the cities had not yet shaken off that festive atmosphere where the day is as grand as the New Year, when a party arriving from the south stirred another sensation in the capital. Upon word spreading, tens of thousands of commoners flocked to gawk, and even the bitter winter winds could not dampen the enthusiasm of the Eastern Capital's gentry and populace.

What the people rushed to see was none other than Liu Chang, lord of Southern Yue, and his party, who had been escorted to the capital under guard. Compared to Jinling, the distance from Panyu to the Eastern Capital was far greater, yet Liu Chang had arrived much earlier. There was no other reason: the number of those who had come north with Liu Chang was not large, and most had been brought to Kaifeng in the name of condemned ministers, presented as captives.

The enthusiasm of Kaifeng's populace stemmed, first, from their hope that the realm was about to be unified and peace was at hand; second, because in the court's propaganda, Liu Chang had always been portrayed as a fierce and cruel figure, and everyone wanted to see what this tyrannical, depraved, and wayward sovereign, captured by the imperial army, actually looked like.

Though not many people truly caught a glimpse of Liu Chang's appearance, that did not stop the Heavenly Thoroughfare of the Eastern Capital from being packed shoulder to shoulder, with the streets emptied of all. As a prisoner journeying north, Liu Chang had endured no small hardship—no fine food or sweet wine, no brocade clothes or silk bedding, and no attendants to serve him; he had to manage his own meals and daily needs. The one thing he could be grateful for was that along the way he had suffered no abuse or humiliation, neither cold nor hunger, and even the red convict garb, shackles, and prison cart had only been put on after arriving at the Eastern Capital.

After entering the Eastern Capital, Liu Chang had no mood at all to appreciate its splendor. On the road to the imperial city, with disheveled hair, he kept his head bowed the whole way, while only the clamorous discussions and noisy pointing kept drilling into his ears. As a former sovereign of a state, being paraded through the streets as a trophy for all to gawk at ought to have been humiliating—yet at this moment, Liu Chang could not spare a thought for dignity or shame; his heart was filled with nothing but fear and trepidation.

In truth, even now that he had fallen to the status of a prisoner, Liu Chang remained utterly muddled about the ruin of his state. He could not understand why the court had been so determined to destroy his country, nor why so many of his troops had been so utterly helpless, and at the same time he resented the shamans and eunuchs he had relied upon for failing to save him—instead, in the end, they had sold him out to the Han army...

There were plenty more things Liu Chang could not fathom!

At the head of the procession, the imperial guard general Shi Yande served as the officer in charge of escorting Liu Chang back to the capital, and beside him, likewise mounted on a tall horse and clad anew in gleaming silver armor, was the Fourth Imperial Prince, Liu Fang. Basking in the gaze and cheers of the Eastern Capital's populace, with a sense of glory like returning home in silken robes, both men wore beaming smiles on their faces.

Only at the main gate of the imperial city did the two dismount. Beneath the palace gate, led by Prince Yong, Liu Chenghsun, a host of civil and military officials had gathered to welcome the triumphant tidings from the Lingnan campaign. The Emperor had not come in person, but the dispatch of Prince Yong was itself a mark of regard. One consideration was that a mere Liu Chang was hardly worth the Emperor's particular attention.

"General, you have worked hard! Soldiers, you have all worked hard!" As the Emperor's representative, Prince Yong Liu Chenghsun wore an expression of enlightened benevolence, and said to the southern expedition officers led by Shi Yande: "The relevant offices have, by His Majesty's command, prepared rewards and provisions, reserved solely for the soldiers to enjoy, as recompense for their toil!"

"We thank Your Majesty!" Shi Yande led the response.

Seeing that there were still many onlookers before the imperial city, with heads bobbing and jostling, he hurriedly gave orders to strengthen the maintenance of order. Turning his gaze to Liu Fang, he immediately straightened his back and called out: "I pay my respects to Third Uncle!"

"A stint of training in Lingnan has made you even more spirited!" Patting Liu Fang's shoulder, Liu Chenghsun said with a light chuckle: "I hear you performed quite well, not diminishing the dignity of the imperial house—a rare thing indeed!"

Praised thus by Liu Chenghsun, Liu Fang seemed a little embarrassed, and replied: "Such excessive praise—your nephew dare not accept it. In Lingnan I slew not a single enemy and earned not a shred of merit; I dare not be complacent!"

"Good!" Hearing this, Liu Chenghsun said simply, one word.

Stepping forward a few paces, he looked at Liu Chang, who was cowering in the cage cart, and said: "So this is Liu Chang, lord of Southern Yue?"

"In reply to Your Highness, it is indeed he!" Shi Yande reported.

"General Shi, take this man into the palace to have an audience with His Majesty!" Liu Chenghsun instructed: "As for all other matters, follow the arrangements of the Ministry of War!"

"Yes!"

"Third Uncle, what about me?" Liu Fang asked.

Glancing at him, Liu Chenghsun deliberately put on a stern expression, and said: "You? First go pay your respects to your grandmother, the Empress, and your mother. In the three months you were in Lingnan, no small number of people in the palace have been worrying about you!"

At these words, Liu Fang gave an awkward smile and answered: "Yes!"

Before the palace gate, the Third Imperial Prince Liu Xi, the Fifth Prince Liu Yun, Prince Wei Liu Min, and the eldest imperial princess Liu Jia, the second princess Liu Jian, and the third princess Liu Xing—a whole host of brothers and sisters—had also come to welcome him, calling out "Fourth Brother!" "Fourth Brother!" without cease.

Having not seen these brothers and sisters for so long, Liu Fang felt genuinely delighted. He stepped forward to greet them, his face wreathed in smiles, and took the initiative to scoop up the Fourth Princess Liu Wei. The crowd of noble imperial offspring then clustered together and made their way into the palace. The Fourth Imperial Princess Liu Wei, whose mother was Noble Consort Cao, was now six years old, the youngest among the princes and princesses who had come to welcome him.

Inside Chongzheng Hall, Liu Chengyou received Shi Yande in person, listening in a ceremonial manner to his report on affairs in Lingnan—much of which he already knew well. He extended Shi Yande ample courtesy, granting him a seat, wine, food, and clothing.

Then Liu Chengyou turned his attention to Liu Chang. Speaking of Liu Chang, he was now barely twenty years of age, plump and fair-skinned, with delicate features. He stood in the hall with his head drawn in, in a stiff and awkward posture, his hands with nowhere to rest.

"So you are Liu Chang!" Liu Chengyou asked.

Emperor Liu's cold voice struck Liu Chang's heart like a heavy hammer. His nervousness was written all over his face, and he dropped straight to his knees: "Your guilty minister Liu Chang pays respects to Your Majesty!"

"Rise!" Liu Chengyou's expression was calm as he gestured with his hand.

Liu Chang stole a careful glance at Liu Chengyou, catching only a glimpse of half his face before quickly lowering his head again. Still, he rose somewhat clumsily, bracing himself against the ground. Appraising him, Liu Chengyou's tone grew a bit more lively, and he asked with a light laugh: "How does it feel to be an emperor?"

At these words, his legs went weak, and Liu Chang, who had not yet steadied himself, collapsed to his knees once more, knocking his head repeatedly: "Your guilty minister admits his crime, admits his fault! I beg Your Majesty to spare your guilty minister's life—I do not want to be torn apart by five horses!"

"I don't want to die..." As he spoke, Liu Chang burst into tears, his face full of terror, begging Liu Chengyou for mercy with not a shred of dignity.

His display actually caught Liu Chengyou off guard for a moment, and then he said with a half-smile: "It seems you remember that edict I issued back then!"

"Your Majesty, spare my life!" At these words, Liu Chang grew even more frightened, terrified that Emperor Liu would order his execution. He said nothing more, only knocking his head and begging for mercy without cease, wailing loudly.

"Enough!" Seeing his performance, Liu Chengyou finally grew impatient and barked the word.

The Emperor's overbearing aura was on full display, and the effect was immediate—the crying stopped at once, and the hall fell suddenly silent. Liu Chang gave a shiver, looked up at Emperor Liu with tear-blurred eyes, his gaze innocent, his expression pitiful.

Seeing him in such a state, Liu Chengyou asked him: "Do you know why you have fallen to such a state, becoming my prisoner?"

Liu Chang was stunned for a moment, then answered: "The realm cannot remain divided forever. When a great sovereign arises, unification is inevitable. Your Majesty is an unparalleled great sovereign, so your guilty minister was naturally captured by the great army!"

"Oh?" Hearing this, Liu Chengyou asked with curiosity: "Since you have such insight, why did you not come to surrender early? Why did you instead send troops to hold your ground, intending to resist the imperial army?"

"That was not your guilty minister's insight—someone else said it!" Liu Chang answered blankly.

"Who said it?" Liu Chengyou grew a bit interested.

"Your guilty minister has forgotten, only vaguely remembering it was something to that effect..." Liu Chang answered honestly.